Sunday, 22 June 2025

Scrappy Starry Madness, Free Patterns, Cross Stitching Too

Halfway through the year now and past the halfway point of June. I wonder where are all those hours we were promised for retirement...when time on your hands would hang heavy- an expression first recorded in 1760, btw.-I was curious enough to look up that expression. But no, though my days begin early there is still not enough hours to get everything done. I struggle not to have the feeling I'm getting behind. Behind what exactly is a bit of a mystery. But there is always something that needs doing and mostly, I'm thankful to be keeping busy. In fact, this busyness seems to have improved my overall sense of well being and removed some of the mindless fretting I'm prone to do from time to time. 

 Part of my well being is the enjoyment I'm getting from my present day sewing projects. It's wonderful when you can sustain the interest and enjoyment still months into a project.

 I think this one below, the EPP Starry Hexagons, would definitely qualify as a comfort project according to Emma's, The Vintage Sewing Box, definition. And HERE is a link to her Free Pattern page where she shares very sweet projects like needle books and pouches. 

Scrappy Starry Madness
Though still in their cardboards, I thought I'd throw them on the wall to take stock of how it's coming along halfway through the year. I like how the yellows are standing out. Sadly I just have three using orange, this month's RSC colour at So Scrappy. I have around ten more stars completed, most of them blues which shows what my colour preference was during my fabric collecting days.

And I've laid more stitches on G. Leger, 1898. Alphabets are very popular motifs in the cross stitching world, especially for samplers and are so enjoyable to stitch. HERE is a link to the pattern at 123Stitch if you want to read more about it. I ordered the DMC conversion threads to use. 

Petey is still with us and perhaps we'll get to keep him now for the summer holidays. That would be awesome. He is so lovable, attentive and a much better guard dog than our equally lovable but verrry laid back Ned. Here are the lads as Tony calls them down in the meadow where he mowed a path for us...to help with the tick situation. We do two walks a day down there and a couple of ball playing rounds in the back yard too. Here they are enjoying all the fresh smells from overnight.
Not sure how much ball playing we will do today. We have a heat wave warning...a possible high of 36C and humidex of 45 or higher! My phone went off in the night with, of all things, a tornado warning. Funny how I don't think of tornadoes happening at night or getting weather warnings on the phone either for that matter. Anyway, I've checked and nothing happened around here thankfully. 

Next time I'll share a new small appliance...it's been quite a while since I bought one and I'm excited to try this one out. 
Thank you for all the comments on my last post...they put a smile on my face and I want you to know I note and take all your suggestions to heart. Hope this week, the last in June, will be awesome for you all.
Also awesome are linky parties like Kathy's Quilts where Kathy is celebrating 13 years of hosting her slow stitching party! Also sharing with Small Quilts and Doll QuiltsLife in PiecesMelva Loves Scraps and Songbird Designs.
 



19 comments :

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

a tornado warning in the middle of the night for you! that doesn't happen often does it. Here a heat wave and will continue for awhile I hope all the bad storms are behind us now until fall - we have tornado season in the spring and fall it seems. I notice you mention ticks a lot do you have an extraordinary amount of them in your area? We have some but I don't really think of them that much and I spread out tick pellets once or twice a year that repels them - you use a grass fertilizer wagon (that is what I call them) to spread them it helps a lot - I do that in the areas of the property were we spend time - like the garden and all around it between the house to the garden and the front yard where all the flowers are. Love you EPP stars

Jenny said...

How nice that you will have two dogs for a while, I bet the brothers have fun together.

Gretchen Weaver said...

A blue starry quilt would be lovely, just an idea! Blessings!

Susie H said...

Beautiful starry quilt coming along. Love seeing "the lads" out enjoying the weather. Of course we have to watch the heat for our furry friends. Have a wonderful week!

Rosemary Dickinson said...

We're also at the beginning of a heat wave. I'll be staying close to my air conditioner! Love your EPP stars! A tornado warning at night sounds odd but I suppose they do happen. Our phones keep us in the know even while we're asleep!

Jackie said...

We are finally getting some rain. The large water barrel will be filled once again, and the gardens are soaking up the well deserved drink.
Your stars are lovely and I can just imagine how sewing them adds to a sense of contentment. The stitchery is lovely and when I cross stitch I will not use anything by DMC threads.
We had a tornado warning/watch here a few days ago and one touched down about 20 or so kilometers from us. Nothing here though.

God bless.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Getting a tornado warning in the middle of the night is terrifying. Well, terrifying at any time but night has to be the worst.
Comfort projects - what a lovely term and so fitting.
Try to stay cool!

PaintedThread said...

I don't miss the tornado warnings. Ugh. Love the picture of the lads enjoying the smells. Stay cool!

cityquilter grace said...

delightful projects....we had a tornado the other day and 2 days of violent thunderstorms, trees down and others hit by lightning...now the horrid hots are upon us for the week...i do have lots of free time and it gets weary some days...nothing to do or pique my interest...

Michele McLaughlin said...

I love your EPP stars! They look fantastic! Your cross stitch is so pretty! So much fun seeing Petey and Ned! Thanks for the links to the free patterns. I do love Emma at the Vintage Sewing Box! She's wonderful! Have a great week!

Mary said...

I really enjoy EPP but have never ventured away from hexagons. Those sharp angles in the star pattern intimidate me! Stay cool. Heat waves can be dangerous physically and emotionally.

Linda at Texas Quilt Gal said...

I'm so glad Petey gets to stay for awhile! I so relate to not having much time in retirement. Our kids find that quite funny. It is like tasks seem to grow as we finish them - kind of like a scrap bin? I also relate to "fretting", sigh. Your scrappy stars are just beautiful!! Looking forward to reading about the new appliance.

Melva said...

The progress of your EPP project is nice. My orange supply of "scraps" was the smallest I have had so far this year. But with some larger stash pieces, I have managed to make 3 quilts. All of them are among my top 5 RSC finishes this year.

Thank you for joining Sew & Tell!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I always feel as if I am "behind," too, Jocelyn, and like you, I'm not sure where that comes from. Things get done, and there is still time for the pleasurable pursuits like reading and sewing. Your EPP stars are just delightful! So fun to see the collection all together. Glad you're enjoying having Petey there, and he looks like a good buddy for Ned, too.

Gladi Porsche said...

Your starry hexagons are glorious! What a nuisance - and danger! - ticks are! I just took an embedded one off my husband’s back the day before yesterday and he had to go get preventive treatment 🙁. Today is the third - and last, thank goodness! - day of this heatwave. Stay cool!

Marsha Cooper said...

I don't think that days ever get less busy, but I really hope they do.

Kate said...

A busy retirement is a happy one I'm finding. IMost of it is my own doing, but I still have lots of time to sew. Your star blocks are really fun. Hope you had a very good week, with no more tornado warnings.

Quilter Kathy said...

Hope you are staying cool and enjoying your stitching projects - your stars look so sparkly!

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

Love those starry hexagons, Jocelyn! I'm glad you had no issues from the tornado warning. We've been blessed this year as they've been near but not right on us. Our weather radio has woken us up way too often lately! Thanks for sharing with us at Monday Musings!