Northern Needles

But I better get these challenges in for the week so I know what I’m doing!

1.  work on instalment #2 of the Border Creek Station mystery quilt.  Just got the instalment today and ooohhh, gotta love a mystery!

2.  continue working on Sabrina (no hardship there, she’s so pretty)

3.  for heaven’s sake, I must start my doll quilt fo the Doll Quilt Swap.

That’s it.  How about you?

Vivian

oh…better add #4…find my camera cord

edited to add #5…how could I forget my hand applique homework!  We had a class on wednesday night and I have homework to complete before the next class.  Leaves, leaves and more leaves. 

It’s that time again and what a whirlwind week it’s been.  It’s polar games time in the Yukon (it’s for grade 5 and 6′ers throughout the territory) and I’ve driven back and forth to town about a million times it feels like.

And we had a potluck lunch at work on thursday, I made hamburger soup in the crockpot.  I think I forgot to tell my family b/c the looks I got when I put it in my car after making the house smell all yummy…well you’d think I’d been starving them for a week.  What do you mean it’s leaving the house?????

And you are not going to believe it, I can’t find my camera cord to load my pics!  It’s in my camera case.  Which you would think also would be holding the camera.  Nope. Camera on the coffee table.  no case, no cord.  So when I find it I’ll post pics to show you what I’m doing. 

So, how did your weekly challenges from last week go?  I’m quite pleased with my progress: 

1.  Sabrina by Mirabilia - I decided NOT to put her on the lapstand but to use my qsnaps instead.  Much more comfortable and portable (not that she travels far, the couch, the bedroom, back to the couch).  I decided I would stitch all the dmc first and then wash and put her on the lapstand for the beading and silk work.  I haven’t got all the DMC yet but I was able to finish all her hair, head and skin in what I do have…looks odd with some gaping areas but they’ll be quick to stitch when I get the remaining colours.  I’m about to start her gloves.  Yay!

2.  Finish my valentine cross stitch exchange piece - finished and mailed.  I chose to stitch a Debbie Draper complimentary pattern, modifying it a bit.  And I chose shades of pink with a couple of rows of brown.  I sewed it into a pillow ormanent with a brown with pink polka dot ribbon for hanging.  I included 3 spring coloured GAST threads just to help ease her into Spring.  My partner lives in the states, so I’m sure that with the major snowfall they are recieving, she’ll need some spring pick me up.  Oh and I received my package yesterday and I love it!  It’s a hanging pocket with a heart stitched on it.  And filled with CHOCOLATE!  Wahoo!  and the cutest tin for Wrigley’s gum…filled wtih Wrigley’s gum.  It’s my new desk gum holder.

3.  Border Creek Station Mystery Quilt - finish trimming the final 3 inch blocks - DONE…new instalment gets handed out today.  Can’t wait!

4.  start my doll quilt exchange piece - didn’t go near it.  I really should get this started already.

I’ll be back later hopefully with my cord and definitely with my challenges for the week.  See you later!

Vivian

It’s that time again…first, how did I make out on my challenge list for the week?

1.  finish Month One of the Border Creek Station mystery quilt - I am happy to say that I am ALMOST finished.  I have all the cutting and all the sewing done.  All I have to finish is trim approximately 40 (forty) 3 inch squares.  I already did the other 36 - 3 inch blocks.  Plus all the other parts.  I just got bored of trimming.

2.  finish my valentine cross stitch exchange piece - I finished the stitching and need to sew it into an ornament and gather some goodies to put in the package.  I’ll be mailing on Monday so I’ll get this done this weekend.

3.  work on my zig zag quilt that I started and worked on one weekend in the fall.  I think I have one row of zigs and zags done - didn’t even go near it

It was a long week of working hard and hearings so I wasn’t in the mental place to work in the evenings.  But it’s now the weekend, no more hearings for a while, I can allow myself to relax and have fun.  WAHOO!!!!

So my projects for next week will be:

1.  Sabrina by Mirabilia - YES!!!  She arrived in the mail last night.  I had fun fondling the silk threads, shaking the packages of Mill Hill beads, and stroking the linen.  Sabrina is my focus cross stitch piece for 2010.  So the plan for the week is to get the fabric on my lapstand, order the remaining DMC threads I need (I spent a wonderful evening going through my floss and pulling the colours I had already), and put a few stitches in. 

2.  Finish my valentine cross stitch exchange piece - Mailing is on monday so I have to finish this during this weekend or I’m TOAST!

3.  Border Creek Station Mystery Quilt - finish trimming the final 3 inch blocks

4.  start my doll quilt exchange piece

5.  go to my hand applique class on wednesday night!!!!  Yay!!!

You know, it’s only little things I need to do this week.  I may actually get it all done.

I was taking a peek last night at Val’s blog (http://www.pastimesonline.ca/vals-quilting/) and she has a sneak peek of the Journey of a Quilter’s first block.  She is still taking sign ups.  I’m trying to be really strong and not give in.  I really can’t afford it right now…if it was a month from now though…LOL.  But also…she has a sneak peek of the Kitten tales first block…oh joy oh joy oh joy.  but I notice, there are yo-yos.  I’ve never done yo-yos before!!!!  Actually I’ve never done “stitchery” before.  In my needlework guild I’ve learned a lot of different ways to do needlework but not this.  And I’ve been a cross stitcher forever.  This is definitely new territory for me.  What if I do it wrong!!!!!

Anyway, I’m off to go to town to do laundry (some day, I want a well…water delivery sucks) and stop by my local quilt shop to pick up the fabric I need for wednesday’s class. 

Ta ta for now!

Vivian

is watching over me, thank you.

I had a scare on the way home afterwork today.  Literally within sight of my driveway. 

It was a momentary loss of concentration…but sometimes that is all it takes.

Again, whomever you are, thank you.

Joining us in another Friday Night Sew In I hope!

Stop by Heidi’s blog to sign up for the fun!   http://www.handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com/

There will be a giveaway for a lucky participant!

Vivian

There is a birthday party tomorrow!

Jenna is the special girl.  She is an American Girl doll who lives with a friend of my youngest daughter, and it’s her birthday!

To celebrate there is a little party with a couple of close doll friends and their human buddies. 

My daughter Lisa will be attending as Chrissa’s escort. 

What fun to be a little girl!!!

I’ve managed in the last year to gift a few other American Girls with a home made doll quilt.  This time it’s Jenna’s turn.  I decided to make her a raggy quilt in a lovely pale yellow flannel. 

Here is Chrissa testing it out for her friend to ensure it is warm enough, you know these Yukon winters can be quite cold.  Notice she already has her party dress on.  I don’t know if there is going to be any sleep tonight!

And here are some close ups.  Lisa was impressed with the fabric as there is a line of words running through it about friendship.  That makes it special.

One day every doll in town will have a quilt.

Gotta love little girls!

Have a great weekend everyone,  Vivian

Evening everyone, time to see how I did this last week.

1.  do Month One of my Border Creek Station mystery quilt (Quilter’s Courtyard). 

partially completed  - I completed steps 2 - 5 (or B,C,D, and E).  I’m working on the cutting for A, I hope to have it finished over the weekend

2.  begin my pinwheels…I’m contemplating either using my pinwheels for my dollquilt swap if I find my swappee likes the vintage feel of the pinwheels…or I may end up using pinwheels for my month of my quilting bee.  either way I have to give it a try.

didn’t even go near - they are still sitting there.  My charm packs still in the packaging.  My light fabric still in one big piece. 

3.  finish my valentine exchange…I’m cross stitching something pink!

partially completed - First I have to admit, I lost the first valentine piece I was working on.  It was a Margaret Sherry design and very pink.  I was probably 40% finished.   I have no clue where the pattern went!  I got up off the couch, did some dishes, went back to the couch and my pattern was missing.  It’s not like it’s a little piece of paper either as it was published in a calender form.  So it’s the whole calender!  It can’t have wandered off.  So I started something new and I have 3 more rows left of stitching on it and then I can sew it up to finish it off. 

My new challenges for the next week are:

1.  finish Mone One of the Border Creek Station mystery quilt

2.  finish my valentine cross stitch exchange piece

3.  work on my zig zag quilt that I started and worked on one weekend in the fall.  I think I have one row of zigs and zags done

What will you be doing?

I have several things bumping around in my head but the following is what I hope to accomplish this week:

1.  do Month One of my Border Creek Station mystery quilt (Quilter’s Courtyard).  I just got my instructions yesterday! 

2.  begin my pinwheels…I’m contemplating either using my pinwheels for my dollquilt swap if I find my swappee likes the vintage feel of the pinwheels…or I may end up using pinwheels for my month of my quilting bee.  either way I have to give it a try.

3.  finish my valentine exchange…I’m cross stitching something pink!

Wish me luck!

Vivian