Good Times, Great Friends!

I can't believe a year has gone by since Regena and Denise

came down to So Cal to spend the weekend and go to the 

International Quilt Festival in Long Beach with Amy and I.

We had a few more ladies join the fun this year,

Sam, Marcia and my Mom :)

Here are a few of my favorite quilts.

(There were many more, but most didn't allow photos)

This one was my absolute fav!

The tulips look like they are coming right out of the quilt.

My Mom was a big fan too!

The photos don't do it justice.

Amazing!

This next photo is one of the one of the fun booths that caught my eye.

It's a company called Reets Rags To Stitches.

They have cute apron patterns and bag patterns and 

fun primitive stuff :)

Check it out at www.reetsragstostitches.com

This next photo is American Jane........*sigh*

It's my happy place.

I wanted everything in there!!!

You can check out their website here:

AmericanJane.com

Gena gave the "Sweet 16" machine a run for it's money.

Pretty "Sweet" indeed!

Last year at the Quilt Festival the 4 of us all purchased the 

same charm pack with the intention of making a 

"Friendship" tablerunner,

with one star block made by each of us.

So on Saturday we got together and worked on our blocks.

After we finished making 4 blocks each

we chose one from each set to make up our 4 blocks.

I can't wait to make my runner with

one block from each of my friends.

It's something I will cherish :)

We had a great weekend and it went by 

way to quickly again.

Now we have 12 months to get ready for the next one!

A productive morning :)

First of all, 

I have to say that I got quite a laugh at the comments

from my last blog post about making 512 bags!

It was an exaggeration for sure :)

My buddy Marcia uses random numbers

when she's talking about something that happened

multiple times and it always makes me laugh.

So when I said I made 512 more bags,

I really only made 7 more :)

So thanks for the laughs yesterday!

(I wish I was that fast!!!)

This morning I made 2 sets of potholders 

and a pacifier leash set.

Now it's time to get my house cleaned

and get to the grocery store

because I have dear friends coming over for dinner tomorrow!

And last but not least....

Friday is the International Quilt Festival!!!!

Wooo Hooo!!!

Keep it secret.....keep it safe :)

Staying true to form,

I've gone and made another 512 project bags.

(I tend to get on a roll and find it hard to stop "rollin")

Anyhoo.........

I think I can safely say that I'm done with making 

project bags for a while.

They are great to "keep it secret,

(not like anyone would hide purchases from their hubby,

cuz that would just be wrong)

and keep it safe" :)

These beauties are all listed in my etsy shop now

and I can move on to a few custom orders 

that are waiting for me.

I also have a super fun weekend ahead

with Amy and my dear friends from up North

that are driving down again this year

to our neck of the woods for 

the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach.

This time around, 

we'll be joined by my buddy Marcia and my mom

as well as one of Amy's friends too!

I can't wait!!!!

We went last year and I've been looking forward

to July so we could go again!

Is anyone else planning on attending?

A bit of Stitchin and Patriotism :)

Well it's time again for the Internation Hermit & Stitch Weekend!

And it couldn't come at a better time.

We've had lots of birthday festivities the last few weeks

and this weekend will be relatively quiet.

Sometimes it's just nice to slow down for a minute.

I just started the Jumping Cat and hopefully

I'll have some progress before the weekend is over :)

I also wanted to show you the fabulous goodies

I received in the Stitched with Love exchange.

You can see the entire gallery here.

It was a Patriotic theme this time around

and look what I received from Jen

at Crafty Imaginings by Jen.

(you NEED to check out her fun blog!)

She's an amazing stitcher!

Look at what she sent me!

I was spoiled for sure!!!

Here's a closer look at her beautiful stitching skills!

This is what I stitched and sent to Marjorie.

She loves primitive decor so I tried my best

to keep it in that vein.

I made her some reversible coasters 

using Osnaburg and Homespun fabrics in red & blue

and finished the stitchery in a small pillow with some vintage buttons.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!!!

I know I'll be stitchin' and sewin'

(and cleanin' and cookin'......*sigh*)

July TUSAL and my work in progress :)

It's time again to show my ORT's (old ratty threads)

for the July TUSAL (Totally Useless Stitch A Long).

I've got quite a bit as I've been stitching almost every night!

Today I'm working on some more project bags.

I just love the dark red fabric. 

I would totally LOVE 

to have all those beautiful reds in my collection!

These 2 bags are pretty much done

except for the wool felt hearts for the zipper pulls.

These are 4 more that I am still working on.

If you are interested in any of them,

they are for sale.

Just shoot me an email.

al4jrh@hotmail.com

I'm loving my own project bag

that I made last week.

Keeps all my cross stitch supplies safe 

and clean and out of my dog's mouth :)

My friend Marcia uses hers for 

a "Sewing Work in Progress" bag.

At 13" by 11" they are handy for all sorts of crafts.

I have the Brown & Pink and the Dark Chocolate Brown linen

 still available from my last batch 

and you can see them  here

And last, but not least,

I received my threads today from 123stitch.com.

(That place is dangerous! Great prices and fast shipping......uh oh!)

I'll be starting the "leaping cat" by La D Da tonight.

It reminds me of my own kitty, Arthur :)

A Sweet Snowman & A Sassy Apron

I finished ornament #2 of my 3 ornament challenge :)

This is a free chart from Plum Pudding Needleart

called Fa La La

and you can download it HERE.

I stitched it on 32ct Lugana over 1 thread.

Isn't he just adorable?

I have such a love for snowmen......

I just can't help myself :)

And here's a super Sassy apron

for my best buddy Marcia!

We met at M & L last week to pick out fabrics

and this just "screamed" her name!

She has a bit of a shoe obsession :)

How perfect is this?

She's going to look "Hawt".

If you knew Marcia....you'd understand :)

She plans to wear it with heels.....'nuf said.

FNSI Results :)

Last night was another Friday NightSew In and I took full

advantage of my hubby being outside

smoking his cigar with the guys :)

They were out there until almost midnight

so I got ALOT done!

I was just stitching up the last heart 

when he came inside.

I find soooo much inspiration

by reading other blogs and Pinterest :)

Faye from Carolina Stitcher makes

beautiful Primitive project bags

that she makes and sells on her blog.

So  last week I used my "Don't fear the Zipper" pattern

and just enlarged it to make my own version.

These bags are wonderful for 

keeping your stitching projects safe 

and out of reach of crazy dogs.....just sayin :)

Last night I made 5 more.

They measure 11" by 13"

and are fully lined and padded.

Each one has a hand stitched 

wool felt heart as a zipper pull.

4 of them are made from high quality cotton

and one is made from Linen.

I am offering these bags for $25.00 

(includes shipping in the USA,

 International orders pay actual shipping costs)

and if you are interested,

please email me.

al4jrh@hotmail.com

Red & White Polka Dots - SOLD

Black & Pink - SOLD

Brown & Pink

Dark Chocolate Brown Linen

Bright Pink Polka Dots - SOLD

Rudolph and potholders :)

I finished my first Christmas Ornament for this year.

Isn't he a cutie?

I fell in love with the pattern

the moment I saw it at The Floss Box on etsy.

Can you believe it's only 2 dollars

for the pdf download?

You can find this pattern 

and many others by this talented artist  HERE.

I also finished up the potholders

to go with the sassy motorcycle apron :)

And I finished the BBQ mitt that goes with

the Route 66 apron :)

It's been a productive day :)

Hope yours is a great one too!!!!

Summer Pixie & Route 66 Apron done!

I finished my "Summer Pixie" by Bent Creek today!

She just makes me smile :)

She's holding a Sunflower (my fav)

and she's wearing red & white polka dots (my fav)

and she's wearing denim overalls (my fav)

and last, but not least,

she's wearing red shoes!!!!

How could I not love her?????

She is stitched on 32ct Summer Sky lugana

over 1 thread.

I added some gold stars so that

she will co-ordinate with the Spring Pixie :)

I also finished up the Route 66 men's apron.

It's tough to make a fun apron for a man

without making it "too fancy".

I think bikers are even harder 

to sew for.

(maybe I should have used black leather?)

I love this fabric I found on etsy from the Route 66 collection.

The ride we did last month was on Route 66

so I thought it would be appropriate :)

Now I have to make the matching potholders

and this project is done!