Only 5 days

In my last post for the One Monthly Goal I let the cat out of the bag so to speak about my falling off the "Focus" wagon of getting stuff done and only starting new things I already had in my stash. Well I caved in only 5 days.  Wow - that's horrible.  So here's where I tell you that my Sister and I are each making one, and they are gifts for our grandchildren.  And even though it was her pattern and not mine, we are both using my stash.  Does any of that make it better?  Probably not.  :) Oh well if I still have ufo's when I go to heaven, set a match to the pile and know I had fun while I was doing it.  :) 
So here's the pattern that derailed me - 

It's an advent calendar with 25 little pockets. 

In the pattern, they have colored the pictures and then it is embroidered. We are doing part wool applique and part embroidery.  We traced out larger squares on our muslin, and for the last few days we have been appliqueing the wool and tracing the embroidery parts.   Here are my 25 blocks. We left them all together so we don't have to try and embroider on a tiny little piece of fabric.

Here's a close up of a few of the blocks. 

 Once we get the applique whip stitched and the embroidery done  we will trim these to 2 1/2" and then add the border to make them into pockets.  I think there is also some embroidery in the borders too. Guess I figure that out when I get all these done.
This makes #4 of projects that are hand work that are in my current cue.
I am still working on an embroidered wall hanging for Halloween. 
I am about 1/2 done with the embroidery, and I already have the border blocks made.
There are the two wool crazy table mats - left to finish up, (Spring and Crazy) 


(Picture from pattern cover)
And then the other is "Over the River and Through the Woods" Embroidery quilt.  I have one panel traced and have started the embroidery on it.

And I got all the flying geese and blocks cut out and will work on that at the retreat.  That I am sure is enough hand work for quite a while. 
In the last few days I also got the borders on this panel and got it sandwiched ready to quilt.  

It glows in the dark.

Not sure how I will quilt the part that glows.  I know there is glow in the dark thread I may need to get some.  This is for my granddaughter she really likes Jack.  
Okay that's what I've been up to for the last few days.  Oh Oh Oh and I cleaned my sewing room.  Like getting rid of dust elephants and putting away all the scraps kinda clean.  

My room is very big - approx 14 x 28 - so I share it with our Puppy crate and exercise equipment and add'l storage.  

And one more thing - Did I mention we have a puppy?  lol more like a bulldozer.  She's 34 pounds of pure muscle and doesn't know it.  She had surgery on Tuesday to get spayed.  They told us to keep the cone on her head and not let her jump or run for 10-14 days.  Oh ya right. We hate the cone more than she does, cause she runs into us full force and the edges of the cone hurt. She tore across the yard at 50 mph today and was jumping like a wild woman tonight. 

 Here she is on the way to the vet......

 Here she is the night she came home......

Like I said she is adjusting to the cone better than we are.  It's a lot of work taking on a new puppy, especially a big one - but I'm already in love with her. 
Have a blessed evening.  
Lynn 

First 2020 OMG

My head has  been going round round trying to decide which of my hundreds of projects I want to be my "One" monthly goal for the first month of 2020.  With a new year I get so excited I make my lists ready to conquer ufo's and new projects.  If you read my last post I was really in a tizzy about staying focused, getting stuff done and only starting new stuff I already had.  Uh hmmm 5 days ... I only lasted 5 days. Oh my, does it count that I'm using my stash to make the new thing.  I'll post more about that later but you're really here to see what my OMG is.  So with out further delay...my goal this month is to make progress on the "Spring" Wool  Crazy table mat. 

Okay to be fair I need to point out how much progress I want to make.  All of the applique has been stitched down.  Next I need to do the embroidery in the blocks and the crazy stitches. I want to get half of that done. I've put arrows to point out areas that I intend to do. 

1. The branches and blooms on the tree.

2. The vine and leaves around the word spring.

3. The vegetables by the shovels.

4. The raindrops with the umbrella.

5. And then the crazy stitches of vine that goes around the whole center. 

That's my goal for this month that I'm linking up. 

Now head back over to Elm Street Quilts and see the other goals. 

Have a great day! Lynn 

2020 A New Year to Focus

It's already the 2nd day of a new year and a new decade. Usually I finish out the previous year with a recap of all I got done, and then do a big post of what I'm hoping to do in the new year.  
My goals are always to finish stuff up.  Last year I did better than most years and I'm hoping to be even better this year.  
Okay so for UFO's I have two types - WIP/UFO's and Quilt Tops/UFO's. 
 I made a list of most of the wip/ufo's and need to decide which one to work on first. 
Also I want to to quilt and finish all my quilt top/ufo's. 
Now here are the two small hurdles that I will work around but are cluttering my thoughts a little. 
1. My machine that I quilt with needs to be fixed again - so I will have to hold off on quilting until that is done.  I'm hoping within a couple weeks.
2.  I am going to go back to work for a while - not long maybe a couple years, but that of course will cut down on my sewing time a bit. (or a lot)  
So/Sew I guess even more than ever, I want to stay focused.  I want to get ufo's done.  And as much as I like to (and I'm sure I will) start new things, I really really want to limit new stuff, to stuff I already have... patterns and kits I have in my stash.  I bought them because I liked them - so I'm telling myself "then do them". :)
It's so easy to get distracted with all the "Squirrels" and "Shiney" things... so just keep reminding me - focus, focus, focus.  
Happy New Years my quilting friends let's see what we can accomplish. 
Blessings,
Lynn 

A Finish on Christmas Day

Hey what's better than finishing up a gift on Christmas day?  I don't know - except the fact that is was my One Monthly Goal and I really wasn't sure this time if I actually would get it done. Because... I also had a personal goal to finish the binding on the bear quilt so I would not have to say that I finished it in 2020.  That would add another year to this quilt that took way too long to begin with.  So here is a picture of the Bear Quilt in it's new home.  

My Sister is so happy with it.  :)
Okay now - the Christmas finish and my OMG Finish. 
Winter Wool Mat (from Primitive Gatherings) with a few changes.

I used monofilament thread on top and a real thin thread on the back to just do enough quilting to hold together.  

She said she loved it.  :) Now on to the "Spring" mat.  I am doing all the seasons for my friend that does so many things for me.  She did all the fusing of the applique and whip stitched them down, then I do all the embroidery and the crazy stitches. 
Well I'm going to link this up to One Monthly Goal over at Elm Street Quilts 

Thanks for visiting - I love comments if you have time.  Then go back and see the other finishes by clicking the link above.
Blessings,
Lynn 

Christmas with Friends

Here's a few pictures from our gathering last night.  It was just as wonderful as it was last year. Above is a picture of Myself my wonderful hubby, Brother in law and Sister.
Below in background is Loren our host for the evening.  To the right is our friend Jim, front right is one of my best friends Cheryl.

From left to right long haired lady is Loren's daughter.  Standing is Milt (Cheryl's husband) Terry in middle and on the right is Carolyn (Jim's wife)

On the left is Debbie I didn't get a picture of her husband Gary.  Yes in this group they have Gary, Terry and my hubby Jerry.  :)

Okay well I got his arm, on other side of Debbie.  LOL

We had a wonderful time.  Christmas was very nice!

Blessings,

Lynn 

Merry Christmas

This month as been a lot of gathering with friends and family to have lunches or pot lucks - a month of celebration.  My friends that I sew with usually get together a couple times a month for lunch but there's been more celebration due to Christmas. Here is my lunch with my Sister Randi, my friend Cheryl and our friends from Henderson/Boulder NV.  Cheryl and Patti (Pam in background)

  Above is Alice, Patti's Mom and Pam - Below is Terri

 And here is Sis - Randi and I.

 Here Sis and I are with Santa - outside the cottage where we sew on Friday's and One Saturday a month.

And here is the Saturday sew bunch.  That's Randi waving.

 That's Jean in he Gingerbread leggings.  :)

Christmas to me is so much.  It's first and foremost my Saviors Birthday.  It's the real reason for this holiday and I don't take that lightly - or I try not to.  I almost feel more thankful now as I reflect on His blessings in my life than I do or did at Thanksgiving. Christmas is also the wonder and excitement of Children wishing and hoping for this and that.  It's a wonderful feeling to have children and or grandchildren that you are fortunate enough to be able to give them gifts and watch the excitement as they tear into the wrapping to see what it is.  
I'm missing my parents a lot this year.  My Step Mom passed a few months ago and with my Mom and Dad already gone... that just made it more final somehow. I'm missing her as well, but feel the weight of how my step brother feels with his first Christmas with out his Mom.  I'm missing my kids and grand kids too. Thankfully we have technology where we can video chat which makes them not seem as far away. I'm sure it's hard on Military families that can't be with their loved ones. 
And though I miss the ones that I can't be with us this Christmas, I am blessed to share it with my husband and Sister and some good friends. Tonight I will go have dinner with some of hubby's golf friends.  One of the golfers cooks the whole dinner and invited us over. My Sister and Brother in law will be there also, along with my friend Cheryl and her husband. We are blessed to have so many good friends. 
Where ever you are and whether you are around your family or friends - I pray you are blessed.  May your heart and home be warm, may you have good health and plenty to eat. 
God Bless and Merry Christmas!
Lynn

Not a Lot a Sewing

The last couple of weeks passed and I'm not sure I was present when they went by.  LOL... And there really hasn't been a lot of sewing happening until The last few days. .  So to recap if I even can - I'm going to have to recreate day by day.  

On the 2nd we drove to Vegas to take Taya back  to the airport.  :( 

On the 3rd day of Dec. I did some house work and did a small walk with the dogs... hmm did I mention we have a new puppy (that's 4 times as large as our other one. 

On the 4th day of Dec. I did some hand applique on the UFO "A Little Porch Time"

and played referee with the dogs. Did I mention we have a puppy?  Old small dog not fond of new big dog. Hubby played nine holes of golf then got rained out.   

On the 5th day of Dec.  - My back has been hurting for a few days so I just laid low,  and  I played referee with the dogs.  Did I mention... oh ya I did. :)

On the 6th day of Dec. I went to the cottage which is when I usually get to sew and work on my Wool but it was the Friday before our annual Christmas party so that meant we needed to deep clean and decorate the Cottage.  I was feeling better so I was helping to sweep and mop and guess what... I threw my back out again. Well after that I was in super pain not just a some... Rrrrr. So us that got there early and did the cleaning left to let the others do the decorating part.  :). 

On the 7th day of Dec.  We took new puppy to get her first set of shots (more in a month) and then did grocery shopping.  We loaded up on meat so I got that wrapped and frozen.  

On the 8th day of Dec. Hubby golfed so my Sister and I made "Crackers" for our big guild party. Just little goodies to share.

On the 9th day of Dec.  Did some cleaning and cooking. Jer (hubby) golfed and I found some fabric I want to use for the aprons for my granddaughter and great granddaughter, and great grandsons. Or easier yet "The Texas Kids" (I did purchase other fabric that matches the green for the boys)

On the 10th... We went to burbs of Vegas for a doctors appointment.  Came home and went to the small guild Christmas party.  I took stuffed celery. I mixed Ranch mix into cream cheese and stuffed - I have to say pretty yummy.  

On the 11th.. Jer golfed and I started on the aprons. I got one for Nellie the 2yr old done 

and I did one for Ben, but after buying other fabric decided to redo a little bigger. I'll send both and maybe Nellie will just have two.

On the 12th.. Jer had another Dr. appt. here in town.  Then bought stuff at Lowe's for  project ( more on that later) 

On Friday the 13th - I went to cottage and worked on Wool mat.  We left around 1pm I came home did some house work and cooked dinner. 

On the Saturday the 14th I went to Havasu with the girls.  Jean, Cheryl and Randi drove. Went to Kim's quilt shop and Copper Canyon shop.  Got donations for Retreat.  Had lunch at the airport in Havasu it's called "Hanger 24". When I got home our dryer had died we found another new to us dryer off facbook marketplace picked it up and proceeded to install. I had different size hardware so we ended up going to a few home repair stores and had to change the gas valve to accommodate. 

On Sunday the 15th - I cooked some beans and got a pot of chili in the Ccrockpot, then I worked on the Aprons. I got my granddaughter Ciara's done.  The first one I cut out from a pattern was huge and so I had to redo.  She's a little tiny thing barely 5' and a waist of 25".

And Monday the 16th - I was able to finish the rest of the aprons.  I knew I would use the fabric to make the oldest boy Carter an apron, but after looking at how tiny the first one I made for Ben was I redid.  Here are the two I did for Carter and Ben.   

That's about it - this morning is another Dr. appointment and then we are going to finalize Christmas shopping.  Then I'll need to get stuff wrapped up and in the mail. 
We are so much later this year - but it all works. 
Have a Blessed day!
Lynn 

December 2019

Another new month - and the start of winter, at least according to Google.  :)!  As one month ends and the new one starts it's time to set my wishes and goals for the next few days and weeks.  Last month I met and exceeded my goal(s) so of course I want to do that again.  And even with the Christmas holiday coming up, I believe I can get some stuff done.  
At this moment I don't have items I am making for Christmas gifts that need to be finished up -  but that's always subject to change.  :)
My granddaughter wanted matching aprons for her and her oldest daughter Nellie, however she hasn't given me the measurements I need yet so it's on hold.  
So what do I want to try and accomplish this month - I would like to finish the wool Winter Table Mat - 

Here's how far along I am with it right now. I have crazy stitches on two joining seams.

I will need to finish the crazy stitches on the remaining seams ( Nine more)  and the center.  Then I can but the back on and bind.  I want to get this done - it is almost officially winter you know. 
This will be my One Monthly Goal.  To finish the Wool Winter table mat. So I am linking this up over at Elm Street Quilts.  


I also want to finish the binding on the Bear Quilt so I can finally give to my Sister and Brother in law.   It is sewn on I just need to do the hand stitching. 

I may submit it to the quilt show that is happening in March. 
I also want to continue with "A Little Porchtime" the UFO that I have been working on.  Would be great to get the top done. 

Not sure what all else the month will hold - but that will give me a good start. 

Now go back over to Elm Street Quilts and look at all the other entries. 

Have a Blessed Day! 

Lynn