Aurifil Designer Block Of The Month - Embroidery Done

I have shared my blocks for this little quilt top each month as I completed them.  I did not get the December block below completed until January but now all of the embroidery is complete.

 

This was a fun block to stitch.

Here they are laid out in order.  I see that I might want to do a little switching of border fabrics, we'll see.  It is now on my list of projects to finish.  This is another reason why I am trying to limit my starting of new projects this year.  I underline limit because I already have a few new projects planned.

Joining BOM Rehab at Pink Pincushion

A Wonderful Time of Rest

Do you ever feel like you just have to get some rest?  Of course you would answer yes to that question.  Sometimes getting away for a few days is just the perfect thing.  My husband and I had the opportunity to do just that last week.  I meant to post about this right away but when I uploaded the pictures to my computer they "disappeared", or so I thought, I just found them this morning. 

 

We took a little trip to one of our favorite places to go, the Pacific Ocean.  It takes us a about three and a half hours to get there depending on the I-5 traffic.  This trip we decided to take our dog Emmy.

She was thrilled but a little anxious and our car was full of her wonderful black hair by the time we arrived.

 

We took many walks on the beach.  We saw blue sky every day while those at home experienced grey skies and lots of fog.

 

Emmy is nine years old now so chasing the ball was exciting for her but she did get worn out a little faster than she used to.

 

The tide was pretty low this day.

This is the place we stayed, just a short walk to the beach.

On our morning walk the frost was pretty heavy but the sky was blue and the air was crisp and clean.
I am not sure how thrilled Pat is about being in most of my pictures but thats what happens when the camera is in my hands.

This was not my favorite picture but you can tell that I wasn't to concerned about my appearance, I was too busy relaxing loving the sunshine to care.

We worked a puzzle, enjoyed some pizza, popcorn and a Starbucks coffee.

 

I always take some kind of needlework along when we travel.  As I mentioned in an earlier post I am trying to finish up some of the incomplete projects I have around so this is what I took along to try to make some progress on.

This is a Crabapple Hill design called Nesting Time.

You use about a dozen different colors of thread in this project to make it look like you are using variegated thread.  I am really enjoying working on it and I hope to share my completed project soon.

 

The morning we packed up to return home there was a wee bit of fog, it helped us prepare for what we would see when we returned home.

 

"The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."

Psalm 29:11

Bloggers Block Of The Month Complete

I have worked on this block of the month called Blogger's Block of the Month for over a year.  The quilt along was sponsored by Canton Village Quilt Works.  The last block tutorial was posted in September and as part of my 2013 finish my projects goal, I am sharing my completed quilt top with you now.  It was hard to get a true picture of the fabrics in this quilt.    The close up below gives you an idea of how beautiful the fabrics are.  I don't have backing material for this quilt yet but I hope to get the fabric and have it quilted soon.  

I have learned so much by joining in on the block of the month projects on line, the tutorials have helped me to have confidence to try new things.  Now to get the projects completed.  I am finishing up the small projects myself and will learn a little more about machine quilting as I go.  I have sent two of my quilt tops out to be quilted by a local quilter.  I am so excited and can't wait to see how they turn out.

My First (almost) Finnish for 2013

I hope the New Year has started out as a good one for you.  I started out with my mind in a jumble and I have determined that this must change.  I want to get focused on what God has planned for me as His servant.  After that, I want to determine what it is that I would like to accomplish and create with the time and materials God has provided for me. 

 

 

We took a trip to South Carolina in November and I used a suitcase that I had not used since the last trip we took there a year and a half before.  While packing I found the project below.  I had purchased the pattern and materials at a fabulous quilt and needlework store on Hilton Head Island called Cross Stitch Junction.  I had done quite a bit of stitching on one of the pieces below and had left the project in the pocket of my suitcase after returning home.

 

 Now the stitching is complete.

 

My first cross stitch project completed for 2013

Now to sew it together to make the scissors keep and pincushion.  I will get at it soon and keep you posted.  I am making a list of my projects I hope to finish this year, I love to cross of things I finish and watch the list grow smaller.   I am limiting myself on new starts, that is my plan anyway.

I am planning on a restfull weekend but I am open to what God has planned for us, His plans are always much better than any I could make.

Thanksgiving in Bluffton

I have not been able to do much blogging lately so today I decided to get back to it and catch up a little.  I had forgotten about the 3 posts that I had uploaded pictures for but not scheduled to be posted.  One of those was this post that I am sharing today, a month and a half late.  

It was the night before Thanksgiving and all around the Stevens' place

you could see smiles on each young girls face.

Thanksgiving day arrives and we are all up early

What a beautiful day for the Bluffton Turkey Chase to raise money for Huntingtons Disease research.  Look at the smiles as they wait for the run to start.

The race is complete and she still has a smile on her face.

Holding sweet Harper and taking a little rest.

Back to putting the finishing touches on the Thanksgiving Day feast.

Much care is taken to get the table set just right.

They look happy with the way things turned out.

Daddy and Harper waiting for the feast to begin.

Here we are ready to enjoy our turkey dinner.  We had Kacy's nephew Joe and two of his friends join us for the meal, all three serving in the military.  I like to be the one holding the camera.

Sunshine in November, those of you who live in the Pacific Northwest will understand how nice this was for us while visiting South Carolina.

Shopping in Bluffton on small business Saturday.

Community tree lighting on Hilton Head.

Mommy and baby

Papa had the privilege of baptizing Hannah on Sunday.  I was a wonderful trip and we are so thankful for the opportunity to spend some time there in sunny South Carolina.