The First Day of December…

Is it really December already?! This year seemed to fly by so quickly!!! I have been stitching but not very much, so I am going to skip my stitching photo for this time. But I do have some other goodies to show you. First is a needlebook from Patti!!!! Isn’t it adorable?! The design is from Shepherds Bush kit called “Be Happy”, how nice~~~~ And guess who made that lovely scissor fob? Patti’s husband!!!! So amazing!!!! They both are so very talented!!!

I’ve also received my order from Fat Quarters Shop last week. This was all Phoebe’s fault. She had to tell me that this Ginger Blossom Fat Quarter bundle by Michael Miller Fabrics  was on sale, and of course I couldn’t resist it!!! Actually this all started because I found that bottom fabric one day and found out that this was one of the fabrics from this bundle. Isn’t this the cutest bunch of fabrics?!

And while I was at it, I also ordered these fabrics by Wildwood. Well, I couldn’t let all that shipping cost go to waste, could I?!

I also would like to share with you a photo I took when we were in Death Valley National Park during Thanksgiving. This is Badwater. It is 282ft below sea level, and is also the lowest point in the United States. The scenery is just unreal!!

Well, I have to go back to my work now. With deadlines and travel plans and moving (AGAIN!!!!), this is going to be a busy December!!!! Thank you for visiting~~

Bountiful Season

I finished up this pillow from Bits & Pieces just in time for Thanksgiving~~ I thought this design is just perfect for this holiday!!

Pattern: Bits & Pieces by Joan “#270 Bits & Pieces Pillows Set 2 – Fall” Kit
Fabric: Wool, Silk Matka
Size: 8”x 15”
Finishing Date: 11-20-2009

I bought this kit at the San Diego Quilt Show awhile back. Maybe its because of the cold weather, I felt like playing with wools a little bit. Since I don’t know how to knit, wool appliqué will do~ I love the fall colors and the pears and pumpkin and pomegranate!!!

Although I don’t have pears or pumpkin or pomegranate at home right now, I do have these Fuyu persimmons~~ We went to a U-pick farm that grows them a few weeks ago, and picked two full bags home. They are delicious!!!!!!! In our culture, persimmons means good luck, so this one is for you!!!!

May you all have a bountiful season!! Happy Thanksgiving!!

I Have Nothing Exciting…

…to show you this week. It is already Friday, and there’s not a whole lot of progress on my Friendship Sampler. I just didn’t sit down and stitch as much as I would like to. Here is where I’m at right now.

On the other end, the quilt I was working on for ages is finally close to being finished!! I only have 2 more flowers to quilt, then I can move on to binding it!! I spent a whole afternoon making this binding!!! I’ve never imagined so many work goes into making a quilt!!! Even the tiniest thing as binding has so many steps to it!!! I’m so glad that I have a great teacher showing me each step of the way~

After a long time being dormant, my little African Violet is finally blooming again!! It’s very refreshing to see this while other plants are just starting going into a long nap at this time of the year~

I hope your week had been a little more exciting then mine!! Have a great weekend~

Needlebook Exchange~

I have received my TTE needlebook exchange from Sharon this week. Look at this gorgeous little thing she made for me!!! I love the orange and green colors!!! Totally fit for this fall season~ The details on this needlebook are so brilliant as well, with matching buttons, ribbons and a silky inside fabric!! She also included some beautiful threads and ribbons~ Thank you soooo much, Sharon~

As for the one I made for her, I’ve used the design from Plum Street Samplers “Quaker Calendar V” for the cover. I have to say my needlebook was not as near exquisite as the one Sharon made, but I had a lot of fun making it, and I hope she would enjoy it as much as I did with hers. Boy!! I have so much more to learn!!

Pattern: Plum Street Samplers “Quaker Calendar V”
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 32ct Belgium linen
Size: 3.5" x 3"
Finishing Date: 10-26-2009

Thank you for your suggestions on my BOAF Friendship Sampler!! I took your advice and use one thread over two on this one, and it does look pretty nice~ Your friendship is truly a very important part of my life!!!

Thanks again for visiting!!!

Stitching, Stash and Fall Colors

After Melissa finished her Friendship Sampler from Birds of a Feather, she decided to sent it on a tour. I was very luck to be the third stop on the list, and even more fortunate to be the first one stitching it. I decided to use the Sampler Threads it called for and 40ct vintage light examplar from Lakeside Linens. I just love the color combination!!!

Now I actually have a question for all of you since this is my first time stitching on 40ct linens. Do you use one thread or two threads when you go over 2? I tried using 2 threads but felt that it was kind of difficult to pull my needle through. Maybe I need a smaller needle??

While I was ordering the threads and fabric for the Friendship Sampler, I couldn’t resist to add a little bit to my stash… Since I was already paying for shipping, a little bit more won’t hurt, right? ;-)

I am also very proud to say that I have been keeping up with my 12 stitches a day plan on the Mary Wigham Sampler. I’ve made quite a bit progress in 2 weeks!!! It’s so much fun seeing each motif coming to life~

Last week my DH told me the Maple Trees on his campus have started to turn red so he invited me for a lunch date so he could show it to me. It truly was very beautiful!!!! Just look at these brilliant fall colors!!!! I can’t resist but sharing it with you~

Thank you for visiting~~~ Have a wonderful week!!!

Learning Something New~

Phoebe and I meet almost every week. I don’t know if you have seen her work yet, but everything she makes is amazing!!! So I have been learning from her, and yesterday she taught me how to make a cell phone bag and a zippered pouch!!

The cell phone bag was originally planned to be an iPod bag, but for some reason, my final product turned out to be a bit too small (How did hers turned out fine?!). My phone fits perfectly, though, so it didn’t exactly turned to waste… (Hum, I totally planned all this, you know… ;-) ). It even has a pocket for the headphones!! How clever!!!

Then she taught me how to make a zippered pouch. I’m always a little bit afraid of making it cause it looked so difficult, but actually it’s not complicated at all!!! This little one only took us about half an hour from beginning to finish!!! Now I can put all my everyday necessities in this pouch and throw it in my bag,  so I won’t have to dig for them every time when I need them~~

Now that I’ve learned these basic, I think I’ll be able to built on it and maybe combine my cross stitch pieces with them. I’m sooooo going to miss Phoebe when she moves back to Taiwan!!!

Wicked!!

When I first saw this design by PrimitiveBettys, I knew I wanted to stitch it!!! There is just something about it that keeps calling my name!!! Maybe I, too, wanted to be a little bit wicked from time to time~ So here it is~

Pattern: PrimitiveBettys “Wicked”
Thread: DMC cotton floss
Fabric: 28ct evenweave coffee dyed
Size: 3.25" x 2.25"
Completion Date: 10-28-2009

It is stitched one over one, on my very first try of coffee dyed fabric. Please excuse the not so perfect corners and cording around the edge. I keep telling myself these imperfections add to the primitive feel of the piece… ;-)

Happy Halloween~~~