What I've been working on

I think I'm finally getting back into my stitching and am enjoying it.  I had started this design last year but realized I would never finish it before the holiday so I picked it back up.  I think I should have it finished before Halloween.....at least I hope so.  :o)  It's a Jardin Prive design and I have always loved it.

The fabric I'm stitching it on is a hand dyed but I've since lost the label so now it's a mystery linen.  I'm using DMC to do the black stitching but the others:  white, orange and lime green will be done in silks.

I've also been very busy making some more of my bags.  All the others sold and I'm thrilled with that. So here's the new ones:

This first one is my first attempt at wool applique and I am very pleased with how it turned out.  The fabric is a tan on cream pillow ticking and it's lined with a homespun.  The wool I used for the applique is from Weeks Dye Works.

This one is an unusual choice of fabric for a bag.  I fell in love with this pale blue ultrasuede at the store and knew I had to do something with it.  The stitching is called "Shadow Lace" and it's done in an indigo color which matches the lining perfectly which is an indigo batik.

The celebration of our country's birth is coming up so I had to do a 4th bag.  I decided on a pinwheel in the machine embroidery with Happy Fourth above and below it.  I couldn't decide which fabric to use for the bag so I decided to use both.  Problem solved!

I love peacocks!!!  This one is done using a beautiful teal, olive green, dark brown stripe for the bag and it's accented with peacock feather fabric to set off the design.  It's lined with a stunning olive green heather.

And this is my favorite.  Who doesn't like sunflowers and blackbirds???  I've had this fabric for several months and just couldn't decide what to do with it.  When I saw this embroidery design I knew it was perfect.

All of these bags you can find in my store under the tab at the top "Items for Sale".

Well it's been a rainy week here in Florida and we needed it but unfortunately rain makes the grass grow.  This morning I made a visit to the Sewing Studio....can't wait to show you that fabric grouping....and then came home and did some much needed yard work.  It looks like it's going to rain again so I'm glad we did it this morning.  Our backyard was starting to look like a jungle.  LOL

Well that's about all in my neck of the woods and I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

Blessings, Barbara

Blueberry Crumb Cake Anyone?

As I promised, I finished the Blackbird Designs Blueberry Crumb Cake bag this evening.  I couldn't decide what to use as the embroidery and then it dawned on me......a spot of tea would go great!  "Come share a cup of friendship" is what the teapot says and isn't that a wonderful idea!

I added some cream colored lace with ribbon going thru it and the bag is lined in the antique white Kona cotton that I used for the front embroidery.  This one will be in my store for sale if you're interested in it.  Just click on the "Items for Sale" button directly under my header.

I actually started a project today that doesn't involve my sewing machine.  I love Maureen Appleton's Splendor series and I have several of those kits and I figured it was about time I started one.  The one I picked to do first is Splendor IX - Escapade en France.

It's hard to make out from this picture but it has all kinds of French items on it....the Eiffel Tower being one of them.  The one thing I don't like about her kits is the color of floss she uses.  To me it's too red/purple and  it actually hurts my eyes.  I'm doing mine on natural linen using DMC 347 which is a redder red.  These designs have so much going on, that I don't think a hand dyed thread would look right....it would make the images muddy.

So in celebration of me starting an actual project my next bag will be French-e-fied.

DH goes in for his test tomorrow and I'm just a little nervous.  I have this terrible feeling that they are going to rush him directly from the test to the operating room.  I don't know why I feel this.....it's just been gnawing at the back of my mind for days.

Have a fabulous evening!

Blessings, Barbara

What I did today....

I love my baby but wow does she love to get dirty so the first thing I did today was give Vallie a bath.  She doesn't like the blow dryer but she gets so fluffy when I use it so she just puts up with it.  She is now 6 months old and so in dog years doesn't that make her 3.  If so, it now makes sense.....she's entered the "terrible three" stage.  Heaven help me!!

Next up is a new bag I made using the same pattern as the one with the upside down pockets only this one is correct.  This one is made with a Moda charm pack from Blackbird Designs and I just love the colors.  The inside lining is a beautiful pale blue fabric that matches the straps.  I gave this one a hard bottom by covering a piece of plastic canvas with fabric and placing it inside.  Makes the bag stand up by itself which I like for knitting projects.

The above one is so girly!!  If you know me, you know I love pink and green together and I've had this selection of fat quarters for awhile just waiting to make something out of them.  Well this is what I came up with.  I cut 2.5 inch strips and sewed them together like the square one with the seams on the outside.  For a first time, I think it turned out kind of cute and is a good size for my little knitting projects.

The above is what I have finished so far on the Chatelaine SAL.  The picture gives you a good idea of the fabric I'm using and the colors of floss.  Not all the colors are in the picture yet and I'll take another one once they are so you can see all of them together.

Well that's what I've been doing today.  I hope everyone else has had a good day of stitching and that the frog stayed home.

Blessings as always,

Barbara