Another WIP be Gone for 2021 - STAR SPANGLED BIRTHDAY and a giveaway

Star Spangled Birthday
stitched area is 8" x 4" 

Toot toot!  

                            Whoop whoop another finish that is totally done.  

The design is Star Spangled Birthday by From Nancy's Needle and I loved it the first time I saw it.  The stats are being listed for my own reference only and changes I personalized being asterisked for easy notation.  It was basically stitched as designed with the called for threads on 18 count sandstone zweigart mono canvas.

The Watercolors by Caron numbers threads used are:   008 Nerfertiti, 016 Bark, 138 Winter Wheat, 160 Night Sky, 165 Granite, 255 Cornflower Blue,  and 257 Spearmint.  

DMC#5 weight colors were: Ecru, 498 Dark Red Border*, 321 Flag and Bunting*, 823 Navy - Bunting*.  

The Kreinik #12 weight Tapestry Braids used are: TR279 - Dark Multi darker windows on Left home *, 3202 Cats Eye for the Lighted windows.  

Gold Rush #18 used were *GD109C darker windows on Right Home*, GD45C Red, GD136C Navy and then added extra sparkle in the self designed fireworks using an assortment of sparkly threads like, *razzle dazzle Orange, an unknown *Green Sparkle I got through a thrifted mermaid item while visiting Mom in Florida, also unknown maker of two colors of a *Hot Pink Sparkle and an *Aqua sparkle. 

Many fibers were used and am glad I changed it up along the way.   The border colors only used the Rainbow gallery sparkly Blue in it and then I changed the called for Nefertiti red toned to a deeper toned DMC instead with out the sparkle*.  The *patriotic items were brightened up with a truer red as well as the windowed glass bits*.   Also made were changes to the design of the street lamps with a more to my liking simplified lamps and attempted successfully I think, a "truer to my memory" images of actual fireworks going off then the illustrated patterned lightning strike effect printed and designed.    Am so glad as I progress with my hobbies that I'm at liberty (yep- pun intended!) to change and stitch projects my way.  

Also was able to bring it to Aaron Brothers (Michaels) with 2 coupons, a 60% off and with an additional 25% off to get it framed with  the 2  mats and the selected frame which complements it perfectly.  That white pickled finish on the frame has hints of gold brushed through it letting it highlight the light affect of all those threads.  SO in honor of this finish... I did mention a giveaway:

To share in my self-finishing glory and joy,  I'm hosting a giveaway of this gently used chart to the continental US only.  My regrets to my other followers though for this exception but due to expense of international mailings it's unfortunate but too costly.  The winner will be drawn and announced here in November and I'll try contact you if I'm able to.  I plan to mail this out on my Birthday, November 10 to celebrate.   To enter, leave a comment on this post and share what you are most thankful for.  That's it.  Good Luck!

It was a fun stitch and only took me about 3 months to do and that's with sending it out to be framed too,  LOL.   But I work at a snails pace sometimes.  

  

TTFN,

Jane

Giveaway closed,   Sorry there were no entrants, so I will be letting this go in another manner.

Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm in for WIPs-B_GONE 2021

After the most recent finish I know that finishing projects feels fantastic so I've joined up with this link Leanne started to see how many more finishes I can accomplish by the end of the year.   Crossing my fingers that it'll be plenty.

Devoted quilter

A few of my WIPS are: 

HST drawn for ends of the spools for the Edyta Sitar Spool pattern for my idea of "99 Spools of thread on the BED" Quilt:

Current Needlepoint is getting close to the finish, (am hoping to finish the stitching on this Sunday):

36 Patch blocks continuing to be made- 

A couple of wall hangings made into tops that need finishing-

Cross stitch starts- Full Moon by the drawn thread, Fairy Garden by Blackbird designs, another shepherd's Bush that I've kitted and oh there are so many more.   VBG!

Homemade goods created like table runners, teapot cozy, table top quilt*lets, pincushions, bags, etc... and I'm not considering the foods I'm pickling, canning, freezing and regular meals cooked and stored for later too.....lol

You get the drift.  There are plenty of projects and now that the gardens are getting closed up and autumn is here, my "plate-spinning" demands should be slowing down.   

Yet I have miles to go....

Thankful, Grateful and Blessed

 A finish finally after many humps and yikes along the way.   Not sure why my craft is giving me hiccups along their progression and am still trying to know the why of it all, but alas this one is done!    

My attempt at "Ruler work"ed into the quilt design:

Placed it on one pepper plant that must have given us over 50 plus peppers!
Tried a new to us recipe from the family freezer for sausage stuffed mini peppers
in Marinara and it's a keeper.

Small sampling of the quilting behind the motifs after echo stitching:

A detail pic and hint of the binding finish:

Full project finally finished:

Used a couple of different threads for those wheat stalks inserted in the hat brim - am happy with it.

Feeble attempt of an art shot on the flowered boxes on the deck:

Thankful Grateful  and Blessed  that it's done.

TTFN,  Jane

Time out is over with a new perspective and breath of air

I found some more of that binding  so repairs can be made on the Pilgrim hat.  While tidying up I also ran across some other time outs while I contemplated where they needed to go and what done next.  

It went to time out!

 I was stitching my binding on the Pilgrim hat wall hanging and S.N.I.P.

What?!(*&%%#!?>?!

While trimming the corners so it could lie nicely I accidently cut through the edge of the binding.  Exasperatingly, I set it aside.  I have gardens and plantings to attend too.  I'm having a fit and am in a snit!

Jane

April's Focus - No Foolin' this time

I started late on the RSC this year and played catch up with some of the colors already assigned to January and February.  Though not unique as I've seen squared blocks all over blog land, its something I've been wanting to start... so I did.  

36 Patch Units:    6 so far.

2 for each month:  January through March  (Pink, Yellow, Green were the recommended colors).  I'm using my scraps but in a different lineup as I pulled from my solids the RSC color and am sewing my 2 -1/2" scraps onto that color. 

 Looks like Spring or Easter candy so far.   Depending on the colors coming later on, I may use that color for a different project as I'm truly loving the softness and Springtime feel of this so far.  AND I'm using some scraps, a WIN, WIN for sure.  Will ponder the size as it goes on.

OMG for April and am linking up with Elm Tree Quilts too with my plan for April being this Pilgrim Hat I previously showed here but failed to finish.  The quilting is next and the rulers to play around with it have just arrived.   That is one of my April's goals.  

Another April goal is to make a Frida Kahlo Tea Pot Cozy.  I may go traditional or perhaps push my limits but not as graphic perhaps as her art.   No picture of that unless you wanted to see my lil' red Le Crueset tea pot .  lol 

Am also continuing with those spool blocks.  Trying to come up with different Spool ends for each of those 99 colored spools.  Wish me luck as that project is lingering and I want to so more progress with it and all of my UFOs!  

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope your Easter is beautiful!  My Co-vid Vaccine #2 is Saturday and I hope my reaction to it is nonexistent.  The first vaccine  I had a temporal headache and was chilled to the bone, can you say Tylenol and two quilts to the rescue.   TTFN. 

Small finish and happy

Though she be small, she be fierce!   

A finish and one more kit done.  The good Lord knows I have plenty of kits in and my reason for acquiring them was for my retirement anyhow, that was my explanation.  lol   Now that I've been retired for 15 years I figure it's time to get  some finished and put to use.  

I figured the weight was close to 5 pounds since it's rather large and filled with sand, but my son weighed it when he stopped by for a visit and it's just shy of 3 pounds.  lol,  Still quite hefty.   Also I need to get some more sand as therre is only 1/2 cup left in my Folgers container.  I keep some on hand through the year since someone in the family has nut allergies and it's safer for pin cushion filling than the walnuts.  Since Spring is here I'll be heading to a local sand pit for more to process.

I sewed drawer stabilizer to the backing for stability on surfaces and then also created a tube of fabric for a binder clips area just in case.  

TTFN

Jane

Thanks for stopping by.   I did start some 36 patch block units to align with the  Rainbow Scrap challenge that SoScrappy does.   Am hoping to stay with it this year even though I'm climbing on board late.   

February 2021 OMG

 It's too late to link up with Elm Street Quilts however, I plan to finish January's leftover Pilgrim  wall  hanging as well as the Sewing machine pincushion photo below, and get the Kim Diehl BOM finished from last year that needs layering quilting and finishing (photo will be shared later).  

Bernina 440 stitched embroidery with the  metallic thread, no problem except the wonkiness from the user artistic license placing that spool of thread on the top. 
Which will stay as it is and how when I was starting out (age  7) the spool on top would "dance" with me going as fast as I could bringing up fond memories.   LOL

Below are a few of the tools I use for tracking the needles.  

This first tool - the Needle Tracker lets me know which needle is in the machine as there used to be (esp. pre co-vid times) elongated times that I endured no machine sewing.   I keep this just beneath my sewing machine, handy but not in the way.  

The next is a needle wallet to store some unique needles I use.  Like Joan Shay's appli-bond, titanium and those chrome needles I just received from Schmetz.   I store this on top of my needle container shared in my last post.

This last tool is placed on the same needle storage box in the top drawer and is for lightly used needles that still have more life left in them.  It even has blank spaces that I can customize the type and write on or off for special notations.  I call this my needle parking garage.

Thought I'd share a glimpse of how I organize some of those parts of my hobby not yet shared.  

TTFN,

Jane

Nice Surprise!

 A package came in the mail that my husband asked what I ordered now? 

"I didn't", I replied then went to see.  

Oh!!!!     It's Happy mail.  My heart raced a tad and a smile came along with a feeling of amazing wonder.  Just like Birthdays and Christmas mornings.

It's from Schmetz.com so I quickly Opened the package.  Just  imagine my surprise.   A package of Chrome (professional)Needles, the ABC pocket guide and a coated tag displaying the color bands identities.  Love it!

During an Island Batik box opening from a blogger I follow, I noticed her January box had the "grabbit too" tag and loved that concept.  I had printed out the same illustration on oak tag paper for my  identification purposes and it was a bit worn looking.  When I saw hers I went to Schmetz to let them know I truly loved their quality products and was a huge fan of their needles especially and where could  I find that plastic coated tag.  The above was their response. 

So you all know I truly love their products here is the back up needle storage in the top drawer of my sewing table.  Many of you already know that the closest store for me is a 2 hour drive and that's to a  Joann's and any quilt shops are even further. So anytime the husband and I travel, I'd scope out the route with stores and shops available to store up my quilting supplies while going through those areas even the many trek for his health check ups in Massachusetts and neighboring states.  

During sales, I'll shore up the "stock on hand" at fantastic prices as you can see by the alphabeticalized filing of those specialty needles.  You can see the 3 "gross" needle boxes I have for the normal piecing needles (and I've already gone through one of those) as I do change my needle often.  

Thank you Rhonda and Schmetz, Inc. - You're the best!

January 2021 OMG

 Almost there...  

Did get it sewn and then.  

Ooops, my fray block was dried up and not having any backups on hand, I ordered a tube from Amazon.  

Received the notice: order received, Delivery expected date February 10-17th, 2021.  WHAT?  

So a couple of days later thought, how about Walmart.  Checked and it was much better with the delivery for the next week.  Considering that 2 week pause during this, I'm feeling good this project got along as far as it did.   Only the pumpkin and some detail stitching left before getting it layered, quilted and finished.   It will be my first project finished for the year and I won't be derailed.   lol

Note to self- insert this into my February OMG to complete.  

Can't believe how fast this month flew by.  TTFN