Frustrated and Falling Behind (Again)

Time just keeps whizzing by.  Sometimes I wonder, what do I DO every day?  Ah well.

When we were traveling last month, I picked up an issue of one of the British stitching magazines because it had a cute little kit in it - for a "Wise Old Owl" scissor case.  It was on aida fabric, which isn't my favorite, but since I was not home with a choice of  fabrics to swap, I just used the kit materials.  

(pic from magazine website)

Well, I finished the stitching a few nights ago, and was quite excited to asemble the whole thing.  But...thanks to the horrifically stiff aida....I just could NOT get it to turn right-side out after I attached all the pieces.  :(  My backing actually separated from the aida, and after much swearing and unhappiness, I took it apart and left the pieces on my work table for a time when I have more patience.  Which may be never.

As I was skimming through the rest of the magazine, this pattern caught my eye - 

pic from magazine website)

Now, the colors aren't my cup of tea, but the idea reminded me of this - 

(pic from magazine)

An old pattern from (I think) Cross Stitch & Country Crafts!  I like the older pattern better, and was actually considering stitching it for some family members.  But it just goes to show you, everything comes back around eventually...

I've also dipped my feet back into the quilting ocean, and have been having fun with this pattern.  However, since I don't have the collection of fabrics (and it isn't really my kind of "theme," anyway), I've played around with a bunch of stuff from my stash plus 3 or 4 other pieces and changed it to a pirate quilt!!  Maybe instead of "In the Forest" I'll call it..."In the Brig"?  LOL  I'll have a pic of my progress there soon.