Block 10

Another block has been finished for A Bountiful Life.  This is Block #10: Ostrich Pair.  I need to stitch in their eyes.  When I look at the picture in the book of this block their eyes are light.  I shall do the same.    

Stitching with black thread on black material is not my favorite thing to stitch.  I could only do it during the day.  Even with the Ott light there was not enough light for me to stitch comfortably.

Now on to Block #11: Bird of Paradise.  The block was traced today, materials will be picked tomorrow and then stitching begins.

As I write this, it is Saturday and we are grey, mist and rain.  A Weather Storm Watch says we are to expect freezing rain overnight and sleet into tomorrow morning.  Two daughters in Maine are under a Weather Storm Watch of up to six inches of snow today with the sleet, freezing rain on Sunday.  Spring in New England.  

Enjoy your threads.  I am enjoying mine.  

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

 

A Bountiful Life: Block #10

Handwork has been getting stitched.  Block 10: Ostrich Pair from A Bountiful Life has grown.  Once again, several different ways of applique have been used.  The leaves were done with "back-basting needle turn applique".

The flowers were done by "needle turn applique with paper on top".

The center pink and green circles were done using my applipops and starch.  That makes the circles firm, and they stay nice and round.

 

Tomorrow, Sunday, I will work on the ostriches.  They are larger pieces and right now I am thinking of the back-basting needle turn method. The final decision on what material to use will be made tomorrow.  (Two color ways have been set out.)  Another block will then be done.

Enjoy your threads.

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.
 

February

Hello.  January was a good month for me, it is my favorite month of the year. It just did not go as planned.  Chest head ickiness began on Christmas Day and lasted three weeks.  Threads did not interest me, nothing much was getting done so I didn't write.   

But I was looking at Blogs.  gladiquilts.wordpress.com by Gladi Porsche is one that I visit regularly.  On 13 January 2025 she showed how she does needleturn applique with paper on top.  She was taught this method by Elly Sienkiewicz who has written several books on applique.  The book referenced was Baltimore Beauties and Beyond, which I now have.  I enjoy hand applique and have tried several different methods.  Not being energetic, this was a good thing to do while sitting in the chair.  My Block #7; Birds with Snacks from the A Bountiful Life quilt (Civil War Bride) was sitting in its basket, just sitting.  

The hummer, two bigger birds and their snacks were all done with this method.  You can see the paper sitting on the butterfly that will be worked on this evening.  I thank you Gladi for sharing this method. I am really enjoying it.

 

I am back to normal (or what passes as normal) and my Cave has been picked up.  Interest is returning for running machines.  Shall see what I can get accomplished this week and hope to return next week with evidence of progress.

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

Enjoy your threads.

 

Squirrel, again

I only had ten blocks left to make on my little potato chip blocks.  I set up all ten and then finished them over two days.  (Everything else in the land of threads stopped to get them done.)  Here are eight of them waiting for me.  

Now all 64 blocks are done, the sashing color has been picked.  The little chips need to be sewn into larger chips, blocks of four, and then the sashing made and added.  (Had a video call with the youngest and showed her possible colors.  She liked the darker sashing colors.  Husband is color blind and was no help.  Friend came for lunch last week and we had a bit of a discussion.  We agree.  It will be the lighter color for sashing.  Here's hoping it works.  Need to look local first, maybe send for material.)  

Monday the mail came like it is supposed to.  But a squirrel was found in the mailbox!!  Delivery from Piecing the Past Quilts Tablerunner Club.  The July runner came in the mail and WOW.  Wow in that I really wanted to start it ASAP and wow in that it is almost together.  

Usually, I do needle turn applique but somehow a new to me product just jumped into my shopping cart a bit back.  Hand-Applique Paper by Masako Wakayama.  I tried it.  I had a longer bit ago bought the Apliquick tools and paper.  Only the tools had been used and I really like them.  

This picture shows the feather on the left ready to stitch.  The feather on the right has the paper ironed on, one side turned.  The blue that you see is Sewline Fabric Glue that holds the material nicely in place.  I have now added a new tool to my applique.  I am so excited.

The runner center is now stitched, (except for the Eagle's eye) and you can see the lay out for the sides.  Would you believe that I always need to be reminded to read directions carefully.  I mucked up on taking a piece out of the blue so the sides can't be done properly.  Waiting for replacement material to come in and then I will stitch the stars on each side.  This is the fastest I think that I have ever finished a stitch.  

Block seven from my A Bountiful Life Quilt has been started.  The leaves have used the paper technique, the little stems were made over a template.  Next will be the branch which I will do needle turn.  Nice to add different techniques in the same block.

Have a grand day with your threads.  

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

Appliqué

Block5: Pair of Golden Eagles from A Bountiful Life is almost done.  All that is left is to embroider the eye of each eagle.  It was fussy at the end but not as bad as I was dreading.  Should have finished this long ago.  Now to mark the next one which will be Block 7: Birds with Snacks.

But, before that is getting marked, I am stitching the "spokes" on my Snowflake Runner from Piecing the Past Quilts.  I started this by forming the "spokes" over a mylar template.  

Then they would be stitched onto the runner.  It did not go well.  They are so tiny, skinny.  They have been placed by needle turn appliqué. 

The "spokes" look much nicer to me.  They will be finished up today and then I will either begin leaf shapes or there are diamond shapes to make.  Those are large enough that I will try making the shapes over the mylar templates.

Enjoy your threads today.  Thank you for taking a look at what I am stitching.

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

 

Feet

Not what I expected to stitch on this week.  

For some reason Block 5: Pair of Golden Eagles from A Bountiful Life was screaming at me.  It had been longtime ignored but the leaves and branches were starting to get stitched.  The feet were next.  Ick.

My cousin Kathy had done her eagles' feet using a suede fabric and I really like how they looked.  She had given me a piece of the suede.  Tried it and did not like it.  Hers looked so much nicer.  (Forgot to take a picture before the feet were removed.) 

Next, I used a brown cotton and did the needle turn appliqué technique.  Still, I was not happy.  So, I pondered.

Looked through my books on appliqué hoping someone would give great directions on doing bird feet.  Nothing specific but good ideas.  I took Pellon #950 fusible nonwoven interfacing and fused it to the back of my brown material.  (That is a one sided fusible.  For some reason I did not want to fuse it to the block.  No sure what my thinking was.)  Then the feet were traced and trimmed.  The buttonhole stitch was used to attach to the material.  Happier am I.  Not perfect but done.  The body was stitched for one of the eagles and more leaves placed.  She still has to have her eye stitched on.  

A closer view of the feet.

Below are the first feet that I made with the cotton, needle turned appliqué.  They did not make me happy at all.  You can see the piece of fabric with the fusible interfacing on it.  The left feet will be removed, and the new ones stitched in place.  Then the body can be stitched on, then more leaves and branches.

 

Block 5 will be done (maybe today).  My slow stitching on a Sunday and then back to the snowflake runner.  I am thinking that a person has to use all the techniques for appliqué.  

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Enjoy your threads and thanks for looking.

Hello

Well, I was not here (the blog) for the beginning of February, and it is half over!  I have been working with my threads but have not kept a good record of what I have done.  Here is what I remember.

A Bountiful Life (Civil War Bride) block #5 has been worked on again.  This is being done as needle turn applique and it is fussy.  That is why it was sitting in its box.  There are branches under leaves, leaves over the eagles but under the branches.  It was just too fussy for me, but I have a goal and it will get done.

Another applique was started, and this one is not being done as needle turn.  This is the center of a snowflake design.  There are three snowflakes on this table runner from Piecing the Past Quilts.  Each individual shape is made and then stitched onto the fabric.  Enjoying stitching both, not sure which technique I prefer.

A new cross stitch from Moira Blackburn was also begun, Season and Time.  This 52x33cm, about 21x13 inches.  I don't have bars long enough to hold it as a horizontal shape, so I am working it sideways.  Interesting way to read the pattern.  May that have made sense.  

I am at a bit lost with no football to stitch with.  Will have to work on a new, soon to be spring, routine.  Today is grey, windy and 26 degrees out.  

May you all enjoy your threads.  Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

Dirty Dozen, Squirrel

I am very pleased to say that my Dirty Dozen number 4 slot is all appliqued.  Here is Block 6: Hospitality Table from the Bountiful Life Quilt (also known as the Civil War Bride).  The fringe still needs to be stitch on the bottom of the tablecloth and that will be done today while watching football.  Block completion.

Block 5: Pair of Golden Eagles has been started.  This block has many leaves, several vines and the two eagles.  Here is where two evenings of stitching has me.  Stitching will continue.

Jo at Jo's Country Junction had a stitch-a-long that began on 20 September. These are Redwork Pears by Annie Beez Folk Art.  They were stitched on a 36-count linen and with Classic Colorworks silk thread.  Once I started, I couldn't put them down.  Now they are a stitched squirrel.  Shall have to work on getting them sewn together.

The cooler weather has moved in, and it continues to rain.  My hummer feeders are put away for the fall/winter.  I won't put up the seed feeders until the middle of December.  

Linking up to Kathy's Quilts and Slow Stitching Sunday.  Enjoy your day with threads.

 

Dirty Dozen

Mary Etherington at Country Threads Chicken Scratch runs the Dirty Dozen.  It began in July and you either chose to work by number, color, or both.  I joined this year and wrote up my list using the number method.  I have shown it to you before and here it is hanging above my cutting table.  It is to be a constant reminder. 

The first number was 7 and that was my sheep blankets.  They are not finished but are moving along.  Even though you are to pick and work on a new project each month to finish, I will l not stop this project until it is done.  The two centers are now together, and I checked out the borders.  I have four made.  You can see a bit of the lay out.  Only one border fits, the other three I need to shorten, unknit.  Then knit the last four.

But I have to bury the ends and block all the sheep dog parts.  The first one will go under the towels today.  The ends have been buried.

The sheep blankets were number 7 and I added them to last month, number 10.  I didn't have any handwork there.  (I did but more on the framing side.  I'll explain more later.)  

This month is number 4, A Bountiful Life (Civil War Bride).  My mind is so scattered that I didn't remember that I was working on this block when we traveled to Ireland in April.  It was one of two hand projects that I came with me.  I have reevaluated it and am missing four berries.  That I knew, lost them on the plane.  

So today I will make up more berries and get them stitched on and I can begin the table legs and then the table.  I will use my Applipops to make the berries.  They are one of the great inventions of applique.  

I have been invaded by squirrels but cannot show yet.  Thank goodness for the Dirty Dozen list or I would never get anything completed.  Everything would be just parts.  Not that anything is done yet but getting closer.

Linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Enjoy your threads today.

 

Tuna Quilters

I will begin with finished, almost.  The first is Black Dog Sampler by The Scarlett House.  I did not show it to you off the stitching frame.  I need to have it framed.

Here is Spring's Messenger by Scattered Seed Samplers.  Begun on the 8th of February and last stitch placed on the 15th.  About 24 hours of stitching time.

It is a pin keep so I will finish it.  Read me very carefully here.  This is important and related to the rest of this post.  I will show it to you finished next week.  

These were both stitch-a-longs from Jo's Country Junction Blog.  I thank her very much for sharing the ideas for these stitches.  I enjoyed them both.

Now to the reason you read so very carefully.  The Tuna Quilters, Kathy, Betty and me, meet next Wednesday.  (Our name comes from our lunch menu which have been mostly tuna salad.)

Last time we met, I said that I needed someone, them, to hold me accountable.  It is so easy to be a slug.  I wrote down goals that I had to meet for our next gathering.  They also set goals.

First is my Bountiful Life, Civil War Bride Quilt.  I have four blocks done and it has just sat there.  I don't know when I last worked on this as I can't find the paper where I documented that info.  

Goal: to have another block marked and half appliqued.  Goal not quite met.  Here is the Hospitality Table block started.  I mark the back with the design traced in pencil.  Then I place the fabric on the right side and outline stich, trim and needle turn.  I haven't finished the leaves.  I wanted the leaves and stems done.

Here is my 365 Quilt by Sentimental Stitches.    My last block was made on April 28, 2022.  

Goal: to have all the finished blocks stitched together.  Goal not quite met.  153 are now stitched together.   (102 were already stitched together,)  214 blocks have been made out of the 365.  They will be put together before I stitch up more.  Can't stand seeing them loose in the basket.

I set them up in rows of three and then stitch the rows together and then add to the quilt.

I had other goals but I can't find my list.  I saw it the other day.  That means my goal for today is to pick up my cave!  After that is done, I will stitch more leaves and get more blocks into rows of three.

Next week you will see the pin keep finished and maybe another finish.  May you all have a wonderful week and enjoy your threads.

 

 

Slowdown happened

There has not been much stitching on my 3030 Quilt.  Friends have here for a wonderful visit.  (That is my slowdown.)

Instead, Block #9: Lucky Strawberries from my A Bountiful Life Quilt has been completed.  Now I need to pick my next block, get it traced out, material picked and then begin.

Slow stitching was needed for sitting in my chair time, so I set up this table topper from Shabby Fabrics.  It is stitched with the backstitch and has taken not very long to do.  This is the first time that I have backed any stitching with a fusible interfacing, as recommended in the pattern directions.  It is easy to do the backstitch through.  I shall see how it is when I add the scallops and the material backing.  I can see that this may be a good idea for a table topper.  Will see what I think when it is done and if I hand wash or toss into the washer.

I need to get something set up for this afternoon.  I don't have much chair work ready.  

Enjoy your day and your threads.

Linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

 

September

The weather has cooled down in the Berkshires.  We woke up with a temperature of 45F.  It was wonderful.  The windows were open upstairs, and it was wonderfully chilly when we got out of bed.  

The sad thing with the cooler weather is that my hummingbirds are leaving the area.  There are not as many at my feeders now.  I have two feeders, place 8 oz. of sugar water in each and it is gone in 24 hours.  Not so in the last three days.  I wish them all well on their travels.  See you next April.

3030 has had another roll.  Here is the pattern moving up the right side.

I am stitching a starburst from the center of the basket.  As I go around, I am stitching to outline the basket and flowers.  I will then stitch basket lines and flower petals.  

No countwork is set up.  Back to the applique of the strawberry caps on Block 9 of my Bountiful Life Quilt.  (The block is listed as number nine, the fourth block that I will have finished.)  Those caps are fussy stitching.

May you enjoy your threads this day.

Linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

 

Maine

We have just returned from a trip to Maine to visit my sister and two of our daughters.  I did bring three things to work on while we were there.

This is count work from Blessings Abound by Waxing Moon Designs.  This is Count Thy Blessings, and I am not sure if it will be an embroidery framed and, on the wall, or incorporated into something else.  It was not stitched on in Maine. 

This also came to Maine.  Block 9; Lucky Strawberries from A Bountiful Life (The Civil War Bride quilt).  It is all wrinkled as I just took it out of its bag.  It was not stitched on in Maine.

Here is what I worked on during the car ride.  Two dishcloths were completed, and this is the third a little over half done.

What did I work, on other than visiting and a trip to Beans?  Our youngest's gardens.  

First, around the big rock where herbs and such are planted.  

Second, I brought her some peonies from our garden, which came from my parents' garden, which came from Grams' garden (my Dads' Mom) and Grannies' garden on the farm (my Moms' Mom).  Family lore has it that one of the three colors; white, pink or red (I think the red) came from Ireland.  These were planted by her stone wall.  (I only had one tick visit me!!)  This is their third summer in their home.  The house was built in the late 1790s and they have done ALOT of work on the yard.  The electric company came by last year and took down very old and not safe trees that were under the electric line.  It has opened the yard to sunshine, wonderful.  The peonies were planted on the road side of the rock wall and lilacs will be planted on the yard side of the wall.  The wall is about 10 feet from the road.  Slowly it will expand up and down the wall.  More peonies will be brought up next year or late this year.

This morning, at my home, it is 52 degrees outside and the mist is burning off.  I need to get to my gardens.  Later today I will do slow stitching.  I am so looking forward to that.

Linking up to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Enjoy your day.