The Great British Sewing Bee

Hey I have something really cool to share with you. 

Have you heard of The Great British Sewing Bee?

I really like this show - it makes me want to stop what I'm doing and sew up a blouse or at the very least go  put pockets on something.

I do hope you enjoy it.  There are 4 episodes in total.

Did you dig that music? Sort of cool, huh?

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Decisions, Decisions...

Let's talk about the weekend.  It was great. (Did you have a nice Mother's Day?) We had lots of family, games and pool time.  And some how I managed to get Serena's graduation quilt sandwiched.

You know it really wasn't hard at all using the spray basting.  I even managed to ready my machine for Free Motion Quilting. You know clean out that lint etc.

And then my plans started to go awry.  The reason my plans go awry is because of ME!  Yep.  I started thinking, that maybe I should make the quilt bigger. (Sometimes thinking is just not good.) I could take the backing cut it in strips and use it as another border.  Or maybe I should just leave it as is.

And then I starting thinking - well, remembering that Minky is so nice on the back of a quilt.  And you know, then I wouldn't even need to quilt it.  So I'm sort of stalled.  To quilt or not to quilt; to enlarge or not to enlarge; to minky or not to minky.

I'm just like the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz ... If I only had a brain....

then maybe I could make up my mind.

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Linky up with Judy's Design Wall Monday

Do All Good Plans Go Awry?

It's been a little hard for me to post lately. I've just had so much going on.  I suppose it gets that way for everyone from time to time.

I'm so please to say I finished piecing Serena's quilt.  YEA!

Yick that brown carpet makes this quilt look sick.
It's much nicer in person. 

I was all ready to sandwich it.  I decide to use spray basting this time.  So early Saturday morning I ran out and hosed off my back patio.  I figured it would dry and I would get it sandwiched before Serena got up.  Such a good plan.  I looked out the window about an hour later and it was almost dry.

Within half an hour we were having a major dust storm.  Major sigh !

Then life got in the way - Serena had her wisdom teeth removed, we had repairs done to the house and the
car and now it's already May 10th.  I'm hoping, really hoping, that I can sandwich it today. Start quilting tomorrow. Sounds like a good plan.

What are you working on this weekend?

Happy Stitching,

Nicey Linda

Me VS April Goals & May Goals

Some months meeting my goals are a breeze and then other months (I bet you know where I'm going with this, don't you?) are a Big Fat 0.

Goals met in April  - 0  

Yep - A big fat 0

But don't think for one minute that I'm unhappy about that!  Check this out, as you know my daughter is graduating this month.  Oh you didn't know? didn't care. That's okay.  This month I've been busy working on her quilt.  I have almost finished piecing it, still have the border and stars to complete.

So here's the real cool part about this quilt. I bought this pattern and fabric several years ago.  I've never made Serena a quilt because she really doesn't want one.  So a month ago she comes home with some shoes on the color as the background fabric and says "This is my new favorite color!"  Whoa,  I'm thinking that's the exact same color as the quilt I've been thinking of making for her. 

I get the fabric and instructions and start in.  I had so many problems with this quilt.  Some have been my fault and some have been the instructions. I was sewing up one of the stars and when the block didn't go together I realized they reversed the paper piecing template. Oy Vey!  I spent quite a few hours with the seam ripper.  

This is just my opinion.  I love the white stars with the white of the panel of verses rather than how it's pictured on the pattern.  See?  What do you think?

So now on to May Goals

#1  And the most important.  Finish Serena's Quilt

#2  BOM Terrier Town

#3  Sulky BOM

#4  Work on the Christmas Stockings

So just those four will be more than I can do, but I'll give it my best.

Happy Stitching,

Nicey Linda

Linking up with Get it Done at Patchwork Times

PigTales and Quilts Monthly to Do List

Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday
Fresh Sewing Day at Lilly's Quilts

Women Working

We've been working on our Christmas Stockings.

It's best to start early on things like this. Right?

Back row - My sis, Connie and then me

Front row - Scarlett, Violet and Rosanna

On the TV in the background they are holding up a sign that says "Men Working" - sort of funny Huh?

So that's were my title came from.

Working....

And having fun!

Happy Stitching,

Linda

PS  Oh look there's Troy in the background - but he's not working, he's playing on a phone.  Just like a guy!

Little Surprise for my Sissie and my Daughter.

Before we went on our Family Camping Trip.  I made a little surprise for my sister and daughter.  Since we are working on the Bucilla Christmas Stockings I made them each a needle case.

The dragonfly is for my daughter, Angela.  And the scottie is for my sister. I shrunk it down from the Terrier Town BOM that I'm doing.  

 The inside is just felt cut with pinking shears. And sewn in with rick rack.

I love making these as they are so quick and easy.  It was the night before we left on the camping trip and it was way past my bedtime, but I figured it I could make the scottie needle case in an hour Sis would get it and if not, I would have to mail it to her.  The Scottie took 55 mins! So I was able to surprise her with it. 

I loved the beach and the waves. And watching the birds in the waves.  The sandpipers are so cute running back and forth.

The cranes were so pretty.

I love them in flight too - it was hard to get good picture; the wings blend with the waves.

Lucky us! My son-in-law asked us to meet him in Morro Bay this weekend for dinner.  It's a surprise for  my daughter. It's their 5th wedding anniversary! Maybe I'll take my real camera this time!

Happy Stitching!

Nicey Linda

Let's Get this Party Started! The Giving Quilt Book Winners Announced!

So sorry it's taken me so long to announced the winners.

Do you want to hear why I've taken so long?  No.  Well, too bad, cause I'm going to tell you.

We went on a FAMILY CAMP OUT to Morro Bay.  Three of the families had not been camping before.  OH MY, did we have fun, I do believe we have some camping converts! Here's a picture (of some of the group) with Morro Rock in the background.

We had some football

Some sandcastle building

Some running from waves - and not quite making it...

Poor little Violet

What?  Enough of the family fun and on to the Winners?  Okay here they are.  I used the Random.org

Drum roll please..

Lihn of Calling All Stitchers

and 

Denise of My Life in Quilts.

Congrats ladies!  I've contracted you for your addresses.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Now back to our normal stitching routines.

Happy Stitching,

Linda