WHAT I DID FOR---

 CHRISTMAS IN JULY--

Here is a summary for the Christmas projects I completed in July--

First up--is the Gingerbread items--fun--

I got this wall hanging finished first--

Remember I had the top done-I just needed to hand quilt it and add the binding--done

And in counted Cross stitch--I did 2 'new' gingerbread ornaments--

And I did this winter/Christmassy counted stitch project--

This is a pattern from Melisa--thanks!!  As are the 2 above, of the gingerbread ones!!

I also got these 20 wool ornaments--stuffed and finished--

And I finished off this small wall hanging--

But most of my time went on this project--

A Christmas panel--

this 'cute' cat panel--

There is alot of hand quilting on this one-all the ornaments on the tree were hand quilted as where alot of the details on the cats and lots of details on the present under the tree--I also had a snowflake stencil that I used in the open background areas around the top of the quilt--

This is already to display this Christmas!!!!

I also got another baby sweater knitted--

AND--

I made a cute Bumble Bee cross stitch in counted cross stitch--

Do you ever get 'mad' at yourself???  I did the bee body first and was happy with everything until--I started on those cute fancy wings and realized they would not show up well on the aida color fabric I had picked out to do this bee on--grrrrr!!!!  But I had a good bit started when I fully realized it--Soooo--I kept going and keep thinking how I could make the wings stand out--So first I found a nice soft colored pencil in a medium brown and carefully colored around every thing and in the wings!!

Think this is better????   

Cut the backing out and got it sewed together and stuffed--

and on the stick for putting into a vase of flower--but then I did one more step to the wings--

Though it is hard to see it here in the photo--I added glitter in a diamond white color--it  really does add a nice tough to it--if you see it in real life!!!!

I got this Bee pattern from Melisa's site--though it is not one of her designs--!!

I have also been busy hand quilting on this project--

I have all the peels done and am now working on the spaces inside the peels--(and 'no' this is the before photo-before any hand quilting!!)

I, had, fun sewing Christmas items this past month--but, am really to get back to regular projects!!!

SO ARE YOU READY FOR THE PRICE INCREASES AT THE STORE--I BOUGHT A BAG OF POTATO CHIPS YESTERDAY AND DID NOT LOOK AT THE PRICE--GET HOME AND REALIZED I HAD PAID $5.29 FOR IT-- WHAT---GUESS I WILL BE GIVING UP CHIPS THAT IS JUST TOO MUCH FOR A BAG HALF FULL OF AIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   OH AND DOLLAR TREE HAS UPPED THEIR PRICES ALOT--IT IS NOW CHEAPER TO GO TO DOLLAR GENERAL OR WALMART--HONESTLY--FOR THE SAME THINGS AND IN SOME CASES THE ITEMS ARE MUCH BETTER MADE!!!!!

WHAT DID YOU DO FOR CHRISTMAS IN JULY??? AND WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW????

HUGS, DI

KEPT THE NEEDLES BUSY--

 Had another busy week with the needles--working on all kinds of projects--

Of --course-- I pretty much start each day off with counted cross stitching--and got a second Christmas cross stitch done--

a little Gingerbread house--design done by Melisa--thanks Melisa!!

For sewing--

I got two more of last year's blocks made into wall hangings from Melisa's BOM--this one is either July or August one and--

is the other month---Thanks Melisa!!

As this months was not done in time--I did display this one-

also by Melisa-it was an extra one she gave us last year--and I think it is so funny that Diann of Little Penquin Quilts also hung this one up this month!!

And a new block by Melisa was embroidered this month--

I just love that little 'chick' at the bottom---and then I even got it made into a pillow--

So spring and summer looking--thanks again Melisa!!

And one Christmas 'ufo' got finished this past week--

I believe that this one is from Joy a year or so ago!!

And a couple more baby sweaters got finished--here is one of them--

I did have a couple 'outing' this past week or so--

One was to the local library where I discovered a sale room and all books were only a $1--I came home with these two--

I need to get back there and look some more!!

Then a friend and I went out one day this week for lunch and we stopped at a Thrift store and these items told me they wanted to come and live with me--

First this store was all decked out for Christmas--they had about 6 trees all decorated and one whole  aisle full of christmas stuff--

I only got 2 Christmas items--

this cute little scene for 99 cents--

This red wool plaid Cardinal--49 cents

For Fall I got a couple things--

these were 49 cents each--

And I found some pretty glass pieced--all clear color--

this is heavy glass and soooo pretty and about--5" high--and it was $2.99--

and this little glass containers-- my new sugar spoons fit in it nicely-- this was only 59 cents--

and this pretty glass etched plate--would make a cute 'cookie' plate--this one was 99 cents--

And yesterday a friend and I went to Publix and when we got done we popped into Bealls and this came home with me--

Yep--another hat--I do have a blank area on my wall with the hats--so this is where I plan to hang this one--just have to decide if I am putting a ribbon on it or leaving it as is??????

I am still working on a couple other Christmas projects--but not finished yet--so you will have to wait on those--

KEEP ENJOYING NATURE AND KEEP WANTING TO DO MORE AND MORE PROJECTS--LET THOSE SQUIRRELS TALK TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HUGS, DI

WHERE HAS THE LAST 3 WEEKS GONE???

 Oh Dear Me--I thought it has only been '2' weeks--but looking now I realize it's been '3' weeks!!! 

Since my last post--the only thing I can say is--I have been busy--

Busy sewing and putting together sewn tops--

First I had to add some borders on a couple then decided I would get a couple ready for hand quilting--that meant deciding on backings, and bindings and batting--

Somehow this project just kept 'snowballing' from one top to the next top--

So let's see how many I did get ready for hand quilting--

1. Jenny's bom two years ago--

Now layered and basted--

2. A hexagon flower wall hanging--

layered and basted--

3. My yellow--orange peel wall hanging--

layered and basted--

4. the new chicken quilt--with an added border--

now layered and basted--

5. My long ago counted cross stitching wall hanging-- 

finally layered and basted-this is the oldest one--I did this one before my first move to Fl--so it was done in 2012 or so--??at least 11yrs old??

6. My favorite things heart wall hanging--with photo of the backing--

This I had the top all done--but now it has it's layers and is basted--

7. two years ago Black cat Halloween wall hanging 

top photo shows the backing on this one--this one was a kit per month project that I did--about 2 years ago, I believe--the blocks are done in wool on cotton fabric-- I found the top piece and the backing --it is now layered and basted--will have to start this one in Sept to have it ready for mid October--right????

8.  my pink heart one--

This one was already basted--

9. and this Truck wall hanging-

is already basted and may be the next project--though it is hard to pick right now--want to do them all --first--next?????

This is how I am hanging them to keep them neat while waiting their turn--

I found kids hanger's at the Dollar Tree and I use the large storage slider bags made by Surefresh that I also get there and just cut a small opening in the bottom for the top of the hanger to fit through--and it works perfect--here they all are hanging in my closet--

I have one quilt to put away--that did not get basted--it is too wide to fit on my table --by about 4" so have to wait for now--it is the Tulip quilt a couple years ago too!!

All finished tops are now into the basted form--but don't worry--I still have block sets to put together and I am anxious to get started on the butterfly top!!!!!!!

So that is now a total of 9 hand quilting projects to do--plus one blue larger heart quilt that is mostly all hand quilted--except the outside border--!!!

Plus the Christmas panel I am working on right now for Christmas in July--

OHHHHH--there's a cat in the tree!!!!!

And now for finishes--

I did get the pink heart one all finished--

Everyone loves how this one came out--it went out for a viewing a couple weeks ago to show some residents and staff here--

And for my first Christmas in July finish--

This pencil colored gingerbread wall hanging is all finished--these blocks were some that Melisa gave us in the last year or two, I believe--I loved doing all of the blocks--but for some reason this one with the circle of the cookies is my favorite!!!   sorry they are turned wrong--another update has changed things and I couldn't figure out how to edit them???

And for counted cross stitching--I finished this small piece for Christmas in July this morning--

another pattern from Melisa--not sure how I want to finish this yet--have started another gingerbread design this morning--

And a finish in counted cross stitching--

I really enjoyed stitching this piece--too--it is done on 28 ct linen!

So did I make up for being so busy for 3 weeks--????  did not do any trips either--just the Monday morning Van trips for groceries--then pretty much--work work work!!!

PRAYERS AND LOVE GO OUT TO TEXAS--HOW MY HEART HURTS FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE HURTING AND MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE SEARCHING AND CLEANING UP--BLESS YOU ALL--

HUGS, DI