Catching Up

 Even though I haven't blogged for awhile, I have been busy.  Trying to finish some UFOs and starting new ones.  So, of course, I can't help but show and tell...

I started this Blackbird Designs last year.  But started with the Winter design on the right, stitched the center Summer design, then waited until Spring of this year to get back at it.  It turned out really good and I love the frame.  Twin Oaks Framing was my place of choice, however, this summer she lost her lease and decided to close out the business.  I don't know where I'll find people so good at what they do.  And since I can never make a choice on my own, always depended on Cheryl and Sandy to confirm what I thought, or make another suggestion.  I have been puzzled about why the BB girls decided to do only 3 seasons.

I worked on this quilt most of the summer.  The basket handles are hand appliqued.  It's a Blackbird Designs pattern and I chose their Antique Fair collection for piecing.   Whenever they come out with a collection that I truly love (which is most of them) I purchase a fat quarter pack.  This one had about 40 different prints and did the entire quilt, with additional yardage for the outside setting blocks and the ruffle.  I had seen them do a ruffle before and really wanted it on this quilt, however it took until mid-fall before I could get motivated to get it made.  I think it really makes the quilt.  If you click on the picture to enlarge you can get a better view.  I love the scrappy background blocks and I used up almost all of the fabrics, which is a good thing.

This large pillow is a new pattern from Country Stitches.  It's stitched on a large count linen (22 ct) so it goes really fast.  But it used lots of hand dyed threads as I used 3 strands for stitching.   I distressed the linen before stitching.  The dark stripe was accidental, but decided that I liked it.  It's not really obvious, but there's lots of distressing along the top and bottom edges.  Still waiting for the rusty jingle to attach to both ends.  The colors were perfect with my basket quilt.  

I love punch needle, but it takes so long.  I finished this last year, but not before Christmas so I never did get it finished for displaying.  It's mounted on a simple wooden box, painted black, corners and edges sanded, then stained with a dark Bri-Wax.  

Here's the inside.  I glued black wool felt on the bottom and on the inside of the lid, a padded foam core board covered with a couple layers of batting and some blue velveteen that matches the sky perfectly.  Lately I've been making sewing boxes.  The first I did was an idea from Blackbird.  I have so much trouble keeping sewing necessities with me all the time, so I've taken to having 3 or 4 boxes placed strategically around the house (wherever I might sit down to sew) and stocking each of them with types of needles, pencils, threads, threaders, and stitch markers.  it has helped and I'm making lots of them so that I can be 'season appropriate'.  Maybe I'll even give a few as gifts.