Beauty Product, Summer Primrose Blocks, Leaders and Enders Too

Thank you all who identified this border below as Prairie Points...what a sweet name and, of course, I had to look that up. Turns out there are tons of video tutorials showing how to make this. How did I not know about it till now?? It looks really intricate but makes such a unique border. Here is what I'm talking about in case you missed it. 

 Does planning a set schedule for what to stitch and when work for you?  I've tried that many times over the years and I've never been able to stick to it. During Covid, I seemed to be more regulated about my stitching and I remember well getting a lot of slow stitching accomplished before noon when my eyes are the most rested. That time is spent these days reading, writing and walking dogs. Nothing wrong with that but it is slowing my slow stitching progress. But of course, this is just all in my head- there are no rules or stitching deadlines for me. Generally, it is my mood that dictates what I pick up in the moment to lay stitches on but I do wish sometimes I could stick to a schedule of sorts.

 However, there is one plan that I'm happy to say I've been doing fairly well with since Christmas and that is to do machine stitching a few days of each week at some point even for just a couple of minutes. Yes, I know that doesn't really qualify as much of a plan. But that is how I've made progress on this FPP quilt project I'm calling my Summer Primrose project. HERE is the link to the Thimbles and Needles AU Etsy shop where I purchased the pattern. And here are my blocks so far in summery looking fabrics. I'm thinking of making a table topper. 

FPP helps with accuracy. And my Leaders and Enders project has benefitted from the added machine time too. I can't remember if I gave these a name. Here is my latest batch.

Speaking of table toppers, I've pulled out my daffodils tablecloth, the one that combines applique and embroidery. 

                                      

Mom sewed a lot of what she called lunch cloths back in those days in Newfoundland. These were smaller sized tablecloths featuring embroidery and usually had crocheted edgings that were used for tea and bikkies when you had company. I think this is Mom's work but I honestly can't remember about this one. She was fond of using simple blanket stitch edging, seen below, and I realized I am too. 

The Daffodils and Tulips I was given at Easter have faded. I will replant these in the garden. Meanwhile, a most welcome sight in the back garden this week is these lovely spring flowers.

I promised to share the latest face moisterizer I am enjoying. Amelia found this one and now Beth and I are giving it a go too. It is the priciest I've tried in recent years and I really like it. L'Oreal Duo Serum.

 It is not watery, goes on smoothly and absorbs into the skin nicely.  I bought mine on Amazon and I agree with the negative reviews about the packaging...you can't see how much is in the container and there's too much of it, something I don't like too. I'm still using castor oil too. 

My mood has been all over the place recently. Perhaps it's the change of season and the new chores that come with it that's on my mind. But we had Robbie here for a weekend so that kept me busy and definitely perked me and the dogs up. He's a busy guy and has started baseball now; while here he had indoor baseball practice and outdoor pitching practice.One day we all went down to the pond where he practised his golf swing putting balls into the pond. So much energy. As Tony says, it makes him tired just watching him. Ned, a true water dog, has been retrieving those balls ever since. 

I hope you are all staying calm; our supportive stitching world is a wonderful respite from all the turmoil out there. 

 

Photos of Lucky, Interesting,Yummy, and Stitchy Things

 It has been raining all night and all day. But that's good; it will help clean up the ground. The wetland on one side of the pond is finally free of ice and I flushed a pair of ducks when taking this photo last week. The Peepers are finally making their spring calls early morning. They can sound quite raucous and I read why...the females choose their mates by the volume of their sounds. 

Yesterday I  spotted these two on the pond so took this photo from a great distance and I wonder if they are the pair that made a nest there last year. It was pouring down rain but they looked comfortable enough.

I took this photo of another movie being filmed in one of the nearby towns, Carleton Place, where we go for Tony's hearing aids. That was the second one filmed there in March. They were using the local butcher's shop in this strip mall. It's kind of fun to see all the crew and equipment it takes for just a couple minutes of film. 

 Easter this year coincided with Brad's birthday so Beth brought over two cakes for our get together. We've been enjoying cake every night for dessert since.

The birthday cake was a Carrot Cake to die for. Yes and that is its' name. TO-DIE-FOR Carrot Cake. It was huge and heavy and shifted a little during transport. The recipe is found here on Trish's Mom On Time Out site. You will not be disappointed if you give this one a try!

And the Easter Cake was a cake that featured a favourite of mine, Peeps. It is the Peeps Sunflower Cake and the recipe is found here at Taste of Home.

 Isn't it neat!

 During my last ramble through a thrift store, I came across this sweet baby quilt. The edging was a new design to me and it was so striking, I took a photo to share with you. It added so much interest to a simple quilt made with a panel. Have any of you used this method for a binding? I'm sure it must have a name.

And my own stitching...more Flicker blocks featuring a few pinks, another colour I'm short on.

I'd hung on to this scrap of fabric below with the pretty tulips, debated using it in this project, and then decided it's time had come. You have probably done that very same thing. 

I'm so happy the season is shifting even though so far it has been sunless and very wet, the latter I'm hoping will be good for the forests. LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt last week was if we like spring. That would be a resounding yes from me; spring is a very welcome season here in the Ottawa Valley. The Pussy Willows are starting to open and pretty soon I'll see green shoots underfoot. 

I'll leave you with this photo Tony took of the three of us very lucky creatures last year. 

I'm sending mental well wishes to you all wherever you are in this topsy turvey world. Try to stay calm while we stitchers ride out this storm together.  

Stitching Progress and A Spring Photo Too

It's early spring which I think in some ways is the saddest and ugliest time of the year here. There is not a single hint yet of all the glorious green to come and I've been out there looking. But more about that at the bottom of this post.

Sewing progress first... I worked on my appliqued Quarter Dresdens and finished the March reds. It will be nice to move on to pinks, the RSC April colour.

I've also spent lots of quiet time cross stitching on my current piece, What Remains is Love. An alphabet was included with the pattern so you could personlize your piece which I've begun there. The pattern has a couple of quirky things about it like that rather fanciful bird on the left. 

Tony and the dogs are keeping me very busy. The appointments and meetings continue. And there's a long list of spring chores to do too. Outside, the spring season is baby stepping in. A flock of noisy Canada Geese went overhead today and early mornings I'm hearing birds twittering. 

 I've been chipping ice off the front steps using an axe and was proud of the little path I'd maintained all winter. Other years we would climb over it.

But then one day, Tony lost his balance when almost at the veranda and fell completely sideways. It was a miracle he didn't hit his head on the boulders that stick out from under the veranda or the ice on the other side. 

His face was right next to that vee shaped rock.

He was somehow inserted lying down between the two, unhurt, except for a few scratches on his scalp...his hat and glasses flew off. It was scary but we marvelled and were thankful for the good luck too that it was only his pride that got hurt. 

Then it rained heavily for hours and hours. We got about 2 inches worth and it couldn't make up its mind about freezing or plain old rain. That was thanks to a Colorado low passing through...how in the world can such reach this far north! The ground is a mess but this too won't last. I'm wearing rain boots with cleats on them.

Above there on the pond one day with the snow just starting to soften.

And 48 hours later after those warm temperatures blew through. What a difference a couple of days make!! The dogs tested it out and could walk all around on the ice which seemed to tickle their fancy. They spent ages leaping back and forth. Labradors are truly water dogs.

It's Easter Sunday and I'm having the family here for dinner today. LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt is about dishes for the dinner. I always cook a turkey and have the usual vegetables with it. I would cook salt meat to flavour them but I can't find good salt meat here. I've done my prep for the company and have all the "good" dishes out and the table set. I did my big shop for the dinner two days ago. My turkey is thawed and stuffing made. Beth is bringing one of her cakes so it's just the turkey dinner for me to prepare. 

I have lots more to share with you including new stitching projects and a new to me face moisturizer that I'm loving. Next time then! Take Care all.

So happy as always to share this post with Kathy's Quilts and Quilting Patchwork Applique.