Magic Garden Sampler

Finally I pulled out Magic Garden Sampler by Shakespeare's Peddler.  I kitted this up years ago.  All the way back when we did the Crazy January Challenge back in 2011.  The pattern was brand new then.  While I completed all the challenge pieces, I had more kits assembled than the required number to play along.  So, it's not that I didn't succeed in the challenge, I just never pulled this piece out when selecting my original 15. 

This piece is another of the Jenny Bean Sampler's designed by Shakespeare's Peddler.  I loved the Jenny Bean Christmas Sampler and have it beautifully framed in my dining room where it hangs year round.  I enjoyed stitching every motif.  But, this one?  Not so much.

A quick reminder of what Jenny Bean's Christmas Sampler looks like.

The first problem I encountered was that there are two symbols missing from the key.  I looked and looked online for a correction but never found one.  I did find a list of threads on a retailer's website.  So, from there I could figure out that the two missing colors were GA's Gingersnap and Toasted Barley.  From the picture I could then determine that Gingersnap was this symbol: 0 and Toasted Barley: 5.

A pet peeve of mine with patterns that use stylized numbers to stitch the year is that they don't include the additional numbers in the event you don't completely stitch it the year it was published. It's pretty thoughtless.  I just had to chart the '6' in the year 2016 the best I could.

Another thing I didn't like is that I found the colors unappealing.  I guess I should take more control and change things but I couldn't always figure out what to change.  I couldn't even always figure out what the object was let alone what color it should be.

I did change the flowers along the left border.  They were supposed to be stitched in Onyx...the same color as the letters.  I thought they were irises so I pulled every dark purple over dyed thread and ended up using Grape Arbor by Gentle Arts.

The quality of the pattern was pretty poor, too. This pattern is just on regular old printer paper so mine looks like this.

I started stitching in the dark ages.  Back before every house had a copier/printer/fax.  Having a pattern copied just wasn't possible if you were just a high school kid.  Therefore, making a working copy has never been part of my process.  I have been using this pattern for about 6 weeks.  Seems like it should have been on better quality paper.

Anyhow, minus all the complaints, I'm happy to have another finish.  I will stitch June's small then see what else is kitted and ready to stitch.  I've had a bit of 'start-itis' lately and kitted all sorts of things and even started a couple.  Those are for another day and won't be what replaces Magic Garden.

I have recently discovered Floss Tube.  Thanks Lee!  I am addicted and have been really inspired by some of the projects stitched by other cross stitch lovers.  I have to blame Floss Tube on some of the mistakes leading to frogging on this Jenny Bean project.  Once I discover someone new I want to watch them from the beginning until the current day.  So fun to see their projects develop in warp speed.  But, oh, what a time eater!  At first I tried to only watch when on my treadmill but there are simply too many stitchers 'talking' their blogs for that.  Having so many posts to catch up on might mean a bumper year for cross stitch projects for me.

In the mean time....happy stitching.

Pam

Summer comes.

With the start of summer I have a patriotic table cloth quilt ready to enjoy.

This was a spur of the moment start when I really had no business starting something new.  I guess I just wanted to work on something patriotic.  It took me about 2 weeks to complete.  I actually thought it would be quicker. Naturally!

The pattern is called Summer Picnic by Hen House Designs.  When I looked online to see if I could link it the etsy shop appears to no longer offer it.  Sorry.  It's been in my stash for a few years.

I am late at getting to the rhubarb this spring.  Of course, it was snowing as recently as May 15th and cold enough prior to that.  Then it was close to 100 last weekend.  Finally, we are enjoying some spring/summer so I got busy with some rhubarb jam.

This is such a simple jam.  Rhubarb, sugar, and pectin.  It makes a small batch so everything is manageable.  I will probably make another one or two.  We don't actually eat that much jam but I like having it on hand for little gifts or for making oatmeal jam bars.  Or toast.  Or thumb print cookies.  Ice cream?  If I ate it, yes!

Pam

Month end update.

I have so many pictures.  Hopefully, unlike last time, I can get them all to cooperate and I won't have to put any off until another time.

This first one...my update on HEAD's Vibrant Vista...had to be taken out of my last post because it would not move.  I've only stitched one page.  Or, almost one page.  I had to throw in the towel on the tree. There were just too many odd little stitches that should be easier to work when I am stitching the page below.  I also read that a line or ridge can appear when leaving off at the edge of a page so I've left a jagged line along the right side and bottom.  I am planning to move across the top first.

I will pick this up again when I finish Murky Manor.

I also finished my monthly small which was really 3 smalls.

These are This & That's Merry Mini's #2.

I finished each a little differently.  The mittens, once complete, had a large blank spot so I looked through my buttons and couldn't resist this little clay penguin.

Great centering skills while photographing!

My next item...a finish-finish is Bent Creek's Reindeer Snow Globe.  It really hasn't been in my unfinished pile for long...maybe a year.  A virtual infant.  I made a simple pattern on a piece of paper towel (I don't know...it was handy?  the right size?) and made an easel back flat fold.

More fabulous photo skills...a close up of the ribbon.  I bought this for another project that hasn't been unearthed from my pile but they were just right for the snow globe.

Another Florida finish that I finally quilted...Moda's Frivol's #7. The fabric is Songbird Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings. I've never met a Primitive Gatherings fabric I did not like.  The pattern name is 'Heart'.  I'm not real sure how that relates to the fabric or the end result but there you have it.

The quilting is unimpressive.  Just a flower.  I was trying to soften all the sharp points of the 1.5 million half square triangles.

Finally...finally...the last of a year long table runner-of-the-month program from 12 years ago!
It took me 8 or 9 years to make this one and another couple to actually quilt it.  I have distributed the various patterns to whomever wanted them so I don't even know the name...just that the patterns were by Cotton Way.

The quilting is a string of gingerbread boys and girls.  I quilted them one way then turned them upside down and did the other half.   Here is where their heads meet.

I am making my way through many more projects and even have another Frivols just off the long arm.  It is just beautiful but you'll have to wait until next time after the binding is on.

Pam

Playing catch up with tons of pictures.

I really did have a small finish for April.  All the way finished, too.

This free pattern from The Drawn Thread is called Four Fat Friends.  I didn't always use the called for threads.  Sometimes the dye lot of the over dyed threads just didn't work quite right so I dug through my collection and just picked out something that would.

I finished it with a bit of this vintage lace I found at an antique mall.  (Below a couple pictures are the three trims I bought.)

Four Fat Friends is currently displayed with some other bird themed pieces.  One being this free pattern from years and years ago.  The pattern and designer name is long lost. It was a challenge offered by my local needlework shop.  I added the nest using random wools.  The robin is stitched with wool and I can see it is going by the way of the other pieces I showed a few months back.

Can you see how the fiber is dissolving away? So sad.

Here are the three trims I bought.  They were each $1.00 or $2.00.  I think I need to go get more.  To my road trip buddies...if you're reading this...we need to head to the town where I bought my machine and include a stop at a fun antique mall tucked into no-man's land that I'd never find on my own!

The piece I pulled out of my pile of unfinished finishes was this Camp Wannasew pattern by Erica Michael's exclusively for The Silver Needle's sewing retreat.  I left the words 'Camp Wannasew' off the bottom.

I've had this pattern kitted up for years.  I was going to disassemble it but then thought I really did like the woodsy look of the cabin.  It is currently tucked on the tree where I am accumulating all the ornaments for the year.  It really isn't an ornament, though.

In the world of all things guilty...I've finished another Frivols. Month 3/Eliza's Indigo Frivols.

I pieced this in Florida, took one look at it and thought it was uglier than ugly.  I folded it up and brought it home. As I attempt to quilt everything in the quilt line-up I put it on the machine and did the cutest little Baptist fan...which is my current favorite quilt pattern.

As ugly as I thought the top was, I did really like the backing.

Well, the jokes on me because here it is on my living room area rug.

In fact, it matches in that room quite nicely.

What can I say?

Stitching and sewing have been sparse.  I've made 6 quilt tops for the charity group I work with.  We will break for summer soon so those can go on the back burner for now.

I am slowing stitching away on a couple pieces I will show eventually.

In the mean time...happy stitching.

Pam

The gift of a quilt.

My niece is getting married this summer.  For her shower I made a quilt.  The shower is in a week but I know she doesn't read my blog so I'm not spoiling any surprises.  (Or, if I'm wrong...Kate...turn away!)

Probably most of us know that the younger crowd isn't as taken with the same style of quilts that we like.  It's all about 'modern'.  But, where does one begin when choosing a quilt that's 'modern'?  Even 'modern' has different styles.  All I can think of are solid colors with lots of strips or rectangles.  Blah.  

So, I went with what I thought was a safe combination. 

A traditional Irish Chain using only two fabrics.  

She likes nautical things and the color blue.  So, I chose a white fabric with navy anchors and a navy batik.  

I backed it with a paisley gray and quilted it with an anchor motif.  The whole time I was quilting it and sewing on the binding I swore I would never make another queen size quilt.  The quilting/binding job is just endless.  No reflection on the worthiness of my niece...I'm just saying!  

I have been negligent about posting my cross stitch smalls for April.  I really did stitch and finish something plus finish-finished a small I stitched around Christmas.  I also made a couple more Moda Frivols and even have two quilted.  One of these days I will get some pictures taken and posted. The suspense will kill ya, I'm sure.  

Pam

Let there be cake!

There's a birthday in my house today.  With cake.  Chocolate cake with cherry filling.  I think my favorite thing to do for one of my kids' birthdays is bake the cake.

This little sweetie turns 25 today!

The Scholar...who is no longer a student but a teacher of students.  She was a couple months shy of her 3rd birthday in this picture.

Happy Birthday!

Wrapping up Phase 2: The bathroom.

The bathroom remodel was as done as it was going to get while I was in Florida.  We are missing the shower door and walls....which have been measured and ordered...and a vanity top and sink.  Surprisingly, in this day of modern tools...for example a RIGHT ANGLE...the wall that forms the water closet does not form a 90' angle with the outside wall of the house.  Go figure.  So, the vanity top by that wall needed to be templated so it is taking longer than the other one.

While picture arranging isn't working out so well....here are some before and after shots.

Or after and before as the pictures are appearing.  I placed them side by side but my preview shows them one after the other.

It's hard to see how substantially different that is...trust me...night and day. 

Maybe you can see how crooked that wall is by looking at the gap on the left side of the vanity.

The showers can't even be compared.  Plasticy-yuck vs. beautiful earth tone tile.  We used stone on the floor.






I did not do a good job of getting a picture of the new empty space created by the removal of the tub or of the door being removed from the water closet.

The best I have is one taken during the work.  

I can reach the blind cord without having to climb into the tub.  Yeah!

I do have a before and after of the door to the bathroom.   The before is taken looking out of the bathroom and the after is taken looking from the bedroom towards the bathroom.


No door...

...door.

Ironically, we saw lots of houses with no door to the master bathroom.  What's that all about? Seriously?  If nothing else, the bathroom gets cold being all wide open like that.  Brrr.  During the winter, when it really isn't all that warm in Florida, I'd turn the heat up just so there would be warm air coming out of the ceiling vent when getting out of the shower.  

It's hard to describe how happy a clean and fresh bathroom makes me.  

There are more jobs on the list but I'm not sure what exactly will be next.  Possibly some windows and sliders.  Or maybe one or the other as they will be huge jobs.  We have 4 sliders and floor to ceiling windows.  Step by step.

Pam