Block 8 whirligig

This is block eight of the sticks and stones color way of our Saturday surprise Sampler program. It is called Whirligig:

I mentioned yesterday that I was doing some backstitching on the cotton linen blend that is new at the stoRe.  I  Did make some hexagon frames for the two birds that I stitched.  now I need to decide which background to use, the gray or the blue. Right now I am prewashing them to see what they look like washed.   I backstitch around the edges so they won't fray in the wash.

I was sorry that I had to cover up a little bit of the owls tail. I suppose I should have made the frame first and then made the stitching to fit within it.  Oh well, I'll know for next time.

Enjoy the process

Have you ever heard that saying "he went riding off in all directions."?  That describes me the last couple days.  I have been working on all sorts of different projects. However I have finished a couple of small gifts for Christmas. Remember the lavender sachets?

Remember the Dottie quilt top?

I put the borders on, and was preparing the backing fabric, (that's the zigzag fabric in the photo above), when I realized I could make small pieced border for the quilt as well. It's not on the pattern, but I think it would be nice edging for it. I was thinking of just some gray and white half square triangles all around the perimeter.

I'm up to four blocks done for the Swoon quilt:

And I decided to try some simple embroidery on one of the cotton linen fabrics:

I traced a couple of black and white images of birds on to  6 inch squares on the fabric and I am backstitching the outlines.   

So far I have done a sparrow, and have started on a screech owl

I'm thinking that I might make papers pieced frames to put around the birds.

Not quite too sure about this project, where it's going.  I guess it's one of those that evolve. I'm not sure if I'll use just the linen fabrics or maybe use one of them as a background and use printed fabrics for the hexagons.....

Well I hope you are getting some Christmas projects done, just enjoy the process!

Linen

 I hAve made one lavender sachet so far.  

It smells wonderful.  

I have a few more ready to be sewn,

I had a leftover piece of linen about four inches wide, So I am just marking off squares along it and hope to do a few more.

Speaking of linen, we just got in some linen and cotton linen fabrics at the shop. I am intrigued by these fabrics. Of course you see Linen used a lot in small sewing projects.

I got this book last week and it has some really cute things in it, 

Such as this pencil case

And this apron,

They both seem like doable projects. I think I might try washing the linen first before using it and see what the texture will be like, whether it will change at all. I'm thinking this fabric will be wonderful to use in tote bags as well.

Deirdre will be here in a week or two and she does screen printing on fabric, I'm looking forward to her opinion on these fabrics as well.

Swoon

I am making progress on my Swoon quilt,  now having completed two blocks. The goal is to make nine blocks.

My process on this quilt is a bit different than what I usually do. Usually I cut out all pieces before hand and then so all at once. This time I am just cutting as I sew.  

This means that my cutting table looks like this.

On another note, I was shopping and had to buy this little P ornament.

It is so cute. It is stuffed. There is regular cotton on the front, and felt on the back. I think the little felted beads underneath the Letter are what really made me want it. 

If a person had time on their hands they could make a whole bumch of these letters, which is an idea if you have time on your hands.

Sewing today

I finished my Dawdy quilt top except for the borders and now I'm just waiting to get the border fabric. However I do want to do some sewing today.

I have all these projects running around in my brain to make cute things for Christmas. But it is too confusing to decide which one to start with.

 Therefore I will go to the tried-and-true and start a quilt that I've been meaning to make for a long time. This is the one called swoon

It is designed by Camille Roskelley. She also designs fabrics. This is another picture of it from her blog.

There have been many, many quilts made in the last few years and  if you just Google it you will see lots and lots of different versions. You can get the pattern for it as a PDF from her blog.

http://camilleroskelley.typepad.com/simplify/

(It is also on order for the shop, and so you could pick up the paper pattern in a couple of weeks)

I also made myself a little page of instructions for some lavender sachet gifts.  The idea is they will have a small Crosstitch section sewn on to some pretty fabric, stuffed with lavender and with a Loop.  That way they can hang on a hanger in someone's closet and be useful.

Well now I have a plan I will go do it, and try to close my eyes to all the other possible projects that are clamoring for my attention.

I hope you are having fun this December. All the decorating and planning for Christmas and cooking and baking can be so exciting as long as you don't make it too much pressure on yourself.  

If I do at least one out of five of every idea I have I think I'll be doing fine.