Tuesday 26 January 2010

Calico Dogs, and other things

Hello everyone and how are you this fine day? The sun is shining and calling me to come outside. Before I do that I think I had better add to my blog.

The needle on the sewing machine has been humming away and my needles have been busy.

I finally finish - finished my Neighborhood RR from 2007-2009. I found this gorgeous fabric in a local quilt shop and it seemed to fit just right.



I worked 4 days on my personal exchange for May. Sorry, no photos.

I have worked away on my HAED for my second 4 day slot. Let me tell you, I am pretty tired of all this blue. How much more sky could there possibly be. I thought I'd better include a before photo otherwise you wouldn't think I had done anything.





There was a wonderful quilt show here in Yuma last weekend and I loved looking at all the beautiful quilts and doing a little shopping at the vendors. Tucked away in a corner was a box with a label that said    "Cross Stitch patterns and magazine for 25 cents". I think I bought 80 percent of the box - maybe 90 LOL. I love looking at old cross stitch magazines. I am also trying to accumulate a southern stash so I don't carry so many patterns back and forth -sounds reasonable doesn't it. Look at all these treasures.




I have made some progress on my mystery quilt. I still don't know where I'm going with this but love the colors and the blocks so far.



I saw this little dog at a friend's house this fall and loved it. I had no pattern but I had a photograph that I took.
With graph paper and some experimenting this is what I came up with. Isn't he just the sweetest little fella!


I have had a couple of inquiries about my son. He is doing fine. He says he's feeling great. He is working, playing pick up hockey on weekends and spending time with his wife and daughter. His surgery is scheduled for March 9th and we will be flying home for 10 days at that time.  
Also, Leo's back is fine now. He is back to his usual funny and sometimes annoying self LOL.

I read this on someone's blog this week and I loved it. I think it might become my new saying
Be the kind of woman that each morning when your feet hit the floor the devil says "Oh, crap, she's up!"

And I think that says it all!




 

36 comments:

sandra said...

Great progresses! The little dog is a cute one and the finish on the NRR is beautiful!
I'm glad your husband is back to normal!

Von said...

A lot of your "new" stash looks like my old stuff! It is great fun to go through every now and then. :)

saras said...

I Love your neighborhood pillow! :) I've been working on your lighthouse today!

Rachel S-H said...

That pillow is lovely! So is your little calico dog. So sweet!

Kim B said...

Beautiful stitching and finishing Kathy!

Ranae said...

Wowza! Love the pillow and the calico doggy. They are both fabulous. Have fun with all those magazines.
I am glad everyone is feeling better. I hope March 9 goes better then good

Blu said...

Your Neighbourhood pillow is gorgeous! That backing fabric is beautiful!

Missy Ann said...

I just love the pillow!!! You always find the best fabrics for finishing.

That little doggie... too cute!

Great fabric for the mystery, the center of the lower right block is so intriguing.

Myra said...

Love your neighborhood pillow, that is a wonderful fabric. The little doggie is a cutie and you did a great job on him/her. Congratulations on the bargain stash - what a find!

Nic said...

Your finishes are great!

You did well with your stash haul - that PS alone is OOP and has been going for $$$ on Ebay...

Meari said...

I'm glad to hear your DH and DS are doing well. Congrats on your S.E.X.! :) The backing you chose for your pillow matches really well with your "neighhborhoood". Congrats on finishing it and on your little doggie, too! :)

staci said...

Love your pillow! That fabric is a perfect complement to your RR, I really love the way you finished it :)

So glad that your DH and DS are doing well.

Carol said...

Oh, the puppy pillow is so cute, Kathy--you did a great job on him. And all of that stash for such a great price--I'm jealous :)

Jennifer said...

If I ever show up on your doorstep, before you answer the door, you should hide that pillow in a safe place. Because I will steal it. :-)

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear Leo is feeling better. There is nothing worse than a sore back and I speak from experience. You certainly have been busy and, as usual, everything is beautiful. Miss you and maybe we'll see you in March?
Judie

Gayle said...

I love the work and the pillow. Lucky for the stash find. I so wished you were closer...Did you survive the wind and rain last week. Nice for a change but love having the sun back. Happy to hear your family is feeling better.

Shelleen said...

I had fun looking at your pics.

Dani - tkdchick said...

Oooh Kathy you've been busy and creative! Great work!

Crazee4books said...

Hi Kathy,

It must be nice to go outside
and enjoy being out there. The
January thaw is finished, done,
kaput and we're back to cold
temperatures and a wind chill
that could freeze your nose hairs
in under two minutes.

Your Neighborhood RR turned out
fabulous made into a pillow.
The fabric that you found for it
is indeed perfect for the theme
and colors of your RR. Congrats
on another incredible finish.

Your HAED appears to actually
have a lot done on it already.
The various shades of blue are
very pretty, but I can just
imagine how tedious stitching
all that blue space can be.
Just keep telling yourself
"it looks really great" over
and over again.

Those magazines look so familiar.
I remember buying them back in
the early half of the 90's when
I first started stitching. I
ended up cutting most of them up
and putting the patterns I liked
most into binders. I have four
big binders full of those patterns.
So why do I keep buying charts???
(Shrugs).

That's a great excuse/justification
for buying new stash that you came
up with there. Way to think on
your feet Kathy. :)

Wow. Those wonderful blue
fabrics look amazing put
together into quilting
squares. Whatever you end
up with when this project
is done is going to look
stunning.

I love your little patchwork
puppy. The colors of the
squares are so pretty. I'm
so darn impressed that you
could create this little
pup just by looking at a
photograph. Sigh. It must
be nice to be talented.

Glad to hear that your son
is doing well and is feeling
great.

That saying is hilarious!!
Thanks for sharing.

Gained 1.4 pounds last week.
One more pound and I'll be
within the two pound range
of my goal. Score!!!

Hugs

Anonymous said...

Hee hee, that calico dog is so cute!! And that saying... too funny!

Carolien said...

Hi Kathy,

Your saying is great!
The pillow turned out so nice!!!
The dog is cute as well, of course ...

Happy stitching & hugs, Carolien

Jeanne said...

Wonderful! I've always to make one of those.

Judy S. said...

Nice! That sure is a lot of blue! In your post you mentioned liking old x-stitch magazines; I have lots! Send me your AZ address and I'll forward a few your way. I hate to just toss them.

mainely stitching said...

I don't know which I love more - the adorable calico dog or the way you've finished your NRR. They're both brilliant!

So glad to hear your son is doing well. I've been thinking about you and your family. Take care!!

Maxine said...

Fabulous pillow Kathy the backing fabric is just so perfect for it. You have been a very busy bee and all your stitching is making great progress.
Glad to hear Leo is feeling better. I will be thinking of your son when he has his surgery and sending lots of positive thoughts. ((((hugs))))

Maxine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

WOW!!! Your RR pillow is FABULOUS! Glad to hear everyone's feeling better; love the new stash. Have fun playing with it!

Lynn said...

Oh Kathy, that pillow is absolutely perfect!! The fabric complements it so well.
You've been a very busy girl. Your HAED is making good progress even if it doesn't feel like it. I love the colours in your mystery quilt.
I can't wait to see it when it's finished.
I'm sure I must have a good portion of your new stash. My basement is full of a lot of the old cross stitch mags. DH is after me to clean them out!
Glad to hear both Leo and your son are feeling well. I've been thinking about you.

Karin said...

Great finish! You certainly got a lot accomplished this week. I love the little dog - I'm sure he will be well loved.

Cheryl said...

Oh i love that dog! You are a talented lady! Love how you finished your neighbourhood too

Michelle said...

Love how you finished your Neighborhood RR - it looks great. I still need to finish mine up. Love the fabrics for your quilt too - fun!!

Wanda said...

Thanks for sharing with all the great pictures. The Haed piece is amazing. I'm sure you're ready to move on though! ha ha My Long Dog Sampler is sort of like that...sometimes I get tired of it and leave it for awhile. When I come back, it seems new. Neighborhood RR is very nice. Yes, the fabric for the back seems perfect to me too! Love the progress...and anticipation...on the mystery quilt! Keep teasing us! Glad to hear your son is enjoying the blessings he's been given!

Anonymous said...

Love the quilt blocks, the colour is totally scrummy! And your pillow finish of your RR is fantastic - great idea :D

Brigitte said...

Wow, what a post. I love your finishings. This neighbourhood pillow is very special. And your peogress on the HAED looks great. Well, I can see where the complaint about the blue comes from, lol.
I think I would have bought all those charts and magazines as well. I have several folders with old magazines on my shelves and I love them. From time to time I browse through them and it's like reading a book. And I always discover something that I hadn't seen the times before, lol.

Terri said...

Great stitching and your HAED is looking nicely. Glad your kids are doing well hehehe... Your quilt is coming along and the dog is cute. Reminds me of a toy I had when I was little :)

Aussie Stitcher said...

Your HAED is coming along, I can see the progress. Love how your RR cushion turned out, the fabric is perfect.