Zane and Project Bags

Good Sunday to all of you who have stopped by.  Nothing is greater than getting to hold a baby that is part of your family and knowing that it will grow up being loved.  My DH and I went over yesterday to welcome the new addition into our little family.  He is so precious and don't you just love that new baby smell!  Here is a picture of our Little Zane sleeping peacefully.  Doesn't he look like a doll?  He has a large piece of my heart already.

We all went out for BBQ to a restaurant named The Mission.  If you have one of these near you, I highly recommend it.  Their theme is the military and veterans and yesterday being Veterans Day, they had bagpipes and all veterans ate free.  They have fabulous food and the price is very reasonable.  

I was busy yesterday and today finishing up some project bags for my store.  I've been in the mood to do some sewing and these I came up with.

Babs Bunny

11 x 12

Petunia Pig

10.5 x 12

Bette Davis

11 x 11

Perfect Rose

11 x 12

Winter Wreath

11 x 12

I always have fun finding that right pattern to suit the cotton fabric and this time especially.  The bunny I just fell in love with her.  She looks so shy and bashful.  Up north there is a wild flower called Queen Anne's Lace and it's one of my favorites and I love how Petunia is holding one.  The Winter Wreath is a no brainer with the beautiful red cardinals against the snowy background.  The Perfect Rose because it reminds me of the rose bushes my Mother had  and Bette Davis because when I first saw this pattern she instantly came to mind.  She's my all time favorite actress from the 30's and 40's.  You'll find all of these in the Project Bags for Sale store.  

I hope each and every one of you has a fantastic week ahead and is able to hug and tell a family member you love them.  

Blessings, Barbara

A finish and a shocker

Good Saturday afternoon to all my fellow stitchers.  I hope you are doing better than I am.  I woke up yesterday with another case of bronchitis.  This is twice this fall and I am never this sick so often.  Old age will kill you!

My finish is a project bag celebrating the fall season.  It has a machine embroidered pumpkin with lots of curly cues and the fabric has blackbirds.  Now how can you go wrong with that combination?  It turned out about 10 x 12 and is lined in a black checked primitive cotton fabric and is padded with Warm and Natural cotton batting.  If you are interested, you'll find this in my store of Finished Project Bags for Sale.

This past week was Little John's first trip to the dentist.  I'm telling you this little boy continues to shock us 24/7.  He sat in that big chair like he owned it and wasn't afraid and did everything the Dentist asked him to do.  He wasn't even afraid of the pick instrument that they jab you with.  Here's our big boy in the chair.  The sunglasses are so the light doesn't hurt their eyes.

I thought I'd give you an update on Belle.  They discovered that she is allergic to chicken protein and that's why she was breaking out in little pimples.  Since going on a special diet, her coat is beautiful and here's her and Little John taking a nap on her bed.

Then there's my little brat... Vallie.  I've left her coat grow a little longer with winter coming and she's so fluffy!!!

That's all for now.  Between the sore throat and the body aches....bed is calling my name.  I hope all of you are doing well and continue thru the season of flu.

Blessings, Barbara

I Actually Finished Something!!!

Hello my fellow stitching friends.  I have been busy stitching on a new Christmas ornament for this year and I actually finished it.....sort of.  I first saw this design on "Samplers and Santas"..Marly's blog...and went to the shop on Etsy and purchased the pattern.  It worked up fast and I love how many different ways this can be finished.  I decided to do a little pillow that can also double as an ornament.  I added one of my signature bows and I'm waiting for the rusty bells and rusty safety pins so I can add them.  That's what I meant by sort of.   I stitched it on 28ct. flax linen using Crescent colors and it turned out about 3 x 5....perfect for an ornament.

Also, if you have a daughter or grand daughter who loves Beauty and the Beast, in my store "Fabrics for sale" you will find a set of premium cotton fabrics that I had purchased hoping that our next great-grandchild was going to be a girl but that didn't happen.  So if you're a quilter, it's a beautiful set to make a nice size quilt.

I've also listed a project bag for sale.

That's all for now.  Everyone have a fantastic weekend.

Blessings, Barbara

Things done and to do

First off I want to thank all of you for your prayers and support.  I have taken all of your comments and printed them off and I'm keeping them close.  To me they are precious and I hold each one very dear.

I've been trying to keep myself busy and when I went into my sewing room this morning, an idea hit me and I just went with it.  In case you didn't know, I'm addicted to charm squares.  The Fat Quarter Shop keeps me up to date on what the newest ones are and I am lost when it comes to saying no.  I just received some more in the mail yesterday and I'll share them on a later post.  What I did this morning was take a collection from Moda called "Dragonfly Summer" and came up with this beautiful project/carry all bag.  The three main colors - brown, purple and green - are just lovely and I did the machine embroidery in those 3 colors.  The below picture is the front of the bag.  

Below is a close up of the machine embroidery on the front of the bag.

Below is a pocket that is on the back of the bag and I embroidered a dragonfly on it in the same 3 colors.

This bag finished off at 12" x 13.5".  I'm not going to keep this one because Heaven knows I have more than enough, so you'll find this one for sale in my store.  Just click on the "Items for Sale" button directly below my header picture.

My next bag will be done with the pink and grey fabric below.  I fell in love with this collection and can't wait to start picking out embroidery to go with it.  Maybe some cats?  Dogs?  Flowers?  

Remember a few months ago when Ma Teakettle was sweet enough to lend me a pattern and she also sent me a set of stunning Gentle Art Sampler Threads.  

Well I finally found the design that is worthy of these beautiful threads.  It's a new Jardin Prive design and I'm starting it tonite.  I will give a progress picture later this week.  Below is what the pattern looks like.  Doesn't this look like a fun stitch!

I also received my little lamb in the mail.  The top one is the complete kit of the "Ewe Look Fabulous" and her summer outfit.  The bottom one is for an Easter outfit to put on the one I've already done.  I was hoping to get my Easter one finished this weekend but I really don't think that's going to happen.

Well that's all I have for today.  Again, thank you all for your best wishes and prayers.  

Blessings, Barbara

Caution! Enabling Post

I hope everyone's week has started out great with no problems to worry about.  I have some things to share with you and please remember I did put "Caution" in my post title.  :o)

First up I finished a new project bag and I just love this pink and black fabric.  I found a pattern on my embroidery machine that I thought would look really nice with it and it has been stitched in black.  This bag you will find in my Etsy store for sale.

Now for the goodies.....

Since I already went off my stash diet I thought "what the heck" and purchased some patterns from The Threadbasket and other places.  The one above is a C Mon Monde design which is to be stitched over 1 thread but my old eyes just can't do that anymore so I'm looking at 20ct. Jobelan for it.  I doubt if I'll get it finished for this Christmas but there's always next year.

The above pattern I found on a French website and instantly fell in love with it.  I just purchased a large spool of HDF Perfect Red in premium and it will look great in this pattern.  I'm thinking 38ct. Gander linen but we'll have to wait and see.

The two above new Drawn Thread patterns I just couldn't resist.  The Give Thanks is for myself but the Noel will be a gift for a friend after it's stitched.  She loves all things Christmas so I know she'll love it.

Next is another C Mon Monde pattern which is so different I couldn't resist.  Of course you've heard of Mary Poppins.....well meet Mary Bobbins.  She's standing with her ever present umbrella floating over the house tops but along with her are all things needlework.....scissors, threads, etc.  This is a deceptively large pattern so it's going to have to wait until the first of the year to be started.  I have all the threads for it and the fabric.....Anchor and Belfast linen.

Well I hope you've enjoyed seeing what I'll be working on in the coming months.   What I'm working on now is Lizzie Kate's new boxer....Faith, Hope and Love.  It was to be worked on natural linen but I decided to do it on cream Belfast.....I wanted it a bit more cheerful.  This pattern will be up for sale after I'm finished with it so if you're interested in stitching it, please be patient and it will be added to Never Enough Stash.

So please enjoy your coming week and take time to enjoy the fall colors wherever you call home.  I can tell fall is coming finally to Florida because the rain trees are turning colors.  That's about all we get here so I enjoy it while I can.

Until we talk again,

Have a Blessed Day,

Barbara

My new project bag.....

How is everyone doing this wonderful friday nite?  I hope all is well in your part of the world and that you will be able to get plenty of stitchie time this weekend.

I was shown this freebie on the HDF message board and it was a blast to stitch.  I needed a new project bag for a shawl I'm crocheting and I thought this would look really sweet on the pocket.  You can find the pattern here.  I stitched it on 32ct. cream Jobelan using a HDF silk called Examplar Moon Called Sea.  Isn't that a great name!!!  It has shades of teal, olive green and gold in it and it's stunning!

Just for the record, everything that I used in this design I already had in my sewing room. :o) 

I did go to Hobby Lobby this morning to purchase some floss.  I received an email from Sweet Sue the other day and she was saying how she didn't like how DMC black covered her fabric.  I don't like DMC black because it tends to get fuzzy and I just hate working with it.  Well incase you didn't know, Hobby Lobby is now selling Sullivan's floss which is from Mexico.  I purchased 3 skeins of their black and I want to try it out and see how it feels and covers.  If you have used this floss, please post a comment and tell us how you felt about it.  I'm sure there are some ladies out there as curious as I am.

For you that live here in the states, please have a safe and happy Labor Day on monday and for everyone else....don't work too hard.  Until we talk again....

Blessings as always,

Barbara