Two Stitchy Project Updates, Back to Basic Recipes, New Small Appliance

 Walking has been a challenge here lately because of the heat. I experienced something I've never felt before while down at the pond the other day. One of those breezes that wells from the ground came up and it blew hot air at my face. So hot! The poor dogs were panting so we three just hightailed it back to the house where I'm so thankful our AC is working again...only were able to use it once last summer. The thermometer told me it was 35C which I think is like 94 F or close- you have to agree with me that is hot! Kudos to those of you who live in hot climates especially ones with humidity. Tony says I'd adjust if I had to but I'm not sure as humidity especially just makes me melt..one day last week we had 100% which doesn't sound possible. My hair has been such a mess. But that's all small stuff, every single bit of what I just wrote... enough whining, it is summer with glorious sunshine and massive beautiful growth in the gardens.

Here is something I've discovered loves the heat...the Coleus. This is one of my indoor houseplants and was in sorry shape after a long winter with little or low sun. Wish I'd taken a before photo. Here it is on summer holidays out on the back veranda and loving it. The light intensity has turned the leaves gorgeous purples. 

I've been doing some pinching to make it fill in as it has a tendency to become spindly. And thank you for the plant tips...I learn so much from you all, please keep them coming. 

In the sewing room...

I've been busy machine stitching more blue strings blocks. As I've said, my scraps appear to be unending...silly me, I'd thought that would be why I would have to end this project. Now I'm wondering how many blocks to make. This is 20 and I think 20 more would create a good overall design. What do you think?

I'll have to do more checking around the net to see other arrangements.

And I've been matching handles to basket bottoms too and have made 15 3/4 so far for the appliqued Basket Loves project. These have been fun to hand stitch using a blanket stitch edging on the handles. Must realign that handle on the far right bottom which is unsewn. I'm now at the stage of thinking of whether or not to end the basket making part of this project. I have the appliqued border finished too for one side and have to think about the others. 

Norma said not to fret about getting the handles perfect, after all this is a primitive style project, but I noticed hers were all identical and perfection, of course. Her site is Timeless Traditions Quilting if you'd like to take a look at her sweet patterns. 

So here is my new small appliance. The Kitchenarm Smart Bread Maker...

I'd given up on bread machines as the last two broke and Tony couldn't fix them and they were not worth paying someone to find out what was wrong. I hate the idea of more waste in the landfill. But I

really missed the convenience of having a machine that made a perfect loaf now and then. This one popped up in my feed one day and I saw it had the most 4.8 to 5 star ratings of any other machine on the market and it's a company that makes only bread machines. I broke down and ordered it. I received an email immediately from their webpage inviting me to explore their recipe site...Kitchen Arm Breads where I noted there is a recipe for sourdough starter.  Tony loves bread so much so very soon I'll let you know how it fares. 

I enjoyed this video below and not just because the featured cook, Christine, is a fellow Newfoundlander which was fun. It is about money saving hacks regarding food and included recession proof recipes to make the kind of meals our grandparents and, for me, my mother, would have made. Simple ingredients all and so healthy too. And it reminded me I need to make Oatcakes.

Married to a Nova Scotian for 34 years in my first marriage, these were almost always in the house. I remember being able to bake them even on Baffin Island because they don't require eggs.  I'm sharing Kelly Neil's recipe and, little tip, she says you'll need an empty Spam can, of all things, to cut the perfectly rounded corners. That bit was new to me.

Kelly Neil's Nova Scotia Oatcake recipe is there.

Our kitchen sink blocked up again and made a mess. But on the upside, we got to clean out the pipes like they'd never been cleaned before so maybe that will prevent this almost usual thing from happening any time soon. And on the up side, I got to use a tip I saw on YouTube that old black tea is good for cleaning wooden floors. I made a large pot of it and used it on the floors after the spills were all cleaned up. It made the floor look very clean with a nice matte kind of finish. It's definitely so much cheaper than bought cleaners...I used 4 well steeped teabags and you would think this would be better for the environment too. 

This has been a very busy appointment filled week for us with still two more to go, one with the dermatologist this afternoon to check on Tony's skin cancers, then back to the imagery clinic tomorrow for part two of his chemical nuclear stress test. Tony has a good tolerance for all this and it never affects his mood, which is a blessing. 

I hope you are staying cool or warm wherever you are in this big world of ours!

Do check out Not Afraid of Color where folks are also sharing their likes this week. Sharing this post with The Inquiring Quilter, Alycia Quilts, Quilt Schmilt and Creations Art Whatever.

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 Quilts, Life in Pieces, Melva Loves Scraps and Songbird Designs.

 

Stitchy Wizardry, Blue Strings, Summer Desserts

 Well summer is upon us...it happens around this time every year :) no matter what the weather or temperatures. And what a marvel it all is. From the very early morning light to later sunsets, I am trying my best to take it all in and appreciate it. For it all moves by quickly...take the Phoebes with their nest on the sound box on the back of the house, for instance. The family...three little ones, are already raised and gone. They must have snuck out in the dead of night for me to have missed them the way I have. 

Such a sweet little bird...

Here are six blue stringed blocks. Fun machine stitching for me- I can say that now and mostly mean it. I can see there are a number of patterns these blocks can make, a decision to be made further along. 

 But I need to figure out a way to move the process along...the choosing of the strings and how they match each other seems to take me forever, etc. And I'm not sure that matters much in the overall end look of them. Also just a little unhappy that the scrap bin appears to be almost still at the very same level as when I started. As so many of you warned me it would be. 

What stitchy wizardry is this!

Below is Jenni Oliver's 1987 cover for The New Yorker, one of twenty eight paintings of hers the magazine used over the years. She deliberately didn't put people in any of her work so, per her wish, we are left imagining the lucky person who would use such a pretty sewing space. 

I watched this video featuring Jen Kingwell. I had no idea she was such a fervent hand stitcher and only uses the machine when she has to. Her lively designs are unique and interesting.

                                         

Here is one of Jen's latest patterns- it's called Burrows and Boughs. There is always a lot going on in her designs. More to be found here...Jen Kingwell Designs.

Are you watching This is Us on Neflix? Tony and I are enjoying it very much. Heartwarming I guess is what you could call the stories. 

If you are looking for a great summer dessert recipe, I have one for you...Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle. This blog called Country Reflections ended in 2015 but the recipes are all still there and I liked how they used just the regular old ingredients if you know what I mean. I love trifles in the summertime both for how easy they are to make...kind of assembling rather than baking/cooking if you have a store bought pound/sponge or angel food cake and how you can include all kinds of fruit. It's an especially great dessert because everyone always loves them. BTW, I couldn't find a name for the lady who wrote that blog so if you find it, please let me know. 

Taste of Home offers another variation of a strawberries and cream trifle. It's so easy to make this dessert look mouth watering... 

 So here I am thinking of delicious desserts and enjoying the blooms like the flowering Weigelia flowing onto the veranda. I planted three of these in bright colours that Tony loves and all three are blossoming well. What shade of pink would you call this one?

All the while I'm keeping a sharp lookout for ticks (two so far taken off Petey). Speaking of which we send well wishes to our blogging friend, Julie Rose Quilts, who is thankfully recovering from side effects of medications against tick borne illnesses. A lesson that my vigilance is warranted for sure.

We had chicken with mashed potatoes last night for supper. Yes, that's right I have a chicken to use to make my favourite- soup. Crock pot time!

Hope your week is ending on a high note! 

Check out Not Afraid of Color where folks are sharing what they like this week. And loving these linky parties...Alycia Quilts, Creations Art Quilts, It's A Small Town Life,  Sum of Their Stories, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Quilting Patchwork Applique.

My Second Best Thrift Find, Summer Hand Stitching, Cold Water Swimming

The birds are sweetly singing and the earth is blossoming forth as the old saying goes. What a treat to be in June, even a June that is only slightly sunny with a cool edge to the breezes. And the beautiful flowers don't seem to mind at all. I love my Irises.

And this combination of colours...the purple, violet and deep down, that extreme yellow...

I finally got into another thrift store. And the sentence You need this like you need a hole in the head definitely applied. I have a small collection of dog figurines mostly found during my thrift store jaunts. When I spied this one of a German Shepherd so like Rex I just had to have it even though it had a very unthrifty price tag of $22. It is in mint condition and features the Alsatian German Shepherd with the sloping back just like Rex. 

I got excited when I recognized the mark of a V and an embedded number-CH 618, on the bottom- I knew this was a Goebel, the Hummel figurine folks. My dog turned out to be my second best thrift find next to my Petit Point Dish Set. Oh my. Here is what one seller on Etsy is charging. Approximately C $166.73!

Here is Rex under our tree back in 2012 and I still tear up just thinking about him. Beautiful and faithful, the best boy ever ( I can't let Ned hear me say that.)

My other real bargain was this long summer shirt by Olsen. I paid $13.98 for it and I know a shirt like this would be over a hundred dollars brand new.  

Finds like these...things I love and that are sure bargains is why I love thrift stores. You really never know what you will spy but for me, the genuine fun and enjoyment is always in the hunt.

I got a chance to do some veranda slow stitching last Sunday. With a light sweater, the temperature was lovely though the mosquitoes were awful and I had to use some bug spray- which I hate- to be comfortable. Here I'm stitching Floralies from Canevas Folies which is an online shop in Switzerland. I think they now have PDF options too which they didn't have when I bought this kit. I have my eye on their Christmas Robin design. 

 I also am stitching more handles for my Baskets Love project. I got myself organized and made a bit of an assembly line. 

I'm using blanket stitch around the edges. This is a project destined for the wall not a bed so it can afford to be somewhat flimsily hand stitched by me. 

I'm doing well with my summer sewing machine challenge to myself. I've now finished four stringed blocks. More about that next time. Happily sharing with Quilting is More Fun Than Housework where when I write that my brain always says yes it is.

I'm enjoying seeing how so many of you are embracing June's RSC colour, orange. Wow, so many lovely blocks and projects in that colour. I like how some are making Halloween blocks which is clever to get so ahead in the quilting game, LOL. So Scrappy hosts the weekly party.

Our pool is open and I've been swimming which feels wonderful. I've decided not to heat it this year as I enjoy how the cold makes me feel. I have no idea if it helps the immune system or has any other health benefits as such. We are all different and what works for one might not for another. But I believe this is good for me. In fact, something I do all the time is turn my shower to cold before I finish...it seems to liven me up which improves my mood. Tony is totally aghast at the very thought of doing this! Are you with Tony? 

LeeAnna's, Not Afraid of Color, prompt this week has to do with learning to swim. I learned when I was 9 or 10 at the Margaret Bowater Park, Corner Brook, Newfoundland where the beautiful Humber River flowing through formed a mostly natural swimming area. I wasn't a strong swimmer, still not, so very cautiously always stayed in the cordoned off section. 

Come to think of it, maybe those early cold water swimming experiences set me up to enjoy it all my life. Who knows!

Anyway, hope there is lots of the good stuff happening in your life to liven you up!

Meanwhile linking up with Life in Pieces and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

June New Starts of All Sorts And a Sweet Stitchy Gift

June is a month of new starts of all sorts!

The robins on the front veranda have started their family. I had the step ladder ready and waited till they were over on the far lawn to grab a quick shot of their nest. Two things that impress me about robins...their nest is always a thing of beauty in construction...so strong I've seen them last many winters and the other thing is the rich, gorgeous colour of the eggs they lay. Crayola makes a crayon that is robin's egg blue and the famous Tiffany's trademarked blue is a shade of robin's egg blue. 

It is not just the flowers budding and in bloom these early June days. Our little forest here features many pine, fir and spruce trees that I tried to identify and record my first year. Coming from a heavily forested province like Newfoundland and Labrador, I really should have known more about trees. This large bud below is called a candle and if it survives, will grow into a new branch on one of our pine trees. 

Thinking of beautiful forests, it is dreadful to hear of all the out of control forest fires out west. So much devastation, worry and upheaval too. The smoke has made it to our skies here in Ontario and we have had moderate risk air quality warnings lately. I read the smoke from the Manitoba fires reached as far as Russia!

While England Quakers is in time out, I began G. Leger 1898, a piece I've had prepped and ready to go since the pandemic. This design has several favourite features like two alphabets and pears- two of them as well, birds and a wonderful red house. 

 I'm comfortable stitching with one thread now and kind of proud of myself for giving that a go and sticking with it. And there is a very positive aspect to one strand cross stitching.. it is so much easier to make neat stitches than with wrangling two threads. I'm very happy with this new start. Also happy to link up with other slow stitchers at Kathy's Quilts.

I do have to be careful with eye strain so am using my Ott light on the highest level and stitching only during the day, not at night. And look at this, a needle minder that resembles a heavy piece of jewelry. It is a sweet gift from a reader. 

She said she didn't want to see me stabbing my fabric anymore. That gave me a smile as she'd read that I'd written that quite a while ago.☺ (It is always a surprise to me that folks are reading and paying attention to what I say!) How neat that it is a bee for me...I love it. 

I'm reading this book by one of my old favourite authors and enjoying it. The premise in a nutshell is...you are married, slightly unhappily, with teenaged children and your first boyfriend contacts you... the one you madly, crazily loved...what to do? Mostly told from the man's perspective which made it all the more interesting. But can/will these soulmates give up their present lives to start a new one???

Petey is very attentive to my every move and is always watching me. Here he is tired from ball playing but trying to keep his eyes open and his head pressed against my leg, an uncomfortable position for sure. What a loving dog!

Last week was a very busy one for us and really cut into sewing time. I'm happy to have this appointment free week so I can get in the sewing room again. Here is Block 1 of my quilting new start and it's looking rather lonely.

But these blue string blocks are calling my name and perhaps they will keep on calling till I get to the bottom of my tote...wouldn't that be nice. Dream on!

Hope there is something wonderful calling your name too!

Happily sharing this post with It's A Small Town Life, Melva Loves Scraps, Quilt Schmilt, Alycia Quilts,  Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Creations Art Whatever, Quilting Patchwork Applique and The Inquiring Quilter. A big thank you to all these wonderful hosts!

Summer Machine Stitching Plan, Pretty Blooms, EPP Starry Hexagons, Fine Hair Help

Well, it's June and someone should tell the weather that. We had an overnight frost warning one night last week and someone told me there were snowflakes in the air one afternoon. I didn't see that, perhaps because of all the rain pouring down in spits and starts around us here at the wooden house. And it's been cold, single digits most of last week climbing into double by day's end. This week it's been climbing higher and yesterday we had a hint of humidity- so maybe the sputtering start is about to end. 

But the blooming doesn't seem to mind the cooler temps. I have about ten of these flower bunches on my old Lilac tree. Such a striking colour and a shame the tree is so elderly. This pretty bicolour is called Sensation or English Lilac. 

The Bridal Wreath Spirea is starting to put on a show too and crowding the other bushes. It's a very hardy, low maintenance bush that I highly recommend.

And though sadly only briefly in bloom, the Primrose flowers added bright colour to the back yard beds. 

The colour for this month's RSC is also a bright one- orange, not a colour I use much. I like it for pumpkins, fall leaves and oranges (the fruit), but not so much in my quilting. As a result, I have very little orange in my stash but I did turn up a couple old pieces, enough to make these two starry EPP hexagons. Still loving this project...easy night time hand stitching. If you want to see lovely hand stitching check out Kathy's Slow Stitching Party HERE.

Summer Machine Stitching Plan

Most of you folks do not need an actual plan to get in the sewing room and stitch but apparently I do. But since moving my sewing room back to the original little one and making it so comfortable and cozy in there, I'm determined to use it more. I thought I'd further encourage myself by choosing a quilt pattern totally suited to easy machine stitching. Of course, a string quilt probably qualifies best for just that and it happens I have lots of strings in the scrap bin. To that end, I'm sorting to begin a string quilt. Think I'll start with blues as there are far more of those for some reason ?? Wish me luck! 

It's so easy to find inspiration on YouTube too and turns out, there are many variations of String blocks.  But I also enjoyed this post by Emily at Quilty Love and followed her advice for a couple of things. One, to use a foundation piece of fabric to help with stability and accuracy. 

And two, to choose one colour for the center string of each block to add a little oomph to the final overall look. 

So I'm stitching my traditional string blocks using 9 inch squares and because they're blues, a pretty middle yellow stripe will brighten the overall look.  

I'd thought of using the red for the center string to make it a patriotic project. 

So Block #1 went together quickly... I just have to get in that room and keep the blocks coming! Hopefully I'll have several to show you soon.

I've found a new texturizing hair product that I like, the Kenra Platinum Whipped Taffy. I was careful to use a tiny amount the first time but have worked up to the recommended bit. Though pricier than my usual products, it definitely makes my fine hair look thicker. I first saw it recommended by a Youtuber and ordered it from good old Amazon.

Well, it's off to pick up Tony's meds and treats for the dogs. Here is beautiful music if you are in need of something soothing to listen to today... Anne of Green Gables: Joy of Spring but equally lovely if you are moving into winter where you are. 

Have a great weekend!

  Do drop over to Not Afraid of Color where folks are sharing their likes for this week. Also wonderful to have linky parties to share with like these...The Inquiring Quilter, Alycia Quilts and Creations Quilts Art.

8 Marvelous Things This Week

We have a Phoebe nest on the abandoned sound box on the back of the house and a robin's nest on the front veranda. I tried to discourage the robin because, years ago, the last to nest there came to a sad end. But my banging about out there didn't work. How I wish she had chosen the light on the wall just opposite her. Last year's robin family did quite well there. 

This was a good week for me and here are some of the things that made it so. 

 #1This bird below is another first for me! I know I've never seen one before. At first glance, I thought it was some kind of swallow. But no, from my birding books, I think it is an Eastern Kingbird. While staying put only a minute, I was lucky to manage a couple of shots. A pretty looking bird.

Part of what made it a good week was getting lots done in the garden-between rain showers- and around the house too. I tidied the small garage where I park the car and cleared out more trash. For me, it always feels good to be getting rid of stuff. 

And we have a house guest. Ned's brother, Petey, is staying with us for a couple of weeks. He is getting a little slower and is not as rambunctious as he once was. He's a sweetheart of a dog who we would keep if Beth and family would let us. Here they are tired out from a little ball playing in the backyard. And that is a good thing for me too...keeps me moving. Enjoying keeping up with Petey and the added benefit of being able to help out family is #2.

The last time I sorted scraps I put aside a bag of small ones and started a new leaders/enders project on the machine. I cut 3 inch squares from a thrifted cotton sheet at night in front of the tv. (mostly remembering to use my pinking shears) and, in the sewing room, am sewing a little bit of coloured scrap to one corner. So my #3 is having a satisfying, very easy machine stitching project to do, one you don't have to think about. 

Layout to be determined later

Also satisfying stitching...the last of my EPP starry hexagons in greens- had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find these but happy to be moving this RSC project along. 

 I realize I have a theme when it comes to projects and feelings. First I get excited, then I get critical and it doesn't take long for one to turn into the other. Being critical can stymy creativity and progress that's for sure. Does that happen to you? But then, maybe months later, I'll pick up said project and get going again as if the crisis in faith never happened. Sometimes I'll even feel excited about it again. Maybe that's just me. Do you find your interest ebbs and flows?  I saw this quote over at Michele's  3 P's and a Nana post and thought it brilliant. #4 is when we find words/sayings that amuse, inspire or motivate us to keep going.

It's so nice to visit folks who just seem to keep producing beautiful quilts. Like Jeni at In Color Order. She just finished a gorgeous take on the vintage schoolhouse pattern. She used old sheets and has made a vibrant beautiful and summery quilt. I actually have one of the sheets she used! And there is always a good selection of sheets to be found at thrift stores, a win on a couple of levels. 

HERE is a link to Jeni's Quilting Category and you'll see why I like her work. I think I could stitch them too. #5 is enjoying all the online wonderful, hard working quilters and the inspiration they give us. 

Paige Alexander reproduced a page of an old hand writing practice manual in this quilt. It is hard for me to believe that cursive writing is no longer taught in school. It used to be thought an essential life skill and I enjoyed the little writing practice book we worked our way through in grade 3. I was a bit of a nervous student so this time would have been calm and relaxing for me.  Anyway. what a neat quilt! She is found on instagram  @quiltedblooms.  #6 is when we find something that stirs good memories and the internet sure is great for that.

A couple of things I'm checking out... Dish podcast on YouTube daughter told me about. They have celebrity guests each show. I watched the one with Stephen Fry and enjoyed it very much.

And English Heritage ...In this episode, Mrs. Crocombe makes Sad Cakes, the kind that would have been fed to servants. What a great name but I would call them cookies.

Besides cooking and baking, they cover a wide range of topics including Elizabeth 1's makeup routine, for instance. Finding great podcasts/channels- especially ones you can stitch to- on YouTube is #7.

And #8 is the reason I keep writing this blog. Having readers who take their time to write me and share their ideas, wisdom and kind words always brighten my day and is the best thing about having a blog.  

Be sure to drop over to Not Afraid of Color where LeeAnna and other folks are sharing their likes this week too. 

Happy Weekend All!

Glad too to link with Alycia Quilts, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Creations Art Quilts.