For the Love of Blogging!!

When I was reading Janet O.'s blog over at Rogue Quilter, she was talking about how she had been blogging 11 years this month.  And I thought to myself how I had been blogging for 12 years this past February and how many wonderful friends I have met through blogging.

For about a year now, I have mainly been posting my Saturday Smile each week with a few, very few, posts in between.  I have decided I am going to try to blog more often.  Mainly because this blog is a journal of sorts of my life for the past 12 plus years.  Also, it motivates me to work on my own projects.

One of the gals in our local Guild fell a few weeks ago and shattered her knee and all the bones below the knee.  She is still in the hospital up in Coos Bay waiting for a bed in Portland so they can reconstruct her knee and leg bones.  So, the guild is making her a "Hug" quilt.  As Sally, our keeper of memories said, she probably doesn't need another quilt but she does need the hugs!!  

She loves skunks and purple and so here is my rendition of a skunk for her quilt.  

I went online looking for a paper-pieced skunk pattern and found one at Mary Hertel's shop Made By Marney.  She has some really cute PDF patterns!!  It was fun to make, albeit tricky because of all the angles.  My bother, Kelly, says it is very Piccaso - esque!

For the love of blogging!!

Kris

Remembering The Men and Women Who Gave Their Lives for Our Freedom . . .

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formerly observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970. 

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day to honor and mourn those who died while serving in the U.S. military. Many volunteers place an American flag on graves of military personnel in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is also considered the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States. 

Many cities and people have claimed to have first celebrated the event. In 1868, General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic (was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), and the Marines who served in the American Civil War) called for a "Decoration Day", which was widely celebrated. 

By 1890, every Northern state had adopted it as a holiday. The World Wars turned it into a generalized day of remembrance instead of just for the Civil War. In 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as "Memorial Day" and changed its observance to the last Monday in May. 

Two other days celebrate those who have served or are serving in the U.S. military: Armed Forces Day (which is earlier in May), an unofficial U.S. holiday for honoring those currently serving in the armed forces, and Veterans Day (on November 11), which honors those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.  Wikipedia

Saturday's Smile!!

Saturday's Smile!!

Saturday's Smile!!

Trying Something New, Again!!

 I have been trying to figure out a way to use alllll the DMC thread and Valdani thread I have inherited from various sources.

First I tried some small counted cross stitch pieces:

This one was really fun, pretty quick and it was a gift for my sweet friend, Janet over at Rogue Quilter.  It didn't even put a dent in my thread stash!!  LOL

So, I thought, I'll try one of those big ginormous, gorgeous Counted Cross Stitch charts over at Heaven and Earth Designs.  Wow!!  What an amazing selection.  I thought I would make one for my brother, Kelly.  I first picked this one:

It finishes out at 21" x 14 1/2 inches using 25 count fabric!!  Tried it and these old eyes just couldn't do it!!  Then I tried another one:

Again, this one finished out at 16" x 19 3/4" on 25 count, so I thought, well, I'll try 18 count Aida.  The size worked but the final piece would be 23" x 28" inches.  NOT!!

So, I decided to try punch needle again.  The first time I tried punch needle I tried using Moda Bella solid quilt fabric.  It was just too, too hard, because the weave is so close, so like I usually do, I put the needle away.

Found it again on Sunday when I was moving around stuff and also found some beautiful linen that I was going to use for something, just can't remember what!!

Tah daa!!

A primitive free hand daisy!!  I promised a friend that I wouldn't just make this one and quit again, so I am working on a cute rabbit.  Stay tuned!!

Saturday's Smile!!