Where to begin, when the words don't want to come?

I had planned on posting earlier in the week and time got away from me. I haven't even been keeping up with my blog reading and commenting, and my response time for comments on my blog seems to be lacking as well. Does anyone else ever have this problem? I have so many things that i could be talking about and yet i just don't. When i could be writing a post i've been avoiding it in favour of doing some more sewing, so i'll apologize now if my posts are few and far between for the next little while. And i hope you all still stick around because i will still be here, and i love sharing my projects with you all! I guess lately i feel like it's just the same thing over and over again here. More Penny Sampler, more open wide zip pouches (i have another to share today!), more projects started and will we ever see the finishes? So i guess that's where i'm at.  And now rereading that it sounds as if i'm feeling sorry for myself, which i'm not, i just don't want to bore anyone with a whole lot of the same thing over and over again!

 So to share today i have... More Penny Sampler Stuff! Huzzah! (sorry!)

My tea service is done! Those that follow me on Instagram (@snippets101)  have already seen this but i just love it so much that i had to share! If ever anyone comes across a tea set that looks like this let me know, i would love to own it!!

I also managed to get caught up with some of my other blocks,

Crossroads, Boxed In and Framed are all done!

So as of a few days ago my Penny Sampler looked like this,

Please ignore the herringbone block on the left side, it's my october bee block and i needed to keep it somewhere safe until i could mail it.

So, you'll maybe have noticed that i said looked like this. And again for those that follow me on Instagram you already know where this is going. I've been staring at this for so long thinking that i didn't like my newest three blocks, especially boxed in (upper right with the tea cup) They were all looking too crisp, know what i mean? Turns out that i do in fact like them and it's the background fabric i chose for all the little pluses and the sashing that i don't like! So out came ripper and now my Penny Sampler looks like this!

I still need to take out the piece in between the top and bottom sections of my Hanging Diamonds (the long block on the left of the quilt).

I already like it so much more! As for a replacement fabric, ideally i would like to use the pale grey crosshatch print from Architextures, but i don't have enough and my LQS doesn't have any more in stock. So i have a couple other fabrics in mind that i want to check out when i can get in there, maybe Pearl Bracelet in Hiho Silver? I'm wanting a subtle colour that just fades into the background. We'll see. I've also decided that i don't have it in me to remake all 17 of the little plus blocks again. So i'll just be adding in the strips of fabric and then i'm thinking i may either embroider all the pluses back on or wait until i'm finished and hand quilt them all on. What do you guys think? So yeah, that's how things are going with my Penny Sampler!

I also have been working on a shower gift for a friend of mine, i finished the nesting bowls and divided basket last week and have now added an open wide zip pouch into the mix!

I used Heather Ross's Hex Bee print in lilac with a strip of Pearl Bracelet in Meyer Lemon? (i think). And a coordinating lilac solid for the bottom.
I though it would be nice to have a little zip she could throw into her purse with some little things for herself and maybe a little bit of stuff for the baby.

So in keeping with the "bee" theme, what better products than Burt's Bee's. I love this stuff!

The inside of the pouch i used another Pearl Bracelet print, this time Persimmon? (i really need to keep better track of the fabrics i buy!)

Perfect!

And here's a lovely little shot of the whole gift!

I managed to find a bunch of vintage Disney Little Golden Books to add into the divided basket to go with the lining fabric! I also still have a a couple of swaddling blankets that i want to make with some super soft flannel that i picked up, i may or may not get them done on time. Shower's tomorrow! I hope she likes it all!
(And just so everyone knows, this gift is also from my mom and my little sister as well! my budget doesn't allow me to be quite this extravagant!) I can now check this one as done on my Q4 FAL list! And i would also like to thank Gina for the absolutely perfect AMH Folksy Flannel i used for the back drop fabric! I'll be sharing soon what it's going to be used for!

This week i also manage to finish up Sammy's Halloween costume. He asked to be a pirate and wanted Max to be his first mate so he could boss him around! Well, i happened to come across a super cute parrot costume while out shopping with my little sis and thought... under twenty bucks, and one less costume to make? Done! So instead of a first mate for Sammy, he got a parrot!

So stinking cute!

I managed to scale back Sammy's wish list for his costume, there was a very firm no to allowing him a boat. He wasn't too happy about that. I also said no to the peg leg, again not pleased. But i told him i would gladly get him a sword, hook and spyglass. He also needed an eye patch (that Max ended up wearing over one of the bird eyes) and asked if he could have a beard and mustache. None of which lasted out the front door!

His costume started with a trip to the thrift shop. I picked up a ladies blouse and was super excited when i found the leather vest with matching (horrid) belt! The pants are a boys size 7 (Sam is in a 3-4) I was able to just cinch them around his waist with one of his own belts after cutting the bottoms off. They're a linen cotton blend so after cutting them off i just gave them a good shake and they frayed perfectly!

The blouse on the other hand was more tricky. I had to remove the sleeves and take in the width of the whole shirt as well as the armpits. Then reattach the sleeves, remove the cuffs and add elastic to give them a more piratey feel. I took the width of the vest in at the sides and the back then just hacked it off at the bottom and called it done. As for the belt, i obviously had to pop new holes in the large belt and the stripey one is just a WOF strip from my stash.

Another of his requests was for a treasure chest (i have no idea how he was planning on carrying all this stuff). I instead made him a candy bucket out of wood grain fabric. I wish i had a better photo of it.

sorry for the lousy IG!

I used the Nova nesting bowls pattern in the 7 inch size and added a leather handle. He loved it and carried it around from house to house on his hook!

Finally, here's a shot of Sammy teaching Max what to do when they get to someones door.

Nothing cuter than a pirate and his parrot in rubber boots!

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!
High fives for candy!!
xo snips

I'm off to cut more fabric for my Penny Patch.