Progress Here......

For some reason, I have suddenly had a real kickstart on my projects this year, and particularly the last month or so. It goes without saying that my new workspace has contributed greatly to this success. But there also seems to be a new mindset. Not to say that I am not still overwhelmed when I open the doors to my closets and see all of those projects......more than I could ever complete in my lifetime. But I am working on them, and best of all, enjoying it. It is a hobby, a lovely pasttime...not a job (I have one of those, which keeps me from getting as much done but allows me to continue to have buying power....what a trade off!!). Maybe the recognition and acceptance of the pasttime vs. job thing has helped some.

At any rate, I am showing off now. The first is my cross stitch "Give Us This Day", design by La Di Da (I think), which is now back from the framers and hanging nicely in my dining room. The photo really doesn't do the color of the linen justice and the angle makes the frame look a little wonky. My photography skills are sorely lacking.



I have rejoined the Jo's Little Women Club at the LQS. Before the big move, I had enjoyed this club and was happy to be able to find time for it again. We are doing a quilt called Holiday Inn this time. It is a little larger than most of the club quilts and will be done over several sessions rather than one. This photo is the result of the first two sessions........plus, I added the plain border from session three to stabilize all of those little half-square triangles (okay, I really wanted to see how it would look). Instead of using cotton for the center applique, I chose to do wool applique, pulling from my hand dyed woolens and using Valdani variegated floss to hand buttonhole stitch it down. I am rather pleased with the results thus far.

I also had three quilt tops longarmed this month and they now wait patiently in this chair for trimming and binding. Then they can be counted as finishes and proudly shown. I dug into my stash for backings for two of them and utilized fabrics from the late 1970s or early 1980s (Yours Truly fabrics, back when 100% cotton was a rarity), so I feel pretty smug about that.

This is the rug that I worked on at rug camp with Jeanne Benjamin: It is called "Christmas in the Country" and is by New Earth Designs. I won't tell you how long ago I started it. I will say that my favorite part of it is the log cabin blocks around the border. Combines the best of both worlds, quilting and hooking. I am hungry for a hooking finish, and this will be it before too long.

On my way home from rug camp we stopped at a lovely antique mall in SC.....it is an annual tradition. Let me say that my Expedition was piled to the top with rugs and wool and frames and other rug camp necessities. It did not, however, stop me from purchasing this charming little primitive cabinet. How could I leave it behind, knowing it would fit perfectly in my sewing studio?

Finally, I allowed myself to start a new project and I will give you a little preview:. I can hear you thinking.......twenty five dull, dark Ohio Stars.........what in the world is she thinking. Well, just stay tuned.

Finally, I couldn't resist a sweet puppy picture. Miss Roxie, in her mom's chair:

Take Care,
Jennie

I'm Back!!!

If anyone reads my blog, you must feel as if I have fallen off the face of the earth!!!! As you all know, there are just times when life gets in the way, and this has been one of them.

First of all, I am posting a new photo of our sweet little Jackson, who is now ten weeks old and quite the handsome young man. I just can't resist that sweet twinkle in his eye.


It has been a busy summer.........work, birthdays, ballgames, family get togethers, rug camp, working in the yard..........and I have even made some progress on some projects.




Paige's Posies, a lovely little pattern by my friend Kathie Meyers, is hooked, framed and hung on my powder room wall. This is the first hooking I have had framed and I must say that I am quite pleased with the professional job by Travis at Around the Corner Framing. I love the antique feel of the frame!!!



.
I am also up to date on the Bunnyhill BOMs, finally. I still have to add a few trims and buttons, but the stitching is done. These have been so much fun and Anne was so sweet to share them with us.


Lisa's Geometric, a primitive rug hooking pattern, finally got bound and put on the floor. Seems as if I put it off forever. Don't know why, as I really like it. And the best part is that it was all done from my worm bag (meaning leftover strips of wool from previous projects to those of you who are nonhookers).

The last thing for tonight is my favorite..........Buttons and Birds pillow. It is wool applique on Prairie Cloth and it was such fun to do. It is from Blackbird Designs Book, When the Cold Wind Blows. Barb and Alma have a lovely blog now..........you must go visit!!!

Have my rughooking class in Athens tomorrow with the wonderful Eric Sandberg. I am so lucky. Anyway, I'd better hit the hay for now!

Christopher's haircut

Christopher was one in April, and he just got his first haircut. He is looking every inch the little man...... He went to a special shop for kids......the clippers don't make noise and each station has a DVD to watch among other things. He has also been swimming and riding the lawn tractor with Dad and big brother Dillon.
Macy has been to "Bug Camp", Robert and Sara Ashley to nature camp. Life is busy for the kids and their parents!! Next week Dillon and Robert are off to UGA for football camp......they will be roommates.
No stitching going on here. Just spending time helping the Hornes adjust to life with new baby, and today, back to work after a week off...............
Later!

It's A Boy!!

Welcome to our newest grandson, Jackson Kellum Horne. He was born on May 27th, and was 8# 3 oz, 20 1/2"......to Ashley, Matt and Macy. All are well, healthy and happy....including Mimi, who has been doing baby, chief cook and bottlewasher duty this week!!!
This is proud father, Mommy and Aunt Christi. Big Sister Macy was pretty excited, too!


Needless to say, not much else being accomplished around here. I did finally finish my Basket of Flowers Wallhanging, which was a group project from my Yahoo PrimFolkApplique Group. I am pleased with how it turned out. It is IMA'ed and machine quilted. It was my first try at anything besides stippling and straight stitching machine quilting, so it was quite a challenge

This is the baby afghan I crocheted for little Jackson. It is a pale blue/white variegated yarn. Hard to tell in the photo

All for now.........got to go shower and head over to help the new mom celebrate her 35th birthday!!!

It's Been A Long, Long Time...............

Since I last posted. The past month has been a whirlwind. Five of our six grandchildren have had birthdays since the first of April, along with my stepson, sister and myself and several good friends. Then, there was Easter, Mother's Day and two baby showers for Ashley........oh, and Little League Baseball games, a party in the park for Macy. And life.......... Guess it is busy like this for most folks. This has just been a particularly busy time for me.

This is a photo of Macy in some of her birthday finery. She loves to dress up.

I was able to finish Ashley's baby quilt. The pattern is from American Patchwork and Quilting (not the current issue, but the one prior to that). I took some liberties and made it a little more whimsical. It turned out a bit larger than I had thought, but Baby Boy Horne will be able to use it a little longer this way. It is fused, machine buttonhole appliqued and machine quilted by me. I used some sharper lines on my meandering to better suit the shapes of the birds. I also made matching burp cloths for the baby from some of the fabrics, along with a few others. Some of them will get monogrammed when we are sure of the baby's name.

Our hard work in the yard last year has paid off with some beautiful blooms this year. It certainly hasn't hurt that we have had rain instead of the past two years' drought. This is a clematis that I planted last year. The blooms are incredible. They just continue to open up more and more each day. Of course, I can't remember its name and I am too lazy to research it. At any rate, I think it is spectacular!!!

More later........hopefully not as later as previously :-)

Jennie

Best wishes...........

to Danny and Betty!!! After 22 years of marriage they are being blessed with a baby boy. They are coworkers, and yesterday we honored them with a baby shower at work. They got lots of nice gifts and the food was delicious. We continue to keep Betty, Danny and their baby boy in our prayers.

Last night I glued up this pillow from Blackbird Designs' new book, "When the Cold Wind Blows". It was a kit (pictured here....wish it was mine, already finished and nicely made into a pillow) from The Quilted Crow. I really like it and have the perfect place for it in my house. Being said, this is unusual, because more often, I just make things because I like them.....not because I want them for a special place in my home. Or, I make them for a gift.

BBDs are my favorite designers. I love nearly everything they do, and they are very prolific. There are lots of their designs on my quilting, hooking and xstitch "To Do" lists. One of the new favorites of my online prim applique quilting group is in "When the Cold Wind Blows" and is called "Trick or Treat". It consists of 200+ tiny (like 5")appliqued baskets. I have gotten a bunch of them prepped and in my "To Go" bag (a worm bag from Bass Pro Shop), as they work up really quickly and are great to take with you. Four are now finished......I will try to post pics over the w/e. I am sure I will never finish over 200, but I will work on them until I tire, and then they will become something. And I will have used up a little more stash.

I only lack one side of the binding on Dick and Jane....and the label. Hopefully that will be counted off tonight. DH is also going by the frame shop today to pick up a xstitch and a hooked piece that I had framed, so that will be two more finishes. Finally, some progress.

Looks like we are heading into rain and cooler weather this w/e. I was really hoping for sunshine on Saturday since we are having a family fishfry...........

Later

Spring is just around the corner..............

Here in Georgia you couldn't ask for any nicer weather.......in the 70s and 80s with plenty of sunshine. Of course, we will have some more cool days, but Spring is just around the corner. There are green shoots springing up all over our yard. It was even nice enough to sit on the porch yesterday after work and stitch on the binding of the Dick and Jane quilt that I started back in 2007. Hopefully I will finish it tonight..........it needs a gentle washing before I pass it on to DD#2, who has already asked for it. I expect it will become DGD's TV quilt. Seems appropriate for this daughter to have it, as she is an elementary school teacher. I made it on a whim......saw the kit all packaged up in a cute little lunchbox in the LQS and the nostalgia hit me dead in the face. I was in first grade all over again.



My pretty purple pansies and chives are beginning to perk up, and the johnny jump ups are filling in the planter. Hard to believe that in a couple of months the heat will overwhelm them. But, I do love their perky little faces, and it is always worth replanting them every year.


I have also made a little hairbow hanger and altered some valances for DGD's "Big Girl Room" this week. They are getting ready for a baby brother in June.

Hoping to get some stitching done over the w/e. Saturday will probably be a bust, as we are having a family fish fry at our house. Maybe Sunday afternoon and Monday........no plans for those days so far. I will keep my fingers crossed.

See you later................

Where has this week gone????

Of course, the snow at the first of the week is old news now, but I will still post my snow pictures as I don't have anymore at the moment. These were made at our dear friend and hostess's house on Sunday night.......Nancy, Kathie and me. The snow was beautiful, but glad it only happens occasionally down here in the South.


I had intended to make wonderful photos at our hooking w/s over last w/e, but the snow seemed to dash away all of my good intentions. We didn't even get to the w/s on Monday and had to leave early on Sunday. At least I got my floor runner color planned and made a nice dent in it. Jeanne Benjamin is a great teacher and I enjoyed every minute I got to spend in the w/s. Will make some photos of the runner this w/e.

I hope to have a finish by the end of the weekend. Dick and Jane is quilted and ready for the binding to be handsewn. Whew!!! I started this one at the end of 2007!! It will go to DD#2, who is an elementary school teacher. I will photograph it when it is done.

My finishes are coming along much more slowly than I had hoped, but I am getting there nonetheless.....wherever there is :-). I will have two more to count as soon as they come home from the framer. Sweet!!

Later,
Jennie

This was their 13th!!

DD#1 and her hubby have been married 13 years today. They married after college, but started dating in high school. They are bright, successful and wonderful young people. They make a mother proud.

Tonight they went out to eat and grandson and granddaughter spent the evening with us. We played The Game of Life and ate dinner...........time was gone before we knew it. It is a school night, after all.

Typical big brother and little sister poses here:

I have been thinking about what I should give up for Lent..............I think that I will give up french fries. They are my favorite food...........along with shrimp. Not exactly health food, but I love them! And I think you should give up something you will really miss. Makes you think.

The past few days I have been perusing lots of blogs. The talent out there is amazing. I belong to a primitive applique group on Yahoo...........those ladies are among the most talented quilters I have ever come across. And, talk about productive.......... Really encourages me to want to do more and do it better. The internet can be a wonderful thing!! I am thankful for all of the friends I have made over the years through my internet groups.

Time to get a nice bubblebath and do a little reading................

This is the reason...........

I didn't get any stitching done this afternoon. It is okay...........it was worth it!!! I can't believe she is almost three.

This w/e I did get my second Bunnyhill BOM done. I don't think that these little patterns could be any cuter. And you can't beat free.

I missed Guild tonight because DD#2 had to make an unexpected trip to the doctor in Atlanta this afternoon.........the reason I babysat. All is well, and that is a good thing. I have missed Guild far too often lately. Seems something is always coming up.....I miss the fellowship.

I had started quilting on the Dick and Jane quilt that I started in 2007 when I got the call to babysit. Hope to get it done soon. Won't be this week, though. Too many things going on.............

This w/e is my Hooking Workshop in Watkinsville with Jeanne Benjamin. I am really looking forward to that, even though I don't need to start another project. The project that I will be working on is an original design...........a runner that I designed in a Susan Feller w/s. It will be fun to see it come to life. And it is not huge, so I should get allot done on it in the three days.

Better go get organized...........tomorrow is a work day.

Weekend!!

I am so glad that the w/e is here. It has been a long week, and I am ready for a weekend to do my own thing. The weather here is nippy, but gorgeous..........sun shining, gentle wind. The birds are busy at the feeders and the dogs are underfoot. It can't get much better, huh?

We had a great w/e flea marketing last w/e, and, of course, I came away with stuff. That's what you are supposed to do, right? Who could possibly resist that sad-eyed little "Japan" dog. And the sweet McCoy bird and Japan S&P are perfect for the basement. Have to decorate it, you know. Then there was this lovely little planter with a wispy trailing plant (I forgot to ask the name) that the lady assured me had very low light requirements. It is perfect on my kitchen island. Hope she was right about the light. Isn't the bird on the mini arbor too cute? I am obviously into birds....................

And this great ceiling tile, nicely rusted, perfectly matches my basement cabinets. And the Victorian dog print. Oh, my heart, I adore the old dog prints. Reasonable, too, with a nice frame. All in all, quite a successful day!!

On the home front, I whipped out a little Valentine kitchen towel. Nothing great, but cheerful and finished.

Last night was my Sew Crazy Stitching group. We started out doing Crazy Quilt, but now we just do whatever, eat and enjoy one another's company. I took my Primitive Gathering block and did some of the buttonhole stitching.

I have been fretting this week over the number of projects I have........both started and not. My Prim group on Yahoo assures me that I am not abnormal, and that helps. But the leader proposed a plan that was issued by a quilt shop involving working on ten projects, no more than three hours at a time. Sounded interesting and would work with my crafter's ADD . Think I will have to look that one over in more depth and see if it might work for me! For now, it is a nice shower and then to the sewing room to have fun!

Hope all have a lovely w/e wherever you are.

Friday the 13th.........

Fortunately, I am not superstitious. My family is travelling today. DD#1 and her family just called to say that they have arrived safely in Colorado for their winter ski vacation. DD#2 and her family will be leaving in a couple of hours for Disneyworld. I trust that they will be blessed with safe journeys.

The little doggies went yesterday for their haircuts. They always return exhausted, but looking and smelling ever so much better!!Looks like their Dad is pretty worn out, too...............

Finally finished putting the borders on my 2007 SS Sampler. Now it needs a backing and to be quilted. I got a new book this week: Foolproof Machine Quilting by Mary Mashuta. It has lots of techniques and ideas for quilting with your walking foot that are template free. That is pretty appealing to me. I have a smaller quilt I want to try it on, then maybe on to something larger, like this one. I have a Pfaff Grand Quilter machine in a cabinet and think that it would work well with these techniques. I haven't had a chance to use it much, as I bought it just prior to the Big Move. DH bought me a really nice Horn cabinet for it for Christmas, so I am ready to get started.

I am trying really hard to keep up with my quilting BOMs. Only three, sounds easy, huh? Maybe, if I didn't have so many irons in the fire. At any rate, I am done with Hatched & Patched #1 and Bunnyhill #1. This is my start for Primitive Garden (which I love). I only lack part of the buttonhole stitching on it. I had to wait to get some Steam a Seam 2 Lite in the mail before I could get it fused. It is wool on cotton, and that particular fusible works really well with it. Sorry, I should've cropped that photo, but, oh well............. I got notice that the second blocks of Hatched & Patched and Primitive Garden have shipped, so I had better get busy. I also have a baby afghan to crochet for DD#2's little boy, who is due in June. And a rug class with Jeanne Benjamin in Athens the end of February. And all of the UFOs and PIGs!!!!

FOCUS!!!!

My sister and niece are coming up for the w/e and we are going to Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta tomorrow. Should be a fun day of plunking around.......even if it does rain!

Have a great w/e.............