alittlesweetness

farming

This morning I woke up to a small episode of vertigo, (blah.) so I've been poking around the house today and thankfully I've been able to sew a little.  I had to be careful not to stand and lean over the table or tilt my head as I was cutting or I'd start to fall over!  I've had it much worse before, so I'm just happy it's not like that this time.  

I'm pretty badly behind on my Farmer's Wife blocks, but my stack is looking a little better now!  I have a whopping 18 now!  (woot!)

This round I decided to focus on just red and aqua.  I like how Krystine does that with her blocks....(decides on a couple of colors) ...it really helped me not get overwhelmed with fabrics and color choices.

I got some new fabrics from Kerri, which I love and made me want to sew!

Pretty huh?

For some reason I sew my blocks 3 at a time....?????????? It's like 2 isn't quite enough, but after 3 I need a break and I need to clean up the kitchen table....(that's where I sew).

This time I did Spiderweb, Friendship and Farmer's Daughter

 

SPIDERWEB {83}

 

FRIENDSHIP {39}

 

FARMER'S DAUGHTER {32}

Little story...

When I was sewing my Friendship block, I was confused as to why things weren't matching up!  I knew I had made a little error that I wasn't catching.  I called Kerri because I knew she had made this block before.  We talked for a few minutes about my block when I started listing off the template #'s ....and whatdoyaknow...one of them was the wrong template!!!  By accident I had cut out the wrong one, but wasn't noticing it on my own.  I knew I just needed somebody else to catch my mistake for me.  My point in telling you this is so that if you run into troubles with a block, double check if you've cut the correct pieces.  Some of them are very similar!  If possible, call or email a fellow wifer....it helps to talk through what you've done.  Remember, I made a silly mistake before and talking with another wifer really helped.   

Moral of the story....

it's not easy being a Farmer's Wife...

...But OHHH, SO WORTH IT! 

Tasha

the swing of things

Is it just me, or is it difficult to get back into the swing of things after the holidays?  I think I've been particularly slow at it this year.  One clue is that I still have a few holiday decorations lingering around that absolutely must be put away immediatly.  Or else.

For Christmas I was able to turn my hexies into something for Ava.  I decided on a doll quilt in the end because I also got her a vintage doll crib and a couple of new baby dolls, so I thought it was more fitting than a pillow.

 

I'm not sure I'm totally crazy over it, but I do think it's plenty cute enough to be loved.  The part that bugs me is the aqua strips on top and bottom.  It's sort of too late now though. 

I didn't do batting inside, just some fluffy pink minky-type fabric on the back and I quilted it pretty lightly, so it's nice a cuddly.....perfect for wrapping around baby dolls.

See, someone is very happy about it, so I think it worked out.

Now, it's off to put away some decorations.  Like immediatly!

Tasha

giveaway winners!

Thanks to everyone who played along in my little giveaway!  It's such a treat for me to be able to share a little something here and there throughout the year.  I'm always so grateful for the support and encouragement I recieve and friends made along the way.  Plus, aren't giveaways just plain fun?  oh ya.  

I thought it would be a cuter post if I had Ava to help me announce the winners!  This is what she did when I gave her the embroidery hoop and asked her to show it to me.  Oh well, you get the idea.  (I hope.)

The 3 WINNERS of my Embroidery Pattern giveaway are:

#12...

Anita said ..

I love them all but I love the angel the best.
Happy holidays!

#29 ...

Melanie said ...

Laundry day - so cute :)

and...

#63...

Kristal said...

Everything is adorable, but since my daughter had a hedgehog for a pet, I'd get the patterns that have a hedgie on them!

Each of those numbers were chosen by me asking my 3 oldest boys to tell me their favorite number! 

I hope you have fun stitching up something sweet for your home or another's.  Either way, ENJOY!

(Anita, Melanie and Krystal...if you see this, please email me at pthorsley@comcast.net since none of you have links). 

I'm not sure I'll get back to the computer anytime soon, so I thought I'd leave you with this adorable little video message, so very appropriate for this time of year.  It's just 2 minutes and you won't be disappointed.  ;)

Click here to watch "The Coat"

As for my shop, it'll be open, but I won't be shipping anything until well into the first week of the new year.  I'll probably check on it here and there and send of patterns, but generally I'll be taking a break. 

Thanks again, for a wonderful year! 

Merry Christmas!

Tasha

last minute giveaway

Yes, I know it's so very last minute for a holiday giveaway, but sometimes (lots of times!) I can't get to things as fast as I want to.  If you don't mind though, then it'll work out perfectly.  :)

I know some of you like to have a little project to work on over the holiday break and embroidery is just the thing.....simple, relaxing, quick and oh so very cute! 

(yes, my Christmas Angel is still in her hoop!)

You can literally stitch something up in a day or choose to take a few weeks for a longer project.

For this giveaway, I'll be randomly drawing 3 names to choose up to $20 worth of EMBRIODERY PATTERNS from my shop. 

TO ENTER:

Just simply leave me a comment, telling me which pattern(s) you would love to stitch up!  If you're new here, you  may need to visit my shop first, then come back and let me know. 

Your welcome to a 2nd entry if you've ever purchased from me before.   

This quickie giveaway will be only be open until WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21st, sometime in the morning part of the day.  I'll choose my winners and send off your patterns on Wednesday as soon as I know what to send you!  If you don't have a blog link to your comment, please leave me an email address.

Happy Holidays and Happy Stitching!  ;)

Tasha

stitching, stitching...

Now that I've got my sweet Christmas Angel all stitched, I just need to figure out what to do with her!  I loved going all red....so simple, yet makes a statement, don't you think?

I love the crisp, classic look of red and white, so I've collected up a few items that will help make her into a timeless treasure. 

I'm pretty sure what I'm doing, hopefully I'll get it done before Christmas!!

The other thing I've been working on in time for Christmas is a hexie pillow for Ava.

I know you've seen these before, but this time they are all stitched together!  It's been one of those very slow moving projects for me, so I'm happy to see it (literally) coming together.  Yay!  My inspiration to do this was from this darling pillow, so I've just kept that image in my mind to be able to get this done for Ava.  Don't you just love finding inspiration to keep you going?!  I do! 

Today I'm off for another busy day, so I better get moving!  :)

Tasha

around here....

Goodness Me, it's been a little bit of everything around here lately!  We enjoyed Thanksgiving here with some family, then out of town for the weekend to visit more family (tons of festive crafting there!) and since being home we've been on to the Christmas decorating, hot chocolate drinking, getting orders done (me!), working on secret things (shhh...a little longer), organizing things, working little by little on the kitchen, and even though I woke up feeling yucky today, I'm finally getting to some holiday stitching...which I'm super loving!!!  It's about time, don'tcha think? 

I decided I wanted to stitch my little Christmas Angel in all red...I can't wait to see how she turns out.

I just love sitting down with my little pile of stuff and being able to stitch away.  Happiness.

If you want to give her a try too, you can find her in my shop as a pattern now, as well as the Winter Pixie.  I'm hoping I'll get a chance to stitch her too.  We'll see!

Speaking of Pixies......

Isn't he a cutie?!

I'm simply delighted to be arranging this little collection of adorable vintage pixie figurines that belonged to my Grandma, who passed away this year.  When my mom was going through her things, she knew right where they should go.  I adore them so much and they'll always remind me of my Grandma Carlsen. 

I finally figured out that this one's peculiar pose (below) is so he can hang on the side of a dish.  CUTE!

I think he's a sneaky one. 

And now for more of the 'around here' part of the post.....

I had to giggle one night when my boys lined up to dish up there Little Ceasars Pizza....there they were....in all their Red, Pink, and Aqua glory!

(Do not, i tell you, Do NOT notice the empty milk jug on the counter or other messy looking piles in the background)

You'd think I was their mother or something!  No, really, I think these colors must be programmed into their brains as well....it's genetic! 

They seriously choose their own clothes!

And this is seriously how they pose when I tell them I want a picture....

Like for reals. 

These boys, as crazy as they are and as crazy as they make me (...at times, they each have a sweet side too) they really simply melt my heart...like crazy! 

It's totally CrAzY around here....

So I better get back to that heavenly-ly, relaxing, peaceful stitching while I can....

(Here I come little Christmas Angel!)

(Cuz it's about to get crazy....okay, I'm done)

Happy December....  :)

Tasha 

a thank you sale!

It's been a rather busy week  and weekend for me, but beforehand I was able to do a little drawing and coloring here and there and this is what emerged, little by little.  It's a simple scene, but to me it just looks so quiet and I like that.  You know when the snow is falling and it's just quiet?  The best.  

Here, Little Bird

I'm so thankful I am able to draw and create, while staying home with my children.  It helps out.  With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and then Christmas quickly around the next one, I think it's a good time for a sale....to say Thank You!  I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing if it wasn't for all the support and encouragment along the way.  Family, friends and strangers have all been a part of where my little shop has taken me today.  I love the online community and all the inspiration, friendship and support that comes with it.  I've loved drawing and being artistically engaged in something my whole life!  So, the fact that I get to stay home with my children and run my little art shop, is a blessing to us.  So really, truly, Thank You!

Winter Pixie

 

For the sale, enter coupon code: THANKS20 at checkout (there's a little spot for it) and get an automatic 20% off your order.  This is for embroidery patterns and paper products only.

The fabric is not currently listed in the shop.  If you want fabric, let me know, I'll take custom orders this week.  The sale will run all week....Nov. 14th - Nov. 20th.  Then on Sunday November 20th, please stop by so I can share a little something with you!  ;) 

Again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Have a happy week!

Tasha

getting fancy

Finishing up my Flea Market Fancy quilt is just about as....well....*fancy*...as things have been around here lately.  Just the usual for the most part.....work, getting kids to school, clean up, dinner, bedtime, laundry...those sorts of things. 

And grateful I am for the normal-ness life has in store right now.  But isn't so great when you can sneak in some time here and there to make something pretty? 

In addition to the Flea Market Fancy fabrics, I have added a few Katie Jump Rope and some other of my random favorites that I thought coordinated well....like the red and aqua stripes and polka dots.  (Of course.)  ;)

I do think I'm getting better at my stippling.....although I still mess up alot!  I won't point all those parts out to you.  ;)  I still really need to get those gloves!!!

For the backing I did a simple patchwork strip with my Posies.  Easy Peasy.

I like my gray binding!  It's Moda Bella Solid in Gray.  mmmm!

My kids (here's just one of them!) are surely enjoying it.

 

See, now isn't that just *fancy*!?!?!!

Tasha

farmer's wife catch up

For the Farmer's Wife Quilt Along I'm only doing 1 block a week (instead of the 2), so I was looking really behind with only 9 blocks done!  Oh ya, I was!  Behind I mean.  Bad! 

A new stack of lovely fabrics from Kerri was just what I needed to get cruising and really do some catching up!

Mmmmmm!  Love them!

So, here's what I came up with for weeks 10,11, and 12.....

I really love all of these, but not sure how the middle one will work into the quilt.  We'll just have to see.  It's definitly easy enough if I need to do another one. 

 

END OF DAY {30}

 

WINDOWS {109}

 

CHECKERBOARD {19}

 

And here's my weeks 13,14 and 15

Liking these too!  :)  And here too, wondering if middle snowball will work into the quilt, but I'm testing out the idea of some more dominant simple colored ones helping to balance out all my super scrappy ones.  Again, we'll just have to see. 

 

PRACTICAL ORCHARD {69}

 

SNOWBALL {81}

 

CONTRARY WIFE {21}

So now I don't look so bad with 15 blocks....do I?  I hope not!  They are so addicting, but you know...other things need attending to as well, so the book and the fabric and the sewing machine must wait their turn again.  It's that tricky thing called The Balancing Act!

One more cute thing to share....

Kerri made me one of Camille's Dishsoap Apron's and I think it's just darling!  (Scroll down a bit in Camille's post...it's not the first thing you see, but there is a tutorial.)

(thanks Kerri)

Awwww....isn't she cute?

She also made it reversible....

So fun to change it around....like a grown up Barbie....well,  sort of.  But not quite.

Now Mr. Method Handsoap has a friend at the sink!

How cute are they?!  Except I think Mr. Method needs an outfit too. 

Ohhh...Cami-i-i-lle?! 

;)

Tasha

strawberry fever

I've definitly got Strawberry fever, so I've been busy with a few things to help!  Firstly, I ordered some Annie's Farm Stand and have loved sewing with these fabrics.  (Kerri is doing a giveaway on her blog for some of this delicious line, so you should hop on over!)

This apron is for Ava, and of course she won't wear it......yet!  I very loosley referred to this tutorial, but also sorta made it up as I went.  Maybe not the best method, but I figured it out.  

We live in Washington state, so there was this little perfect part of the fabric for me to use in the waistband (see above).  The crochet flowers are from Riley Blake and you can buy some in Kerri's shop. 

I had the perfect vintage trim (from my mom), so I added some above the stripey ruffle.  I love stripes!

I was particularly lazy for the apron ties and used grossgrain ribbon.  Not the best photo, but you get the idea.  ;)

I can't wait till Ava cooperates and wears this little bit of strawberry deliciousness!

Another way I got out my Strawberry fever, was to draw of course!

I came up with this illustration called 'Fresh Strawberries'.  She is simple, fun and super sweet.

She's also available with a gray background.

A closer look:

She looks cute in a frame too!

Last, but not least....I had a great time sewing some Farmer's Wife  blocks!  Strawberry fabrics are mixed in here and there.  ;)

ECONOMY {29}

POSTAGE STAMP {68}

AUTUMN TINTS {2}

My Growing Pile!

Now, I'm seriously thinking about Strawberry Shortcake......doesn't that sound good?  Mmm.....maybe a good weekend treat. 

Happy Creating!

Tasha