WiP Wednesday

Yep, it is Wednesday already.  I think I missed one in there...last week.  It just passed right by without me even noticing or taking note of my WiP's.  Yeah.  Well, I've done better at sewing this week.  Finished a few things even. Linking up to WiP Wed. at Freshly Pieced.   Here goes:

Quilts in Progress:
*Farmers Wife QAL ~ This is the only quilt project I have going on at the moment.  I've got no progress to report but now I know that I have time for it since I have no other quilts going on.

Embroidery in Progress:  (this is where it gets thick!  I've got alot of hand stitching going on!)

*Strawberry Tablecloth ~ I've made progress but I've got no photographic proof.  I do know that I would like to have this one done by Memorial Day so I can use it!  Wish me luck!

*Loulouthi (Quilt) ~ What started off as a table runner has become a kind of quilt.  Not one that I plan on using much but it will probably be more for pretty.  It is going to have a lot of stitching.  The quilt part is done but I have yet to make one x stitch!

*iPhone case for my sister ~ This girl loves her handmade items!  I love that!  I'm stitching a modern kind of design on a phone case for her.  Again no photo evidence.

Misc Sewing:
*June Block for Katie ~ She posted early and I finished early.  My Peace circle comrades can attest to my always being late so this is a very good thing!

Last but not least...gardening.  It is coming along so nicely.  I love how the weather has been cooperating lately.  Sun and rain and clouds and blue sky...the garden loves it!

That's all for today!  Hope you are all well and God bless!

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  ~John 13:34

love, Lisa

Bloggers Quilt Festival ~Spring 2012

  I'm so excited that this 'Slice of Summer' quilt is finally done!  This is an idea that I've wanted to execute for about a year.  It is so fun to see it realized.  And done in time for the Bloggers Quilt Festival is even better!

Originally I wanted to be done with the Farmer's Wife Quilt for this occasion but I soon realized that was not going to happen.  I then focused my time and energy on this one.  I'm so glad I did.

 I made this quilt to be used.   I hope that it travels well and holds up in the  wash because I plan on having to launder it often before the end of summer!

Another idea I have for this quilt is to fill in the white spaces on the front with a record of our summer(s).  I am not quite sure if I will embroider the dates and events on the quilt or maybe write them on in a permanent marker.  I'm leaning toward the embroidery as I know that even permanent markers tend to fade out in the wash and turn an ugly brownish-gray.

Here are the specifics:  All fabrics for the piecing are DS Quilts from JoAnn's (all bought at 40% off!).   Backing is made up of these same fabrics.  And the white and binding (black) are both Kona Cottons.  Pieced and quilted by me.  Quilting is very simple...just some straight lines to make large diamonds.  I wanted it to remain somewhat fluffy.

I'm so looking forward to spending some time this weekend with  glass of tea out on the patio with my laptop to visit some of the many quilts and blogs that will also be linking to Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival!  Thanks for visiting!  Have a blessed day!

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  ~Matthew 5:8

love, Lisa

Prayer Pillow

Hi!  You know today is Fabric Tuesday and I have a little project I want to share.  It was a gift for my own Mom for Mother's Day.  By the way, how was your Mother's Day?  I hope it was a wonderful as my own day was!  There was breakfast with my guys, my sweet girl and her BFF gave me a bath set and my boys gave me a beautiful terracotta pot that I had been eyeing.  They made dinner on the grill and gave me several hours to sew in complete peace!  It was great!

Part of my gift to my Mom was a pillow that I made her.

I used some dark, rich colored French General fabric, which is just what she likes!  The center is a vintage doily.  And the stitching is my own.  I put a favorite verse on there with a little ring of flowers.  (Very much inspired by this project. )

The back is more piecing with the dresden petals.  I also did an invisible zipper...my first.  I came out pretty well.

And that is one more project done!  I like the way it turned out and may use more of the vintage doilies in this way.

Have a great day!  God bless!

Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. ~Mother Teresa

love, Lisa

WiP Wednesday

What a bunch of sewing I've gotten done this week!  I've even surprised myself!  How has your sewing time been since the last WiP recap?   Linking to Lee's WiP Wednesday!

Nothing is complete but I did get things done.  For instance:

Quilts in progress: 

*Picnic quilt - I'm calling this one either Slice of Summer or simply Picnic Quilt.  Regardless of the name, here is the finished top.

*Loulouthi quilt - This one is going well.  Just playing with placement of the blocks.

*Farmers Wife - No blocks done so far but for the One Thing, One Week Challenge this week my goal is 10 blocks.  I think I can, I think I can...

Embroidery in progress:

*Strawberry Tablecloth - Yep, it is still on the list but sadly, no progress.  Will it stay a WiP or go into the neglected pile once again?   Stay tuned...

Other Sewing:

*Pillow for Mom - Almost done with the embroidery portion and then it will be finished!  Very soon on this one.

Gardening:

This will be the biggest Work in progress of the summer I suspect as it requires constant care and maintenance.  But it is so worth it!  We've actually expanded the beds from last year and are trying several new plants.  One of which is lettuce which I planted in an old lid and is doing wonderfully!

So, minus the garden, of course, I have 5 projects to work on.  That is not so bad.  I kinda wish I had more projects to choose from.  At least for sewing.  I certainly could be doing laundry or pulling weeds or laying path or....

I'll stop there.  The "home"  WiP list is so long I'll never finish!  Hope you are having a great week!  God bless!

 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ~Genesis 1:12

love, Lisa

A New Sewing Kit

Clover + Violet are having a sewing tutorial series for the summertime.  How fun, right?! 

This week there were a couple of tutorials for sewing kits and I thought I would play along.  I made my own version of a sewing kit to include the features I thought I would use/need most as I'm stitching on the go.

I used Daisy Cottage by Lori Holt for most of the outside and the inside pockets.  The trim fabric is a Riley Blake solid.  On the inside it is the Daisy Cottage + a bit of Wild World by Jenean Morrison.  The colors matched perfectly!

On the inside I included pockets and loops of elastic to hold various items.  I made a removable needle roll and pincushion.  I think I may add a little zipper pouch for the inside to carry smaller notions.  Hmmm...

The needle roll just rolls up and ties to fit inside and can hold many needles.  The pincushion has a Velcro back to keep it attached when not in use.  And that is it!  What a fun little project.  I think I may tweak the design a bit and make up a couple more for gifts.  

Also linking to:

God Bless!

God writes through us and however imperfect instruments we may be, He writes beautifully.  ~Mother Theresa

love, Lisa

WiP Wednesday

Progress feels good.  This week I've definitely made progress, just not as much as I'd hoped...at least in the sewing arena.  Here's what I did do:

Quilts in progress:
*do.Good Stitches - This one is done!

*Farmer's Wife - No blocks done this week.
*Summer Quilt - Fabrics all cut to pieces.  I did not get a good photo of the after but here is the before stack.

*Loulouthi quilt - I've got materials and one (the hardest one) piece of the fabric cut up.  And I also now have all the floss colors.  I'll be cutting this today, I hope.  This was going to be a tablerunner/embroidery project  but that has since changed.  It will now be a quilt/embroidery project!

Embroidery in progress:
*Strawberry Tablecloth - Still no progress.  And not even a good excuse.

Other Sewing in progress:
*Pillow for my Mom.  - Almost done!  Thought this photo does not reflect that!

*April & May blocks for do.Good Stitches - done & done!  One is late and one is early.  Both in the mail today!

That's it!  Unless you count the WiP that has been getting most of the attention..the garden.  It is almost ready for planting!
Have a beautiful day!  God bless!

Rejoice evermore.  1 Thessalonians 5:16


love, Lisa

DGS Quilt Finish

This quilt is complete.  What fun it was to work on!  I love doing the do.Good Stitches quilts and seeing it all come together.  Thanks again, Peace Circle, for your wonderful work!

This will be off in the mail, oh, probably tomorrow.  I still have to wash it and snip some remaining thread tails.

This one will be hard to part with.  But then again, I think I say that about all of them!  I love the finished product so much.

I hope it provides many hours of warmth and snuggly goodness to its new owner!

Linking to CRC's {Sew} Modern Monday and QS's Fabric Tuesday!

Have a great day!  God bless!

Pray without ceasing.  ~1 Thess. 5:17

love, Lisa

WIP Wednesday

Sewing progress!  I'm happy to say that I'm back on track with my WiP's.  I had to go back and look at the last WW post that I did which was 2 weeks ago just to see what I had going on.  Anywho...I've got progress to report this week.

Quilts in progress:
*do.Good Stitches ~ I'm quilting this and in fact will be done with that very soon.  I finally made a back (no photos yet) but I have yet to decide on binding.  Leaning towards a scrappy binding.

*FWQAL ~  This is a project on my Finish-A-Long list for this quarter 2012.   I've made 10 more blocks and I've got fabrics for the next four.  I think.  Here are the most recent blocks:

*Summer Picnic quilt ~ Also part of my FAL list.   I've had this quilt in the planning stages since I purchased this fabric months ago.  I'm finalizing size and number of blocks, then I have a bit of fabric to purchase and I'll be cutting!  Here's the stack of fabric I'm working with:

Embroidery in progress:
*Strawberry tablecloth ~This is the last item on my list for the FAL.   I've put this back on the list because I really want it to be done so I can use it!  I've got all the DMC organized and in my sewing basket to work on this.  Honestly, though, I have yet to make one new stitch.  Tisk, tisk.

*Loulouthi Tablerunner ~ This is a secret project for someone who may or may not read this blog.

Other sewing in progress:
*do. Good Stitches ~ blocks for April for Michelle.  I haven't forgotten, Michelle!  I'll have them mailed this weekend!

Linking to WiP Wednesday, of course!  That is it... Only 6 projects going.  I'll have a couple done this weekend so that will make it even less.  Maybe I can join a quilt/sew along!  Do you know of any that are starting?

Thanks for stopping by!  God Bless!

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love...~Ephesians 5:1-2

love, Lisa

Sashiko Wallhanging

I love sashiko embroidery.  I did my first one a few weeks ago and since it was finished I had an idea of what to do with it.  I finally realized that idea a few days ago.  I paired it with some leftover Central Park fabric pieces from the Kaleidoscope quilt I made last year.

It was simple enough to make using a template.  The rounded corners on the Sashiko were easy to repeat in the piecing as I used a dresden template for the border.

I like that rounded edges.  Reminds me of the little punch I have that rounds the corners of photos and paper.  The dresdens pieces are stacked opposite one another for the straight runs and then used in the traditional way to achieve the curve on the corners.

I also included a ruffled border between the two.  I like the interest it adds to the center square without taking away from the embroidery.    It was a bit of a challenge to figure out how to get it in there.

So this is my finished project. 

ETA*Linking to Fabric Tuesday over at QuiltStory and Made by Me at JAQ's Studio!

I'm entering it into this weeks Weekly Themed Quilt Contest (which happens to be Wallhangings!) over at Quilting Gallery.  

 I like voting for my favorite projects and checking to see if they win.  It's quite a bit of fun!  Wish me luck!  Do you have a wallhanging to enter?  I hope you each have a blessed week!  

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.  ~John 3:16

love, Lisa

Awards + Swaps + UFO's

Hello!  What wonderful spring weather we are having here in Colorado...very conducive to  gardening and yard work but not to sewing!  Even so, I have managed to get a few sewing related projects completed and even started a few!  I have lots to show but that will have to wait.  I've had a couple of nice swaps and I wanted to share here.  But first, I have been chosen by the sweet Jennie of Click.Snap.Swoosh.Laugh for a Liebster Award.  It is for small blogs with less than 200 followers.

Jennie put on her post that she is not sure how she feels about blog awards.  I'm kinda the same.  Actually, I had never really thought about them.  Sounds ok, though, and I really admire her sewing and photography so I'm going with it!  I'm also going to state as she did, that if I nominate you and you don't want the award or just don't do blog awards, that is a.o.k. with me!  I won't be offended or upset or anything.  This is just for fun anyway, right?!  So here are my nominations (which by the way I could only come up with 4 blogs that I read that have less than 200 followers):

1.  Katie of Unconventional Katie

2.  Becky of Solar Threads (I've been reading since she was Becky's Blabber)

3. Maysem of  Ode to Inspiration (who gave me an award also!  Thanks!)

4.  Susan of So-Sue  (I'm new to her blog but what I've read so far I like!)

In accepting the Liebster Blog Award you agree to :

1. Thank the person who gave you the award

2. Link back to their blog

3. Copy and paste the Liebster award to your profile

4. Pick 5 blogs that you feel deserve to be in the spotlight (they must have under 200 followers)

5. Blog about it and leave a comment for {or send an e-mail to} your nominations to let them know that you have chosen their blog.

Thanks, Jennie!

Now, do you remember these little birds I made?

.

Well, I had a couple of nice ladies that were willing to swap with me and I'm so glad we did!  It was nice to receive a handmade gift in the mail.  The first swap was with Susan of So-Sue.  She chose the little red bird and to swap she made me a potholder using the fabric scraps from this wonderful project.  Isn't it pretty?

I also swapped a couple of birds with Maysem of Ode to Inspiration.  She sent me a super cute set of coasters that she makes.  I love these!  So simple and super charming!  Thanks, Ladies!

Maysem also chose my little blog for an award and I will post about that soon! 


And last but not least, there are several projects that I would like to list for the  2012 Finish-A-Long Q2 hosted by Quilter in the Gap.  

I'm going to put a couple of  lingering projects on the list.
1.  First I really want to finish the Strawberry Tablecloth that I started last year!

2.  I really want to make a summertime/picnic quilt.  I've had the fabrics for a long time and they are slowly being used for other projects...I hope I have enough for a top left!
3.  I want to finish the FWQAL quilt.  I would really like if it were finished for the Spring Bloggers Quilt Festival which starts on May 18th!  I better hurry!


I could probably add more to this list but I do not want to make it impossible to finish.  This short list is going to be hard enough to finish!   That's it for now!   Back soon!
God Bless you!


Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...  1 Timothy 1:15


love, Lisa