Free Patterns, YouTube Videos, Links, Stitching Too
I did get outside for a little veranda stitching before the heat wave returned
and, on the front of the house, the Hydrangeas are definitely dominating the space just now.
The lawns are getting crispy and there was an announcement that the forests here in Ontario are under great stress. They've asked even hikers to stay out of them lest they start a fire. We are up to 19 days straight without any rain. Due to break with rain tomorrow.
Here is Petey getting his morning greeting and tickle from Tony.
Besides wonderful balancing Petey, I want to point out that box...Tony's new lap top arrived in it over a week ago and guess what we are debating about it. We both agree it is a really good box, perhaps, maybe even too good to throw out. Tony is more reluctant than I am to get rid of it. He keeps saying "but it's a really good box". Now I lived with a box hoarder for 34 years so this is a very familiar conversation to me. Maybe for you too? I'll let you know the upshot of this one and since I'm in charge of putting out the garbage these days, its' fate is in my hands. Though it really would make an excellent sturdy box to house Christmas ornaments, for instance, or large quilt blocks. What do you think...the burning question...will the box stay or leave???? (:
Great days for in the cool sewing room...
Those leaders and enders tiny blocks are mounting...I found some in blues and even two in aqua to share for the RSC challenge.
I've joined all the basket blocks and added one border...it's getting massive!
And my Free Pattern file is overflowing. Time to share a few with you.
Free Patterns from Tiny Orchard Quilts include quilt patterns and also free motion quilting lines patterns which was especially interesting to see. Megan also has a great YouTube Channel. I loved this pattern called Gift Boxes and is such a great Christmas quilt idea.
Debbie Kratovil at Quilter By Design offers what she calls calendar blocks where she shares various blocks for each month, some made by friends, plus many with free patterns right there in each post. So many free patterns!
In her July 28 post "By the Sea", she shares 3 boat quilt designs. I've always wanted to make a boat quilt.
The Bear Creek Quilting Company has 100 pages of free patterns like this one called American Beauty in such pretty fabrics. Who knew pinks and blues and reds could look so pretty together.
Yarnspirations has a whole section of free patterns dedicated to beginners. If you've ever wanted to try crochet or knitting, this would be a great spot to check out.
Speaking of which, Brenda at Brenda and the Serial Stitcher has begun crocheting! A surprising event for such a lifelong dedicated cross stitcher. She's still cross stitching, of course. But she is following Lori Holt's tutorials and making very pretty large size coasters.
Brenda has discovered this hobby is a great way to give the eyes a rest and suits very well for "in front of the tv" stitching.
I love this message below. Seriously striving to live it.
I've more to share including next time my stitchy temptations and maybe a little stitchy mail. Yes, I fell off the no stitch shopping/ purchases wagon.
Your hydrangeas are just beautiful, Jocelyn! They must not mind the hot weather. It has been in the upper 90s here in Colorado, too, most of August so far, except for a couple days of lower temps that are so welcome when they come. Love those leader/ender blocks and the scrappy border for your baskets. Thanks for sharing the free patterns - the Gift Boxes pattern is tempting!
I know the feeling of finding it hard to get rid of a good box especially if it can be put to use. LOL. Your basket quilt is gorgeous, Jocelyn. I was looking at basket quilts online last night. Thank you so much for sharing the links to the free patterns. I will be checking those out shortly. Enjoy your day .
If you actually have a purpose for the box, I suggest keeping it if you don't have extra that size already. BUT make sure you label whatever you put inside of it! Your hydrangeas look nicer than mine, enjoy them while you can, autumn is coming soon and we know what comes after that!
I’m the wrong one to ask about boxes! My mother had what she called a “box mine” in her garage, and I have one, too. My daughter and son-in-law tease me about it, but every so often they ask if they can have one of my boxes. The boxes are on shelves, out of the way, so what’s the harm? If you had to send the laptop in for repair, you’d need that box. Love your leaders and enders blocks. Dot
I save boxes, Hugh throws them away.So If I think one is a keeper, it gets stashed immediately.A new laptop, what fun to open it up and get started.Those flowers look like they are thriving in the heat, we have maybe minus 4C at the edge of the verandah this morning, frost on the ramp mats almost to the doorway.
Maybe it would be good to let Tony carry the day on the box. It's only one box, and you can be firmer next time. It sounds like he (and you) has had worries lately about his health. Keeping a box is a small thing, but it might feel good to him to make this small decision.
So much to look at here. Thank you for all the links. Took me days to peek in at so much. I love seeing new ideas/trends. Your flowers look amazing. Keep up the positive thoughts. Life goes along so much better when we remember to do that!
Haha on the box debate. We save some boxes here, especially ones that the kitties can play in. Oh, and they love the brown paper that comes inside the boxes too. I have a little collection of boxes in the top of my sewing closet, so you are not alone! That is a sweet photo of Petey with Tony. Love your hydrangeas!
Jocelyn, your hydrangeas are stunning!!!! They are not a central Texas plant and I am so sorry about that. Here they are grown in pots. Our alkaline soil is not to their liking and our summer heat is pretty scorching. As a solace we have the wonderful lantana. We have huge lantana that were growing when we bought the property. They love our sprinkler system and have rewarded us with years of beauty. But I would love to grow hydrangeas and hostas. Ah well! I hope you get rain! Carol in Texas
I compare my good box to the other boxes I've already kept. If it's roughly the same size/shape as another, out it goes. I can only horde so many boxes. ;-) We are praying for rain here, too. Fingers crossed for both of us!
Thank you for all the free patterns! So many to look through! I don't keep many boxes. I like to put them in my recycle bin. My husband holds on to everything so I have to be the one to move stuff out of the house. We got a good amount of rain last night but it's been very dry otherwise.
"Something we never talk about when it comes to being an adult is how much we debate keeping a cardboard box because, you know....it's a really good box." I still use a box printed "computer accessory" to hold the Christmas wreath. It's just the right size.
Keep the box only if you will USE it! Reminds me of the “debate” my husband and I have about saving glass jars 🙂. He keeps every glass jar - jelly, olives, etc. - and I quietly slip them into the recycle bag when he’s not looking!
I agree that the box is a good one and I'd be tempted to keep it too. I had a similar one that I held onto for ages and finally discovered that my stash of heavy stabilizer would fit in it perfectly. Win! Thank you for all the great links...hard not to get lost in a couple of them!
Ha! I save boxes too. Love your basket quilt--it's really coming along! Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss. https://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2025/08/13/wednesday-wait-loss-445
Haha, I have the same one at home, for him all boxes are really good boxes ;)) I admire the way Petey keeps his balance! Pretty baskets and blue blocks, enjoy your cool sewing room! Thank you for sharing and linking up.
Your basket quilt looks great, Jocelyn! I say save that box! Petey is adorable and I can tell really loves his scratch!! Your hydrangeas are just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing with us at Monday Musings.
I've joined all the basket blocks and added one border...it's getting massive!
Your hydrangeas are just beautiful, Jocelyn! They must not mind the hot weather. It has been in the upper 90s here in Colorado, too, most of August so far, except for a couple days of lower temps that are so welcome when they come. Love those leader/ender blocks and the scrappy border for your baskets. Thanks for sharing the free patterns - the Gift Boxes pattern is tempting!
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of finding it hard to get rid of a good box especially if it can be put to use. LOL. Your basket quilt is gorgeous, Jocelyn. I was looking at basket quilts online last night. Thank you so much for sharing the links to the free patterns. I will be checking those out shortly. Enjoy your day .
ReplyDeleteIf you actually have a purpose for the box, I suggest keeping it if you don't have extra that size already. BUT make sure you label whatever you put inside of it! Your hydrangeas look nicer than mine, enjoy them while you can, autumn is coming soon and we know what comes after that!
ReplyDeleteI’m the wrong one to ask about boxes! My mother had what she called a “box mine” in her garage, and I have one, too. My daughter and son-in-law tease me about it, but every so often they ask if they can have one of my boxes. The boxes are on shelves, out of the way, so what’s the harm? If you had to send the laptop in for repair, you’d need that box. Love your leaders and enders blocks. Dot
ReplyDeleteI save boxes, Hugh throws them away.So If I think one is a keeper, it gets stashed immediately.A new laptop, what fun to open it up and get started.Those flowers look like they are thriving in the heat, we have maybe minus 4C at the edge of the verandah this morning, frost on the ramp mats almost to the doorway.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it would be good to let Tony carry the day on the box. It's only one box, and you can be firmer next time. It sounds like he (and you) has had worries lately about his health. Keeping a box is a small thing, but it might feel good to him to make this small decision.
ReplyDeleteThe Hydrangea bush is stunning!!! I laugh at the box dilemma! I have a tendency to keep 'good' boxes but lately, I've been tossing them all!
ReplyDeleteRobin was a box hoarder too, I found so many when I tidied out the shelf in the wardrobe. Some empty, some full, and even more in the garage.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great box, can you tell I am the box hoarder here..... Trying to quit, do you know of a Boxes Anonymous that I could join?
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
So much to look at here. Thank you for all the links. Took me days to peek in at so much. I love seeing new ideas/trends. Your flowers look amazing. Keep up the positive thoughts. Life goes along so much better when we remember to do that!
ReplyDeleteHaha on the box debate. We save some boxes here, especially ones that the kitties can play in. Oh, and they love the brown paper that comes inside the boxes too. I have a little collection of boxes in the top of my sewing closet, so you are not alone! That is a sweet photo of Petey with Tony. Love your hydrangeas!
ReplyDeleteGiggles, I have a hard time letting go of a good box too!
ReplyDeleteJocelyn, your hydrangeas are stunning!!!! They are not a central Texas plant and I am so sorry about that. Here they are grown in pots. Our alkaline soil is not to their liking and our summer heat is pretty scorching. As a solace we have the wonderful lantana. We have huge lantana that were growing when we bought the property. They love our sprinkler system and have rewarded us with years of beauty. But I would love to grow hydrangeas and hostas. Ah well! I hope you get rain! Carol in Texas
ReplyDeleteI compare my good box to the other boxes I've already kept. If it's roughly the same size/shape as another, out it goes. I can only horde so many boxes. ;-) We are praying for rain here, too. Fingers crossed for both of us!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the free patterns! So many to look through! I don't keep many boxes. I like to put them in my recycle bin. My husband holds on to everything so I have to be the one to move stuff out of the house. We got a good amount of rain last night but it's been very dry otherwise.
ReplyDelete"Something we never talk about when it comes to being an adult is how much we debate keeping a cardboard box because, you know....it's a really good box." I still use a box printed "computer accessory" to hold the Christmas wreath. It's just the right size.
ReplyDeletelovely, and Petey? so sweet
ReplyDeleteLeeAnna
Keep the box only if you will USE it! Reminds me of the “debate” my husband and I have about saving glass jars 🙂. He keeps every glass jar - jelly, olives, etc. - and I quietly slip them into the recycle bag when he’s not looking!
ReplyDeleteI agree that the box is a good one and I'd be tempted to keep it too. I had a similar one that I held onto for ages and finally discovered that my stash of heavy stabilizer would fit in it perfectly. Win!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the great links...hard not to get lost in a couple of them!
I had a good laugh about Brenda's channel. . .the Serial Starter. . .that could be my moniker too! Your hydrangeas are gorgeous. Petey is adorable!
ReplyDeletereally good boxes are more and more rare these days ... just sayin'
ReplyDeleteHa! I save boxes too. Love your basket quilt--it's really coming along! Thanks for sharing on my weekly show and tell, Wednesday Wait Loss.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.inquiringquilter.com/questions/2025/08/13/wednesday-wait-loss-445
Haha, I have the same one at home, for him all boxes are really good boxes ;)) I admire the way Petey keeps his balance! Pretty baskets and blue blocks, enjoy your cool sewing room! Thank you for sharing and linking up.
ReplyDeleteLove how your basket quilt is coming along and I'm glad to see that you did a bit of AQUA sewing for the RSC, too!
ReplyDeleteYour basket quilt looks great, Jocelyn! I say save that box! Petey is adorable and I can tell really loves his scratch!! Your hydrangeas are just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing with us at Monday Musings.
ReplyDelete