Slow Sunday

Good morning.  My Slow Stitching for today will be finishing this piece.  I saw it on Canadian Needle Nana's Blog and am making it for a friend.  I will turn it into a small pillow and give it to her on Wednesday when we meet for lunch.  It is a free pattern found at the Fat Quarter Shop.

I haven't figured out what the purple and green things are on the 'n' and 'd'.  Pins?

 May your day be a nice one.  Stay cool, stay safe and enjoy your threads.  

Linking to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.

Update

Between family and friends visiting and HOT, HUMID weather, I haven't had much time or energy for hand quilting.  I know our hot weather was not as bad as Texas, the Mid-West or elsewhere, but it was hot for us.  I was working in the gardens during the heat at 0900 and was surprised to have sweat drip down my face.  

I walked into the Cave the other day and found Gibbs under Big Red's cover.  (Not to worry.  Since the first time I found him under there, the machine is no longer plugged in unless I am using it.)  I don't know how that is cooler, but he thinks that it is.

We don't have A/C unless we put the unit in the window.  We haven't done that yet.  Thankfully the weather broke the other night.  It was a storm that had the cats hiding under our bed until it was over.

This morning I saw something run by our front windows.  From the side windows I saw that it was three young deer.  They stopped and grazed in our back yard.  They were young enough that they paused to play.

Now, to threads.  I have finally finished the second row on my 3030 quilt.  It took me 22 hours to go side to side.  A Celtic knot is being stitched in the corner squares.  

Diagonal rows where I have the chain blocks.  The rows will continue on to the attached chain block.

All other pieced blocks will have four intertwined hearts.  Don't know if you can see that.  These blocks will also have stitch in the ditch outlining them.

Here is the quilt before rolling it for the second time.  Piano keys will remain on the outside edge.  You can see that I do have some applique blocks.  I am thinking that I will hand quilt around and maybe inside the applique.

The quilt after my second roll.  I can see the edge of the middle block.  I find that exciting.  

May you all stay safe in this summer weather.

 

No, No, NO!!!

I have not been in my Cave much this week.  We have had to much going on.  That means not much stitching was done on the frame (only 5 hours).  It was so hard to go by and not be able to sit and be calm.  Someone, Ziva, took the opportunity to claim the frame as her own!  So that is what they meant when I read that the tension of a frame is to be if a cat was on it.  That part was helpful.  It is harder for her to get up on it now. 

But, when you do have friends over or are awake in the middle of the night, you can get count work done.  

The first two were finished before the week began.  I don't think that I have showed them before.  

First is the Red Bird Sampler by Heart in Hand.  This was a stitch along with Jo's Country Junction.  This will be a pincushion or small pillow.

Next is the second pattern from Blessings Abound by Waxing Moon Designs.  This one I will frame.

This is what was worked on while friends were here. Chessie's Alphabet Needlebook by Chessie and Me.  Those little cats were done with a tent stitch (1/2 cross) over 1 linen thread with one thread.  First time I ever did that stitch and so glad I had reading glasses with high enough magnification.

May you all enjoy your day.  I need to work in the front yard before I can get back to my threads.  Family will be coming mid week so I really need to get a hustle on.  I miss thread meditation time.

Linking to Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy's Quilts.

 

13 Hours

I am excited to say that after 13 hours of hand quilting, I rolled the quilt for the first time.  I did the most outer border with piano keys 1 inch apart.  Then I turned the corner at both ends.  Piano keys will be done up the sides and across the top.

A wavey line was stitched across the second border.  This will also continue up the sides and across the top.  

I am enjoying my hand quilting.  It is good thread meditation; I am able to look at the quilt and think of what may be done next.  

The four corner blocks will have the same pattern.  Not sure which, I have two ideas.  The Irish Chain blocks will also be done the same.  My idea will connect them together.  A four-leaf shamrock may be stitched in all the pieced blocks.  Have thoughts on small sashing and applique.  But I also have time to change my mind.

The pincushion is now finished.  This is the one that goes with the bag from last week.  It is so cute, if I may say so myself.  It is about 2.5 X 4.5 inches is size. 

Here are the two scissor fobs that go with the bag and pincushion.  I need to get some acid free heavy paper for the inside support.  A bit of batting and ribbon will also be added.  The ribbon is so it can be attached to the scissors.  They are about one inch in size.

Enjoy your threads and day. 

Linking to Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts.