Sunday, December 27, 2015

Today is the last Slow Sunday Stitching linky party for 2015 so, of course, I'm linking up and I'm hoping you do too. 

I finished quilting my Grand Illusion quilt on Tuesday and got it on our bed as this one I'm keeping. 
 
Just in time before heading down to Henderson, Nevada on Thursday morning to spend Christmas with my step-son, Michael, and his wife, Jennifer.  When we arrived we opened our presents and I got my most favorite thing, a Jo-Anns gift card.  Jennifer and I almost immediately headed to, you guessed it, Jo-Anns where I had so much fun looking and shopping.  I found all but one skein of embroidery floss that I needed for the cross-stitch Christmas stocking.  I also got several other embroidery goodies that I've been wanting to try on my crazy quilt project.  Other items I purchased were a plastic container for my floss and those cute cardboard pieces to wrap floss on, lots of needles, a cute book with sticky notes in it for my Quilter's Planner and meal planning.  Here is a picture of a few of the goodies I got and I still have money left on the gift card, so today I'll be heading back to Jo-Anns with a 20% off coupon that is good for regular priced and sale items.


I immediately got started on the Christmas stocking for my granddaughter and have worked on it for two days in a row and this is what I have done so far.  I had forgotten how long cross-stitching takes.  Of course, I've worked on some other things too.


I worked on some redwork over the last couple of days also.  I hadn't ever done any before and saw a really cute quilt on Pinterest.  I looked at it over a period of about a month and then finally ordered the pattern.  I have a couple of the small blocks done with only  about 31 more to go, most being a lot larger.  Who knows, maybe I'll have it finished in time to hang up for next Christmas.  It is going faster than the cross-stitch. 


 
If you are inspired to undertake this project, you can purchase the pattern at The Stitch Connection.

Christmas evening after dinner and games with friends, I got some hexie time in.  I like to work on these when I don't need to concentrate on a pattern.  Not sure how many I'll need.  I saw a quilt with trees on it done in reds, greens, and whites that was posted on Facebook and I hope to do something similar.  I just keep plugging away at it when the mood strikes.  If you haven't ever done EPP (English paper piecing), you should try it.  It is very addicting.  Want to learn how?  Click here for a fun tutorial.  I learned all I know from this great book, All Points Patchwork: English Paper Piecing beyond the Hexagon for Quilts & Small Projects.


Our dog, Lola, also got a Christmas present and as usual she went right for the squeaker and found it after she decapitated the toy.  She is still having fun with it, but she hasn't learned how to pick up all the fluff that comes out of it and throw it in the trash.  Maybe one day I can teach her how to do that.  Ha!



Today is a day for family as my husband's sister, her husband, and their daughter arrived late last night after an 11 hour drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-15 from the LA area to Las Vegas.  Needless to say, they went straight to the hotel, but will be spending the today with us.  We'll be enjoying smoked turkey and all the fixings prepared by Chef Michael, a/k/a my step-son, who is a fantastic cook. 

Off to work on updating my Quilter's Planner getting all the birthdays and anniversaries entered as well as my quilting goals for 2016.

Happy New Year!!!

12 comments:

  1. My dog Stella goes for the squeaker too--what's up with that?? You have so many cute projects in the works--I especially love the stocking!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Karen. Not sure what's up with the squeaker killer that rears it's head in our dogs.

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  2. Yep...my dog too...love your variety of projects and am still waiting for my Quilter's Planner...I can't wait to get it!!

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    1. Hi Valerie. Dogs love the simplest things. This afternoon I'm making a cover for my planner, but not the one that Stephanie sent the email on. Hope your planner has arrived or will arrive soin.

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  3. I love the Christmas redwork pattern you are working on...I am tempted to order the pattern. Thanks for the link.

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    1. I haven't had an interest in redwork until I saw this and fell in love with it. You'll have to let me know if you get it.

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  4. I love getting gift cards to fabric and craft stores. That redwork pattern is very pretty. I hope you enjoy stitching it. I really like that cross-stitch stocking also. I made one many years ago and it was definitely time consuming. Yet, cross-stitch is now my favorite craft.

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    1. Hi Cathie, thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your comment. I am enjoying the hand stitching that I'm doing, however, yesterday I was taking out some of those little "x"s as I had used the wrong color. UGH!

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  5. Nothing beats a good gift card for craft goodies! I've been cross stitching lately too, must be the season! :) My Elvis likes to rip the head off his toys and destuff them as well. I've yet to teach him clean up duty, though it might be worth trying! Hahaha. Love the hexies, as well as All Points Patchwork. It's the only EPP book I've picked up so far and it's been fantastic for me. I check it out from the library randomly just to have around for inspiration. I'm thinking I should just buy it!

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    1. I guess we can be thankful that Lola and Elvis don't eat all that stuffing in an attempt to clean up their messes. :) I do love gift cards and every second I spend on shopping with them. I'll take one any day. I didn't realize you did cross stitching. You learn something every day.

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  6. This is such a nice post, Jennifer. Loved seeing your quilt again! How's the weight/warmth for you? It's definitely a "dog thing" with the squeakers. Our Grand-dogs got squeaky toys too and they were dismantled by 9 a.m. when we had our SKYPE chat Christmas morning. I love that you've gotten so far on the Christmas hexie project! Way to go, girl!

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    1. Thanks Marsha. The weight of the quilt is perfect for me, but the DH says it isn't heavy enough for him. Strange as I'm the one who is always cold and he's always hot. Men!

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