Made Some Progress!

Hello!  :)

My friend Karen, from Sew Much 2 Luv has been having an "After Christmas Sew Along" all month. I wanted to participate from the beginning but I just couldn't get my rear in gear. Now that I'm moving along I'm participating this week. Today, Friday, is the last day. Better late than never . . . right?  ;)

I've made some progress on putting the Birdie's quilt top together. I sewed the four rows together with the sashing in between the blocks. I only got a picture of part of the first row though . . .

It's the January and February blocks so it's appropriate, right?!  :)  I'm hoping to get more done on this tomorrow. The only problem is that the hunky dude is off work every Friday, Saturday and Sunday (he works 4/10's). I love this schedule but sometimes it's hard to get sewing done. He seems to want to run errands and spend time with me on his days off . . . crazy, huh? Just kidding! I love it!  :)  I just wish I could fit some sewing time in there too. It's my fault though as I get lazy after we run errands and just want to sit, watch tv and play on the computer. I'm a total computer addict! There I admitted it!  ;)

Remember this pile I showed you the other day . . .

Did you guess what I was making with it? I turned it into this . . .

I'm very happy with how it turned out.  :)  It's for a Block of the Month Swap I've been participating in through Mary Jane's Farmgirl Connection. January's block was to be a snowman. I think I got it right!  :)  Hopefully my two partners aren't reading this. I will be getting their blocks in the mail to them real soon. I also made a couple extra ones for myself. I'm considering using this design for a surprise project later this year. I just have to decide exactly what I want to do. For now I'll keep my idea a secret. I'll let you in on it when I know all the details, okay?!  :)

Hope you have an awesome weekend!  :)

Until next time . . .

This . . . That . . . & Everything in Between! :)

Hello!  :)

It's been another busy week! I always have great intentions on posting more often but then I'm tired by the end of the day and put it off. Then in the morning I'm eager to get working again so again I put posting off until later. :)  Can you say procrastination?!!! I'm very good at procrastinating! You may even call me an expert! ;)  So if you haven't guessed by now, this will be another one of those long posts.

Guess I better get started . . .

Guess what I finally did this week??? Haven't figured it out yet? Here's a clue . . .

Yes! I did! I actually finished my Halloween apron before Halloween!!! Do you like it? Is the blue/teal polka dot batik too much? I thought so at first but then I loved how it brought the same blue/teal color out in the main fabric. Here's a close up . . .

What do you think? Does it go together? One minute I love it and the next I'm not sure again . . . lol! The main vintage inspired fabric was made especially for JoAnn's Fabrics.

I also managed to finish my Thanksgiving apron! Can you believe it? Too aprons in one week! I'm on a roll! Here it is . . .

I know I've shared one just like this before that I made for a swap partner. I liked it so much that I had to make one for myself.  :)  I'm even thinking of making one for my sister too. You see my mom passed away earlier this year. She always cooked Thanksgiving dinner. This year my dad's still hosting it and my sister and I are cooking. Wouldn't it be nice if we both wore matching aprons to honor her! That will mean that I'll have to make one more . . . I'll have to think on this one. Not sure if I have the time before Thanksgiving to whip another one out. Yes! I'm a gluten for punishment . . . lol!

Here's a close up of the fabrics . . .

This vintage inspired fabric was also made especially for JoAnn's Fabrics. I just love it!

If you love aprons like I do . . . you might want to sign up for a Christmas apron swap. Sue from Country Pleasures is hosting one and of course I signed up. It just happened to work well with my schedule, believe it or not.  :)  Click on the link above or the photo below for more information. If you decide to sign up let me know.  :)

I participated in her Fall Apron Swap. I not only received an awesome apron but made a great friend as well! (Hi Donna!) I love swaps!  :)

Besides aprons I managed to finish quite a few more Christmas Stitchery's for my two mini quilts. I finished two Stockings . . .

Two Bear's . . .

And two Christmas Tree's . . . 

Yes I finished 6 stitchery panels this week! A new stitchery was released today and I've already got two of them traced and ready to stitch! After that there's just one more and then the quilt process will begin. I'm quite impressed with myself! I'm really enjoying it! I know I've said it before but I really am! :)  It's so relaxing to sit and stitch and watch tv. You should try it. The redwork is pretty quick as you don't have to change colors.  :)

What else did I do this week? Well do you remember the Ghastly blog hop I told you about? If you don't click here to check it out . . . 

One week of the blog hop is already over, but there's still one more week to go. You really should check it out as there are some pretty awesome projects being created and lots of prizes too! (I won the rolling tote bag on day 2! Yea me!) As I told you before, I actually signed up to take part in the blog hop. This was going to be my first. Did you notice I said "was"? Somehow I missed a very important email that was sent to the participants. I think it was eaten by those cyberspace monsters! I didn't realize it until it was too late . . . so I'm not going to be included in the actual blog hop. However the hostess of the blog hop, Madame Samm of Sew I Quilt, said that she would put a link to my projects on her blog on her day of the hop, November 4th. So I will still be participating . . . just in a different way. So even though I've completed another project for the blog hop, all you get to see now is a sneak peek . . . 

What ever could it be? This makes two projects that I've finished. I still have some of the Ghastlie fabric left so I may just squeeze in another project. We'll have to wait and see if I have time.  :)  So do you have any idea what the above Ghastlie project is? I'd love to hear your guesses!  :)

Until next time...
Cherise  :)

A Surprise Gift...

A few days ago I received a surprise gift from a new blog buddy, Karen from sewmuch2luv. Actually I knew she was sending me something, as she had asked me for my address, and told me she wanted to send me something. I was so surprised and happy! I was even more surprised when I got my gift. Such a nice presentation!

Here's the card and the gift! A dumpling bag and a vintage handkerchief! I love them! She knew I liked red and made this bag just for me. She actually showed the bag she made on her blog along with a beautiful apron she made & designed and I didn't have a clue. I don't know if she knew I also like americana (the card was perfect too!) 

I layed the items out to take more pictures and didn't realize what I did until later when I was editing them. Do you see it in the picture below? It's a mushroom! Karen, I bet you didn't know you sent me a mushroom, did you? Lol!  :)

Here's a better picture of the bag... I love red & polka dots!

And the inside... don't you just love that fabric too?!!! I'll have to figure out something really special to use it for.... huummmmm....

Thanks Karen so much for your kindness and sharing your talents with me! I feel honored! You made my week!

By the way... I just finished watching the season opener of "Two and a Half Men". Did you watch it? What did you think? I think they did a great job with it. At this point I think the show will continue to be successful. I don't want to give anything away in case someone dvr'ed it and hasn't watched it yet. My favorite part was the guest couple that used to have their own show. I loved it!

I did get some sewing done today. I'm almost finished with the apron for my swap buddy. Hopefully I'll finish it tomorrow... if all goes well.

Until next time...
Cherise  :)