Tag Archives: hand embroidery

Patchwork of the Crosses – Lilacs in the Spring

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For some reason, this block says lilacs in spring to me. Here I go again — this may be my favourite for today, at least.

I did a small exchange with Terri at Purple and Paisley of goodies related to stitching, quilting and crocheting. In the package I received I got all these glorious DMC flosses, some of which will be used in the Mary Wigham sampler, some floss cards, floss project cards and the appropriate-sized needles. I love these floss colours — all very cheerful.

Tucked in with the other items were these buttons. They’re absolutely adorable — the faces on the cats are priceless! Mr. Quilt Obsession immediately asked if they were for him!


Wednesday was pretty overcast and, once again, rather cool for July. This is definitely turning into the summer that wasn’t. A long-range forecast I heard Wednesday night indicates August isn’t going to be much warmer than July has been. I suppose the thing to hope for at this point is a warmer than usual September.

Smudge stretched out on the sofa.

Lester draped on the chair.

A Little Embroidery

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The samplers I’ve seen on various blogs have fascinated me, particularly the Quaker samplers. I found a pretty one here called Quaker a 6 Mains. For this I’m working with 28-count Quaker Cloth, 2 over 2.

Tuesday I stayed away from the computer for the most part and avoided doing anything that would stress my hands/wrists any further. I think the Omega 3 capsules are starting to work already. Maybe I’ll have learned my lesson this time and will remember to take them every day. Depending how it feels after I finish working today, I may finally be able to get back to the Patchwork of the Crosses blocks and do some more cutting and printing and stitching. It hasn’t been that long, but I am so anxious to work on them that it feels like weeks.

Smudge has an odd look on his face in this one.


Lester looking out the window:


Butterflies and Snow

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Last night I started on the little butterfly hexagons for the stars. These are 2″ hexagons from the very first Inklingo collection. I’ve used an inexpensive white muslin behind the white on white on which the hexagons are printed and love the fact that that will successfully stop any shadowing through of the threads.

Hopefully, tonight I’ll get at least one or two hexagons joined with the stars.

What did we wake up to? Snow. Lots and lots of snow. It’ still snowing. It started snowing around 10:00 last night and it is still coming down. It’s pretty but I think it’s more than we were expecting. Right now, the snowflakes that are falling are huge! True winter wonderland. The trees now have that dipped in icing sugar look.



Lester on the windowsill.

Smudge, in one of his endless poses.


Quilt Label and Kitty Christmas Toys

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On one of the Christmas gifts I made to give, I put this little label. I’ve become a big fan of little stitchery labels, it seems, and have a bunch of them ready to do so that labels for next year’s Christmas gifts will be ready to put on when the gifts are done.

Trish, who sent the SSCS package, included gifts of hand-made toys for the kitties. They have been playing with them a lot.

Here is Smudge, intently watching to make sure it doesn’t get away while he bats at it.

And Lester, in true Lester fashion, curled up in his kitty bed with the toy. If you look closely, you’ll see his eyes aren’t quite closed. He is very determined sometimes to keep his toys all close to him. It’s not the least bit unusual to see 3 or 4 toys in that cat bed.


Another Swap!

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I’ve joined the Four Seasons Quilt – Swap 5! I’m really glad I did although I sure left it to the last second to do so! The quilts are to be monochromatic. I can’t wait to see all the different quilts that will be made for this.


Little embroidery blocks are fun. 2″ hexagon blocks with butterflies are even more fun! The pattern was actually printed on the hexagons using Inklingo collection #1. I decided to make a small quilt of butterflies and — well, I haven’t quite decided on the fabric yet, but I’m leaning towards some Kaffe Fassett prints. It won’t be large but will be, I think, cute. And it will be a gift.


And Lester — gazing out the window. But it’s not from today. Today it’s grey and overcast and gloomy and, after a bit of snow last night, is supposed to pour rain all day.

Thursday Tidbits

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While working on my ALQS quilt, which is almost done (photos this weekend before I mail it off), I couldn’t resist doing 2 more butterfly blocks. Three more of these and then a small quilt will be made.


The last Snow Crystal block is being taken apart. I have heard from quite a few people about that white on white and, as that is supposed to be a pink and white quilt rather than pink and yellow, it seems the best thing is to get rid of that fabric altogether. So un-sewing it is! I flirted with the idea of soaking a piece of the white fabric in turpentine to see if I could get rid of the painted-on design but it was pointed out that the turpentine may well affect the fabric in other less desirable ways.

I love the colour of the leaves on this bush on the roof garden! Sometimes it looks as though the bush is on fire — depends on how the sun is hitting it.


Smudge took up residence on the windowsill for a few hours. They’re both getting a lot of exercise chasing leaves as they drift by the windows. The other day Lester was actually growling at one that had the nerve to land and stay on the window. He did not like that at all!


Snow Crystals, Butterflies and Kitties

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Another Snow Crystal block is almost complete. The white on white is the same one I had used in the blue and white Texas Star quilt. I had forgotten just how difficult that is to needle. I’m putting a note on what’s left of it so that I won’t be tempted to use it again for hand piecing anything! Actually, I wonder if there’s a way to get some of that paint off — maybe soak it in turpentine or something!

In a comment left yesterday, Rosaline noticed the corners of the pieces are sort of rounded off. That’s another one of the benefits of the newer Inklingo collections — the shapes are printed like that which makes it so so easy to line pieces up when stitching.

Peg has been encouraging me to take up embroidery again. I wanted to experiment a bit before committing to tracing a lot, so I printed out a few of the 2-inch hexagons with butterflies from the first Inklingo collection and did them. I’m hooked! First I’m going to do about a dozen of these hexagons with butterflies and surround them with batiks and/or hand dyes.

These are my first two butterflies. My knots need a little work for the knobs on their antennae but, all in all, I’m pretty happy with the results.


This has to be one of the best pictures of Lester yet. I love the reflection of him in the window!

Smudge, resting a paw on one leg and then resting his head on that paw. Too cute!