February Finish

At the first part of the month I shared this project.  I made this from a design called Winter Wonderland by Kaaren at The Painted Quilt.  Kaaren's project was done in redwork, I used a variegated Valdani thread.  I was going to make a wall hanging but decided to make a pillow  after talking to my sister Lynda.  We are both pillow lovers and have made many over the years.

I love to use pillows throughout the house and this will be a fun winter pillow.

I did a little hand quilting on this project and I like how it turned out but realize that I could use a little practice on my quilting.  I think that I was starting to get 

It is harder to read the words around the edge "In the winter we can build a snowman"  but that just means that you have to pick it up and take a closer look.

I am excited about completing another unfinished project and I am still thinking about which project I should choose to complete in March.  I will be linking my post with A Lovely Year of Finishes and plan to spend a little time to see what others have been working on.  Take a look and be inspired.

Jenny's Swap

Jenny from Jenny of Elefantz sponsored a swap.  I have always loved Jenny's embroidery designs and receive new designs each month by being in her Stitchery Club.  I you like embroidery go visit Jenny and sign up for the Stitchery Club.  I chose this design to embroider for my swap partner Wendy.  After completing the stitching I decided to make it into a needlework case.  It was fun to make and also fun to find little things to include inside.  

I also stitched up this towel using Bari J's pattern because I thought the two went well together. We also sent along a post card from our area.   Once the package was ready we sent it off to Wendy in Queensland Australia.  Wendy's blog is called Sugarlane Quilts.

The package I received came from Lin in France.  Her blog is called St Victor Quilts , I have enjoyed seeing her beautiful handwork and pictures from her travels.   I was so excited to receive these two beautifully stitched treasures.

It was fun to choose one of Jenny's embroidery designs and send and receive a fun package from another part of the world.  Thank you Jenny for sponsoring this and for sharing your talents with us by providing these designs to stitch. 

Party Time and Sewing Time

It was Valentines Day and the party is almost ready to start.

Amy and Kevin had the idea for this party and are busy pulling everything together.

We started by eating healthy snacks before moving on to decorating heart shaped sugar cookies and digging in to pizza.

Children busy preparing their Valentines Bags

His little sister might need a little help.

Danny knows exactly how he wants his bag to look.

After a morning of fun with grandchildren I spent a little time sewing.  I first pressed the embroidery project that I completed this week.  My last block for my Daisy Days project.  I am looking forward to completing this quilt.  Maybe I should choose this as my project to complete for March.

I also put together my last Sew Sweet Simplicity Block.  I will have to see how others are putting their blocks together before I decide how to use my blocks.  They have been fun to make.  We are off for President's Day today so we think we will do a couple of small projects around the house.  First I will take as much time as I want to enjoy my first cup of coffee.

Valentines and Sweet Simplicity

Happy Valentines Day!

Make someone you love smile today, it will be good for you too.

I made this using a tutorial you can find here at the Crafty Quilter. It was so exiting to start and finish a project in one evening.  I actually made two of these and have one of them in my office at work.

Shhhh, this is what I bought my husband for Valentines Day.  He hasn't seen it yet, I will give it to him later.   We are having a little Valentine party here with grandchildren and a few other little cuties  so I have to get organized this morning.  This party was planned by my daughter Amy so my part is to make a salad and enjoy the fun.

I do want to add that there has been a little sewing going on when I get a moment.  I was able to complete two more blocks for the Sew Sweet Simplicity BOM.  One more block to piece then put my project together.

Have a wonderful day, hug someone you love.

Sweet Simplicity Block and a Sweet Time of Rest

I was excited to have completed my third block for the Sew Sweet Simplicity Block of the Month.

All of the applique work is complete on the last three blocks but I have to find some time to get the piecing done.

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I were able to spend a little time at our house on the coast.  The weather had been rainy and windy all night but cleared up in the morning.  We took a few walks on the beach and wandered through all of the branches and logs washed ashore during the stormy weather.

Our dog Emmy loves the beach and forgets that she is 12 years old as soon as she gets there.

We had been doing some work around the house so when it was time to head for the beach my husband did not want to change out of his coveralls.  I teased him a little about his choice of clothing be he really didn't care' he was thoroughly enjoying our walk on a beautiful day.

  

February Goal Is Set

I am ready to start finishing my projects for February.  Below are two projects that have been waiting for finishing.  We are supposed to choose one for A Lovely Year of Finishes so I am sharing that one first.  They are both small wall hangings and are waiting to be quilted, either by hand or machine.  I tend to put projects like this off because I need practice in both machine and hand quilting.

This was made using Kaaren of The Painted Quilt's design.  This is one of her First Friday Freebie Patterns.  Visit her blog and see the wonderful projects she has designed to share with others.

" Betsy's Closet " has been ready for quilting for quite a while.  I had fun with the embroidery and with the piecing.  I know that it would be a fun gift for one of my granddaughters when it is complete.  Then I have to decide which one of them I should give it to.  I hope to have a project completed for each of them before I give it to anyone.

These are two of my goals but I do hope to accomplish much more this month.

I am linking with A Year of Lovely Finishes 2015.  Click on the button at the top of this post and see what others plan to do this month.