No pictures, but randomness

I hadn't blogged, but I have been keeping up with sewing hobbies. Emily has come over one evening for the last two weeks to work on her cross stitch. We both work crazy hard during the summer so we are milking the cooler, less busy fall. I worked on my Last Supper cross stitch. Last weekend was the AQS show and I went to that with a fellow quilter. That made for a fun (EXHAUSTING) day. I picked up some dupioni silk and Fassett fabrics. The tide is starting to turn in the main stream quilting community in my opinion. I noticed a few more modern fabric vendors and a couple more negative space/minimalist quilts.

I took today off and had a 'Karen Day'. Lounged and did some sewing. I finished up the Giant Granny Square Quilt Along top. I ordered the kit using Flea Market Fancy. I wasn't sold on the line when it was re-released and when my kit arrived I wasn't sure. It grows on you and I like the way the top turned out. I will take pictures tomorrow and post.

This evening I worked on some paper piecing. I took a class last fall, but had never worked on anything. It took some trial and error, but my block was coming along nicely until I had to tear away the paper. I hadn't shortened my stitch length so the stitching came apart. Oops. Tomorrow I will try again.

I was catching up on my blog reading and caught this. Robert Kaufman is coming out with precut hexies. Last month at the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild meeting, Emily V presented about English Paper Piecing. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

One more thing- Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery is having a winter themed calendar of sorts. I haven't decided if I am going to or not. It may be too cutesy for my liking.

Second half of the weekend

I blogged about the first half of the weekend and the second half was just as enjoyable! Emily came over yesterday and today to work on her deer project. We both cross stitched and talked and enjoyed the lovely weather. We both work in the same field and our summers are very, very hectic. Things have slowed down for her as well and we are taking advantage of the free time. So here are our updates.

  

Cross stitch burnout!

I have burned out again on my cross stitch project. I am hoping it is revived after the New Year. This is where I am ending for the year.

Some more done

Two more disciples down

Ok, so one is only a sleeve, but two more down. The list is now Bartholomew, James I, Andrew, Judas, Peter, John, James II and Philip.

It doesn't look like a lot, but . . .

it does all add up.

The Lord's Supper

So this story starts back in 1997. I had the pattern, got the supplies and started, but I didn't connect with the project. The pattern said to use 3 strands and that made the crosses look lumpy. Some of the colours were a combination of 2 strands of one colour and one of the other. I should have trusted my judgement and just gone with two. I did all the clothing of the disciples and all their hair, but I decided to start over.

So this past January I started over completely. I didn't really care for the colour of the previous fabric, so this time I went with plain white. My goal was to finish it in a year and a half- at least one disciple a month. I started with gusto and then I burned out. I am starting again because TV shows are no longer on re-runs and I can't quilt and watch TV at the same time. I can cross-stitch and watch TV at the same time, even with a blanket on me. So I will update every 2 weeks or so to show progress. So far I have done all the clothing of the disclipes on Jesus' right. That is Bartholomew, James, Andrew, Judas, Peter and John. I've cut it a bit close with the border on the edges, but it should still frame well. So here's hoping I get a lot done this winter.