Finished for Friday

I'm playing along this week with Lit and Laundry...

Technically these were finished a while ago.. but I never seem to get with it enough to have good photos ready of recent finished projects by Friday. Betsy McCall does have her new outfit done that I started this week.. but the sky has been so drear.. I told her she needs to wait for sunshine to show it off.

But here is my finished Tea Swap present that I sent to Bec in Australia. She already posted lovely photos on her blog. Thank you so much Bec. ☺

It is a table runner and tea cozy.. and once again it was a dreary day I see!

The quilting is supposed to look like steam coming from the pots and cups.
And then last week I made up this little family.. even though I have a war going on with the real bunnies outside since they ate my yellow crocus for dessert. These wool ones ended up going to a friend for her birthday, and since she now has them.. I can show. ☺

I love Lit and Laundry's blog. Pop on over there today and have a good laugh.. OR a good cry. She is good for both. And maybe join in on her Friday thing. ☺

Tea Swap from Australia

Yippee!.. Happy Day. My Tea Swap present arrived today.. all the way from Australia! I have been really watching my mail box carefully, ever since I figured out that Stephanie paired us up with the same partners. I saw where Bec from OhSewBusy sent out her package last week.. so I knew it was coming to me!.. because that was who I was making something for all along. ☺

The package contained a gigantic Cadbury chocolate bar! We don't ever get this except for the Cadbury Cream Eggs in our Easter baskets.. and those are savored.. so you can imagine my glee!
And then a package wrapped in the cutest dish towel tied with beautiful ribbon...
..look at these adorable cups, creamer and sugar bowl. I just love this!

Nice and absorbent too..

Then when I unwrapped the bow, this was inside..

Delightful Mary Engelbreit pot holder and little fabric basket that Bec made just for me!

Oh I love the cherries! And I don't have anything made with this fabric. THANK you Bec! But wait.. inside the basket...

Yummy coffee. I am more of a coffee drinker than tea, so Bec must have done her homework to discover this. I have not tried this kind before.. so now I will have some!

And also inside the little bag was Fat Quarter of the ME Cherry fabric.. all tied up in the loveliest vintage red ric-rac. I am thrilled with this!

I do not have this deep shade of red ric rac.. it is wonderful. And Bec did such a lovely job on the potholder and bag. She also added a bit of fabric to use in case I wanted to add a loop to hang the pot holder up.. but I like it the way it is.

And a beautiful card with dogwood blossoms. It is that time of year here in the States.. time for blossoms and spring. But the leaves are falling where she lives.

Thank you so much Bec for the lovely gifts.. I am very happy with everything. And thank you Stephanie for hosting such a wonderful swap.

Tea Swap on it's Way...

The gifts for Stephanie's Tea Swap are finally finished.. wrapped.. and on their way..

I have seriously been engulfed in this project mostly non-stop for the past couple of weeks. I had so much fun working on it.. and I hope my partner gets it safe and sound.

The last time I posted here, I was getting ready for Hitty club. Cookies mixed up and decorated like little teapots and ready to go...

I had made some little dresses using the wonderful vintage organdy fabric that Ulla sent me as a Christmas gift..
The girls at club loved the tiny details of the little dancing mice, flying birds, and playing children. A reminder..these dolls are just over six inches high.

And Betsy McCall wore her skating outfit that I crocheted for her last year.

I felt bad that I didn't get anything new made for her this time, but she seemed happy to stand on our work table anyways.

Then the day after Hitty Club we worked at church on some projects for charity.. I took the double four patch quilt top to knot and it was well received. They asked if I could make up a couple more tops so we could have them for our church auction in the fall. I told them the fabrics were not high quality, and I hesitated to put it up for sale.. but they all said "who cares?.. it is lovely and people will buy it anyways!". So I said ok. I have tons. And tons.. of fabric scraps and stuff I can use up for this. Besides.. it is SO much fun. So I started cutting out some more strips..

..and I'm piecing a Roman Stripe.. always wanted to do one of these. ☺

I'm also cutting out some charms for a private swap.. always fun to have a chance to visit my vintage fabrics.

..and I am finally getting to this..

So that's where I am right now. The sun is shining and there is a hint of spring. I heard a Robin singing the other day. And the sun will come up again tomorrow. ☺

....or clouds?

Just another little sneak peek of what I'm working on for Stephanie's Tea Swap. We can't tell too much.. so I hope this isn't too much. Doesn't it look like the swirly tail feathers on a fancy bird?
Well it's not.

So since I can't tell you yet what I'm making.. I'll just say that it feels WONDERFUL to have something in my frame again. I never really realized how much I love hand-quilting. I have got to get that Black and White top done so I have something to work on after this. Maybe this week I'll do that, because I know I'll need to take breaks to let my fingers toughen up.


Lots to do today.. it is supposed to warm up to 48F.. yippee!


Have a happy weekend...

Out the Window

It is a good time to stay indoors. This is the window where my Christmas tree once stood a few weeks ago..

Looks like the snow and ice is bending down our trees outside.. I hope it didn't break off the branches. In the spring, a robin or a cardinal usually builds it's nest right here and I like to watch their family through the window. They don't seem to pay any attention to me as they gather their twigs and fluff to build, then lay and hatch their eggs.

Here is another window.. it is the one I am looking out of most of the time while I'm sewing. That's the neighbor's house next door.. and my lilac bush. One of these days weeks months it will be covered with green leaves and purple buds..
But don't worry. We have come up with a solution to the snow and ice. Mr Attic is buying a snow blower today. That means it won't snow any more and we won't need it!

And here is another bright and cheerful note. A birthday present came in the mail earlier this week from my friend T at Purple&Paisly. She apologized for it being a little late.. but I love getting late birthday gifts! Especially when I am not expecting them. Thank you T! It is the sweetest angel made from a vintage quilt. So soft and pretty.. I love her. I will think of you every time I see her smiling face. You know how much I love these old fabrics.. and the quilting is wonderful!

Would you like to see what I'm working on? I can't really show much.. because we are supposed to keep it a secret.. but I'll leave you with some peeks of my Tea Swap project... I am having SO much fun...

I have put my Black and White quilt on hold for a little bit.. but I am making progress! Thanks for all the encouragement. ☺

Time for Tea

And this is a good time of year for tea.. at least here in Ohio. Maybe Ice Tea if you live Down Under where they are have some warmer weather.

It was -10F this morning, which the weatherman says was not a record here.. we would have to go below -18. But I have to stretch my brain to remember ever seeing negative double digits on the thermometer outside. It is supposed to warm up to 15 this afternoon. That would be like a 60 degree morning warming up to 85. Really fun to think about that!

So anyways.. I am participating in Stephanie's Tea Time Swap. We got our partners yesterday.. and it is supposed to stay a secret. So I will be lurking around on all the blogs on the list so as not to tip anyone off if they are looking at their stats! And I myself will try to start talking more about tea things.. after all I need to make it easier for whoever has my name.

I am not really a big tea drinker.. coffee is always my first choice. But I love Tea Pots on fabric and stitcheries.. anything decorated with cups and saucers and tea pots. My mom left me some beautiful old tea cups and saucers.. I will get those down one day and show them. But here is my old set I had when I was a little girl.. my dolls and I would have tea.
Ok.. so I am stretching it a bit. Not ALL of these pieces were originally mine. This is ACTUALLY what I saved from my childhood...
It never dawned on me until a couple years ago to look on the bottom of the plate and see the name and try to find a replacement dish lid. But I did, and found not only the the broken lid.. but a whole new pitcher with a lid, three more plates so I could replace the one broken, another cup and saucer, and silverware!

And two really sweet awards to show. This first is a new one I have not seen yet.. from Brenda over at Deck the Halls.
Brenda has a pretty blog that gives ideas for decorating in all the seasons. FUN! Thank you so much Brenda.. I am honored to receive this cute award. I love Mary Engelbreit.

And this one I have already, but am so thrilled to get it again from both Mel and Shari. Such cute blogs that I have just recently started reading, and looking forward to all they have to share.. Thank you Shari and Mel!

So now I am off to look around and see what other tea things I can find. Have a great weekend!