I'm back with a progress report

 Wow, the time this year is really flying by.  I can't believe it is the end of April already.

I have been working on projects but haven't taken time to post about them.  I was having fun working on them, so didn't take time for anything else!

The pattern for the dolls is from a book called, My Rag Doll by Corinne Crasbercu.  I found the book on Amazon.  There is also a video tutorial that can be purchased on Etsy that gives a better explanation on how to make the dolls.  I found it very helpful.  

I made three more dolls, one is for a friend's granddaughter and the other two are for my granddaughters.  These were fun to make and turned out to be so cute, but I don't want to make any more anytime soon.  I am having lunch this week with my friend and her GD so will get to see the little one's reaction when she receives the doll.  I will be travelling to visit my grands next month so that will be fun, too.

Next, another cross-stitch project is finished and framed.  

The center pattern is called "Sheep in the Meadow" and the outside patterns are "Little Sheep Virtues".   Another fun finish and I love having it framed and on the wall.  Of course, I have finished the stitching on three more projects, one big, the others small.  I have to get busy and finish them now.

And I have a couple quilting finishes, too.  First is a table runner as a gift for a Christmas gift exchange.  I love having it finished so early!

This is a free pattern called Farmhouse Christmas by jedicraftgirl.  The link to the pattern is down the page so scroll down to find it.  I enjoyed making this one and I used directional fabric with works on it for the background in the center of the design.  I managed to get all the words right side up in the sashing's and in the center of the tree.  The outside border fabric has words, too, but they are printed going in all directions so no worries there.  

The gnome quilt is finished, too.

A close up.

This is called Balsam Gnomes .  It is also a free pattern by Lake Girl Quilts.  The link takes you to a tutorial for the free quilt pattern and she also has a link to her shop where you can purchase the pattern with out any ads on it if you prefer.  The whole pattern is in the tutorial with lots of photos but there is also advertising mixed in.  I can't wait to put it out next Christmas.  Those gnomes are very cute.

Here is the fabric I found for the backing:

I think it is just perfect!

And I will close with a cute sign I found on Amazon:

I hope you are all enjoying your stitching!

So what have I been doing?

 We are past the middle of February already!  Hope Spring is coming soon, I am tired of cold weather even though cold in New Mexico isn't as bad as in other parts of the country.  I am so anxious for Spring I started spring cleaning.  I went through the kitchen, emptied and cleaned out all the cabinets, washed down all the surfaces and mopped the floor.  It feels so good to know how clean everything is.  I dusted the family room this week and need to move furniture and vacuum the carpet.  That won't take too long, and I will have DH help with the furniture moving.  I still think I can do anything, but age is creeping up on me and it is better I accept the help! 

Now for some photos, my picture taking skills are lacking but they will have to do.  You can click on any photo to enlarge it.  I hope you enjoy!

I have been busy getting cross stitch projects framed.  Here are the ones that are complete:

This is Land of the Free; it measures about 20 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches.  I stitched it on 16 count Aida.  I did change some of the floss colors, I wanted the trees to have pink blossoms and the flags to be a brighter red.  This one was so enjoyable, and I love having it finished and hanging on the wall.

This one is called Girl in Red Dress by La-D-Da.  I ordered the pattern from Shakespear's Peddler.  I framed it in and 8 x 10 frame so it is a smaller project.  I love the red dress and the red and blue alphabet.  This one is also done on 16 count Aida.

This is also framed in an 8 x 10 frame.  I love the little truck and the eagle.  Stitched on 16 count Aida with DMC floss.   This one is called Liberty Lodge by Plum Street Samplers.

This one is stitched on 14 count Aida and is called Seeking Refuge by Scarlet House.  It measures about 12 x 18 inches.  

This is one of my favorites, sheep, houses and alphabets make me happy and I love the pinks and blues.  This is called Composition Florale Jardin Prive.  There are 3 patterns, 1,2 and 3 that can be stitched separately or combined into one picture.  It is also stitched on 16 count Aida and measures about 17 inches square.

It feels so good to have them all finished and framed.  I just finished the little sheep project I have been stitching and ordered a frame for it.   Here it shows as I was starting on the last box.

Can't wait to have that one finished, too.  A new project has been started, it also has sheep, houses and alphabets in it.  This one will be a long-term project but so far, I am having fun.

Quilting has been happening, too.  I have a table runner ready to have the binding stitched down and I am hand quilting a small gnome themed quilt.  

This is one of the greens used for trees.  By itself I thought it was very ugly fabric, but it makes a wonderful looking tree!  There are four or five different greens for trees and reds for gnomes to make it more interesting.  There are also several different tone on tones as background for the blocks.

Two and a half rows are quilted, and it is moving quickly.  This will have a green binding when it is finished.  Switching between quilting and cross stitch is easier on my hands than just doing one of them.  I think this will be a fun quilt when it is finished.  

Three more rag dolls are in the works.  My friend wants one for her GD and I am going to visit my GDs in Montana later in the Spring, so I need to get these dolls made.  Having lots of projects to switch around working on keeps me busy and interested.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy New Year!

 I want to wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Fun New Year!

Sorry I have been absent for a while, I needed to take some time to unwind.  I did read all my favorite blogs and keep up with all you are doing.  Sorry I did not always comment, time just flew by.

I hope to do better this year and get back to participating through my blog.

The past few months have been busy.  We went to Branson, MO for my DH ships reunion in September.  That was lots of fun, there is so much to see and do in Branson.  We traveled to Colorado for GD's birthday parties, then to Florida for three weeks to visit DH grandkids.  

I have kept busy with cross stitch and some quilting.  Here are a few things I did:

I finished this cross stitch piece, it was so fun.  I love the animals and alphabets in it.  Still not framed but that is on the TO DO list this year.

I have a good start on this one.  I have added another block and am working on one more.  From this photo will be five additional blocks along the bottom.  I am enjoying this one, too.

My one quilt finish, a table runner for a Christmas gift for the Bunco gift exchange.  Everyone liked it.

I made these dolls for two of my GDs for Christmas.  The four year old asked Santa for "a soft doll with wings so she can fly around the room when I play with her".  So I made dolls for both GDs and they were a big hit for Christmas.  Grandma has to make little dreams come true if she can.  The dolls were made and delivered to their house early when we went for a birthday weekend.  They hid out in a closet until Christmas.  I made wings to the dolls later and mailed them.  Cheaper to mail wings than the dolls.

Now I have to make more dolls for my other GDs and for a friends GD.  I can take my time with them though.  

This is a photo of a table runner I made for my girls a couple years ago.  This year when my DDIL got it out while decorating for Christmas, my four year old GD made a little addition.  I got such a kick out of seeing this.  She made sure there was a "real" baby in the manger, there is an appliqued baby under the doll but she thought it needed a baby.  I love the way little ones think!

That's a quick catch up.  I hope it won't be too long before you hear from me again.  There are other projects I am working on that have not been photographed yet, so will show them another time.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!