A Few Thoughts on a Lovely Autumn Morning

With these beautiful cool autumn days, my mood has turned to thoughts of stitching 'Christmas Garden', cause that wonderful Christmas season is just around the corner!

This was my progress over the weekend, but the border is kind of pretty up close, just not terribly exciting at the moment.

 Last night I decided to work a little more on my Punch Needle design, 'Pickin Flowers' by Teresa Kogut.

 I am really enjoying my very first Punch Needle design!

Look who decided to pop by for a little visit!

Amazing little creature, who just posed so nicely for me to photograph him.

Hmmm..... Wonder if he is any relation to Mr. Benjamin Bunny!

Well, Miss Meaghann is ready to be picked up from the Groomer's this morning, so off I go! 

Wishing you a perfectly lovely day! 

Reviving a Relic & Stitching Some New Things

Looking back over the past week or so here, those warm days of summer have past and we have been experiencing some cooler, crisp days that definitely feel like autumn is almost here.  I love the cool evenings and nights, perfect for sleeping with the windows wide open.

With the onset of autumn, it begins to feel like cosy quilt time.  From among my own relics, I pulled out a Friendship Quilt, which was started with a wonderful group of friends, in 1987.  Can you believe that   I had left it unfinished  in my quilting box?  I am kind of embarassed to say it!

The quilt group selected one pattern for the quilt and each of selected the fabrics of our own choice.  Then we would meet about every two weeks and pass our fabric on to a different person in the group, until all of the blocks were assembled, and each of us stitched one for ourselves.

                                      My Quilt Block

A Quilt Corner

Love this pretty leafy quilt design

Isn't this heart design wonderful on the border?

With the help of my very special friend, Ellen, who is an expert quilter, and super encourager, she assisted me to sew on the borders and to make the quilt come out evenly.  Without her, I don't know if I would have finished it.  Thankyou so much Ellen!

Have any of you stitched the adorable little 'Thimble Purse' designs from With Thy Needle?  I have fallen in love with them, and stitched two so far.  

               'Home Sweet Home' Thimble Purse

                'Birds and Berries' Thimble Purse

This is my newest start, 'Birds of a Feather' by The Victoria Sampler, which is a band sampler.  It is a delightful design, but oh my, there were so many color changes in those two little birds and flowers!  As you can see, I am now stitching 'over one' the title of the sampler.  This is going to be a WIP for sure!

Over last weekend, some special friends came for dinner and brought this delicious 'Strawberry Pizza Pie' for dessert! It consists of a sugar cookie crust, a light cream cheese and confectionary sugar filling, topped with thinly sliced strawberries and glaze. Melts in your mouth!

Miss Meggie was sitting on the landing, with her Teddy Bear, barking at the squirrels she could see out the window.  Such a cutie pie!

It is always wonderful sharing a little piece of my world with all of you, my very dear friends.  Thank you for all of your wonderful comments.  I love hearing from every one of you!

May peace and love surround you where ever you may be, and may the sun shine down warmly upon your face and bring a smile to your face.

Blessings in Stitches & Friendship!

Stitches & Such....

In case you may have been wondering where, oh where has Kathy been these past weeks, I've been here and there, and just haven't had time to write a single word on my blog.  So, here we go!  

I have stitched and stitched the hours away whenever I could find a snatch of time, and finally finished Kyleigh's birth sampler!  This was quite a challenge, since I changed quite a few areas of the design, more to my liking, but am quite happy with the final results.

'Sweet Baby Sampler'
By Praiseworthy Stitches

Along the way, my friend, Janet, (no blog), encouraged me to try my hand at Punchneedle, which I must say, I was a little reluctant to try.  Janet is a wonderful person, and so full of enthusiasm.  She totally sold me, that 'Yes, you can do it, Kathy!'  So, dear Janet came last Thursday to teach me how to do Punch Needle, and here is my progress thus far.

I was surprised to learn that the punch needle stitches are taken on the printed side of the design, but that the actual desired, 'fluffy' effect is created on the 'wrong' side of the fabric.

'Pickin Flowers'
by
Teresa Kogut

This afternoon, while the storm clouds were brewing up some rainstorms, I was happily tucked inside, stitching on this sweet little thimble purse.  Assembly is required, and as I always hesitate a bit on that part, I think that will be a project for tomorrow.

'Home Sweet Home'
Thimble Purse
With thy Needle & Thread

A week or so ago, Bruce and I enjoyed a very special visit with my sister, Karen and her husband, Steve.  They have a lovely backyard, which Karen has worked very hard to embellish with flowers and a sweet sitting area under the trees.

A lovely statue in her garden.

Well, the hour is growing late, and I am well past time for my cup of tea, and perhaps a few stitches before my eyes close for the night.

It is always wonderful connecting with you here, and I love receiving all of your special comments.

Blessings in Stitches & Friendship With You,
Dear Friends!

It has been rather a warm and humid week, but thankfully, our house has central air, so, it was nice to have an excuse to stay indoors and do a little stitching, whenever possible.  'Sweet Baby Sampler' is almost finished.  

I have  made some changes in the design, and the recommended threads and colours, to work more to my taste, and hope that it turns out well.  

                      Love these sweet little specialty bands!

Last week we made a little day trip for some more stitching stash.  If you are anything like me, I could shop in my own closets, but just couldn't resist these two beautiful designs.

                             'Autumn Forest Quaker'
                                                 By
                      Stickideen von der Wiehenburg

I have loved this sweet Victoria Sampler design since it first came out, and was so excited to find it.  I chose a 'Watercolours' thread and Sullivan threads instead of the recommended ones.

                                      'Birds of a Feather'
                                                     By
                                        Victoria Sampler

These beautiful lilies bloom along the walk leading to our front porch.  Aren't they just radiant?  They make me smile.

Where ever you find yourself today, I wish especially for you, that the sun will shine upon your face, and that the dark clouds will have silver linings.

May loved ones and good friends always walk beside you, to add a little joy to every day.  

May you find  peacefulness and contentment  in doing whatever things provide soothing moments for your spirit.

And as I sip my favorite cup of tea, and take those lovely stitches today, I will be thinking of you, and hoping that maybe you are doing the same, wherever you may be.

Our friendship is made all the more special by the bonds of these threads which bind us all together, and I treasure those threads woven into a beautiful tapestry of our shared lives.

Blessings Dear Friends!

                                                                         

Finally!  'Barnwood Buttons' has all of her sweet little button flowers sewn onto the stems!

                Fabric:  Picture This Plus Belfast
                              32 Ct. Barnwood
               Floss:   Weeks Dye Works #1094 Linen 
               Buttons:  From Rosewood Manor


Here a few close-up photos so that you can see all of these wonderful buttons.

Now, to select just the perfect frame!

Wednesday morning stitching group afforded a few lovely uninteruppted hours, with the girls, to work on my 'Sweet Baby Sampler'.

There are some pretty specialty stitch flowers and bands to stitch in the next part, and I can't wait to see how this sweet sampler just blossoms!

Because it was my birthday this week, my very dear friend, Martha treated me to another very special luncheon and tea at Mrs. Bridges Pantry!  The very best present ever!

Of course we just had to tour this wonderful antique shop, just below 'Mrs. Bridges' Pantry'.  Lots of fun!

Every little detail, especially the beautiful teacups, makes this a truly delightful experience!

Our darling daughter and I share a birthday week, and we celebrated her birthday last evening.  Miss Ella decided that a "Winne the Pooh" cake was in order for the occasion!

Made by her Mommy, who loves to bake and decorate cakes. Miss Ella was beyond thrilled!

Dear Daughter & Miss Ella

Miss Ella picked out 'Hello Kitty' plates, for the occasion and laid them all out in a neat little row.

Last Sunday, our son, Kevin, his wife, Gwen, two year old Emerson, and 6 month old Harrison came to help Grammama celebrate a special birthday!  

Sweet little 6 month old Harrison, who is wearing his Daddy's sleep nightie! 

The car is all packed and Emery is getting ready to go!

There is never ending joy spent with our precious children and grandchildren.  We are treasuring these very special moments, as they are the truest and most lasting of all of our family heirlooms.

Blessings to you, dear friends, on this Sunday afternoon.

Stitching, Tea and Good Friends!

On most evenings this week, when I finally settled into my 'stitching nest', I found myself too weary to take many stitches before my eyes began closing.
I did manage to finish the stitching on 'Barnwood Buttons' the other night, and now am ready to sew on the adorable button flowers.  
Here is a sneek preview!

Love this very lacey flower, but it was a bit of a challenge doing the backstitching!

                          Preview of the sweet floral border.

Before sewing on the Barnwood Buttons, I decided that I really must start stitching  on Miss Kyleigh's birth sampler.  It is a small piece, so hopefully it will stitch up quickly, but it does have some specialty stitches in it.

My goodness, where has this week gone so quickly?  It was a busy but very happy kind of week, starting off last Monday with a wonderful trip to Mrs. Bridges Pantry in South Woodstock, Connecticut, for a lovely teatime luncheon with the girls from our stitching group.

Waiting for our tea before luncheon.  Don't you love the sterling silver sugar cube dish, and those adorable little teapot salt and pepper shakers?

                                         A little corner table for two.

                  A sweet little spinach quiche and salad.



To finish off a perfectly lovely day, my friend, Janet took us to visit Whispering Hill Farm, www.whispering-hill.com in South Woodstock, where owner, Donna Swanson, took us on a tour of her home to view her gorgeous hooked rugs.


Donna teaches rug hooking classes in her wonderful antique farm house, which is filled with an array beautiful hooked rugs and antiques. It felt like we were walking through a museum!  Here are just a few of my favorite rugs.

Donna's Antique Sewing Stand.  Isn't it absolutely gorgeous?

               The floral design atop the sewing stand.


Several of my stitching friends, who attend Donna's 'Hook-Ins' are encouraging me to join them to learn how to rug hook.  I am contemplating doing a small project to see if I will be 'hooked'!  


Well, all for now dear friends. One of our sons, his wife and our little grandsons are supposed to be stopping in shortly, enroute from a week long vacation up north at the other grandparents' summer home.  They will spend the night here before driving the long distance home tomorrow.


Have a very lovely weekend and may you have some special time just for you too, doing whatever makes you the happiest and content.


Blessings in Stitches & Friendship!