Every 5-10 years this woman calls me. Not only is she too cute...she is smart, talkative and very funny. You would never know by looking at her that she knows how to send me over the edge. She looks so nice and friendly you are probably thinking, "Alma, what's wrong with you?"

But after talking to her and hearing what she has to say....I put the phone back into the cradle and think "Darn it anyway....now I have to lose 30 lbs in a matter of weeks and find something fabulous to wear."

You've probably guessed why she's calling me...it's class reunion time. I don't know why I do this to myself. Last time she called me I told her...."No Theresa, I'm not going!" But each time I end up going and having a wonderful time. I've been to every reunion. Now, as the old folks get out of the car and go into the party it's agony because I know I'm one of them too. We are all getting older....and you can really tell after not seeing someone for 10 years. It's all over our faces, wiggley arms, larger clothing sizes and sagging parts (I won't go into specifics here....but you know what I mean.)

Here's my high school picture. You can tell I graduated when the flip was "in". I'm sure that hairdo took me a bit of time to get just right.

After looking through the year book I see pictures of bright and hopeful faces. Pictures of youth, promise and enthusiasm. I hope they all show up. I love hearing what they have been up to over the years.

Until later dear friends....

Alma

I'm back! My son and I got back around 10:00pm last night. We had a wonderful trip and now back to work. Today my mission is photographing a quilt.

My son mowed a small patch in the back yard adjacent to my blackberries. We positioned 4 hay bales, blow-up mattress sheets, pillows and a quilt. (Plus extras for visual interest.) Barb has finished her Halloween quilt and I'm trying to get a cover shot for the pattern. How many photographs does it take to get it right? I've taken about 30 so far....and nothing says "wow" to me. So after checking the photographs for lighting and positioning I'm going back for more. Not only do I have to get the lighting right...the angle of the shot is very important too. How long does it take to set up an outdoor shot....longer than you might think. The set-up took about 1 1/2 hours. The actual photography is the quick part.

But I thought I would take a break and write to you before running back into the heat. I can't share the entire quilt with you just yet....but I wanted to show you this sheet that Barb found at an Estate sale. Look at the crochet work! Isn't it lovely? Wish I would have found this one. The pillowcases were made from one of our first sampler print fabrics. (Click on the picture for a close up of the sheet heading.)


Do you recognize the pumpkin? I hope she doesn't get heat stroke!


Winners today:

#242 Susie from SimplyPrim
#110 Mitzie in VA Irish 46

Congratulations ladies! Send me your address and I will send you a pillow.


Until later! I'm back out for more fun.

Alma

Well....not really. But tomorrow my son and I are driving to Knoxville, TN. My sister, her family and my Mom all live there. While driving my Mom's car to Knoxville, we will stop for an overnight visit with my daughter in Nashville. Then drive on to stay and visit with my family in Knoxville and then return home on Sunday. It will feel like a jet plane trip....fast and hurried. I can't stay longer as my son has to go to Chicago to visit his girlfriend Amy....and you all know that I have work to do.

So, while I'm gone I've decided to give something away...

Leave a comment if you want one and when I return on Monday I will draw two names.
One pillow each is the prize. These were done by Moda fabrics for Blackbird Designs. They were released with our Beach House fabric line.
I should have ironed the rick rack down in place...I promise I will do that before sending these out. Each pillow could be used as a pincushion or placed on a shelf.


Don't we all need one more alphabet?

Hope all of you have a wonderful weekend...."see" you on Monday.

Alma

I should be working...but wanted to write to you today and share a couple of things with you. This project was just too fun....and I know you all like fun things too.

First you have to get these supplies:

1. Matte Spray
2. Adhesive Magnetic Sheet by Tree House Studio....or whoever....I just found this product at Hobby Lobby
3. Sponge Brush
4. Delta Ceramcoat Gloss - Exterior/Interior Varnish


While stitching this past week I lost a couple of needles....I know, you are probably saying, "How could you? You have a million pincushions all over the house!" But I have been threading several needles with different colors and slipping the needles into the linen until I'm ready to stitch with that color. Well, as I moved from place to place with the linen...some of the needles slipped out. It just wasn't the best idea. (Now I'm hoping we don't step on them....that really hurts.)

But I thought if I had a magnetic strip on my floss ring this wouldn't be a problem. After stitching Summer Iris I took the linen to Kinko's and made several color copies. The one I liked the best was reduced to 79% of the original stitched piece.
Took the copy and trimmed it down. Save a bit of extra space around the color copy for a second trim. Cut the magnetic strip the same size as the trimmed color copy with my rotary cutter. Pulled back the adhesive protector on the magnetic strip and positioned the color copy in place. I then trimmed the piece again.

Color copies smear easily...this is where the matte spray really helps. I lightly sprayed 2 coats of matte spray over the piece, allowing it to dry between coats.

Now the varnish. I used a sponge brush and gave it 3 coats. Let it dry well between each coat. Punched a hole in the top and WAHOO! A cute magnetic needle holder. The magnetic part is on the back of the piece. I wish the color side was magnetic....but it's only magnetic on the back. But still very cute. You could do this with anything you stitch....make one for each project....but I'm really fond of my Summer Iris magnetic needle holder.

Now for the results!!!

Above is the picture of the magnetic strip on the back. Look how it's holding all of my needles in place....do you ladies see all of the John James needles? (I followed your advice!)


Here is the front of the magnetic needle holder. I know I've placed the needles on the front...but it's just for the photography.

Here it is again with the Summer Iris pincushion and strawberry.

What fun, right? I know you will want to make some of these....so easy. Make several at a time. I think as much time as it takes to stitch a project, we should be able to use it in different ways. Gives it another life.

Summer Iris is going to the printer today and will be available in the shops in two weeks.

One more fun thing for you to see.

Bonnie Olson sent pictures of her Peacock pinkeep. She stitched it over one thread. Wonderful Bonnie! Thank you for sending these to me.

Oh yes...also take time to visit Rebecca. She has just started a blog and has some great Blackbird Designs projects I know you will want to see.

Until later dear friends!

Alma

I'm sorry for the lack of posting. It's project time around here though. When Barb and I get in this mode everything else comes to a screeching halt. No home cooked meals or niceties around here. We just have to hope there are some kind of left overs in the frig.

What's in the works around here? Here goes.....

Our current projects:

1. The new loose feather project has been completed...I'm doing the pattern layout now. They will go to the printer this week and ship out to the shops on August 1st. The picture below is a photograph of all the bonus sewing accessories provided in the Loose Feather patterns this year. Each Loose Feather pattern provides one of the sewing accessory patterns. The house design on the floss ring is the latest design to be added. It's a quick stitch!



2. A new Reward of Merit pattern, Summer Iris has been in the works and will be released with the next Loose Feather pattern. It will be in the shops the first week in August. This pattern also has a small strawberry pattern too. It's made from a bit of wool.













3. Barb has just completed a new Halloween quilt. Dave is going to mow the lawn today so I can get out and do photography for the quilt pattern. (He will start the mowing, just as soon as his weeding is done! I know how to torture a husband....just ask Dave!) This pattern will be out as soon as I photograph it, write the pattern and get it back from the printers. This will mean about 2-3 weeks. I know you will love this one.



4. Barb is working on a Halloween cross stitch book. I mentioned this in the blog earlier. Three projects have been stitched....but we need 10 more. They are being stitched now and won't take too much longer. Look for the book in August.

5. We are finalizing our next fabric line for Moda fabrics that will be shown at fall market. We have approved the second round of colors and did some work on the large scale print. Usually that means that more proofs will be coming soon as fall Quilt Market will be here in about 15 minutes. We are beginning our line of fabric for spring market now too.

6. Several teaching projects are in the works. Our first teaching event will be at Virginia Beach, VA. Dyeing to Stitch is hosting the retreat October 2 - 4, 2009. Click on the shop name for their site and retreat information. Should be lots of fun! Lots of teachers and projects.

Our second event is hosted by Country Sampler in Spring Green, WI. The Boxwood and Berries annual event is held Nov. 11-14. We will be teaching a small quilted project. Maggie Bonanomi and Stacy Nash will be there too. Country Sampler will be decorated for Christmas and this will be the first time we've seen it for the holiday. Not to be missed.

I might have to go and take a nap! Not really.....I've got a couple more things to tell you and then back to work.



I've been tagged by Veronique in Paris to let you know three things that make me happy.
So here goes!

1. My family. They keep me in laughter, joy, worry, tears and love. Don't families provide the best and worst in life? How can we forget the first time our kids drive down the drive-way and into the world by themselves for the first time? The agony of it all.....and the ecstasy when they make it safely back.
2. My friends....where would I be without them?
3. My stitching. Much joy comes from making quilts and samplers. I love when everything seems to come together just right.

Click on Veronique's name and check her blog out. I know you will want to see her basket of pin keeps! Wow! You can tell what makes her happy.

Thank you for all of the kind comments about the dining room. Pictures of the family room will follow ....but cleaning is called for first!

I set up all of the stockings that have been stitched so far this year on my silvered tree. This cross stitch stocking series by Barb is really sweet. I need to do this where the light is better! You can tell I took the picture in the dining room.

Until later dear friends!

Alma

Thank you for all of your stitching suggestions! While stitching yesterday I paid more attention to my technique. I will let you know the results as I stitch more....at least I feel that I'm not alone with this problem. And I did feel more relaxed as I stitched...so again thank you!

Today I'm inviting you to my house. I want to show you some things in my dining room. It's been rainy and dark here....so you will have to forgive some of the shots. But....I still want you to visit. (What else do you have to do on a dark and rainy day?)

A couple of years ago I painted my dining room Molasses. The paint color is by Mary Carol Garrity. It's a dark color and I know all of the magazines now show white, white and more white ...but I love how my samplers stand out and shine against this color. It's a warm and cosy in here. I love when the kids are home and we all sit around the table and laugh, talk and play word games that I always lose.

The vintage lace curtains on the window are thumb tacked into place. I use the clear plastic headed tacks...but they are tacked up nevertheless....I know this is shocking....but please don't leave just yet....(I feel like this is true confession time!!! Are these secrets I should share?)




This cabinet was a light green and a couple of years ago I got out the black spray paint and redid it. I then sanded it down and let the green shine through on some of the surfaces. After a bit of wax it looks great to me. The patchwork dishes were a Christmas gift from my husband years ago. He knows what I love!

The sampler on the left has my Grandmother's name (Mary Little) stitched into it along with the date she got married. I always try to put a family name on my samplers. I think they will have more meaning for my kids when they inherit them. On the back of the sampler, I write something about the person whose name is stitched into the linen.


The switch plates in the dining room are covered with vintage maps. I choose maps of locations I would like to visit. This one is a map of Prince Edward Island, Canada. After watching Anne of Green Gables over and over, it has made me want to visit and see this place for myself. Everytime I turn on the light, it reminds me of this place I would like to visit.


I love my old corner cupboard. It is a piece brought over from England...or so I was told. It has been sawed in half...either to get it out of the house...or for shipping reasons. Whatever the reason, it matters not to me. I still love it.

Santa is still hung with care on the wall. He's out year round. I know I should put more seasonal pictures up...but since the kids have left and since time flies...I just leave him out year round. That way I know where he is for next Christmas.

Speaking of leaving things out take a look at this picture again...notice anything wrong here besides the size of my chandelier? (another story!!!)


Let me give you a better clue.

What should I do about this? I bought this pumpkin last year and drove her to Shepherd's Bush for their retreat in Park City, UT. She loved sitting on our table and watched everyone paint, stitch and chat.

Then I threw her in the van and drove her to Houston, TX last fall. She sat on our table and saw everyone at quilt market. She looked at fabric, quilts and patterns. I put her in the van and drove her back to Kansas City.

Then....this small pumpkin drove to Nashville, TN in Feb. for Cross Stitch Market. She sat on our table and listened to everyone laughing and talking about linen and floss.

She is the most well traveled pumpkin I know. And....she's sitting here in my dining room waiting for autumn when she will be 1 year old. She has traveled about 4,800 miles and not a rotten spot on her.

Should I keep her? Should I name her? Should I give her a needle and thread? I just don't know.

Thank you for coming by!

Until later,

Alma

I'm almost finished stitching the next loose feather project. But I've just about had it. I'm irritated instead of feeling relaxed. I'm hoping someone out there in web-land can help me. Take a look at the following picture. (I know....I'm sorry. I should have used a darker thread to illustrate my problem!)

When I begin stitching, I have 2 strands of equal length floss. Then one begins to become a bit loose while the tension on the other strand is ok. I have to stop and pull the one thread tighter and then ease the excess through the needle so that the tension on both threads is equal again. But by the time I have done this several times...the end of my threads are no longer equal. What am I doing wrong? Hopefully I'm explaining this right. It's just not fun to have to work with my thread tension all of the time. (Barb thinks it's because I live north of the equator.....do you?)

On a lighter note...here is a preview of the next Loose Feather pattern....not all of it....but enough to give you an idea of what is to come.

I'm in a pink mode. I just can't get enough of these linens with a pink tinge. I can't explain why these shades seem to call to me. This linen is by Weeks Dye Works....it's 30ct. Baby's Breath. The last Loose Feather project I designed was on pink linen too....Don't you wonder why you are drawn to a certain color and then a year later don't give it a second glance?


Want to see something even better?

I ran into Sharyn Rittgers at Two the Point last week. (My local cross stitch / needlepoint shop.) She sent the above picture to me.
"Here are pictures of my PLR pillows, which a friend made up for me. The front is my original one and the back is of the 2nd one I made for an exchange. It was great to use my toile de jouy fabric for something special and I love how they turned out!"


Teresa Kasch sent the above picture: (Isn't Hannah too cute?)

"When I read your blog and saw the cross stitch offering with the Eiffel Tower, I knew I had to make it for my daughter Hannah's 15th birthday. She loves all things French and is taking Honors French in school. She hopes to visit Paris next summer with her class...but for now, she was thrilled with her French cross stitch that is filled with crushed walnuts and lavender...ooohlala!"

Teresa, Clare and Sharyn... you are right there with me! We are now official pink sisters.

Have a great weekend!

Until later,

Alma