Sunshine, wips, stash, updates ...

Good Day!  
I woke this morning somewhat slowly... I was awake at 6am but didn't want to get out of bed... at 6:25 I heard DS go to the shower... so I pulled myself out of bed and went down stairs to make coffee and figure out what was for breakfast.... coffee brewing and eggs out for fried egg/cheese sandwiches... Boys both up and dressed and eating and then out the door to school... and look outside now... blue sky and sunshine! It's cold but warming up... so nice to see the sun!

The other evening one of the boys' friends called and said "Can we have a bonfire at your house?"  (it wasn't really a bonfire... more of a campfire) but anyways for you to have an idea of how much snow we have... this is where they had a the campfire with lawn chairs... look at the pile of snow we have pushed up there! 

I dug out some of my quilting projects that I had started a looooonnnngggggg time ago (let's just say over 3 years)  I think I should finish them...  
I was scared of quilting triangles but I love stars of all kinds, sooo... I decided I should make a feathered star.  Here it is, just a wall hanging.  I ran out of smoke mono filament that I was using on the top so in the closet it went.

The second is a little star that I paper pieced and decided that I would hand quilt (since I have decided that technically I'm a piecer not a quilter) but I will finish the hand quilting on this small project and then be done! lol

Well, working at a quilt store is definitely and enabler... oooo boy, yep... that's partially why I've gotten the quilt stuff out... I can't hardly justify buying fabric if I'm just taking it down stairs and putting it on the shelf!  So I had this sunflower material that I bought about 4-5 years ago and I said to myself "Self, that last quilt was really quick... and really showcased that floral well... maybe you should go find that sunflower material and make another... only not quite as big" and I thought hey that's a good idea... now I have to go and buy  to search my stash for coordinating material... but I didn't have any that worked so I got some at the quilt store... :) 

Now... since I too am an enabler at heart, I have enabled you also... there is a link up under my favorite links to Deer Country Quilts... we do lots of internet orders... so feel free!!! (LOL) we have lots of materials but really a nice selection of Batiks, Flannels and Outdoors materials! A while back I got this book again at the quilt store and took a class... (last year)  It's by Jinny Beyer (holy cow!!!)  If you like quilting this is a very good resource book.  She breaks down blocks into grids and you can see how you can make the most complicated blocks... a lot of times with squares and 1/2 square triangles...

Do you know she pieces and quilts all her projects by hand???
So update on TUSAL

and EftH Resurrection... the deer is done... rabbits... actually close to the first 3rd being done... sort of... lol 

Thanks for the cheers and comments on my CRAZY GOAL!  You'll all keep me motivated!... and besides what a better goal then to finish a stitch honoring the Resurrection of our LORD and Saviour than to finish on the celebration of that very event???
Until later my Peeps...
KimV

Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening to you where ever you may be today.  I haven't posted for a few days... 1. Because I always want to show you progress on whatever I'm working on... 2. Because it's been a little busy... 3. I feel a bit down... hmmm... now, I don't know that any of those are good excuses, but it's what I've got... Today, however... I have progress to share... I'm at home at the moment... and I feel ummm... somewhat better... 
I know that by now you've all probably heard about Lisa at The Primitive Needle... I don't really know what else to say that hasn't been said... I didn't know Lisa.  I do have some of her charts, she was a very talented designer.  My prayers are for her family and friends... and all of the stitching community who will greatly miss her. I guess it just really hit me how fragile life is and how we should really make the most of our time here.
I watched the news yesterday morning and as I looked outside at the snow falling somewhat heavily and all the snow that we have I had a very hard time picturing the wild fires in Texas and Florida.  70 homes lost last I heard... The flooding in Ohio that took Lisa... Earthquakes, storms, fires... We see pictures of unrest in the Middle East, unrest in our states capitols', unrest all over the world. Celebrities making themselves look like idiots... how out of touch is Hollywood???  It seems that the world is literally falling apart around us...  That is a bit unsettling.  It saddens me... makes me feel heavy at heart.  Partially because I feel as if I'm not doing enough to make a difference.  At the same time... I feel at peace... does that sound strange to you?  To say it out loud it sounds a bit to me... but I know the LORD and I believe that HE has a plan for us and that HE loves us.  I know the picture that we see is only a part of the masterpiece... and that puts my heart at peace, even when it's troubled... so... there you go...
Anyhooo.... Progress to report... what have I been working on??? Well, a few things.
I have done just a little on Quaker Christmas from Bygone Stitches. 

I have been working on Resurrection by EftH.  This is really a lovely sampler! I'm at that point that I want to stitch more and more of it!

Remember I told you that I'm working Mondays at my lqs... how much fun! The girls are all just wonderful and they have fun... you always hear someone laughing.  You can work anywhere doing anything if you like and enjoy the people you work with... what a bonus to work with wonderful people and enjoy the job too! (lol... but I digress) ok, so I'm doing a store sample... another Bird Brain Design called Eggs on Parade...  (check out their free patterns... great tea towel embroidery designs!)

How CUTE!!! I love wool and wool projects... I have one more egg to embroider and then stitch them to my background... it was really an easy project.  I'm going to be teaching a class on it at the shop.  I'm also going to take a class at the shop... Renee is going to teach us how to make the loveliest mohair teddy bear! 

I can't even picture me making this cute little guy... 


Well, so this is a pretty long post... thanks for taking the time to read... I hope for the best for you and whatever is happening in your day.
Stay warm!
KimV

Adam and Eve

 Genesis 3: 6  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

So, now are A&E charts going to be come a must have for me??? I've been checking out different A&E charts from different designers... and oh, there are a lot!  There are at least 3 that are being released at Nashville (ABC Stitch)
This is Elizabeth Jackson 1824 by Samplers Revisited

This is Jane Thomas 1822 by Cardan Antiques and Needlework Design

Remember Us by Examplar from the Heart

Others that aren't new but wanted: Jane PhilpottAdam & Eve Sampler by Shakespeare's Peddler

By Plum Street Samplers: The Fall of Man,

and Paradise Lost

Blackberry Lane: In the Beginning

Carriage House Samplings: Adam and Eve

Bittersweet House Samplers

The Addison Adam and Eve Sampler

Ann Lake Whinburgh 1821

Examplar Dames Design: Guarding Eden

Temptation by Examplar Dames

and my dream... my favorite... the one that I hope to do and finish... 

"And They Sinned"

There are so many more...

Deborah at Midsummer Night Musing has a post on A&E samplers... check it out! I will continue to post for you on this subject... 

I found a great book at the library you may be interested in also.  It's called Girlhood Embroidery 1, by Betty Ring.  It is a phenomenal historical account of embroidery through the times with beautiful color pictures of samples.  It has a section devoted to A&E samplers.  I'm actually looking to purchase this one.

Lastly I leave you with and A&E engraving from a 17th century Bible printed in 1616.  It's listed on ebay if you care to look there are other engravings also... absolutely beautiful! (a little out of my $$ range! lol) but the detailing is awesome.

Until later...

KimV

WIP Updates

A little bit of progress...

Temptation of Man...

Genesis 3
          Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.  And He said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
          And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
          But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
          And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
          For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

EftH Resurrection Update

I'm going to leave the sun.  It's hard to get a good picture but it is a different color and I do think after the cross is stitched that it will be more prominent.  Finally got to stitch something else!  Love the little bird and the star are quite pretty... 2 more and I can start the crosses or... stitch more down the sides.  These silks are so very nice to stitch with and they are so pretty! 

I joined one more Yahoo group: the Sampler Life.  Been enjoying reading... I am members of Blackbird Design Fans : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blackbirddesigns/  and littlehousecountrycottagestitchers: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/littlehousecountrycottagestitchers/ and Hand Dids: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hand-Dids/ and Needleprint: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/needleprint/ and now the Sampler Life: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesamplerlife/
It's great fun to be part of a group!
We start our Bible Study today!  We have a small group.  We have a great time.  We are doing Daniel by Beth Moore.  If you love to do Bible studies and you haven't done a Beth Moore study you should! I just love her!  I can wait to get started!  Here's a link to Beth's Living Proof Ministry  http://www.lproof.org/
Anyways... have a fabulous day!
KimV