Christmas Chaos ... All Twelve Blocks!!

Christmas Potpourri Block 12

  Christmas Potpourri - All Twelve Blocks

Wow!  Words escape me ... busy, crazy, scary....

The Christmas Potpourri quilt top blocks are about done.  The are two borders -- first a scrappy sawtooth border, then a scrappy block border.  The sawtooth border was designed to be part of the block construction but I wanted to wait until all the blocks were stitched so that there would be more variety in the placement of the half-square triangles.

Chaos Continues with Block 11

Christmas Chaos - Block 11

This is block 11 from the Christmas Potpourri BOM.  It is the only block in this project that I have had serious problems putting together -- in fact, in 15 years of quilt making this block was the most trouble.  There is a minor error in the directions but other than that, I'm not sure what went wrong.  The little log cabin should be the center of a star but after three attempts I gave in to the scrap bag.  Even then, it didn't go as I had envisioned.  

This is perfect example of my favorite quilting/crafting blurb -- finished is better than perfect.... block 11 is finished!!

The move is made ... all because of ....

Yeah!  You found my new blog location.  Why did I move??  Do you see the incredibly awesome clock on the left ... I really like it.   Since Wordpress won't allow those types of links I switched.   

I have a lot to do to get the new blog equipped with snazzy gadgets and counters and menus!

Switching from Wordpress to Blogger

There are some nice features on blogger that I will be trying out ... not sure if I want to make the switch.  Time to play!

The week with Seasons Winter

Seasons Winter at 15%

This past week, my stitching time was spent with Seasons Winter and I am very pleased with the piece.  As always, I didn't get as much done as I had hoped but I love having her face nearly finished.

Much of my stitching time was spent with goodies that will be going onto ebay -- again.  I continue to try to get my "resource center" from spread all over the house to one or two closets.  If you are looking for interesting stitching, I have decided to sell my Special Projects (Kay Montclare of World In Stitches) and Sue Lentz kits.  There will (hopefully) be about 10 items each week -- all needlework realted -- sampler kits and charts, yarn, Bucilla felt kits, quilt fabric and various needlework supplies.

I have another blog that links pics to my ebay sales and you can find it at jbf auctions -- hope you find something you love!

My Nook and Two Thumbs Up for Barnes & Noble

Besides stitching and other crafts,  I like to read and listen to audio books.  I was introduced to Stephanie Plum (by Janet Evanovich) in October and have been reading the series in order.  I am on Smokin' Seventeen, it was available as an epub book from the library.  My Nook was fully charged, I loaded Smokin' Seventeen onto my nook on Monday morning, read during lunch both Monday and Tuesday.  I took it to the community center to walk with on Wednesday and no battery power.

If you like to read while you exercise you will understand what a huge disappointment this was.  I cut my walk short and drove over to B&N to get a new battery.  If I had been smarter -- I would have jumped off the treadmill and walked to B&N <sigh> thought of that much too late.  Anyway, I walked into the store, looked around and couldn't find the replacement batteries.  I went to customer service, told them that I was looking for a new battery and the super nice representative took my nook, checked to be sure it was up to date with software and replaced my battery -- for free -- how nice was that??!!  Maybe it's part of the warranty, it is one of the early edition Nook's, I don't know.  I'm a pretty happy camper!

On The Stove -- HAED by Strelkina

On the Stove - Started 30 March 2012

I joined in the Heaven and Earth Week 5 SAL with a new project.  This is my start for "On The Stove" (about 540 stitches).  Yeah!! Something on my 2012 project list --  any stitching at all counts so I can finally say I have actually accomplished something on my list.  This project is also on my HAED yearly goal list with the specific goal to complete pages 5 and 6 -- that is the upper right - I stitch right to left with my top cross going bottom left to top right.

I am stitching On the Stove on 18 count aida using 2 strands of DMC.  The finished size will be enormous at 19.44 inches by 25.39 inches.  It appears that this was charted using art work from a laquer box (click on this link to go to the Strelkina website:  On the Stove) -- that would account for the shadow edges and curve of the corners.

The chart does not fill in the corner triangles but I will probably use one of the main colors to fill it in.  I'm not a huge fan of aida cloth but when I stitch something that is solid like this the slubs on linen create a bump that I don't want.  Bottom line, I don't want the aida to show and if I fill in the corners it will cover the fabric and as a bonus it will also give me a bit more flexibility in finishing.