Sampler Block and Cross Stitch

I just finished the 7th block for the State Fair Sampler Quilt. This one measures 24.5" square. It's the last block at this size. The next few blocks are 16.5" and then they decrease even more! The biggest blocks are almost done. This one was fun to make. I just had to make 16 half square triangles. Then just corner blocks and borders. Easy peasy!

 I finished the cross stitch portion for the Halloween ornament. I have to back stitch and outline some of the black areas. I have to figure out how to do that first! I see YouTube in my future! I think it came out pretty good for my first cross stitch project in years. I feel like I'm getting used to cross stitching again. I definitely have more projects in mind!

I Like Thursday #206

Welcome to this week's likes! Please visit LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more fun posts. I finished another block for my son's wedding quilt. This one is called Ida & Guthrie Counties. It measures 24.5" square. I'm really loving the black background. The solid colors look so vibrant! I only have 30 blocks left. The good thing is that they get progressively smaller. I'm hoping to make them a bit quicker. 

It's almost time for Halloween! I bought this at JoAnn's. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it or give it as a gift. I just couldn't resist it! I think my future daughter in law will love it!

I also made this apron. It was pretty easy. It's just a panel. It reminds me of the old show, Bewitched! It really just took a couple of hours to make. 

Fall must be here. I went out for dinner last week and got an apple sangria. It was so good! It even had a little cinnamon on the rim. So tasty!

Those are my quick likes for the week. Have a great weekend!

Cross Stitch Progress

 I had another appointment today but I have managed to get some cross stitching done. My Halloween ornament is looking pretty good! I love working on this while watching TV. I'm so close to finishing that I just want to get it done. 

I bought this magazine last week. I decided to make my kids (and their significant others) cross stitch Christmas ornaments. These are small and will take less time than the Halloween Witch. I found all my cross stitch supplies from years ago. I have thread and Aida fabric. I just have to decide which ornaments to make for each person. So glad I'm back to cross stitching. I forgot how much fun it is!!

Schoolhouse Dash Quilted

 I haven't been online the last few days. I had an eye doctor appointment that left my poor eyes so sensitive to light! My eye pressure is high and has to be checked often. This past appointment hit me harder than my earlier ones. Anyways, my pressure wasn't too bad and I'm back to normal. Before that dreaded appointment, I finished quilting Schoolhouse Dash. I'm working on the binding already!

I used a pantograph to finish this one. It's called Popcorn. I feel it makes a nice texture across the quilt. It's nice to see swirls and curves over a quilt mostly made up of straight lines. 

Here's the back so you can see the pantograph even better! I love how even the quilting is when using pantos. I always feel like I'm cheating when I use a pantograph but they are great to use. It took 4 days to finish quilting this one. So fast!

Hurricane Lee has hit our area but it's rather minimal. There is some wind and a little rain but not bad at all. I hope it stays that way! Have a great weekend!

Two Blocks for Two Projects

The fun of working on various projects is that you get to use different techniques. You just can't get bored! I finished this block for the State Fair Sampler Quilt. It's called Humboldt County and measures 24.5" square. I changed some of the directions. I'm so comfortable to enlarge pieces and then cut down to desired size. I find many directions cut it too close for me. There are so many online charts to make flying geese and half square triangles that it's easy to pick whatever method you like best. I end up adding 1/4"-1/2" and sometimes and that makes all the difference to insure accuracy.

I also completed Whig Rose for the Carrie Hall Sampler Quilt. This one measures 15" X 25". I enjoyed working on this block. There were quite a few variations so I didn't have to be too exact. One block left for this quilt, Rose of Sharon. I can't believe this one is almost done.  Hand applique does take longer than machine piecing but it's just so relaxing as well as portable. So fun! 

 

I Like Thursday #205

It's time for I Like Thursday! The weeks are flying by and this day always sneaks up on me! Please visit LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color to link up with more bloggers posting happy stuff! I haven't cross stitched in years but am trying to get back into it. I bought this little kit for a Halloween ornament. This witch was a bit challenging for me. I don't remember what quarter stitches are! I figured it out and it looks okay. It's not perfect but not bad for the first time in over 30 years!

I have a favorite spot on the couch that I always sit on. It's looks like Lily likes it too! She sprawls across the couch and gets so comfortable. I've tried moving her but she won't budge. I've started to leave things in that area so she can't use my spot! So fresh!

I was at the library yesterday and saw a few kids jumping all over this bench. The carvings are so intricate. It's such a treasure. I'm happy the kids are enjoying it but I don't think they realize the work that went into this. 

 We have a ton of tomatoes, finally! But not one has turned red! We've started bringing a few indoors to see if they'll ripen. It's been so hot and humid that I figured that would help them along but no such luck. I'm hoping taking them indoors will do the trick. 

Have a great weekend! It's supposed to stay hot and humid here until the start of the new week. I'm hoping to stay indoors with the A/C while I sew!

Labor Day projects

I hope you all had a nice holiday weekend. Mine was nice but busy! I did manage to finish another block of the State Fair Sampler. This one is called Greene County and measures 24.5" square. I made the flying geese my own way. I'm not crazy about some of these methods. They may be quick but not always accurate for me. I bought extra fabric of everything so I should be okay to try my own way of doing things. (I hope!)

 I got to load the Schoolhouse Dash to the longarm. I still have to choose a pantograph. This quilt measures 80" square so it shouldn't take too long to quilt once I start it. I'm so busy with other projects that it might take awhile to start!