One of Twelve!!

I've been slowly working on Mary Corbet's Twelve Trees for Christmas, a collection of twelve 3" Christmas tree designs for hand embroidery. Seven of the twelve are done. This is the latest one.

Five more to go!!

The weather here in Pine Grove has been varied which has been great for landscaping. We have lots of deer resistant bushes and ground cover planted out front. At least, the deer have stayed away so far. Time will tell if they fill up on them or not! Mulch has been put around all the new plants and yesterday, lawn seed was sprinkled in place. It's slowly getting in shape.

• Embroidered Felt Star Ornament
• Twelve Trees for Christmas
• Christmas Tree Embroidery Pattern
  
• Owl Felt Ornament  
• Embroidery Trees on Pinterest  

Enjoy!

Stay safe and get vaccinated

 

 

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving Weekend Canada! 

Wishing all my relatives and friends near and far, a very happy, safe Thanksgiving Weekend. 

In honour of this special holiday, I have the perfect autumn quilt, which was made by my sister, Joan, in Tennessee. She made it and hand delivered it in 2018, for my July birthday. 

This photo was taken today where the temperature reached 22C. I was lucky to get the full view of the quilt as it was a bit breezy. The wind reminded me of home in Newfoundland where it's windy most of the time!

The back fabric is all birch trees.

My back garden is displaying its gorgeous autumn colours, most of which, are in this quilt.

Links for your pleasure:

• Joan's creations on Instagram  
• My photos on Instragram   
• Free Quilted Projects  
• Free Leaf Quilt Blocks    
• Fall Quilt Projects   
• Autumn Leaves    
• Free Fall Patterns   
• Autumn Projects on Pinterest HERE    
• Pumpkins   
• Previous Thanksgiving posts HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE     
  

Enjoy!!

 

 

 

 

 

Squash Squad: Sue Spargo's Stitch Along on Instagram

Yesterday was the first day of Squash Squad, another of Sue Spargo's Stitch Alongs on Instagram. This is my progress so far. The metallic braid, by Kreinik, is couched on the squash with Valandi #8 perle cotton, colour 18. The chain stitch on the stem is Valandi O154.

Hopefully, I'll get the vine and leaf stitched tomorrow as well as playing catch-up!

• Free Projects for Fall
• Autumn Stitching     
• Fall Sewing Projects on Pinterest    
• Autumn Embroidery with Mary Corbet    
• Embroidery leaves on Pinterest (lots of inspiration for stitching)

Enjoy!!

 

 

 

In Like A Lamb!!

March came in like a lamb here in Pine Grove, NS. There was a mixture of sun, clouds, a few flurries, some wind (not much) and cool temperatures. It did get above freezing here in my backyard!!

This guy, last year's Dollar Shop find, usually sits on the edge of my piano. It gives me a chuckle every time I look at it.

Last week I was making lamb Shimmer Ornaments on the embroidery machine (click on the links to see more of my shimmer ornaments). Some of these (among others), will be found at Museums by the Sea. Shelburne's Historic Waterfront, NS, later in the spring.

• All Things Sheep  (cute, free patterns to knit, crochet . . .)
• Free Sheep Crochet Patterns 
• Sew a sheep softie (Free pattern)
• Crochet a Sheep Granny Square (cute one)

 Enjoy!!

More Wool Applique

Some eye candy from Saturday's Wool Applique Workshop. Linda Naugler.  I have permission to show them. Sue Spargo designs were used for inspiration.

Needle Case

Needle Case

• Free patterns from Primitive Wool Applique 
• More HERE , HERE,     
• Wool Applique Winter Mat Tutorial  

3 Pillows

Now that the Twelve Days of Christmas are over, I can show you these quilted pillows my sister, Joan, made us for Christmas. Joan was posting photos on Instagram for the Twelve Days of Christmas and one of the pillows was day 12. I didn't want to spoil her fun. The pillows have 12 triangles of the Flying Geese pattern. You can see more of Joan's Instagram photos @lovemombo. She shows among other things, quilts, knitted socks, children's clothes and garden stuff!

These pillows match two quilts that she previously made for us. The center pillow has stitched and beaded motifs that she found on a piece of fabric at a thrift store in Tennessee. She sure knows how to use such different finds! Thanks, Joan. Love the pillows.

Now for some things I found:

• Pillows on Pinterest HERE and HERE
• 30 Modern Christmas Pillows 
• Batik Log Cabin Pillow 
• Free Modern Quilt Pillows 

 Enjoy!!

What's New?

I just came back from a walk. Thankfully there was a bit of a breeze at times because the temperature was hovering above 27C here at my brother-in-laws house, Brooklyn, NS (near Windsor as there are two Brooklyn's in NS). The view is amazing and the internet is perfect (not like at the RV park).

My creativity has taken a bit of a holiday the last two weeks although I did attempt a little stitching on an Embroidery Guild Stitching piece. It didn't get very far!

Enjoy these links:

• 40 + Applique Patterns    
• Summer Quilts HERE,  
• Applique - Spring / Summer HERE 
• Summer Beach Scene  
• Flower Applique 
• Beach Tote (cute one)        

So Long May!!!

I have never been soooo glad to see the end of a month as this one. Weather wise - it was terrible! Today was 20C and sunny, so hopefully things are looking up.

These lilies are from my sister's garden in Tennessee. We don't even have the leaves out on the trees yet. Soon . . .

Here's a couple of links to check:

• Learn How to Create a Fabric Divider Basket.
• The Picnic Tote  
• Tote with Pockets 
• Mini Hexagon Pouch Tutorial   

Enjoy!       

Spring Has Sprung - in my Garden!

The sun is shining!!! Yes, that's a wonder as St. John's has had its fair share of RDF (Rain, Drizzle, Fog) this spring. And it's been cold so it's a wonder that any spring flowers / shrubs have survived.

 This old fella has survived another winter too. No, I didn't bring him in out of the weather!

Maybe things will begin to look up this week (weather wise).

• Flower Quilts / Blocks on Pinterest HERE, HERE  
• Applique HERE, HERE,
• Fabric Flower Patterns HERE, 
• Hexagon Flower Mug Rug   
• More Mug Rugs HERE,  HERE, 

Enjoy!

Spring in Nova Scotia

It was another beautiful spring day here in Nova Scotia. I spent the morning in Dartmouth, the afternoon in Bridgewater and the evening in Brooklyn (near Windsor). Not looking forward to the cooler temperatures home at the end of the week.

I hope your projects for Mother's Day are well underway.

To my non-facebook friends, here are a few links I found from Facebook Posts:

• 14 Quick-Sew Gifts for any Occasion  
• Sewing Instructions for Quick (and less quick) Fabric Baskets 
• Embroidery Tutorials 
• Bernina Zippered Rulerwork Bags 
• Round Robin Collection - Free Quilt Patterns 

Crossing the McKay Bridge after lunch, I managed to take this photo of a very large container ship heading into Halifax Harbour.

    

A Linky Day

It's been raining on and off all day. However, the temperature is quite warm (I'm still in Nova Scotia). I can live with that!

Mother's Day is next Sunday so you might find a quick sewing project in one of the links below:

• More Than 50 Fun Beginner Sewing Projects (actually the projects are great for any level of sewer)
• Lunch Tote 
• 100 + Scrap Fabric Projects  
• Rotating Craft Caddy 

Enjoy!

My brother sent this last week from somewhere between here and Ottawa.

      

Sewing Projects for Mother's Day

I've found a few links with some projects to consider for Mother's Day. However, these projects aren't limited to just one occasion and you might want to make some of these for yourself!

• To keep mom organized (or yourself), there's a free organizer basket HERE.
• I found this Pill Bottle Survivor Kit interesting and relatively easy to make.
• 10 Mother's Day Gifts to Sew 
• Mother's Day Sewing Gifts HERE & HERE   
• More Gift Ideas HERE 

From Joan's garden in Tennessee!

 

A Bit of Green!!

March 17 (this coming Friday) is St. Patrick's Day. As I was reading Wikipedia information on that day, I was a bit amused to note that the Lenten restrictions on food and alcohol were lifted for that day. I'm not Irish but many of my friends are. I hope you enjoy the following links:
Enjoy the rest of your day.

• Happy St. Patrick's Surprise
• Latticed Irish Chain
• Celtic Knot Work 
• St. Patrick's Day quilts on Pinterest HERE & HERE
• Mug Rug   
• Free Patterns 
• Clover Quilt Block Tutorial       

 A four leaf clover picked last summer by my granddaughter, Gale.

Scissor Fobs

Yesterday I stitched for the first time since fracturing my right arm. Since I didn't want to have anything heavy in a hoop, I decided to dig out a small embroidery project that I started several years ago. It was a Floating Beaded Ornament. This was a guild program piece that we turned into scissor fobs.

For those of you who aren't into hand embroidery, you are probably wondering what that is. Well, a scissor fob is a little ornament / pincushion with a cord or ribbon attached, that slips onto one side of a scissor finger ring. This pincushion is the perfect place to put your needle when you are cutting the next length of thread. It is also a way to identify your scissors when out stitching in a group.

These fobs are usually about 2 to 3 inches square but what shape you use is entirely up to the maker. You can make them to suit the season or your personal taste. Just have fun with it.

The green one still needs tiny glass beads in the spaces. I started the red one yesterday. It is stitched on 6" x 6" Dublin 25 count linen.

Here is the 'lazy' gal's fob made with beads and a lobster hook to attach it to the scissors. Mine is a purchased one that I got on one of my trips. The scissor's case is made from my own embellished fabric.

This small pair of Gingher scissors needs a fob!

You might find a fob to make in some of these links:

• Free cross stitch fob  
• Craftsy fob tutorial Part 1    Part 2  
• Fobs on Pinterest   HERE  
• Scissor fob tutorial   (The finishing up of this one is very similar to how I will finish up mine)
• Free pattern for a fob 
• Vintage Scissor Fob

Enjoy!!

Sew and So

Today's post is brief but I think you will find that exploring Sew and So, will be lengthy. Lots to see! Sew and So, a British company, has a wealth of information on a variety of hand crafts. I was introduced to this site today via Face Book.  Their quick YouTube videos on how to do various embroidery stitches are quite good. Here is the Sew & So Stitch Library. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Visit Sew & So Pinterest board HERE

I have NO affiliation with this company but I thought it had interesting stitch videos, other tips, and freebies to share!

Enjoy!!

3-D, A Look Back

I was going through my mom's things this weekend (she just moved to a new nursing home) and came across this quilted wall hanging of The Matthew. I designed and created this one for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary in 1997. It is a much smaller version of the one I made to commemorate the 500th. anniversary of John Cabot's Discovery of Newfoundland, 1497 -1997.

Read more about The Matthew HERE.

The ship is in 3-D. I found a good photo to use from off one of our local brewery boxes. I traced it onto fabric and went from there. The sails are made from a silky fabric. Fabric stiffener was used on the edges to make them billow out.

Click on the photo to get a closer view.


Enjoy these few links:

• Sailing Ship quilt block  
• Free Pattern of Sail Boat Quilt 
• Sail Boats & Nautical on Pinterest     
• The Mayflower  
• Applique Sailing Ship

 

In my 'spare' time, I've been stitching up a snowman mini. It is my take away piece when stitching with friends. I find that when we get together, it's hard to concentrate on a 'follow a pattern' piece.


I'm using an 8 inch hoop and # 8 Valdani Pearl Cotton. Note the tiny magnet holding my needle. It's easier to let the magnet catch the needle.

Stitching Patterns:

• Redwork Embroidery (note the alphabet series)
• Redwork and Embroidery on Pinterest  
• Quilt Inspiration Redwork Patterns    

If you are looking for something different, check out the 'adult colouring books' that seem to be all the rage these days.

Or maybe Zentangle Designs might be something different to stitch. Check Pinterest HERE  & HERE for some and this YouTube on How To Draw Zen-tangles, is a good one.    

Enjoy!!      

Sewing Projects

This week, I've been trying to cram in lots of family time with granddaughter and her parents. They go back to Nova Scotia on Sunday. I did finish a lovely fleece robe for Gale and started a small embroidered snowman wall hanging. And, I have started making more Shimmer Ornaments for the Wholesale Show in February.

Since I have nothing to show you today, have a look at these projects:

• Mug or Can Organizer 
• Fat Quarter Projects 
• Bento Box 
• Round Nesting Boxes 
• Fabric Baskets 
• Lots of Tutorials 
• Open Wide Zipper Pouch Tutorial 
• Snippets 

  This snowman is from Sandy Point, NL - my brother's place!  
                                 

Home Sweet Home: An Embroidery Workbox

This is the third book that I received for Christmas. I'm not interested in 'building' another workbox but I was curious about the embroidery stitches and how Carolyn Pearce used them. Beautiful coloured photos, detailed instructions and clear diagrams, provide all you need to embroider and construct the workbox and matching accessories.

The book has a full size pattern sheet and lots of step-by-step photos to help you create all the projects in the book.

Some sewing kits:

• On Pinterest: HERE, HERE & HERE    
• Tag Along Sewing Kit  
• Travel Sewing Kit   Another HERE  
• Victorian Sewing Kit 
• Matchbook Sewing Kit  
• Crochet Cupcake Pincushion Sewing Kit 
• Needle Books & Cases    

Enjoy!                     

Snowflakes

I recently purchased Tanya Berlin's Hapsburg Lace Snowflake Sampler. See it HERE.
Hoping to start it tomorrow at our Wednesday stitching get together.

More Snowflakes

• Snowflake Pillow    
• Free Snowflake Quilt Patterns
• Snowflakes on Pinterest HERE,    
• Free-motion Snowflake
• Hawaiian Snowflakes
• Crochet Snowflakes on Pinterest  HERE
• Paper Snowflakes

Enjoy!!         

I also linked up with The Needle & Thread Network. Check it out.