Some finishes and a fun link

 I have had the chance to spend some good quality time in my sewing room lately.  Between a major dental catastrophe and rest and recovery time I am working my way through all sorts of projects while trying not to start anything new as I prepare for some time in Florida.

I finally quilted this scrappy baby quilt I have been messing around with for a year.  I cut all my scraps into 2 inch, 3.5 inch, and 5 inch squares.  For me, those are good sizes.  I also had some 2.5 inch scraps of the same fabric so I put together these stars along with some white background.

This is not a color I'd normally have in my stash so I thought I'd just use them up and made 6 stars with a scrappy edge and binding.

I used a matching Minky type fabric for the backing.  There is not a baby for this quilt...I will just put it away until I need one.

I also finished up this jelly roll quilt I made this past fall.  Heartstrings by Black Mountain Quilts.

I used a French General jelly roll but I did not save the tag.  I made it while away at a quilt get-a-way and was limited to the fabric in the jelly roll but I think, that if I made it again, I would make the hearts from the dark and medium shades but would leave the lights out.

As Christmas approached I pulled out a bunch of small Christmas patterns.

Merry Christmas by Little House Needleworks.

Hometown Holiday-Schoolhouse by Little House Needleworks.  Love this one.  I just love old school buildings.

I was stitching with some ladies this past fall and they were talking about how they turn a piece upside down when they need to stitch upwards...that way they're actually stitching down hill...which goes quicker.  Anyhow, I thought I'd do that on this piece because I started on a window.  Ha.  I forgot to turn it back around and ended up so off center!  There is less than 2 inches on the left but about 4 inches on the right.  Oops.  No framing for this one.

Another Little House piece....Bringing Home the Tree.  Cute, cute, cute.

Finally, I did just the tree from Homespun Elegance's Merry Noel Collection:  Avery's Little Red Truck. 

I stitched it 1 over 1 on ???  Hmm.  A little piece of 32 count something.

I made it into an ornament...which is pinned to a quilt hanging in my sewing room for photographic purposes.

So darn cute but 1 over 1 is just not my thing.  While I like how small it is it just takes me way too long for what I get.

Now I'm back to my bigger projects and planning for some serious Florida stitching.

The other cool thing that I've done is start a Floss tube channel.  It's a real learning experience but so fun.

I will make an effort to photograph my WIP's and what I'm taking to Florida.

Until then....

Pam

Catching up 2016 smalls and finishes.

I have let enough time pass that I've forgotten what I've shown!

Per my goal for 2016 I did manage to stitch something small each month and finish it and to finish something out of the pile that had accumulated...except for December.  I don't think I actually finished any of the small things I stitched.   Towards the end it got a bit confusing.  I have things finished...I have finishing ideas...but I haven't settled on any final plans.  I am also tired of all the Christmas themed projects.  I am ready to put them away and work on them when the mood is right.

I do need to recap November and December, though.

One of my two finishes out of my pile is actually something I just completed in October.

I made 'Cat Tricks' by With Thy Needle and Thread into the little pillow like the pattern shows.

A simple blanket stitch holds the semi circles in place for a fun edge.

My November small and finish was another pillow using the same trims as Joy (my small/finish from October).  This time it was Lizzie Kate's 'My Favorite Time of Year'.

One of the small pieces I stitched in December was Little House Needlework's Tree Lot.

My December finish from the unfinished pile was Christmas Magic by Heart in Hand. I couldn't find where I posted this one but it was either a finish at the very end of 2015 or early in 2016.

I need to take pictures of a couple other small finishes from December but I'm calling the year a success.  I have finished more than the 24 items I'd hoped when setting the 2016 goal of stitching a small each month, finishing it, and finishing something out of the unfinished pile.  I have also finished a huge long forgotten WIP...Murky Manor by Glendon Place (which you can see in various posts plus the link).  My stitching time took a serious hit with my summer costume project but I did finish a nice number of projects.  I have never made an effort to keep track but I have chronicled them in my various posts throughout the year.

As for 2017 I am not going to set a finishing goal.  I don't really like finishing but I will try.  I have a few projects I might send out because I want them to be something special.  I do not really want a giant pile of smalls so I'm not going to go looking for anymore of those either.  I do not have any more long forgotten WIP's...honestly, (cross stitch, anyway) so I don't have any one project to focus on while in Florida.  I will just pick a couple projects and maybe some Mill Hill ornaments to pack for my stay in Florida.  Space is limited so I will have to think about it.  I do think I'll make more of an effort to write down the details of what I'm working on for quick reference.

Hope everyone is enjoying the new year and that you are finding lots of stitching and sewing time.

Pam