A progress report...

So I had this project sitting by my lounge chair for some time...maybe a month...and I needed something to work on while I was watching House of Cards from Netflix...which I'm hooked on...it has a dark tone of politics...ANYHO...it was nice to work on...all I have left is the border...the boring stuff!  

I looked at the whole pattern to see how much I have left to cross stitch...and I'm happy to report that there's only 4 more segments to stitch...and I'm even happier to report that I have a vacation coming up...8 days!! This should provide plenty of time to complete the other 4 segments as well as several other projects which have been on my radar for a while! I. CAN. NOT. WAIT.

What I worked on this afternoon...

What I worked on this afternoon....was more of the BasicGrey Serendipity Vertical Lunch Bag Mini Album...it wasn't until this morning that I'd picked which designer paper I was using...thankfully, it didn't take me long to figure out I was using this collection... I have been hoarding a lot of paper...it could have taken hours.  

This designer paper was sold at Joann Etc. stores...I believe it's a couple years old...and it's the first line of BasicGrey which could be found at the big box craft stores...never the less, I was happen to get my fingers on this collection.

As I mentioned, I watched the Olympics this afternoon...and worked on the mini album.  It was relaxing...and well needed time to creating...

Here's what I finished...

Check back later this week...perhaps I'll have finished more...

Until then...

Another Mini Scrapbook Album...

I have loved making the mini scrapbook albums...and I saw another great tutorial of a Vertical Paper Bag Mini Album from MySistersScrapper...so this is my next creation...



It's perfect timing since the great Minnesota weather has blasted us with ANOTHER stupid snow storm...I think there's now 1,000 feet of snow outside...I (heart) Minnesota Winters....NOT!  But it all works out...I'm warm inside creating a whole lotta fun and watching the Winter Olympics, of course while there's a gazillion feet of snow outside and sub-zero windchills!

What I'm working on...

As some of you know, darling hubby has been traveling for work which leaves me to my craft room whenever I have a spare moment.  And during the Olympics, Since I don't have a TV in my craftroom, I bring some things downstairs to work on...I'll post those pics later...

Anyho, I've been working on the Minnesota fabric quilt; and as I mentioned before...what was I thinking when I decided it would be acceptable to cut 1 1/2 inch square! YIKES! But I've been cutting a little here and a little there...and this is what I have:

At first, I thought I had cut enough...and enough I mean, 150 or so...but then I looked at the pattern...um, nope...I need 300 or so...and so the cutting continues...

Spending some quality time with you...

This weekend...all the stars were aligned and I was the luckiest star of all...I got to spend some quality time with my best friend, Stephanie...via Skype, of course!

We had been missing one another for several months...and because of the Portland weather, which included snow, snow and more snow, we had the chance to craft for 3 hours!  She worked on some cards and I worked on a mini scrapbook album that I saw on MySistersScrapper channel on YouTube...I love her videos...check it out!

Anyho, the mini scrapbook was created from a tutorial from Elsa at JustaFewDesigns: follow the link: Mini Scrapbook album

I really liked creating the album; I would do another one...for sure! Enjoy!

Tomorrow's Scrapbook Project...

I love watching YouTube; it's a great place to see new things...as well as tutorials like this one from MySistersScrapper!  I love her videos!  She posted this tutorial the other day...and I wanted to do it too!  And thankfully, she posted the original tutorial from Just a Few Designs: Mini Scrapbook Album

I've already picked out my designer paper; so I'm ready for tomorrow project!

Oh, check out the other tutorials from Just a Few Designs...there are some great ideas!

My next project...the first Minnesota Quilt fabric

I was snooping around my quilt room last night and this morning trying to find my next project...at first I thought I would start something completely new...then after digging into the projects I didn't have this fabric or I didn't have that fabric.  So I decided to go back to the drawing board, I went to the tub of UFO projects.  I found this bundle; most of the fabric is from the first year (2008) of the Quilt Minnesota.

However, as I read the directions, I figured I would make the lap size quilt instead of the table topper.  As a result, I needed more fabric to work with and because I like scrappy quilts.  So I spent some of the day digging in my scrappy tubs...yes, that's what I said, scrappy tubs!  Here's what I've added to the collection:

I've already started fussy cutting the fabric images; so tomorrow I'm ready to start the 1 1/2 inch blocks...YIKES!  I don't have enough of the fabric images, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do as a replacement...I doubt any quilt stores still have this fabric collection...I thought about fussy cutting the fish fabric...you can see the blue and black fish fabric in the above picture. I'll figure it out later...I have plenty of time, since there's a large number of 1 1/2 inch squares to cut...oh well!

Until next time...

Another 2014 completion...

Another 2014 project completed...I loved this pattern...however, if you are interested in knowing...the background cut aren't correct!  With the help from my hubby, he was able to help me measure twice and cut once...thank you, Love for your help!  In the end, I still had to fudge here and fudge there...but I like the pattern!

Here's a picture of the completed project:

As for now...I don't know what's next...I'll have to snoop into my stash of kits...or look at some patterns which I'm wanting to sew...I'll keep you posted...until then I have some cards and/or tags to whip up!

Until then...

The very last flower...

The very last flower...is completed!  On my way to another 2014 finish...and since I have the next few days off...most definitely will be in the completed category...hopefully, by the end of the day!

Block #9

Yesterday, Hubby and I got home from visiting these 3 little beauties:

Loved, loved, loved spending the time with them...very charming and ACTIVE little girls!

Today's Progress Report on the Whimsey Flower Embroidery blocks...

Today couldn't have been any better...picture this image in your mind...me + embroidery project + Downton Abbey (season 2) on DVD + fresh Minnesotan snow = One really happy girl! and you guessed it...I would be your happy girl!

I am happy to report that I only have ONE more block to emobroider!  I did finish
Block #5 but, it wasn't until I had to correct the flowers; I had embroidered them with the wrong DMC floss color; here's the finished (and corrected) block:  

Flowers with the wrong DMC floss (I thought it looked strange)

One corrected flower and one wrong flower

the finished block

Let it snow....in Minnesota

As I previously stated, it snowed last night in Minnesota...who would have guessed!  As a result, my darling hubby needed some help moving the snow...and I was his gal!  Thankfully, he did pose for a quick picture! Lucky me!

But isn't he cute!

What's my next project...

Good Morning, the other day I had the opportunity to visit my craft room...and do a little cleaning...you know putting all my christmas craft gifts (and some birthday) gifts away.  And since I finished my knitting project, the infinity scarf.  I needed to find another project...so I thought I would work on this embroidery project. 

Mini Wooly Whimsey Sampler Embroidery
Starry Pines Pattern Co.

If I remember correctly, I only have three more blocks to work on...I don't think it will take me long...you never know...perhaps today! Snow Showers...oh, my, what a surprise in Minnesota!  However, I have to remember that I want to create a Merry Monday Challenge tag...so we will have to see how much I can realistically get accomplished!

Hope everyone has a great day. Until next time, laterz.

a little here...a little there

While my love was in the hospital, I needed something to keep me busy and free of stress over Christmas.  I brought with the Lace Sequin Cowel...to both hospitals! After we got home...I will admit it sat for a while.  Then I got the bug again...this time to finish the project. This week, my love had a job interview in Willmar, MN...just a little 3 hour jaunt from home...and I had the day off of work, so I went with him! That's all the time I need to finish it on the way there...and I'm happy to say, it's my first finish of the 2014 year.

Now I think I'll have time to clean up the craft room and find some other UFO to finish....fun, fun, fun...who knows maybe I'll have time to create a card!

A Christmas to remember...

Good Morning, this year's Christmas was one to remember...the love of my life (pictured here) spent Christmas in the hospital!  This 6'2" gentle giant called me at work Christmas Eve requesting me to "come home"...knowing the tone of his voice something was wrong...I simply said, "okay".  I took him to the emergency room to find that his body was "trying" to process a kidney stone.  Long story short...4 days later...the kidney stone was lasered out and we were finally home Friday evening!  

We were left with the void of missing the last 4 days which included Christmas...but very thankful for my family which is "re-celebrating" Christmas for us...later today!

Merry Christmas to all....and a Happy New Year!

Another fun year of christmas cookie chaos....

Good afternoon! Yep, another year of christmas cookie chaos...it's the time of year when I think I'm going to get a couple of cookies completed, but end up helping my mom with her cookies...oh well! I don't care! It was a lot of fun...a lot! Now I have invite everyone I know to help with eating the cookies and such! I'm sick to my stomach at the thought of eating a cookie...of course, that statement comes after I'm monster chomped three or four cookies...Oh, tis the season!

Hope you have a great week....running around for the preparation of next week!

Merry Christmas! and remember the New Year is coming!  

Time well spent...

As I mentioned, I spent my day INSIDE! The Minnesota weather kept me from doing anything outside...it's just TOO cold!  It worked out well since I needed to sew another dress for my nieces' Christmas gifts.  Here's the Christmas Day church service dress...I think it turned out cute, but the lace isn't laying nicely!  My hubby says, "You are too critical of your own work!"...perhaps I am, but I don't want it look dorky!

Anyho, I'm going to wrap up the day...since work has me starting early as usual!

Hope you have a nice evening!

What I'm doing today...

Um, what I'm doing today...well, I will NOT be in the great Minnesota outdoors! Holy crap, it's cold outside!  It's not so much the -3 degrees...it's the "feels like" -21 degrees...that's the clincher! I'm staying inside the house...perhaps work on some Christmas presents...a little baking, a little sewing, a little knitting...and probably some other projects!

I've completed another dress for my nieces, so I'm going to start the Christmas dresses for their American dolls...can't wait!

Here's the other dress: I think it turned out cute...I really like the soft colors!

2013 Progress Report...

2013 Progress report...if I were to grade myself on the progress of my list...I would give myself a "F" grade (with "A" being the best and "F" being the worst).  

Here's what I've accomplished on the list:

Here's what I didn't accomplish on the list:

This list is, well, disappointing...I think I shopped more than I worked on projects...there's always next year...but I'm not going to lie...maybe I'll have other project on it instead...and crap...here I am with another Christmas and I don't have a tree skirt for the Christmas tree...oh poo!

Here's my progress...

I can't say that I've consciencely been working on this scarf with any real purpose...just every time I sit down to watch TV with hubby...I pick it up and knit. As a result, I've managed to make some progress on it.  Here the image shows the inside of the scarf...the outside has a really pretty pattern...but please don't look all that closely...there are mistakes. Never fails...I always add a stitch here and/or decreasing a stitch there...any ho, I still like it.  Hope everyone is enjoying their day!  Until next time...

Lookie, lookie...what I got...

I have the best Iowaian friend...and step daugther ever...Oh, my goshness...I have no idea what I am going to create with the birthday gift, but one thing for sure...it's going to be messy...and it's going to be fun...most definitely! Recently, Ben Franklin Craft Store in Iowa was going out of business...and these are products which I wanted to try...I have some sprays, but wanted to compare them with like sprays...now I can.  Thank you, Abigail for thinking of me! I love it! And I love you! But most of all...even without the gift...thank you for being always thinking of me...I love you to the bone!