Apple Patch Snowman

In keeping the Christmas Spirit, I decided to give this pattern a try...

 

 

It was a kit so it was easy and mindless....

 

which we all need every now and again....

 

I haven't decided if I should add his coal mouth....

I used Suzie's Magic Binding Technique to finish this little man...

 

 

He is packing...with a couple of candy canes...

Do you think he needs a smile??

 

I even snuck in a little selvage in the hanging sleeve....

 

So he has options to be a runner man or a wall hanging!!

 

I also started working on the Quilt-along with Temecula Quilt Company

 

 

 

 using Stonehenge's Moonrise Starry Night FQ pack.....

 

 

But I think these will go very well with my Crabapple Hills Snowflakes 

 

 

Blues and Silvers....

 

So I am using them in a different direction.....

 

 

These stars are adorable at only 2.5 inches each!!

 

Off to hibernate in my sewing room with temps at -20C!!

 

Christa

 



 

Christmas Spirit in the Air...

The nutcrackers are lined up in the stores....

 

 

And I have started stitching on Snow Flurries by Crabapple Hills

 

 

I am using Valdani Thread #12 weight in shades of dark blues....

 

 with a little Silver thrown into the mix!!

 

I had been looking for Valdani for some time at local shops to no avail

 

 but

 

finally found it in Vegas at Christmas Goose Quilt Store.

 

I wanted to buy the entire display...yarn and all!!!

 

 

 

I used a Fabric Fusion pen to trace my designs on to snowflake print white on white...

 

It disappears when ironed!!

 

I love the words.....

 

And NO... I am not following that pattern!!

(no shock to most of you I am sure)

 

 

I am stitching all the words and snowflakes and will make blocks to go with them

 

I need to find a better way to take pictures because these don't do it justice..

 

 

 

Maybe I'll try taking some pictures outside....

 

 Valdani is beautiful to work with and was worth the wait!!

 

The stitching continues.....

 

 

Christa

 

ps. On a side note....

 

T'is the Hunting Season too- even though I like my critters on their feet

 

These hunters were at the Border coming into Canada to do a show up north...

 

I hope they dressed warm... they aren't in Kansas anymore!!

 

A driving billboard for their show!!

 

Pretty cool!!!

Big win

How about those Riders?!?!?

 

Great win!!

 

This is going to make Arnold's Grey Cup Tickets even better!!

 

 

101st Grey Cup...In Regina,Sk....With the Riders in the Final!!

 

Let's hope it's warm!!

 

I think Sunday will be a big sewing day for me!!

 

This is 'one' of my next projects..

 

 

I found some amazing batiks in Vegas...

 

Blues and Browns are my favorite.......

 

I also purchased some more future projects......

(I need to live to be 200)

I love Crabapple Hill Designs and thought this sewing wallet was adorable...

 

 

The Apple Patch Designs is a pattern from Terry Morberg  of ApplePatch Designs from Calgary,Alberta

 

She visited Fiddlesticks with some of her patterns and the store fell in love with them and now have all of her patterns!!

 

I also stocked up on some trim....

 

These little tags are for sewing into the binding.....

 

 

How cute!!

 

Better get to some work around here

 

Christmas is COMING way too fast!!

 

Christa

 



We're Not in Kansas Anymore....

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, my son and I were quickly unload the truck as a storm was coming in quickly, when I noticed a twister(starting to sound like a storm chaser) just south of our farm. 

We hurried and got inside.

Justin brushed it off but then we heard  about it later on the news.

 Here is a video of the tornado taken on the North Dakota side by some storm chasers.

This is the second time in my life witnessing a tornado that close.

It is so surreal you can't believe your eyes.

This is a picture of a storm over my house last August.

I was working in the field when my old dog came out and wanted me to go home.

 She was relentless and kept going in front of the tractor so I headed home and this is what I saw as I came down my lane!!

She knew!!

I hope this is not a sign of the summer we will be having!!

I have decided that my next project is going to be a redwork piece.

I did consider doing this one is another color but why mess with a good thing!!

My girlfriend, Maryann is doing this and I have admired it for sometime.

So I am starting with the candy cane clothesline.

I traced it on my white with an extremely fine red marker and a used fusible muslin on the back of my piece.

The girls at Out of Hand Needle Arts in Calgary suggested it to me.

 I used this for my 'Garden Growing' piece and really like the weight and feel of it. It is still light and airy but has some structure to it.

I think it also helps to hide the stitching on the back from showing through so much.

This is where I am so far.

With no more tornado sightings maybe I can complete this in time for Christmas!!

Looking for SUNNY skies...

Christa