My Second Best Thrift Find, Summer Hand Stitching, Cold Water Swimming

The birds are sweetly singing and the earth is blossoming forth as the old saying goes. What a treat to be in June, even a June that is only slightly sunny with a cool edge to the breezes. And the beautiful flowers don't seem to mind at all. I love my Irises.

And this combination of colours...the purple, violet and deep down, that extreme yellow...

I finally got into another thrift store. And the sentence You need this like you need a hole in the head definitely applied. I have a small collection of dog figurines mostly found during my thrift store jaunts. When I spied this one of a German Shepherd so like Rex I just had to have it even though it had a very unthrifty price tag of $22. It is in mint condition and features the Alsatian German Shepherd with the sloping back just like Rex. 

I got excited when I recognized the mark of a V and an embedded number-CH 618, on the bottom- I knew this was a Goebel, the Hummel figurine folks. My dog turned out to be my second best thrift find next to my Petit Point Dish Set. Oh my. Here is what one seller on Etsy is charging. Approximately C $166.73!

Here is Rex under our tree back in 2012 and I still tear up just thinking about him. Beautiful and faithful, the best boy ever ( I can't let Ned hear me say that.)

My other real bargain was this long summer shirt by Olsen. I paid $13.98 for it and I know a shirt like this would be over a hundred dollars brand new.  

Finds like these...things I love and that are sure bargains is why I love thrift stores. You really never know what you will spy but for me, the genuine fun and enjoyment is always in the hunt.

I got a chance to do some veranda slow stitching last Sunday. With a light sweater, the temperature was lovely though the mosquitoes were awful and I had to use some bug spray- which I hate- to be comfortable. Here I'm stitching Floralies from Canevas Folies which is an online shop in Switzerland. I think they now have PDF options too which they didn't have when I bought this kit. I have my eye on their Christmas Robin design. 

 I also am stitching more handles for my Baskets Love project. I got myself organized and made a bit of an assembly line. 

I'm using blanket stitch around the edges. This is a project destined for the wall not a bed so it can afford to be somewhat flimsily hand stitched by me. 

I'm doing well with my summer sewing machine challenge to myself. I've now finished four stringed blocks. More about that next time.

I'm enjoying seeing how so many of you are embracing June's RSC colour, orange. Wow, so many lovely blocks and projects in that colour. I like how some are making Halloween blocks which is clever to get so ahead in the quilting game, LOL. So Scrappy hosts the weekly party.

Our pool is open and I've been swimming which feels wonderful. I've decided not to heat it this year as I enjoy how the cold makes me feel. I have no idea if it helps the immune system or has any other health benefits as such. We are all different and what works for one might not for another. But I believe this is good for me. In fact, something I do all the time is turn my shower to cold before I finish...it seems to liven me up which improves my mood. Tony is totally aghast at the very thought of doing this! Are you with Tony? 

LeeAnna's, Not Afraid of Color, prompt this week has to do with learning to swim. I learned when I was 9 or 10 at the Margaret Bowater Park, Corner Brook, Newfoundland where the beautiful Humber River flowing through formed a mostly natural swimming area. I wasn't a strong swimmer, still not, so very cautiously always stayed in the cordoned off section. 

Come to think of it, maybe those early cold water swimming experiences set me up to enjoy it all my life. Who knows!

Anyway, hope there is lots of the good stuff happening in your life to liven you up!

June New Starts of All Sorts And a Sweet Stitchy Gift

June is a month of new starts of all sorts!

The robins on the front veranda have started their family. I had the step ladder ready and waited till they were over on the far lawn to grab a quick shot of their nest. Two things that impress me about robins...their nest is always a thing of beauty in construction...so strong I've seen them last many winters and the other thing is the rich, gorgeous colour of the eggs they lay. Crayola makes a crayon that is robin's egg blue and the famous Tiffany's trademarked blue is a shade of robin's egg blue. 

It is not just the flowers budding and in bloom these early June days. Our little forest here features many pine, fir and spruce trees that I tried to identify and record my first year. Coming from a heavily forested province like Newfoundland and Labrador, I really should have known more about trees. This large bud below is called a candle and if it survives, will grow into a new branch on one of our pine trees. 

Thinking of beautiful forests, it is dreadful to hear of all the out of control forest fires out west. So much devastation, worry and upheaval too. The smoke has made it to our skies here in Ontario and we have had moderate risk air quality warnings lately. I read the smoke from the Manitoba fires reached as far as Russia!

While England Quakers is in time out, I began G. Leger 1898, a piece I've had prepped and ready to go since the pandemic. This design has several favourite features like two alphabets and pears- two of them as well, birds and a wonderful red house. 

 I'm comfortable stitching with one thread now and kind of proud of myself for giving that a go and sticking with it. And there is a very positive aspect to one strand cross stitching.. it is so much easier to make neat stitches than with wrangling two threads. I'm very happy with this new start.

I do have to be careful with eye strain so am using my Ott light on the highest level and stitching only during the day, not at night. And look at this, a needle minder that resembles a heavy piece of jewelry. It is a sweet gift from a reader. 

She said she didn't want to see me stabbing my fabric anymore. That gave me a smile as she'd read that I'd written that quite a while ago.☺ (It is always a surprise to me that folks are reading and paying attention to what I say!) How neat that it is a bee for me...I love it. 

I'm reading this book by one of my old favourite authors and enjoying it. The premise in a nutshell is...you are married, slightly unhappily, with teenaged children and your first boyfriend contacts you... the one you madly, crazily loved...what to do? Mostly told from the man's perspective which made it all the more interesting. But can/will these soulmates give up their present lives to start a new one???

Petey is very attentive to my every move and is always watching me. Here he is tired from ball playing but trying to keep his eyes open and his head pressed against my leg, an uncomfortable position for sure. What a loving dog!

Last week was a very busy one for us and really cut into sewing time. I'm happy to have this appointment free week so I can get in the sewing room again. Here is Block 1 of my quilting new start and it's looking rather lonely.

But these blue string blocks are calling my name and perhaps they will keep on calling till I get to the bottom of my tote...wouldn't that be nice. Dream on!

Hope there is something wonderful calling your name too!

Happily sharing this post with Melva Loves Scraps, Quilt Schmilt, Alycia Quilts,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and The Inquiring Quilter. A big thank you to all these wonderful hosts!

Summer Machine Stitching Plan, Pretty Blooms, EPP Starry Hexagons, Fine Hair Help

Well, it's June and someone should tell the weather that. We had an overnight frost warning one night last week and someone told me there were snowflakes in the air one afternoon. I didn't see that, perhaps because of all the rain pouring down in spits and starts around us here at the wooden house. And it's been cold, single digits most of last week climbing into double by day's end. This week it's been climbing higher and yesterday we had a hint of humidity- so maybe the sputtering start is about to end. 

But the blooming doesn't seem to mind the cooler temps. I have about ten of these flower bunches on my old Lilac tree. Such a striking colour and a shame the tree is so elderly. This pretty bicolour is called Sensation or English Lilac. 

The Bridal Wreath Spirea is starting to put on a show too and crowding the other bushes. It's a very hardy, low maintenance bush that I highly recommend.

And though sadly only briefly in bloom, the Primrose flowers added bright colour to the back yard beds. 

The colour for this month's RSC is also a bright one- orange, not a colour I use much. I like it for pumpkins, fall leaves and oranges (the fruit), but not so much in my quilting. As a result, I have very little orange in my stash but I did turn up a couple old pieces, enough to make these two starry EPP hexagons. Still loving this project...easy night time hand stitching. If you want to see lovely hand stitching check out Kathy's Slow Stitching Party HERE.

Summer Machine Stitching Plan

Most of you folks do not need an actual plan to get in the sewing room and stitch but apparently I do. But since moving my sewing room back to the original little one and making it so comfortable and cozy in there, I'm determined to use it more. I thought I'd further encourage myself by choosing a quilt pattern totally suited to easy machine stitching. Of course, a string quilt probably qualifies best for just that and it happens I have lots of strings in the scrap bin. To that end, I'm sorting to begin a string quilt. Think I'll start with blues as there are far more of those for some reason ?? Wish me luck! 

It's so easy to find inspiration on YouTube too and turns out, there are many variations of String blocks.  But I also enjoyed this post by Emily at Quilty Love and followed her advice for a couple of things. One, to use a foundation piece of fabric to help with stability and accuracy. 

And two, to choose one colour for the center string of each block to add a little oomph to the final overall look. 

So I'm stitching my traditional string blocks using 9 inch squares and because they're blues, a pretty middle yellow stripe will brighten the overall look.  

I'd thought of using the red for the center string to make it a patriotic project. 

So Block #1 went together quickly... I just have to get in that room and keep the blocks coming! Hopefully I'll have several to show you soon.

I've found a new texturizing hair product that I like, the Kenra Platinum Whipped Taffy. I was careful to use a tiny amount the first time but have worked up to the recommended bit. Though pricier than my usual products, it definitely makes my fine hair look thicker. I first saw it recommended by a Youtuber and ordered it from good old Amazon.

Well, it's off to pick up Tony's meds and treats for the dogs. Here is beautiful music if you are in need of something soothing to listen to today... Anne of Green Gables: Joy of Spring but equally lovely if you are moving into winter where you are. 

Have a great weekend!

  Do drop over to Not Afraid of Color where folks are sharing their likes for this week. Also wonderful to have linky parties to share with like these...The Inquiring Quilter, Alycia Quilts and Creations Quilts Art.

8 Marvelous Things This Week

We have a Phoebe nest on the abandoned sound box on the back of the house and a robin's nest on the front veranda. I tried to discourage the robin because, years ago, the last to nest there came to a sad end. But my banging about out there didn't work. How I wish she had chosen the light on the wall just opposite her. Last year's robin family did quite well there. 

This was a good week for me and here are some of the things that made it so. 

 #1This bird below is another first for me! I know I've never seen one before. At first glance, I thought it was some kind of swallow. But no, from my birding books, I think it is an Eastern Kingbird. While staying put only a minute, I was lucky to manage a couple of shots. A pretty looking bird.

Part of what made it a good week was getting lots done in the garden-between rain showers- and around the house too. I tidied the small garage where I park the car and cleared out more trash. For me, it always feels good to be getting rid of stuff. 

And we have a house guest. Ned's brother, Petey, is staying with us for a couple of weeks. He is getting a little slower and is not as rambunctious as he once was. He's a sweetheart of a dog who we would keep if Beth and family would let us. Here they are tired out from a little ball playing in the backyard. And that is a good thing for me too...keeps me moving. Enjoying keeping up with Petey and the added benefit of being able to help out family is #2.

The last time I sorted scraps I put aside a bag of small ones and started a new leaders/enders project on the machine. I cut 3 inch squares from a thrifted cotton sheet at night in front of the tv. (mostly remembering to use my pinking shears) and, in the sewing room, am sewing a little bit of coloured scrap to one corner. So my #3 is having a satisfying, very easy machine stitching project to do, one you don't have to think about. 

Layout to be determined later

Also satisfying stitching...the last of my EPP starry hexagons in greens- had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find these but happy to be moving this RSC project along. 

 I realize I have a theme when it comes to projects and feelings. First I get excited, then I get critical and it doesn't take long for one to turn into the other. Being critical can stymy creativity and progress that's for sure. Does that happen to you? But then, maybe months later, I'll pick up said project and get going again as if the crisis in faith never happened. Sometimes I'll even feel excited about it again. Maybe that's just me. Do you find your interest ebbs and flows?  I saw this quote over at Michele's  3 P's and a Nana post and thought it brilliant. #4 is when we find words/sayings that amuse, inspire or motivate us to keep going.

It's so nice to visit folks who just seem to keep producing beautiful quilts. Like Jeni at In Color Order. She just finished a gorgeous take on the vintage schoolhouse pattern. She used old sheets and has made a vibrant beautiful and summery quilt. I actually have one of the sheets she used! And there is always a good selection of sheets to be found at thrift stores, a win on a couple of levels. 

HERE is a link to Jeni's Quilting Category and you'll see why I like her work. I think I could stitch them too. #5 is enjoying all the online wonderful, hard working quilters and the inspiration they give us. 

Paige Alexander reproduced a page of an old hand writing practice manual in this quilt. It is hard for me to believe that cursive writing is no longer taught in school. It used to be thought an essential life skill and I enjoyed the little writing practice book we worked our way through in grade 3. I was a bit of a nervous student so this time would have been calm and relaxing for me.  Anyway. what a neat quilt! She is found on instagram  @quiltedblooms.  #6 is when we find something that stirs good memories and the internet sure is great for that.

A couple of things I'm checking out... Dish podcast on YouTube daughter told me about. They have celebrity guests each show. I watched the one with Stephen Fry and enjoyed it very much.

And English Heritage ...In this episode, Mrs. Crocombe makes Sad Cakes, the kind that would have been fed to servants. What a great name but I would call them cookies.

Besides cooking and baking, they cover a wide range of topics including Elizabeth 1's makeup routine, for instance. Finding great podcasts/channels- especially ones you can stitch to- on YouTube is #7.

And #8 is the reason I keep writing this blog. Having readers who take their time to write me and share their ideas, wisdom and kind words always brighten my day and is the best thing about having a blog.  

Be sure to drop over to Not Afraid of Color where LeeAnna and other folks are sharing their likes this week too. 

Happy Weekend All!

Glad too to link with Alycia Quilts, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Creations Art Quilts.

Two Stitchy Projects Updates, Birding News, And My Purchase

A piece of my plant broke and I stuck it in this little single sprig bird vase.

I enjoyed seeing the tiny bud open and then when I took it out, a root was growing! It is now planted in soil.

Growth is amazing!

Here is the blouse I purchased at Simon's on my Mother's Day trip to Ottawa. It is roomy, light and airy. The tag says it's made of 100% cotton but definitely not the kind of cotton we quilt with as this is so light. 

Thank you for all your comments on my POST about looking for summer dresses! With how cool it's been, I've not been in a hurry to actually order anything. I enjoyed reading your responses about how you dress these days. A lot of us are choosing comfort over fashion it appears. When I think back to the decades of wearing panty hose...ugh. It's now hard for me to believe but at one of the school boards I first worked with, women wearing trousers was frowned upon, so we all wore skirts/dresses. Sounds like the dark ages, doesn't it. 

A First! We had a pair of Canada Geese choose our little pond for nest building. I didn't know what was going on as in why one of them was sitting on the bank so much.  And why the two of them were always there. I thought the one on land all the time might be injured and we discussed whether we should call the Wild Bird Centre. This is the male always nearby. I think this just might be the pair I've photographed earlier and shared with you.

And here is the female taken from a great distance. You can see why I thought she might be sick/injured.

It turns out they had built a nest and had a tiny family! A first for this property.

 Through binoculars, I was so surprised to see two active looking goslings with the mother still on the nest one morning. I kept staring hardly believing what I was looking at. Two days after that sighting, they had all disappeared. I panicked thinking the young had been subject to a predator. But then I read Canada Geese leave the nesting area within 24 to 72 hours of hatching and move to whatever water is nearest. Goslings are born pretty much able to walk and swim. There are many rivers and ponds around so they would have lots of choices. 

With them gone I was able to visit the nest. There are the remains of one egg and it looks like one egg didn't hatch. I definitely watched two active goslings; in fact, my second day, very early morning spying, they were trying to get down the bank to the water which I thought was amazingly soon after hatching. The mother plucked goose down from her breast to insulate the eggs just like I'd read about online.

I think this was a new mother to have chosen our tiny bit of wetland/pond. But it was so peaceful down there when I would visit, staying far away of course. All the birds singing, frogs croaking and deer stopping by for a drink. No one to bother them but that lone old woman creeping around. I do hope the little ones got a good start at least.

 The RSC hosted over at Super Scrappy Starry Hexagons project is going well...my goal is to stitch two a week and I've done that no problem. I have over 50 stitched so far. I'll have to find a larger container. That's a sprig off the very old English Ivy- they are so hardy you just can't kill it. 

And I'm stitching Block 2 of Liberty's Birds. This is meant to be the center block so is a little more elaborate than the others. More doodads and I'm doubting the size of the yellow flowers (?). Why do I always worry about details like this. But they are too big so will probably redo them.

I'm also having doubts about the shape of the eagle that is meant to go across the center. You have to use your imagination to see the bird. I'm going to search online to see if I can find a simpler shape that would portray it better.

But first I have to shorten a pair of Tony's summer trousers. He has lost some weight since last summer for sure. Speaking of which, we had a good meeting with the local cardiologist. Tony did fine with the stress test so nothing showed up there. Dr. Wei mentioned Chronic Fatigue Syndrome so we had a chat about that. Anyway, Tony is going to be booked for a Nuclear Heart test to further explore his extreme fatigue issue. 

I hope you are having a good weather and stitching day wherever you are!

Sharing this post with Melva Loves Scraps, The Quiltery and The Inquiring Quilter.

 

Scrappiest Quilt Ever, Shivery Spring

It's been dreary weather-wise this week. Very wet and also cold. Early mornings flirted with freezing but for one managed to hold at 0C. My winter jacket has been pressed into service again but I'm very thankful it is not snow like so many parts of Canada and the U.S. have been getting.  And the weather hasn't held back the wonderful growth surrounding the Wooden House. These tiny grape Hyacinth type flowers dotted the side yard. Their colour is gorgeous.

And these pink mallow like flowers are all over the place too.  

There are many wild violets in various shades, pinks and mauve. This little guy below has been eating them we notice. Yes, two little groundhogs showed up one day and Tony watched as one of them proceeded across the back lawn eating just the flowers. They are probably from the same litter and are quite plump.

I really enjoyed the series, The Residence. Great performances and I loved the White House, the largest replica of the actual property ever created, right down to the secret passages and doorways. Years ago I read Upstairs at the White House by J. B. West (I'm guessing that's why the head usher in the show was A.B.) and enjoyed it so much. I think I've read it twice. He was head usher through six presidencies and I loved all the details and the decision making involved always behind the scenes. I especially enjoyed reading about Christmases at the White House and menu details...I still remember how Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, would eat off tv trays some nights watching their favourite shows. E.B.'s exemplary loyalty was not to the person but to the presidency and the White House.

Of course, it goes without saying how much I loved Cordelia and her bird watching antics.

This week has been busy with several appointments and a couple of visitors here, a very infrequent but enjoyable thing. I've felt a bit distracted so I went in the sewing room and did a couple of mindless tasks like sorting strings (where did they come from?) and rearranging the furniture. What I had before was too jumbled so I removed one fold down table and it doesn't feel as claustrophobic in there now. 

When I went to Newfoundland last year, I brought back the first quilt I ever made. A very, very scrappy Crazy Quilt. It measures 84 in. x 64 in.

It has a very long history as I began it soon after my first daughter was born.

 I didn't have a sewing machine so every thing was hand sewn. I remember cutting 10 inch squares of background fabric and spending evenings stitching these little pieces of fabric on. I bought the bags of scraps at Woolworths and used old clothes, etc. Friends gave me fabric too.

The little dog is from one of the girls' baby blankets and is the only flannel pieces in it.

 It took several years to complete with all the embroidering and is very heavy having four layers. I have a memory of it being across the bottom of the bed when I lived in Pangnirtung, Baffin Island so it must have been finished there. I noted that on this block with Pang's famous mountains. It is hand tied with yarn. 

All of the pieces have embroidery of some sort around them though I see there are a couple of  small gaps. I added many of these sunshine motifs and tree sprigs throughout so I must have been fond of those.

I must have seen this kind of patchwork quilt in a library book or magazine. Mom was not sewing quilts in those years so I don't know for sure where the idea of me doing any of this came from. I had learned embroidery basics from a library book in high school and stitched several wool embroidery projects from kits while in university residence. When I think of all this, wow, what a nerd I was!

 And I'm glad I did not bring this with me when I first moved here to Ontario as it would have been lost in my fire. 

It is a true Crazy Quilt. 

Check out the folks over at Not Afraid of Color who are talking about Memorial Day activities. Meanwhile I have lots more to chat about too. Next time!

Sharing this post with fabulous linky parties...Quilting Patchwork Applique, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Kathy's Quilts and Sew & Tell.