Mary Brown & Patriotic Finishes

Yay!! I have a Mary Brown block to show this month. This block should have been pieced, but appliquing it seemed simpler to me. 

I am still working on the top two rows of this quilt- I looked today and I need to finish 4 more blocks to have that top section finished. I am going to set a goal of doing that by the end of August. We’ll see.

Here are the other ladies stitching along:

Karen – Log Cabin Quilter(Lead)

Cathy – Biglakequilter

Julie K –  Juliekquilts

Robin –   solsticestudio

Nanette – Doitrightquilter

Jan – Nanette will show her progress on her blog

I also made a little more progress on the 2018 Designer Mystery BOM.

Next I add a narrow, plain border, then a rather complex outer border. 

I also worked on three cute patriotic cross stitch pin tucks this month...hoping against hope to fully finish them before the 4th. And I made it!!! Finished them up today and made this little display....

First was American Eagle from Threadwork Primitives. I stitched it on 36 ct River Rock by Dixie Samplar with threads from stash.

I finished it with a dark navy print and red rick rack, stuffed with wood shavings.

Next, another from Threadwork Primitives, Happy 4th. It is stitched on a 32 ct mystery linen with mostly called for threads. I left off Happy 4th because I plan to use these for all national holidays.

I finished it with a little paisley print, vintage lace vintage buttons and an Eagle jewelry finding and stuffed it with wood shavings.

And finally, this cutie from Chessie and Me, American Coast. I bought the kit which had 40 ct linen and silk threads. The tiny sailboat is my first over one. 



I finished it with a pretty blue cotton print from stash, tiny blue rick rack trim and a little silk ribbon holding a vintage sailboat button that was in my button stash. It is also stuffed with wood shavings.  It was my first time using these for stuffing and I love the way they make the finished product look.....worth the messiness.

We had a family graduation party for Sara Ashley on Sunday. Hopefully she will head off to Clemson in the Fall.

Flowers from our gardens in school colors.

Take Care,

Jennie

Busy

It’s been a busy couple of weeks, but I’m not complaining. The summer weather is settling in, and until today, it’s been pretty dry...our flowers and veggies need the rain we are getting.

I have actually accomplished a few Quilty things, which is surprising, because I have mostly had my nose in the cross stitch. 

I had completed all of the FQS’s 2018 Designer of the Month blocks, and had even cut out all of the setting parts (and there were a lot)....but then I just stopped. So today I assembled the six setting flowers, which is at least a start. 

Not a great photo, but you get  the idea. I haven’t looked at the rest of the setting instructions, but there are lots of pieces left before this top is a wrap. 

Then it was on to make this Kathy Schmitz Home Sampler into a little wall hanging. I had finished the embroidery back In April and set it aside. 

Pretty cute. This one was on my UFO list, so that makes four UFO quilting finishes for the year. Not where I had hoped to be, but better than not finishing any at all.

Sara Ashley’s Final semester of her Senior HS year was pretty much a bust. They had a virtual honors night. But their school really made an effort to make a couple of events special. Senior Recognition Night was held on the football field with families social distancing, the senior review on a giant tron and an amazing professional fireworks show afterwards. Last week they held graduation, once again with social distancing and limited attendance, on the football field. Their tradition is to have the girls wear white formals, and the guys tuxes. It was wonderful and held so much meaning to all of us who had despaired that the 2020 class would not have a real graduation. Here are are a few pics of my amazing granddaughter......

Yes, the girls took off their fancy shoes and went barefoot.

With her brother, Robert.

This sweet girl went to a special school for kids with learning disabilities from first through eighth. She used those tools she was given and finished high school as a member of the National Honor Society and is Clemson bound. I could not be happier or prouder.

Today’s bounty from our garden...

I already have squash in the freezer and will likely can beans this weekend. Lots of work, but so good to have them when winter is here.

I have lost 3 high school friends and Rob’s stepsister in the last two weeks....none to coronavirus.  A lot to process. 

Take care,

Jennie

Late Maynia Update

My plans for participating in Maynia on Instagram fell somewhat by the wayside. Not to say I didn’t get anything done, just not what I had planned. 

Let’s start with my successes....

This is Live Simply, a Berry design by Erica Michaels for the Berry Club at @dyeingtostitch. 

Now I just need to stitch it up and I will have my second xstitch Berry to begin my collection.

Next, Down in the Valley by Blackbird Designs. This will be a sweet pincushion on a candleholder.

This one and the next two are off to @carolinastitcher for her beautiful finishing.

Witches Garden by Pineberry Lane for the @dyeingtostitch Quaint Ladies Club. 

Have asked that this one be finished as a flat fold. Think that it will be so cute displayed that way for Halloween.

Collector by Brenda Gervais @withthyneedleandthread. I changed the words to Mountain Mist because the cream didn’t show up well on my linen. 

This one will be a Pinkeep. I sent some antique Mother of Pearl buttons for Faye to add. 

The beautiful BBD sampler I had started and was close to finishing became a heartbreaking lesson when I snipped a hole in it removing a one thread off mistake. I really wanted to cry. I won’t even show you how close I was to finishing.

I have started back working on this wonderful GiGi R sampler, Martha Scott. 

Not a great pic, but you get the idea. 

Mostly I have continued to work in our veggie garden and flower gardens. We had a terrible hill on our property that had become dangerous for us to mow. With the help of our dear neighbors who came and plowed the hill for us, it became a wildflower garden. It is glorious...different every day. We will simply mow once in the fall, it will reseed and be beautiful again next year. We are thrilled.

Yes, these are beautiful flowers, too, don’t you think?










Jackson’s baseball team, Force, had their initial tournament last weekend and placed first.

We celebrated Ashley’s birthday.

 And Jackson’s...

As well as Robert’s.





Take Care,
Jennie