Good Thing About Winter in Michigan...

... It's too cold outside....

So I've been inside prepping my NEXT 5 SKOW BLOCKS! Woot! So excited!

Stay in, stay warm, stay happy!

Elisa

P.s. Like the pic? Took it on Belle Isle using my Hipstamatic app on my iPhone!

Whimsical Finishes

Thought I'd give you a sneak peak of another project I'm working on. These blocks are from the book Simple Pleasures by Anni Downs.

I have 9 more to complete over the next year. Can't wait!

Hope you have a fabulous Sunday!

Elisa

My Cup Of Tea

Not to get cocky, but I think I'm getting the hang of this appliqué thing!

This block went together quite easily, and it's my favorite so far. I realized afterwards I must've chosen this specific fabric because my favorite tea is green!

I did notice there's a marked difference in my stitching depending on the light. Unfortunately, my house isn't very well lit, winter in Michigan is overcast, and I have those new fluorescent (yellow) bulbs in. So I spent a bit of time yesterday pulling out my Ott light and rearranging my living room to accommodate it. Are you having the same issue?

One more block to go and I've caught up for December! <grin> I'm not too worried, though, as I have more free time on the near horizon.

 

Happy Stitching!

Elisa

 

P.s. LOVE Roxanne Glue Baste-it! World of difference! Thank you, everyone, for your advice!

Sorry... Too Busy To Chat...

Finally got back to my Some Kind of Wonderful. Must stitch while the fire is hot!

Anyone ever use Roxanne Glue Baste-it? Pros? Cons? Tips? Warnings?

Happy Stitching!

Elisa

 

Cutting! Cutting! Cutting!

OUCH! Back is a little sore. I try not to iron/cut for more than 45 minutes at a time, but I was so geeked about knocking out a few more projects.

So far, a butterfly quilt, a journal quilt, and the next blocks of my Some Kind of Wonderful quilt are on my cutting table.

Taking Bonnie Hunter's advice. I stopped adding water to my iron and am using a spray bottle instead. Hopefully, I can cut down on the annual replacement of the iron.

Because of work and family illness, I'm very behind on my SKOW quilt. I hope to have my December blocks done before March rolls around!

Did you get any quilting done this holiday weekend?

Cheers!
Elisa

Sometimes It's The Simplest Things....

As simple as..... One layer cake:

Equal 4 sets of charm squares:

I know. Obvious to everyone else. I'm making a butterfly quilt for my sister that requires 4 sets of charm squares. Brilliant me remembered at the last minute that equals a layer cake, which was cheaper (sometimes you can find good sales on them, especially on Etsy).

So, next time you begin one of those charm square projects, consider a layer cake instead.

Cheers!

Elisa

 

 

Small Finish - Easter

Last night I spent my 15 minutes of quilting time cleaning up my Quilt Room. I realized I had too many pieces of 'almost completed' projects floating around so I'm going to try to finish off some smaller ones.

Here's my Easter Egg for Nancy Halvorsen's 2011 Count On It book. It was supposed to be the April block, but Easter sometimes occurs in March so I changed it.

This quilt will fit in that 12" square free-standing Ackfeld wire frame.

It's not often I "birth" a quilt rather than bind it, but this was a kit from a local shop and the fabric was cut pretty exact. One trick I have learned over the years: When I have it layered, I don't sew 3 sides, flip it out, and then hand sew the 4th. That 4th side always looks wonky to me. Instead, I sew all 4 sides, make a slit in the center of the backing, flip it out, and then ladder stitch the cut close. The sight of the slit is where I add my label (on this little fellow, I fused one on over the slit).

I think I finished this one first because I'm ready to take my Winter wallhangings down and see a little Spring!

Cheers!

Elisa

They Were Right...

... without going into boring detail, it is much quicker to think twice rather than rip-out later.

(sigh)

Easier To Leave Comments

One of my blogger buddies (Teresa?) blogged that Blogger is going wild with its word verification when commenting. I took her advice and have removed it so commenting should be easier. Let me know if you have any problems.

Getting ready to brave the elements this morning - sister-in-law is taking the Polar Plunge into the Detroit River for Special Olympics, and I'm going to cheer her on (while ensconced in my thick Winter coat!)

After that, during this long holiday weekend, I'm going to prep some quilt blocks so I can get caught up.

Have a happy Saturday!

Elisa

Mail Call! It Came! It Came!

 Lookie what arrived in my mailbox today!

All the way from Australia!

I won one of the new patterns from Cinderberry Stitches! It's Woodland Village - mushrooms and ladybugs. Way too cute! And each pattern comes with iron-on transfers. Love her stuff! She adores birds, hedgehogs, and fairies too!

She had the giveaway to celebrate her new packaging with iron-on transfers. I won my favorite ❤

Just heard the fabulous news that the fatquartershop.com will now carry her patterns - woot! Oh, so much inspiration and such little time!
Happy Stitching!
Elisa

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Waymarking Edition

Thought you'd enjoy some of the local sites from my trip to Maine.



Eartha - World's Largest Globe - at DeLorme Map Store, Freeport



L.L.Bean and a XXXXXXXL Boot!

 

View from Fort Halifax Park

Portland Headlight - taken with my Hipstamatic App

Waterville, ME - view from the training room

Hanging out with the locals.  We were geocaching, of course!

Portland Headlight - 9 degrees and a wind coming off the ocean

Everyone wants to see a moose in Maine - here's 320 lbs of chocolate!

View from Portland Eastern Promenade

Finished at Bug Light - South Portland

I lived in Maine for 3 years - I miss it and my friends.  The trip really revived me... and it wasn't just the brisk breeze off the ocean!

Hugs, Elisa



Cotton Weeds Quilt Shop - Freeport, ME

No matter how tough times are, a little light breaks through. I've worked insane hours lately for our system rollout, and was shipped off to Maine to train our satellite office. Back in Maine after a six year absence - with time off for good behavior!

When not training, I've had a glorious time geocaching, site seeing, and hitting a quilt shop or two with my BFF Lisa. Today's adventure brought me to Cotton Weeds Quilt Shop in beautiful Freeport, Maine!

541 U.S. Route #1, Ste 12, Freeport, Maine 04032  http://www.cottonweeds.com/

 Lisa leading the way!

 Lots of embroidery patterns from Gail Pan Designs, Hatched & Patched, Bareroots, and Bird Brain Designs. Piles and piles of patterns.

  Clean, well-lit, with samples everywhere. On every counter are notions and do-dads. Picked up some Roxanne needles and Redwork (FriXion erasable red gel) pens.

 Samples and fabric collections. Lots of batiks!  

 Tons of bag patterns and shop samples.

And don't forget to go upstairs for classrooms and machine quilting! You can take a class and then rent the machine by the hour. 

Lovely shop with some good friends behind the counter. After spending some hard earn money there, take a quick jaunt up the road to Freeport, Maine. Freeport is the home of L.L. Bean, the Mangy Moose, and many, many outlet stores.

Happy travels!

Elisa

Cinderberry Stitches - I Won!

Awoke this morning to a very fabulous email. Natalie Lymer, one of the most talented designers, notified me that I am one of six winners in her giveaway!  She does an Australian designer that specializes in whimsical embroideries. I particularly love her hedgehogs! 

She's just re-designed her pattern line and wanted to share the wealth. Not only are six winners about to receive one of her patterns, but she wants to share a free design with you! Stop by and have a look at One Wee Home.

Happy Stitchin'

Elisa

 

Cup Cakes, Anyone?

A very good friend of mine reminded me it's been awhile since I've posted.  I'm a system's trainer at a publishing company, and we're rolling out several systems simultaneously.  Right now I'm in the middle of writing documentation and training our service division.

In the middle of this, I finished my cupcakes!

I admit - I dawdled.  I didn't like my cupcakes (still looks as if I frosted them while still warm).  I finally decided I needed to finish it before I can move on.  Now that they're complete - I'm loving them!  

Don't they look scrumptious?

Here's my 3 blocks so far.  I'm only 7 behind!  I know once things slow down at work I can catch up. I'm pretty geeked about these as I'm learning as I go.  Can't wait to see how the last block compares to my first attempts!

Keep warm!  Michigan is about to be hit with Winter!  I'm going to miss these 45-50 degree days!

Happy Stitching!
Elisa