My Love to Hand Applique

I never thought I would be sewing in the summer, especially machine sewing. However, if you are like me, I am wondering if all these hot flushes are due to the temperature or is it just me? Last summer I enjoyed both the weather and the outdoors atmosphere while I passionately stitched my different hand projects, however, recent temperatures have been in the three digits! I am not complaining as I would sooner be comfortably sewing in my air conditioned home than pulling weeds anyway!

Well, I never thought I would see the day, but would you believe the weather yesterday was even too hot for my DH, so I did not feel "guilty" when I resumed sewing my scrappy blocks for my Sister's Star project. I also sewed another block for the terrific Summer Star Quilt Along. What fun doing these free online quilt alongs! Bradie Sparrow who generously writes up the Summer Star tutorials is excellent in her photos and instructions! Thank you kindly Bradie. Yahoo!

2009 was a terrific year for renewing my love for hand work in completing my favorite project, A Tisket A Tasket quilt. Who couldn`t help but LOVE the wonderful patterns offered generously by Anne Sutton from Bunny Hill Designs. What a terrific and talented quilter and person! And I also love Anne`s blogs!

I always admire subjects other bloggers choose and today was quite a chore for me. However, I decided to post my latest hand applique block, my sixth block for the Flickr 2010 Tea and Coffee Related Quilt Along group. In designing my block, I had an idea to add a bird to this block as I did my first and second blocks, however I will have to think on this one. Because I enjoy adding embellishments to my work, this block is intended to be a wall hanging quilt. I plan to make four different season groupings, so please check back and I may have some further ideas in progress. My mind is always meditating different plans. In the meantime, I just enjoy the mood my sewing creates! I certainly find I am more productive behind my sewing machine or needle than my TV set. I also used to be an avid golfer, but I cannot imagine how distressing I would find this heat! Perhaps I am just getting too old!!!

Have a nice day everyone!

p&b star sampler quilt along

Yup, I started another quilt along...the fabrics were calling to me. (c:



THANK YOU Audrey for your wonderful tutorials and patterns!!
I was on holidays and had quilting withdrawl! Weather was too hot and raining, therefore I started another 'quilty' project! I am using blue and green remnant pieces and 'scraps' from my stash to do this great quilt along. Tutorial and free pattern for block 1 here:

picklesandbacon.blogspot.com/2010/06/star-sampler-block-1...

AMAZING AND FUN block to make. Tutorial and free pattern for block 2 here:

picklesandbacon.blogspot.com/2010/06/star-sampler-block-2...

Fun block...Tutorial and free pattern for block 3 here:

picklesandbacon.blogspot.com/2010/06/star-sampler-block-3...

Fun block...thank you Audrey! Used the centre square fabric in my May TAT block. Tutorial and free pattern for block 4 here:

picklesandbacon.blogspot.com/2010/06/star-sampler-block-4...



This was the simplest of the five patterns, however I made lots of booboos sewing it together, but it was fun to do! Tutorial and pattern for block 5 here:

picklesandbacon.blogspot.com/2010/06/star-sampler-block-5...

NATONAL QUILT DAY FAT QUARTER GIVEWAY by PAT SLOAN ON FACEBOOK!

I LOVE GIVEAWAYS and this is pretty exciting.

What a GREAT DAY to be a Quilter!! NATIONAL Quilt Day... woot woot!!

And Pat Sloan has a Challenge... with a fabric and thread prize!

Pat Sloan is going to give away TWO FQ Bundles to TWO lucky people

AFTER she receives 3,000 people on the Fun Page!

So how do YOU speed up the process so you can WIN a FQ Bundle?

* Post a note on YOUR FACEBOOK wall inviting your quilt friends to join to win!

* Tell your internet groups

* write on your blog.

* tell your guild!

HERE IS the blog post, share the prize photo, give them the Fun Page Link! Quick like a bunny!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pat-Sloan/59964830850?ref=ts

PAT SLOAN'S BLOG:

http://patsloan.typepad.com/pat_sloans_corner/2010/03/xxxx.html

GOOD LUCK!

THE WAY WE SEE IT

Now what do I do next...

THE WAY WE SEE IT

The eye doctor instructed her patient to read a chart on the wall.

He Looked at it and read, "A, B, F, N, L and G."

The doctor turned the light back on and wrote in her notebook.

"How'd I do, Doc?" the patient wondered.

She replied, "Let's put it this way -- they're numbers."

"But Doc," he argued, "this is the way I see it!"

Much of my happiness or unhappiness is a result of my perception.
"This is the way I see it," I tell myself.

I see some problems as challenges that energize me to action and
others as obstacles that stop further progress. It's just the way I
see it.

And sometimes I see new situations as fun, and other times I see them
as fearful.

The busyness of my life can be OK if I see it that way, or it can be
a major source of stress. And an unexpected intrusion in my schedule
can be an irritant or, if I see it that way, possibly the most
important thing I could do that day.

Even an embarrassing mistake can be the beginning of a new learning
or an occasion to berate myself. It's in the way I see it.

One of the greatest blocks to my happiness is forgetting that it is
not always about what is happening to me -- it's more about the way I
see it.

Like Marcel Proust said,
"The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." It's in the way we see it.

More Close Up Photos of My Crazy Patch Embroidery

This is Button Cluster of some Victorian buttons...I love cameos...The verticl seam on the left is the Double Herringbone Stitch. Check here: http://inaminuteago.com/stitchdict/stitch/herringdouble1.html

for a wonderful Stitch Library by Sharon B.

I had FUN embellishing my new blocks!

Once I started, there was no stopping me. The weather was too windy to go for a walk so I was happy to continue with my present WIP...and if one did not have to sleep I would still be stitching...lol. I will still be adding more beads, etc, but thought I would update you all. I know how I love checking other blog sites FREQUENTLY, so here goes my day number 2 results. Hopefully there will be more 'rainy' days this summer for me to complete. Have a HAPPY everyone!