I'm back!!!

MIL  went to Ohio for a few weeks, so Dave and I are enjoying having the house to ourselves, and also the freedom from worry. We took advantage of the freedom by taking off and spending a few days at the beach, and we were blessed with beautiful weather, and had a great time. There's nothing like the beach and the ocean to make you feel humble.

There is nothing like a sunrise at the beach. We got up and walked to watch the sun come up every day.

Here's a couple more pics. This time of year the beach is quite empty most of the time, but it sure was hot enough to swim.

Can you see that Sky Wheel way off in the distance in the picture above? We walked all the way there on the beach (3 miles) then walked the length of the Boardwalk (2.4 round trip), then walked back to the hotel on the beach. That, plus our 2 mile walk in the morning, mad our walking distance for that day 11 miles!!!! I was tired, but took the opportunity to eat some really good food to offset all that exercise, lol.

We still have a week and a half before we go to pick up MIL, so I will enjoy making messes and not having to clean them up right away, lol.

So, I have made progress on a few things. I had received this kit for a pin cushion at a retreat in 2009, given to me by my sister, and I finally got it made. Man, sometimes I am a slacker.

I also have made some more wool lapel pins. These are so cute, and you can buy similar ones from Land's End for a whopping 20 bucks!!!!! I sell mine for $5.00, lol.

I only had a few pieces of wool for the pins, so my friend, Marcia, from Montana, sent me a box full of wools. I think I have plenty now, and the colors are great!!!! I can't wait to make some pastel pins. Thanks so much Marcia!!!!!

And I am caught up with the Christmas Stitcheries. Only 2 more to go. (The last one isn't trimmed up yet...)

I am working on my second barn embroidery, and am nearly finished with my second pair of knitted socks, so should have more finished things to show in a few.

Think I will keep my pajamas on for most of the day today, lol.

wilmaNC

Appalachian Memories started!!!!!

I mentioned an awesome project in my last post that I would be starting soon. Well, I'm started!!! It is going to be so sweet when finished, and I don't mean sweet, I mean SWEET!!!! Do you love the mountains? Do you love quilts blocks? Do you love barns?? I love them all. So, here is my first block, as well as the link to the page where this pattern can be purchased. (I am not affiliated in any way!!).

It is a quilt pattern with 12 embroidered barns that Beth Dix has drawn herself. What an amazing talent!!! And she lives right down the 40 from me in Black Mountain. (Maybe I can meet her someday...) The setting is in the Hole in the Barndoor pattern and will be an awesome quilt.

Here's the picture on the pattern front. I saw this and immediately fell in love!!!

So, if you love all of the aforementioned things, you should get this pattern. Don't you love to support really talented artists who happen to come up with something so different and original?

Here is the link to where you can purchase "Appalachian Memories".

I am doing the embroidery in all brown, except each quilt block on the barns will be in a different color. I will post each block as I get it done. I am so excited!!!

Later,
WilmaNC

I love fall, and some more finishes

We have been enjoying the weather here in western NC so much this past week. It is clear and crisp and the leaves are just beautiful. I think this week will pretty much be the end of it, so we plan to enjoy being outside as much as we can.

Took this picture on the Mountains to Sea Trail going to Rattlesnake Lodge on Friday. I call it: Where's Dave? He's in there, lol.

And on Thursday, we went and walked around Biltmore and had lunch there. It was so nice. Here's me by one of the lakes there. Dave liked the reflection of the trees in the water.

As you know I am working on the Christmas Sewalong (see sidebar). There are 4 blocks so far and I am all caught up.

And last but not least, here is what I made for my great grandson, Carter, for Christmas. I found this on the net and just had to make it. Was pretty quick actually, took all day yesterday.

Shoot, the picture is sideways, but you can still see. The eyes of the fish are velcro, and there is velcro on the hook, so he can go fishin!!! The fish are made from felt, so even if he can't catch the eye, it will stick anywhere else on the fish, except the print. I even made a little bag to store the fishies. This is so cute!!! You can see the tutorial here. It was even easy to do the stuffing, and I usually hate that part.

I have started working on the most awesome quilt. I will share with you the blocks as I get them done. It is embroidered blocks set in a quilt, and awesome is an understatement!!! I'll share more later.

Oh, if you don't read the blog of the Bitchy Stitcher, you should. She made a calendar made up of men wrapped in quilts and holding a burrito that is awesome, and the proceeds go to charity. Check it out.

You can purchase it here. I ordered mine today.

Have a great day, WilmaNC

More gifts finished

I finished up a couple of more things. Thought you might like to see.

This is a little diddy made as a thank you to a friend for sending me a pattern. It's about 6" square. The pattern came from jmddesigns

O also quilted and bound this panel as a Christmas gift for my grandson's family.

I embroidered each child's name on the top of each sock. Added a hanging sleeve too so they can either hang it or use as a table runner.

Don't know if I told you but I am going to have a homemade Christmas this year. Although I did buy one thing already for the oldest boy. It is from Hallmark and is called a Merry-okee. It's a microphone that changes your voice to sound like an elf. I loved it and thought it would be something to drive the parents crazy, lol. 

I have many other things to get made, and I will show you every one!!

Later,

WilmaNC

Holiday fun

I love this time of year, not only for the fall weather and the beautiful scenery, but also all of the holidays!!! So much fun to make decorations and gifts.

I made this reversible wall hanging from a panel by Deb Strain for Halloween. I love the colors. I did straight line quilting on the sides and a meander in the middle. I love it!!!

And I finished the second little block in the Christmas stitchery sew along.

Now to keep working on my "Homemade Christmas" gifts for this year.

wilmaNC