The age old question...

where does the time go?  I keep thinking I'll post then I think that after today...or tomorrow...my post will be more interesting.

Since I last posted I got my long arm back...happy me...and took my main sewing machine to the store where I bought it...an hour and a half away...for repairs...sad me.  We think it's a software issue.  Sad times for machines in my house right now.

Another empty sewing space...

Look at all the things I keep at hand.  My remote, nail file, lip balm, coaster, cup holder, speaker and zune.  All just as important as the pins and thread.  I can't remember what's in the baggie.  I don't usually have food in my sewing room.

My small finish for March was another ornament.  This is one little component of Bent Creek's Soapbox Winter.  A pattern that is hanging around patiently awaiting its turn to be stitched.

I also finished stitching Christmas Magic by Heart in Hand.

It went into time-out for a few weeks while I looked everywhere for Blue Azul for 5 little x's.  I know I bought the thread.  I gave up and just used something different.  I also left the year off and added the gift button.  I wasn't interested in memorializing the year 2013 as graphed in the pattern.

My one finish-finish, not counting the ornament, was Lizzie Kate's Christmas is Forever.  A pattern that came out in 2008 and has been stitched since *gasp* 2011.

Of course, the pins have been removed from the corner.  This was just the best photo.  I make no excuses for longevity in the 'waiting to be finished' pile.  My lack of finishing skills/confidence is no secret.

Perhaps the biggest news is that I finally let myself start one of the two HEAD patterns I have in my stash.  I put together the threads and bought fabric last summer but forced myself to wait until I had Murky Manor finished.  As you know, Murky Manor is NOT finished but IS well on its way and residing in Florida right now.

The piece I started is Vibrant Vista by Jane Wooster Scott.

This is about 1/2 of one page.  There are 24 but some are not full pages.  Someday I will look closer and figure out how many full pages this works out to.  I am working a half stitch using three threads over one on 25 count.  The fabric is pre-gridded and marked off in blocks of 20 by 20.  I started out working a full X using two threads over one but the pulling and tugging was hard on my fingers.  It took me two evenings to pull out two evenings worth of stitching.  I do not like the light coverage of one over one but that all comes down to personal preference.

This will take me years.  I am planning to take a break after each page and stitch something different.  I already have something different at my second stitching spot so that should help relieve the tedium of such a large piece.

Once I got my long arm back and running I finished up the quilt made of old shirts.

This is a trial run for making a shirt for someone I know from her late husband's shirts.

While I enjoyed making a quilt like this...one thing I would say is...I won't make one with this many pieces again.  Certainly not for someone else.  For a lap sized quilt with a pattern this detailed I would have to charge $500.  So, unless someone really wants to pay that much, I will be looking for simpler patterns.  I have seen some very simple quilts that look really nice.

I used this flannel fabric for the backing.  Fun and cozy for a quilt made from old shirts.

Phew.  Believe it or not I have more things I could show but I have worn myself out.  I'll save the rest for another time.

Pam