Reviving a UFO

I used to do a lot of counted cross stitch pictures.  Then, I got more interested in quilting and the cross stitch went by the wayside.  You may remember "Frank", the CCS picture I did in 2015 for slow Sunday Stitching.  This year, while looking for something in my sewing room, I came across a snowman picture that was started many years ago--the pattern is from 1997, but never finished. I decided to try to finish this picture.  I had to find a hoop and a CCS needle as well as getting the pattern enlarged because my eyes are not quite as good as they used to be...

Here is how the picture looked last week...

 And here is what I got done today while sitting outside in my gazebo:

Snowman number three is starting to take on a bit of shape.

Last weekend, we went to visit my MIL so I did some EPP in the car on the way there and home again.  The plus sign fabric is a recent addition to my stash and is perfect for my EPP plus sign project!

Here are all three plus signs made in the car:

I have 27 plus signs made now.  I'm thinking of adding some grey and yellow plus signs as well.  I'm still not sure exactly what I am making with all of these yet.  So far, I am just having fun with the EPP!

My husband and I took a cooking class this week.  We have done this a few times before and come home with new recipes, handy tips and ideas as well as full stomachs.  Here are some pictures of some of the dishes we had to eat.

The class was themed on vegetables you might grow in your garden...tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, fresh herbs, arugala, eggplant, green beans, etc.  I can't wait to try out some of the recipes the next time we have friends or family over for supper!

I will be linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching.

Catching Up

Wow..it has been over two weeks since I last blogged!  Life has been busy and I have not had much sewing time lately so there was nothing to blog about...

Today was the Janiary meeting of the London Modern Quilt Guild.  In the morning, after the announcements, one of our members taught English paper piecing.  We were each given some paper hexagons and a needle.  I brought along a couple of 2.5" charm packs to use.  

I made a flower this morning and started another one tonight when I got home.  I'm not sure what I will make with these but I will keep making them until I run out of the gray and black fabrics In the charm pack.  

After lunch, another member of the guild taught us how to make zipper pouches.  I used some camera fabric that has been in my stash for at least a year and some leftover fabric from my daughter's graduation quilt to make my pouch.  I had the zipper as well. By the end of the day, my pouch was done! 

The pouch pattern came from the  Noodlehead blog and now that I know how to make it, I may try making some more in different sizes!  

I am late to the party, but I decided to make this year's Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt.  So far, I have the neutral four patches from step one just about done.  

I'm not in a rush to get this quilt done, but will work away on it as I have time.  I have fabrics chosen out for all of the other blocks in the quilt and they are set aside.  

Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts is having a Christmas quilt sew along so I decided to jump in and make a new Christmas quilt.  It is only one block every two weeks so I hope to be able to stay caught up.  I made my first block tonight...Christmas stockings! 

I hope to get Elephant Parade back on the rails soon too.  It was put aside in favour of sewing Christmas gifts.  

Here is my final stash report for 2016...better late than never!  

Fabric used since my last stash report: 61.35yards
Total fabric used  in 2016: 122.45 yards
Fabric added to the stash since my last report: 44.5 yards.
Total fabric added in 2016: 112.25 yards
Net fabric used in 2016:  10.2 yards

At least I landed in the black!

I will link up with Kathy and the other Slow Sunday Stitchers tomorrow.