I love this little guy!

How cute is this little sheep? He is a part of my July block for Bunny Hill's A Tisket, A Tasket freebie BOM.

OK - see those blue lines...those are a removable marker, by the way. I am trying to help myself regulate the size of my blanket stitches. I was having a terrible time, so decided to try anything. Blanket stitching is one of the few things I have never really done.

How about his face? Something I did not plan...those little blue polka dots were just a part of the pattern on the fabric. When I turned the fabric over, I had the perfect little eyes for my sheep!

Whew!

I love the holidays...honestly, I do....But (you knew that was coming, right?)....all the work and preparation for about everyone's enjoyment of about half an hour is just too much sometimes. Don't get me wrong. I love having my family and friends all together to celebrate Thanksgiving. It's just that "I" don't want to be the one having to do all the preparation. For a couple of years, we celebrated at a very wonderful restaurant. It was great....walk in, enjoy everyone's company, eat all the delicious food...leave the dishes for someone else to take care of...and leave! ;) This year, I left the choice up to my father as to whether we would go to this restaurant again or have it at my house. So it was at my house. It was very nice and enjoyable, and I'm not sorry I did it...but I am already thinking about next year....;) I wonder if it's too early to make reservations? ;)

Anyway, my stitching has definitely suffered a bit during this time. But....a little Christmas stitching got done (which I cannot show). I am going to try to work on something I can post a picture of...but in the meantime....something old...
These were some of the little "freebies" Martina Weber gave you as part of her mystery sign-up several years ago. Each one is from a different mystery and gives an example of some of the threads used in the mystery itself.

It's Done!!

Rabbit Run
(There will be better pictures once I hang this on the wall, I promise!)

I put the last stitches in on my bunnies this morning! They are all ready for Thanksgiving! Woohoo! Happy Dance Time!

Blocks #5 and #6....

plus more bunnies! I have been quilting on my Rabbit Run....only the two side borders to go!
(The white marks on the bottom border are from the chalk pen marker I used-it will come off with water.)














And I also finished the piecing on Blocks #5 and #6 for my Vintage Christmas:

Now you know those stray threads weren't there when I put the quilt block on the table, right? I think little gremlins come flying in as soon as they see me with my camera out! ;)
And Block #6:

More quilting

I finished the hand quilting in the center of my Rabbit Run quilt. Today I machine quilted the "brick" border. I machine stitched in the "mortar". I think I am going to machine quilt the checkerboard sections next.











Here's a close-up of the "mortar" stitching:

The big picture

Since there was a question or two about the overall quilt...here it is.
It was stretched out on the kitchen table, so a little difficult to get the entire thing in the picture...But at least you can see what will be quilted next...(probably the brownish border and the checkerboard borders..)

(I keep giving the wrong name for this one...It is Rabbit Run by Bunny Hill Designs. The original quilt was shown as being done in lavenders...I tried to use those colors, but just couldn't make them work together. Anyway...these colors are more "me.")

Switching Gears

(again!)....I have been wanting to do some actual "quilting" on the quilt tops that I have completed. Out came Bunny Run...a little stipple quilting...a little outline quilting...and some background fill-in with the checkerboard quilting....

Isn't it funny how you forget? I honestly do not know why I stopped quilting so many years ago...I do like it. Buying the fabric...all the new gadgets....the patterns...assembling....hmmmmm....maybe it had something to do with how much I was spending on it! :))

But ~ my favorite part? The actual quilting....not necessarily the machine quilting...which is OK....but the hands-on, hand quilting. Very soothing-very comforting...very cozy to be holding a nice warm blanky on your lap as you quilt it!