A Finish!

Howdy!  Well, I can't believe another weekend is over!  Time passes by all too quickly when you are having weekend fun.
I promised to show you my finish!  Why a Christmas stocking in May?  Well, this is what happens.  I love Christmas.  In October I get out my Christmas books and patterns and start browsing through them to find wonderful things to make for gifts and for our home.  I get so inspired by this activity and plan plenty of projects to make.  In fact, I plan so many projects that I cannot possibly hope to finish them all.  Hence the Christmas finish in May!!!  I will also admit that I have a few more Christmas WIP's to complete, so you will probably see a few more during the next few months.
I must apologize for the crummy picture.  It is 10.27 pm and of course not the best time of the day to take photo's.  The stocking is needle punched.  I love needle punch.  I quilted up to the stocking with free motion quilting.  It is a cute, easy little project and a good one to make for gifts.  I found the pattern to this stocking in a Christmas "Create and Decorate" magazine.  I lengthened the pile on the stocking cuff to make it more dimensional.
I hope you have a wonderful week, and thank you for stopping by for a visit!

It's Been A While!!!

 Hello!!!  It certainly has been a while since posting my last blog!  Much has happened in the last few weeks.  It has all been very good though.  Firstly, I have a job at one of our local quilting stores, working three days a week.  It is so very delicious playing with fabric all day long and talking to wonderful quilting folk.  Secondly, my two older boys have come home after a successful year at college.  It is so wonderful having all the chicks back in the nest.  As you have probably deduced, this has left me with a lot less time to sew!!!

 I have been working on some EPP (English Paper Piecing) though.  I am totally in love with the process.  I had posted some EPP that I have been working on in reproduction fabrics!  The quilt store that I work at has a wonderful selection of Kaffe Fassett and Phil Jacobs fabrics that are just too colorful for words.  I felt something bright was in order for a change.

 So I decided to make a diamond shaped motif with my hexagons.  I am not sure whether the camera does the background fabric any justice, but it is the most gorgeous purple.

I absolutely hate throwing away small scraps of fabric!!!  I was so excited to find paper templates for a 1/2 inch hexagon.  Have you ever seen anything so cute?  I have decided to do a dolls quilt with the little scraps.  I am thinking an apricot background would look lovely!  Now, if I have anything left of my salary, I will buy some the next time I go in to work!  One tends not to bring home too much money working in a quilt store.  My stash, however, is growing - much to my dear husbands dismay!!!
I have actually had a small finish and will post that over the weekend.  I hope you are all having fun and crafting up a storm!

Happy Easter

I hope everybody had a very happy Easter today.  We had afternoon tea and an Easter Egg Hunt with very dear friends!!!  Makes the day even sweeter!

Yummy Carrots!!

I saw a "How To" for these carrots in Martha Stewart Living Magazine.  I thought they looked so cute so I decided to make some for Easter.  Now these are not ordinary carrots mind you.  They are chocolate carrots.  Yum yummy yum!!!  You will need a roll of orange crepe paper and a roll of green crepe paper for the tops.  Also you need a candy that will work to be wrapped inside the carrot.  I chose Hershey's chocolate bunnies because they are long and thin and won't distort the carrot shape too much.  Cut some green crepe paper in the shape of a topper and put aside.  Then start on the thin side of the carrot and just roll your crepe paper adding candy as you go.  Wind the crepe paper back and forth until your carrot is firm and has a pleasing shape.  Then wind your paper to the top of the carrot, lay the topper down and wind it into the carrot shape with the cut ends protruding from the end of the carrot.  Use a little glue stick to secure the end of the orange crepe paper to the carrot.

I am having company on Easter Sunday, so I made a carrot for each person who will be at my home.  I laid some easter grass into a wooden bowl and placed the carrots on top!  Aren't they cute?

Playing with Yarn

In my travels around blogland, I have seen many people making Japanese Flowers.  They are so colorful and cheerful.  Thanks to Elizabeth for her tutorial.  I whipped these up in no time at all.  Now I am thinking what to do with them.  Another blanket?  Maybe!!  It would be lovely for spring don't you think!

My fabric has been neglected for a few days.  Hmmm, Ramblings of a Quilter?  I should have put Ramblings of a Quilter / knitter / crocheter!!! In my defense, I have sewn a few of my hexagons together.  I will show you pictures of the progress soon.
Hope you are having a glorious day.

I Proudly Present a Finish - A Big Finish!!!

 My knitted afghan which I started in late December 2010 is finished!!!  I love it when I get a big project completed.  It is big - my helper could not stay the course without falling asleep as you can see!!

 I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease worsted weight yarn.  I think it is going to be warm.  It is also very soft which will be wonderful for an afternoon nap!!!  The black border on each square makes the colors pop and also makes a neat border around the basket stitch knitted squares.  The borders are crocheted together and then the blocks are hand stitched together.  

I am doing the dance of joy.  Now I should go and round up another large UFO and get busy!
Thank you for stopping by and have a terrific day.

Painting some Easter Eggs

 I've been having some fun painting easter eggs for display.  I love the wooden eggs with a flat bottom so that you can stand them up on their own.

 After painting them, I give them a coat of varnish to finish them off!

I am still thinking about what to do on these large eggs!  Hmmm, shall I paint something onto them, decoupage?  I will wait for inspiration!!!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.