Stress Free Sewing in Colorful Colorado

After a week of house cleaning and gardening,

I think we are finally settled into the cabin for the summer. 

Usually, it takes 9 hours to drive to the cabin, 

but a wildfire in Mancos created a backtracking detour.

Nothing like a 12 hour car trip to get some stitching done!

 Finished the last block for Le Jardin. 

My goal is to get into flimsy form next week.

Then Crimson Tweed got it's binding sewn down.

Now, each afternoon, I spend a few hours working on WIPs and UFOs.

My current WIP is Botanical Sketchbook

by Dawn Heese.

I only have the last block to stitch. 

I have this horrible habit of getting a project to the last block

and then it becomes a UFO. 

I brought 4 or 5 of these projects with me to finish this summer.

Of course, I continue to stitch on my Sue Spargo Toned Down Circle Sampler.

Here are a few of the latest ones.

 This one is not her design.

 I stitched it after seeing a similar one on Pinterest.

Wanted to experiment with ribbon embroidery.

 Of course, I loved doing the Octopus.

He looks so cute in my under-the-sea section.

Being at the cabin sure has reduced my stress level.

There is no TV,

so no repetitious news broadcasts full of doom and gloom.

Tomorrow, we will hike my favorite mountain trail!

Cannot wait.

Thanks for stopping by.

Be healthy, be safe and hug your love ones often!!! 

The End of Summer!

As our summer in the mountains draws to a close, 

I am satisfied with the progress I have made on the projects I brought up to finish. 

First is the inner portion of my Solstice Dreams quilt, 

designed by Kerry Green.

I am excited to finish this one because she is releasing a new design soon!

Then there is my Crimson Tweed wall hanging,

designed by Sue Spargo.

They both need their borders,

so I guess I cannot really call them finishes just yet;

but getting them to this point was my summer goal.

Now this one is a real finish,

 A Sign of Christmas, designed by Cricket Street Wool.

That plaited wool border was a real challenge!

I am also current on my Vases of Flowers quilt by Yoko Saito.

Even September's block is already appliqued down. 

Just need to do the embroidery work.

This coming weekend we will be packing up and heading back home to AZ...

AND THE HEAT!

Not looking forward to that part,

but I cannot wait to hug my babies.

A new baby is due Oct. 2nd! 

I used to lament my lack of grandchildren 

and now I will have 5.

Since I am celebrating my Medicare birthday this year, 

 I hope I will have the energy for them all.

A Girl and her Machine

Although I enjoy handwork, my first love is piecing with my machine...

especially small scale piecing!

Here is the beginning of a lifetime project, 

Sunrise Scraps by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.

When I saw this quilt last January at Road to California, I knew I had to commit to making it. 

I fell in love with all things she designs.

Just finished this little handful of scraps called Olivia.

I still continue to do handwork and wool applique.

Working on Father Christmas by 1894 Cottonwood House.

Finished my second block of Solstice Dreams

and embellished the first block of Crimson Tweed.

My friend, Deb and I are working together on a shoppe sample for a BOM starting in January.

Garden Whimsy by Norma Whaley of Timeless Traditions.

As usual, I have too many irons in the fire.

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Among other things, I am thankful for my machine and the joy it brings me.

Now to the business of cooking a feast for my family!