I've got the garbage put out. With the composting and the fires, I usually only have garbage to put out every three weeks but there is always lots of recycling. Realized my Gorilla cart does not do well in snow. It gave my arms quite the workout on the small hills from the basement back door around the house to our driveway. And I wished at one point we did not live down such a long winding laneway either. But the air was so beautiful, cold and crisp, and I know a little workout is good for me. Then I went back out and used the old fire ashes to scatter along the tire marks where ice had formed overnight in the laneway, a very old use of ashes here in wintry Ontario. Two chores done.
I've set up a small table in this main area of the house and decided to use it for a hand quilting table. Don't know why I never thought of this before. I'm using my very large and old Ott Floor Lamp.
I'm already noting that having it there in sight and very handy has encouraged me to continue the hand stitching. Apparently, I need all the encouragement I can get. First up is to finish this scrappy quilt with Prim Stars outlined in the black squares.
I think I showed you before this bag of threads below I bought at a thrift store. Imagine 10 cents a ball and from KMart! Most of it is the thinner threads used to crochet doilies but I'm using the thicker in this quilt. It feels fine, not too nish...now that is a good old Newfoundland word for you, one I grew up with my mother using. We pronounced it "neesh". It means tender or delicate. Mom used it to describe fabric or skin. Being partly Irish, it was a given that our skin would be considered nish.
I'm happy with how far along I've gotten the Autumn Quakers piece. Next time it comes out I should get it finished. Meanwhile, I've decided to indulge myself by stitching something completely in season, a Christmas piece, Redwork Noel, by Joan Elliott. I do love redwork of any kind and using the very cheery DMC 321, which we all agree is a Christmas red, is such a happy thing to be doing.
I'm using a white 24 count Evenweave fabric of unknown origin that I found in my drawer. 2 over 2 Very enjoyable stitching especially with no colour changes, which is wonderful after the Autumn Quakers which in my hands wound up with 20 different shades/colours! You can take a look at the pattern on the great 123Stitch site. Here is a close up of my scant beginning. With cross stitching, simple stitches can make a pretty edging. Thanks to Brad, we have some signs of Christmas here. This is a real evergreen wreath, very well constructed and heavy. And this beautiful large poinsettia that I'm admiring so much. Every year I have to relearn how to spell that word...I want to call it Point-settia for some reason.
Things I'm looking forward to...getting out my wool, wrapping Christmas presents, cooking a turkey, a last minute shop in the local small town. What are you looking forward to just now with the big event getting so close? Hope your list is long!
16 comments :
Short list this year; still recovering from my February fall. I will be filling stockings this weekend to get in the mail on Monday.
What a great deal on all those threads. I love the Red Work stitchery.
God bless.
In plain sight is the perfect place for your handwork. Here a stitch, there a stitch! The Noel cross-stitch is a gorgeous project. Looks like it'll finish a nice size too and brighten the spot it ends up.
That is the perfect cross stitch project for this time of year! Good old DMC 321! I have one of those Ott floor lamps too--great for stitching! Enjoy your day!
I don't have a poinsettia this year, I just haven't picked one up they are pretty. The red/white stitching is beautiful. All of the US K-Marts closed I believe there are none now. I love your quilting stars turned out great.
Your scrappy quilt with the quilted stars is a pretty sight! I love all those colorful little squares surrounding the dark ones. The Redwork Noel is lovely, too. I enjoy working on seasonal projects, too - especially this time of year!
Ashes for the icy places... I'm going to remember that.
The Gorilla Cart, this is a laugh, I have one still in its box, my Christmas present from Hugh, so I can bring firewood from the shed to the backdoor in winter when the grass is too wet for the little trailer. Love the stitcheries. Last minute? We are doing gift cards or a money-in-the-bank this year, and with Canada Post still on strike, the same for Josh. He has finished his 20 days out there and flies back to Vancouver tonight your time.-2C, a whole lot warmer than the -20C.
I always find that having a project out in plain sight leads to much more work being done on it than would happen if it was tucked away. One of the reasons I'm very glad to have my sewing room because I can leave projects out.
I'm happy that all my prep work for 'the day' is done and now I can sit back and enjoy being social for the rest of the month. Looking forward to having a video chat with our family on Christmas day and watching them open their gifts. Bedlam with 3 little kids, but such fun for us because we don't have to clean up!
I like your quilted stars. Pretty poinsettia. I'm hoping to coast until Christmas. :-)
I need some chores in the snow. All we have is misty rain and mud, sigh. Love the pretty, hand-stitched stars on your quilt. The redwork is going to be spectacular. I rather like your pronunciation of "Point-settia". I have no seasonal sewing going on, still just occasional stitching. But it is so nice and peaceful when I do get to stitch!
I love the look of your star quilting in the dark squares, Jocelyn!! What a great deal on that thrift store thread!!! Your Noel project is bee-you-tifull!!! And I'm with you on relearning every year how to spell poinsettia!?! BTS, we have purple poinsettias this year at church!
What a workout to get your day started!!
Love how you have that frame set up - it gives you great light. and a fun project!!! Merry Christmas!
I am looking forward to baking roll and bread for Christmas, having our oldest son here Christmas Day for the first time in years, and having mot of our children and grandchildren around out table. I have a few surprises up my sleeve for everyone that day so I am excited.
Your Prim Stars quilt is looking fabulous, Jocelyn . The quilting is so gorgeous. Aaah those sweet spools of thread. I miss Kmart and the good ole' days . I hope that you are having a wonderful Christmas holiday .. You have so many beautiful projects to keep you busy on those cold winter days. Merry Christmas
Thrifting threads is such a wonderful thing to find! I could not find any of my collection of yarns to tie quilt comforters with, so I went to WalMart, who the local store at least does not carry yarn (anymore?). To the local thrift shop and there was a huge bag of various yarns, and both hubby and I got our first tied comforters done this year. I taught him to make quilt tops when he retired, and now he knows how to tie them as gifts for the extended and still growing younger generation in his family. I got a huge bag for only $10. !!!
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