Monday, December 12, 2011

I am a Winner ........... and I am looking forward to

Lost Christmas   a novel by  Richard Paul Evans
which I had the opportunity to win from Billie Joe's site http://bjfromtheheart.blogspot.com 
Thank you Billie Joe I am sure I will enjoy the novel as there were sew many comments on your site regarding the book and author. 
Thank you once again. Be sure to check out BJ's blog to see what she has been up to.
In stitches
Annette

p.s. Thank you to Marjorie http://marjoriesbusycorner.blogspot.com , who had shared with us BJ's blog to give us the chance to win and read a very good post.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Aussie made


A new little treasure
 a lovely piece of fabric brought to me all the way from Australia.
A fabric that had a bit of a journey.
When we visited my family in Australia my cousins did not know of a fabric or quilt shop sew I was not able to shop for any thing to add to my stash back home. Sew when my good friend Carol went down under she had talked to her good friend Nic whom had a few connections.If I have it right, Nic knew a lady who had a shop that closed and her daughter was able to fiend some fabric that was designed by an Aussie and made there as well. When Nic gave the fabric to Carol she asked her to tell me that I am to make something for myself with it.
Sew Thank you Nic and Carol and any of the others that helped to find this piece of fabric. I am not sure at this time what I will make, but I will make something for myself as requested and I will post it when I have it made.

Short bread cookies are cooling ..... almost done the baking : )
In stitches and hugs
Annette

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

W.I.P. Wednesdays

Prayer partners Christmas wall hanging....... she received it Monday evening
stocking fro Grandma Schultz
Well this Wednesday brings a couple finishes and some baking
I think I have most of my sewing and quilting done ...... maybe one or two more projects.....
I did get a start on some baking here are the jam jams
Just the start






 and I hope to get the butter tarts made as well I will be using phyllo dough for them this year . It makes a very tender and crisp tart.... hubby says they are a bit messy but yummy.
well I am heading back to the baking
make sure you check the link on my side bar for The Needle And Thread Network to see what the others have been up to
In stitches and flour
Annette

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

W. I. P. Wendsedays..... frozen ....

post card under construction


Well from the inside
.... spent the afternoon in the dentists chair and I have to go back one more time in a couple weeks or cancellation.  Should feel much better after it is all done, or just know that it is done.
Sew I have not gotten much done today. do however have the Christmas disappearing 9 patch all done and just waiting for a label. The girls at work just love it and want to curl up with it.


I am working on a winter wall hanging for a gift for my prayer partner gift for Monday night .

Sew I hope you all are having a better day than this.
Do check out the link on my side bar for The Needle and Thread Network.
Until next time
Stay in stitches
Annette

Saturday, November 26, 2011

100 th post

Just noticed that I had 99 posts to date.
Sew I thought I would do just a short post to let you all know what I am up to this week end.
I finished quilting my disappearing 9 patch Christmas quilt now I just have to do the binding. I do  want to do a couple more candle mats and a few post cards. Either today or tomorrow afternoon I will be making the strudel, I have to get a few items first.
I been working with my EQ6 having to relearn the lessons sew that I can play with it more later and I have sent for the upgrade to EQ7. It sounds very useful for patterns and for blogging. I hope to design with it this winter.
The weather here is crazy, last week it was -30 and Sunday will be +11 sew our snow should be gone I just hope we do not get any more rain which only = ice at this time of year.Today is sunny with a breeze which makes it feel cooler
Hubby and our son have been out hunting, only one buck sew far...... maybe later this afternoon they will be lucky and get the other one. Not sure I hubby will be going out more as he has a second tag. Do not think we need three deer in the freezer.
It sure has been a lot of learning on the computer and with in the blog.Sew glad that I have made a few good buddies that help me along when I run into a glitch.
There is sew much out there ...... great blogs with folks just willing to share ideas and stories
and we all have the same passion  .... to create in many mediums including fabric. one of my favs.
Well I must be off to get the apples
sew have a great weekend and stay in stitches
Annette

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

W I P Wedensday

waiting for more quilting...
... and Christmas

Snowed under ... sew to speak I'm working on a winter themed quilt and I am quilting snowflakes over the large pieced areas of the quilt. Snowflakes are done and now to do the surrounding areas of the quilt.
On Monday I did a bit of a tut on how I quilted the snowflakes. It was quite easy and I think I would do it again.

I am also knitting a pair of socks one down and one to go and then there is about 6 more balls of yarn to work up.  I just love the feel of home knit socks.

I did complete this little runner for a bride of this summer, I had asked her if she had a color she would like in a runner and she had said "Rider" green our provincial football teams color , sew here it is . I chose to use a Christmas fabric on the back sew that it could be used at different times of the year as well.


I did get a start on some holiday cooking ..... the cabbage rolls are in the freezer next will be the apple strudel.

Well that`s it from me be sure to check out what the others have been up to on THE NEEDLE AND THREAD NETWORK with the link at the top of my side bar.
In stitches
Annette

Monday, November 21, 2011

Stitching a snowflake

Snowflakes and quilting.
A little bit of a tutorial. I have a winter themed quilt that I have been pondering what should I quilt on it. And after months of it being on hold yesterday I decided to quilt snowflakes on it.
But how was I going to do this ...hmmmm.

As a child we all learned how to make paper snowflakes and I thought why not.
Sew I measured my space that I wanted to cover and cut a square of paper just a bit smaller these are about 12"
Note ...... I used a light paper with a wax backing you could use frezzer paper as well.
in half  or quarters
in half








fold in half
and fold again


First  side,triangle fold

next fold the out side edge in, turn over and do the other side to reduce the bulk at the center point, to create a triangle
folded in on both sides








Next I stapled the triangle in a couple spots to prevent shifting when cutting.

Draw and cut or just cut and see what happens
free form cutting
remeber to add somethng to the center of your snowflake

open and see what you have created
 thick soft edges for easy quilting...
sharpe edges are great just stitch slower 

Center the snowflake wax side down using the creases to help you  center it on you seams with in the block. Press in place.
ready to stitch

at the machine
Quilted Snowflake
Pin in a few places on each section of the snowflake.Take to your machine and you are ready to machine quilt your snow flake. Take your time stitching. I like to stitch the center of the snowflake first and then work on the outside. It's okay if you get the paper as you stitch as you will be removing it after stitching.
 Your lines do not have to be purfect , as a snowflake melts it changes . Remember to have fun making your snowflakes.
Happy stitching

Enjoy the Snow
In Stitches
Annette