Whimsical Foxes, Applique, Christmas Quilting Tutorials, Netflix Viewing

You know I like whimsical...especially involving mice, fox, deer, dogs, bunnies; well I guess any critters actually. I love the details in this scene below. 

Snug little fox with her knitting, cup of tea and pizza slice. And note the dream catcher on the wall and the tiny cowboy boots.  Does a scene like this make you feel cosy and snug too? As far as I can find out this illustration is from a children's book called Jezeva Kucica by Branko Copic.  Translation, The Hedgehog's House. If you know more about the artist, please let me know. 

And another fox paused for portraits beside our house in September.  It shot across the front yard, only to stop and hang around at the edge of the side lawn. It kept looking back and I wondered what could have frightened it. I've circled him there. 

 I waited and after a while a group of turkeys sauntered out to the bird feeders. Don't think it was them that put him on the run.

And here are the cropped photos; I was very happy to capture this fellow.

 He was heavier with a magnificent tail and healthier looking coat than the one I showed you before. He kept a sharp eye in the direction he had run but gradually settled down and even sat awhile.

Sewing Chat 

 I've been happily working on a little broderie perse which always sounds posh and certainly far more hoity toity than any of my other sewing room endeavors...that's for sure!  There is skill in the choosing, cutting and appliqueing of these flowers if you are fitting the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle which I'm not. Of course, the Kaffe fabrics with their florid details lend themselves well to this technique.  

I mentioned quite a while ago that I had drawn a basket for a center block of the Basket Case project. And that's what I've cut out the flowers for. Getting this project finished is on my mind but I got a little bogged down in the choosing of the final background fabric....something that would match the two rather dark greys of the small baskets. Finding a good match from my little stash of greys wasn't easy because who knew that not all greys work well together.   Or try to figure out what to order which would complicate it more because choosing colours online is tricky too. Yes, I tend to get overwhelmed sometimes with these tiny tasks so that stalled.  

But I've finally made a choice for better or worse in this grey fabric with a little print and it's a browny grey that coordinates with the others.

😕 Now my next hurdle! I'm stuck on which fabric to choose for the big basket itself. I thought of something bold like the mustard (actually darker than in this photo) which has a brown woven kind of print on it- rather like a basket. Or what about that piece of Laura Ashley paisley fabric I've hoarded for a long time that is brownish grey (actually more grey than in this photo!) and would blend in well in a softer kind of way. Suggestions please???

We've been enjoying this series so much.  I love the era, the clothes, the cars and of course, learning so much about chess.  Beth's story is a riveting one.  The Queen's Gambit on Netflix.

Leila Gardunia has collated twenty video tutorials featuring Christmas Quilting found at this link to_her site. Several of interest to me...something for you too I'm sure. 

I'll leave you today with Murphy greeting Tony back from what was no doubt his last ride of the season last week.  His little biker gang were very fortunate to enjoy riding so late in the season. She likes to have us both around and is always a little unsettled if one of us is gone. 

Hope your week has been grand and your weekend even grander!

Always grand to link with Not Afraid of Color, It's A Small Town Life, Knit By God's Hand, My Quilt Infatuation, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Creations-Quilts-Art, Viewing Nature With Nature, In the Jesh Studio and Brian's Home Blog.