The view

outside my front door.

Not a lot of snow. Nothing like the 12-18 inches predicted. It sure looks nice and got the kids a snow day on Friday. The fluffy layer that stuck to all the branches only arrived last night. I stayed home Friday but had to work yesterday to make up for it. For most of us, a snow day is only a temporary reprieve from work. If I'm not there the work doesn't get done. It was fun while it lasted, anyway.

I did spend plenty of time in my sewing room mostly rearranging and organizing. I only stitched on Prairie Schooler's Daffodils a little bit. So, no pictures. I don't know where all the time goes. The days just fly by.

Thanks for stopping by even though I didn't have anything to show besides snow.

Time to get things ready for the start of another week.

I'm off.

The Queen Bee

The Help

(Photo from Amazon.com)

is what I've been reading these past few days.

I always have a book, or two, or three under way. Many aren't worth commenting on but The Help, by Kathryn Stockett is worth a few words.

The story takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960's. The main characters are a group of young society wanna-be's who grew up in homes with domestic help. As they begin their adult lives, trying to figure out where they fit in, they do as their own mothers did and hire help. The Help, women of amazing strength and character, make up the real main characters of this story. As their lives and stories unfold, so does the Civil Rights Movement. One society deb breaks out of the pack and begins writing the stories of The Help. A daunting task that must be undertaken in secret. The women all have so much to lose if anyone finds out what they're up to. The twists and turns that follow will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens as the book, Help by Anonymous, is published.

The story moves along with each chapter taking the voice of one of the characters. I love to read a book where an author can capture the voices of the different characters as vividly as this author does. I'm betting the audio version is wonderful to listen to. (Think The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.)

I've read a number of reviews faulting the story and pointing out flaws in the characters but, while I can see their point, I preferred to just enjoy the story and the characters and become immersed in their lives. The Help is very well written and well worth reading.

I'm off.

The Queen Bee

Ta da...

On Sunday I finished LHN's Poinsettia House. It was a fairly quick piece to stitch despite the fact that it took me 3 months! There were a whole lot of other things being stitched at the same time so don't laugh.


Now, onto.....

Daffodils by The Prairie Schooler. This was not going to be my next start but guilt got the better of me. I think it was 2 years ago that I bought 3 Prairie Schooler patterns from Shakespeare's Peddler with the Crescent Colour conversions. There were a total of 4 pieces I planned to stitch from those 3 books. I splurged and bought the matching frames along with the 32 count Lambswool linen and Crescent Colour threads. So far, I've stitched 2 of the pieces so I'm not a total slacker. Yesterday I decided that I should start another one since I'd invested so much money in them. Choosing Daffodils was a no brainer. The colors are so springy. Just what we need right now as we prepare for a snow storm. We're supposed to get a foot of snow starting tomorrow afternoon. At least I'll be looking at spring on paper.

Alas, LHN's Mississippi Riverboat will just have to wait a little longer.

I'm off.

The Queen Bee

As promised

pictures!

In no particular order here are Little House Needleworks' Acorn Hill and Pumpkins 4 Sale.

In the Kitchen with Jane Austen by Sampler Girl,

Christmasland by Raise the Roof Designs,
















and finally, Seasons of Change by Bent Creek.
















Not to play favorites but Christmasland and In the Kitchen with Jane Austen were my favorites. I never would have done Jane Austen if I hadn't seen it stitched up. The picture on the pattern just didn't do it justice.

Here's hoping this posts as planned.

I'm off,
The Queen Bee

An even swap....

sort of. I took this quilt top to the long arm quilter

and picked this one up.

The first one is spread out on the pool table for measuring. (Which explains the funny dips around the edge.) There are 42 blocks, each with 36 pieces. That's a whopping 1,512 pieces.... not counting the 2 pieced borders! I started it last March and my goal was to finish it by this March. As always, with such a huge project, I'm sick of looking at it and won't miss it for the 3 months it's gone. When it returns I'll be happy to see it again.

The second quilt is the 2009 Thimbleberries Club Quilt. I've never done a Thimbleberries class before but it's a year long program hosted by many quilt shops where the fabric and patterns are released throughout the year first to the quilt club members and then to the general public.

The fabric had 3 different color ways. Traditional, Bright and Light. Mine is done in the Traditional colors. In real life, it's much browner. I chose Lights but not enough other ladies signed up for Light so the shop didn't buy that line. I can't say I like the browns but it was a very fun project. We met once a month at the shop to work on blocks. I met some new ladies and got a chance to keep up with others who I see occasionally at quilt classes and retreats over the years. I still need to sew the binding on but that won't take more then a couple hours.

Now.... my next post will include pictures of my newly framed cross stitch so don't go far.

I'm off to take some more pictures.

The Queen Bee

Mail call.....

mail call... mail call....

Does anyone remember Blues Clues? That's the sound track that plays in my mind when referring to today's mail.

Amy at Down Sunshine Lane ordered this Trail Creek Farm pillow for me to go with Country Cottage Needlework's Liberty Lane. The back of the pillow is done using the plaid fabric that the buttons are covered with. Love it. Can't wait to stitch it.

My next favorite new pattern is Mississippi Riverboat by Little House Needleworks. I love the Americana look. Also, it reminds me of the Riverboat ride at Walt Disney World. Who wouldn't want to be there right this minute as the wind blows another bout of lake effect snow our way?

And finally, as promised, a picture of LHN's Poinsettia House. I hope I can finish this by the weekend. You never know how long all that roof will take, though.

I'm going to give it a good try.

My LNS called to tell me that my framing is done. She's so fast! I'll post pictures after I pick everything up.... cross my fingers and knock on wood that the weather will allow me to make the trip Saturday. I have to pass right by the quilt shop that has my latest quilt finished so I'll stop and pick that up. I have to go in with blinders on and chanting: 'no new fabric, no new fabric, no new......' She always has such nice fabric right by the door.

Watch for pictures!

I'm off.

The Queen Bee

SAL progress

I am doing a weekly stitch along with my friend Rebecca. On Mondays we work on Little House Needlework's 'The Library'. It took about 6 Mondays to get that door done! I've finally moved on to the Western section. I'm anxious to start on the pictures within the window frames. I think they'll move along quicker then the building.

It's a snowy Tuesday in these parts. It's also my busiest work day and with the kids home needing transported to various activities I'm on the road more then I'd like to be. I, for one, am wishing for spring.

Soon I will take a pictures of another WIP so keep checking back..... until then I'm off.

The Queen Bee