Summer Flowers, Autumn Stitching and New Start

I'm seeing signs that the autumn season is starting to take hold. The leaves are starting to turn and fall. It's been single digits overnight lately and staying cooler during the days. I like this time between the seasons and wish it would last longer here. 

 I transplanted two Japanese Anemone bushes to the right of the front path. This season they have really taken off. I didn't know they would spread like this! They have taken over the whole space but it is a plus that the bees love them.

Such a gorgeous little flower!

And here are two of my indoor plants that were outside since May.  My lovely Madagascar Jasmine  enjoyed the summer months on the front veranda. I've read it is also called Bride's Flower and I can see why. 

And my Coleus spent the summer on the back veranda as usual. It thrived as always and grew so tall. 

I'm reluctant to cut anything which can be a problem as most of the flower beds/areas need so much more trimming. I'm happy, though,with how much garden time I got in this summer in between the rain showers. And there is still time to do lots more. 

I'm also pleased with my summer stitching. I've finished a couple more houses for my autumn project

 and prepped the blocks for the appliqued maple leaves. I've finished a couple with my usual blanket stitch edging. Here is the first one. 

I've never had a specific plan about working on my cross stitch projects. I watch a number of flosstubers and several have a plan for when to work on what. One idea seemed to fit my way of doing things and that was to work on a designated project for a month. That way you can make seeable (is that a word?) progress. I'm going to give it a go. So I've put G.Legere away after spending August with him, or is it her. I've searched and can't find any information other than this is a reproduction of a French sampler. This is how much I've finished since last showing you...a bird, a tree, and a start on the house. I love working on this one very much and especially enjoyed stitching the scrolly alphabet. 

One of the things many cross stitchers do is make a new start for their birthday. So I thought I'd use that as my reason for starting Flora, a pattern from The Artsy Housewife I've had kitted for some time. 

It's time I stitched an owl and I love that decorative border. Gigi, the very arsty designer, is famous for her elaborate, beautiful borders. My fraternal grandmother's name was Flora; she was the wife of Ned who our Ned is named after. I always say if I get a cat, I will name her Flora. My grandmother never liked her name; she used to say it was a droll old name.

Here is my rather scant beginning on 32 count Belfast Dirty Linen.

Younger grandson, Robbie, has started Grade 8. Where oh where have those years gone????

It's blueberry picking time at home in Newfoundland. I really miss that. Growing up in Corner Brook, I could go to the woods behind our house and pick two cups of blueberries in a few minutes. That was just enough for Mom to make a cobbler kind of cake with the blueberries on the bottom of a square pan. The batter was more cake like than cobbler really and years later, she couldn't remember exactly how she made it. There was no recipe as such just what she had in her head. She remembered making a sweet sauce to pour over it which I didn't remember. She probably made that for Dad as he had a serious sweet tooth which I don't have and neither did she. Do you have a sweet tooth? 

On that happy note, I'll finish this post. My bank of free patterns has ballooned so I'll soon have to start sharing again. And I need to tell you about the marvelous books I've been reading too. So next time then. Take Care All!

Birthday Outing, Flowers and Fabrics

This is Gladioli by the artist, Adrian Paul Allison. Here is the link to Adrian's Wikipedia page.

                                                  

Gladioli are the flower of August, my birth month. It blooms large and showy and in many colours. As much as I wish it were my favourite flower, it is not. In fact, if I lined up all flowers it would probably land near the end of the pack. It's a little too over the top for my liking. While I admire showy, it's not me. I prefer the wild flowers, the tiny, the ones that bloom against all odds in challenging weather and places. Blue Flag comes to mind as a perfect example. It blooms atop grassy Newfoundland cliffs where the stiff breezes off the North Atlantic can almost knock you over on a windy day. It blooms bright and beautiful in spite of the conditions with not a helping hand from anyone. The version I planted here is more of an Iris, tall and slender, compared to the stocky Blue Flag at home. But I do love it too.

I enjoyed my birthday very much. I'm 75 now and, though that's just a number, it does sound like a daunting figure to me. Am I now supposed to feel old but I absolutely do not. I'm very lucky so far with being able to move my body without aches or pains the same as I have done all my life. Tony will tell you it is because I work at it. Which I do but I'm thankful to be able to do that too and still have the will to keep it up.  

But getting back to the birthday. I had a weekend away at a beautiful hotel in a neighbouring town, Perth. Here is a view of our hotel from the park it is beside.

 We sat outside on the sunny Saturday and watched as folks were setting up for two weddings. How fortunate for those brides to be blessed with sun during this very wet and cloudy summer. The next day, it was back to gloom and rain clouds.

 Here is a photo of our room snacks. 

We spent Saturday wandering in and out the shops on the main street. One of them is a fabric shop so we spent quite a lot of time in there and I did buy fabric. It is much more tempting in person than online I realized. And these pretty end bits were on sale.  I also bought John James needles which are my favourites.

They had a wall of Tula Pink which I resisted so there is more I could have bought...of course!

While together, I made a start on an embroidery kit Beth gave me last year. Puffins are Newfoundland's provincial bird. 

They got to see many including this one below at Bonavista while on this summer's trip home. They are such a comical looking little bird. 

Meanwhile, Brad kept Tony company with takeout and drinks which they both enjoyed. I am lucky to have had a good break like that and I enjoyed every minute. 

The dogs gave me such a greeting when I got back I had to brace myself or they would have knocked me down. 

Back home and with my sewing, I've pulled out this appliqued hanging to layer up and quilt which I have officially begun. This is Kim Mclean's floral design and you can see her beautiful work and designs at that link.

And on that colourful note, I'll end this post. I have lots more to share with you, so till next time then. 

Take Care all!

 

Scrappy Summer Projects and Slow Stitching Progress

How are you all? I'm keeping very busy in the house and in the garden. Here is a view of the wooden house from the right side. I let that Birch tree grow from a tiny sapling and now I wonder if I should have done that. I love Birches and they don't have the longevity that other kinds of trees have so it won't be there forever. I thought it provides a little shade and privacy too. Anyway, it is now as tall as the roof!

The pattern of later afternoon and night time thunder storms has continued. They are ferocious storms and we can't believe how long they last. They bring huge downpours of rain. But it seems that nature loves it because everything is blooming beautifully. Each day, I spend a little time pulling weeds. I'm having a lot of Manitoba Maple vine this year and another tall unnamed fern like weed that has somehow deposited itself in both side beds at the front and along the side you see in that photo. Someone said it might be the bird seed that spreads these unwanted seeds. I have so many critters here...the turkeys, including young ones now, are coming around every day, so maybe they are the culprits. 

Could I win a county fair ribbon with this one below?

This Hydrangea bloom is 12 inches across!

My stitching fingers have been busy...of course!  I found another 10 of the quarter Dresdan blocks already stitched but all without the black corners.  I've not received the black fabric I had to order to finish these and I've not had any luck finding black 100% cotton shirts at any thrift store. 

I've added two more rounds to that sixth hexagon panel for the very scrappy version of the Liberty Liliput Puddle quilt that I'm creating.

Autumn stitchy projects and chatter are already appearing around the net. I love Autumn stitching of any sort. Maybe it is my favourite season to stitch. I've mentioned I want to make a project from each of the books I have in my little library. I've always admired this cover quilt from this book, Friendship Strips & Scraps, by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.

 I notice she seems to be fond of scrappy quilts and includes lots in both of the early books of hers I've bought at thrift stores. 

So I tried out the pattern and have these two to share. They are not perfect- one door definitely looks taller, but did use up some of my longer scrappy strips. And this made me do a little machine stitching for a change too. I'm going to see if I have enough longer strippy Autumny scraps to make more rainbow houses. 

Edyta alternated the house blocks with a little appliqued pattern. I have a maple leaf template and thought of using it for my appliqued blocks. What do you think?

I've been thoroughly enjoying the videos my favourite stitchers have made of their visits to the massive European Festival of Quilts show held in Birmingham this year. Here is Rachel's video and it must be just overwhelming to see so much quilty beauty in one place.

I finished Summer Feels. I've stitched three pears this summer.

And I've picked up the G. Legere 1898 project to add a few stitches.

 I have that large pear finished and I can't wait to get to stitch that pretty red/rosy house which will brighten up this piece. Very enjoyable stitching.

The giant pear is about three and a half inches tall.

Someone asked about the term I used of one thread over two. DMC embroidery cotton has 6 strands. For cross stitching, you can use two of those strands in your needle at a time or one. That decision can depend on the cloth you are stitching on. If you use Aida cloth, you generally use two strands as the holes are bigger. If using linen, the weave is much tighter, so one strand can be used. Some of us like to be able to see the cross that the threads make so using one strand enables that especially on the thread count of linen I use. But using two threads of embroidery thread on Aida will give a deeper saturation of colour, something I've also noticed I've lost with stiching on linens. And some folks love that and stick with Aida for certain designs for that reason. Any of these choices, like in all stitching, basically comes down to personal preference.

 My constant companions do this. I feed them three times a day and nearing those times, this is where I find them...in the back hallway where their bowls are...you wouldn't know but they were starving.

As I write this, I hear the familiar rumble of thunder; it will be the sound of summer '26. I do hope you all are having a good August with lots to keep you busy and happy. 

 

Me in My Thrift Find, Hand Stitching Progress and Cake Too

 The only constant in my days is that they are flying by. Does time speed up in the summer months I wonder. We had Tony's birthday celebration last week and he is now 87 and counting. It was a somewhat sad day as he reflected on all the people he has lost including another good friend in recent months. Things brightened up though when we went out for a meal to a nearby restaurant with Beth and Brad. Beth made him a beautiful chocolate cake, his favorite. She uses Barry's recipe found at his site, Rock Recipes, and it was very moist and delicious. 

Everything is in full bloom which is beautiful. This means the weeds are also doing well. I've had to pull out a lot of Manitoba Maple as well as a new weed that grows straight and tall. Every day, I pick a part of one of the gardens to work on and spend about twenty minutes tidying it. Here is the view from my kitchen window these days with the Hydrangeas putting on their usual amazing show.

I said this would be the summer of dresses and I've added a couple to my wardrobe. This mauve one is a thrift store find from Old Navy. Though it isn't slimming, it is light and airy making it perfect for an Ontario summer. And this is as long as I'm letting my hair grow- to the bottom of my earlobes. That Smoke Tree is enormous. 

I'm happy with my summer of 2026 hand stitching progress too. Summer Feels is almost finished. I've just a few stitches here and there to add still. And I've finally gotten a photo that shows the true colour of that background linen. It's such a pretty shade. I've added three butterflies that weren't in the pattern. That is something I would never do in the past but now my thoughts are different. Who cares if I do that? No one is who. What's a summer garden without butterflies and they filled in sort of blank spaces. 

I'm finishing my appliqued Quarter Dresden project too. The last ten blocks are getting appliqued this week. I was aiming for 50 and I think I've sewn more than that. Such an enjoyable stitching project and I've loved every minute of each of the stages creating these blocks. Next will be layout decisions.

I've also been adding to my Liberty Puddles WIP. This was a SAL in 2022 run by The Strawberry Thief over on Facebook and there are videos available. I'm on the sixth panel now. Surely my scraps must be diminishing with all this scrappy stitching. You'd think, right. Here it is on the chair where I'd been stitching on the patio. 

The dogs are loving getting out for a long walk early morning before the day heats up. I shake a Bear Bell to warn any critters that might be about. A fox has been visiting the yard regularly lately and I really would not want an encounter with the dogs.

 They are so joyful running about and that always puts a smile on my face. 

I hope you are smiling too. 

It's a wild world out there. Is it just me or is it getting wilder??? Take care of yourself!

Slow Stitching Projects, June Busting Out All Over

 Can you see him?

I feel a little sorry for the critters whose only defence is to stay stock still. 

So far I've been enjoying June very much. And I've been sticking to my plan to pare down computer time during the summer months. I've discovered how much extra time in the mornings that frees up. One way I'm using that time is undertaking a huge clear out in the sewing room which overwhelmed me at first. But I remembered that old saying How do you eat an elephant?  Bite by bite. So that's what I've been doing- one drawer at a time and after a sad overwhelming episode the first day, it's been going well. The major issue is not me; it's that the space is way too small for all I have stuffed in there. I guess that is my fault for being such an avid collector over the last 20 years, but I don't want to part with any of it just yet. Tony stopped and watched me there with the piles around me and just shook his head. He wouldn't say anything as he knows he is guilty himself of hanging onto things...on this property, he has a small garage, a very large barn/garage and a room in the basement holding all his collected paraphernalia. 

Meanwhile, I'm continuing my calm stitching which is hand stitching of any sort for me. First up is cross stitching. Here is where I am on Feels Like Summer. My eyes are adjusted to using my #4 readers with this 32 count fabric and I'm enjoying stitching one over two with the vibrant colours. I should also mention I am using my own thread stash for this one and choosing as close to the called for colour as possible. I like the way these tomatoes were charted. 

Also with slow stitching, I've finished three panels of the EPP Hexagon project. I need six in all for the size quilt I want to make. I'm staying with using up scraps for these and enjoying the whole process from cutting the templates from old flyers, choosing fabrics and colours, making the hexagons and finally sewing them together.

I've added to my appliqued quarter Dresden project too. I've sewed 34 of these blocks so far and would like to make 50. 

 Being outside taking in all the sights underfoot is certainly making June a beautiful month and time of year for me. Every time I'm out on one of the paths and something sweet and beautiful catches my eye, I remind myself how lucky to be here still. Such a diversion from worries and cares. 

I'm surprised by all the bloom as it's been a very wet start to the summer. I had planted more of these Bridalwreath Spirea bushes when I found out what wonderful and easy bloomers they are.

So lovely.

And this one below is actually a form of Lilac tree. I'll have to do more checking to confirm which one. I had wanted a Lilac tree as the one that was already here is so elderly though still sending out a few blooms each spring. This one continues to bloom abundantly. I put old coffee grounds around the roots of my flowering bushes each fall and I really don't know if that helps, but it certainly isn't hurting. 

Tony is out in the big garage working on fixing something on the big mower. I've given him a pillow because I know he has to lie down when taking breaks. I have so much admiration for his determination to keep going. At this point, I think it is pure willpower that is fueling his body. He has decided to sell his Spyder as he really shouldn't ride anymore which is a most sensible decision and relief to me. 

I've been swimming between the rain showers we've been experiencing every single day. Someone said the rain is why the trees are so green and leafed out this year after the drought last summer. Or maybe our eyes are just so astounded to see so much green after a very long, very white winter. 

I hope you are enjoying the season where you are. " The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper."  W. B. Yeats

June Stitching and Summer Joys

 I wonder if your head is spinning like mine. Each day is like the blink of the eye. I'm no sooner up and starting the morning when it seems I'm closing drapes and shutting the house down again. Perhaps that is a good thing as it means I'm busy which I feel I certainly am. 

Outside, the world has come alive and so quickly it seems. It's always a pleasant surprise how much colour there is this season of the year. Even the Dandelions are so welcome. I'm calling this one "Me and My Shadow".

And here are the pretty Primroses. I don't know what you would label those colours, but they sure are vibrant.

And my elderly Lilac tree is in bloom too. 

I promised I would show you my latest fitness device. It is called a Rebounder and is one of those home trampolines. What's really surprising me about it is I thought I'd be able to jump forever on it- what fun!- but no, I do feel the exercise part of it as it raises my heart rate quite quickly. A mere 7 minutes is all I'm managing right now. 

I'd been swimming every day too which is wonderful but rain with thunder has sidelined that exercise the last three days. I'm not heating the pool and like last year, I do believe the cold plunge part is good for me. 

My stitching fingers have been busy too. I put the totally hand stitched Lone Star Medallion quilt on the wall for a photo. I'd backed it with a white fabric that was a sheet...Tommy Hillfiger actually, so a good quality.  It was fun getting it all appliqued but then fiddly getting all the points and dips joined neatly to the backing. I measured and each diamond is exactly 43 inches which amazed me considering all the little hand stitches in this project and how it's been mauled with all the handling for each step along its journey too. 

I'm also working on the table topper Primrose Flowers piece. More hand quilting which also involved decision making. After trying two templates I had on hand, I settled on drawing a little mod flower shape and that's what I'm using for the quilting lines. This should not take too long. 

For the backing, I used an old sheet from way back in the day that is still very sturdy and perfectly suits this project. I actually remember the Mod Flower craze back in the late sixties. It wasn't my taste but I did have one align dress with flowers on it. 

That black thingy there is my magnet; I wave it around my chair and in the sewing room all the time as I'm always worried about the dogs and pins. 

I've been waiting a long time to get this library book below and finally it is my turn. It's material obsession two by Sarah Fielke and Kathy Doughty. 

I love how Sarah creates these wonderful and surprisingly large quilts with hand piecing and mostly in her lap. There are two particular quilts in this book I've admired for a very long time and would love to make and the patterns are there for me to copy. That's one of the things that gives me a little leap of joy these days. Here is Sarah talking about one of them, Jazz Hands, which is pieced with that kite shape there. 

I'm continuing my summer plan to spend less of my free time on the computer. As a result, I'm definitely spending more time outside- gardening, walking, swimming, etc. and inside- stitching, reading and scribbling. So far, it is the garden that is definitely benefitting the most from this plan.

My Phoebes have fledged. I think there were three little ones this year. It's very difficult to get a good photo as this nesting spot is very tight to the overhang and hidden slightly. I thought of getting a step ladder but I didn't want to disturb them. Pretty sure there are three there. What do you think?

On that very hopeful note, I'll end this post. Oh yes, before I forget again, this is also my summer of dresses. I've had great luck at thrift stores finding a few for summer. I'll share the latest next post. I hope your summer or your winter is off to a wonderful start.