Floss Friday -- A Good Report and Some Cross Stitch Progress

Happy Floss Friday, Friends!

Hubby and I took a quick road trip to Florida for his six month dermatologist appointment. Since his last melanoma diagnosis, he has to see the doctor more frequently. I'm happy to report that everything looks great and we won't have to go back until next April!

I was stitching when I wasn't driving and made a good amount of progress on Pinkie Santa designed by Stitching with the Housewives.
                                            
Here is where I was when I last shared the project...
                                
Here is where I left off yesterday. This photo shows the actual color of the fabric.
                                    

Monday evening before we left, I worked on Merry Bouquet designed by Shakespeare's Peddler.

Here is where I was before...
                                            
Here is this week's progress. I added one more flower and little more border.
                                    
I must get this one finished because my stitch-along partner has already finished hers. She made quite a few changes so I'll ask her for a photo to share once I finish mine.

My mom turned 83 last Monday. Hubby made her favorite dish for dinner...meatloaf LOL. Now that we are home we will be taking her to lunch at a nice restaurant and shopping for her gift. We know what we are giving her but we want her to make the final selection. This will take up most of Saturday.

Afterwards, I'll start sewing the Boo To You quilt together. I'll share progress on Monday.

In the meantime, I have to catch up on reading my favorite blogs. I hope you have a great weekend and I'll see you soon.

A Hike, Crochet, Knitting and Cutting, OH MY!

Happy Monday, Friends!

Our weekend weather was spectacular. Hubby and I went for a long hike at the Biltmore estate on Saturday, then enjoyed lunch at one of the restaurants there.

The sunflowers were still showing off.

It was a great day to spend outside.

Sunday was equally as nice weatherwise but I needed to finish a couple of things and never went outside.

The first finish was a knit hat for my husband. I started this for our Hooks and Books book club a couple of weeks ago.

The pattern is Elphaba Hat by Kristel Nieves for Malabrigo. I used Rasta Super Bulky yarn in the color Laguna Negra.

The next finish is something I started a while ago to use up leftover yarns from other projects. I shared my progress a while ago. I finished weaving in the threads Sunday afternoon.

One big granny square...

It will be used in the living room during the cooler months.

The last thing I did on Sunday was cut out the Boo To You quilt. It was a four week quilt-along hosted by the Fat Quarter Shop. I do not think I ever shared the kit with you. The QAL was to begin in August. I was too busy with travel and getting ready for a retreat that I never started it.
                                        

Photo from Fat Quarter Shop Website

I cut out the pieces per the pattern's weekly releases. Excuse my messy sticky notes...I wanted to get this part of the process done!
                                                  
Fat Quarter Shop is so generous with their quilt kits; always a lot of leftover fabrics.
                                                
I'm planning to start the quilt on Halloween. Too late for this year but I am determined to sew up the kits I have and not let them linger.

My week will involve a good amount of time in the car and I will be stitching when I'm not driving. I hope to see you Friday with a floss update. In the meantime, have a great week!

See you soon,

Apple Festival and Retreat

Happy Friday, Friends!

Last weekend's Apple Festival was a big success in spite of the rain and chilly temps.
                                            

Lots of vendors selling their wares.

Our local apple orchard was there offering bags of apples, tarts, doughnuts, turnovers, cider and more.

The Apple Festival Cross Stitch Retreat hosted by Anabella's was also a success.  There were approximately 60 attendees.  Unfortunately, the guest designer could not make it. Priscilla from Stitching with the Housewives got a terrible stomach flu the day she was to fly from Chicago and had to cancel.

She still provided us with two exclusive designs, as well as the fabric and floss to complete them.

I started and finished the smaller design over the weekend.

I secured Table # 6 and invited these four ladies to join me.

We played a game called Left Right Center with DMC floss. I've played this game many times but have never won. That is....until now.

I also won TWO raffle prizes...

A wool candle mat from Penny Lane Primitives

Lori Holt's new cross stitch book, some of her chunky thread and her crochet hooks

Before I started the smaller design from Priscilla, I started Pinkie Santa.
                                            
This is where I stopped before picking up the new design.

Since the weekend, I've been catching up on exercise (if there is such a thing) and getting my steps in at the lake. Just wanted to share a photo and let my long-time friends know that the ghosts are back...

And they've added some pumpkins to the waterfall...

Sadly, the waterfall will be turned off soon. We are already getting into the 20s and 30s F in the mornings. Although, the afternoon temps are hitting the 70s and sometimes 80s still.

My cousins from Florida are in town visiting. Even though some of them are staying in a hotel, and some with my mom, I'm not sure how my weekend is going to go. I'm hoping to finally start the Boo to You quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop. We shall see...

My friend Diann at Little Penguin Quilts mentioned her son just made a sourdough pumpkin bread. I'm looking all over the county for a bakery that has one. It sounds so good.

What are your plans for the weekend? Tell me all the things...and I'll see you soon!

Pulling a Little Switch - A - Roo

Happy Friday, Friends!

No Floss Friday this week. I'm switching things up a bit.

This weekend is Anabella's Autumn Apple Fest Cross Stitch Retreat here, in our small town. The Apple Festival is Saturday and takes up the entire Main Street. So, since I'll have cross-stitch to share on Monday's post, I thought I would share a quilty update today.

Sewcialites 3 is a flimsy!
                                
The fabric is a Bunnie Hill Designs collection called Lyda Rose. I love the subtle spring colors and think this little quilt will make a nice wall hanging or...
                                             
...a sweet little throw for my downstairs deck rocker.

The binding strips are cut. I just need to make the backing.

I think I will try quilting this on the embroidery machine. It will only measure 42-1/2 by 42-1/2 when finished.

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you have wonderful weekend and I'll see you soon!

On Monday I'll be linking up with Melva Love Scraps Sew & Tell...it is an inspiring party!

Sewcialites 3 -- Almost a Flimsy!

Happy Monday, Friends!

This is a quick post to share my progress on Sewcialites 3. After helping my Mom this weekend, I did indeed get to sit and sew for a while. I completed the last block for Sewcialits 3.
                                        
Sparks Block by Jessica Dayon.
                                        
I had to scroll back through the Fat Quarter Shop's YouTube videos to find Kimberly's episode about this block. She said blocks 24 here, and 25 were saved until the end because they were the most difficult. I didn't think Jessica's block was difficult. It was just time consuming.

Had to sit back and admire the pile of blocks.
                                         
I jumped right into making the 24 setting blocks and laid everything out on the guest bed.
                                         
I stacked the rows and labeled them.
                                         
I've sewn the rows and will begin putting them together this week. Another plan for this week is to cast on a knitting project...a hat most likely. I've joined a new book club called Hooks and Books. It is hosted by the owners of a yarn store in town. They alternate meeting locations between their shop and one of the used book stores.  This Thursday evening the meeting will be held at the book store.  We are reading to Practical Magic this month. 
                                          

                                           
I bought a hard copy of the book but I'm listening on Audible. I can do that while sewing, cross-stitching or walking at the lake.

We got a lot of rain Saturday from Hurricane Isaias but nothing damaging, thank goodness. I hope if any of you were in the storm's path that you were safe and did not suffer any damage to your property. Gene, I'm especially concerned about you in Alabama! Let us know how you are doing.

That is my weekend in a nutshell. I'll be back on Friday with a cross-stitch update. In the meantime, have a great week.

Linking up with Melva Loves Scraps Sew & Tell.

See you soon,