House progress and a few bits!

Well I think I am just going to make this months progress midst everything else that is going on here
I had hoped to be a little further, but we will remain positive for next month. I thought the hard part was over after piecing all the houses but to be truthful, the borders will be just as time consuming, if not more!

I am enjoying this quilt very much, but will admit, without the push of deadlines from our site manager Anne, this would definitely not be as far on!

The borders are difficult to see but it is a black and tan small checked fabric from Buggy Barn.

I know Christmas is well over, but my plan is to try and make something each month in preparation for next Christmas. These burlap trees were made in December but I am tagging them and the 'joy' burlap pillows for January's contribution, simply because I know nothing else will get made this month.

Thanks for your visit and go check out the progress of the other sites across the pond-some great works in progress! Whoops, just had a preview and see I really need to change my header pic from Christmas, but sorry, not tonight!lol!

New homespun construction site!

So a new construction site has been started across the pond! I showed a pic on my last post of the homespun houses I have started putting together and although very late in joining the SAL, Anne has kindly invited me to come on board.

The reason for the delay? I had to bide my time until I came across the book here in the UK.

I am further behind than most and for that reason I will show 3 this month.

I think I have 1 more house to put together but I have a lot of windows still to do.
Initially I thought this would be a good project to practice my needleturn applique-just windows and doors, but between my lack of skill and the fact that homespun isn't straight to start with, I have wripped out more than I have stitched I think, but we shall persevere!

Go check out Anne's blog to see what others are doing and have a great weekend.

Hello! Feather wool tree link and tutorial

It sure has been a while...........!

No point in starting to give you loads of reasons as to why I have been away for so long, suffice to say, life has been busy.
Why now you ask? Well, a number of very thoughtful people have dropped the odd email to see that things were all OK and of recent I have received a number of emails asking about the wool tree I made last year, so I want to pass on that info as best I can to let people get ready for Christmas:)

I have to give credit to my original inspiration and that is the directions I followed for my first little tree and where I am directing you to follow the instructions regarding the whole method of cutting and gluing etc, so go to here.
Good directions!
So, for my large feather tree, I am sorry but I just adapted the above directions and after measuring for you, roughly they are as follows. I'm sure you creative people could do much better, but roughly here you have it!
I used a 30 inch dowel rod (an old stick would be cool too).
For the bottom 2 rows I cut my wires 9 inches with 7 wires on each row.
Next 2 rows from bottom-7 inch length by 7 wires/row.
Next 2 rows up, 6 inch length by 5 wires/row.
Then 2 rows 5 inch length with 5 wires/row.
Top row, I cut the wires 4.5 inches with 3 on the row.
Finally on the top, I drilled a small hole on the top of the dowel.
Cut a further 4.5 inch wire and insert in the top with glue gun after applying the snipped wool of course.
I used glue gun and brown flower tape.
I hope this helps you get a few made for Christmas:)

While on, I thought I would reassure you that my stitching therapy/addiction?? still continues (when time permits).
Here are a few things I have been working on recently.
This is a Country Stitches pattern, however, I used 32 count linen and it came out a lovely neat sized pillow to display

A Buttermilk Basin, wool runner

Lastly, this is on my design board. I have been watching Anne (Cottons and Woolens blog)and all her friends making this quilt but I knew how difficult it was to find the book, especially in the UK, but after patiently sitting it out, I found one in England, so I am far behind the rest, hence why I haven't joined the quilt-a-long. So this is for you Anne and thanks for all your inspiration:)

Slow progress!

I'm not sure how this post is going to go with all these changes to blogger, but here is an attempt anyway, to see if I can master it! We have been blessed with the most beautiful weather today, which just called for lines of washing to be hung out! yes, sadly I had multiple washes to do, to my shame, but I honestly believe the family members of this house land down their entire wardrobes when I call for dirty laundry! Again, another busy month has just flown by and again as a result my poor stitching only gets fits and starts here and there, so I will share with you what I am working on, as there doesn@t seem to be many finishes around here anymore. So blogger puts photo's on in the order we download them now???? Well, I will know for again-maybe you should start at my last pic for that was how they were intended! I am still slowly plodding with 'Home Sweet Home' in fact I am behind as I have only one stitched of this grouping and the next set have arrived. I so wanted to keep up with this one. I suppose if I stopped starting other projects, that might be the answer......

Like this one.....just had to have a little cross stitch on hand and loved this from 'With thy needle and Thread'

What it will hopefully look like....

I haven't ever done much piecing and some time back I bought a layer cake by French General, so thought I would give it a go-a bit less prim than I am used with but I so loved the fabric and so enjoyed making something bright and 'summery'!

Don't be looking too close but I am trying to hand quilt it after googling techniques-I think the secret to even sized stitches might me a special thimble which I don't have......that's my excuse!

I have loved seeing/drooling over all the new patterns/fsbrics from quilt market; so much to be tempted by, but sure not enough hours in my day to accomplish many, but it doesn't stop me wishing. Thanks again for stopping by-I hope this publishes ok as the preview thing is scaring me-looks like it has already published and I haven't finished. We shall see how it presents, O no, where is spell check gone???? Happy stitching, Shazy

I can't believe I am sitting posting-it's been so long I have to think about everything I try to do to upload photo's!lol!

Life has just been a gallop this last while, not all pleasant but thankfully there are blessings not to be overlooked either!
With the busy-ness etc blogging has had a back seat and I apologise for not commenting on blogs-I'm afraid when the choice of a few spare mins presented themselves, my therapy got preference; namely, my stitching! I do find that it helps me relax, which in turn helps me get the jobs on hand dealt with!

Today finds us off for the Easter break and I have my niece staying over and to lift her mind (her mum is having an op today)we got to stitching, so we are having a relaxing day. Here is my daughter and niece learning stitchery!



Then below are some things I have been working on during my 3 months absence from blogging.
First up is 'Home Sweet Home' by 'Heart to Hand' I have the first 3 blocks finished.
Now before you say, what about your other Autumn quilt........I have the top all sewed together, just have to do the vines etc and I haven't taken a recent picture.



This next is a different colour palette than usual for me but I am enjoying working on it- a Sandy G pattern.



Then something handy for the Easter break-some stitchery blocks by Primitive Stitches that Karen from Farmhouse Woolens had in her shop a while ago.
I am loving doing it especially since I have realised the joy of 'Transfer eze'
I LOVE this stuff. The last pic shows it in action-just print out pattern, it self-adheres to your fabric, you stitch, put it in water and it dissolves away-brilliant!





Ok, my time seems to be up on here, they now want chocolate cake!

I appreciate if you have taken time to visit me> Maybe I will get back again before 3 months!!!

Shazy x

Did I tell you I love trees this year?

Thought I would share some random shots of decorating and a few trees!

This first one I think I showed before but when I was going through some bags (goodies I bought in Lancaster over the summer) I found this picket fencing and these little decorations. This tree is standing proudly on my dining room table.





A little display of ginger goodness I have in the kitchen window behind the sink.



I know this next one is familiar since it graced my header for so long, but see the little trees in the crocks? I sprayed some temporary adhesive and rolled them in snow!



Next up, my weekends work-my new wool feather tree, strung with 2 sets of brown lights also in my goodie bag from Lancaster. Hubby wasn't able to convert these lights for me this time so he ordered voltage transformers and now my lights are working!! He knows me well, not just one transformer arrived, but 5!!! Woohoo, I won't need to hide my other lights then, Ha, but does he know me well or what???





What I would have loved was a crock to put my tree in, but not being able to find them here and not being able to get a wood block cut on Saturday evening, I just had to get this tree finished before bed or I wouldn't sleep! Another hunt around produced a large candle surrounded with cinnamon sticks. Armed with a hot fire and a good poker, my candle became the base and my tree was finished and I got to sleep (or hubby???)













I think thats enough to upload for now but hopefully I shall return soon with some or random shots of decorating.
Thanks again for stopping by, I am sooo enjoying all the inspiration in blogland for Christmas,keep it coming!lol!

Shazy

A little bit of Christmas!

I can't quite believe that the month of December is here and moving so fast!! Yikes...how am I going to get everything done in time and still have time to sit back and enjoy???

As I was tidying round this morning, I thought I should share a few Christmas decorating pics. Some of my sewing machine table displays and a little of my mantles.

I have been enjoying beautiful decorating out there in blogland and I sooo wish I had the 'know how' and the ability to make my photo's better! You are going to have to excuse leads and walls that shouldn't be in the pics, but I don't know how to crop them (leads are the being of my life at Christmas!!)Also, the lighting, if I turn a lamp on it is too bright, if I turn it off, it's too dark......!!!





















Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you are not too busy to enjoy this very special time of year,

Shazy x