More Summer Moon blocks!

Wow!
It's been a while since I posted! 
But I've not been slack - every chance I get, I hunker down in my sewing room and make blocks!

This block is on pages 22 and 23 of the Summer Moon sampler book by Carrie Nelson.  It's called the Crown of Thorns block:

Remember, for each block design, we make three: one that measures 5 inches unfinished, one at 6.5 inches unfinished, and the biggest one at 8 inches unfinished.

This block is on pages 12 and 13, and is called "Birds in the Air" -- I think it might be my favorite one so far!

Half square triangles are our friends!

Love how these look in scrappy colors!

How about you? Have you found time on these wintry days to do some sewing? 

Love,

More embroidery finishes!

I found three more of Jenny Elefantz's designs that I had stitched and laid aside . . . 

Time to DO something with them!

I found three frames the same size and reached for a sweet floral or two from a jelly roll in my stash. Here is how they turned out!

I'm really happy with how they look, and I think will hang them in my new sewing room as a group.

Now I'm really inspired to get started on some more handwork!

Love,

Sweet embroideries finished

Wowser!

I didn't realize that my last post about these little stitcheries was FOUR years ago! (Grin)

Here it is, if you'd like to visit: Click here to see post.

As I have been moving my sewing goodies into my new sewing room, I came across these and they just begged to be completed. And I needed me some sewing time! You've been there, right?

Luckily, I had some cute thirties repro fabrics that looked perfect for the job!
Sewed 'em up into lattice strips, and used some scraps of batting and backing, and here they are now:

These stitcheries, as I posted years ago, are the creative touches of Jenny of Elefantz -- I do love her designs, and I encourage you to pop over and check out the lovely things at her blog, Elefantz.com! (I don't know why, but Blogger was just not cooperating with me so I can't put a linkie there. Sigh. )  I'm going to enjoy focusing on the twenty-third Psalm; Jenny's designs minister to my heart as I stitch, and long afterward, too.

As I was sewing, I was thinking about kitchens and cooks of yesteryear, specifically those in our families. Some of these items pictured sure do bring back memories!

Another memory that popped into my wee head as I stitched was that of the "ole button box" in my stash . . .grandma's huge box of buttons from an auction. There must have been over a thousand buttons in that cardboard box -- all navy and white! She must have used those buttons on many different projects; and I was going to put them to work again!
I secured them at the corners with some perle cotton, and tied it into bows.

I quilted it super simply; just outlined the lattice strips with stitching. Here's a photo of the back:

And I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out! I put it on my stand and placed one of our grandmas' sewing boxes there, too. A nice vignette of good memories!

Thanks, Jenny, for sharing your talents and designs with us!

Love,

Last day!

I've mentioned before how much I love the Stella light family - just wanted to pass along the word that their great sale is still going on! Hurry! It's the last day for these awesome savings!

When you check out their site you will see all the benefits a Stella can give -- adjusting the color "temperature," the intensity, the angle (with that super-flexible arm) -- it all adds up to a great lamp for us as sewists, embroidery nuts, crochet hounds, or whatever we love to do!

Here's a link to their site! Click here

Love,

"Merry Christmas to us all . . .

. . . God bless us, every one." (Dickens' Christmas Carol)

                                                (The Adoration of the Shepherds, Honthorst, 1622)

I hope that in the midst of the hurry and the scurry, the hustle and the bustle, the madness of commercialized Christmas, that you will all find an opportunity to sit down, and to breathe.

To contemplate the rich blessings God has gifted us with. To thank Him, each in our own way. To get up from our meditation a calmer, more tolerant, more grateful, and more joyful human being than we were before.

I hope you won't mind if I post a snippet from one of my favorite movies here for us to enjoy and to think about:

Tonight, I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking.

Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry, a blazing star hung over a stable, and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries. We celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, with the sound of bells, and with gifts.

But especially with gifts. You give me a book; I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer and Uncle Henry can do with a new pipe. For we forget nobody, adult or child. All the stockings are filled, all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up. The stocking for the Child born in a manger. It’s His birthday we're celebrating. Don't let us ever forget that.

Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most. And then, let each put in his share, loving kindness, warm hearts, and a stretched-out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.

From The Bishop’s Wife, 1947

Merry Christmas, everyone!!