Quilt finally basted!

You may remember Sophia's quilt, from March.hmm...hmmm Anyway, the goal was to have the top pieced in the month of March. Which included the 24 embroideries, mostly from Wee Wonderfuls. Well, I did that, but I could not get the border right for anything, so I put it away for awhile, and Sunday I was able to get the binding on, baste it, and now I am actually tying it. I planned to send it out for quilting, but I think there is enough "busy"and I did not want to take away from the embroideries. And this is only a large twin size. So anyway, I will let you all know when I am done!

I love fall, and so do my girls, if you look closely, you can actually see Sophia's pigtails! First time on Sunday, and this is a milestone I am telling you! Her passport is almost two years old, and I dug it out the other day, and she still looks EXACTLY the same! she was very proud of those pigtails too!

Long overdue post!

I have many excuses for not frequently posting, but the migraines have been the most common reason. I am absolutely down for the count when they come on. Hopefully today will be pain free. The sun is shining, and the snow is almost melted completely, so spring must be coming!

The stitchette above is my final embroidery for Sophia's quilt. It is coming together great, and I am excited to post the result when it is finished. I am now wondering what I was thinking doing embroidery on fabric that I had limited quantity of, on my first full-sized quilt. Any mistakes and I am #$*!@#$. But it is almost finished and I will be happy for that. I will be sending it out however for machine quilting. Just cannot take the chance on messing it up.

I feel compelled to direct you here since I am a huge fan and I have much to say on the subject.

Since I used the Stitchettes and purchased every one of them and have used them not for resale as stated on the package insert. When someone is as talented as Hilary Lang and has a nice little business going on, I think supporting her is great. Can I get "more" embroidery patterns than 4 for $12? Yes I can, could I draw a figure of a kid myself? Probably. But my view on this blogging-crafter-artisan-for profit-for fun-for hobby is this:

The bloggers who include a business within the blog or at the very least promote their creations deserve some serious respect. These folks put an extraordinary amount of time and effort to create, produce and market their great products. I get some fabulous ideas from some blogs promoting ideas just as I do from magazines or websites or tv or whatever. But I do give credit where it is due. If it truly is my own idea...well then I will toot my horn.

What has obviously happened to Hillary Lang is just horrible and I credit her for not outsourcing her stitchettes and wee make-a-long kits. What I value is that I can buy from a credible source, hand made for me. I've been to China...some of the manufacturing issues aren't pretty, and it isn't just China. Support whenever possible handmade and of course the small business, it will not only be supporting someone else (personally), but make you feel like you are contributing to something "good."

This could happen to anyone. I think it was an incredible injustice and it makes me want to support the small business all the more. And I hope you will join me too!

Publish Post

WIP

So, please keep in mind that these photos are yes, with Jurnee's camera and fluorescent lighting!
Doe was asking if I will actually get the quilt top finished by the date planned, TODAY. Well, no, I guess not. I am caught up with cutting, and sewing, but the embroidery is holding me up at the moment. I love the Pattern Bee Apple Tree design from the freebee transfer 2007 collection. Since I have the flall, winter and spring stitchettes embroidered for the quilt I decided to embroider the Wee Wonderfuls Summer Stitchettes after all...So I am patiently waiting for them.
I really like how it is turning out, I have the quilt pinned up to my "project wall" and I am pleased with the embroideries especially. And the color selections. I pained over the pink floral and am overall pleased at how it works! So Doe, here is my progress.

Also, I have my kitchen painting done and am thinking of what to do with the window treatments. I have realized that what I have has been up 5.5 years, and 5 years too long for this previous designer. I took a photo, but I cannot even post that one.

I have the first coat of the hall paint on, now I will wait a few days and paint the stripes! I will photo that as soon as I can. ( Might have to get a camera.)

So much to write about tonight! You've got to see what Hilary Lang at Wee Wonderfuls is doing now. I get so much inspiration from that woman and I do not even know her. In fact The elf Stitchette design on Sophia's stocking is from one of her freebie downloads. It turned out pretty great I must say. I am trying to decide what to do with the fall collection I purchased from her. Maybe some sort of quilt. I am also feeling in need of a large project. I want to work on something big. I have a few ideas, but nothing stable yet, stay tuned!
Now I am finishing up some Christmas orders and gifts, most are close to completion...yeah! I will enjoy Christmas, and then hopefully travel to get Sophia. No word on travel yet...blah blah blah, I sound like a broken record. I am having a great time with Jurnee this week though. She is so fun to hang with!
Thursday I am planning to do something especially unusual, spend time alone with Rusty! We will be shopping and it will be fun, Rusty loves to shop. I love to shop alone - hee hee - but he is really excited about Christmas, so he can have his fun and I will set limits, it will be grand! Plus he will buy dinner, and he will probably go wherever I want, Italian no doubt. Oh the simple life, only I wish it was that simple. I do have a few Christmas surprises in store this year. And like I said, then it will be all business, going to China and coming home with an almost toddler! She will be 11 months old tomorrow! Probably we will celebrate her birthday with her though, we were able to spend Jurnee's 1st birthday with her also. Ta Ta~~

For whatever reason, I could not post this yesterday, but today is different, so here is the drawing Rusty did off of a photograph of Jurnee. He did this in about 10-15 minutes. He thinks it is not very good, but are you kidding me. That would take me 10-15 days! I would love words of encouragement for him, so he can spend some time perfecting this art!
I just traced the "freebie" elf stitchette from Wee Wonderfuls for Sophia's Christmas stocking. I think I will work on it today. Hillary Lang from Wee Wonderfuls is amazing and I would encourage anyone reading this to link to her blog ( from the bottom right "Link" list) I will definitely post it when I am finished ! No word on China travel yet, or INS renewal paperwork.

I finally got with the beta program...and I finally got my links up and running! Tomorrow is definitely photo day! I need to get that figured out. I ordered from Wee Wonderfuls yesterday, the new Stitchettes collection, and I can hardly wait for them to arrive.

Also, this weekend I am expecting big things of myself, I have many small details to add to my projects, then I will be finished, and what a feeling it will be.


I then have to work on my orders for aprons and bags for Christmas, not to mention the Christmas gifts I plan on giving!
And I have to get busy on painting the hall and Sophia's bedroom. Who knows when we'll get the call, but I tell you, I need to get that room finished into something, maybe I will photo that tomorrow and post the results of the decorating project later! I am tired of walking past and seeing the mess...argh!!!!!!!!!!