Anniversaries of the Heart

Here is my start to the Anniversaries of the Heart series. 

I have barely started February...hope to catch up by the time the April design is released. 

I am stitching all designs on one piece of 40 count bisque from Lakeside Linens.

I hope the fabric color ends up being a good choice.

It's hard to know what to choose when just a fraction of the designs

are available, but I'm sure it will work out.

I am using thread colors of my own choosing...

some as specified, some my preference.

I am dedicating my first month to my grandmother, Anna Bach Gross,

who taught me to embroider and to love fabric and fibers

when I was about eight years old.

I still have to look up the year she was born,

so I can include this in the January block.

Love these little designs.  I can hardly wait to see my BBD village as it takes shape.

BBD Strawberries

We've been talking about making some strawberries...and there are so many patterns and materials from which to choose.  This morning Mary Kathryn (eHandcrafts) has posted some beautiful photos of the BBD strawberries from the Noel book.  Be sure to check out the photos...the link is in the blogs that I follow at the bottom of the screen.

They look good enough to eat...or make.  Now to find the time!

BlackBird's Winter Delivery

Lenore finished the stitching on Loose Feathers No. 5 - BlackBird's Winter Delivery - yesterday.

I think it is way nicer than shown on the flyer.  Really cute finish, Lenore.  Can't wait to see it framed.

Wintry BlackBird Night

For the third straight month we had some pretty wintry weather for our BBD night.  In fact, last month's get together was cancelled because of the weather.  This time it wasn't the volume of snow, but the fact that we  had rain all day, which turned to snow, so there were spots of ice under the inch or so of snow that we got.  It was a little disappointing after the lovely month of March that we have had...but maybe that's the "lion" since March definitely came in like a lamb.

No pix from last night.  I did start on the Anniversaries of the Heart collection.  Lenore continued work on her Valentine piece shown on this blog previously somewhere, I think.  Sorry that I don't remember the name.  It's the alphabet with heart bands between the letters done in a red and greenish color.  Rose started on Sweet Heart from the Joyeux Noel book, and Toni started on the last Loose Feathers publication with birds, birds, and birds everywhere.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Spring is set to return again next week.

Snow Garden

Tonight is our BlackBird night.  Seems like forever since we've gotten together for BlackBird...last month was called off because of snow.

Speaking of snow, I think I will start Snow Garden, the first design in the new Anniversaries of the Heart series.  I picked up the fabric that I ordered yesterday (40 count bisque from Lakeside Linen) and chose some colors that I hope will make my stitched piece look like the photo of their design.  This will be an experiment, because there are a lot of light colors and a light fabric.  We'll see how things work out.  Thanks to Rose and Carol for helping me choose threads.

Although I just started another huge project last weekend...Lauren Sauer's Anniversary Roses...I want to get started on this monthly BBD series.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to actually stitch the pieces as they are published?!  We'll see how that goes.  It never worked too well for me with quilting blocks of the month.

I'll post pix of what everyone else works on by this weekend.

Oh Well...It Was Fun Trying

Well, despite all our efforts to get Rose's comment posted in the contest for the 2011 engagement book on the BBD group, we were not winners.  5 lucky gals were chosen, plus one extra...the person leaving comment number 1, since Alma felt that number 1 would never be randomly chosen!  Cute.

Today on the site she has some scenes from her yard...with about 10 new inches of snow...glad we missed that.  She also shows a book she plans to finish.  How does the woman ever have time to read a book is what I want to know.

Little Contest on BBD Site

Heads up, gals!  Alma has put a new contest on the BBD website (see link in the left margin).  She has a quilt ruffle tutorial and then shows a copy of the BBD 2011 engagement calendar book...filled with her beautiful photos.  She will choose a name on Sunday to win a copy of this.  It promises to be awesome!

Go see and post a comment.  Good luck.

BBD Quilt

Have you seen the new quilt in progress on the BBD site?  It is beautiful.  I wish I was a better quilter...and had more time! 

Speaking of time, I have none right now.  I am just procrastinating before running the errands that I really need to do.  So if you have a minute and haven't seen it, check out the quilt and the scalloped borders.  Beautiful.  Sounds like a beautiful book coming out.  How do they do it all?  Got to run!

BBD Things New and Old

To the left is a photo of my finished and framed February Hearts.  How good it feels to have something totally completed!  I hung it on an empty nail that I use for seasonal items in my great room.  Just extending the Valentine feeling into Spring, I guess!

23 of us got together at Rose's on Saturday for a stitching weekend...on the first spring-like weekend here.  How rejuvinating and fun.  Thanks, Rose.

Lots of buzz about all the fun new items from the Nashville market.  I think the most excitement that I've seen has been generated by the new BBD book, Honeysuckle Manor.  Those gals really know how to put together a work of art.  Just dreaming your way through the book is great fun.

Love the first two designs in Anniversaries of the Heart.  I'm trying to decide whether to stitch them as individuals or together as suggested.  I'm mulling over fabric colors in case I decide to stitch them together, which is a big decision.  All part of the process.

The two little bird patterns are cute, too.  I've stitched the Bluebird; it is half way through becoming a little pin cushion.  Still waiting for the back ordered square pattern with the red bird.  Also a quick and easy stitch.  Those feel good once in a while, don't they?!

I hope all of you are in a Spring mood, looking forward to what is to come.  Enjoy your day.

On the Verge of Spring (?)