November

Where did November go?

Christmas is two weeks away...Life is moving on, and I'm figuring out how to live without my DMIL.  I started working at Spring Water Designs Quilt Shop in Columbia, MD.  https://www.springwaterdesigns.com It's good to get out of the house and talk with like minded people.  I've been sewing a little more and cleaning up my sewing room.

I've made some napkins

These were for Thanksgiving dinner but I totally forgot about them!  So I'll be ready for next year.

I did some embroidery

Dish towel, label, Christmas stocking cuffs, and a basketball players sweatshirt. People give me materials to stitch on, and I stitch...

So why not start another scrape quilt?

Bonnie Hunter's "Garlic Knots".  https://quiltville.blogspot.com I have loads, and loads of scraps taking over my life, so let's see where this takes me.  

Until next time, happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

Football, Fabric, and Painting Fun

In my house Sunday's are for football, but not when the team who you have been a "Die Hard Fan" of for your entire life is doing so bad...I tune in for every game, and use to have season ticket's with my husband (another Die Hard Fan).  We gave up our ticket's and patiently watch from the comfort of our sofa.  And sometimes my A.D.D.  kicks in and I can't watch.  So when that happens it's down to the dungeon I go.  Today was one of those days...(insert sad fan face :( ) My sewing room has gotten some new furniture back in September, and I have been cleaning/straightening/purging little by little.

New sewing table and 2 drawers, all on wheels

There is a lot of fabric down there!  This picture doesn't show all the hidden treasures I have unearthed.  Or the many UFO's I have found in the bottoms of baskets, bins, and drawers.

Orca Bay (Bonnie Hunter Mystery) 2010?

Pin Wheels 2011 maybe?

These pinwheels were from another quilt I did a long time ago.  Two quilts with one pattern, I can't remember the name of the pattern.  The name will have to wait for another date.

Spiderweb Southern Comforters Retreat Mystery 2009?

I didn't like the green border fabric so I put it away and forgot about it...I now have some really cool spider web fabric that I think will be perfect for this cute little scrap buster.

Jungle Animals & Flowers (I have no idea when I completed this quilt top)

These need to be finished (Soon).

Muse Paintbar (Painting with Friends)

Paint your pet night with friends was really fun, and we all left with hard earned picture's to take home and do whatever we want to do with said master piece...

Until next time,

Happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

No mater how much you try to prepare.

No mater how much you try to prepare, grief is going to hit you.  A loved one is going to pass on to a better place. Today as I sit and do a little hand stitching at the beach, I can't help but thank God for "Gently excepting" my Dear Mother in Law into his loving embrace.  R.I.P Dear Mother In Law...

I will miss you, but I'm happy that you are at  peace,  and no longer in pain.

Happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

Monday Lunch Crew

My two grandson's are staying with us!  So my daughter and her little guy and my brother in law and his family came over for lunch yesterday.  DBIL and his family are here visiting and vacationing.  They moved to Texas a couple years ago, so it was super fun to see them.  The boy's had fun playing wii and us adults enjoyed getting caught up.  Before we had to say our goodbyes DD pulled out the good old selfie stick, and took a family photo.  

Monday Lunch Crew

Now that was a good way to start off the week.  My man had to work so we all missed him.  

Not much sewing has been happening around here, its freezing down in my sewing room in the basement, and family time and memory making is what's more important.  

Sew until next time happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

Rainy day and Monday

This is what's on my design wall right now.  Finally making a little progress on those 1 1/2 inch finished half square triangle units. This is a Joan Ford Scraps Plus One pattern Scraps Plus One! There are 225 of those pretty little half square's in each of those two strips on the far left.  There are 60 in the small strip set.  I need a total of 900 for 4 strips.  Looking at the bright side, I'm more than halfway there. (smiling)

Slow progress & a quilt for Remy

The quilt on the right is Remy girls bandana's from doggie vacation's over the years.  She deserves a quilt too.

Remy's bandana's aka future quilt

This morning I had every intention on going down to my sewing room and getting to work on these two.  But the sound of a rainy day and Monday equaled slowing down, turning off the AC, and living in the moment.  It rained cat's and dog's this morning into early afternoon.  I did make it down there to the sewing room and worked on an embroidery job that is giving me some fits.  I will save that one for another post.

Until then, happy piecing, happy sewing,
Sheila

A doctors appointment for Mom took up most of our day today.  We live in Prince George's County, and Mom is in a Nursing Home in Montgomery County.  We do what has to be done.  My man is a wonderful Son to his Mom, and that is one of the many things I love about him.  When I got home, I did a little cutting with my trusty Scan N Cut machine.

Super fun Fireworks fabric!

This fun fabric will soon be "Flipflop chapstick keychains".  These were a "freebie" from Renee at Embroidery Garden a lot of years ago.  https://www.embroiderygarden.com/shop/  I have made a few over the years.  She had a yahoo group with monthly give aways.  I love her designs and can't wait to show you the finished flip-flops.

Until then, happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

Almost forgot the label

I gave this quilt to a friend's first grandbaby, but I forgot to add the label.  Someday someone might wonder where that little quilt came from.  So I asked to have the quilt back.  So I could add a label.

Baby Elsie's quilt label

This quilt is made with Minkie Fabric which is super soft and cuddly.  Hope baby Elsie enjoys it. 

Then the second label this week was for baby Edmund's Car quilt.  This is a pretty big quilt for a little boy who still sleeps in a crib. I hope to make a small bag out of the remaining fabric (maybe with bosil) to hold his cars and trucks.  

The movie Cars fabric made a cool quilt.

Note to self, don't forget your label.

Happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

A busy weekend

A wedding, a baby shower, Mother's Day, and an anniversary all packed into one rainy weekend.

Andrew & Theresa's Wedding

The rain held off on Saturday until the wedding and reception were over.  Such a fun afternoon at The Kent Island Yacht Club,  spent with friends we have known since high school celebrating their daughters wedding.  Thank you Debbie and Harold your baby girl is a beautiful bride.

My scrapbook page made at the shower

Sunday morning and back across the Bay Bridge to Kent Island, for Theresa and Andrew's baby shower.

Harold (Pop), Theresa, Andrew, and Debbie (Oma)

After the shower back over the bridge through the pouring rain!  My handsome son stopped by to give me a card, flower's and love.  What more could I ask for.  Wish I could have seen my 2 daughter's, but one lives in PA the other had plans with her husbands family, and next week is my birthday so I can't be selfish.  Also I see her and her adorable baby all the time.

Flower's and Card from my son

Then my man and I went out to dinner at Sam's on the Waterfront in Annapolis.  Really good food, and a great way to end a busy weekend.  

Anniversary and Mother's Day cards and flowers from my man 

The flowers smell so good!  Sew there wasn't any sewing a all, but lots of good times and memories for the future.  

Until next time, happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

Fitting it all in

Yesterday on  a warm over cast day, I had some stitching to do.  DSIL's organization has a fund raising tournament ever year which host's a golf tournament.  This year they are combining two organization's into one to raise money for a fund raiser.  I embroider their shirts.  Some year's a few shirts, other year's a lot of shirts.  This year I have 16 shirts for this event that need to be finished before next Saturday, May 11th.  As of this evening 8 are finished, and if all goes well a few more will be finished after dinner tonight.

LLC/C4G Shirts

Two machines going full speed help the process along.  This afternoon was spent visiting DMIL in the Nursing Home.  She played Bingo, and enjoyed a bowl of Butter Pecan Ice Cream.  Fitting it all in before a deadline is what has to happen on some day's.  

Until next time happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

My first project with my new computer

So an old friend who has turned into a good embroidery customer called me on Tuesday, April 16th to ask me if I could embroider a blanket for an upcoming bridal shower on Saturday.  I of course said yes... Even though this Sunday is Easter, and my family is coming in town for a long weekend of family fun.  (No doesn't seem to be in my vocabulary.) Anyway, fast forward to Thursday evening shortly before the family is scheduled to arrive at my house.  Said blanket is in the hoop finishing stitching, and on the last line of stitching when I suddenly realized that I had misspelled a word!  OH NO!  Stop, stop, how can that be?  My embroidery software doesn't have spell check!  WHY?   Anyway, I didn't take a picture of the misspelled word.  Can you say "very upset"?  Out to Walmart, where I thought my friend bought the blanket.  No Walmart wasn't the store!  So now I have to call my friend to tell her about the mess I've made of her gift!   Then I find out where she bought the blanket, Home Goods, and they are open until 9:30 PM, and it's now 8:45 when I left Walmart.  I made it to Home Goods with time to spare but sadly they didn't have anymore of the blanket's I was looking for.  So after texting pictures to Denise we came up with one that she likes a little.  Not the original she had chosen.  On the drive home, I was really having guilt and anger for the mess I had made. So when I got home I went right to work and picked out part of the miss spelled word (I never took the blanket out of the hoop).  So drum roll please...

Embroidered Blanket

Embroidered Blanket

I think it turned out ok.  Sew until next time, happy sewing, happy piecing,

Sheila

Spring has sprung

The birds are singing, flowers are blooming, and the sun is shining, spring is finally here!

Trees in bloom in my neighborhood

Tulips at my rheumatologist's office

So there hasn't been much sewing going on around here.

When I finally got down to my sewing room and plugged in my computer with my Embroidery Software on it (I haven't done any embroidery since before the quilt show and going down to Florida) I was surprised to find my old PC laptop was dead for a lack of a better word.  No light's, no nothing coming from it. That was yesterday evening, so fast forward to today, and off to Fort Meade Post Exchange to look at laptops.  A quick bite of lunch in the food court, and off to Annapolis Navy Exchange to price compare laptops.  And one computer stood out in my mind there at Navy an All in One Touch screen Desk Top.  Pictures taken on my phone, and off to Best Buy to check out more Laptops, and Desk Tops.  Then jump in the truck for one final comparison at Costco.  There I found an All in One Touch Screen Desk Top at a sale price and even with taxes (which Military Exchanges do not charge) was the best price.  And the kicker was I had a $75's off from my last's 2018 year shopping at Costco.  Win, win for me.  It has a 23.8 inch screen, and I do all my embroidery down here in my sewing room so why do I need a laptop?  I'm  a happy camper right now, and looking forward to exploring my new Desktop.

Sew until next time, happy piecing, happy sewing,
Sheila

Flying

Flying for a visit with my man, and dropping off  a quilt that I have had way too long.  I have had this quilt since 2012 I believe, and I’m very happy to give it back to it’s rightfull owner.  Finished of course!  (Insert happy dancing Sheila).In this photo the quilt is unfinished, and this photo does not do this quilt justice.  It was made by a childhood friend’s mother who passed away before she could finish it.

Keister’s Cathedral Window

I will post a picture on Friday when I officially return the quilt to my dear friends.

Sew until then, happy piecing, happy sewing.

Sheila

Missing in Action

Sew, I bought some books about a year ago, and then missed placed them (since Christmas 2018)!  I couldn't wait to practice the technique's and get better at free motion and ruler quilting.  (learning new techniques.)  But then Christmas came, and my concentration turned away from these glorious book, and they have been missing in action.  For the past three month's I have been looking for the "safe place" I put them in.  Fast forward to this morning around 3:30am, and awakening to a little voice in my head telling me to check the "Christmas Fabric bin".  I can't explain what made that little voice talk to me at 3:30am, or why that little voice turned out to be right, but it was correct.  

Ruler and Free Motion Quilting Books

Low and behold!  Hallelujah! Right where the little voice said they would be.  I'm one happy quilter right now, and can't wait to get into these.

Sew until then, happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

Birthday Celebration

So this happened on Thursday February 28th

Fanny Pack made in the hoop.

I made this fanny pack in the hoop for my DMIL's birthday which is March 1st.  It's personalized with her name on the strap.

Mom with the fanny pack I made her. 

This is Mom with her new fanny pack.  What will this fanny pack hold?  Bingo winnings?  What ever she wants.

The first Crew visiting Mom/Nana

My dear daughter #2 and dear grandson #3 came to the Birthday celebration! (It's a Family Affair)  And as we were celebrating, in walks Kristi.  My Niece, Mom's Granddaughter, and Cousin to my daughter.  

Here we are.  Happy times!

(It's a Family Affair)  Loving this Lady and these people.  Priceless...

Sew, until next time, happy piecing, happy sewing.

Sheila

Geisha Girl 2019

I didn't know what I was going to do with this little gem.  10 color changes, 161 minutes stitch time, and I just loved all the details in this Geisha Girl.  The design is one of many that is programed into my PR1000 10 needle Brother Embroidery machine.

81009 stitches total 

After 161 minutes of stitching I was finished, and worried about those small puckers around her hat, and flowers.

I was really worried about those small puckers 

They worked out to be fine after quilting...

Nothing a little free motion can't fix

She's finished, and hanging on the wall.

Geisha Girl 2019

I love how she looks, first finish of the year.  

Happy piecing, happy sewing,

Sheila

Wow

"Wow" is all I can say.  How is it that Christmas celebration's and New Year's Eve have come and gone? And here I am almost halfway through the month of January 2019 blogging for the first time. I'd like to say I've been super busy and super productive getting things done so that's why this is my first blog post.  But no that would be untrue.

I was doing small embroidery jobs for Christmas, decorating my house, laundry for my mother in law, and alway's enjoying time with family member's, furry family member's, and dear family friends who I've known for many years. And isn't that what the holiday's are all about?

 3 Personalized "London" blankets

How awesome are these blankets?  My customer bought them at Sears, and wanted an "english looking" font. This font was called Buckingham, and worked out perfect.
I also personalized 15 apron's.  My friend Lisa made the apron's, sells them, and the lady who bought them wanted them personalized for her employee's. Here are three of them ready.

Three of the 15 

Both customer's were happy with the embroideries I did for them and let me know how happy everyone was to receive them.

Now in the New Year I have been personalizing dear mother in law's sweatshirts just to brighten her day a little.

Embroideries for Mom

Mom really like's her personalization's, and it allow's me to keep my embroidery machine working.

Sew, staying busy in the new year, today was the first snow of the year and we got about 8-10 inches.  It was a fun day shoveling, and a little snowball fight with my man, and I made a showgirl!  I named her Winnie

Me and Winnie

I'm hoping to blog more in the new year, I have some project's in the works that will be subject's for future blogs.  Not a resolution, just trying to get organized in the new year.  

Happy piecing, happy sewing and happy New Year,
Sheila