Monday, October 6, 2014

Not much to show....

I was working on some knitting that I don't want to talk about for much of this week.  (Don't ask.  I'll talk if I decide I like it later.)  It's also been a week of battling a yellow jacket nest in the wall of the kitchen (yes, yellow jackets have been getting in the house too), and of leaking toilets.  But I did manage to get back to a bit of stitching.


I'm enjoying stitching on this piece (the title is right there at the bottom).


The first page is done and I've started the second.  (The second page extends as far as you see the border go in the first picture.)  I'm using the called for GAST and WDW fibers with 40ct Doubloon linen from Picture This Plus.

I also did another fussy cut Friday star, using what I think is a Kaffe Fassett fabric.


We're up to 40 stars now -- which means there are only 12 more Fridays this year?!  Wow!  (We are doing one per week in this fussy cut Friday thing.  See details here.)  Anyway, so here are my 40 all laid out so far.  I'm loving how they look together.


Various of you have asked what happens with these fussy cut stars.  I keep changing my mind, but at the moment, I believe I will use the same size diamonds to surround each star -- in various white, off-white or white on white fabrics.  Then sew them all together.  The white diamonds should make up the hexagon shapes you see in the picture.  I'm not sure what size quilt will result, but I guess I'll find out!  We'll see if my plan changes or not.

I will leave you with a couple of rather blurry pics of Mia being playful.



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

38 comments:

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Yellow Jackets!!!! Those are some insects with a bad attitude--hope no one has been stung!

His Eye is on the Sparrow is looking great--

Miss Mia always brings a smile to my face

Mary Ann said...

Wonderful progress on His Eye!! And, it is so nice to see all your fussy cut stars together!

I have been stung by Yellow Jackets--not fun at all. I hope you get them out soon!

The Inspired Stitcher said...

Oh my goodness...yellow jackets! Those things are evil. Be careful!

Love that picture of Mia. Just makes you want to snuggle that fuzzy belly.

Love the stars and that spotted cow is so funny.

Have a good week!

Cari said...

Your stitching speed and quality is amazing !! I love watching this piece come along !! Love the fussy cut stars as well. They ALL look so great together !! And sweet Mia..gotta love that kitty !! Hugs and have a great week !!

Vickie said...

What a mess you have going on over there! Be careful.
ooOoo! Those stars look amazing. I love the latest Kaffe one.

Ann at Beadlework. said...

I gave in and ordered this chart after seeing you stitch it - it's so appealing. I know that I won't stitch it as it comes as it's so big but I would like to stitch some of it. Your stars look amazing when laid out like that. Mia looks so cute and cheeky as though she's posing for you. I love your strawberry Margaret, did you buy it recently?

Melissa said...

Such sweet pics of Mia. I believe she is getting as hammy as my Daisy!

Love the sampler, and that strawberry pincushion - wow!

Your stars are coming along beautifully. I am admiring that white quilt below it. Did you do that quilting? I love the design!

Sorry it's been one of those awful house weeks for you. I hope those nasty yellow jackets are gone soon!

marly said...

I like your idea of white/ivory prints for the stars' fill. Seeing them all together, I doubt that I could choose a favorite. We had a bee problem but they weren't mean jackets. Looked a little like them but he blew dust into their entrance hole and they were gone in two days. Be careful!

Teresa S. said...

I love the new sampler, Margaret, and am so glad you are stitching it as I absolutely don't have time to. It's looking beautiful!

Krista said...

Hi Margaret, Your Sparrow looks great and I love all the beautiful stars. Will make a great quilt! Yellow jackets are no fun. Hope they are all gone now. Hope you and Mia have a fun week!

Anne said...

Amazing to see all those stars together!! So cool! Your eye of the sparrow is coming along regardless of the yellow jackets and leaky toilets...ugh. Hope those have both been dealt with! Big hugs and cuddles to Mia! So cute!

Anna van Schurman said...

I think I say this every week, but this star us my favorite. This is going to be an amazing quilt!

Alicia said...

QUE AMOR DE GATITO!!!
SALUDITOS

Annie said...

Yellow jackets and leaky toilets... A good name for a punk something or other, but doesn't make for a great week. Glad it didn't stop all the stitchy progress.

And so the cow/cowl looks cute! That sampler really looks like fun with all of those motifs.

Love the star layout. That will really be a cool quilt.

Hazel said...

It is looking stunning! I can't believe how much you have stitched already. x

Linda said...

Gorgeous sampler Margaret. Your stars are stunning. Love the pics of Mia.

Linda

Mary said...

Sorry to hear you've had a bad week. I dont know what yellow jackets are but doesn't sound good. His Eye is on the Sparrow is coming along beautifully, and those fussy cut stars are awesome! Hope your knitting gets sorted soon. I always love seeing Mia - she is such a cuddly looking cat.
Mary

Mugwump Woolies said...

I love that spotted cow! Sorry about your bees and leaks...always something when you are a homeowner.
Your stars look wonderful all together...can't wait to see the finish.
Have a great week,
Robyn

Rugs and Pugs said...

LOVE your sampler. Sure wish I had more time to stitch, now that I have bifocals and an Ott light...lol!
Those fussy cut stars are impressive.
Hugs to the furbaby :)
Lauren

Carol said...

Ugh--the joys of home ownership!! I hope the nest gets cleared out for good, Margaret--we had one under the floorboards in my middle son's bedroom and the poor kid had nightmares for weeks...

I just love seeing all of those perfect stars laid out together--whatever you end up doing I know it will be special.

Hope this week goes better for you :)

Merry Wind Farm said...

Hi, Margaret,
Sparrow is beautiful, and that linen is incredible! I have to reconsider doing that one, but only if Picture This Plus makes that fabulous linen in a smaller count. I can't handle 40.. I always wondered what you were going to do with your stars, and now that I see them all together they are gorgeous, what a beautiful quilt you will have. The quilts that you display the stars on and the first one with Mia have the same quilting pattern; do you do that yourself?
Beautiful work!
Melinda

Dawn said...

Your sparrow is fantastic! What a gallery you have.
Love seeing your stars together. Wow, 12 Fridays? Oh my...
Hope the home issues are over!

Beth said...

Thanks for the fussy star layout. I now have a much better idea of the design elements as creative I am not! Yellow Jackets - ugh! Despite our really hot summer weather we had very few yellow jacket. Often by mid-July they make it impossible to eat outside. Silly Mia - she looks like she is Queen of the Castle!

cucki said...

Gorgeous sampler dear..Your stars are stunning. Love the pics of Mia...hugs xx

Sally said...

Lovely stitching and quilting and of course Mia is just adorable as always.

Hmm I don't know what yellow jackets are but they sound rather unpleasant.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Great piece! And your fussy star quilt is going to be beautiful. Looks like Mia was in a posing mood. LoL.

valerie said...

Oof...sounds like a hard week! Yellow jackets, stubborn knitting and leaky toilets sounds like no fun. Glad the sampler is keeping you company. It's looking great! Love your fussy cut star too. :)

Evelyne said...

Great progress on your sampler.
Lovely too see your all your stars together.
The last one is a Kaffe Fassette.
I love that one too!

Have a nice week.
Evelyne

Lindsay said...

I have no idea what a yellow jacket is but I don't like the sound of them!

Seeing your stars each week is one of the reasons I went with diamonds/stars for my quilt and I'm using white on white for joining ones!

Love the Mia pics they always make me smile

Brigitte said...

Oh my, what a week you had. Not so easy to get rid of a wasp or yellow Jacket nest. We had one in the attic last year and it was enormous. Fortunately my husband got it out in one piece in the winter.

The sparrow sampler is looking so great, a beautiful design. Great to see all the stars so far laid out.

Anonymous said...

Ostrich Crests!

Melanie said...

Love the shot of all the stars together!! It looks great.

Kaisievic said...

Lovely new sampler and Mia is gorgeous as always.

Betteketet said...

Hi Margaret,

I've read om a Dutch blog (from a shop owner) that there are some little mistakes in the pattern you're stitching right now. The link to that site is: http://www.dehandwerkboetiek.nl/?p=4159 On the picture she noted how it should be.

Your sparrow is tuning out great, and as always, I love the pictures from Mia.

Betty

Melody said...

It was great to see all your stars laid out together. They will make a beautiful quilt!!
Your sampler is coming along beautifully too.

I'm sorry to read about the yellow jackets in the wall! Not good!! Also, sorry about the plumbing woes. Hope things get better. Hi to Mia.

Woolwoman said...

I bet I know the yet to be determined knitting project LOL
I have not started but need to so that. Your fussy stars are so gorgeous, I bet they will be stunning on the off white background. Love the Eye of the Sparrow, enjoy your weekend!! Mel

Unknown said...

Hello Margaret, what is the size of the triangle you use to sew your stars ? Thank you for you kind answer. Elisabeth

Chris said...

Oooohhhhh! So happy to see all the stars together!