Be KIND

Be KIND to unkind people.

They need it the most.

I bought a little wooden sign several years ago with this saying on it. I placed it in my kitchen window in hopes that I would see it everyday to remind myself

to take a little more time with those that are a little less kind and a lot harder to deal with.

I liked the saying so much that I decided to stitch it onto fabric and frame them. I completed the stitcheries months ago but just got them framed this past weekend.

I was on the phone with a not so nice lady this morning and as I was talking and getting madder by the minute I looked up to see the sign. I tried really hard but have decided that there are just some people who you will never be able to "kill with kindness." 

But that's OK because at least I know that I tried!

Christmas Creations

Christmas is almost upon us and I've been working every day to get a few homemade gifts completed. They are finally finished so now I've just got the wrapping to do and my baking.
The photo above is the snowman coaster in punch needle. I am so pleased at how it turned out. I added a white crocheted edging around it and love it!  If you are interested in the pattern it can be found at Primitives by the Light of the Moon. Ginger so kindly shares her doodles with us.

I needed a unique gift for a Snoopy lover who has every imaginable Snoopy collectible there is. So I found a favorite graphic of Snoopy and Woodstock and traced it onto my fabric. A few days later and this is what it looked like. 

Last but not least is this stitched Christmas heart. I made several of these in a variety of colors and fabrics. Very quick to stitch up and sew cute.

All of my projects are finished and now it's time to start my holiday baking. 
Are you all ready for the holidays or are you still rushing around to get it all done in the next few days?

The Lord's Prayer Stitch A Long

Do you all remember a few years ago I was working on a quilt that was called Promises and Borders?

Well the wonderful lady that shared (and is still sharing that pattern) has released yet another free 26 week stitch a long titled "The Lord's Prayer".

I had sew much fun stitching the first that I couldn't wait to get started on this new one. The problem was picking out which fabrics I wanted to use. 
I started out with this red and grey combo.

But then I dug into my stash a little deeper and found this burgundy sheep fabric. Oh my!

A wee bit more digging and yet another combo. This time red and white. There were simply too many to choose from so I ultimately decided to make three separate quilts. 
Yes, I'm already two blocks behind but oh well, I have all year to work on them.

If you'd like to join in the fun just hop on over and visit Jenny at Jenny of Elefantz. She creates fabulous patterns and I'm always in awe of her beautiful photos she shares of her Australian adventures.

What I've Been Working On

Obviously, what I haven't been working on for the past few months is BLOGGING but I did manage to accomplished a few other projects during that time. 
I've been stitching away in hopes of creating enough to take to our local craft show later on this fall.  I grab my sewing anytime I hit the couch to watch TV but since the weather has changed my stitching time has dwindled. I find myself outside most evenings with the family instead of sitting indoors.
The heart at the top of the post is needle punch. I had so much fun working on this little one. Not sure what I'm going to do with it but I will find something.

I stitched a few Christmas gingers and a tree.

A couple of "Everything has a Purpose"

and my most favorite, the "Forget the Days Troubles". I love the way the fabric looks after staining it with coffee.

I've also stitched up a few patriotic pictures. They were stitched using patterns from Chestnut Junction.

Wife & Mother of a U.S. soldier

Currently I'm doing sewing of a different kind. We are finished with school so I have more time that allows for me to get my machine out. I'll post those pictures later.

Any Kindness or Good I Can Do

Wow, I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. I've been on the computer here and there but not for any great amount of time. Instead I've been working on a few projects and continuing to practice on my dulcimer. Other than that, it's been a birthday week as my Dad calls it. His birthday was on Friday so Katie and I had lunch with him and I later that evening I took him over an apple pie that I had baked.

Then on Sunday evening, the whole family gathered and we celebrated his birthday with his favorite Oatmeal Cake and a yummy ice cream dessert (below) that I'll tell you about a little later.

See why it's called a birthday week. It's the birthday that gets celebrated a few times in that week...and by the way it was a milestone birthday for him....he's 60! 

One of the projects that I've been working on is pictured at the very top of this post. I saw the saying a good while back somewhere??? and jotted it down.
So last week, I needed a new stitchery to work on so I picked a font, typed it up and printed it out, traced it onto my fabric and began stitching. Once done I stitched it onto a piece of burlap and placed it in a black frame.

You know, words are not my favorite thing to stitch but I do like way this turned out. Do you see how wrinkled that fabric is? Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? 
I have ironed it, with steam, MANY TIMES and as soon as the fabric cools it goes right back to being wrinkly.


Well I'm off to get started on our schooling so I'll catch up with you all a little later.

Christmas Creations

Here are a few gifts that I made for Christmas. I couldn't show them until after Christmas for fear that the gift recipients would read about them on my blog before actually receiving them on Christmas.

The pattern for the "If God brings you to it..." was found at Olde Time Stitchin but unfortunately they were closing their shop in December so not sure if you can even get that pattern anymore.
As for the middle stitchery, it is a Primitive Blessings pattern.

I love how the frames turned out. I picked up a few cheap wooden frames from the Dollar Tree and a not so cheap can of Rustoleum Textured Spray Paint ($7) from Walmart. 

I had never used textured paint before but I love the way it looks and will definitely be trying out some of the other colors. I'll just have to keep my eyes open for any paint sales.

These three stitcheries are what I have worked on since Christmas. I'm already thinking ahead to the Christmas 2013 season. 
Oh, and I also found some plain glass bulbs on sale after Christmas that I can't wait to use to make the snowman bulbs that Leah from Livin' It Up Country posted about HERE. They are so CUTE!

My oldest son has also worked the last few months on a Christmas project but I'll save & share that for my next post.
Have a great weekend and Stay Warm!

Willow Trees & Sheep

Thought I'd share a few things I've been working on lately.
I started the sheep & willow last year with the hopes of giving it as a gift but as you can see it is still with me. I couldn't decide what color to stitch the little sheep so after sewing it in black ~ ripping it out ~ sewing in gray ~ ripping it out ~ sewing in white ~ ripping it out I finally decided to just do it in black.
I really like it!
Even though I totally butchered my corners...need to practice on them lots more.

                               Pattern can be purchased at  Olde Time Stitchin

The other piece that I've been stitching on is also a favorite of mine. One I've made many times and given away to friends and family. 
To Everything there is a Season...

Pattern is by Twigs & Sprigs at Primitive Blessings

I'm working on another one of these but it is done in greens.

That's about all that is going on in my world at the moment.
I'm thinking that this winter is going to be a L O N G one. I already feel like I've been cooped up in the house forever and it's only the beginning of November. The days just seem so dull and gloomy and then nightfall comes so early.
On the bright side though, this weekend promises much warmer temps. (60's) and lots of sunshine so I'm going to enjoy it while it's here. 
I'm even thinking about putting up the outdoor Christmas decorations (at least the lights) while it's decent out. We usually put them up the weekend of the Christmas parade and that is next weekend so we'd only be a week early. It's so much more pleasant to do while it's warm. It's usually so cold out when we do it and then my fingers don't want to work because they are so cold.

Do any of you have your decorations up yet or plan on putting them up in the very near future?

It's Finally finished!

The stitching that is!
I still have to pick out the perfect fabric for the backing and get busy quilting it.

I have really enjoyed working on this over the past year. Each month I anxiously awaited the new pattern and now that it is finished I'm thinking, What now? Just what am I going to work on next?

I'm sure that won't be a problem though...I never have a hard time starting new projects. It's finishing them that usually gets me. :0) 

The pattern for this is called "Promises and Borders" and it can still be downloaded for free over at Elefantz.
Jenny is a stitchery designer who loves anything shabby and she so kindly shares many of her creations with us on her blog. 
If you wish to stop by and visit her you can find her HERE and if you'd like to get your own copy of the Promises and Border pattern you can go HERE to get it.

Happy Stitching!

My Block 9 of the Promises & Borders Quilt

One more block to go and it will be done!
I've had this finished for a week now but just couldn't find the time to get on the computer to post it.
This months block was a fairly easy one to stitch up so I finished it rather quickly. Oh, and the fact that I had another project waiting in the wings to begin. (But not until the Promises and Border block was finished.)
Anyways, here it is already sewn to last months block.

I'm almost finished with that new project that I mentioned above so I'll be sharing it soon too!

It's been a busy few days and I'm way behind in pretty much everything (cleaning, laundry, sewing, blogging...etc.) so today is my catch-up day. Hope to get around to visiting my favorite blogs later as well as sneaking a few minutes in to sew. Got the cleaning and laundry all checked off of my to-do list already. Just need to get supper started before the kiddos get in.
Oh, and it's a wonderfully wet fall day here in WV. I woke up to the sound of raindrops pouring down at about 4 a.m. and it's continued off and on throughout the day. My kind of day! 
Cool and dreary...
Perfect for staying indoors and getting things done.

Sew Many...Sew Little

Sew Many Quilt Patterns...Sew Little Time to Work on Them!

I am accumulating quite a few quilt patterns that I want to work on but there is simply not enough time to work on them. Oh and lets not forget that there will be even less time in another week because school will begin and then my days will be spent homeschooling my youngest.
Thank goodness for file folders and disk space because that is where I am storing all those freebie patterns until I get the time to work on them.

Below you will find the links to those patterns....better grab them up while you can!

#1. Promises and Borders - this is the *one* that I have chosen to completely finish this year. Come on, don't tell me that you don't know what I mean. I know I'm not the only one out there with too many projects started and not enough time to finish all of them! That's why this one is what I am focusing on.

#2. Country Cottages  is being shared over at The Shabby.
(Love her patterns and fabric choices!)

#3. The Wish Quilt pattern can be found over at Red Brolly. Just in time for Christmas if you're a speedy stitcher. For me, maybe by next Christmas.
You'll have to scroll through her recent posts to get all the block patterns.

On top of those freebies being offered to all, I was lucky enough to win a pattern copy of Blessings of Autumn from Shabby Fabrics. It arrived by mail this week and I can't wait to get started on it. 

I also purchased the pattern for Betsy's Closet In Stitches from the Acorn Quilt and Gift Co.

And it just so happens that a stitch along blog has been created for all those that want to work on this within the next year. You can find more about it HERE. I'm still deciding whether to join this group or not. I really want to. I just don't know if I can keep up with them or not.

So there are just a few wonderful quilt BOM's that I have found and can't wait to start, finish or take part in.
If I only had a little more time!

Have a great weekend!