Slow Stitching, Patchwork Testing, Puzzles Too

 This is a painting by William Kurelek called "Balsam Avenue After Heavy Snowfall", 1972.  This area of Toronto just had a huge snowfall so I imagine the present day residents doing just this. Shovelling snow is certainly something all Canadians are very familiar with. Do you like the way William used pops of colour here in what otherwise would be a drab background?

We have an extreme cold warning this morning. It is just -23C but there is a wind making it feel like -34C. Be assured I wear all the gear for our walks so I'm quite comfortable and so far I've been able to stick to the 30 minutes of fresh air morning and afternoon. Tramping about makes me feel so good and, of course, the dogs love their runabout.   

Speaking of which, I have three dogs for the weekend. We are looking after Abby, Ned and Petey's mother. Her family is off to a hockey tournament in North York which puts them about a 35 minute drive from Balsam Avenue. They are very busy but it's fun busy which is great.

 

 Meanwhile, our busy is completely different but we are managing the ups and downs. Tony's CT scan got postponed because of weather so that is now next week. Thank you all for the very good wishes about that. I'll keep you posted. But while speaking of these things I must mention our stitching friend, Coni, who is the Spinster Stitcher. I've been following her since she began her blog in 2008, through the loss of her much loved little dog, Stewy, and her kidney transplant journey. She is very ill again just now with a perforated colon. She now has a colostomy so her journey towards good health continues. 

I've been busy stitching. I finished the house on What Remains is Love and have the large central flower almost finished. I chose a slightly brighter red than the called for to make it stand out. I also turned the house into a one story just like the house I grew up in. I had to unstitch the middle of the leaves. I thought the colour looked too light against the outline colour; I'll look in my floss collection to find a colour that blends better. 

I'm enjoying that crossword book and though rated medium,some of the clues stump me. I go back and forth between despairing because I can't remember something I think I should know to feeling awesome because I did remember something. Do you do crosswords? This corresponds with LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt for this week. As you all know, I also love jigsaws too and will be getting one out soon. Meanwhile, I find it relaxing to do an online free Jigsaw almost daily from Jigidi. I'm working my way through the Winter section favouring puzzles that feature birds or cosy houses in woods. I also do 7 Little Words and enjoy that challenge very much. 

Back to Cross Stitching, Alice at Rabbit Girl Crafts has links to  9 Free Winter cross stitch patterns to download plus she offers her own free patterns too. 

I mentioned I was alarmed about my scraps. Thank you, S, for sending me a photo of this easy unnamed patchwork block to use up scraps without a whole lot of measuring and cutting. She seems to know me well :). I am testing it out and like how many old scraps this can use. Is that a good enough reason to make a quilt??? This is one of those stitch and flip blocks and I haven't been able to find the name. If you know it, please tell me. So I started with blues for the last of the January RSC. Now that I have them all together like this, I'm seeing butterflies.

I was given several stitching kits for Christmas. I must share those next time. Today I'm working on  Snowmen and making more fans for the Dresden Quarter Blocks. I never have to cast about for something to do here and I love it all. Hobbies are tried and true remedies for worry.

Hope you are similarly happily busy with all the things you love.

So happy to share this post with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Sum of Their Stories and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.

Wooden House Wintry Wanderings

It seems to be all about the weather here in the winter months. Saturday,when I went out with the dogs, the temperature was this with a wind chill of -34C. 

But the sun was shining and I could feel its warmth on my face. That was so nice while on the pond throwing the ball for the dogs. Then it warmed up and here in winter, that means the snow comes. We have a few more centimeters on the ground and it's still snowing. The school buses are not running this morning so another snow day for most kids. Here is my backyard winter wonderland taken through the window just now.

Yesterday's weather was a good excuse to stay cosy all day in my fleece top and polar bear fleece bottoms. 

Enough about the weather, on to more important things like stitching. 

When I'm watching YouTube, sometimes a video suggestion will pop up and I'm so glad this one did. That was how I found out about Becky Goldsmith's tiny baskets. I remember when some folks were stitching these in a project called A Tisket A Tasket and that would have been many years ago. I decided to give them a try mainly because I need to use up more small scraps. The pattern is free. I just love stitching these tiny baskets. And Becky's video featuring the tutorial is just wonderful. 

I learned something brand new to me. And that is you can wet fabric to get it to turn/fold a little like at the top of the handles. That actually works. What a great scrappy project and I'll be matching up with the colour for the monthly RSC colour while I stitch more of them. They are 3 inches and while they stitch up quickly, they are a bit fiddly.

I have to be careful not to get obsessed with stitching them. 

I have the Blackbird Designs Christmas Tablecloth almost finished. The three pieces are joined but I have some minor stitching I want to do like add more embroidery to the leaves on the right side, for instance. Then I'm going to retire it for this year with the hope and plan of quilting it next fall in time for Christmas.

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt last week was about using planners/calendars. I always have a yearly calendar type book to write in and note appointments, etc. Here is last year's and my newest one that I bought at a thrift store. Yes, it was totally baffling to me why a 2026 book would be there. It was obviously brand new with the Winner's tag on it and one of those finds that makes me think they are there just waiting for only me to come along. 

We've added The Pitt to our nighttime viewing and are enjoying getting to know the characters. I can see why it won two Golden Globes. Any of you watching?

My week is filling up with appointments including another CT scan for Tony.  I am very thankful this can be done at a local hostpital so we don't have to drive into Ottawa especially with all this weather. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to write a comment on my posts. We both read them and take encouragement from them. 

Very happy to share this post with linky parties like the Inquiring Quilter who just celebrated the 9th anniversary of hosting. Congratulations, Jennifer! Also sharing with  Sum of Their Stories, Creations Quilts Art, Alycia Quilts, Kathy's Quilts and Melva Loves Scraps.

                                 

Six or So Stitchy Projects

 Here is my kitchen window very peaceful winter view as it will look pretty much now until April. The light is from the big garage and you can see the snow curtain we have from the snow sliding down the roof. 

My bigger bunny is still here. Though he spends time under the feeders, he also munches on the left over garden growth which I purposely leave till spring to clean out. What exactly he is finding to eat there, I'm not sure. 

 He'd better be careful though as a Barred Owl flew low over my head one morning as I walked to the garage. He'd been eyeing the feeders. I was disappointed I hadn't spotted him from the window to get a photo. 

Lately I've been knitting in the evenings in front of the tv. My afghan is this long now. 

Using this stitch combo means it looks the same on the back as the front and it's good for an afghan to be reversable. I'm planning to crochet an edging around it when I get it to a certain length. The wool is from a special project by the Yorkshire Spinners. One pound is donated to the Breast Cancer Society for each ball sold. I'm alarmed by the numbers of young women being diagnosed with this awful disease. 

I've stitched more quarter Dresden blocks using blues for backgrounds. These are so enjoyable to hand stitch and work up very quickly. 

And there are several possible ways to join them. I have plenty of time to give that a good think.

Today I'm devoting my sewing room time to finishing the Christmas Tablecloth. I'm very close and I'd love to have it off the plate for now. Here is a photo of the right side still being organized. As usual I have a couple orphan blocks that I used in it too. 

  I have plans to try another patchwork block that could work with the RSC, one that doesn't involve hand stitching. My scraps are alarming me again and I need a project that could use just them. I have one in mind that I'll share next time. 

 I wound up enjoying the hand quilting on the Christmas Presents quilt in the end. I laid it out on the kitchen island to check if I'd missed a spot. 

 I haven't bound it yet but I'm pleased to have the quilting on it all done. I have a number of very old projects that I'd love to get to the finish line so I'm going to layer up another flimsie to have all ready in my rotation to hand quilt. 

I like the idea of the Daily Devotional Stitching project. Choosing a small item to stitch by hand certainly is right up my alley. The point is to use the stitching process as an intentional meditation or a prayer. Being such a loner and living with a partner who is not talkative- never was, not even in the best of times, I spend a lot of time in my own head as it were. But I can always be more intentional about those ramblings, that's for sure. You can read more here at  Sibyl's Journal.

I'm just in from my morning walkabout with the dogs. It is invigorating and being able to use more of the trails with them being flattened by the snowmobile is wonderful. It's all good here at the Wooden House these first few weeks of the brand new year. I hope you all are finding it the same.

 P.S. I will speak to LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt about calendar usage in the next post. 

So very happy to have linky parties to join...The Inquiring Quilter, Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, So Scrappy, Songbird Designs, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Days Filled With Joy.

 

Snowy Blowy January Sewing Days

 Last Saturday night we had a small snowstorm that blanketed all the land including the icy paths. It was so pretty the next day in the woods. I am getting lots more enjoyment out of this winter maybe because of having Petey with us. He revels in the snow and the ball playing so much and also just romping all about on our walks. It is truly joyful to watch him. Here he is playing with his ball in the snow.

 Our Ned on the other hand, moves as little as possible and is quite happy moseying along just smelling the snowflakes. You would never guess that he is the one who will run away and it is because of that wonderful nose of his. How different the two brother are!

I glanced at the turkeys at the feeder and spied the bunny ears. They seemed not to heed each other at all. Nothing is afraid of bunnies it seems. I've been making sure the feeders are full as it's been a very cold and snowy winter with a dose of freezing rain already. 

Last year I worked steadily on one RSC EPP project and I want to work on a couple this year just to have more variety. I'm still looking. Meanwhile, I began another Snowman hanging which I found in this book below from my own little library. It's called Country Quilts For Friends written by Margaret Peters and Anne Sutton of Bunnyhill fame. I would love to stitch every seasonal project in this book. It seems I'm not happy unless I'm appliquing something. The pretty blues are deeper than the photo shows. 

I love Snowmen and here is a photo of the project. Another great thrift store book find.

 I've got the blocks cut and most of the 17 snowmen ready for stitching. I'm hoping to get in the sewing room today to choose two fabrics for the little 4 patch blocks. Funnily that will be the hardest part for me.

  I laid more stitches on What Remains is Love. I'm enjoying working with this fabric. Many of you commented that you liked this sentiment and you can check out the pattern HERE at 123Stitch. 

And I also finished the left side of the Blackbird Designs Christmas table cloth. I have the other side finished too but it needs measuring and trimming. I've finally learned from sad experiences to stitch everything with generous seam allowances then trim. 

Joy at Days Filled with Joy (what a great name!) is hosting a SAL for a tabletopper. From her first video, I learned how to cut a square from a fat quarter. This will be a quick and easy 3 part SAL. 

We are doing okay but since Christmas there seems to always be something needing attention outside  the house. Being a confirmed homebody, yes, this is a nuisance. And with steady snowfalls including two storms- update, make that three, we are struggling to keep our long laneway cleared and open. Some of you may remember the only time we've needed an ambulance here, which was for Tony, they could not get down the laneway. That event has made me more aware of the importance of cleared access. Tony insists on doing the plowing himself and I do applaud him for his determination to keep moving, but I keep hoping he will change his mind and we avail of one of the many snow clearing services here.  

Our outings included a round of appointments for Tony who is holding his own healthwise which is encouraging. He has an upcoming appointment for another CT scan on his lungs to check on that nodule. He thinks he is weaker but I don't see any difference except he is coughing more. He had the sad news that his longest and very like minded friend passed away last week. He was ten years younger than Tony but had struggled with lung and heart problems in recent times and it was his heart that gave out in the end. He was a brilliant fellow and, in fact, has a son who works with Google and gives Ted Talks.

Thank you all for the comments on my last post. More people have said to me how rare it is for a doctor to do that; in fact, what happened to me seems to be something fairly rare but I'm happy to hear does happen. 

I hope these January days are filled with all the little things that you love because, in the end, it is lots of those little things that wind up meaning the most. 

Happy to share with linky parties at Kathy's Quilts, Alycia Quilts, Life in Pieces, Melva Loves Scraps and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.

 

Quilt Project From My Library, Finishing Hand Quilting, Medical Story

I've been really busy. Well, what seems to be busy for us. Daily chores and lots of shovelling too. There for a few days it kept snowing every day, all day. We ran the snowmobile over the trails to flatten them for our walks. I've been taking the dogs down to our frozen pond for playing ball and they've been loving that. I get to do my little run about as well, safely, on a flat snow covered surface for now. The weather will change it soon enough. Update, it has. Milder temperatures and pouring rain for a day or two and then freezing at night so the pond is unwalkable just now. Sigh But more snow will change it back. I hope you are keeping well and away from the germs. There have been massive numbers of influenza cases here starting with the holidays. 

I've been busy with my stitching too. I mentioned I want to make a project from each of my stitchery books and I've also been casting about for a 2026 RSC project. I've found one in this book below that I'm going to give a try. This book provides the cardboard templates in the back which is very convenient. 

I've chosen the quarter Dresden block which I'd seen at the  Stitched in Color blog and loved the particular treatment Rachel used. Of course, I don't have anything like the stash that she has. But like hers, this time round, I'm going to aim for the brighter and bolder fabrics for backgrounds. So starting with blues, I found these fabrics to make a beginning. And as contrast, the blades will be low volume/neutral fabrics. These are my test blocks so to speak, and yes, I'm using EPP for the blades.

I think stitching these could hold my attention as we go through the colours each month. 

I've almost finished the hand quilting on my Christmas Presents quilt. After much messing about, I wound up getting it to feel comfortable for stitching draped over my lap. I use lots of pins and check often to make sure there are no folds or puckers on the back. But what I really had to overcome was my fear of the stitching being bad laying them like this. But so far I'm happy enough with my lines. 

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is about singing. I used to sing just well enough to be in church choirs and then the university glee club. But after years of teaching, I developed a nodule on a vocal chord that changed my voice. Oddly I've noticed recently I can kind of sing again which I do on my walks with the dogs where no one can hear me. I wonder can these things clear up on their own. I'll have to look that up. 

 You can skip the following if you aren't like me who loves reading medical stuff-

I've been told I have mild IBS because I have symptoms about 3 times a year even though I'm pretty careful about my diet. I was scheduled for a colonoscopy during covid and decided to decline during that crazy period. So I mentioned it at a recent check up and the nurse practioner said yes, let's get you that consult with the gastroenterologist. A couple of months later and I've got my appointment. I've read a lot about the procedure; people have related their experiences to me with all agreeing the prep is the worst part. So I'd done my research and I felt good about getting this done and over with. The doctor was really young; looked about 20 to me which made me think of my grandfather who came back from taking a friend to the doctor and asked since when do they allow teenagers to be doctors. This fellow was wearing a mask cause he said he had a cold which made me think of Physician heal thyself. You see the foolishness that bounces around in this head of mine. Anyway, I could tell right away he, as one would expect, knew lots about diet and the brain/gut connection and all the IBS stuff. After chatting quite convivially for a couple of minutes, he told me I didn't need the colonoscopy. You don't need to put yourself through that were his exact words. If I insisted, he would proceed, of course, he said. He had a page of notes in front of him I assumed were from the nurse practitioner. I wished at that point he would leave the room so I could read them. Which I absolutely would do; would you? That makes me wonder, can you ask to read your medical file do you think?

Anyway, I said okay then, thanked him and left. Part of me is relieved and part of me is wondering if I should have gone ahead with it. Tony, the ever practical one, figures that doctor turned down quite a chunk of change to not proceed so I should accept that he was confident in telling me I didn't need it. Your thoughts, wonderful readers??? I should add here that I do the FIT every two years and that has always been negative so far. 

Right now I have a fruit fly situation in the kitchen I have to deal with. It comes with eating so much fresh vegetables and fruit. Perhaps why I don't need a colonoscopy I guess. :)

As soon as I press publish, I'm heading out for a walk and am now wearing my winter boots with the cleats attached. Really don't want to take a fall. And you all be careful too!

Happy to share this post with Alycia Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Quilting Patchwork Applique and Kathy's Quilts.

 

Patchwork Blocks, Sentimental Stitchy Start, Boldly Into 2026

It's the very beginning of a new year. And here I am this morning, filled to the brim with thoughts of the past- my old days, people that meant something to me and the many many ways I passed my time. All the ancient memories live on in this head of mine. Sometimes they are more vivid to me than what I did yesterday. 

 December 19 was my mother's birthday. She would have been 93 if she were alive. I've had this Blackbird Designs pattern, What Remains is Love, in my little collection for some time and made a scant beginning on her birthday this year. 

I plan to stitch her name on this one. It's Weeks Dye Works 32 count Straw linen.

My only other sentimental stitchery was the one I stitched for Tony and I just after our wedding. 

I've finished a few more blocks for the Blackbird Designs Christmas Tablecloth. I'm debating about doing the other appliqued block and maybe switching it out for more patchwork which definitely goes together faster. 

I'm about 50 pages into this Pulitzer Prize winning book below which my ex gave me for Christmas. It's posed here with Old Scrooge who has moving head and arms and his candle lights up and who everyone agrees is a little bit creepy.

I'm enjoying Marilynne's writing...kind of quietly interesting. She really takes her time to flesh out characters and get a story told which you might think would be boring, but thanks to the plentifold details and beautiful phrasing is definitely not. I wonder has she written any poetry.

We went to this special hockey game of Robbie's and enjoyed it very much. They billetted two of Japanese players and all had a wonderful time together. Brad has built an even bigger hockey rink in the backyard so the boys had a ball playing at all hours on it. 

 So Ruby Reindeer is soon back on the shelf till next year. Wish I'd thought to put on a bit of makeup for this photo. I'm seriously ghostly these days. I wear shawls a lot as they're easy to shuck off when I warm up. For this photo, I was thinking of just how do I want to face a new year.  I decided to try for bold. Yes, I can handle you, 2026.

I wish all reading this the most wonderful New Year; in fact, I hope it's your very best one yet!

So grateful for linky parties too, like these- Quilting Patchwork Applique, Creations Quilts Art, Melva Loves Scraps, Kathy's Quilts and Alycia Quilts.

Christmas Embroideries, 3 Ingredient Fruit Cake, Knitting Too

Hello all and thank you for stopping by so close to Christmas Day. 

It's been busy. I've set up things that light up...the wreath, two small trees, several candles. I've been shopping and wrapping gifts with the usual seasonal feelings of panic about getting it all right. 

I've been keeping the feeders full and watched this little tableau one morning.

The three of them were calmly eating together after one of the squirrels had climbed up and jumped on the pan feeder, conveniently tipping the seeds down for them. 

I baked a fruit cake. I've been seeing so many videos of folks making the 3 ingredient fruit cake, I had to give it a try. Tony is a fruit cake lover so I figured it would have to be pretty bad for him not to eat it. Luckily, it is tasty despite my using the barest of ingredients. Mine included the dried fruit on hand which was mostly raisins, currants, cranberries and dates. You soak your fruit overnight in a chosen liquid. I chose black tea. Then you mix it with self rising flour and bake it. I should have baked it longer but I was eager to try it. I thought it was fine and the fruit cake lover loved it.

Yes, this is truly just the three ingredients of fruit, flour and liquid unlike some recipes that claim that but actually require more when you read the fine print.

I will be making this again and using real fruit cake fruit like the glace cherries and also a different liquid maybe Baileys or juice to heighten the flavour. HERE is the link to just one of the sites that features this recipe. 

I finished my little Merry Moose embroidery. Such a fun little stitch.

And I took four of the little orphan Christmas embroideries and sewed a little mat. I have lots of this pretty Christmas fabric left over from a past project. 

And I had a matching fabric in the darker green that worked out well for the trim and back.

I've been thinking lots about possible RSC projects for the new year. There are two patterns I keep going back to and I'll share those soon. Perhaps I'll work on both just to have some variety with this particular challenge. Meanwhile this year's quilt is still at the flimsy stage. I have to take out all the papers/cardboards but just before that decide on the edging pieces if I want it to be straight on the sides.

So it requires a little decision making which I'm not in the mindset for just now.  

I've also been knitting on my afghan to be and enjoying that for a change.

Perhaps you've seen this....the wonderful Barbara Brackman shared a quilt pattern for those who may be thinking of sewing an authentic period quilt to celebrate the 250 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. You can check out the information here... a beautiful Anniversary Quilt Pattern.

I think I have everything ready. Our gift exchange is tonight and then everyone back here again for the dinner tomorrow. It's so nice to still have a younger boy in the family who is still so excited about Christmas. 

If celebrating, I hope your Christmas is wonderful and you all get to enjoy some holiday time. 

So wonderful too to share with Kathy's Quilts, Melva Loves Scraps, Creations Quilts Art, Anja Quilts and Quilting Patchwork Applique. Thank you ladies for hosting!