Civil War Block of the Week: Catching Up

 I was surprised to find out I was six (6!!) weeks behind on Barbara Brackman's Civil War Block of the Week.  Last weekend, I (mostly) caught up.

Port and Starboard

Union

Right Hand of Friendship

H is for Hospital

Order Number Eleven 

I also finished another Hocuspocusville block when I was in Michigan last month.  This is block #7. I only have 2 1/2 blocks left to stitch. 

Another Hocuspocusville Block

Not much happening on the quilting front here.  Today is the first day I have felt significantly better so I am hoping to return back to normal soon.  I did manage to complete another Hocuspocusville block while watching endless TV.  Nearing the home stretch on these blocks.

The cats have enjoyed me be couch-bound all week.  I thought this was a funny sleeping pose by Gomez, who was unaware that he was sliding down between the couch and the cushion.  He was snoring peacefully so I guess he was comfy. 

Recent Blocks for this Week

 Hovering Hawks was the block for Barbara Brackman's Civil War block of the week. I tried to use fabrics that had the coloring of a red-tailed hawk against a blue sky with clouds.

It's kind of busy but that was the thought.

 A couple of Farmer's Wife Quilt Along blocks. This is Checkerboard. I just used little scraps of whatever was on top of the scrap bag.

 and Whirlpool.  I thought this dark blue with dots reminded me of dark blue water with bubbles.  The background just had lots of movement.

And this is block 10 of Hocuspocusville.  This is the sixth block I've finished so I'm over halfway done. 

Stitcheries and Kitties

 I finished my embroidery sampler and learned lots of new stitches courtesy of Bari J at We Love French Knots.  I love this website!!!  And her videos are the best.  I actually learned how to do French knots, chain stitches, and bullion roses (yes, I have amazed myself).  I am a very novice embroideryer stitcheryer needleworker (so novice I don't even know what the latest hip term is...).

Previously, I knew how to do cross-stitching and back stitches and that's about it.

 Back stitches, I can do.  Here's my latest Hocuspocusville block and the fifth one I've finished. 

Random cat photo just for fun.  Stella was on pillow duty again and Gomez was keeping watch for more earthquakes, hurricanes, or who knows what. 


Is it me or has August just been weird???

Hints of Autumn

Today would have been a perfect Fall day...if it had been 10 degrees cooler (it was 88F and breezy and sunny, just a bit too warm).

First hint of Autumn is the arrival of Starbucks Anniversary Blend coffee.
My second favorite kind. The aged Sumatran beans gives it a nice depth and a bit of spice. Perfect for Autumn. A perfect with a pumpkin scone (I resisted this autumnal fav.)

While running errands this afternoon, I stopped by my old store and visited with the Sunday crew. I miss my Sunday crew. I miss my free pound of coffee a week also. But I do not miss being zombie-tired from working two jobs. Not at all.

Not much sewing time in today but I did finish another block of Hocuspocusville last night. This is my fourth completed block and a fun one to sew.

I worked a bit on my new project this afternoon until Edgar Poe muscled in on my work space. Because he decided to get in the way, he was used for block storage space (hee hee).

Another hint of Autumn is late afternoon dappled sunshine.
Morpheus enjoys this hint the best.

Hocuspocusville Third Block

Here's my latest Hocuspocusville block. It's block number 9 but the third one I've completed. This quilt is just too much fun to do.

If you are wondering where are the French knots on the sign???...you are looking too close....
No, really, I am saving the French knots on all the blocks until the end, when I remember how to make them! I am French-knot challenged. Is anyone else out there?

My friend Brenda (quilting cowgirl) recently finished her Hocuspocusville quilt and you can see it on this post. It looks fabulous Brenda!

Maybe she is missing doing stitchery already. Maybe she wants to do my French knots for me?!?

Update from this post: Morph and I are all set to venture out to the vet's office next week. I replaced the burned out tail light on Xena.

Meltingly Hot

Bleh! I am over summer already and it's only officially summer: D +1. Smoggy, hot, humid weather in Atlanta makes me cranky and headachy.

I did finish Hocuspocusville block 2.
The photo's kinda dark but that's about as good as it's going to get today. I need to drag myself off the couch and get some laundry & dishes done.

Hocuspocusville Block 1

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stitchery. I bought this as a block of the month through Homestead Hearth last year. I heart Homestead Hearth. This BOM came with different background fabric for each month, muslin backing, and Valdani variegated 6-ply thread in different shades of black. Block 2 is started already. It's so much fun!

Fabric Fix

Yesterday I was in need of a serious fabric fix so I took a road trip to Bad Melisa's AKA Sweet Home Quilt Co.

Melisa's hydrangeas were beautiful! I was so happy to see Melisa and hear all about Spring Quilt Market. Apparently wool is back "in" which will make my mom happy. My mom will also be happy to hear that Moda is making silks and linens for crazy quilting. My mom loves crazy quilts and has one started. Does anyone else out there do crazy quilting?

Melisa had lots of new yummy fabric. Since I wasn't shopping for anything in particular (maybe because I have fifty-eleven projects already), I spent a lot of time wandering around looking at everything. I ended up deciding on 2 charm packs (time for another Schnibble quilt I think) and I broke down and bought a jelly roll of the latest French General line (even though I told myself I really didn't "need" another jelly roll...) because I know I'll regret not having some of this line when it disappears.
I just love the timeworn and timeless look of French General fabrics don't you?

I also wanted to pick up two books I saw in a bunch of quilt market posts. I just couldn't wait to get my copy of the new Blackbird Designs and Primitive Gatherings books. These are just as wonderful as I expected and now I need to add a couple more years to my already overwhelming amount of quilt project-making lifespan.

Which brings me to the award-winning klutz moment of my Saturday. Upon arriving home, I happily settled on the couch with my lunch (cereal) and the Country Inn book when for absolutely no reason at all I dropped my bowl of cereal and milk all over me and the open book.
.......Yes, that's exactly what I said....or maybe worse....
What a mess! I flung the book on the floor to get the milk off as quickly as possible. Milk and book pages do not go together. Not to mention cereal flakes all over the floor. Luckily the couch escaped. So I cleaned up as best I could and I hope the book isn't completely ruined. At least the pages aren't stuck together but it just one of those things that make you disgusted in a completely out of proportional amount.

Anyway--I haven't sewn much this past week and am behind in the jelly roll sampler BOM and really need to get back to those 895 million bitty nine-patches but so you don't think all is lost here at Stella Bella's, I did start working on my Hocuspocusville stitchery. I hope to have this done by oh maybe Halloween 2012....