Monday, January 10, 2011

New Year, New Goals

Hope you all had a fabulous holiday!  We are well into January and it's my favorite time to sew.  The yard doesn't need my attention, I often don't have to travel outside the house, and with the holidays over, I can sit back and have great expectations in finishing a whole closet of projects!  LOL!
January is a time to accomplish, so without further ado, let me share with you what I've been doing the past few months.
This was a fast little stitching project I accomplished Thanksgiving day.  We had a small group for dinner, so we made the food low key, and spent a good deal of the day watching movies and stitching!  This is from Blackbird Designs Peppermint and Holly Book, and It's on 28 count platinum linen with colors suggested.

This snowman table runner was a project that a lady in my neighborhood put together.  I had planned on making it for a gift, but when I finished it, I decided I loved it so much that I wanted to keep it. (Naughty me, I know!)  This is from Buttermilk Basin, Winter Seasonal Runner.

I've spent the past 2 months sewing doll clothes!  This is a cute dress I just finished Saturday.  It is a pattern from LibertyJane.  I really love making doll clothes.  I'm sorry I didn't take a picture of everything I've sewn for "the girls" this month.   I will have an American Girl fashion show later.

This is a cute little snowman that my BFF Jolene gave me for Christmas.  One of the MANY wonderful things she gifted me with.  I think he is the cutest thing!

DD got a new American Girl for Christmas.  She is hugging Lanie the Girl of the year from 2010.  She already wants the new Girl of the Year for 2011, Kanani, and is saving up for it.  I decided that this phase will not last long, and I want to enjoy it as much as I can.

My antique toys I've been collecting.  It was a much better display at Christmas, as I had it on a small table with a Christmas tree.  I wanted to show you the cute doll that Jolene gave DD.  She also gave me the clown and elephant tin toys.  They are so cute added to my display.  My kids play with these all the time!

My mom made me this darling Abby bag for Christmas.  It can sit on the edge of the couch or by my sewing table.  This has been a fabulous gift!  I love using it.

This is a Dear Jane quilt that one of my friends made.  I've started this quilt this year along with my Mom and SIL.  We are trying to get 24 blocks done a month, and we will be making ours slightly bigger than this.

This is my humble start.  I love working on these blocks.  They are so different and fun, and I don't remember enjoying a quilt so much.  I look forward to more progress.

This is another quilt I am working on right now.  I seem to rotate between Dear Jane, this quilt and a stack of doll clothes!  I think working on more than one project is very efficient.   I sew as much as I can and then make trips to the ironing board with all three projects. 

I have a finish!  The Farmer's Wife by Carriage House Samplings.  This was a SAL with Andrea.  Unfortunately I was really bad about keeping in touch with her, so I hope she is progressing okay.  This is suppose to be filled in with white under the house, but I started doing that, and then decided to omit it.  I didn't think you could see the face very well, which BTW looks like a pig to me, and I don't know how to make it look any different.  I changed the dress color, and changed the squirrel to a rabbit.  I started this sampler about the time that my DD had her 9th birthday, and she was Alice in Wonderland if you remember.  Her bunny had to be put to sleep on her birthday, because he broke his back.  It was a very traumatic experience for us all, he was such a sweet little animal  Because I was working on this during her birthday, I decided to make it a "tribute sampler" to little Thumper.

Hope that this year brings many wonderful moments for all of you.  Thanks so much for your kind comments. They warm my heart!  Until next time...Happy sewing.

19 comments:

Margaret said...

Oh wow! You've been really busy! I love all your projects and projects that you'll be tackling too. That Dear Jane is amazing. I always say I want to make one, but I doubt I ever will. I agree with you on the American Doll phase. Enjoy it while it lasts! My daughter never went through a doll phase so I envy you!

Andrea said...

Wow, you've been super busy! Great gifties too! Jolene is so generous and sweet.
Well, I finished up Farmers Wife too, but didn't post it because I wanted to see how far along you were on yours first. I saw you on Facebook a while back and sent you a friend request, as I thought that may help us keep in touch better, but guess you didn't get it. Anyway, yours looks great. I'll try to post mine soon. Have been in a funk about blogging, so who knows when.
Sorry about your DD's bunny :(
We've had buns for years, although only one right now, our boy Tober.
Take care!
xox

Deb said...

Oh my goodness dear friend, I don't even know where to start!!! You have been one busy lady! I love the frame you used for the BBD piece - very unusual and very, very pretty (I want me one - LOL).

I think that we definitely need to see more AG doll clothes. The one you showed is so sweet and I can only imagine the other wonderful ones that you've made. I bet your daughter was so excited to get those for her dolls! It makes me wish that Catie was still young enough to still be interested somewhat in hers.

Love your finished Farmer's Wife piece. I'm going to have to look at the picture again to see if the woman resembles a pig. I certainly notice it looking at it.

And what is there to say about the Dear Jane quilt. Your blocks look absolutely wonderful and I'm drooling all over the place. I love me some Dear Jane. And I really love your other quilt too - the fabric looks yummy!

Such a wonderful post with so many yummy things. I can't wait to see more of your DJ blocks (and AG clothes - hint, hint).

Catherine said...

Wow! You have some amazing things that you shared! Sadly I never had the chance to go through the American Doll phase - not with three boys!

I absolutely love the Farmer's Wife! I may have to track that one down. And I love how you personalized it as tribute!

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Oh my gosh, you have been a busy girl! I have missed seeing posts from you Sweet Loraine! Where to begin - I know I'll forget something but lets start with how cute DD is with her doll! I agree - it won't last long so enjoy every moment. The outfit you made is wonderful and I look forward to the fashion show!
The quilts are both gorgeous - I can't wait to see them finished (I so envy all of you that quilt). Love the catcher/pincushion thingy your mom made and your stitching is lovely. I laughed out loud at the "she looks like a pig" commentary but it's a lovely tribute to Thumper.
I miss my sweet friends from Utah and hope you're all doing well. Can't wait to have the opportunity to do it again! Hugs to you Sweetie!

Jan said...

Aww What a sweet tribute and remembrance for lil Thumper! I love that you did that, Loraine! So nice to see you back blogging again! I love your two stitchey finishes, they look wonderful and all of your sewing and quilting projects, are gorgeous! You should be proud of your accomplishments!!!

Hope you keep up the blogging, sure have missed you! hugs!

Siobhán said...

Wow, you've been doing lots of fun things, Loraine! Beautiful projects.

Enjoy the AG phase. I miss that with both of my girls. I'll never forget my mother letting my girls choose their doll for their Christmas gift from her. My mother's idea was for them to pick a doll that looked like them. My older daughter picked Samantha, but my younger daughter chose Josefina. A beautiful doll... but my daughter definitely looks as Irish as her name. My mother couldn't convince her to go with Molly, and Josefina still holds a special place in my daughter's heart.

Happy new year to you & yours!

Katrina said...

Wow, what a lot of fun projects, gift and finishes!!! Farmer's Wife is so sweet :-).

woolwoman said...

you have been missed in blog land Loraine - WOW - what a great post - so many lovely things - I don't want to miss anything so I'll just say WOW and WOW again - come back again real soon - Melody

ohiofarmgirl said...

I love your cross stitch..love the red house!!!
Thanks for telling me about your granite, I will have to do some checking. That would be so great! Blessings, Dianntha

Jennifer said...

You are a busy gal! Love , love the American girl outfit.So nice for your DD and what a wonderful keepsake.She looks so very excited to be with her new doll! I have that BBD on my stash list. yours finished up so beautifully . The quilts are beautiful! You are so talented. Happy New Year and come back soon with another post of fun stuff!

Karoline said...

All your projects are lovely, congratulations

Tammy said...

Oh, how I love your stitchy finish--gorgeous. And I have to say that your Dear Jane quilt is lovely! Thx for your comments, and yes, I did go all by myself. I was quite the determined woman, where Adam is involved, lol. I'll send you a link to more pics!

JOLENE said...

Where have I been. I misssed this post, shame on me. First off, I love the Farmers Wife, especially on black, what a great finish! Cambry looks so excited about her American Girl.....kind of like us when we get new stash wouldn't you say? You have started some new quilts....where have you found the time??? But, I am glad you are having some fun you deserve it!!! I wish I could have seen your Christmas decor, I bet it was fantastic!! Can't wait to spend some stitchy time with my BFF!!! Smiles...

Michelle said...

Love your Farmer's Wife finish! And wow - your Dear Jane blocks are beautiful, as are the blocks for your other quilt!

Jeanne said...

Your framed BBD finish is adorable! I have that book...why haven't I gotten any of those projects done?!? Your CHS project is also looking great and so stunning on the black linen. I love sewing doll clothes but no little girls in my life at this point. Lovely post :)

Linda in Calif. said...

I really like the way your Dear Jane is coming along - very pretty with your choice of fabrics. I think you are very smart to work on the three and then go to the ironing board all at once.

LiahonaGirl said...

Hi Loraine. The "Looking Back" quilt in reds and golds is one that has been on my list to do ever since it first appeared in the APQ magazine more than 10 years ago. Have you made any more progress on it?

Anonymous said...

Hello.
Please tell me where did you get The Farmer's Wife pattern.
I could not found cross stitch shop of my town...