Bee True

This is the pillow I was working on when I had a little disagreement with the beast. 'I' wanted it to sew through two layers of that trim, but 'it' refused. Once I finally got the needle un-stuck, I continued sewing the rest of the pillow and just skipped over where the braid was double, then went back and hand stitched that part.

The chart/fabric/buttons are from the Stitch Every Day series from Just Another Button Company (not sure if I got it last year or the year before - the copyright date is 2005) Anyway - I picked up the backing fabric at Hobby Lobby the other day without having my piece to match it to - I think I did okay.

It is far from perfect but if you don't look too close, it's not half bad for a rookie.

I will win!

And what, you ask, am I going to win? Well, I do battle with this little baby every time it comes out of the closet but I am going to learn to use it if it kills me or the machine! And I thought I might have killed the machine last night. Got that needle stuck in the down position but good. It wasn't moving at all. After about an hour of man-handling it I finally got the offending needle out - I still don't know why it was stuck or whatever, but I did win that battle and it still sews so all is fair in love and war, huh?



So, what did I sew? I made a new pillow form for the LOVE pillow.


I just wasn't happy with the first one - it needed to be wider so I made a new one and I like it better now.
I also made another pillow but I'll save that one for tomorrow! :)

Yuck

That is about the only way to describe the weather today. I did get out for a bit but only to do those things that had to be done today (like the bank and post office) I would much prefer to stay inside, but I have to get out again to go to the cleaners for hubby's uniforms. (they aren't ready until after 3:00 - I usually got right before they close at 5:30 - maybe he will get home early enough to get them himself today)
I have had a cold all week and haven't done much stitching - takes all my effort just to breathe. I hate having a stuffy nose. I haven't had any fever with it, just a head cold. Anywho - since I need a picture for today I'll show something else I stitched up last weekend when the beast was out of the closet. I prefer to think of myself as early for this year rather than too late for last year.

I probably stitched this somewhere around 1985-86. The copyright date on the book is 1985 and it was a new book when I stitched it. At the time I just turned back the edges and glued it - yes, with hot glue - and had a wooden dowel cut to hang it from. It didn't have anything at the bottom or on the back. About 3-4 years ago I decided it needed some help so I took it apart (and took all those red ribbons off) and washed it. Bought the bell pull hardware and then it sat in a drawer until now. I would always forget about it until time to put it up at the first of December. I came across it the other day while looking for something else (that i still haven't found) and thought I would finish it up while I was sewing. If you look close you can see where it was turned back - it is a little wider that it was before, but that is ok with me. I added quilt batting and a fabric back (you can see it at the top and bottom) You tie peppermint candies with each of the ribbons and take them off to count down the days to Christmas. My kids used to fight over who would be the one to take the candy off so we had to use our 'rotation system' - the same one we used for who got to sit in the front seat of the car for the day. Back then, hubby was working shift work so we used the same system the fire department did - A,B,or C shift. Can't do even and odd when there are more than two! I guess the dh and I can take them off this year - unless the two that are still living here want to do it - ya never know.

Off to make Mexican cornbread for dinner. Hope you are warm where ever you are reading this from.

Oh - almost forgot - Anonymous - the stitched part of the pillow is an ecru/off white color.

another pillow

This one is a Pine Mountain kit. I didn't have the right size pillow form (not the size it says on the package or on the directions) so I made one - I made it square but I think I should have made it more oblong so I think I will take it apart this weekend and make another one. Just not really happy with it at the moment.

Have a great day!

Weekend stitching

I sewed up this little pillow over the weekend. This is one I got at the Houston Quilt Festival. I've had it stitched for a couple of weeks but didn't have the right fabric for the backing. (the fabric it is on is the backing fabric) I thought about getting creative and making a ruffle but decided maybe I better spend a little more time making nice with the beast before I attempt something like that. I like it just fine like it is, so it's all good.

Theresa in Arlington - yes, I used a styrofoam heart form. I just tore strips of fabric (I think I did them 1.5") glued one end on and wrapped until I ran out, then started over until I had the whole thing covered. I used another strip to make the bow/hanger.

Tamy - ummm, I think I will pass on the trade. That little dab of snow was good enough for me! I don't think I would function well where there is too much winter. It is 43* here right now and my hands are like ice! Nope, I'm not a snow bunny! LOL

Friday snow!

We had 'snow' on Friday. Flurries off and on all day. The flurries from one wave would melt before the next wave came by. Mostly it was mixed with sleet but a couple of times there were big huge fat flakes - very pretty from inside the house. I didn't have anywhere to go so I just stayed inside and enjoyed it. Here is a pic of the total accumulation.



Yep - that was it!
While I was 'snowed in' I worked on several projects. Here are two of them. First I made this heart wreath for the front door (I couldn't get a good picture on the door so I had to hang it inside for the pic)



Then I made another pincushion.



Worked on a couple of other things but I won't use all my pics in one post. :)
I also started a new project but don't have enough for a pic yet.

From Sherry

I had lunch with my friend Sherry yesterday and she brought me this cute pillow (it is my Christmas present but she didn't have it finished when we had our sleep over a few weeks ago and this is the first time I've seen her since then)

Not much going on here this morning. It was snowing awhile ago, but there wasn't any accumulation and it has already stopped. It was pretty while it was coming down - big fat flakes. Think I might make a big pot of soup for supper tonight but I guess I better think fast or I won't have time to get it done since most likely I'll have to go to the store for something!

Have a great day!