stockings

large and small
I seam to be working on them all
Here is a Christmas stocking I made for a friend

and here is one in progress that I am knitting I really like working with these bamboo knitting needles

and the little stoppers have been sew handy I will have to pick up another set or two.
The post cards for the Snowflake swap are off in the mail to there new homes. I hope they like them .... I will share the ones I made now and when the others arrive I will share those

catching snowflakes

winters sparkles
a beaded snowflake

Sew that the latest of what I have been up to in the sewing room.

Thanks for stopping by 

in stitches

Annette

December has arrived

not sure how it got here sew fast but the calendar was turned to the start of a new month.
                            Welcome December the month that is filled with sew much.

To start of my post I will share the post card I received in the mail from Alice in Nova Scotia .

Alice's post card ..... in the mail today

 We are in the  Christmas post card swap that Sheila organize. I have also swapped with a gal in Australia.

the post card I sent to Alice

I have been working on a sample quilt for the learn to quilt class that I will teach in February here in town at the college .It covers all kinds of piecing  techniques.

I was using up some sock yarn and made up this little pair of socks

then I made up an apron for a friend

and now I will be off to build a stocking for another friend.
Today I will be linking up with  The Needle and Thread Network
Have a great week and enjoy December and all it's business
in stitches Annette

let it snow

 but just not too much ;0)
I am part of another post card swap, this one is with a Snowflake theme
here is a peek at what I came up with

 well that's all for now

I will post full pictures when the swap happens.

Have a great week

in stitches

Annette

and it has begun ...prep for Christmas

these little goodies take for ever to get baked up
but they love them
and that is why we do it

Christmas is a coming and it's time to get busy.
I have been getting a few goodies baked for the holidays and I have started on some of my sewing and knitting.
Mitts and a scarf/cowl

 a pair of socks

can't wait to wiggle my toes in
some new socks

I am trying out a baby pair of socks now.
A little sewing with a couple post cards for the swap that Sheila from Sheila's Quilt World has set up.They will be in the mail in the morning to start their journey to their new homes. Pics will have to wait until they arrive.
I have only the label to do for a baby quilt for our niece and nephew's new baby that sill be here by the end of December.
I am also working on a few other quilted gifts........ sew much to do and sew little time it seams. But one stitch at a time and I hope to get it all done.

just a peak from the back side

I have also been working on samples for the classes that I am going to teach in the new year.
Sew it is back to the machine ......
happy stitching to all
in stitches
Annette

a stocking for a special little gal

some of the last sings of fall

it seems that fall is almost over as the cooler---- colder temperatures are some and snow is in the air. We had some sleet in the air here today .
I did received a beautiful sign of fall in the mail this week Sheila surprised me with one of her wonderful post cards........ the blueberry fields around her area . Sheila had organized a Fall swap and is in the works on a Christmas post card swap.

As October came to a close we were ready for the trick or treaters to come to our door. Not as many this year, it must have been to cold and windy for some of the little kiddies.

these little guys where hanging out just watching for the kids.
As the kiddies did come knocking on the door I was working on a baby quilt, and to my surprise  I did get the top put together that night and I now have it quilted pictures to come later this week.

Here is one of my finishes of this past week. I had to look for bean bag stuffing to finish the larger floor cushion ..... here is the pair of them

this can be a messy job but I did manage to keep it under control .... 

the static was crazy

I am hoping to see a few more signs of fall over the next few weeks ..... I hope

I am not ready for the fluffy stuff just yet.

Have a great week and stay 

in stitches 

Annette

getting ready for Halloween

                                       Helped a mom get her little princess ready for Halloween.

\Now to see what else I can get done tonight.
Happy stitching
                in stitches
                               Annette

Taking a class

sample that I found on line

Well a good friend of mine and I will be taking a Hawaiian Quilting class this winter. And the best part is that it will be in Hawaii. We got lucky and are in the last 2 spots for the day, sew we are very excited.
We will send our hubbies golfing while we take the class. Sew a good time will be had by all.
in stitches
Annette

Just a thought for to day

This was sent to me by a friend and I thought I would like to share them with you.
That's all
in stitches
Annette

Fall... is in the Air

Well a few stitches happened here after the long weekend.
I did get the floor pillow put together and had enough leftover to make a mini floor cushion .... for those little bottoms to sit on. I still have to get he bean bag filler for the larger cushion. I used fiberfill stuffing in the smaller one and it worked out well.

I did also get a Christmas stocking made for a friend of our daughter's little fella.

And of course I was getting a few things put together at different stages for the class I will teach Monday night.
It is a lot of fun sharing my love of sewing with others.
I have been working on the tomatoes too .... only a couple more caners worth and I will be done with them for this year. I have tried something a little different.... jalapeno peppers in the tomatoes..... perfect for chili.

I was part of a Fall post card exchange and my partner was Eglea from Brazil ..... this is the lovely card she sent to me ........ I just love the thread painting that she did on it and how it captures the falling leaves.

Thank You Eglea I just love it!!!

here is the one I sent to Eglea

from the idea to finished post card

A big thanks goes out to Sheila for organizing another swap.
Well thanks for stopping by
stay in stitches
Annette

1st night of classes

I have been putting a few things together for my students for our sample class tonight and a few items that I have made to give them ideas of what they could do in some of the later classes.

goodies for class
see the little strawberry pin cushions from last year's hop
I thought I would give one to  the ladies 

 This will be a 4 night class that will start with samples and a couple of projects and then a project of choice.
I am hoping to impart a love of sewing to my students and a willingness to be creative and see where that leads them.

I want to make 2 one out of denim and one out
of the fabric below 

As for a new project for myself I have found this pattern by Indigo Junction.

And now I have everything to get started..... except the time ...lol
in stitches
Annette

doing my homework....

and the class has not even started yet!
Sew this is what teaching the class is all about.  Just a little extra play time at the sewing machine.

I will be teaching a learn to sew class here in town. I hope the ladies enjoy learning about their machine and creating with them as well. I know the class will be more fun after we get the samples out of the way. I feel it is important to have the samples to refer back to when doing other projects on your own.

I have also been part of a swap for Fall Post Cards, mine is in the mail to Brazil. Here is just a peak....

I'll post it after it arrives.

Have a great week and stay in stitches
                                          Annette

World Wide Blog Tour

Thank you Sheila  at Sheila's Quilt World for nominating me in the tour. She is a fabulous gal and friend. She may live a long ways off but we did get to meet a couple of years ago .... lucky for me that she has family here in the prairies. Always stitching up something, from hand quilting to red work and embroidery and of  course post cards. She love those little guys sew much that she has but  many post cards swaps together over the last couple of years.

a couple of the stitchery quilts that I have received for Sheila 

As for my part of  the tour I am to tell you a little about myself and what I like to work on as well as what I am up to at the moment.
Sew here we go.
I am a gal that has loved to sew forever. I remember grabbing mom's scraps and a needle and thread and making some very interesting clothes for my dollies. And that love of fabric has not changed to this day...... my stash can tell you that at a glance.
I do love to try new things and ideas. Last year I help head up a community project with local artists and quilters. A combined effort created a fantastic wall hanging which is hanging in the local seniors  home. This project had us all stepping outside of our personal comfort zones but all I could say in the end was WOW! and those who worked on it want to know when we can do this again.
Here is what we came up with.....

As what is my personal style , I could not pin myself down to just one type. I do a little of everything sew I guess I am still developing my style. I have designed some patterns and quilts as well. I even tried entering a contest through McCall's Quilt in 2012. With all the support of bloggers and friends I did make it to the finals and was in the last 10 participating in the professional category in the challenge. Check out their site to see all the quilts and challenges that we competed in.McCall's Quilt Design Challenge 2012  check out the gallery and you can see all the entries on all of the levels

Here are the first and last quilts of mine from that time.

Jewels of the NIght the one that got me started

Holding on...
the one that made it to the magazine

I do love to take a class from time to time as you can always learn something new from the teachers and the students alike. I also teach a few classes every year. for the classes that I teach I like to design a few projects for the students. I just love the energy that you get in a class room whether you are teaching or taking the class.

Now for the projects that I am working on at this time.

I am always working on a quilt it seams and this past year or sew I have been working with a friend on quilts for Victoria Quilts Canada, these quilts are for cancer patients check out their site to see what they are more about or if you are in need of a quilt to request for a friend or loved one.

I am also working on hospital gowns for our ladies church group .

On the quilting front I am working on a set of block of the month blocks .

6 down 14 to go

as well as getting ready to teach a learn to sew class for next month. I am looking forward to sharing my love of sewing and quilting with my classes. And of course I to love to make and swap post cards.

post cards for one of the swaps I was part of

I am sad to say that I have not found anyone that has the time at the moment to nominate, but I do have a friend that has been nominated and will be posting on the 29 of Sept. Sew I thought I would introduce her to you and ask that you pop on by her site next Monday to see what she is up to and what she is working on at this time, That friend is Marjorie a wonderful hand and machine quilter who also has done a quilt for me that I truly love using.

 She lives on the other side of the country in New Brunswick, and from what I have seen on her blog is one busy lady. Sew stop in and have a visit with her,at Marjorie's Busy Corner

Well that's a bit about me and what I like to do when the  stitch moves me.

Thanks for stopping 

                     in stitches

          Annette

World Wide blog hop Tour

I have been asked to be a part of the Tour. Today is my friend Sheila's turn to show and tell you a little about herself........ sew with out further adieu pop on over and meet my dear friend Sheila  at   Sheila's Quilt World  I will be posting next week on the 22nd. see you then .
Enjoy the tour and check back for more info and links for the tour.
Have a great day
in stitches
Annette

summer ... where did you go??

Chilling at the campsite

Well I am not sure but I think time flies faster and faster no matter what we do to try and slow down.
This summer we spent some of our weekends at the campsite and others where on the go. Some weekends we had company and others just the two of us.

just a fishing

I did get a wee bit of sewing done.... I made 20 infinity scarves for my daughter  and a few alterations for some friends. Otherwise it has been work.

it's a wrap ;0)

The last couple of days I have been cleaning off the garden and have worked up the beets into pickles and relish, I have the first batch of tomatoes done up as well as some salsa. There has also been some baking going on for a wedding coming up next weekend .... g-free of course.

I am getting a couple of classes organized that I will be teaching at the local college, a learn to sew and a recycled denim bag class. Sew there will be some sewing going on here this week samples are needed.

a small corner in my backyard

I am looking forward to sharing my love of stitching with others  and sharing my projects with you too.

tonight's campfire in the backyard

Thanks for stopping in and stay
                        in stitches
                              Annette

not a stitch in sight

Well in the last little while I have been to a car show, visiting family, watching ball games at the lake and of course fishing........ ( I even jumped into the lake for a swim ... that was refreshing ) but I have not stitched a thing ..... I think that may change this week with some BOM to catch up on and another sew along quilt I signed up for off of Craftys .
I have found it hard to get to my machine after a day at work. I thought if I started with the BOM's I would get back into the grove of quilting again.

I see the garden is starting to yield some fresh goodies from lettuce to yellow beans and now zucchini. I will be starting some pickles this week ... fresh dills mmm mmmm good.

Have a great week at what ever you get your hands on and  enjoy the summer days while they last.
in stitches
     Annette