Overwhelming UFO's

 UFO's upset me.  Do they bother you?  I have several; some are knitting, some cross stitch, others embroidery and some are quilted.  I like to keep life interesting so I change it up a bit.  This year, the cross-stitch group I belong to thought it would be a good idea to get some of us to move on some projects that have been put aside for one reason or another.  They all needed to be cross-stitch (it is a cross-stitch group afterall) except for one and there could only be five.  Easy enough!  So I chose this embroidery/quilting project that is so near done I can taste it.  That's my one non-cross-stitch project for this game.  I think I can get this one checked off my list at some point.

 Now this project is a different story.  It is a learning hardanger project.  I'm not much of a hardanger girl but I do love the look of hardanger, just never ventured into those waters.  As you can see from the picture below I'm nearly done except to fill in the spaces.  I have one HUGE mistake that is holding me up.  I cut threads that shouldn't have been cut.  With all the work that's
been put into this piece, I hope one of the more experienced stitchers in my group can save it and me!  I could just cry... this one I've chosen to set aside for now until I can get help for it.

 It is a pretty one though, isn't it?

 This project will be a Christmas exhange ornament for my group.  I have to keep it secret though, because I don't want anyone peekin' til it's exchange time.

 This one all packaged up and ready to stitch is a free hardanger ornament.  I think I can handle it; it's not too big or complicated.  Glad I got my feet wet on the  other disaster listed above...  My friend, Rose, stitched this one already and it's a pretty one, and free, too!  It's called Holly Quilt Block by The Victoria Sampler.

I have a fair start on this one.  It's called Fall Snapperland by Bent Creek.  Embarrassingly enough I started it last year and didn't get too far.  I hoped to finish it up this fall but I'm not so sure about that.  I feel pressure to get some Christmas projects out of the way before I do stitching for myself.  I still have five more washcloths to knit for someone and a Christmas stocking to make for my grandson.
I do have some lovely Christmas stockings that I just completed yesterday, though.  I'll be back with a post and some pictures on those next time!    

I'm Sewing As Fast As I Can

I had all my shopping pretty much done and wrapping under control, but still was falling behind some with a few handmade gifts I wanted to do. Not homeschooling this week has been a great break and has allowed me to indulge myself in some cooking, baking, embroidery, cross-stitching and sewing.
This little doll quilt was made from scraps and fat quarters I had in my stash. I thought this little scottie dog would be cute for Kierra's new doll she'll get for Christmas.

Caressa will get a new "baby", too, and seeing as she loves kitties, I thought she would like to keep her new doll warm with this one. I googled in for free patterns of cat and scottie dog and found these. This was a two evening project for each. They were a fun little project and I think my little ones will like them.

We've had a stomach virus visiting our house the last couple days so once I came home from Mass yesterday morning we didn't go out again. (Gee, it sounds like we go even if we're sick, which isn't the case; one was sick and stayed home, and the next one got sick over the course of the day) Anyway, seeing that I wasn't going anywhere too soon, I thought I'd make these two cute little bags for my girlies to carry around their little itty-baby dolls they'll get. I tend to go overboard a bit on the doll buying every year, much to my husband's teasing. I just can't help myself. Ah, well... as you can see I used the same scrap fabric found in the little quilts. I found the sweet embroidery pattern by seeing another blog and just free-handed the pattern. I thought it would be O.K. seeing I'm not selling the bags, just making them for my own kiddoes to enjoy.

Here is one of my favorite gifts I came up with this year for my brother: a man's chocolate basket! I filled it with Munson's chocolates, Starbucks Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix and a few nippers; Khalua, Chocolate Liquor and Irish Whiskey. I almost want to keep it for myself!

Lots of cookie baking going on, too. These were my contribution this year. I made twelve dozen. Out of the eleven dozen I came home with plus my dozen I now have one dozen left. My kids nearly went through the entire tray of cookies. Little piggies! This is a really bad picture. The cookies really are quite beautiful and festive. I'm just a terrible photographer... I'm in the process of baking more cookies so I'll be back with more pictures and recipes.

Along with cookie baking, we made pierogi on Sunday! This is a tradition we do each year and I corral in anyone that's willing to help. They are a lot of work, but oh, so worth it! Here is our family recipe. I make 3 double recipes:
Pierogi
1 beaten egg
2-1/4 cups sifted flour
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup milk - hot
2 TBS butter
Melt butter and milk together - cool 'til warm. Add rest of ingredients and mix with hands to make a nice dough.
Filling
Potato and Cheese
Boil four peeled potatoes, mash. Add butter and 1-1/2 lbs of Farmer's Cheese. Mix.

Saurkraut Filling
Brown salt pork til crispy. Toss salt pork and to the grease brown chopped onion. Rinse saurkraut (I usually use one large can and one small bag of saurkraut). Place in bowl and mix kraut with grease. I know, not the healthiest thing here but hey, it's only once a year!

How to Make pierogi...
Roll out dough nice and thin; a little thinner than a ravioli. Take a glass and cut circles. Dip your finger in some water and trace around the edge of the dough to help it stick. Fill with a small spoonful of filling and fold dough over itself and stick together. Use the backside of a fork to press down the edge. Once all the pierogi are made, place in boiling water for 10 minutes. This step needs to be done in batches and takes awhile. We do it on a propane cooker in the garage. One year we broke a glass 9x13 by cooking them on the stove. Another year we burned out our microwave from the steam from the top of the stove going up to where the microwave is (over the stove). So... we learned our lesson and do it out in the garage!
Once all the pierogi are made (and yes, you'll have some "blow-outs" as we call them, where the edges come apart and the filling leaks) it's time to freeze them or put in the 'fridge.
When it's time to actually eat them, we like to brown them in a bit of butter.

We ended up making over 12 dozen. I stopped counting after that. It's always an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon!

Sew Happy Sew Along Christmas Banner

My Sew Happy Christmas Banner is hanging across the mantle! This was an eight week sew along; each week was a redwork pattern and the last week was the finishing instructions. Although it was free, now the pattern is offered for seven dollars (I think).

As you can see, each square is happy and delightful!

It wasn't hard to complete each week because it wasn't overwhelming.

My time is pretty limited, so it took me two evenings during the week to complete each square.

I looked forward to each Friday to see what pattern was next!

My kids even looked forward to see what vision of Christmas I was working on.

I can't believe how quickly the weeks went by. Before I knew it...
the last pattern was up and the following week the instructions were given. I was very impressed with how clear the finishing instructions were and how nicely they turned out. I especially like the covered buttons and the red and white gingham! It just enhances the country(ish), childlike look I was hoping for.

Knitted Bottom Drawstring Pouch

I have long wanted to make one of these pouches that I've seen on other blogs. I couldn't quite get the right measurements or pull the method together, myself. I ended up asking one of my friends from my cross-stitch group (who knows how to do every kind of needlework and has mastered them all!) how to make the bag. Just as I thought, not only did she know how to do it but gave me step-by-step instructions to make it! She surely didn't let me down!
I had this piece of embroidery from quite awhile ago. I did it on some monthly embroidery group but never put it together with the rest of the blocks. So, it didn't go to waste! Now that I tried my first one, I'd like to make a few more. Next time I'm going to use some of the vintage bureau scarves I've collected over the years. I think they are lovely and this project will showcase them well.

Just Checking In

Sorry I haven't been here for awhile. You all know how spring is; lots to do and not enough time to do it in. That aside, I have been enjoying the beautiful weather we finally have. We had lots of rain and a tornado that passed two miles from my house but since then nice weather has come.
The baby crow, above, has a hurt wing. Yesterday, Kaleigh and I heard the crows making quite a racket. She went out to see what the fuss was about and the crows were swooping down trying to attack our kitty, Misty. She is the sweetest cat out of the three that we have but who could blame the crows? Misty was "playing" with the baby crow! Kaleigh was able to scare off the crows back high into the trees and my husband went out and picked up the baby bird and put it on the sky fort. Hopefully, the baby will be able to fly back up into its' nest. Naughty kitty!

I'm still plugging away on the Little Miss Shabby BOM. This one is the May block and the next one...

is April. As you can see, May brings flowers and the April one has little Easter eggs in the trees. So much thought is brought into each block. They are very cute. I'm halfway done and stitching one block a month is just my speed; nice and slow.
I haven't done any knitting lately. I think I have arthritis in one of my fingers from repetitive motion. It started about a year ago and I ignored it and plugged along. At this point, it's swollen and hurts so I'm giving it some TLC and rest. I'm drinking tart cherry juice and have some raisins soaking in gin to eventually, hopefully, relieve the swelling and pain.
So instead of knitting I'm embroidering, cross-stitching and reading. I also have some sewing to do so those things should keep my hands busy, for now.
Kaleigh is off taking her SAT's this morning. I hope she does good. Cassidy just told me she asked for the intercession of St. Dymphna and St. Thomas Aquinas to help Kaleigh along! I love to see the kids live their faith!

Springtime at the Cottage

Warmer temperatures are slowly visiting us here in the Berkshires. I've been enjoying the afternoon sunshine and have been using it as ransom to get the kids to finish up their schoolwork before lunch! This afternoon, Caressa chased a chicken off her blanket that she had spread out on the grass. For some reason, the chickens think they are dogs and are overly friendly. One even hopped in the van the other day when we were leaving. Ummm... no.....
Between wakes and funerals, (yep, two wakes and a funeral within a week) I've been able to stitch a bit and get some knitting done. This is my third block from the Little Miss Shabby block of the month. I'm really enjoying working on this project. It's fun to see what she comes up with for each month and each block is quite cute.
Beautiful blooms are popping up in the garden, too. Rhubarb is breaking through the ground and the strawberry plants are turning green. My hubby is busy preparing the raised beds for planting and I have lots and lots of organic seedlings growing under a shoppe light in the basement. They are coming up beautifully.
I hope your spring is making you smile and bringing you peaceful joy in watching God's hand at work this special time of year.

It's Been a Long Time...

since I made a blog post. Life seems so full and busy and the days just ramble by. We've had a lot of snow here in the northeast and it's been a lovely winter. I'm a born and bred New Englander and it just wouldn't be winter without a blanket of fluffy snow.
My beautiful friend brought me a ray of sunshine the other night; a pretty yellow Kalanchoe. It's gracing my bedroom windowsill and brings a ray of sunshine into my room even during a cloudy afternoon!
Recently my three younger daughters had a wonderful time playing in the snow with their friend, Bernadette. It was cold but you wouldn't know it watching the girls play.
Let's see, what else has been going on? Ah, yes... Gary and I went out to dinner Saturday night with our neighbors from our old neighborhood. I haven't seen them in nearly fifteen years! You know you have a special bond when you can pick up right where you left off after all those years. I miss them so much. I hope we can keep in touch as we shared so many ups and downs of life together. It was so much fun hearing about their children and seeing pictures of little boys in my minds eye grow to strong, vibrant young men that they are today. What a gift to see that! For dessert I made a Fiddler On the Roof Cake with Marshmallow-Chocolate Frosting from the Cakemix Doctor.

During these cold winter nights I have enjoyed making the Biscuit Blanket. I used Peaches and Cream cotton yarn. The pattern is so pretty and once I got on to how to make the pattern stitch (which took me a bit to understand!) it was smooth sailing and a very enjoyable knit. I'll be sure to use it to put my warm biscuits in!
I've also been keeping up with Little Miss Shabby's Birdie Stitches Block of the Month. This is the January Block and...
this is the block for February. Are they cute or what? I'm using a Moda Layer Cake (can't remember the name) for the edge and Kona Cotton in beige for the center block. You can join the free Block of the Month, too. I'm really enjoying this one!
I hope you are staying warm and drinking in all this beautiful season has to offer. Keeping warm by the woodstove at night, taking brisk walks during the day and soaking in the sunshine and blue skies; it's all good!

Some Christmas Finishes

I feel the time crunch. Do you? Every year I promise myself that I won't stress about making a few Christmas gifts, but when the time is near I always find myself in a bit of a tizzy, trying to get it all done. Baking, pieogre -making, wrapping, cleaning and decorating... it seems the list goes on and on.
We got Kaleigh a Kindle and I thought I would sass it up a bit with a pretty cover. The fabric is an Amy Butler print with matching insides below...

I should have used the next bigger size pattern because this one is a little on the small size. Still usable but I had to take out the two upper corners to make the thing fit in. What a disappointment. After Christmas I'll make her another that will fit. I think I'll let her pick out her own fabric, too. That way she'll have two and one that fits and she really likes.

I started this piece last year. It's a free pattern from Gailpandesigns called A Christmas Wish-Free BOM. I believe it has nine blocks but I only completed four. My impatience didn't allow me to stitch all nine or to leave them as unfinished so I made a small table topper from it. Below is what it looks like being used.

Well, not too good of a pic, I'm afraid, but you get the idea. It really does look nice with a candle flickering atop. I told the kiddoes not to eat or drink on the coffee table while I have that out. I don't really want to have to wash it if I don't have to. As you can see, Billy, our dog taking his place on the couch. No matter how many times we tell him to get down he finds his way back up there again.

One other small finish; an Ipod cover for Cassidy. She is forever borrowing mine so we thought she should have her own. I thought a cute cover would go nicely and help protect it just in case she drops it.

Hope you are enjoying some snow...we haven't had any significant snowfall yet here in Massachusetts. I'm sure we will though...soon enough!

Happy Thanksgiving & Jane Austen Book Bag

Happy Thanksgiving! Now that the day is over all I can say is "I'm full!" We had a nice family day, though fairly quiet as our Thanksgiving Day tends to be. Me, my hubbie and girls cooked and baked and then we all ate! Hope your day was filled with those you love and lots of good food!
I finished the Jane Austen Book Bag I made for Kaleigh for Christmas. It's cross-stitched on linen using the pattern from The Sampler Girl. I changed up the colors and added a zipper on the bag.

The bag is lined, too. I really like the Sampler Girl's patterns and will be buying more of them. She has a sale going on until Sunday. I'm trying very hard to be good but I just may have to give in and buy a thing or two! ;)

Animals in Aprons Wall-Hanging

Now that Cassidy just turned nine, I thought it was high time I completed her baby sampler. I know it's a little late but hey, better late than never, right? This was a joy to stitch. I let Cassidy choose which animals she wanted on her wall-hanging, and what material she wanted for aprons for them. If you'd like to see the real Animals in Aprons, you can google in Vicki Haninger, Animals in Aprons. For some reason, I don't have the web address on the bottom of my pages.

This is how we spent our day today at the resevoir. It's supposed to be a beautiful week so we may go back later in the week. The kids have so much fun there and it's very relaxing as there aren't any waves like at the beach. See...

even the hubs likes it there.

New Banner

So many people would ask me if the old banner was my house. I would always answer, "No, but I wish it was!". So I decided it was time for a change. I decided to do a bit of embroidery on a piece of linen, then 'frame' it with some 1930's prints. It's now hanging in my kitchen. It goes perfectly with the rest of the decor and it really screams 'me'.

French Knot Tutorial

Making a french knot seems to be a little confusing, but really, it's a very easy stitch once you know how to make one. I wish you could sit right here next to me, in my very cool penguin PJ's, but since you can't, I'll try my best with the help of my second rate camera, to show you how to make one, step by step. So here we go:

Thread your needle with two stands of embroidery floss and knot the end. You can use a waste knot instead, but I usually don't.

Oh, and I don't use a hoop when I embroider. I like to hold the material in my hands. So our first step is to hold the material taut. Don't be afraid to grab and crinkle it... we can always iron it later...

Next, pull the thread up through your material from the back side (with your right hand), holding your material with your (left) hand very taut.

Now, hold the thread with your (left) thumb and pointer finger, very tightly.

Now, place the needle side-ways, UNDER your thread, all the while, holding the thread taut.

Wrap your thread twice (or however many times you need to) around your needle, all the while, holding everything tightly.

Now poke your needle down into your material very close to where you came up, all the while still holding the thread and material tightly. As you pull the thread down from the underside (with your right hand), with your (left hand), guide your floss and hold floss tightly to make a nice, neat knot.

Ta-daaa... you're done. Now try again. You probably didn't get it the first time through, but if you keep trying a few times, I think you'll get it.