Three Down, One To Go and a Hoodie

I've been busy stitching my Christmas Wish blocks. In the last few days I've finished three of them and have started the fourth one.

Peace

Delight

Believe

I promised photos of Mr. E in his football hoodie. He is not always the most cooperative model, but here he is in his hoodie.

A little less than three weeks until the first football Sunday. We can't wait!

Have you signed for the I Love Fall Swap? Details are here.

Happy Stitching!

Sweet P

I Love Fall Swap

I love Fall. It's my favorite time of the year. I love the changing colors of the landscape. I love the cooler temperatures. I adore the start of the football season. Would you like to share Fall with me?

I am hosting an "I Love Fall" swap. If you sign-up you will put together a Fall or Halloween package containing only three Fall or Halloween items (depending on your partner's choice) and your favorite Fall recipe. The items can be handmade or purchased. I'm trying to keep postal costs down so no more than three items plus the recipe are to be included in the package.

If you want join, send me an e-mail that includes: your name, mailing address, e-mail address, blog address, do you prefer a Fall or Halloween package and if you are willing to ship internationally. I will take sign-ups until Monday, September 7. Your partner's information will be sent to you on Tuesday, September 8. You will have until September 21 to mail out your package.

Remember your swap etiquette and participate if you sign up. Don't forget to post photos of your package when you receive. And, most important, remember to thank your partner.

Come on, let's celebrate Fall together!

Sweet P

Two Finishes in One Day

Mary Grace of Hooked on Needles shared a cute crocheted pincushion. I decided to make one for a pincushion swap I'm in this summer.

Last night I tried out the pattern. It was the first time I crocheted in the round and didn't get it right. Over night I had a revelation and realized what I was doing wrong. This morning, after sleeping in until 7:30 (yeah!) and breakfast I pulled out new yarn and by noon I had this pincushion done. I love it! Thanks to Mary Grace for posting wonderful directions. There will be more of these in my future.

This afternoon and evening I finished my secret project.
Mr. E now has his own gray hoodie.

What's special about a gray hoodie, you ask? Let me show you. This is Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots. He wears a gray Patriots team hoodie nearly every game during the season. Mr. E needs to be appropriately attired and since gray hoodies are not made for little ones, one made by Dema was the right thing to do.
When Mr. E is here on Tuesday I will get photos of him wearing it. Of course, now that the secret is out maybe mommy will bring him over earlier and he can try it on.

I think I'm done crocheting for now. Time to focus on my stack of stitcheries.

Happy Weekend!
Sweet P

Thursday Stash

Well, I did it. I am so in love with the Woodcliff Throw that I had to buy the yarn to make it. Between Joann's and the Naturally Caron web site, I now own two skeins in each of the colors below. Aren't they yummy? Of course, I don't know when I'll make the throw, but at least when I'm ready to start, I'll have everything I need!
The silk drapes on our bedroom are wonderful. DH likes them so much he was able to sleep in until 10:30 on Sunday! Tomorrow is the first morning I'll have the opportunity to sleep in. Maybe I'll be able to sleep past 7, which is late for me.

DH leaves for a week early tomorrow morning. I have the day off which gives me a day to play. That's good. I haven't felt like playing this week. It's been hot and I've been exhausted. I'm hoping I'm more energetic since I can sleep in. The stitchery projects I traced last week are now ironed on the fabric and are ready for stitching. My secret project is closer to being finished. I have a pincushion to make for a swap. Maybe I'll work in my bedroom tomorrow. Since it's the only room with AC, it might not be a bad idea to stay cool.

Our first blogger has shared her creative space. Go visit Creative Spaces and see who it is.

Happy Stitching!
Sweet P

A Productive Day Off

I had a super productive day off yesterday. The morning was spent making the drapes for our bedroom that I've been talking about for the last several entries. DH hung them this morning while I was at work. The fabric is silk dupioni and was a dream to work with. I am very happy with how they turned out. DH loves them too. The window faces the west and I was hoping the drapes would block out the light the blinds don't block. They do that. I don't know why I waited so long to make them. It took me longer to cut the silk, the lining and the interlining than it did to sew the five seams in each panel!
In case you're wondering, the white object at the bottom of the photo is our portable air conditioner. Instead of putting the AC in the window there is a large flexible tube, very similar to a dryer vent that sits in the window. The AC is on wheels and can be moved easily. We love it!

Yesterday afternoon I traced six stitchery projects: four Christmas Wish blocks, the Long and Short Stitching pattern, and one Giggle Button project. When I trace projects I use tracing paper and an Aunt Martha Transfer pencil. That way I can iron the pattern onto the fabric. It takes longer to get a stitchery ready, but it works for me.

Last night I worked on a secret project for a couple hours. Can't show photos until done. Hopefully I'll get it done this week.

There's a new post on Your Creative Spaces. Won't you drop by and post your space?

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

Sweet P

I Think I'm In Love . . .

I received an e-mail from Naturally Caron yesterday. The e-mail highlighted this gorgeous Woodcliff Throw made with their bamboo/acrylic Spa yarn. The photo isn't the best, but click through to the web site and you'll get a good view of it.
When we started carrying this yarn at the store in June I bough skeins in three colors. I'm almost done with a purse made from their yarn with one of their patterns. I love the yarn. It's soft and works up great.

The pattern is similar to the Babette pattern from Interweave. But this one speaks to me more than the Babette. I may never get back to stitching if I keep crocheting!

Tomorrow I plan on making the silk drapes for our bedroom. In the afternoon I plan to stitch and watch Tiger Woods play golf.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Sweet P

A New Blog

Happy Tuesday! I started a new blog today and want to share it with you. Actually, it's all about sharing. Sharing your creative spaces. You can check it out here: Your Creative Spaces.

Not much is happening around here. I worked the last six days and haven't had any creative time. This afternoon I need to start planning out the drapes for our bedroom. The Hotel Man is tired of seeing the fabric sitting in the corner of our bedroom.

In the meantime I wish I still had this view from our condo:

This was the view from our room at the Samoset Resort while on vacation last month. Oh well, I can always dream, right?

Thanks for stopping by!
Sweet P

A Sweater for Mr. E

I finished Mr. E's Red Sox sweater on Tuesday. Of course I had to try it on him right away. I made it 12-month size, but it fits him now. I think my gauge was off. Anyway, it was fun to make and he will be able to wear it for awhile.

He wasn't sure what to think of it. We couldn't get him to smile while wearing it.

Here's the rear view. Don't you love the star on his tush?

Now I plan to focus on my stitching projects. I'm three blocks behind on Gail Pan's A Christmas Wish, I have two monthly projects from Under The Mulberry Tree's Stitchery of the Month program, a Giggle Club project or two, and I decided to work on the Long and Short Stitch Shading tutorial from Needle'n'Thread. Not to mention I'm expecting delivery of projects from Giggle Club and Under The Mulberry. This morning I printed out all the directions I needed. I'm hoping to get all the designs traced over the next few days. I'm out of handwork projects at the moment and I'm having withdrawals!

Happy Stitching!
Sweet P

Christmas in July Swap Goodies and Sewing With Friends

I received my Christmas in July package from Kristin of Life at Rosemary Hill. Here are the packages as I took them out of the envelope.

She made me a lovely Christmas stocking.
I love the design and the colors.

She also made this gorgeous Santa table runner.
Here are the Santas for January through July . . .

. . . and the Santas for July through December.
I'm going to hang the runner and the stocking in my studio.

She included these bright Christmas fabrics too.
Thanks for a wonderful Christmas in July package, Kristin!

Yesterday I had a few friends over for a sewing day.
My first project of the day was to finish the pillowcases for Mr. E's day care.
I had already sent three completed ones to the day care. Here are the remaining six I finished.

I pulled out this kit I bought about four years ago.
It's a panel with two borders. The kit also includes backing fabric.
Now I just need to quilt it.

My DIL started a fishy quilt quite a while ago. She's not a fan of sewing triangles so I offered to finish the quilt for her. I finished all 12 of the inner blocks and finished three of those blocks.

Mr. E and his mommy were here for the day too. At the end of the day I showed Mr. E what sewing is all about. He helped me finish one of mommy's fishy blocks.

Today is a quiet day here. I'll be doing some laundry, some crocheting and watching a lot of Tiger Woods.

Happy Stitching!
Sweet P