Happy Mother's Day!

Such a wonderful week here in North Texas!  We had some windy days but we expect them and a few showers, but we are always thankful for them as our summers become quite hot and dry!  But looking out one morning this week I was amazed how green the grass is and how the perrenials are starting to bloom.  Despite the ongoing news about Covid19 life out in nature is continuing to flourish and in fact quite well this spring.  I decided to snap a few pics of things growing in the backyard in celebration of Mother's Day!

Some have started blooming others are just about to bloom!  But all of them so happy to be alive and flourishing!

I added a humming bird feeder to my perrenial bed this year.  I wasn't sure any would come to my feeder but I did have to give it a go.  Much to my surprise we have several that have been visiting every day and although they are hard to capture in a pic I did capture a couple of snapshots this week.

I am able to watch them from the screened in porch while I am reading or stitching, what a joy!

As for stitching I did get a few stitches in my Linen and Things SAL

It's coming along nicely I have a couple of more motifs to add before the next month's chart comes out!  I also started my next Santa!  I went and counted and found out I had more done that I had thought! This is Santa #6.  I have been watching some You tube videos on how to frame and finish off projects and have some ideas in my head.

I finished the Bunny on green this week  too!

Today will be family time!  My son has invited us over for some Texas BBQ Brisket!  It's sooooo good and the weather should be perfect to enjoy their beautiful backyard!  It's not a traditonal Mother's day as we usually go out to eat, but it sure will be just as awesome!

Feeling Overwhelmed!

I have had a week of feeling overwhelmed and not getting much done.  It's a bit like being stuck in a rut.  I think  I will call it the "pandemic rut"!  So to get out of my rut, I decided to work on a couple of Kathy Schmitz embroideries. These bunnies along with reading a bit each day has been a nice change of pace. 

I have a bit more stitching to do on the second one then to decided how to finish them will be in order.  I am excited about  the new chart for the  Linen and Threads mystery.

I love how each additional month of stitching adds so much to the project.  My 12 Santa journey was put on hold due to the lack of embroidery floss.   I was able to get out Friday as some stores are reopening to get some more thread.   I also realized I miscounted how many Santa's I have finished.  So I need to update my last Santa post as this is the start of Santa number 6. The last leg of the Sentimental Quilter Mystery Quilt also came out, but I have put that aside for later.   Too many sticks in the fire is not good for this girl.  Hoping to have a more peaceful relaxing week, less news and more relaxing stitches are in order.

Busy week Stitching

Well, I really surprised myself this week and I was able to finish up April's Chart for the Linen and Threads SAL.  The motif is gorgeous and I think it kept motivating me to see it completed.  Each chart that I am adding makes me so glad that I joined this SAL.   Here's a closeup of the April's stitches and then a photo of what I have stitched so far.

I also found a few minutes to stitch out this little bunny.  I just couldn't resist stitching it.  After I finish my mystery quilt steps four and five I hope to finish it into something I can display next Easter.

Santa #4 was finished also!  I love the way he turned out and need to decide who Santa #5 will be?  I have run out of some of the dmc so starting him may have to wait until our lock down is over and I can get out and get some more skeins.

 As for slow stitching later today I may trace out a Kathy Schmitz bunny that came out and get started on that!  He is aweful cute!

Happy Easter!

I think we shall have a beautiful Easter here in North Texas.  We started with some fast moving thunderstorms and heavy rain, but the sun in now shining.   I need to get out and enjoy the weather before the winds pick up this afternoon.  Then hopefully I can find some time to add some stitches to my two crossstitch projects.  Santa # is coming along nicely.

 The Linens and Threads 2020 SAL is moving along also!  I feel my stitching is improving like anything we do, practice really helps.   There are a lot of stitches to make this month, but I really like the motif for this month!

Cheddarback is a top!

 Cheddarback quilt is officailly a top!  What a fun journey it has been!  I made a few changes by adding the year the BOM started and my initials into the center section.  I thought about adding a border but this morning I decided to just say it is finished.  I won't get to quilting it right away as I have another quilt already slotted for this next winter, but I do look forward to when this quilt will be in the hoop.  By then I hope that I have come to a decision on how to quilt it.  I am torn between baptist fans and just some 45 degree lines in on direction.  I think either one would be great.

Final blocks Of Cheddarback Quilt

Well here it is the beginning of April and I have been able to finish up the blocks for Cheddarback quilt.  Gay Boomers decided that with the COVID19 quarentines and restrictions she would release the last two months at the same time.  I was gladly surprised because it does get harder and harder to wait for the release of the final blocks. So here they are!  I took come closeups of a few of my favoites!

There's something special about a little churn dash block!

I really like my fabric choices in this one!

Now I need to lay all my units out and decide on the final layout.  I am following Gay's layout and not the layout of the original quilt, however I have changed some things up.  Not sure that will happen this week, but I am sure it won't be long.  I really want to get this into a top and in the lineup to be quilted someday.

More progress on my 12 Santa Journey!

I have read several blogs this week where the author has mentioned that they are so glad they are crafty and have supplies on hand while we are hunkering down during the pandemic.  I have to agree, I am thankful to have my stitching.  I spent a lot less time listening to the news and more time stitching and getting outdoor for my fresh air and exercise.  It's been a much more pleasant week for me.  I am glad that others in my neighborhood are doing the same thing and I hear a lot of commenting how wonderful it is to actual see our neighbors. I myself have met several neighbors that I normally never see.  I spent most of my time this week crossstitching since my iron died.  I had plans to work on piecing the rest of my Cheddarback quilt blocks.  I ordered a new iron from Amazon and they said estimated delivery would be April 18th.  Oh my, but to my surprise I was informed that it shipped this am and will arrive Monday.  So with all that stitching time, I finished Santa #4.

As soon as he was finished, I pulled out the chart for Santa #5.  I have stitched the border and now I am starting on Santa.  Sorry the poor lighting really throws off the actual colors.  Hope that everyone else is settling in to our new temporary norm.  Hopefully, it will pay off and we can start heading back to the real normal!

Santa #4

  I have been working on Santa # 4 this week while keeping up dated on the corona virus.  I think I spent a little too much time watching and worrying as by Thursday, I just started feeling upset.  I don't consider myself a person who overreacts to things, but I must admit it has shaken me.  Everything seemed to be upsetting me.  So Friday morning I got up and just stitched, I made it my priority.  The day was so much better.  I decided there's really not too much  that any of us can do but to try and follow the guidelines.  I hope that most are coming to the same conclusion.  So, since I have eight more Santa's to stitch,  there is plenty of slow stitching to keep me sane.  Here is my progress on Santa #4!

I am looking forward to this week as signs of spring are getting stronger.  We have had close to 16 inches of rain this year in our area, twice the amount we usually get.  A record was broken today with 11 consecutive days of rain.  But the forcast for this week looks like we may see Mr Sun again, that should help my attitude a lot. I hope that you are finding some solace in your stitching  too!