Thrifting, Autumn Tablemat Finish, Found Forlorn Pumpkin Blocks

Below is Brian Stauffer's "Winds of Change", a marvelous painting for The New Yorker cover on October 13. I wondered if this could be worked into a design for a quilt or embroidered piece. I do like curlicues. And I also wondered about what he meant by featuring these two things together. The noisy leaf blower and the beautiful design of nature. What do you think he's telling us?

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's conversation starter this week was how we deal with fallen leaves. I don't use a leaf blower but Tony does as it works so well to rid a big area of leaves quickly. He has to use the big noise cancelling head gear though very deaf. 

And here is how nature handles leaves on our walk in the big wood one day.

I said I'd share my found treasures on my latest thrift shop. There were two quilting books that went into my cart. The first is the 1949 edition of  Margarite Ickis' The Standard Book of Quilt Making and Collecting. I am thrilled to own a copy. I paid $3.99 and on Etsy it runs from $10 to $22 American.

It is in wonderful condition and contains instructions and patterns to make over 100 quilts. 

This book below also came home with me. 101 Log Cabin Blocks from Linda Causee. What is interesting about this book is it contains the patterns to copy and foundation paper piece each block. 

I paid $3.99 for it and it's on Etsy ranging from $17 to $35 American. 

I bought this man's shirt below- 100% cotton in XL for $10.  A very nice little pattern that I think qualifies as low volume. I read there is some dispute online about what low volume really means.

My big find was this king size sheet, 100% cotton, in a beautiful shade of green and in immaculate condition. It looked like it had never been used as it had fold lines still visible as well as a partial tag. I looked it up and the colour is a dark Foam Green, a beautiful blending shade. It was priced $10.47 which seemed oddly specific. Of course, this is not showing the true colour at all. 

I had my 20% off coupon so my wonderful treasure hunt was very economical as well as enjoyable. The only downside was there were so many people there, the isles were blocked. There were even lots of folks in the book area which never used to be. Sign of the times, I think. But also recycling is good for the environment, of course, so I can't complain.

My egg and cabbage casserole was okay. Even lots of cheese on top didn't make it a hit for Tony but I'll finish it. 

I was digging in one of my sewing containers and found four appliqued pumpkin blocks all finished and one partially made. Please tell me this has happened to you...you finish a project only to discover other blocks that somehow got mislaid!!! Anyway, I'm going to sew these four together and make a little mat. 

I had started and mostly finished a table topper last autumn (or maybe the one before?) that I've finished this week. It only needed a few more hand quilting lines and the border. So why did it get forgotten I wonder. Pretty fall fabrics. I find yellow always draws my eye (though not a favourite colour); do you? There was an old saying that all quilts need a little yellow in them. 

And I'd forgotten I'd adlibbed hearts for hand quilting lines in one of the panels too.

I'm still using this beige with black dots fabric that I bought in yards back when I thought that's how you purchased material. Luckily, it's a good blender.  This finished at 17 in. x 27 in. 

It's a good feeling to finish any project. And of course, it feels like a license to start something else. But I'm going to resist. I want those pumpkins quilted and will keep working on cross stitching those Year at Hawk Run Hallow corn cobs this weekend too. Always lots to keep the stitching fingers flying around here. 

It's been raining for a number of days now including one terrific thunder and lightening storm. I'm going to get on my gear and check out the pond. A little water has been holding there, so now I'm hopeful the pond will return before winter. 

I only believe it is Oct. 23 because the calendar is telling me so. But perhaps it means I'm having fun and I must be having lots of it. Hope you who read this are having fun too!

So grateful for wonderful linky parties like Days Filled With Joy, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Melva Loves Scraps and Songbird Designs.

 

 

Feelings, Pumpkins Flimsy, Cabbage Casserole

 The Red Squirrels are very busy these days. I can get this shot standing by my sink as this tree is in the front garden and has grown from a little bush to a much bigger bush putting the squirrel pretty much right in front of me. I've had the pleasure of capturing many photos of these little animals in just this pose eating spruce buds. 

And I took this photo of a young deer from the sewing room window. I wonder if it is the same one I've seen from time to time over the summer. I love those eye and nose markings. I had to look it up and it said the white enhances their facial expressions aiding communication with other deer and it also helps reflect sun glare.

Something absent though is a Groundhog. Haven't seen one this summer but their holes are still here. What we did see on a drive recently were the gorgeous reds of these trees lining a farm's laneway. The photo is not doing it justice. There are a lot of horse farms around us and I think this is one of them.

The little appliqued Pumpkins piece is now a flimsy and I'm happy with it too. I sewed one border of black and then used the pumpkin scraps to add an easy pieced second border. It finished at 36 x 36. Looking bright here on a cloudy day.

I was going to call this one Petit Pumpkins with the intention of making the pumpkins very small, something like a field of them with maybe a little house/barn off in the distance. I have the notions but lack the execution and that's why I have so much admiration for you blogging folks who possess both. So my drawings got bigger but I still have the idea that a lot of little pumpkins would look cute. 

As soon as this one below is out of the hoop -there are three more blocks to go, I'll begin to quilt Pumpkins. 

I bought a small cabbage to make an easy egg and cabbage casserole. This is a good dish to use up aging vegetables too. I looked at this site,Amee's Savory Dish, to see what she put in her vegetable casserole. 

Many of these recipes use cream of mushroom/chicken soup and I didn't want to add that this time. So a little butter and milk will have to do. And a cheese topping.

I've been out shopping which included a thrift store and, of course, I have a few items to share with you for next time. 

My deeper thought for this week came about when I read about the death of the oldest Holocaust survivor, 113 year old Rose Girone. Rose was a lifelong and prolific knitter. Here she is knitting on her 110th birthday...wouldn't we all love to be able to do that. You can read how much Rose credited knitting for her survival HERE. So inspiring!

These words below resonated with me and I'm sure will with many of you too. We all have unseen burdens and our daily responsibilities, duties and sense of purpose can carry us along and far. Many folks can and are enduring so much. 

One of my grandmothers firmly believed her reward for all these earthly trials would be in heaven. 

I would love to hear you are hopeful too and especially finding calm, enjoyment and satisfaction, like Rose, in whatever is keeping your stitchy fingers flying!

Happily sharing this post with The Inquiring Quilter, Melva Loves Scraps, Sew Can Do, Random-osity, Alycia Quilts, Quilts Art Whatever and Happiness is Homemade.

 

October Wednesday at the Wooden House

 Early morning dance party non participants...but they want to be near me anyway. Ned is bored but Petey is trying to understand what is it I'm doing. 

Nothing beats music for waking up and lifting the mood on a dark October morning. If you're going to San Francisco 🎶

Then it was time for a coffee and writing to you.

We had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner. Didn't take a picture of the turkey dinner (too busy yakking)  but I did capture Tony tackling a very tough turnip. "This requires power tools" he declared. 

It all got well washed. But that's got to be a first!

This guy was here. There's a whole different vibe in the house when an almost 12 year old is here. 

Robbie qualified for a competitive hockey team this year, the Perth Blue Wings. I was surprised that now he has to wear a shirt and tie to games just like they do in the big leagues. 

Lucy at Attic24 has a website now and I'm so happy for her. I've knitted and crocheted so many of her wonderful patterns over the years. HERE is the link where you can now see her works in progress, tutorials, etc.  And HERE is the link to her patterns, all of them are free. Her latest afghan is called the Storyteller Blanket. 

That reminds me of my own knitting. It's been sitting there patiently waiting for me to get my knitting bug back. Still love the colours and feel of this West Yorkshire wool and I'd enjoyed knitting a couple of rounds for an afghan- was even quite excited about it at the time.  I have no explanation as to why it fell off my plate. It's time to pick up the needles again. 

Meanwhile I did finish the little Kantha kind of table topper. I decided on sunny yellow for the border.

And I found the little pumpkin mug mat that I embroidered several years ago. 

It's time to get it all out, use it up, and stop saving things for some future time. 

Below is a fall view of the little city I grew up in, Corner Brook, on the western side of Newfoundland. It's hilly and heavily forested there. Gathering special leaves was a favourite fall activity of mine. I always did it even though I knew what I glued in a scrap book in October would be nothing but tiny dried up bits by spring. Beautiful trails meander through and there's lots of great berry picking and fishing too. It's still a calm and very safe big town. I'm thankful for my youth spent there which  certainly nurtured my love of seasons and the wonderful outdoors. 

I already have my cozy clothing out and sorted. LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's conversation starter last week was do we have favourites for our winters here in the northern hemisphere. You betcha we do. I love cozy fleece and wool and have lots of clothing in both. Here is a photo of me in one item I love so much I got Tony to take a picture. Head to almost toe in fleece.

It's time to get up and get moving again. We are getting a new stove delivered today. The one we have was here when we bought the house and was already kind of old then. We think it's at least 15 years old. 

Take care all of you, whichever season you are embracing in your part of this wonderful world of ours. 

Happily sharing this post with Quilting & Learning, Off the Wall, From Bolt to Beauty, Songbird Designs, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Alycia Quilts.

Stitching Tools and Pumpkins, Mother Trees and Thanksgiving Prep

Our Mother Tree on the house side of the lane way was, as usual, spectacular this year. I wondered how the drought might affect her, but no, the display was awesome. Carrying on no matter what just like a good mother. 

It's a shame that you can't really tell how large the trunk is. I can't get my arms around it.

And speaking of maple leaves, Rachel at Stitched in Color is hosting a SAL called Under the Maple Tree featuring her beautiful Maple Leaf quilt. Details HERE. Isn't it gorgeous! I don't have the skills for this but many of you splendid stitchers do. 

I'm still hand quilting Propellers. I use these tools...my Hera marker and the General Sketch & Wash pencils (Amazon link is HERE); I learned about both those items from the marvelous Australian hand quilter, Hilda Baird. 

I'm also finally using my "good" scissors, the Gingher ones. 

Here is the link to Hilda's Instagram page where you can ogle her wonderful quilts. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I never forgot her name because my mother had a good friend for many decades with the same name and, in fact, the two women look remarkably alike. HERE is Hilda's blog chronicling her quilting journey which is still online though she is on Instagram these days. Isn't it marvelous how we learn from each other through the online sharing!

I've appliqued all the pumpkins for this little hanging. Each stem has a round of blanket stitch too. I plan to use black for the first border.

There are two sets of eyes on me all the time these days. Here's one. And a couple of things to note here.

Besides sweet Petey, my Cubii is there and I use it most nights for 20 minutes and my 5 lb barbell is on the right. And about that, when I started with the barbell, I could do 5 or 6 lifts with each arm. Now I can do more than 25 before the burn starts which goes to show you can improve even at my age, 74. I'm always thankful I feel well enough to do this, of course. I've noticed if both things are handy/within reach, I'm more likely to use them. Btw, I've begged Tony to try to do these things but he has zero interest and I guess if I felt like him, I would too. 

It's Thanksgiving here in Canada tomorrow. We will be having family here for a turkey dinner, something I love doing. I do most of the preparations leading up to it like having the table set, serving dishes out and even the pots ready the day before. I've done my grocery shop and have everything in sight; I can't risk having to take time or energy doing deep dives into cupboards on the day of. Dessert, an ice cream cake, is already made and in the freezer. I'm going to cut a couple of the Hydrangeas to display. They have steadily darkened with overnight frosts. This was taken in my sewing room. Aren't they still so pretty! This is a flowering bush I highly recommend as it blooms all summer and well into fall.

I'll be back soon with  photos of the dinner which, fingers crossed, goes well. Meanwhile, I hope your stitching fingers are flying and all is calm with you and yours. 

 Thankful for the wonderful linky parties too...Songbird Designs, The Inquiring Quilter, Sum of Their Stories and Quilt Schmilt.

Colours of Fall, Embroidery, Old Hangings and Gingerbread in the White House

 The light is changing just as I know the transitioning to another season is happening all around me. And it's become one of the warmest Octobers on record so the days have been pleasantly warm with lots of sunshine. There was a noticeable absence of rain till yesterday when it poured steadily all day. Oh my, the colours though, are so wonderful. I brought in these leaves to show Tony who is not walking the back woods like he used to. But he has started to take a brief walk with the dogs late afternoon and so far it feels fine which is a good thing. Interesting patterns here as green fades and yellow dominates.

Still flowery brights to be seen under your feet here too. This is a wild one, perhaps one of the Stork's Bills. 

I was busy inside and out last weekend. I used my battery operated hand trimmer thingy to do trimming around the garden areas. The Gorilla cart sure comes in handy too. 

That tool makes the job easier for those branches and stems that are a little too thick for hand shears. But I don't trust myself completely with it as it's a bit heavy/awkward and noisy too so it's not a tool I enjoy using. But it gets the job done. 

I finished Melisa's cute Autumn Saltbox House pumpkin. 

And I'm going to try to show the colour of the house, a mossy green, which is not showing in any of the photos. I'm going to find a bead for the door handle. 

Kathleen Tracy is running a fall mini quilt SAL called Darting Birds. The pattern is free- links are here at A Sentimental Quilter. I came across it when searching for another pattern.

It reminded me I completed one of Kathleen's SAL's years back so I dug it out and put it on the wall.

I've always wanted to stitch one of her very sweet thimble quilts. What a great way to use scraps! And there's something so attractive about that particular blue with browns, isn't there. 

 HERE is the link to the Thimble pattern at Kathleen's Etsy Shop. What a boon PDF's are for us international stitchers!

Here is what Simone at Soedidee  says..."a SAL is more than just a pattern-it's a creative journey you share with others." Simone is running a 2026 Cross stitch Anniversary SAL to begin January 3. I just looked through her lovely Autumn patterns section...with a little trepidation I might add. I don't need any more inspiration right now. :) Simone is in the Netherlands, btw. 

Kate at Life in Pieces shared a beautiful embroidered piece featuring cross stitched butterflies. What intrigued me was it is a stamped piece. I haven't seen such in a very long time. Have you? 

Last week LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color was talking about gingerbread. I love ginger, drink ginger and lemon tea and buy the crystalized ginger to also use in tea sometimes. I have those ginger candies called GinGins in the car for Tony in case he feels a bit hypoglycemic. I always baked gingerbread cookies especially for Christmas in the old days. And Saturday evening supper growing up was pea soup and gingerbread cake with a custard sauce for dessert.

And of course, the US White House has a famous sweet tradition of displaying a Christmas gingerbread house each year. Here is the 2024 one with the theme " A Season of Peace and Light". HERE at the White House Historical Association you can read more about their gingerbread traditions down through the years. I love learning about that stuff. 

I wonder what the theme will be this year. 

And on that sweet note, I'll end this post. Hope your week is going well with perhaps something sweet in it too!

Happy to share this post with The Inquiring Quilter, Melva Loves Scraps, Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Art Creations Quilts.

 

All the Slow Stitching, Glue Basting?, Amish Hexagons, Can You See It?

 Walking the dogs just out the basement door and starting on the nearest trail, I spied something amongst the big old oak trees.  So here is another of my Can you see it? photos.

Maybe now?

What a beauty! I loved seeing this Barred Owl. I especially liked seeing how those feathers ring the neck and the tree trunks provided a natural frame.

I hear them hooting in the night so know they are near the house a lot. I took the dogs back to the house and returned to just watch it for awhile. I suspected it would be in the same place and it was. That's a real plus for birders. Owls tend to stay put if they are comfortable and do not flit about like the little ones. Owls have amazing eyesight and it turned its head to watch me so I knew it was aware of me. It is always a thrill to see these big birds and I would have loved getting even closer but I kept my distance. You never know with any wildlife. Those videos of people trying to pet bears or bison really bother me and make me question the future of the human race.(:

Back inside and not nearly as thrilling, I took down the living area curtains and washed them. I also gave the rug a cleaning. We have to get the wood moved up to the veranda soon as I will start our fires as soon as it gets to be below zero in the mornings. Right now we are flirting with it. 

I changed out a few of the wall hangings. In the process of going through my trunk, I found this scrappy mat. I was laying the pieces as I went along and stitching each down individually, a little like the Kantha method. I loved it. I may try that sometime again but keep it all more controlled. One more border needs sewing so I'm finishing that up today. I always enjoy seeing fabrics up close.

And in cross stitching, I stitched three crows on the September block of Year at Hawk Run Hallow and began an ear of corn and yes, the called for thread is orangey.  

I also stitched several more of the EPP Starry Hexagons. I'm enjoying this project right to the end.

I watched this video below from Cathy at The Catbird Quilts. She gives a very thorough explanation of using Elmers white glue to baste quilts. I'm wondering if that would work for me with the whole accuracy issue I have. BTW, it is nice that several of you have said for me to stop saying that as it sounds like I'm putting myself down. No I don't think I am. At this stage in my stitching life, I know my limits, have accepted them and really don't mind admitting them. So it's not affecting me personally or anything. But thanks very, very much for your concern.👌Back to Cathy's video-if you want to know the pros, cons and comparisons of glues etc., watch this one.

Here is a beautiful Christmas free pattern for us all. This is Tilda's Happy Holidays downloadable at The Fat Quarter Shop.

Tilda's fabrics and patterns are unique and really stand out in the quilting world. And what a fabulous world it is!! I can feel happy just thinking about it all. 

I enjoyed reading your comments on the Amish Hexagon method talked about Here. Yes, the fabric would have to be trimmed away on the back for sure. Several folks have timed themselves sewing hexagons with templates and with this method and this turns out to be a little quicker. But speed has never been an issue for me, LOL. 

I've rattled on long enough for this post so I'll talk about LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color 's prompt about gingerbread next time. Love ginger, do you?

Take care all of you and enjoy your activities, inside and out, whatever they may be. 

Happily sharing with Quilting Patchwork Applique and Kathy's Quilts.

Dresden Dreaming, Pumpkin Making, Free Patterns, Flower Garden Tablecloth

There are still blossoms to be spied on my walks. Here is the late flower whose bloom mimics a frog  and this one is housing a little creature made visible by the sun shining through. What a pretty colour!

And the Fox Tails are attracting a lot of bees still too.

Overnight it seems our paths look like this now in open areas...an ocean of leaves. Petey is staying on with us and we are so happy to have him. Tony always had two dogs so this is like old times. And Ned is in heaven having Petey around. Win Win

 Inside a few more of my little appliqued pumpkins have been stitched and I'm loving using scraps for these. But a word about that. During the last several projects I'm having that feeling of not wanting to use what I think are really good scraps, larger ones or nicer ones that could be used for something else, some unknown project. Do you know what I mean? This is a totally ridiculous feeling at this stage of my quilting life I might add. But does that happen to you?

I love April Cornell (though I don't order from them as their shipping from the US is expensive) and in their latest catalogue, they featured patchwork items. I think that may be a first. One can only imagine how wonderful their leftover scraps would be! They featured an apron, oven mitts and tablecloth made from scraps. How pretty this Patch Parade Apron is! Love the pockets. At April Cornell if you'd like to check it out.

I have a lot of red fabric and I'm casting about for a project that could make a dent in them. Maybe I should be thinking about a Christmas project. Dresdens come to mind as I absolutely love sewing them. 

 Quilt Inspiration offers this bank of free patterns so I'll be taking a good look there at all the variations. 

I've noted this interesting variation called A Setting Sun at A Cloud of Quilts. A wonderful Laura Wheeler design. 

I made this little mat a while back and I know I have a much larger Dresden quilt somewhere as well.

That may have been a SAL with Melva Loves Scraps. Is that twigging with anyone? Update...the project I stitched with Melva was Flower Garden Block and it was stars in blues. That's another colour I have a lot of in my stash.

Meanwhile, speaking of stars, I'm looking at my wall of Hexie Stars and think I should start stitching those together. That will be fun. Okay that's enough dreaming this morning. Back to earth.

I've been taking my chances with the frost warnings so it's time to move in those front and back veranda plants. What to do with that huge Coleus? It's over 3 feet tall and 3 and a half feet wide!

There is also lots of general tidying up to do around the gardens still. It's sunny and 6C this morning so great for working outside. 

Take care wherever you are and whatever you are up to this first day of the second month of autumn, October! My brain is thinking what, already!

Sharing this post with Quilt Schmilt, Creations Art Quilts, Alycia Quilts, Days Filled With Joy ,Sew Can Do, Songbird Designs, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and The Inquiring Quilter.