A Month of New Beginnings

We have been having a whole lot of weather 

here at my house! 

I even got a "snow day" off from work.

The roads were just too dangerous...

I got the call

just as I was walking out the front door so

I was very happy that I didn't have to  

go out in this!

So... snow day... translates into 

SEW day!

But before I show you what I have been up to

Here is our newest addition to the family...

her name is Kinsley Elaina

Wasn't it just a week or two ago that I showed a 

sofa filled with our other gran littles? 

Kinsley is #6 and she is just 2 months younger 

than Killian who was born 2 months ago today.

This is just staggering to me! 

So many little blessings! 

So now, I can pause a little and show

the fun little project I started.

This is the beginnings of Flower Patch by

Thimble Blossoms.

I was going to make it out of Olive's Flower Market

but I decided to dive into my stash...

I am anxious to make some progress on this...

but since just one project isn't enough 

entertainment I

thought I would also keep a promise to myself

and start an embroidery project.

I am barely a beginner so  this will be a good place to 

get my bearings!

I'm using Lori Holt's 

Stitch Fun Embroidery Sampler.

What is a great bonus is that Lori has a 4 part

you Tube video series on how to embroider

using this pattern.

Yeah!

So... That layer cake of  Olive's Flower Market that I 

didn't use for my other project got re-assigned.

                        

The Thimble Blossoms Sampler Quilt Along that

was hosted by Sew Lux last year was

a sew along that I had wanted to participate in but

I just couldn't seem to fit it in.

And I just happen to have the patterns that they used in the 

TB Sampler!

So, thank goodness for snow days... because I got to

play in my sewing room after being absent from

there for the past few weeks!

I'm on a roll now!

Midweek Bookshelf Browsing (with a surprise ending)

Yes, it's true...

there is going to be a new book published by Martingale Publishers

soon...

and I think I will be first in line to get it!

Miss Rosie's Farmhouse Favorites

(all photos by Brent Kane for Martingale Publishing)

It will be a revisit to some of Carrie's beautiful quilts...

several that I have always wished I had made.

It looks like this book is packed full of wonderful inspiration

like you would expect from Miss Rosie!  

But...

wait, there's more!

There are a couple of other books

 that I have recently gotten my hands on...

This Cottage Style Charm book is so cute!

It has pieced quilts, applique and embroidery projects too!

Everything from pincushions, to tote bags and pillows...

and of course quilts!

Lots of variety and in a style that 

Natalie Bird is known for!

Seriously sweet! 

I am really enjoying looking through this book...

and saving ideas for when I get some time to actually 

play in my sewing room!

I love the little tips in the book too!

 Lots of good hints for your embroidery!!!

This is another fun book...

I Love Churn Dashes.

The author is Karen Burns and it's a 

combination of  designs by your favorite designers.

So since I do love Churn Dash quilts...

I thought I should have a look!

There is a fun little video by Martingale...

I think you will like it!

The book is filled with more than a dozen projects, large and small...

Some great scrappy ideas for Churn Dash blocks too...

because we all made the "promise" didn't we?

~To use our stash this year~

Well, here you go... 

this is a great stash/scrap buster!

Or how about a more modern style...

All of this inspiration

 makes me look forward to the weekend!

So, happy Wednesday... we are getting closer to the weekend...

and you could actually order a book or two and have it by the weekend!

Okay... now for the surprise... all last year I wasn't able

 to comment on blogs that I read. 

I couldn't figure it out.

It had happened to me once before... 

and it took me forever to figure out the issue. 

And since I must not be a fast learner...

 it took me a year to get the problem fixed again.

But I am so excited... because that means

 I can 

leave comments

 on your blog posts once again!

I can't just tell you how frustrating that was! 

Possibilities!

A goodbye to 2016!

I am hopeful that 2017 is

a new year and it's filled

with new possibilities! 

Last week I shared my first project for 2017...

Flower Patch pattern by Thimble Blossoms paired

with  Olive's Flower Market fabric.

I am anxious to start it...

especially now that I have a sewing room that has been 

given a deep cleaning!

But there are more temptations out there for new projects.

I have participated in the Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery Quilt 

Block of the Month

for several years 

(skipping a year or two here and there)

but this year is the 10th anniversary 

of the Designer Mystery BOM!

And it will be made with American Jane fabrics!

So, needless to say it has caught my attention.

It you haven't had a look at it yet... here 

are a couple of sneak peaks that the FQS is sharing...

The link above is to the blog post about the BOM.

All that vintage goodness!!!

Another thing on my list for 2017 

is

to indulge in

painting my furniture...

and first up is my dinning room set.

This chair, at the paint store, 

 looks just like my dining chair... and I have a 

few paint samples on the seat

to pick from... but the decision is difficult!

I think I have it narrowed down to the two samples on the left.

Paris Grey and White.

I'm thinking white should be the table color and the Paris grey will be

the chair color. 

right now.

But, I could change my mind.

Any thoughts?