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.

It's Quilt Retreat Season

 There is a big advantage to summer ending...quilting retreats start up again. 

I had two retreats in September.

At the first retreat I kept on track with my last retreat focus, the Alaska Shop Hop quilt from 2010. It was time to make the borders. I created all the clipped corners and stitched the strips together. At home I went through the process of measuring to get accurate inner and outer borders in the background color and attached all the borders...that took several days and a few sessions with Jack the Ripper.

The Shop Hop quilt measures 77 x 89-inches.

Three retreats dedicated to the 2010 Shop Hop patterns was enough! Yes...there is one more Shop Hop quilt still in progress. It needs borders.

Since the next retreat followed National Jelly Roll Day, I decided to start a new Jelly Roll project. I shared my prepped kit in last month's posting. It was a great set of blocks to work on while visiting with everyone. We had a full house at the retreat so not much room to spread out...working on simple blocks was perfect. 

I finished all the blocks at the retreat and put it together at home. The pattern is, "Harvest Junction," by Scott Flanagan in the Quilter's World Autumn 2025 magazine.

Oh...and I almost forgot to mention...I added two more rows of blocks to make this quilt bigger. I know I will use this as a throw quilt on our bed it needed to be sized up a bit. 

The finished size is 70 x 72-inches.

The last day of retreat I had time to tackle two Halloween projects.

 The, "BOO," runner was a little kit one of our retreat attendees made for everyone. I had to add a background fabric which only required a fat quarter. Very Fun

The witch is part of a kit called, "Oops," that features batiks designed by Scott Flanagan. It is a pattern designed by Sandy Gervais. I was surprised how quickly this came together. It just needs borders to finish this fun wall quilt which are ready but I thought about adding something to it...more fun Halloween blocks or some words on the cauldron?

We had fun projects to make at the second retreat. One day we made these awesome snap bags. The tops have metal strips from tape measures that make a cool snapping sound when you open them. They were a big hit and several ladies made many more the next day to get a great start on Christmas presents.

We also made a Christmas ornament...a halibut ornament. Absolutely perfect for most of my family and friends as all are enthusiastic fishermen and halibut is the primo catch to get every summer. 

The only critter picture I have to share today is a rare sighting of my kitty. He's so funny...he doesn't know we have all figured out he is hiding behind the quilt hanging on the stairway railing. 

Pretty hard for a 26-pound Maine Coon to hide anywhere. 

Eli is named after the second tallest mountain in the United States and Canada, Mount Saint Elias. He gets a monthly shot for his joints which has greatly improved his mobility and mood. The vet techs love to see Eli every month. Everyone makes sure to get a photo holding him. Maine Coons are known as gentle giants and he fits that description perfectly. He has the tiniest meow...he sounds like a tiny kitten.

Wrapping Up Summer

You know the summer season is coming to an end when the Alaska State Fair happens.

I had a great showing at the fair this year. I love purple ribbons for winning a division. 

I only kept one of the nine quilts I finished this year...and that was because I knew I was going to enter it into the state fair. "Kauai Chickens," won a 1st place blue ribbon, a purple division ribbon and was in the little 15 minute flip show they do once or twice an hour of about 20 quilts to spotlight different techniques...or special details.

My Bucilla Advent Calendar was another piece I entered in the embroidery section. It won a 1st place blue ribbon and a purple division ribbon. When I picked it up after the fair ended, the ladies who volunteer in that section said there were lots of great comments people made about the advent calendar...sweet...many wanting to know if I was selling it...funny...nope...you have to make your own! 

And my last entry was in cross stitch where I entered two of my stand-ups as a Spooky Couple. I couldn't pick just one to enter. I was happy to see my construction score was a perfect 10. Not my cross stitches...but I admit I am more of a, "get it done," instead of a, "make it perfect," when it comes to the actual cross stitching part. It amazes me how long it takes just to stuff the stand-ups properly in the construction phase. And I want to give credit once again to the videos on YouTube from Vonna Pfeiffer on how to construct a stand-up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEowNoFqfoQ&t=3401s

I went to the fair with my granddaughters...so fun. Their favorite part was definitely the farm animals. The fair always has a really nice kid petting section.

This summer was pretty decent weather compared to the last two summers so I spent most of my time outside...as it should be! 

There was an occasional rainy day. I did no long arm quilting but did work on several quilting  UFOs.

I had six little spring ornaments designed by Lynette Anderson that I made into a mini quilt. I had played with a quilt design on EQ8 but made several changes once I started playing with the fabric. 

The finished size of, "Welcome Spring," is 23-inches square. I plan to handquilt this piece...but since it is made with batik fabrics...I might change my mind once I pull a needle through the layers. There are fancy buttons to add to the embroidered blocks. I have a dedicated wall space in my entry way for hanging mini quits that has been blank since I took down my Christmas mini.

I had a UFO that just required adding the final borders...but first...I had to make a decision about the fabrics...order of fabrics and their widths.

Decision making is not a quick process for me.

The finished size of this top is 75 x 88-inches.

The focus batik was probably a fabric in my stash for 20 years...so gorgeous.

The pattern is a freebie on Connection Threads website, " Log Cabin Stars."

https://www.connectingthreads.com/log-cabin-stars-quilt-pattern-download/p/991679

I did a different border than the pattern.

For two quilt retreats I worked on top stitching fusible applique blocks from two versions of a 2010 Alaska Shop Hop Quilt. I finished all the top stitching and put the two quilt centers together. 

The orginal pattern design for the shop hop...

I was relieved I actually had all the right amounts of fabrics for the setting blocks since this kit had been sitting around for 15 years! 

I did change the fabric strip colors for the border. The majority of the fabrics are 1895 batiks from Hoffman so pretty easy to make the color changes.

Borders cut and ready for stitching...

A quilt shop in Fairbanks came up with their own layout of the blocks and I liked it so much made a second set of blocks...15 years ago! The earthy colors just grabbed me and I loved the setting.

The borders are also cut and ready for construction on version two. Again...colors I love to work with.

 National Jelly Roll Day is next Saturday. Scott Flanagan is planning to release a free pattern on his blog for the occasion but in the latest issue of Quilter's World magazine, he has a jelly roll pattern that prompted me grab a well-aged jelly roll and cut out a kit. Harvest Junction is the pattern.

I have two quilt retreats in September so these last three projects are at the top of my list to stitch.

My evening handwork projects are next. 

I started another Advent Calendar, Santa's Toy Sop. I have the body of the calendar done. I am now making the little ornaments. 

I was drawn to a series of Halloween cross stitch pieces by the designer, La-D-Da

"Something Wicked," is on a 35-count linen in the color, Havana; stitched with one thread over two threads. This was the smallest count linen I had ever stitched. It's not a big piece, 3 3/4 x 9-inches, but so many tiny stitches! I also stitched with NPI silk threads for the first time, as suggested by the designer. 

I finished the 3rd Santa Gathering pattern. 

This is a vintage series from my stash and I am using the fabrics the designer picked for each Santa.

I did a couple of very quick small patriotic pieces deisgned by Stitching with the Housewives.

These are stitched on a 14 count Aida. Very easy on the eyes.

I'm hoping to have a big patriotic display for our 250th celebration of our country's founding next summer. 

Finally...a round up of landscaping and gardening progress. 

I reached out to my neighborhood Facebook group and found someone to help me move the last of my big rock pile...the rocks that were too big for me to move. So awesome to have the steps to my front door accessible again. This rock pile took me two years to whittle down.

But I created a new landscapping project when I had the rocks moved to the side of my yard...

next summer's focus project.

The photo below is my septic hill landscaping project that started several years ago and is finally done!

My vegetable garden finally hit a real growing spurt and took off in August. I was getting worried...everything seemed so late. I am now inundated with broccoli and kale. Yum! My beets and carrots look great too but I usually wait very late in the season to harvest them. 

No recent bear or moose sightings. The bears are eating fish from the river but will be heading up the mountain side for berries soon. The moose will soon be getting active for their rutting season...always makes for a little driving drama when a bull is chasing a cow and you get caught in the middle. 

My male Gordon Setter, Logan, caught and killed a squirrel this summer. Since then he has spent a good chunk of every day posted in his spot on the septic drain hill watching for squirrels.

I still have a lot of outdoor projects for the month of September but also lots of quilting events and a quick trip to Washington. So much to do before the winter arrives. I am looking forward to getting back to my longarm quilting. Somehow...the pile of tops to be quilted only grows bigger!

So Much to Share - Part III - Cross Stitch

 Looks like Halloween is my second favorite holiday.

I am quickly getting a nice little collection of spooky decorations…and I have so many more planned!

I love specialty bags for my projects and recently a very fun Halloween fabric line was released called, “Mr. Bones Sews.” The line also included a canvas bag panel. I immediately thought about turning the bag panel into a cross stitch project bag…which would also work for Bucilla ornament kits. 

I started with a Thread Bed. Look at this super cute Halloween sewing notions fabric. 

The inside has a piece of black felt to store needles. Floss threads will cling to the white felt lining.

The thread bed will store inside the project folder. I made a velcro closure for it.

The project folder has two large vinyl pockets with zippers.

More very fun fabric…skeletons sewing…riding a seam ripper like a witch’s broom.

The lining is spiders with button bodies and stitched webs.

In the vinyl pocket is another pocket behind the gray fabric.

And yet another underneath the zipper pocket section. More cute fabric from the, “Mr. Bones Sew,” fabric line. There was a black with gray print that has skulls and sewing machines which is my binding fabric. there were two more purple fabrics in the line which I will probably make into a smaller project bag.

I am waiting for some black swivel hooks to attach the handles but the handles are ready for stitching into place. 

More difficult than making the huge project bag was making four stand-ups from Lizzie Kate cross stitch patterns. I love the end result and plan to make more…as soon as I get those pieces cross stitched. 

All of the stand-up patterns in this post are available at 123stitch.com and the patterns come with notions to finish the pieces. I changed out some of those notions for stuff in my stash that made me a little happier. 

Betty Broomstick came with the black tinsel to make her hair. I stitched it in place with smoke colored monofilament thread. Her broomstick, star buttons, black beads and bell for the cat collar were in the pattern. I made the bow of mixed threads and stuck it on with a bat pin from Just Another Button Company. There were jewels to glue in place for earrings but I used beads from my stash. I don’t like to glue anything in place if I can avoid it. There was also a silver ribbon in the kit for her cape but I had an orange Kreinik ribbon that looked better.

Vonnie Von Fang did come with the bat button from Just Another Button Company. I also swapped out his silver cape ribbon with a purple Kreinik ribbon. He came with google eyes to glue in place but I used a white sequin with black beads from Betty Broomstick’s kit. I also used beads in my stash for his cuff links instead of the jewels in the kit that would need to be glued in place.

The absolute most difficult part of making these stand-ups is getting the stuffing to look good.

I had some very fun batiks in my stash to back the stand-ups. I bought the cross stitch fabrics from 123stitch.com which were listed as an option with the pattern listings.

I made my own cording.

If you read my blog with some regularity…you know I get stuck on series. 

I must do all the stand up patterns!

Time to start a new decor theme…patriotic.

Liberty Sam.

He came with an American flag on a toothpick. I just couldn’t do the toothpick. So I added a pin in my stash from Just Another Button Company.

Lady Liberty.

She also came with a toothpick flag which I didn’t want to use. 

I also changed the pattern. The white sash was much bigger…I hate stitching with white…so hard to make those crossed stitches look good. So I made the white sash smaller and added a blue outline on the top and bottom edge with a glitter DMC floss.

I had the perfect fabric for backing the stand-ups.

I was greatly aided by videos from Vonna Pfeiffer on YouTube. 

I did everything just like she does.

And to go along with my new decor category is a cross stitch project bag I won from YouTubers, “Stitching with the Housewives.” I absolutely love their weekly videos. They are big gardeners and there are lots of dogs and kids in their talks about what’s happening in their world. 

The mother and daughter team of, Stitching with the Housewives, have several small patriotic charts I recently downloaded on their Etsy shop and I have them in my new bag. The bag was made by Kreative Carol on Etsy…also another favorite Etsy shop.

I finished stitching the first in a Christmas ornament series by Hands on Designs.

And I have another ornament series that has been in my stash for 20 years, “ Santa Gathering,” that got started this summer. 

Number One

Number Two

I forget how much I get done...writing a blog post makes me fell like I was very productive!