Back at it!

HI folks!

Well, it has been a while, I know. This whole Corona Virus (Covid -19) has the whole world in a spin! As we try to stay safe, stay home, and survive, lots has happened in my world. 

We came home to Vermont earlier than planned in mid March just to get back to where our physicians are...just in case. We settled in and I finished hand quilting my Bonnie Hunter Grand Illusion quilt! I must say, it gave me such and immense sense of accomplishment finishing this quilt and now I am planning on hand quilting another one.

Here is my version of The Grand Illusion! 

I did the Baptist Fan pattern on it, and I believe I will do the same pattern on the one below. It is another Bonnie Hunter mystery pattern, En Provence, and I just love the colors! Unfortunately I am in between homes and will be taking this beauty with me to stitch.

Being left handed, I have thought about doing a few videos showing how I quilt by hand as most of the videos out there are for right handed folks...what do you think?

And finally, (I want to not be so long winded here)... I did it! I ordered myself a beautiful hand quilting hoop and floor stand! Yes, a Harry Barnett handmade laptop hoop and floor stand along with the bean bag for my lap!  How could this happen you ask? Well, those who know me, know I dont spend money on me frivolously, but I saw this photo on one of the Facebook Groups I follow (Celebrate Hand Quilting), and thought to myself, why not? I have been drooling over one of these for years, and ...well...why not? Dont I deserve this? Yes! So I did it!  Even better, I actually put this in my cart yesterday, and then this morning an email popped up reminding me that I had it in my cart! So...I did what the email said, to do if I had any questions, and I called Harry! And Harry himself answered!! I must say that I was pleasantly pleased! A human!! And the guy who makes them himself, answering questions and helping me make a choice on the size hoop along with explaining his choice for me and the size hoop I should use. So, I ordered it. And now for the waiting on its arrival. The website, and Harry explained that there is a longer delay in the receiving of the hoops but after I saw the end result, the wait I believe,  is going to be worth it!

Here is a picture from the website of what I ordered. However, I decided to do my stain in the dark walnut color, but in essence, this is what I bought. 

So, until it arrives, perhaps I will put my quilt in my hoop and let you follow me as I quilt left handed. Who knows, maybe it might help someone else out there ‘hand direction”challenged!

Take care, stay safe, and sew...I’ll stitch!

A new start!

Good cold January day, my friends!
As I am determined to continue writing on my blog this year, I have set a goal to do at least one post a week! Hopefully I can fulfill this goal. The reason I am back blogging is for a couple of reasons. One, I have paid for my domain name for quite some time, and each time I renew it I think to myself, why am I spending money on something that I never use? So this year, I decided it was to be my year to follow through and use it.
Now, I have some thoughts about whether or not to keep this venue to host my blog (blogger.com) or, as I develop my website to blog from within that. I haven’t decided yet.
Anyway, back to business...
I have a new start! This post will be about my latest cross stitch start, and also maybe a word or two about my process on the Bonnie Hunter “Frolic” mystery quilt , and possibly what’s coming up.

This is my latest project for our winter place here in Florida!

I decided to try something different this time and put a piece of painters tape on my thread holder and with a sharpie, make the symbol that corresponds with the color of the thread that I am using. I am not sure how that will go but its a try and let you know.

Here is my start...so far, so good. I have only had to frog once!  

Since this is a 9x36” banner, I am going to have all of this Aida hanging down in front of me as I stitch. So, I decided to bring my wonder clips into my work and I rolled up my fabric so I unclip as I go! Brilliant!!!

Now back to my sewing. I am on clue # 5 on the Frolic mystery by Bonnie Hunter.

I just love her!! 

Clue #5 all cut and ready to sew!

Notice how I do like Bonnie tells us to?? I use her little ruler to measure the 1/4” and then after I sew, press and measure, if it is accurate I put down an old plastic card and apply painters tape to hold my spot for accuracy. It isn’t pretty, but oh what a difference being accurate means in quilting!!

The last thing I need to do is to either get batteries for my video camera or maybe I will just use my phone, but I need to make a video for my brother.  Yes, my brother. You see, I the only thing that I know how to knit are dishcloths.

 My brother just loves them and asked me to show him how to make them. He told me to make him a video and so I decided that I would share it here with you as well! But that’s to come later. Right now, I want to get to the next part of the Quiltville mystery, and sew I stitch!

Have a great day!!! 

To frog or not to frog...

So while I have been flying back and forth home to Vermont from our new home in Florida, I was working on my cross stitching (another one of my stitching fav’s). I was hoping to get this banner done by the end of 2019, but I ran out of my DMC thread. I happened to find some in Vermont and brought it back here with me, along with my fabric for the Bonnie Hunter Frolic quilt mystery. However, before I start on my mystery quilt, I’d like to finish stitching on my ”Bless this house” banner.

So I sat myself down at the pool, all lathered up in sunscreen, my big floppy sun hat and my stitching, only to count, recount and triple count as I realized I have an error. Its not like anyone but me will see it, but after I had just frogged the left side of my project from the bottom of the pot to the place where the name and date go because I used 2 and not 3 strands of thread, I think I am just going to leave it.

Can you see it?? No? Good!!! Then it stays...

I am close to being done, and then I will begin my next one which is a Christmas banner for 2020!!

Sew having accepted the fact that not everything I sew is perfect, I shall continue on my merry way...stitching my heart out, by hand or machine it doesn't really matter. What matters is that I continue. And, sew, I stitch!

Just a quick last minute note. Christmas 2019, I made this Georgia Bulldog quilt for my son in law... the second picture with him cuddled up underneath just warms my heart. Its the reason I quilt!

Happy New Year everyone! Stitch on!