Happy Sunday!

Well you knew it wouldn't be long right? Yup, I've started yet another project... seriously... what is wrong with me???

Scraps ball!

I'm seriously beginning to doubt my sanity here...

Gotta have a system!

Just when I thought I had enough of something, I head back in for some more????? Didn't I just get finished with complaining about having too much to do????

Extra mini!

I once heard that the definition of insanity is doing something over and over again expecting different results. Yup! I guess that seals it - I'm insane. 

But there is a bright side here! No pressure :) Meaning, this quilt is not for anyone. I'm just doing it because. If it comes out beautiful - yey me! If it comes out horrendous and I have no other choice but to burn it - YEY me! So I guess you could say I'm officially addicted. My stitchy bug has taken a vacation. She's been replace while on haitus with the quilting bug (if that's what you call it).

This one is made out of a set of fat quarter precuts by Moda, called Seasonal Elegance. I simply love the muted Christmas colours. Certainly seems to be the trend this winter actually. But I love that the colours are not overtly Christmasy at first glance. Instead the mix of the mild green/reds/silvers blend wonderfully with the unique patterns that are in this collection to put it in the "Christmas Category".

While I'm in the Christmas-y mood here's one for road:

Happy Holidays!

Melissa

Happy Thursday!

2 posts in two days! Must be a record :) But I really couldn't wait any longer to show you!

A couple of weeks ago I made my way to Michael's to finally get Nantucket framed. This is the first piece of needle work I have ever had framed :)

I was going for an old world kinda feel when thinking about framing. Actually, 'old trunk' is what I had in mind. I wanted the frame to look like it could have come off a ship somewhere. I think it turned out pretty good!

How did Nantucket get framed if you have many finishes and none framed, you ask? Well because Michaels had a sale on their framing services. If you can call it that... I still ended up paying a minor fortune to get Nantucket framed. So what was the deal? Well 60% off plus an extra 20% off. Now that in my mind means 80% off... Nope it's an extra 20% off the total after 60%... makes no sense. Anyway, I didn't get quite the deal I was hoping for but I really wanted to get her framed!!! SO I ponied up the $150. 

I was so excited by this 'sale' that I actually brought a couple of other pieces along with me... but alas they will remain in my finished pile for a while longer. 

I can't quite believe that $150 is considered a sale... I mean I've gotten a couple things  (non-stitchy) framed before for around that price normally. I think Michaels prices must just simply be astronomical and I would NEVER shop there without a coupon... EVER. E.V.E.R!

Anyway, I digress. 

The REAL question I would like to ask you all is... Is there anyway to frame a piece of needlework yourself??? I've heard of Frames By Mail but I'm a huge scardy cat because I have no idea how it works exactly. I have so many lovely pieces that I want framed but I simply will NOT be dishing out $150+ to get them framed.... 

HELP

Yours truly,

One desperate stitcher.

Happy Wednesday!

Well I'm very happy to announce that I'm finished with working at the factory... the factory being the dining room table and sewing machine.

I've officially completed ALL the Christmas gifts I had planned! I can't believe I did it... and ahead of time too! I was convinced I was going to slaving away on the machine on Christmas Eve. NOPE, not this time! Alllllll done :)

Before I show you any pictures I have to tell you that the camera just doesn't do justice to the vibrancy of the colours what-so-ever. It's pretty well dark when I leave for work in the morning and dark when I get home so there's not much opportunity to snap a good picture that either shows the right colours or that doesn't have a shadow in it!

Now onto the projects! 

Another 8 placemats for my grandmother donzo:

The true colours of the placemats shown here. It was late afternoon when I snapped this pic so a little shaddy!

I used the same 'tablecloth' material for the backing in these mats as I used in the other set I did not that long ago. 

I just love this fabric! Bought it for 50/60% off or something like that. Have to say I think these will look brilliant on her dining room table :)

I also finished up a throw blanket for my brother. He loves watching TV with a blanket in tow. The fabric was generously donated from my mom, who still has TONS of the top fabric you see here:

It's a nice heavy material for top and on bottom I have a softer fabric that is bound to be nice and warm. I don't think it's quite flannel but it's definitely got a similar feel to it. Originally I thought I might quilt this but I was a little worried with how heavy the fabric was and how hard it would be free motion this one. So, since the top fabric is spectacular, I didn't see much harm in leaving it be.

I was so absorbed in my sewing on Sunday that I didn't even notice the snow storm blow in. One minute it was crystal clear, the next I turn around and meet a wall of white. Couldn't even see the road. Believe it or not, I love snow. It's just the removal of said snow after everything has calmed down that sucks... I'm sure many of you might agree. In anycase I'm hoping the snow sticks around until after Christmas... our temps generally yo-yo this time a year... so much so they could give you whiplash. ANYWAY, nothing like a White Christmas really! SO Mr. Snow, BRING IT ON!

I'll leave you now with some puppy pics! They LOVE the snow :)

Wishing you all the very best this Holiday Season!

Melissa

Happy Thursday!

No I'm not referring to that awesomely catchy song that melts hearts! Nope this is all about the stitching people.

So first things first... HURRAY! I have some stitchy progress to show you. Finally... It felt so good to take a couple of hours and stitch to my hearts content this past weekend. I haven't done this in FOREVER! I've mentioned this in previous posts, but I've only managed to pickup a needle here and there in between all my other holiday projects. 

Here's the progress I've managed with L*K's Holly and Hearts Mystery Sampler! PART 1 officially complete!

In fact, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with all the projects. The problem is I wanted to put all my new sewing and quilting skills to good use and make Christmas gifts... yup I put WAY too many projects on the list.

It's starting to get more manageable now but I've still got 8 placemats to stipple/bind/finish and 1 blanket to put together yet!  Pewf... just thinking about it is giving me a little anxiety. BUT the comfort is that I'm in the home stretch! Once I've got these placemats donzo, I'll really be able to relax and cheat on my sewing projects with my stitchy projects :)  Or rather stop cheating on my stitching projects with my sewing projects! After all, my stitching will always be my first love ;)

Until next time!

Melissa

Happy Monday folks!

Annnnnnd welcome to December!!! Let the festive festivities begin!

I have another finish to show you all today of the quilty variety! (I also have a stitchy finish but I can't show it to you just yet!!!)

So without further ado I present a beautiful throw! 

While I thought this would be more of a lap quilt, like my last one, it's actually more body sized and would be great to cuddle up on the couch with. I figure I will slowly make my way up to a full sized quilt... this one was hard enough to handle and it was much smaller than even a twin sized quilt.

I say the main reason I found this quilt difficult to finish is because of all the stippling I did. Swirls all over the blanket. And when I say all over I mean everywhere my little needle could go. And boy did it ever use some thread to do! So when I finished this quilt Sunday morning passed, I was happy to see it end, but also oh so pleased with the end result. All those hours moving my quilt this way and that paid off, and I have to say I love the effect stippling imbues. 

Now it's on to the NEXT one :) I'm even thinking that maybe I'll sell some quilts. Not sure what the market is like for quilts but who knows :)

I also finished some placemats... again the stippling, but at a scale that was far more reasonable. Probably took me about a 1hr work from start to finish for each mat. Not bad for a beginner! 

Again I really tried to optimize my fabric. I had about a metre and a bit to make some placemats out of. When all my calculations were done I realized I only had just enough fabric for 4 mats with binding made out of the same fabric (and that's using every inch of fabric... I mean it). I was a little disappointed that I didn't have enough to make a least 6... if only I had another fabric to use for binding....

I have another 3 projects I'd like to get done before Christmas on the quilty side of things. Not leaving much time for stitching I know - but I'll squeeze it in there some where at some point or I'll go insane. 

I'm so ready for a break at this point... I feel like I spend EVERY evening doing something. I just want a couple of nights where I do nothing but veg on the couch... with my new blanket :)

Happy Stitching!

Melissa