Chookshed Stitchers 2024 Challenge #1, Tilda Peels, Chicken Dinner

This little guy kept popping his head out. He's living in the tunnel under the back terrace plus has inherited what I imagine to be an elaborate tunnel system all over the property made by groundhogs that came before him. 

This is a very young groundhog, which are the largest of the squirrel family. Those cute ears are small and rounded to keep dirt out of them while doing all the continual digging. The yellow flowers are a mystery visitor but it has flourished there beside the little rocky manmade pool. Anybody recognize it?

Is it St. John's Wort?

The two sunny, without rain, days we had, I was outside a lot. I attempted to weed the front beds and pulled the extra large weeds that had overrun, so quickly it seems, a couple of beds in the backyard. I feel badly how the back yard gets neglected. The dogs running about back there hasn't helped. 

I took the Tilda Orange Peel blocks- slow stitching, out to the veranda and it was so enjoyable to sit, relax, and lay a few stitches. The only distractions were the beautiful garden colours and bird songs. I'll remember this come winter when the view out my kitchen window will be starkly different. 

Then I laid out all the blocks and got a sunny photo. Inside shots will not do the colours justice. 

I've prepped enough peels for 10 more blocks and see where that takes me size wise. I hope to get these all finished this month. So I'm setting this as a monthly goal and linking to OMG at Stories From the Sewing Room.

 A bit of new organization in the sewing room. I'd bought this for basement storage and decided I can make better use of it in the sewing room closet.

Moving it in there will require major moving/reorganizing what I've got tucked into that area...quite a lot. But that's okay. I love the after feeling of tidying and always discover things I'd stowed away. Update...After pulling absolutely everything out of the closet, the darn thing won't fit in there. It is too square so it will have to live tucked away in this spot, a little bit out of view in case it starts to look overrun and unruly.  But then, I'm the only one who sees it, so.... 

 But on the upside, in all the rummaging about I was pleased to realize I don't have as many UFO's as imagined (typical me to have exaggerated that number). Happy to know it's mostly flimsies needing to become fully finished.

Speaking of projects Deanna at Dreamworthy Quilts has chosen #1 for our July Chookshed Stitchers Challenge. That is another wintry project for me- the Crabapple Hill Snow Days quilt that includes a lot of embroidery. Because of that sewing room reorganization, I was able to put my hand right on it. It will be a pleasure to add stitches to these pretty scenes. Then on to those easy pieced blocks. 

 I cooked us a Sunday night stuffed chicken dinner. All the vegetables were from my weekly box. They were small potatoes so I cooked them with the skins on. Do you ever do that?

Looking forward to the leftovers too.

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians!

I'm so happy to have been born in what was the newest province of Canada.  I love Canada and what it stands for. We just topped the three safest countries in the world for travelers list and importantly, we are number three in the world for quality of life for citizens. Here at the wooden house, we have nothing but praise for our healthcare system, in particular, which we have had to avail of -a lot (for one of us especially). This, despite all the depressing news reports and complaints about our elected officials, etc., etc. which, the older I get, the more I'm learning to ignore. 

• “Canada is not a country for the cold of heart or the cold of feet.” – Pierre Trudeau

I always liked that quote. 

Another week and I hope you have something wonderful taking your interest and enthusiasm. 

Very happy to share this post with The Inquiring Quilter, Friday Floral Foto, It's a Small Town Life, Quilting Patchwork Applique and Alycia Quilts.

Quilting Projects, Garden and Thursday Chat

Everything is about the garden these days here in our tiny patch of the world. I tried to think of a word to describe ours and came up with lush. I was exclaiming how the heat has encouraged so much growth; the front area is full and almost overgrown looking so early in the season. Tony pointed out that I've been adding to it each summer for the eight years I've been here. Of course, everything has grown taller and wider over those years. At this point, I won't be adding any more plants/trees to the front and side gardens. My work here is done. But on second thought, maybe more flowering bushes in other parts of the property would be nice. 

Ned smelling the poppies while thinking get me out of this heat!

We topped 30C on Wednesday and Ned does poorly with the heat. We think his dark brown coat might have something to do with it. And just like last summer, his dermatitis has set in. We are spraying and shampooing each day to help control it for him. Poor Fellow If you know of a helpful product we could be using, please let me know.

Tiny 9 Patch EPP blocks in blues...still in their cardboards so a little bumpy...

I'm also still plugging away at my ongoing scrappy Confetti Blocks. I keep this batting covered piece of foam next to my sewing machine to sort the scraps for these blocks. The trick is to use lots of whites to perk up the colours, I've noted. These are leaders and enders, as some call it. 

I still have lots of Tilda fabric left over from my Plaid quilt finished HERE in 2022. A quilt I've always wanted to make is an Orange Peel one. I might give that a try on the weekend- I do have several orange peel templates. I'll have to look for any solids that might coordinate too as these are busy.

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is if we can rest during free time or do we feel we have to keep moving, doing, etc. I was definitely taught to keep doing...the devil finds work for idle hands. Though I never heard that said in the home, we definitely learned that you must keep busy. I think these lessons get absorbed. Like never sleeping in or lying down during the day unless sick. I did hear keeping your hands busy is good for you-it takes your mind off things, etc. My parents led by example with this as I don't remember either of them ever sleeping in or taking naps, or taking time for themselves in any kind of way, etc. I can watch tv during the afternoon while stitching. Tony learned that this is somehow a bad thing, that there is something wasteful or lazy about it. Even now at almost 85, he cannot watch tv during the day, only at night.  5pm is the magic hour when it is "okay" to watch tv. Can you believe that?

I have to keep busy and my hand stitching certainly plays an important role in this. How about you? 

I find the first cup of coffee in the morning disappears quickly. Do you? One cup is my limit so I'll have a cup of decaf later on. This is my old Pioneer Woman mug from Walmart. Still love those flowers and the pretty shade of blue handle.  

I'm off to the library for a poke about and then to the grocery store. Almost always we bundle our chores off the property these days. Thank you for your kind comments on my last post...very appreciated! Hope you all are enjoying these early summer or early winter days depending on where you are on this amazing planet of ours. 

Happily sharing with Floral Friday Foto. Quilting Patchwork Applique, Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and So Scrappy.

Friendship Star Blocks, Manly Quilt Talk, Six Quilt Trends, Artist's Gift

It was a beautiful weekend here in our corner of Ontario with windows open and a little wind making the leaves dance about on our walks. Our kindest of autumns is continuing it seems. I had already moved our winter outerwear upstairs and some of the lighter clothes to the basement closet. I've had to go down and bring it back up. Just don't need a parka when it is 15C + outside. Meanwhile, several Canadian provinces out west have had a number of snowfalls, as have some of my American blogging buddies far to the south of us. Being superstitious about weather, I wonder when it hits us, how bad will it be. Ottawa and area winters are classified as Harsh meteorologically, the same rating as Labrador. Who knows!

When apples were talked about here recently, I heard from many of you about your favourites but no one mentioned this one below.  When I saw it at the grocery store, I couldn't resist the name- SweeTango. They are delicious, crisp and sweet. Any of you tried this one?

Sitting atop The Fens by Francis Pryor, my heavy reading book at the moment, alongside much lighter stuff. I enjoy architecture as a topic and even ancient especially through the eyes of such a talented archeologist. Francis is one who hates leaf blowers, btw, and our obsession with neatness in gardens...we should live alongside nature, he thinks. 

 Creative LeeAnna, Not Afraid of Color, sent me a gift...interpreting one of my photos in her artwork. She says she was inspired by the glint in my Junco's eye which I had not noticed till she pointed it out, using her artist's eye. She talks more about her painting Here and you can check out that glint Here. Thanks, LeeAnna; this made my day!

Some stitchy talk now...
 

Top 6 Quilt Trends as seen recently at Quilt Market 2022.  #5 is one I love...the hand stitching trend growing bigger all the time.  And overall, it's great to have confirmation of how strong quilting remains as a beloved craft which is good news for us all.

Recently I wrote best men's hand sewn quilts into google search and I emerged a couple of days later. Not kidding...Oh my, what a journey that was. Just so much to see and read about in the search for ideas about sewing a manly quilt.

 I came across these videos produced by Michelle Fox, The Simple Quilter.  She asks her husband and son questions about the kinds of quilts they like.  I had a smile on my face all the way through.  These lovable guys love the quilts Michelle has sewn for them. This initial video was so popular the men have returned, with the dog, to answer more questions about quilts and quilting. 

So what do you think of Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2023?  Are you a Lavender fan?

Meanwhile, I've pulled fabrics for grandson's quilt and sewn several more of these Friendship stars. I will be sewing more of these this week.  No lavender here!

But there is lavender here! I laid Plaid Tilda over the sofa in the t.v. room to take stock.  I have the left hand corner still to quilt. It's too big to get a good photo of no matter how I try.  Most nights, this is my handwork while watching t.v.

We had a fairly busy week last week...busy for us that is. Today we have to pick up Hubby's medicine and we always treat ourselves to take out when we do.  I'm looking forward to that. 

Hope there is something to look forward to in your day too! 

Happily joining Linda's Texas Quilt Gal's To Do Party. Also sharing with The Inquiring Quilter, True Blue Quilts, Alycia Quilts, Wendy's Quilts and More, Quilting Patchwork Applique and My Corner of the World.

Thursday's Three Free Patterns, Halloween Talk, Sharing Quilt Backs, Special Video

 Autumn turned this maple tree into quite the marvel. 

Now those limbs are bare. And for a short time, we will enjoy our golden leafy carpet under foot on our walks.

Someone asked...yes the Swedish BungyPump Walking poles are fabulous in my opinion. You do get a workout- I can feel my heartrate rise, and I do believe my upper body and arms are getting stronger.  I usually spend 15-20 minutes walking  with them as many days of the week as I can get in. Not affiliated in any way.

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week was a favourite costume of ours. All I remember is having face masks as kids.  Those made of a stiff plastic like material that made your face overheat and sweat so much. Not pleasant. I always wanted a rabbit as in those days, my nickname was Bunny. No fancy treat bags either, an old pillow case to carry about. Gosh it all sounds like Olden Days doesn't it especially compared to the Halloween animatronics items available today. 

Speaking of Halloween, I went to see Halloween Ends with older grandson and I enjoyed it for what it is. I did not find it scary. Fun to see Jamie Lee Curtis again. 

I will not be able to meet my OMG for October, that is hand quilting Plaid Tilda. However, I am pleased with how much is quilted and how it is looking. It's over 3/4's of the way finished. I haven't shown the back before. I'm happy my stitches are catching the fabric through those layers okay. I like these pretty fabrics.

Remember the Super Scrappy table runner.  The hand quilting on that is done.

And I'm likewise happy enough with the stitches...here's the back as well. Not perfect, by any means! I'm no Gretchen or Karen! I could go on there with naming wonderful hand quilters. Check out Sunday's Slow Stitching party post at Kathy's Quilts and you will see lots of wonderful hand work including Kathy's!

Time for Thursday's Three Free!

Linda, the Texas Quilt Gal, alerted us to this free Mystery Autumn Stitchalong from Joy at Days Filled With Joy. Every Friday for 4 all together, Joy will release an embroidery pattern, free for a limited time. 

I'm sharing this idea because I just don't think of fussy cutting motifs enough or using fusible applique either for that matter. And the projects those techniques could be used in are endless. This one below is part of the free cache at Connecting Threads and is called Acorn Park Triptych. I love little scenes like this. Perfect for small scraps for a pin cushion or needlebook maybe too.

Gay at her wonderful Sentimental Stitches site shared this lovely free pattern called Friendship.  Available as a PDF download.

Interested in applique basic techniques? Erin Russek at her blog, One Piece at a Time, is sharing a series of posts showing how to applique. Her instructions are very clear with large photos to follow along. She also has a page of free patterns with tutorials. Great stuff!

I am ending this post with this wonderful video from Karen at Just Get It Done Quilts called My Dutch Textile Tour.  Karen and her mother went to Holland to visit the grave of her grandfather who died fighting to help liberate Holland in the Second World War. Along the way they visited several textile and quilt shops. While I had tears in my eyes during some parts, I also was thrilled to see the Petra Prins shop, which as Karen says, was like stepping into Quiltmania. 

Hope you enjoyed your visit here today and maybe found a little bit of inspiration-there are so many talented folks sharing their skills with us. What a time to be be a stitcher!!

Great to be able to share this post with Quilting Patchwork Applique, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Stitching Stuff,  Sum of Their Stories and Kathy's Quilts.

Many Free Patterns, Favourite Snack, Quilting Tilda

                     

Happy Thursday friends! The season is moving forward with news of snow flurries north of us. Here we are comfortably still in autumn with all the little things in nature changing, some faster than others as my photo captured here.

I'm soldiering away quilting Plaid Tilda.  It is going smoothly so far with the handling of the size of it and I haven't hit any lumps or tucks. It's interesting how fabric can behave well sometimes and other times not. I keep checking the back to be sure there are no snags and it's good to see it is already taking on that nice crinkly, cozy feel hand quilting gives a piece.

LeeAnna's (Not Afraid of Color) prompt this week was what is our favourite snack food?  I don't eat when I'm nervous but I do feel I need to be treated sometimes. Potato chips are so good but I feel less guilty about eating popcorn. Recently I found Orville's popping corn using avocado oil and sea salt. I add a splash of balsamic vinegar to mine- strange I know but, as a vinegar lover, it works for me. I add balsmic vinegar to a lot of things actually. 

Thursday's Three Free

I'm sharing a true Squirrel-ly moment.  I had found this free pattern below to share with you. From Kim at her lovely Retro Mama site.  What a great way to use up small narrow scraps, I thought.

Really easy to create and so cute. I could see the uses for it...pin cushions-yes, mug rugs definitely, maybe a place mat as I want to make some of those. But I wondered about a quilt. I googled herringbone quilts and found loads of examples and lots of tutorials to make a quilt using that block.  Fave Quilts has a whole bank of them!  But one caught my eye.

It reminded me of a block I'd taken note of years ago- 2015, in a quilting calendar I'd gotten for Christmas. It is a pattern called Tiny Textured Trees by Carolyn Friedlander, a favourite designer of mine. Her quilt looked like a miniature work of art.

 Maybe it's because I'm loving the trees on the property these days as the colours change almost hourly it seems that this one stood out. There are many variations of this stylistic tree block. For instance, there is Anne at Springleaf Studio and her gorgeous Arboretum quilt that I know some of you stitched and had me in awe. Wonderful Wanda at Exuberant Color for one.

Of course I had to chase down the one that caught my eye and found this. Kristy in this Quiet Play post from 2012 shared a free foundation paper piecing pattern for this block. I've downloaded it and will give it a whirl this weekend.

Still in a scrap busting mood...The busy and famous Pat Sloan I Love to Make Quilts had a free PDF for this scrap busting quilt that she made in 2013.  She calls it Traffic Jam. I notice quite a few folks sewed it in all sorts of colour ways. 

Since I already have a mess in the sewing room, I may as well try this. If I am to cut down on scraps, mine would have to be scrappier than this one. Generous Pat offers one of the most extensive free pattern cache on the net.Here

And for my embroidery/cross stitch friends, Laura at her The YellowBirdhouse site offers a bunch of free Halloween patterns to stitch, 18 to be exact.

Researching these links was a fun journey around the net for me. Thanks for all the positive feedback about this Thursday feature of mine.

Hope your weekend will be grand!

Delighted to share this post with Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.

Thursday's Three Free, Gardening, Quilting Tilda, Apple Love and Turkey Time

That tree canopy was where I was chasing a Barred Owl yesterday. Caught two glimpses of it as it moved totally silently through the trees. I crawled through a lot of undergrowth and bushes, craning my neck, trying to find it. No luck but happy to know one is still around.

Recent frost warnings turned into actual morning frost a couple of times so I got busy and prepared my plants to bring them inside. Here I'd moved them to the veranda and at night I throw a sheet over them.  They all grew a lot over the summer so I had to dig out bigger pots in the garage. 

I'm happily slow stitching in the evenings this week. I have a good start made on quilting Tilda. That phrase made me think of Waltzing Matilda, a song we always sang in Girl Guides. Did you sing that song too?

Nothing fancy- outlining each rectangle and x-ing each square while trying my best to keep the stitches even. The fabrics are so pretty.

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week was apples. We had several elderly apple trees at the farm and all produced wonderful blossoms in May.

My Dad ate an apple for his evening snack many years of his long life.  For decades, as a teacher, I would eat a Golden Delicious apple for my recess.  Apples are always on hand here and these days I favour Pink Lady.  I put them in salads and make Apple Crumbles a lot. Are you an apple fan too?

Below I am sharing Still Life with Apples on Pink Cloth by Henri Matisse, 1924. I especially like the background colour of pinks the yellow apples lay on but it is the bold blues that my eye goes to. I wonder if the the jug was an afterthought. I don't know- something about the scale...the apples are basically the same size as the jug. It's fun for a mere mortal to wonder about these things, :D.

So from something sublime to the very ordinary...It seems to be casserole time here in Canada with much cooler October underway now. I made this one from Let's Dish.  I substituted chicken thighs and added a bunch more vegetables- I wanted leftovers.  It turned out great. 

Thursday's Three Free

Links to Jo Avery's Autumn Apliqued Pillow Top pattern are there. Or it could be a table topper too of course. Jo Avery's lovely site is here.

A bright and beautiful Halloween quilt....a tutorial and pattern on how to make this from Jera at Quilting in the Rain found Here. 

And for my cross stitching buddies, a very cute pattern I found through Vivien's site and thought it worthy of sharing more. You can find the pattern for Loons Lakes Blueberries Black Bears from the Eastcoast Crafter HERE.

All those linked sites are well worth exploring. These talented folks share wonderful ideas, patterns, tips and further links. 

It is our Canadian Thanksgiving on Monday so turkey, not apples, is on the menu for a family get together this weekend. I love turkey; do you?

Hope you are feeling inspired and engaged in whatever gives you enjoyment and contentment!

Happy to link with Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Pictorial Tuesday, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, My Corner of the World and Traffic Jam Weekend.
 

Rescued Quilt, "Floor Basting" Tilda, OMG, 30 Pies, Neat Ikea Purchase, Garden Finale

 On the wall now, sewn for a child perhaps...this hanging I bought at a thrift shop. I liked the maker's free style...three rows of mostly plain blocks with appliqued figures sewn over it. I thought the big eyed owls cute and the toadstool and mouse neat. Closer examination showed two pieces of fabric featuring horse backed riders in red coats. I like this primitive kind of improv style too and I'm glad I "rescued" it. Have you ever rescued a fellow stitcher's work too?

I have the fabric for the backing of my redworked birds Flight of Fancy hanging. I thought of setting that as my October OMG at the Elm Street Party. I abandoned that idea in favour of finishing my Plaid Tilda as I want to gift it at Christmas time. Flight of Fancy is staying with me. 

Anyway, on Thursday afternoon, I got Tilda all layered up on the only surface big enough here to hold her, the floor. She's 50 x 78 or thereabouts. I used spray fabric glue sparingly and a hundred safety pins. 

Oh my gosh, what a time I had doing that. I had to get up and down so much, I beat myself out. I got overheated, out of breath and feeling so tired with sore knees.  So much for thinking I am in okay shape! I recovered so I guess I'm making too much of it but it was not a pleasant experience. I don't recommend floor basting!!

It is now "in the hoop" all ready to begin stitching quilting lines this week. Here is the  Tilda's World link that shows how this quilt is put together.

Ned says he enjoyed it when I was crawling on the floor at his level -kept bringing me his toys and walking all over poor Tilda, and how come I don't do that more often!

I want to share something I saw one of you show a while back-sorry I've forgotten who. This carrying case from Ikea called Mala...$17.99 here in Canada.  It is actually a kids portable drawing case but works perfectly as a sewing kit with a handle,

and inside pockets and sections

and the neatest part- one side is a hard surface for drawing.

I bought one for 8 year old Robbie and one for myself. It seems I can never get enough ways to house my projects and stuff.. cases, project bags, candy tins, cigar boxes, etc. 

I've also been meaning to share that Megan of Knorp and South on their Youtube channel made a pie a day in September, both savory and sweet. All recipe links provided in their segment notes. 30 pies is a lot of pie but so delicious!

I've enjoyed listening to this library book of short stories, Fresh Complaint by Jeffrey Eugenides; some were read by Cynthia Nixon who has a lovely voice to listen to. 

I'll leave you today with some outdoor photos.  We've had two overnight frost warnings.

To do this week is move my inside plants back indoors. I had three planters this summer that fared well outside.  Here are the greens with the White Polka Dot plant having flourished. I'm pleased because it did not grow like this inside. 

I love how the white rose bushes keep sprouting buds this late in the fall. And they turn pink with colder temperatures 

just like the hydrangeas.

I hope this finds you thinking happy thoughts whichever season you are enjoying in this big world of ours. 

Also happy to link with Texas Quilt Gal, True Blue Quilts, Wendy's Quilts and More, Floral Friday Foto, Creations-Quilts, Art, Whatever, Quilting Patchwork Applique and My Corner of the World.