Thursday 4 June 2020

Applique in Reds, Chunky Chocolate Cherry Muffins, Hummers are Back

Hello all, It is ceiling fan time at the wooden house. Thankfully these are in all rooms (except the small ex sewing room) with two in the main area.
  Cloudy today but muggy. While the world is tragically chaotic, all is as our new usual for us.  We are venturing out a little more with forays to the grocery store in our masks and trying to lose the feeling that we look ridiculous like white haired robbers.

We lost a day and then gained it back. We blamed that on last Saturday feeling like Sunday. Hubby ordered the same thing twice and I forgot perferred isn't a word. These are the small happenings that make us question how we would fare on the Alzheimer's test.

The lid to our tea pot, a thrift store purchase that matched our dishes, broke. Hubby drilled a hole in the bottom so I can use it for a planter.  This necessitated him do some tool shopping, an activity he enjoys, for a diamond drill bit.  Here is a sprig of cheery Coreopsis Sunkiss. 
I made these muffins and decided they needed a boost so iced them with pink icing topped with a cheery cherry.  They are chocolate chip and cherry muffins and the recipe is at Rock Recipes under Chunky Cherry Chocolate Muffins.  I snuck in pumpkin seeds. I blame my hankering for icing on Colette who shared her cake decorating frosting skills HERE.  Her giant frosting roses made my mouth water and I'm not a big sweets fan.
It really is a great thing to be working with pretty reds and pinks during these strange days. This is the Margaret Mews block for the Solidarity SAL.  A simple applique one all prepped ready for stitching. If you are thinking about trying applique, this is a great block to begin with. You can get the free pattern here.
I don't think I showed you the finish of my Kay Mackenzie flowers extra long runner from way back. I made it purposely this long to fit the coffee table in the t.v. room.
Patterns from Kay's book Inspired By Tradition.

 Hand appliqued and hand quilted, it has a very soft feel.
The hummingbirds are back.  Not a lot like last year yet but steady visiting.
Our minds are reeling with all the sad news in the world just now. Humanity is being tested, of that I have no doubt. But never forget the world has survived many such tests. There are good people in the world still doing good every day.
Always a good thing to link with Not Afraid of ColorPaying Ready AttentionMy Quilt InfatuationFrom Bolt to BeautyFloral Friday Foto and It's a Small Town Life.


30 comments :

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I love your teapot planter. Your flower quilt runner is beautiful. Love the hummer! The news has been sad lately. There are good people doing good things. Have a great day and happy weekend ahead.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I love that teapot planter as well - Hubby always likes to wander the hardware store - I'm with you on the facemask's - I'm starting to get used to them but feel I must look ridiculous in them - but so many others wearing them so I guess we all do. Yes a very sad place that we live in here in the states and I hope we can change at least part of that with the next elections so many of us are hoping for that - he (Trump) has made it worse I believe

Roseanne said...

Hi Jocelyn! There are LOTS of good people in this world doing good and great things. I love that your teapot has turned into a planter - great repurposing. Great job on your runner as it looks like it fits the table just perfectly. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne

Mary in Boulder said...

When the world seems out of control it's good to focus on the beauty in front of us, such as your hummingbirds. Nice photo; I know from experience that they aren't easy to capture in a photo!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Good people, still doing good...I like that! And I love the quilted runner. It's so cheery and pretty. How nice to see hummers now and your tea pot is perfect for a planter. Take care and enjoy your day! Keep those fans humming! We call them Florida chandeliers here! heehee!

Nancy J said...

The teapot is a beauty and with a plant inside, looks so lovely, The runner, hand stitching would be so relaxing in these stressful days.

Libby in TN said...

Great upcycling of the teapot! It is too pretty to get stuck in the back of a cupboard.

Michelle said...

Was just with my husband this morning at the hardware store :) I like that teapot planter and may try the same thing. Our world is in a bad way and I wonder when it will end. Thanks for linking up.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Sad that the lid from your teapot broke but your DH did a great thing by drilling a hole so you could continue to use it. I must say that ceiling fans are a wonderful thing. We have one in my sewing room and one in the bedroom and wouldn't be without them. We have a portable a/c unit in the living room where DH spends most of his time and 3 tower fans which we aim in different directions depending on need. Remembering to close all the curtains to keep the sun out on the hot days helps keep it comfortable.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

So many lovely likes in your post today, Jocelyn! What a great way to re-use your teapot. And those muffins look yummy! Your appliqued and hand quilted tablerunner turned out beautifully, too. I'm hand quilting my hand-pieced blue and white quilt, and it's amazing how soft it's turning out! Thank you for your words of wisdom at the end of your post, too - I agree!

Jocelyn said...

Wow your cupcakes sound so delicious! And the teapot looks fabulous!

Brian's Home Blog said...

It's too bad your teapot lid broke, it's a beautiful one. Oh my, that hummer pic is wonderful!

Sandra Walker said...

Fan time here too, AC yesterday, and muggy. I said today I have hobbit hair, sigh. Covid haircut but hobbit hair as I can't shape it like my hair stylist. Everyone though, from our PM to our news anchor to our weather girl is looking a little shaggy and roots showing. Yay that I don't dye my hair. We've got hummingbirds and orioles though I'm having a hard time (2 days now) enticing them back to the feeder. They loved it at first, but then the insert gave out, and twice I lost the entire contents. My husband got a new one, but it took him nearly 2 weeks. He has only been in two stores since mid-March, and Rona was one, so yay he was able to snag one. Your appliqué is beautiful!

Ruth Hiebert said...

I think I will have to check out that recipe. I like most anything with chocolate, and adding some cherries has to be good as well.

PaintedThread said...

Mmm. Chocolate and cherries. Looks delicious. Our hummingbirds come and go this year. It's kind of odd. Your applique is lovely.

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

The tea pot planter is lovely. Shhhh I have been considering using great grandma's china and making bird feeders, love it, and use it I say. I have the fans humming throughout my house too. The hummingbird is back, he has no fear of me and will suck up nectar from the flowers right next to me. The quilted runner is lovely. I tempted you with frosting huh? :D

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

You had me at Chunky Chocolate CherryMuffins. “White haired robbers”. LOL I thought the same thing the first time I walked into a store! That beautiful teapot is a pretty nice planter now. Glad hubby got to use some tools.

Powell River Books said...

Here in the States when I take an annual physical (we have both a Canadian and a U.S. doctor) the give me a test for mental functioning. The part I hate the most is counting backwards from 100 by sevens. I was never any good at mental math, so every year I practice it to be ready. The test never changes and you can find the questions online. So much for accuracy. - Margy

Michele McLaughlin said...

Great idea for your teapot! It looks so pretty! I just love your table runner, it is happy and cheerful! That red applique looks fabulous! Stay well and safe!

Shannon said...

I love the repurposed teapot. I've done this in the past with pottery whose lids have broken, and I love being able to "save" the pieces for a useful purpose. And of course I never need an excuse to have a new plant. And your hummingbird picture is great! I can never manage to get good pics of my birds!

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

What a great idea for the teapot! I think our hummingbirds decided it was getting too hot here and moved further north. Hopefully they will be back this fall!

Radka said...

I like your red applique, just the thing to brighten these sad days,
xx

Su-sieee! Mac said...

Yesterday I read that "new confusion" is a major symptom for COVID19. That freaked me out because I've been more than usual forgetful the past several days. The Husband reassured me I was normal.:-)
I'm wanting chocolate cherry cake with icing now. And cherries are in season around here, too!
Love the happy reds you're playing with. And that's a pretty cool runner. You've got me wondering if I want to make a runner. The for-what can come later. I enjoyed my visit, thank you. :-)

QuiltGranma said...

Such a pretty teapot, glad it has new usefulness. Chocolate and cherry... ok, now I am drooling!

andy's colours said...

Wow, a humming bird. Wish we had these here. And your fans are on. After a warm May, June has chilled down now to abt. 15 °C in northern Germany with lots of wind and rain - the latter we definitely need. Love your bright red and pink appliqué. And yes, the perturbing happenings and corona are very unsettling and difficult on the long-run. It takes an extra effort to give a positive mind, but creativity, beautiful plants and animals, news from abroad and bloggers like you are a great support. Thank you.
Andrea L.
Northern Germany

Rosemary Dickinson said...

Your applique is beautiful. Your handwork always looks so perfect. The muffins look so delicious! I love the idea of using the tea pot as a planter. That hummingbird picture is great!

Stewart M said...

The tool shopping line made me smile - my father could occupy hours just browsing through the tool section of our local hardware store when I was a kid. Strangely, I have no memory of him ever buying anything!

No Brown Falcons in your neck of the woods, Australia and PNG only.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Angie said...

Jocelyn - "good people doing good every day" - so important to remember! I am visiting my Mom in Ohio and it is SO HUMID compared to my Montana. I would be dying without the ceiling fans! I have a sugar craving right now because we are less than a mile from my mom's favorite ice cream shop. Even if we can't go there together, I must stop in and buy a pint of her favorite!

dq said...

I love the delightful mug turned into a pot!

LA Paylor said...

my friend Joanne is from Canada, but now blogs from the Netherlands and is a master gardener. She is always transforming pottery into garden pretties, teatimegardening.com
all your pictures are so pretty, but your kind heart and sentiment touches my heart. I am a fan of cherry so I'll go look at that recipe.
thank you for doing an I Like post