The Bad Blogger

That would be me! I have wanted to blog multiple times since my last blog but I have been sidetracked by a nasty flu, work, and now a congested head cold since last weekend. We have also stopped packing and gave up on finding a decent place since we should probably buy our next home instead of renting with the crazy prizes here in the Lower Mainland.  But where to buy, we don't know.  I think that with baby bean's birth on the horizon, moving is just crazy which was stressing us both out a lot, and I can't afford to be stressed right now.  So we are going to improve our place a little bit instead. Baby Bean can stay with us for the first few months and then we will see what to do.  So I unpacked some of my stitching supplies and have been working on my WIP's while sick.  It helps with the stress! 

I had one finish this year so far! Woohoo!! It's BBD's freebie Souvenir de Paris I stitched for a colleague who will be retiring this year.  It will be placed in scrapbook so I didn't need to finish it into anything.  I used GAST Blue Jay, a divine blue, and a scrap of linen I found. 

I personalized it with her initials and the year of her retirement.  I hope she likes it!

After pulling out my stitching supplies from boxes, which was a silly thing to do, I grabbed Knotgarden and stitched on it all yesterday and the night before.  

The corner is complete except for the beading and fancy stitches which I'm going to leave out so they don't get squished by the qsnaps. I highly doubt this will get finished in the next year with Baby Bean's imminent arrival.

Sarah Chapple had got a lot of love from me the past month or so.  She's such a beautiful sampler to work on.  I can't wait for her to be finished!

The border with all the honeysuckle flowers will take quite awhile to do. It's such a unique design that is very ornate.  Stay tuned!

The Bitter Flower Sampler by Birds of a Feather is nearly complete.  It's been fun stitching it on weekdays as it's easy to hold in my hand and I can speed along as I wind down from work. 

I've made two bunting triangles, with a third in progress for Baby Bean.  They are fun to make and I think I'll make 4-6 more of them.

The Granny stripe has been growing too.  Hubby says I need to get it done so we can have at least one finished blanket this year.  

I feel like a bad mother who has made nothing for Bean yet! So I found these adorable booties online that looked fairly simple to crochet.  I'm going to give it a fair shot in the next few weeks and see if I can make them.

Aren't they adorable?! Teeny tiny baby shoes always fills me with delight! I'm going to make them in white and maybe grey too. At least Bean will have stylish feet! 

I'll leave with a few photos from my walk yesterday.  I had to get out although I was very tired and the walk wore me out. I really hope this cold goes away and that I don't get another one for awhile.  I'm sick of being sick!!!

My February display

Oh, can't forget about Titus!! He's such a big suck.  I wonder how he will be when Bean comes.  Hubby says we can't ignore Titus but I don't know.  I know that Bean's first few months will be attached to me so how much can of myself can I give to all the babies in the house, hubby included.

Take care and thank you all for taking the time to read through this post.  I have been a bad commenter as well but I do peak around to everyone's blogs early in the morning as I wake up.  My comments wouldn't make sense that early so I have been refraining for a reason.  I hope to take some time during spring break to do some visiting.  Hugs to you all!!

Anne

Mailart and Flowers

Hello everyone!

Thank you all for your lovely comments on the last post.  The past few days here have been like summer.  The weather is so hot and glorious I can't believe it! I'm eager to get on my bike and cycle around soaking in the sun.  There are a few things I need to do first before I head out.  

Meari's mailart finally arrived the other day and she loves what I made for her.  Her niece was visiting and thought that the mailart is the bomb!! So cute! For the front of the letter I chose parts of a freebie pattern from the Snowflower Diaries called Tulips with Chick.  I chose my own colours and used an assortment of overdyed threads for the pattern. 

For the back, I used BBD's A Breath of Spring with DMC threads.  I didn't stitch the whole pattern, just parts of it.  

It was fun to make for her and I'm glad we did this exchange.  Thanks Meari!!

Here's a few flower photos from our little bike ride down to the flower store in the farmlands.  It's such a happy place to be!

Beautiful Calla lily

My favourite...lavender

Little pockets of golden sunshine..Marigolds

That's all for now.  I'll have more stitching to share after the weekend.  I hope to get some finishing done to show!! Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs

Anne

We Survived!

Well, it was a crazy, cold camping trip but we did it! My hubby wanted to stay another night but on the second night, I woke up mumbling/complaining about the cold and he heard me so we left the next day.  It was definitely an experience I'll remember...being freezing! I was like a lizard during the day following the sun, trying to get warm.  There was also no water there, which we didn't know about.  Luckily for us, there were some older campers who were very kind and gave us water from their warm motor homes. On the last day though, we had to use creek water, boiled of course, to sustain us until we got back into Sechelt.  The water was very clear and crisp yet one can't take risks and should always boil water in case of parasites.  I managed to get a fire going on the second night which is a small feat considering the damp woods all around us.  I found dry kindling and we sprinkled some fuel to get it going.  I was very proud of my spring fire! We made a good choice in leaving that day for the very next, the coast had a downpour of cold rain.  Phew!! 

The trip over to the Sunshine coast

Sunset at Porpoise Bay

Morning sun at the Estuary

Rising sun

Frosted seaweed

Sea Snake!!

Hairy trees

I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do since my hands were so cold!! Very thankful for warmth now :D

Stitching Stuff and Conundrums    

Since I've been back, I made some progress on my projects however, I'm feeling stuck on my granny stripe.  When reading the instructions for the granny stripe, I found another post of Lucy's stating that it would be good to make the chain loose or use a larger gauge for the starting chain. Hummmmm....that's not what I did and so now, my granny stripe has a slight curve from the chain.  I'm not sure what to do.  Do I rip all my progress out or hold onto hope that the curve will "straighten" itself out?  Calling all crocheters for help!!  It's hard to tell in the photo but there is a definite curve.

I think ripping it out would have to happen now instead of adding more then deciding to rip....it's just so hard to think about counting 240 chains again!! That gave me a headache!

Quilting conundrums...I pulled out my quilt and measured, cut, pinned and sewed the first border the other day.  The second border, which was going to be 4 inches, is now going to be larger in order to cover our bed.  I think I have enough fabric for the border and the back but even if I don't, I'll improvise.  My conundrum is whether to hand quilt or machine quilt.  Machine quilting would mean I could only go in straight lines, which would be okay, but boring.  Hand quilting would allow me to be more creative and do swirls and things....yet it would take an age especially with all my other projects on the go.  I know I'll make the right choice for me in the end however, I can't visualize it at this moment!! The putting the quilt together part is still a bit of a mystery to me...hopefully when I get to that point the mystery will be revealed!

The brown border

The red fabric which will be the border and the back

Stitching, oh how I love you! If problems arise, I always (usually!) know what to do.  Thankfully, with stitching, I haven't had any conundrums...just pure, wonderful stitching.  I am happy to say that all of my little packages arrived to their owners.  I crocheted a little mug cozy for Mouse as a thank you for the 123stitch GC.  These little cozies are so easy to hook up and send on their merry way.  

Photo borrowed from  Mouse!

The little BBD pincushion I stitched for Shirlee arrived safely too.  I stitched it on 40 ct. Linen using a mix of DMC and GAST threads.  It's from the Agnes Platt's Strawberry Sampler book.  It was a fun one to stitch with some specialty stitches sprinkled in for variety.

Photo borrowed from Shirlee although my watermark showed up??

My spring biscornu made it all the way to the UAE!! Sarah loved the package and we both enjoyed doing this private exchange together.  Again I had to borrow photos from her to show you...sigh...next time I'll remember!!

The biscornu design is a spring biscornu freebie from Ancsanaplo.  I used 28ct Baby blue lugana with a mixture of WDW, Dinky Dyes Silk and Carrie's Creations threads. I chose the colours to represent the beautiful tulips of spring. 

Before I sign off, I wanted to show the progress I've made on Knotgarden and...wait for it....TEA BATH FAIRY!! My hubby again said "Why don't you give her some love and stitch on her tonight?"  So I did.  I pulled her out and am slowly filling in all the baby pink in the cup before I complete it with that wonderful stuff called Kreinik...Not!!! You can probably barely tell any difference but there has been about 2-3 hours put in filling in that pink!

Oh, and I got my love birds finally framed.  It's not the best DIY framing job, but it will do.

I feel like I have more to say...I'm sorry if it's been too long of a post! 

I just want to say to all of those who have joined my blog, and to those that I wish to join their blogs...that I CAN'T.  Google/Blogger are at odds and so am I.  For whatever reason, I can no longer join blogs and this is actually a problem for a few people.  You can read about it here. I also don't have any blogs on my reader list for some reason.  When I click on the settings, all of you are there, but not in the feed part.  Feedly is back to working for me so I can add people there...just can't be an actual follower on blogs...very sad and irritating.  

Take care everyone and thank you for taking the time to read this post! I know it's a long one!!


Hugs

Anne

IHSW That Was All About Sewing

I'm back!!! There are a ton of photos I want to share with you all from my trip but I will hold off and keep this post all about the crafty frenzy I had this weekend.  I am slowly going through posts and hope to be caught up this week if I'm lucky, since this is the last week before I head back to school...sigh.  Summer's end always makes me a wee bit sad.  But this weekend, I tried to forget all about the onset of school and cooler temps and got crafting.  I went on a fabric shopping trip with my cousin-in-law gf and we spent about 3 hours at Dress Sew. A fabric lover's heaven.  While she picked out funky and fun fabrics with chickens and horses for her child to be, I found some wonderfully soft yarns on sale for $1.99! There were only three colours so I scooped them up.  I also found two pretty fabrics that I know I will use at some point.  

The packaged fat quarters are from the Quilting Shop on the Sunshine Coast

Let me back up a bit on my two big projects I have started.  While we were on our vacation on the Sunshine Coast, there is this marvelous quilting shop that we have cycled by a number of times and I always exclaim while cycling by, rather loudly since we are on bikes, "I really want to go there baby!!!" To which my baby replies (for the past 4 years) "Next time!! Let's just get to the ferry!" So this time, as we had a bunch of time to kill waiting for the ferry, I finally got a positive response to my query..."Let's go to that quilting store you've always wanted to go to." YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! So off we went and I was giddy with delight at the selection of fabrics.  Let me back up yet again.  Before my vacation, I read Nicola's post about her jelly roll quilts that she made and linked a video about the jelly roll races.  I was hooked; line and sinker.  I wanted to make one!! So I started researching jelly rolls and found that Vancouver, as massive as it is, doesn't have quilting stores.  SERIOUSLY VANCOUVER... GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!!!!! Anywho, I was going to order a pretty jelly roll online from Moda, but with shipping it would've cost a lot.  Back to my trip....while I was browsing the amazing quilting store, where there were machines on "sale" for $8000!!, I asked the lady "Do you have any jelly rolls?" To which she replied, "Why yes we do!" And showed me...GASP...the Moda jelly roll I was yearning for online!! Yahoo! It was on sale too.  So I looked to my hubby and said "Pretty please!! I will make us a fabulous quilt!" And he said "Yes!" Wow...I should've gone for more if he was in such a carefree mood. 

Pretty Moda strips laid out - Double Chocolat

Back to present time, IHSW weekend...so it began with a sewing Saturday with my cousin. I unraveled the jelly roll and started sewing the pieces together.  It takes a lot longer than an hour to do since I'm not even finished sewing all the parts together.  

Disorganized mess makes me panic!

The strips sewn together in a jumble.  I can't stand jumbles and even though the ladies on the video say "Don't worry, this is not a fussy quilt" I had to iron them all out and organized the strips....I'm too particular with details as my cousin and husband say!

So nice and organized!

Much  better!! Here's where I'm at now.

So far I have 4 panels sewn and I'm going to make it into 8 panels tonight.  Maybe16 if my back doesn't give me too much pain.  The red and brown beneath the panels are going to be my backing and front panels to frame the quilt.  We picked that out today and the lady at Fabricland was AMAZING.  She helped me with the dimensions, the colour choices and even drew me a design.  I love her!! 

After researching quilting online, I have decided once all the parts are together, I will hand quilt it.  Since I cross stitch...lol...I think the rocking hand motion will be fine for me.  I like stitching in hand at times and I want this quilt to be really special. 

Guess what I never knew what this object is for and feel silly admitting it to all of you... a THIMBLE! It's for quilting!! AHAHAHA!! I always thought it was for embroidery or darning or something.....never for quilting...silly me. The rubber thimble is for your index finger!! My Nana has one that I used to play with as a child. 

To all you quilters...if you have any tips or tricks for me that have helped you quilt please pass them along to me! I will collect them all and print a copy to refer to.  

Onto the second big project.  Remember way back when I talked about granny squares and attempted to make one? Well, I've been wanting a decent selection of yarns that are of the same weight? consistency? to make one really large granny blanket.  I'm not making several little squares but one massive one.  Check out Bunny Mummy's large granny. I spent quite late last night trying different methods and was getting frustrated with the differences in patterns.  My eyes were hurting so I put it down to work on it another day.  

I think it looks okay.  The lady's pattern I'm following reverses the square and I'm not sure if I like that method as the chain stitch gets a bit wonky.  Again...I'm toooooo picky and precise!

Stitching? Yes, I did some of that too! I finished BBD's Bluebird as a Redbird and stitched a Hannah motif.

Stitched on 32 ct. Platinum Belfast with CC's Cupid

I don't think I'll have Hannah done by the end of summer...possibly September.  That's my new goal.  I am also stitching a little RAK for someone and picking out three more to make.  If only I had more time!! 

Last but not least, before we bought the quilting fabric, we browsed through the Salvation Army and found this great hardcover book for $2.99 on Traditional Samplers! Great book at a great price!

I love this sampler and hope to make it one day.

I miss everyone and am looking forward to reading your posts and catching up.  Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last few posts.  I haven't been very diligent with responding but I mean to!!  I'm always inspired, uplifted and grateful for each and every one of you!!

For my next post as a little teaser....Clams, nocturnal animals circling our tent, and bears....

BIG HUGS TO YOU ALL!!

edited to add details for Margaret and Missy Tannebaum :D