Busy Days

08 Jul 2013 9 Comments

by averyclaire in Embroidery, Family, Needlework, Ornaments, Quilts, Sewing, Wool Tags: , , , , ,

What have I been doing for the last four months?   Well, a lot actually!   Thanks for being patient with me and thank you for always coming back to see what’s new!

I finally had my star quilt quilted by Jamie Wallen in Michigan City, IN.    Didn’t realize I wouldn’t get it back for four months, but I do love how it is quilted!   He did a beautiful job.   And it is now one of my favorites!

Star Quilt 1

You can see the lovely feather quilting done around each star!

Star Quilt 2 closeup

While that was out being quilted, I made 20 more baby blankets with teddy bears for our Quilters’ Plus Holiday Boutique the first weekend in November.   I have them all lined up and waiting to put double ribbons around each teddy bear.   I have made these for many years.   The proceeds of these blankets help support my quilt guild (and I get some money back as well).   It’s a lot of work to make so many, but voila!  C’est fini!

2013 baby blankets

I also made some wool Christmas ornaments to sell at the same Holiday Boutique, but 100% of the proceeds from these ornaments will go to my NeedleArtisans of NW Indiana group and the quilt guild.    The same goes for the cotton kitchen washcloths I made.   I would like to make more items, but my own projects seem to be suffering with all the things I made for the Boutique.   So I will have to call it quits for the boutique items I think.

Wool Ornaments 1

Wool Felt Ornaments 2

Wool Felt Ornaments 3

Cotton Washcloths

And last but not least of my projects, I have my “Over the River and Through the Woods” quilt prepared for quilting.  The three picturesque center panels are all hand embroidered.   I plan to machine quilt this one myself.   I don’t consider myself a good home machine quilter, but it’s too pricey to have one’s quilts quilted professionally.   I like to say “I DID IT MYSELF” anyway.   And some quilts just don’t warrant the weeks and weeks of hand quilting.   Besides, I still have my yellow whole cloth one on my quilt frame.   It’s almost done!

Over the River 1

In between all the sewing, life things happened….a couple of wakes and funerals….a shower and a wedding….a week’s getaway for DH and myself…. several lunches with friends….a trip to the International Quilt Show in Chicago….quite a bit of gardening upkeep….an unexpected reunion with my three siblings (some who live quite far away)…and the usual everyday things.   I very much enjoy my retirement….and love to sit and “veg” occasionally with a good book or my trusty computer seeing what’s new in the needlework and quilting world.

Thanks for visiting my blog again!     Amities, Averyclaire

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Now I Just Need to Do the Finishing

23 May 2010 11 Comments

by averyclaire in Eiffel Tower, LHN Ornaments, Needlework Tags: , , ,

My days have been filled with either office work or working on THE quilt…and my evenings have been spent doing needlework in front of the television. I don’t have any photos yet of the quilt…although progress IS being made. I am bound and determined to complete it before mid-summer…it’s my goal.

But I did complete some needlework. However, I am really bad at getting the final finishing completed. One reason is that the framing costs SO much money. But I don’t have any excuses for the last three ornaments I made and still haven’t done the “finishing.”

Here is my Eiffel Tower from Jardin Prive. I did change a couple of the motifs…the major one being adding my “bee.” I also changed a few other items. Now I just need a frame.

Here are a few photos of the 4th LHN ornament in the series. I have done the “finishing” on 1 and 2…but 3 and 4 are still waiting for the “finishing.” I already have 5 and 6 in the series waiting to be stitched….and number seven is coming out on May 25th!!!! Will I EVER get caught up? Maybe before Christmas? This is #4 called Snowy Pines. You can see them all or purchase one at Anita’s Little Stitches. I really like the colors and motifs in this one.

Does anyone else have trouble procrastinating with their “finishing”???     What’s the secret to getting it done?    Let me know.

In my next post, I’ll have photos of a project I did with my new needlework guild.

 Amities, Averyclaire

Merry Christmas

23 Dec 2009 6 Comments

by averyclaire in Christmas Tags:

Wishing you a truly blessed Christmas.  May you find yourself filled with love and joy and peace.   May you share this with your loved ones.

Averyclaire

Finished Needlework

18 Dec 2009 7 Comments

by averyclaire in Autumn, Christmas, Cross-Stitch, Needlework, Ornaments, Pincushion Tags: , , , ,

My Santa ornament is a pattern from Drawn Thread. It took a little longer to finish, but it is a lovely design. I especially love the backside of the ornament…Peace and Joy. Says it all for the season.


I adore this little Scotty dog. It is a gift for someone and I couldn’t post it until I was sure it was received. Tartan is one of my favorites. This pattern is from the magazine Just Cross Stitch Christmas ornament edition for 2009.

This reindeer was a freebie ornament from last year that I didn’t get around to working on until now. It only took a couple of hours to complete the entire piece including finishing. I have no idea who designed it and I don’t remember where it came from, but I think it’s lovely. I did add a bit of holly and berry to the original pattern.

Finished in time for Halloween was my little “Humbug.” I do not know why it is called a humbug…perhaps someone out there knows. But it was quick to stitch…done on a rectangular small piece of fabric then sewed into this triangular shape. Makes a cute little pincushion. There is going to be a series of these “humbugs”…the next one coming out in January (House of Stitches will have it). I love the little owl pin that went with it. I have a little robin as well.

 

I hope by this time next year I will have been able to actually design some of my own ornaments!  But for now I have truly enjoyed the fruits of others hard work and talent. Hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season and preparations for a blessed Christmas.

A bientôt….Averyclaire

Back to Stitching Again

12 Sep 2009 4 Comments

by averyclaire in Cross-Stitch, Quilting Tags: , ,

The vacation was not just about photos (although I have more to share and I will soon).   It was about learning to relax and enjoy life again.   So, I am attempting to get back to my sewing and stitching in a relaxing and healthy way.   It seems my full-time work is so busy, then my “health program” for myself and my DH (shopping for healthy food, reading up on the latest health news, WALKING at least one hour plus per day, etc.), and life in general has consumed all my time.   Surely you all have been-there-done-that in one way or another…found yourself on a turntable not sure how to jump off?

rockysantabeartoothm-MH20-8303So while away I have been working on this small santa ornament (Mill Hill kit “Rocky Mountain Beartooth Santa“), which I purchased at the House of Stitches.   I thought if I started out small I would get it done quwinterholidaybird283-542-9304-1ickly and feel good about it.    While in Colorado, I visited The Stitcher’s Garden once more and fell in love with this little white bird (also a Mill Hill kit “Winter Holiday“).    The kit even comes with some “furry white thread” to make him look especially adorable.    I also found at The Stitcher’s Garden, this pattern for small quilted pincushions (Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co. “Tuffets“).   It’s just the right “small” size project that I was looking for at this time.

tuffetsnewAll_in_one

I am about 3/4 of the way finished with the Beartooth Santa ornament and it sure feels good to be stitching again.    I have a monumental project waiting for me.   I need to complete my son’s wedding quilt (it’s only about 1/3 complete).  He has been married for two years this month!    So I figured if I started small,  I would get inspired.   Anyone out there been feeling the same way as me?

Next stop on the trip was the fantastic Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming.   I LOVE the wide open spaces of Wyoming.    I will have photos for you next time. 

For now, happy stitching…..Averyclaire

Old-Fashioned Ornaments

05 Dec 2008 3 Comments

by averyclaire in Christmas Tags:

I adore the sparkles of my old-fashioned ornaments on my tinsel draped tree. This is the most magical time of the year!
Santa

Snowman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ornaments

22 Oct 2008 8 Comments

by averyclaire in Christmas, Embroidery, Gifts, Wool Tags: ,

I’ve been working a lot without much time for sewing.  Actually I wake up at 4 AM and get some sewing done before I go to work.  I think I am a bit tired…but I managed to do these Christmas ornaments.  They are from a pattern by Indygo Junction.  I haven’t done a lot of it, but I love working with wool.  I have been collecting it for years hoping to do something fun.

 

 

 

Aren’t they just adorable.  I think I will save them for gifts for the holiday season. 

 

 

 

I think this green one is my favorite.  They worked up quickly and it was something I could do when I was really tired and just wanted to sit in front of the TV at night and “veg.”

 

 

 

The embroidery on this one didn’t take much time and it really adds a lot to the ornament!

 

 

 

 

The little Christmas tree has beads for ornaments and a tiny silver bead to top the tree.  Each ornament has a “jingle bell” attached to the ribbon.

 

 

On second thought…I think perhaps that this Mistletoe ornament might be my favorite.  When I was a young girl, I always made sure I had mistletoe around at the holidays for the all the gentlemen who might pass through our doorway!  What do you think?

 

 

 

Perhaps it is hard to choose a favorite.  But I think they will make delightful gifts this year.  Glad I spent those early mornings sewing.

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