Searching for More Time

 Yipes! I can't believe Thanksgiving is next week.

I'm having a really tough time keeping up with social media...just not enough hours in the day. 

Let me start with quilting. I had a three-day quilt retreat in October. We had a special theme, Four Patch Posie with a panel. I found an amazing panel for the project, "Sunny in the Sunflowers."

I was determined to finish this project in the three days and I did...

but..I think the left bottom corner could use a little rearranging. 

We didn't have a design wall at the quilt retreat and not much floor space. 

One other participant finished her top.

This was really a fun retreat. Can't wait to see the other gals with their finishes. 

Our next retreat is the first week of December.

My quilting frame is being used as a stand for my next project. I made several stuffed critters for my grandchildren. These are free patterns from Tilda available online. I don't know why it took me so long to finish them. A cat, two dogs and a rabbit. Tilda has so many free patterns of other great animals. 

Next up...lots of Halloween projects.

I made this Happy Halloween cross stitch project in a matter of two weeks...amazing for me. 

I bought this bat frame at least a year ago at the Target Dollar Spot. 

It was a dark green metallic finish which I painted black. 

While browsing Etsy, I saw this cross stitch patten in this frame and instantly downloaded it. 

I challenged myself to dye my own fabric and it was so easy and turned out great!!!

The cross stitch pattern is, "Happy Halloween," designed by Lucky Star Stitches on Etsy. 

I did an non-traditional finish to put the cross stitch fabric in the frame...there just wasn't any wiggle room. I trimmed the piece to size and zig zagged the edge.

I used double-sided tape for cross stitch project to attach the cross stitch fabric to the frame's backing piece. 

Another Halloween craft that got tackled were a set of  spool ornaments from Just Another Button Company that were in the stash for over 10 years. My granddaughter was spending the day with me one Saturday and we finished three of the six Halloween kit.s

First was a mummy which involved tearing some strips of white fabric...no problem...I have lots of white fabric perfect for tearing into strips.

The official name of this kit is, "Mumford Mummy," and it is a Spoolkeep project. 

Next was the black cat. A little tricky to stitch the ears in place but everything else was pretty easy. All the supplies, plus the decorative pin, were included in each kit. The ribbons to go around the spool base came from my stash and were picked by Kate. The spools were also not included but I bought a package of those when I bought the kits.

Baskin Kitty Spoolkeep.

The last kit we had time to complete during Kate's visit was the bat. Lots of detail stitching by hand to make the bat wings. 

Barney Bat Spoolkeep.

I 'm pretty sure I bought these kits at the Houston Quilt Show...it used to be a huge shopping trip for me. Sadly, the number of vendors has drastically dropped and I don't make it there every year any more. I'm hoping to attend Quilt Con in Raleigh next February. It's interesting that Quilt Con isn't in the same city every year...I like that idea...new place to explore.

Yes...there was yet another Bucilla Halloween ornament kit I had to make. These little spooks came together quickly and were a delightful addition to my Halloween tree. The kit is, "Boo Buddies," and is from 2024...should be easy to find. 

A quick look at my spooky tree...

I had some witchy helpers.

I have already packed away my Halloween decorations and I forgot to get pictures of another Halloween finish...an addition to the Halloween Mantel Series from Merry Stockings, Halloween Party Bus. My set looks just like the package cover photo. I love making these Mantel Series pieces.

And one last Halloween project...I finished stitching it the first week of November when we were in Las Vegas for a few days.

This was a freebie pattern from Pine Mountain Designs for the month of October 2021 and was a Stitch Along. I stitched it on the called for fabric, 25 count Stormy Night Lugana. The pattern is available  as Halloween Blocks on the Pine Mountain website. 

Kate finished her first stitchy project. This was a kit she purchased at a school store. Everything was included in the kit. I placed the needle, she pulled it thru and pulled the needle back up for the next stitch. She could have done it by herself halfway through the project...but she was still timid in her stitching. I did the French knots. We worked on this together for several visits.

Maybe some of you were able to catch the amazing light show from the Aurora Borealis last week. I managed to catch the end of the show on the first night. I have seen lights like this with the naked eye in Alaska...but only three times in the 25 years I have lived here. The red color is a treat to see. This was captured with my iPhone. I did not see this brilliant color with my eyes.

The next night was a different light show...fast moving colored lights...all over the sky...also enhanced with my phone.

It was really a treat and we were so lucky to have clear skies the first night.

 You can see some clouds were around on the second night.

Enough!

 I know more frequent...

shorter posts would be better...

maybe next week I'll visit with you again.