Do You See?

Do you see what has happened here?

 I accidentally cut off my scissors fob.  Rats.  Now how do I fix it in the easiest way?  I guess I have to make some more twisted cording and try to attach it.  Darn.  Oh well.  I really like this scissors fob.  In fact I might try to incorporate the same rose into my three queens.  I got the bottom row under the queens done along with the flowers on either side.

The flowers aren't even.  One is taller than the other.  I'm still evaluating whether to fix it or not. (I probably will). There is an arbor or arch over the queens but the chart does not show how far above the queens it is.

 I'll have to study photos and try to count the threads.  I don't like the lines hanging down from the arch and want to add the roses along the arch. Now that I am looking at this photo, I see that there is something in the middle of the fans on the ends.  The chart didn't show this.  I'll have to investigate further.

I really should work on some other things.  I want to make Claire's apron and the other bag kit.  I also want to work on the Quaker Bag.  It has been ignored too long!
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Three Queens

I am loving my three queens.  I finished up the yellow queen yesterday and worked on their fans (or whatever they are).

I cut a piece of comic board to the size of the side of the double casket to see how much room I have to add stuff.  I can add the next row under the queens.

  I have a flower to add on either side of them.  I'm not quite sure about the top.  I think I'll add a line of green and another row from the sampler.  We'll see . . .

I went to my local fabric store in search of Bridget's Bagettes pattern.  I found it!

So I tried using it with one of the little kits I bought the other day.  I tried to follow the directions.  I washed my material.  That is usually a mistake as it never looks new again and is wrinkly.  But the kit had the material folded up tightly and rolled snugly, so I washed it.  The pattern recommended using a walking foot.  I have a walking foot but sewing was very difficult as it was still sticking on the vinyl.  I tried just a regular foot and tissue paper on the vinyl.  Much better.  I didn't cut pattern pieces to the sizes sited in the pattern, I just went with the size of the pieces in the kit.  It worked out fine.  The back fabric piece just has to be bigger than the front piece by an inch and a half on the sides and bottom.  I think I can make the next kit much better.  This one was sloppy but it doesn't look too bad all done.

 There is clear vinyl on the front of the pocket.

I've been to the Farmer's Market and I've done my walking.  There were at least a hundred runners on the trail this morning.  I got some chocolate covered orange peel at the Farmer's Market.  Yum.  Now to make it last until next Saturday.  Fat chance.
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Stitching by the Sea is Where I Long to Be

This design makes me think of Salty Yarns.  I love that place.  I finished it all up yesterday.  Here is my finishing progress:
I finished all the stitching and cut it out.

I pressed it and ironed on some interfacing:

I whipped stitched the sides.  I used #12 pearl cotton.

I basted the top edge down and added a piece of mat board in the bottom.

I added the jumbo rick rack.  I stitched it on.  You could probably glue it if you wanted.

I cut some felt for the the lining.

I attached the lining.

All done!

I love it.  Today's goal is to get the yellow queeen all done and figure out what else needs to be stitched around the queens.
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Skipped

I skipped blogging yesterday because I went on a short road trip to House of Stitches.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to a good stitching shop.  It was a fun trip and I loved looking at all the stuff in the shop.  I just got some threads and linen and this tiny kit.

I made some good progress on a couple of my projects.  I finished the green queen and I have a good start on the yellow queen.

I got all of the back of Harmony done.  I know, you can't see that I have done much but all the lines are in and the backstitching around the edge is complete.  I have some more pieces to backstitch before I get to the fun stuff.

The Stitching by the Sea box is close to being done.

 I bet I can finish up the stitching today.  Then all that will be left is the putting together.  Yeah!
It is a great summer day.
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Of a Tuesday

I got some more gifts in the mail.  How lucky am I?  I got a scissors fob and a magnet.  Very nice.  Thanks Susan!

I didn't quite get the green queen done but I'm sure I can finish her up today.

I got a lot of little fishies done on the Stitching By the Sea box.

I decided to frame Ophelia's sampler without adding a bunch of initials.

I can't wait to get stitching!
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Three Queens

I am enjoying stitching the three queens that will be a side panel on a casket.  I got the middle purple queen all done.

I changed her a bit and gave her earrings and a necklace of pearls.

 I like how she turned out.  So then I started the queens that are on either side of her.  I got a lot done on the green queen.  I hope to finsh her up today.
Look what a yummy candy bar I got in the mail.

It came all the way from New Zealand.  Thanks Margaret!  You made my day!  Orange and chocolate together is my favorite.
I've walked today and cleaned the bathrooms.  We had a ripsnorter of a storm last night but you'd never know it this morning.  There aren't even any puddles.  We needed the rain so it was good to get some.
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Impromptu

What an exciting day I had yesterday!  I went on an impromptu field trip.  BBF#2 is in town and we went looking for fish.  That is, Row By Row designs with fish in them.  First we went to the local fabric store and got its row by row pattern and some great fabric for the fish.  Conveniently my LNS is now just a store away from the fabric store so we had to stop and see what was in there even though it is mostly yarn.
Then we were on to a quilt store in a nearby small town, Queen Bee Quilts.  It was in a very old building.  The upstairs windows looked like they were ready to collapse.  But it was a nice little quilt shop downstairs.  They had some darling models.  I bought a quilt pattern (when will I ever make it?).

 It had embroidery and buttons on it.

  Then I saw a sweet child's apron.  Would that be cute for Claire?

 There was some interesting Valdani thread that was two color.

 I found a fine line Frixon marker.

Then there were two kits that are for making the Atkinson pattern called "Bridget's Bagette".  They didn't have the pattern, just the kits but I bought them anyway.

This is what is in the little roll:

 I also found some blue rick rack that will go on the Stitching By the Sea box.

  One of the best things about this quilt shop was a bowl of candy and a Keurig machine.  We sure enjoyed the Tootsie rolls.

Our next quilt shop was about a half an hour away.  It was a nice quilt shop but I didn't buy anything.  They recommended the Russ's Restaurant next door for lunch.  I thought all the Russ's were closed but I was wrong.  I had a fish sandwich and a grilled cinnamon roll for lunch (instead of french fries!).  It was good.

One more quilt shop to go.  Another half an hour away was the last quilt shop.  We thought we were out of luck when we drove up and the storefront was empty.  But the sign on the door said they had moved a few doors up. We found them and I looked for material to make Claire's apron.  I found some good fabrics for the apron.

We are finished shopping but now we have to get back home.  We thought we would take a few back roads, the scenic route.  Unfortunately the traffic ground to a halt and it took us about a half an hour to go two miles.  So we went back and took the highway.  We stopped at BFF#2's mom's house and I got to try an expresso.  I've never had one before.  I found out that it is alot like having dessert.  Yum.  She has an expresso machine that uses these pods and is very much like a Keurig.  You add a bit of ground  chocolate on top.  Then you add whipped cream on top of that.  Of course you sweeten it with sugar cubes.  Quite tasty!
Then BFF#2's mom fixed me up with green beans, pickles (two kinds) and cucumbers to take home.
I was so tired by the time I got home.  I didn't stitch a single stitch yesterday but I sure had fun.
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