Three Free Patterns, Hand Embroidery, Summer Baskets, Poppy Love, Great Banana Muffins

The Icelandic Poppies were in bloom. They bring very striking colour to the garden but my little complaint is they do not stay long. This particular orange is so glowing, you can't see details on the petals. If there is such a thing as electric colour this would be it.

The centers are equally wonderful. I have a small bank of reds too but they are not as interesting as these.

I bought a huge bag of bananas for $1 at Walmart  There were nineteen bananas and I ate most of them. But I also made a batch of banana muffins using up 6 of the smaller ones that were very ripe. 

                                    
I added walnuts, a little ground flaxseed, a few raisins and a little coconut to mine. Turned out really good. Recipe is here at Sally's Baking Addiction which never lets me down. Oh yes, I added a few pieces of dark chocolate to Hubby's as he loves that stuff.  Can you spot the really happy muffin?

My very old Summer Baskets is up on the wall in the back corridor. I haven't had it up for a couple of years and all the basket talk reminded me about it.  My inspiration at the time was from Podunk Pretties, a site I can no longer find. If you know of it, please let me know. I had corresponded with the writer of that blog at the time and she had also kindly commented on my hanging. 

The last several nights, I've enjoyed some hand stitching around all the fussy cut flowers on my Basket Case. Using a simple blanket stitch. These won't blow away, I can tell you. So fun to see these fabrics up close. Reminds me of seeing the poppy up close. 

Thursday's Three Free

 I have Carolyn of Quarter-Inch Capers to thank for this free pattern idea. Pot Holders and Oven Mitts.  Very cute featuring Down on the Farm fabric. 

From the Robert Kaufman site...Almost 2000 free patterns in the the Free Pattern section the last time I checked. Whew!

Like baskets and tulips, I have a thing for butterflies. When I saw this design, I knew I would chase it down to find the source. That took a few clicks but worth it to find the free pattern and templates tucked away on the web. McCall's Beautiful Vintage Butterfly Quilt  1936- I like the idea that this would have been something my grandmothers would have come across too in a newspaper or magazine. What a lovely summertime project!                               

I stitched this little fellow a few years ago. 

He was part of a free (at the time) monthly SAL called Joyful World offered by the very generous Maja, the talented lady behind The Snowflower Diaries.

She is reoffering the below pattern from 2013 for this very sweet design, Truly, Madly, Deeply . It's free at that link. 

Scroll through her posts to find other free minis to download. All so cute. Thank you Maja!

And thank you to you too, readers and blogging community, for the inspiration, the kind words that keep me buoyed up, and the sharing we get to do through comments and emails.

As always linking with Not Afraid of Color, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Love Laugh Quilt and Kathy's Quilts.