Stitchy Tuesday

At least once a week I would like to do a post about Embroidery, hand embroidery, to be more specific. I really enjoy making things this way. I normally do things on pillowcases and tea towels for my Etsy site B.S. Crafts or for friends. I don't normally hang on to a lot of the things that I embroider but I do have some that friends have made for me.
This week I would like to share a project that I've been working on for a while. Mostly because I was slacking so they took me a lot longer than they should have. But I did finish them this weekend and I will be going to the post office with them later today.
My brother got married on December 31, 2012. So aside from the "Presentation" that we gave them I thought it would be nice to give them something embroidered. Now if you know my brother communication isn't his strongest skill. So I didn't have a lot of information about the wedding. Then he asked me to do a speech with my sister *K*. (WE KILLED IT!). So I tried to get more information about the wedding and the only thing that he would tell me was that there was a website with the information and that the wedding colors were "Peacock!"
So here's what I came up with

The feather picture was my reference point and the next picture was me getting started while I was on the airplane flying home after the wedding. 

 Side by side, you can see that the feathers are colored a little bit differently. But I actually really like how the heart turned out. I wasn't sure when I first started. I also have to thank my sister *B* and my niece for helping pick out the colors.

 Finished, washed, ironed and waiting to be packed up and shipped away!

Close up of one of the pillowcases. I hope they're loved in their new home!

New Book!

I think I am going to try to make a blog a month about one of the quilting books that I have gotten.
I love buying new quilting books. I find it helps me get new ideas for future Projects and it also helps me learn new things. As someone who hasn't taken a quilting class and is very green in the world of crafting.
I by no means know anything about writing a book or critiquing books. I just know what I like about books. So I'll tell you all those things. And who knows maybe you'll like the same things. Or see a book that you haven't seen before because I've learned that not all book stores are created equal... So that being said Here goes nothing!
This week I had an orthodontist appointment! (Less than a year left with these braces) I went to the book store there and found "Modern Patch Work" by Elizabeth Harrman! I love the Hexagon blanket on the cover to begin with. And it after a look through I loved the way she showed an idea for the back of the quilt and the different color options!
After reading through I love the instructions and her general color choices. I also really like the pictures in the book. They're interesting. They show off the quilts really well and let you see the amazing quilting.

Pictures from Yesterday

Stomach Flu & Sewing!

After two days of being super sick and then one of being half sick and trying to convince myself to get over it I have a major update for my blog...

ALL 12 OF MY BLOCKS FOR SHERRY SOMETIMES ARE COMPLETE!!!

Yay me!! Now it's time for PVR'ed Suits (see how sick I was! I didn't even watch it when it was on regular TV!) and sashing time! I've never sashed before!

I'll post some more pics throughout the day!

Let The Progress Continue!

After some serious Candy crush & Youtube time its time for me to get back to work! After all the progress I had yesterday I'm gonna try to keep the good times rolling! I am going to try to get a few of my units put together into blocks. Although I think I might make my units bigger by attaching them  together and then continue doing that until I have a full and complete block. Wish me Luck!

*****************************************************
I've gotten THREE blocks completed!

Whoa! A Great Lot Of Progress!

I had to show you all that I actually got done today! I'm actually amazed by myself! My sister was amazing and ironed all my units!

Cutting Machine!

Yesterday I spent the first part of my morning finishing sewing the strips together for Sherry Sometimes Blanket. Then I went to work cutting those strips into the correct measurements. Now I have tiny mountains of pieces all over my sewing desk and I have a few more strips to cut. It shouldn't be that long until I am all set to start sewing units! I just love that I get to say Units all the time.
I hope to get to the point where I am sewing blocks today but I'm not 100% sure that I will get that far. It might take me a while to sew all the pieces together. *Fingers Crossed*

I would also like to do some work on my Juggernaut Quilt! (Its for my cat, Jasper, who also answers to Juggers, Juggernaut, Jassy-Jas, House Leopard and a few other names). Its going to go into the "Man room" which is LB's answer to my craft room. Really not a lot happens in there. I don't think LB goes in there very often. But Jasper LOVES to sleep up there on the futon. The 3rd floor gets super warm here so he goes up there at night or during the day for his siestas! 
I found the pattern on Pinterest and its one from Moda Bake Shop. And my awesome sister The Purple Quiltapotamus sent me some scraps and a charm pack! Which made me even more excited to get started on that one. I'm also trying to be super patient and wait for my new rulers from Busy Bee Inc's Etsy Shop. It may kill me to wait! I'm hoping that they get here soon. I ordered the circle ones. I might have to go back and order a couple of the other shapes later!

Live & Candy Crush

I'm on days off, Today and Yesterday, however I am not getting a lot done. I've been sucked in to Candy Crush on Facebook and Live on Youtube! Before I know it I've been sitting at my desk for a an hour and a half. Yesterday I actually forgot that I threw clothes in the washer. (Thank god I don't live in an apartment! I would have found my clothes thrown some where in the laundry room this morning when I finally made it back to the washer to put switch to the dryer)

There is just something amazing about Ed's voice and the band as a whole! And on you tube you can find whole concerts! How could I walk away from 1:20 minutes with him? Thats right!?! I can't! Maybe after I can actually get up. Go get my clothes from the dryer and get out the door. I have mail to send and coffee to get at Starbucks, I have to go to the bank to put checks in. Thank you work for my bonus! It paid for a portion of my tattoo last week! Which I still 100% love this week! I love it even more when I see sunsets on TV. Like the one on Suits!
I've also been looking for a new show to watch on Netflix or to Download and watch! I get a lot more embroidery done when I have a show that I can watch while I stitch. Same with my EPP (Which has been mighty neglected lately)

The Big Reveal!

Tattoo day was yesterday and I went to Living Canvas tattoo shop in Winnipeg and my appointment was with Derek! (Who is awesome! Just in case you wanted to know!) and he did a super wicked amazing awesome job! I am 100% in love with my tattoo! THANK YOU DEREK!!!

This one was taken a few minutes after he did the last bit of ink. You can see how red it looks!

This one is a few hours later.

 Both photos were taken with my iphone. Once someone else gets up and has some time I'll get  better pictures of it! Although I might wait till it heals a bit more before that too!

Trying To Do Better!

I find that I have the best of intentions when it comes time to blog and then I forget or something else gets my attention! So I have promised myself that I am going to try to do better! This year for example I would like to do better when it comes time to post for my blog and to comment when I visit other peoples blogs. I always get super excited when people comment on my blogs so I'm sure its the same for people that I visit! Even if someone else makes a comment like I want to make I'll still make mine!
I'm also going to better with my treadmill! And with that goes following the advice of my physiotherapist and actually doing the stretching and strengthening exercises that she gave me to do for my knee. I was doing very well at running every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for a while. I'll have to get back at it. Even if its a slow run because my knee is being a big whiny baby kinda knee!
Also finishing projects. I need to start one of those lists at the side of my blog that says everything I am working on. So then I can get rid of the crafting piles that are taking over my house. Especially my couch! Today I am going out with my sister! And I might try to get some more work done on either my brother and new sister in-laws pillowcase (its sorta a late wedding gift) or some more of my Sherry Sometimes Quilt. I'll see what the evening brings!

Quilting Sunday!

After finishing and delivering my Shattered Hooters quilt I seem to be really inspired! I have gotten to work on my Sherry Sometimes Quilt. It's from Material Obsessions 2 by Kathy Doughty and Sarah Fielke. I love the pattern and I'm looking forward to trying the appliqué. This quilt will most likely find a home on my couch. Although if its anything like the Shattered Hooter I have a feeling my cat will be taking it as his own and be sleeping in it and on it as much as possible.
In other news! Suits is back on!!! Yay!!! I LOVE this show! Harvey Spector is my hero! I think everyone should watch this show!
I also had a nice night out with friends last night and by chance we ended up at Boston Pizza on UFC Night and I won a door prize. It's a UFC DVD. I think LB is pretty excited.
A bit of terrible news is yesterday LB got in a small car accident the other guy turned out of a parking lot right in front of LB. Our car has a hole in it. But everyone is okay. Now if only LB had stuck with me and gone to the tattoo parlor to find out about my new plans and tattoo! I can't wait till Thursday! That's when I have my actual appointment! Mark me 100% excited!

Brag Pictures!!!

 Outside was freezing! Like minus a billion and two freezing! I took a few photos and then I could no longer feel my finger to push the camera buttons. So I took some inside photos too!

 Holy we have snow here too! That is a snow drift in my backyard! Its giant! I cannot wait till spring. You can't see any traces of it from here but to the left of this snow drift is my garden.

 I love my rads when the heating is working like it should be! This one we touched up last year when I painted the living room. And then I got my electrical updated! Worst nightmare ever! Now I have giant holes in my walls that are going to be a pain in the ass to repair. Then I'll have to paint again!

 Hanging on the banister!

 The couch with the remote (you all see that I actually know where the remote was! That normally doesn't happen for me!)

Stairs! These are my cats favorite place to play! I encouraged him to go take a nap in my room while I took photos. Its not so hard when its so cold out. He likes to sleep on the third floor in the "man room"

Sneak Peek!

I totally wasn't going to do this! I was going to make people wait! But one quick iPhone photo won't hurt....