Monday, April 7, 2014

Lots to post about....

First off, here is my progress on A Parrot A Leopard A Lion.  I have all the uppermost motifs done!  Well, except for one that I'm not sure whether it will fit or not.


Here is a closeup of the two huge flowers on the right that I just finished.



Here are the City Sampler blocks I got done this week.


I'm trying to either stick to the same color palette or to use the same fabrics as shown in the book.  Finding solids of the right color is a challenge!

And here's my fussy cut star for the week, using another Judie Rothermel Peace and Unity fabric.


I copied straight from Temecula Quilt Co on this one.

I received a lovely surprise in the mail this week from Paula of Kelmscott Designs.


Aren't they wonderful?  They are the Pear and Red Barn needleminders and the Hearts Atopple Scissors.  Thank you so much, Paula!  I love them!

This past Friday, the father type and I had a dinner date and art gallery opening to attend with some friends in the evening in NYC.  Since I was going into the city, I figured I'd have some fun beforehand.  So I went gallivanting!  Here are some pics of my adventure.


New York Public Library -- you can see the lion if you look closely.


Evidence of spring in Bryant Park.


Lovely fabrics in B&J Fabrics, in the heart of the garment district.


Had to stop here!


A rest stop at Caffe Bene (never been before, but it was yummy!  Strawberries and a mango peach smoothie.)


Lion Brand Yarn Studio.  I should have taken a pic inside.  So colorful, and the fibers seemed really nice!  (The display in the window is made of fiber.  Pretty amazing.)  Note the door handles.  Yup, they are yarn bombed.  Love it!

Then I headed across town to meet the father type.


And we had our evening with friends.  (It felt too tacky to take pics.)

Mia was happy to see us home that night.  (I don't think she likes all these adventures and late nights we've been having.)  She was curious to see what I bought in NYC.

What's in the bag??
Here's what was in the bag, my swag.


Most are from the City Quilter, a few from Lion Brand Yarn Studio.  The tote at the right and the knitting accessories are from the yarn store, of course.  At City Quilter, I got a NYC kitchen towel, a beautiful tin to store sewing supplies in, a piece of fabric with the names of NYC stops in mosaic tile like in the subway, and some Australian Aboriginal fabrics.

Thanks as always for stopping by and saying hi.  I hope everyone has a great week!


41 comments:

Leneslines said...

Oh, you had FUN! I love your needlework, but I must say I look forward to seeing your quilts done, too:) Glad you always include Mia.

Cari said...

It looks like you had so much fun in NYC. You show such restraint…I would have a rolling suitcase filled to the brim with such lovelies !! LOL And…what do you mean 'if the flower fits'? You're making me nervous. The PLL piece is stunning. Good luck. Hugs to you and 'high five' to Mia !!

Mugwump Woolies said...

I love NYC! Looks as if you hit some really wonderful shops and came home with some great goodies. Your parrot is going to be magnificent...such beautiful colors!
Have a good week,
Robyn

cucki said...

Aww you truly had fun...
Beautiful stitching and I love the needle minder and sweet stash..
Hello kitty friend..maloo is saying hi to you :)
Bug hugs x

Laurie in Iowa said...

Oh my... you have been busy. Everything looks wonderful!Will you be having more adventures in NYC? It looks like you made the most of your day.

Vera said...

What fun Margaret! Looks like you gathered up some wonderful stash (said with only the slightest hint of jealousy/envy in my voice). PLL continue to look amazing...and Mia continus to be just so cute.

Melody said...

It looks like you had a fun adventure in the big city! I'm glad you got to explore some places that were of interest to you. Thanks for sharing the picture of the NYC Library...very cool!!!

Your gift from Klemscott, is very pretty! I love the colors in the pear needle minder.

SewAmy said...

Your trip looks wonderful. I've only been to NYC once and loved it. Love your new needle minders and scissors. And I always love seeing the progress of your stitching!!

robindefender said...

Sounds like a wonderful day out. Your stitching looks fabulous!

Vickie said...

Oh how fun! Great purchases. And what great gifts!

The Inspired Stitcher said...

What a fun adventure! Love the new stash too. That latest star block is STUNNING! You go girl!

The Inspired Stitcher said...

What a fun adventure! Love the new stash too. That latest star block is STUNNING! You go girl!

Krista said...

Love the PLL progress! The colors are really beautiful! Looks like you had lots of fun exploring in NYC. One of my fave places too! Even Mia looks pooped out, lol! Have a great week!

Erica said...

WOW! What a day you had!
It has been ages since I spent the day shopping in NYC!

Lucky for you, your husband works there. You have a great excuse! LOL!

Mine works on the outskirts of Tarrytown, out in the middle of nowhere, off the highway. Wouldn't make for a very interesting day!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

A very interesting mixed post today Margaret. I love to hear about your time out and about in the city. Visiting craft stores is so much fun - it's good to see things in "the flesh".

woolwoman said...

NO yarn??? RATS but at least you had some fun visiting Lion Brand which has a rich heritage. I know their signature store in NYC has some lovely yarn which is only available there and sometimes online. Glad you had so much fun and enjoyed an evening in the city with friends. OK now I'm just saying that PLL is simply stunning. Have a great week! Mel

Evelyne said...

Beautiful stitching. Lovely needle minders! I love the fabric of your fussy cut star it's stunning!

Have great day.
Evelyne

Linda said...

Your stitching is amazing Margaret. Wonderful progress. Looks like a fun time exploring. Must be nice to live so close.

Linda

Roberta said...

What a fun time you had. Love NYC there is so much to do. Love he fussy cut quilt squares you have been doing. As always, love your stitching moving along quickly.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Looks like you could find about everything in that fabric store. Lots of creative types around NY! You were well restrained, I'd say. Aren't those Kelmscott's fun to collect? Lovely progress on each of your projects!

Annette-California said...

Your sampler is so gorgeous. i just love your stitching. Your blocks looks amazing Margaret. You sure had a very lovely day and night!
Beautiful needleminders from Paula.
Love them. love Annette

Jackie's Stitches said...

I loved seeing your day in NYC and what ended up coming home with you. Good stuff!

Amanda said...

A Parrot A Leopard A Lion are spectacular - especially when I remember the post with the quarter for scale. The fabric shops - it's a good thing I live nowhere near NYC, B&J's alone would put me in the poorhouse - but I'd have great fabric to play with while I was there! I see Mia still needs the bubble-wrap in her bed. What goes through the mind of a cat?

Lanie said...

Margaret, your PLL is just gorgeous ... those two flowers ... oh my!
Looks like a fun trip to NYC ... glimpses of spring are just glorious aren't they?!

Annie said...

Lots of pretty stitching and new fun stuff. What a great trip to the Big Apple. You made good use of your time!

marly said...

Oh Margaret, the shading and colors in PLL are spectacular. Glad you had fun in the city. I would have been lost the minute my foot hit the ground.

valerie said...

Looks like you had a fun day in NYC!! So many fun places. PLL is looking great. Those flowers look humongous and with so much fill in but they sure are pretty!

Anne said...

Amazing flowers on the parrot sampler! They look like they were fun to stitch. Wonderful progress on your quilts!! I'm so jealous you are close to NYC and get to go in every once in awhile and "pop" into fabulous shops!! Mia seems content on that plastic bag...although perhaps she was miffed at first from left alone a lot!!

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Oh but that was such a fun visit. The parrot is so pretty!

Carol said...

Gosh, your sampler just keeps getting prettier and prettier, Margaret--truly it does! Love seeing the NYC photos--I've always wanted to check out the library. I imagine it would leave me in awe :)

Mary said...

What fun to be foot loose and fancy free in the big city! Looks as though from your last posts that you may be...just maybe...settling into empty nesterdom?!

The brilliant colors on your PLL make me want to add it to my list.

Dawn said...

Those flowers are so rich, like the parrot! Love it.
Thanks for sharing your NYC adventure. So much to see and do there, you have unlimited choices for future date nights!
Mia is so darling in her bed.

Chris said...

Great update Margaret!! What a fun, fun week! Gorgeous stitching progress. Your quilt blocks are looking great and I love this star.
Great day out and about in NYC!!
Hugs to you and Mia!

Linda said...

You would have had to pull me kicking and screaming out of that fabric shop - and out of the Lion Brand shop!!
Love the needle minders!!

Linda in VA

Brigitte said...

You were really busy lately, but it must have been a lot of fun.
Your sampler looks simply gorgeous with all its motifs and great colours. I particularly love that big blue flower.
Another lovely star and nice progress on your quilt.
What a fun day you could spend in NYC.

Mary Ann said...

Looks like you had a fun day in NYC! All you are working on looks lovely--I really enjoy seeing the PLL progress!!

Kaisievic said...

Your NYC adventure looks like lots of fun! Love your new swag and your stitching is exquisite.

Karoline said...

Your day out in NYC looked like a lot of fun, you picked up some nice stuff.

PLL is looking stunning & your quilt blocks are great

Kathy Ellen said...

Stunning progress on your gorgeous sampler, Margaret, and I love the Fussy Star too!

Oh joy, oh joy! What fun you had in NYC! Love all of the neat stash you acquired!

Love that adorable kitty, Mia...

Blessings!

Beth said...

Love the great big gaudy parrot. I've always wanted to go to NYC ever since I read "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" a gazillion years ago as a kid.

Giovanna said...

Nice progress on Parrot, and glad you had a good time.