Thursday 29 April 2010

3000 Kilometres or 1900 miles

Yep, that's how far it is from my sister's house to my son's. That's 3000 km of stitching and did I stitch!

Just before I left Arizona, I got my "Questionable Outcome" quilt back from the quilters. I sewed on part of the binding before I packed up the sewing machine. The hand sewing of the binding I did in the car. The quilter did her part beautifully - the stitch pattern is called "Flowing Feathers". So here is my first full size quilt finished - all 1100 pieces!



I had Rachel's Mirabilia RR kitted and ready to stitch in the car.She chose her RR theme to be the Mirabilia Mermaids.  Here is her finished piece. I stitched one of the "Mermaids of the Deep Blue". For me, this RR is now over and I miss it already.
 


I am seriously thinking of starting another Mirabilia RR in the fall - anyone interested?

When I packed the car to come home I found my friend Ann's RR in the bottom of a trunk. With great embarassment, I sorted my threads and started stitching. But first, I designed my own home.

I got 2/3 of it stitched and realized it was too small to fit into her RR. So, after 4 hours of frogging, I started again. I think I will figure out how to enlarge the design and stitch it again for myself.

I then stitched this lighthouse from a freebie that I had on file. I think it is more the correct size.


Here is her RR ready to be returned to her next week.


I am now filling in some of the extra hearts on my Friendship Sampler RR while I wait for the next one to be sent to me. I have two RR's left to stitch and it will be done.

And I wanted you to see this. I made this little calico dog for a family friend who has the most gorgeous new little girl named Maddie. I hope to meet her this weekend.


Dh and I are leaving our son's tomorrow to go home and unpack and pick up life at this end. We are looking forward to seeing our family and friends and spending time with them.

And the reason for the detour to our youngest son's house was to pick up this little baby - a 2006 VW Jetta TDI. My Dh had seen it online for a while and when the price was right, we had our son pick it up for us. He's out there washing and polishing it now. It will go home with us tomorrow.


I probably won't get much stitching done for the next little while when I am unpacking and setting up my home but I will keep in touch.

Till next time keep stitching!

37 comments:

saras said...

My friend of many talents! Wowzers! That quilt is gorgeous! And I do believe those are little Strawberry Shortcakes on that dog? That is CUTE!

And you have got to be the RR queen! Who ever started the idea with those Mirabilia's? They look so awesome!

Chiloe said...

I love the RR's !!! They are beautiful ♥

I totally understand for the car: I love the color ;-)

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

I love the car ;O)
That is the color of my new van! Spicey!
The quilt is fantabulous and I bet you are thrilled to BITS!
The Mirabilia RR...those are stunning and I've actually been watching this through your blog and each one is special and different in its own way. Gorgeous!

Heidi said...

Please tell me Kathy that you cannot do miracles and sew on beads in the car??? That is a great way to get stitching done but I cannot stitch in Holland as easily as in France and Germany. For some reason the roads are better for stitching. I love the quilt! And the patchwork dog is amazing and I am sure will be very loved! It is just too sweet for words to describe. The RRs look great and I am sure it feels good to have them done to send on their way...

Have a great weekend. It is a holiday weekend here so we are off to Cranberry Cottage now.

Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

Ranae said...

I am glad someone can stitch in the car, not me, huh-uh no way, lol
The quil is gorgeous as is the RR's
Cool car!
Have fun with the family

valerie said...

Great quilt and those RRs look fab! I've been following the Mira RRs closely and they all look amazing! I am tempted to jump on board with the next RR but have been so buried with gift making these past few months (and still am)that I may just be zoned out on personal stitching by the Fall.

Glad you made it back "home" safely.

Myra said...

Your quilt is gorgeous and I love the dog. :o) Lots of beautiful stitching happening on the road!

sandra said...

You did a great job on every item: the quilt is gorgeous, the stitching is beautiful and the dog is lovely!
Cool car!

Anonymous said...

That's a really long trip! I would love that time in the car. I love to ride and stitch.

The quilt is wonderful! The quilting is just perfect.

I love your mermaid. I envy y'all doing those RRs. I wish I had the time for it. But running a cross stitch store is pretty good too. I won't complain too much. Thank goodness you found the one in the trunk.

I love this little dog. It's so cute and perfectly pink!

I'll keep stitching. We have our Jenny Bean-Humble Servant Sampler Stitch-A-Long tonight here at the store. Yeehah!

Thanks for sharing all the pics.

AnnMcD said...

Thanks for working on my neighbourhood Kathy. I am looking forward to seeing you and it in person next week.

Welcome back

Ann

Rachel S-H said...

That quilt is beautiful! Gorgeous! So is the new ride! Love it! And the RRs are very pretty!

Carol said...

What a spectacular quilt, Kathy! Congratulations on finishing it--that will be a real family heirloom.


Your lighthouse looks like a perfect fit for the RR--nice choice...

Enjoy your new car :)

Lynn said...

OMG that quilt is gorgeous! Congratulations on such a great finish! Your work on the RRs is beautiful too. I love that Mirabilia one.
Nice wheels! And I really like the colour. After all don't you know that's the important part, lol!
Hope to see you soon.

Ginny said...

Kathy, found your blog. Love it. You have many talents! And stitching in the car is defiitely one that I don't have. Love all of your projects. The mermaid you did on the RR is just gorgeous! I'm in to try out a RR in the fall. Thanks!

Wanda said...

Glad your trip was good. What a nice little car you guys found on the internet! Your quilt is absolutely fabulous. Really something to be proud of. All your stitching looks fantastic. I've never tried stitching in the car. Oh...I'm always the driver. That's probably why

Anonymous said...

Your quilt is just gorgeous! To make a quilt, is on my bucket list!
:o)
Love the car, same colour as mine!

Cheers,
Erynne

Katrina said...

Love all the stitchy pics, everything is so pretty! And cute car, hope you are home safe and sound and getting settled back in :-).

Andrea said...

Love the quilt and the rr's look great!

Carolyn NC said...

Wow - don't know where to start! Love all the stitching, the quilts, the RR's, and your CAR - awesome. I'd be greatly interested in the Mirabilia RR, but not this year. Too darn much going on, but hopefully in the future!

Judy S. said...

Safe travels, Kathy. Your quilt is fabulous! And so is your stitching.

Aussie Stitcher said...

Your quilt is gorgeous Kathy,well done on finishing it. The. RR's all look fabulous. Enjoy your new car.

dragonxser said...

welcome home again! All your work is fabulous - that mermaid RR is to die for, and the quilt, the lighthouse, the dog and the car are all gorgeous! Have fun settling back in :)

Crazee4books said...

Hi Kathy,

Your quilt looks awesome!!!
Your fabric and color choices
go together so well. It's a
beauty. You should be proud
of such a wonderful achievement
on your very first quilting
project. Can't wait to see it
in person.

Mirabilia RR's are so magical
and this one featuring cameos
of the various mermaids is
just stunning. I don't blame
you for wanting to start another
RR in the Fall.

It's too bad you had to frog out
your little cottage from Ann's
RR because it looked really
good. It's so cool that you
designed it yourself. It must
be nice to be talented! :)
The lighthouse looks great too
though, and whenever we see
lighthouses we automatically
think of you!

The little calico dog that you
made for Maddie is adorable.
Love the pink fabrics that you
used and the big pink ribbon.

Hope you and Leo enjoy driving
your new Jetta as much as my
Phil enjoys driving his. They
are a nice little car. Though
I do like your car better
because it's RED!!!

Sounds like you had a wonderful
time meeting Missy Ann before
coming home. It's always so
exciting to meet our blogging
friends isn't it??

And don't worry, I would never
forget my Brighton friends and
am always trying to figure out
some way to get out for the
stitching gatherings in your
area. Sadly, it's a bit far
to walk.

Welcome home Kathy!!! Hope
you get settled soon and can
relax and stitch and craft to
your hearts content.

Hugs!!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Wow Kathy your repretoire of skills keeps expanding! The quilt looks amazing, the RR is stunning, that dog is too cute!

I hope you're settling in nicely and enjoying the snazzy new wheels!

See you Saturday, can't wait!

Berit said...

I love this post--your quilt is AMAZING! That Mira RR is the coolest thing I've ever seen done with Mira! Every time I see one on someone's blog, it's like "Oh, wow!!"

Love the new car; and I definitely think you should re-stitch the house for yourself!

Cheryl said...

Oh i LOVE that little dog! Do you have a pattern you follow?
Your quilt is beautiful too.
Happy unpacking :)

Wendy said...

Oooh that Mirabilia RR is just gorgeous!! What a nice work.

Nice progress on the other projects as well.

Glad you can stitch in the car. It doesn't work for me. I would love to do that too, but I get dizzy when I stitch in the car.

Hugs,
Wendy

Chris said...

Lovely stitching and quilting, a lady of many talents.. well done but how can you stitch when travelling I don't think I could in a car?

Chris x

mainely stitching said...

Everything looks so great, I don't know what to comment on! That quilt is simply astounding. And your M. RR is gorgeous. I can't imagine stitching with such fine detail! And the quilted doggie - oh my gosh, it's TOO cute! Your lighthouse came out perfect for the NRR. :D

Carolien said...

Hello dear Kathy,

I hope you will be home safely by now. I wish I could help you unpack and settle in comfortably and popping in for a coffee and some stitches together ... why do I live in Holland?!
Your quilt looks fab, wow! And that calico dog is so sweet, that little girl will be spoiled :)
Your stitches are so nice!

Question: could you please send me your address in Canada? I have a little something for the 4 of you (don't worry, it's just a Dutch 'sales thing', not expensive, and I simply had to think of you when I saw it ... I can't help it. So if you please ... you do have my mail address, don't you? If you lost it, please say so.

Take care & big hugs,
Carolien

yorkies with needles said...

I am I am, sign me up!

Beatrice said...

Great Blog!

Parsley said...

Just stopped by your blog and now follow. Love that QUILT!

Deb said...

That's a lot of stitching you got done on your trip. I love the quilt. Isn't it amazing how many pieces actually go into the making of a quilt. But I love it. And your Miribilia RR - I think that recognize that one from Missy's blog. It looks wonderful. And the other RR is wonderful too - I would love to do one of those someday. I think your lighthouse is the perfect addition.

Love the car too - anything red is a good thing!

Maxine said...

WOW Kathy your quilt is just fabulous, I bow to your skills :)Love the RR's you've been stitching on and isn't that little doggie cute!

Brigitte said...

Wow, what a gorgeous quilt you made. Can't believe that this is your first. It's just perfect!
I always love to see pictures of the Mirabilia RR. All participants will get back gorgeous pieces. And that lighthouse is the perfect addition to the neighbourhood RR.
Veeeeery nice new car.

Anonymous said...

Love the quilt! Stunning and inspiring as is the Mirabella RR. Enjoy your new ride.