Valentine's Day

 I finished a set of four reversible placemats and napkins. 

 It all started with a set of napkins stamped for embroidery I picked up from the thrift store.  The original price was $9.50 but I picked them up for $1.95.  I finished the embroidery on them around August 2014. 

I'm not usually a "neat back" sort of embroiderer; however, I tried to stay neat since these are napkins and according to the packaging are supposed to be used as is because they have a serged edge. I didn't like them like that so decided to make them reversible and threw them in a project box along with possible fabrics to use for the reverse side which were mostly white so they would not show through to the front. And there they sat in the project box. 

Around 2016 after I saw a mini quilt tutorial with hearts at Cluck Cluck Sew I decided to make placemats to go with the napkins. I made four of those and threw them into the project box with the napkins. I didn't really like how the unfinished placemats turned out because I decided there was too much white in them for me.  I threw them into the project box with the napkins. 

I've made it a Finish -Along goal to finish the placemats and napkins several times but just couldn't get motivated to complete them. 

But this year is my year of finishing lots of old things so finished they are.  The placemats are a large size at 14 x 20. They are reversible. The reverse fabric fabric for placemats and napkins came from the Valentine fabric box. I didn't use the whites I had set aside and they are back in the neutral basket now.  The binding came from the Christmas fabric box.  I used bits and pieces of batting inside.  The napkins finish at 11.5 inches. 

This was my goal #28

for

Q1 Finish-Along

What to Do...What to Do

I've finished the embroidery on 3 napkins.

I don't think I'll be able to finish the fourth one today (and I'm so close) because I'm about out of thread and don't want to drive into town after a skein of floss.  Gas is just too expensive. I'll just pick some up on my way home from work tomorrow.  

I picked up a package of these napkins stamped and ready for embroidery at the thrift store for $1.95. The original sticker price was $9.50.  They were stamped for embroidery and have serged edges. According to the directions - after embroidery they are ready for use. 

I tried to keep my embroidery on the back neat. Well, that's REALLY neat for me.  But, I don't think I like the napkins with all that embroidery showing on the back and I really don't like the serged edges either.  So I was thinking about adding a solid white backing.  I think the napkins will look more elegant that way - no serged edges; no embroidery back showing.    These will be a Christmas gift for my daughter. 

What do you think? 

And since I don't have enough embroidery thread to finish my napkins I stamped some pillowcase cuffs with HIS and HERS.  When finished I will store them in the hope chest for my granddaughter along with the Double Wedding Ring quilt I made her. 

Strange thing...notice how there is a vine under the HIS that goes along the edge of the pillowcase?  It's not there for HERS. I looked at the package again and see it's not in the example on the envelope either.  I tried to fit the vine in the same space as HERS but it didn't fit so the letters must be a little bigger on HERS. Very strange.  Wish I had noticed before I had HIS all stamped.   Well,  it will give my granddaughter something to wonder about  in the future when she receives the gifts. 

Are you slow stitching on something today? 

Join the virtual Slow Sunday Stitching bee at Kathy's Quilts. 

When It's Hot and When It's Not

It has been unseasonably cool this year so I've managed to get all the hand quilting around the butterflies and along the back stitching finished...

...and now I'm hand stitching in the ditch around the green sashings. Then I will use a template for some hand stitching IN the border...where it will show. 

And when it is too hot to sit around in a house with no a/c and a quilt on my lap I work on other things.

 I have a habit of picking up things from the thrift store like these four napkins that were originally $9.50 but marked down to $1.95 at the thrift store and in an unopened package. 

 I have a box full of things like this I've been collecting for years (and years and years) so decided it was time to dig into it and work on some things for Christmas gifts.  These napkins will probably go to my daughter since she loves decorating the whole house for holidays (unlike me) and these would be cute for Valentine's Day. I will more than likely add a backing since I don't like those serged seams as a finish.  No floss was included so I get to pick my own colors. 

And, speaking of Christmas...I've got a few potholders that need the binding sewn down. Yes, I hand sew the binding even on potholders.  Oh...and just a tip when making potholders...remember to QUILT the potholders before you add the binding!  (I knew they went together too quickly). 

Working on some Slow Stitching today? 

Join us at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.