Oh, I've been busy, alright...

Notwithstanding, I had a boy turn 13 this week. I had an out-of-town father-in-law in town house-hunting this weekend. I was on the schedule to bring snacks to class on Sunday. I baby dog-sat my aunt's schnauzer last week & blogger pretty much sucked stunk was worthless ...

But, I did complete a couple projects:

My Auntie Faith was in town for a brief visit, so I made her a lovely little tea towel to take home for her darling tea parties with granddaughter Caylin.

Doesn't it look like this was hand embroidered a century ago?

My dad's birthday is tomorrow -- I graciously parted with this

extracted from one of my Mother's Day gifts from the hubs which was this

YUP! That's a gallon of the good stuff!

I also made this for my parents' wall ('cause their 52nd anniversary is less than a month away...)

Easter Dish Towel

I ♥ this stitchery!

 It looks like something from granny's linen collection!

I don't remember where I got the towel. I've had it for a couple years. The design is from  MyEmbroideries.com.

This past week

we've had record breaking lows.((BRRRRRRRRRRRRR)) Rather odd for our part of the country (for this time of the year...) Got me to thinking about scarves -- and revamping one with embroidery.

I am not really what you would call a "scarf" person. (Used to be, in a previous pre-kid life...) Once a year I do wear this:

♪♫ We wish you a Merry Christmas...♫♪

Well, last Christmas my sister gave me:

It is from Azerbaijan.

It is a fabulous velvet burn-out with long, delicious fringe.

So then, on Saturday (anticipating Valentine's Day) I embroidered this:

L♥ved it, so I added:

Wore it to church yesterday -- but our weather is turning warm again, so I ended up just carrying it around...

I ♥ pillows!

I've seen some of these in some cute boutiques & around the 'net. I have nothing better to do so I made a couple.

This was the first one I finished:

I have so many buttons from my mom, my grandma (& probably even great-grandma...) that I would love to use in projects for ME.

I have a long story that could go along with this next pillow, but I won't bore you with it now... This one signifies my love for my husband & sons!

Santa "Peakies"

Well now, I can show a couple, 'cause they were delivered today.

My good friend Sarah takes my oldest to school every morning. She teaches Kindergarten & has a snowman fetish collects snowmen.  When I saw some prim-y winter designs coming from Stephanie @ HeartStrings Embroidery I knew I had to do something for Sarah with them. First, I thought I would do a pillow with

but then I saw

and knew I had to use all three!

So, I found her a hoodie & went to work.  I modified the "sampler" with a heart so she can wear it through Valentine's Day, at least...

She loves it & wore it to work today.

Santa was also busy in the kitchen, whipping up teacher gifts:

(And yes, those are 7-inch cinnamon rolls...)

Sshhhh!

Santa's busy in the workshop -- that's why I haven't posted lately...

I am working on Auggie's stocking, and since "the Aug doesn't blog," I can post pictures when it's finished. I love the fact that it's "crazy-quilted" in my embroidery machine. That's sooooooooo much easier than wrestling even a crib-sized through a machine by hand.

 

That's why I do so many "raggy" quilts:  embroider - sew blocks - snip - wash - dry - DONE!

Oh! This one I was able to piece the photo blocks in my embroidery machine...

...but had "sew" much fun with the quilting of the entire quilt!

I don't think I'll ever do one this large, ever again!

STOCKINGS!

Christmas Style

My youngest sister & I have pretty much polar opposite Christmas decor. My tree is usually angel-themed, Beverly does "COWBOY"!

However, I loved making her tree skirt!

I bought "Christmas Cowboy Boots" from Rease's Realistic Designs .

(I did customize the designs & colors to match her family's style!)

The rope alphabet I found at Embroidery Library . Perfect!

Bonus find on the fabric! It's kind of a knit faux suede. Beautiful! And I have yards & yards of a sort of ropey braided piping.

Here it is needing to be trimmed & lined.

At home in Las Vegas!

Count-down to Christmas

I know it isn't yet Thanksgiving; but I wished to show you a finished project for my favorite kindergarten teacher. The designs all come from Embroidery Library . 

I made the advent calendar with tabs for Sara to hang in her classroom. 



Her students will enjoy placing the pieces in the stable.



(It's all about the Savior!)



I enjoyed using some specialty threads for angels & wise men.

After embroidering & cutting out all 25 pieces, I coated them with tacky glue to seal the back.

Next came the application of repositional adhesive.

Now all the felt will stay where placed.

Thank you, Sara, for teaching little ones about His birth!

Blankie, Bunnies & Burps

Living in the Valley, one doesn't use a lot of blankets -- unless you're a baby.  I try to create my blankies for use year-'round.  This one for Baby-to-be-"M" uses a light pink Minkee & crisp cotton floral. It isn't apparent from the photo, but the roses are highlighted with shimmery gold -- which is why her monogram is gold thread.  I made the binding from one of three pink plaids.

I love this "Wee Bunny" pattern from weewonderfuls! I've used it for many 1-year-old-birthday gifts. The bunny for "M" uses pink plaids plus the rose print.  Gotta have Minkee ears!

I figured Bunny M needed a big sister "K". (I made a toddler quite happy: she took the bunny to bed the first night...)

I embroider the face so there are no buttons or whiskers to chew off! The pom-pom tail is stitched with upholstery thread. 

I am such a fan of raggy monograms! I ♥ texture that much.

This sweet blanket stitch applique flower from Sew-N-2-U pretties-up another burp.

Ahhh -- another baby gift wrapped up...

 

p.s. -- I didn't forget "Mom"...