Monday Catch Up

So I wanted to catch you up on whats going on here in a crafty sense. I have many projects going in different mediums. I not only sew, I crochet and embroider. Here is a bit of what I have been working on.

This is part of the Dropcloth Sampler I am currently working on. I love her samplers. There is no color guidance on these, your imagination is your guide.

This is a new blanket I have started crocheting for Miss N. I hope to have it done for Christmas. I am using some of my leftover yarns from other blankets, but still did not have enough to do it all. I want all pinks and purples, since those are her favorite colors. So I had to order more yarn.

And this is my Dahlia blanket. I have finished all the rows, and am now working on round two out of six for a border. I hope it goes quickly and I can be done soon. It is hard to make myself work on this blanket for some reason. Well, it will get done.

I have other things going, that I will be back to share. Have a lovely Monday.

It's Thursday, What Else Can I Say?

Sometimes it's hard to think up a fun title for a post, when all it is, is an update. But I am glad to be able to be here and show what I am up to this week.

 First, I am still working on my Dahlia blanket. I have lost a little steam for this project, but still plugging slowly away on it. I am on week 4 of 6. The colors are so happy and I do love it.

This is one of the April blocks for the Penny Sampler Club. There are only two blocks this month and one of them is the bicycle I was so anticipating. It's larger and a bit more complex, so I decided to warm up with this one. I had all the pieces cut for a week, before I could make myself sit down and sew it. I don't know why I kept putting it off. I find that I am easily distracted by other projects many times and I have to reign myself in.

When my daughter got married, I made 100 assorted napkins to be used at the reception, and then for her family to keep and use daily. This is what they looked like new. They are not as clean and bright now after so many years of use and washings. But Miss N has latched on to the teal with white flowers here in the bottom row. For some reason there are only 2 left. They are the only napkins she will use.

So in an effort to save her mother's sanity, I made her these four napkins in pink and purple, her favorite colors. I will get them in the mail as soon as I can.

 I am also making new pillow covers for my daughter's pillows. I haven't recovered them in about 5 years, so I know they need a refresh. Choosing fabrics long distance was tough, but this is what we whittled it down to.

 Ad this is the beginning of the first pillow cover. I am making Dear Dottie blocks in her chosen colors for this one. Each pillow cover will be different, except for the fabrics. They will all come from that box above.

 My hand stitching project is this new Sampler from Dropcloth Samplers. I saw it on IG and just had to have it. I love having a slow stitching project to pick up as I want to.

And yesterday I started with the A. I am letting this lead me where it wants to go with the colors. I know this will take me quite awhile to stitch, but that's okay. I'm not going anywhere...literally.
Take care and stay safe.

Sign of the Times

Sign in, sign out. That's what made me think of the title for this post. And it's true. I do love to sew and as I am retired, I do sew every day. But now, it seems imperative to do so. It helps me focus on something besides the dreadful news that is everywhere. So here is some of what I have been sewing:

 A fun embroidery piece by Liz, of Cozy Blue. I love this so much I am doing another one called Mushroom Girl. I think this one is called Home Girl.

 This is the hanging diamonds block for my Penny Sampler Club quilt. Made with V and Co. ombre with the little white flowers on it. I can't remember the name right now.

 These are my pinwheel blocks for the Penny Sampler. They will go in the sashing strips that will be the same pale green as you see here.

 Here are my double diamonds for Penny Sampler. Not sure if I showed these before, but hey, no biggie.

 This is my first attempt at drafting a paper piecing pattern. I wanted a tea pot that looked more like a tea pot for my Penny Sampler. Not a bad first try. I am going to use it, even with it's imperfections.

 This is the bird block. I have decided not to embroider the feet on mine. But after seeing so many on Instagram I kind of want to make a quilt of them in different colors.

 These next three blocks are the beginning of something. I'm not sure what, but so far, I like them. I really need to use some of my Heather Ross pretties so this seemed the chance.

 Still crocheting too. This is my Dahlia blanket from the pattern by Attic 24. Love the happy colors in this blanket.

 I bought the umbrella fabric a couple of months ago, and the one with people with umbrellas. They are from the same line. All the rest came from my stash.

 It seemed like a good time to use them for something like this. The corners of the snowball blocks and the inner border are Ombre Confetti Metallic by V and Co.

close up

I finally finished piecing this small heart quilt, but don't seem to have a picture of it. I must remedy that.

And of course, Saturday was Pi day. So, I made chocolate cream pie. Recipe is on the King Arthur web site. I highly recommend it. Not too difficult either.

So that's what's going on here in my little world. Stay safe and healthy my friends. The world needs us quilters. Talk to you soon.

A Bit of Crochet

I have been working on the latest blanket pattern from Lucy at Attic 24. It is the Dahlia blanket. What attracted me to it was the beautiful colors and the interesting pattern.

This is part one which is 15 color stripes. Lucy has them in a "planned random" order in her pattern and I am following that. I like the randomness of it, but it is not totally random.

You can see here, we are beginning to repeat some of the colors, but not in the same order as the first rows. This really keeps it from being too predictable. And the colors are so amazing and bright. Perfect for a winter project.

And this is as of Sunday. I am just plodding along and taking my time. It is big enough now to cover my lap as I crochet and I just love that stage. The crochet along has finished with handing out each part, but you can always find all the instructions on Lucy's blog. I print each week's instructions as I am ready for them. I just printed week 3 of 7 including the edging. More hooky fun coming my way. I will show you when I get much more done, but if you want some beautiful shots, go visit Lucy.

Have a lovely day all.