The Endless Summer Begins!

      I love the summer! The smell of mown grass, the long days, and cookouts.. the weather is finally acting the part--we had a blistering hot day of 85 after barely getting out of the 60s all spring. I intend to spend half a day in my garden and half sewing for the next three months-- Nirvana. 

     On the sewing front, I decided to shake up the project mix-- moving some things to the back burner and starting up some fresh work. While being loyal to one project is good in theory, I just don't think my brain is wired for it. To continue the kitchen metaphor, by "back burner" I hope these projects are still simmering-- I am NOT wrapping them up and putting them in the freezer. Just a little slower for the summer. 

     First up, Prairie Meadow. When I read my past blog posts on this, I laugh-- it's been love/hate for quite a while now. I am committed to finish-- I do have 8 blocks done. I am just driving myself crazy trying to do one every three weeks, every two weeks, every four weeks... it needs a rest. Maybe I'll just try for two more blocks over the summer and two in the fall. I’m giving up the "on my bed, by my birthday" idea. It's not worth the stress.

     I slow walked the charm basket table runner, deciding on a Memorial Day release. I love this design and could go on stitching it for quite awhile. While I resisted the Summer Memories basket quilt-a-long, I think I was subliminally making it my own. So here’s my patriotic color scheme. 

     The project didn't even make a dent in my two Lori Holt "Bee Plaid" charm packs and used only 25 squares. But I love this piece, and I'd love to make a red version for Christmas, with more Christmas-y flowers.

     I did start working on Christmas designs, but haven't gotten much further than sketches-- so many ideas are buzzing around my head. I'd love a Zen Christmas tree, with all the Christmas tree varieties listed around it-- "White Pine," "Frasier Fir," maybe "Artificial" for laughs! We definitely need more cross stitch this Christmas as well. Redo "St. Petersburg Christmas" in a cross stitch window? I'd love to.  Next we need July bowl fillers and also the Summer bowl fillers will complete the set of four seasons, so those are also high on my list for now.

    

     For a new hand stitching project, I caved and bought this cute Fat Quarter Shop Fourth of July ornament book for their Red, White, and June Stitch Along, and it's my first time using the gorgeous Classic Colorworks threads.

     I wasn't planning on doing a ton of cross stitch this year, but I find it totally relaxing first thing in the morning or last thing at night. I really don't have a ton of summer décor, either. The designs are 28 x 28 and stitch up really fast. (No, not as fast as machine embroidery!)  I already finished up one-- this is "Benjamin's Kite" and started this yummy pie-- and it's not even June yet! 

     I did also get the sticky circles and tin pieces to complete them. I'm not making any goals or projections on how many I'll get done by so and so a date-- this is getting to be a bad habit and a creativity crusher for me!

    I did finish my first Pressed Flower block and the crazy meadow table runner from the last post just in time to walk out to the mailbox and get the May Sew Sampler box! 

     This month has a half layer cake of Fig Tree's Fruit Cocktail fabric. I love Fig Tree fabric, but just didn't buy this collection because it's straying too much from the usual cream-peach-green colorway that I love. 

     Also, I’d have loved a pattern with fruit in it, but what we got was a house-- a house with really big pieces. I do small pieces.

    After last month's foray into far left field, I want a project this month that I like more... and something that finally fits one of my tables! So this is my all time, favorite ever table runner-- (it's on my coffee table right now.)  Perfect fit, huh!

     I made it in about 2002 from this Thimbleberries book:

     I'm not sure if I still have this book, but I just loved it. I am considering buying it again. (I've done this before, and when I do, I usually end up with two copies.) So this was actually my first project on the fabulous 180E Bernina I purchased used on eBay, little knowing the E was for Embroidery Module and that my entire life was about to change direction. I also started sewing a lot more again at this point in my life.

     The table runner is obviously for Christmas, but it's still on my table. So for the May Sew Sampler fabric, I am going to somewhat re-create the design, but make fruit blocks all around the outside with the checkered center. I'll start by making 20 fruit blocks and will figure out the rest of the layout as I go. Then I don't have to have a coffee table "Christmas in July" anymore! I'd love to make spring and fall versions of that table runner, too. It's an old friend to me.

      I already made a sample fruit block, but this project is going to be a killer to finish in the 3 weeks I have left before June's box shows up. I'm going to try hard-- I have five beautiful projects from these boxes this year so why quit now. I've already looked out some extra greens and some cream backgrounds from other Fig Tree fabric I have, because I don't want to spend a ton of extra money this month, either.

The Pressed Flower Block 2 is also very cute.

    And, of course, I purchased the Liberty Box-- feeling a bit under pressure just thinking about all of this. We'll see what happens! Here's my February tablerunner up on my picnic table for Memorial Day just as I imagined it-- what could be more encouraging than that.

So that's the state of affairs as Summer 2023 begins!

I hope you are all poised to enjoy every minute,
doing what you love.

xox

Carol

Gray skies are gonna clear up!

      I'm happy to report the black cloud over my mind has lifted. A combination of beautiful weather, a big spring clean of the house, and massive sewing time this week has done the trick! Planting bulbs in the fall is a gift to your future self-- and I really appreciate it, this year.  

     I'm starting the blog today with machine embroidery, then quilt-y progress, and then a chicken report-- a long post. If you make it to the end, there will be three things I learned about chickens that will satiate your desire to have them yourselves. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to have a little farm in the middle of nowhere-- this blog is for you!

     First up-- June bowl fillers have been released. Usually at this point of a BOM project, the designing comes easy, and I'm happy to say it has. We have cherries to fill your bowls and a sweet "Cherry Cottage." A big thank you to all who are stitching along with me-- your tables look gorgeous as you've shared them on the Facebook group!

     I tried to do a cute little photo shoot of the house in the meadow. I've always had an eye for a sweet piece of real estate-- full size or miniature. A Halloween cross stitch village is on my list to design! For July bowl fillers, I'm thinking of a shell or parade theme-- comment below if you have an idea. Watermelon? My international customers have me warned-- NO USA theme! We also need the SUMMER bowl fillers to complete the seasonal set.

     I am also well on the way to having the charm pack basket set finished. I LOVE how they came out. I had initially envisioned something with just the baskets and very streamlined. The road took me elsewhere. This is one of the things I love about designing-- it's a fabulous journey from here to there and you never know where you'll end up.

    I picked out five of my favorite charm squares to make the baskets-- they are from Lori Holt's BEE PLAIDS I received in a Sew Sampler box last year. I have 37 left, so I'm making a half square triangles for a border and we'll see where that goes. Working with a charm pack insures all the colors and patterns will play well together! 

     I'm hoping to have a finished top very shortly-- then it's instruction time-- but I should easily have this out this week. Then, I may start Christmas sets-- the spring and summer always quiet down, and it's the perfect time to bank a few sets for the fall and holidays-- that's obviously peak sewing season.

     Next up-- quilting! Lots and lots of quilt-y sewing this week. I can tell, because I went through quite a few bobbins! The 2023 Sew Sampler Challenge is coming along well-- I'm making something out of every box this year. It's not necessarily the pattern included. I designed this crazy thing, I'm calling "Meadow Floor", with the April Fabric. 

     I really wanted to experiment with non-row piecing-- that part of it has gone fabulously! I have a road map on graph paper that I'm following along. I was afraid this would have to be pieced in a certain order, but found out that's not the case and it's going together amazingly. There are no Y seams. I'm just doing partial seams-- if the two fabrics in a seam end the same length-- stitch them together. If they are different lengths, sew to a couple of inches from the end and back tack. As you add pieces in, look for opportunities to complete a seam. It's working! I only have two large corners left to piece in.

     And now for the downside-- this thing is HUGE. It's way too big for any of my tables. I mentioned in other blog posts how I have trouble understanding the scale of things-- they look so different on tiny graph paper and in my head. It would have been much cuter, smaller-- it's kind of like a gawky teenager. I intend to cut it back to an oval when it comes back from quilting-- that may help. Second problem-- I really didn't like the fabric from the beginning. Understand I don't mean any offense to the designer-- it's just not my personal taste-- pastels were never my thing. So I also need to remember not to launch myself into large projects with fabric I don't love. This hobby is too expensive and too time consuming to do that. It's the same with embroidery-- I often have people asking what color to use for a certain design-- well, use colors that you love! Then you will love the outcome. Promising myself not to go crazy on the May box. 

     Along with challenging myself to stitch all twelve Sew Sampler boxes this year, I decided to do the "Pressed Flower" BOM that comes in the box. The first block is a stunner! I've also been admiring the Bunny Hill fabric collections for some time-- the quilt is made of their new collection called "Sugarberry." I'm not pink fan, but it's under control in this collection. And just look at that neutral gingham! This kit sold out very quickly, but I was lucky enough to snag one.

     I always avoid these stitch-a-longs like "Sewcialites" and "Blockheads," but I noticed I usually gravitate toward blocks with many, many pieces. The first Pressed Flowers block is pretty easy to stitch up in a couple of hours with very few pieces. I'm rethinking my attitude toward other stitch-a-longs-- it may not be as hard as I'm making it up in my mind-- most blocks are fairly simple, and you do have a nice extra finish at the end of the year for just an hour or so commitment a week. Does every block I make need 100 pieces? Probably not. (Reminds me that my Barn Star Sampler is still in a vegetative state...)

    My May Sew Sampler box arrives this afternoon-- I'm quite sure those two things will be sewn up before the mailman shows up at 1:00pm, so I'm right up to date! Proud of that.

     In the hand sewing department, I'm almost done with block 8 of Prairie Meadow. Three weeks is just right per block. I tried to do this one in two weeks, but when we cleaned up the house-- it got put away. Out of sight, out of mind. There is something to be said for leaving projects scattered around! I think when I lay out those eight finished blocks for a picture it will be the mental boost I need to now finish. We need to stay motivated and gut through some of these tough parts of a quilt, people! It is so worth it in the end. I picked out some cross stitch projects, also arriving from Fat Quarter Shop today, for "Red, White, and June." I don't have much summer decor-- can you believe it, and I'm looking forward to switching between applique and cross stitch for my handstitching month.

     And now on to farm life. I always thought I would have a farm in the middle of nowhere, and I was right! I'd love a horse, but for now it's chickens. Backyard chickens are a trend right now-- just browse one chicken reel on Instagram--no, dont-- you will be inundated. So here are three of my discoveries about chickens to share with you, so you don't have to buy them and find out for yourself.

   1) Chickens are soft and cuddly. I guess we never really hold birds in life, so who knew. Those feathers are extremely soft and Minky-like. Some chickens do enjoy the interaction, and they also enjoy a little "scritch" just like a cat or dog. They like to be hugged. As you might guess, treats are appreciated for hugs!

    2) There's not much meat on a chicken. I guess my chickens would be a bit more uneasy about me holding them if they knew I was thinking this. But when you "scritch" a chicken, you can feel down inside the feather shell down to all of the quills on the feathers, and then you have to "scritch" down even further to reach flesh. I'm pretty sure Bea, my big, white Brahma, only has a real neck the size of a pipe cleaner. So this is probably why they breed those meat birds with the huge breasts. Thinking on that makes me very sad now that I have first hand experienced these kind little beings. I'm too hypocritical to become a vegetarian-- we have to eat something-- but I will tell you I am cutting way back on all kinds of meat. And planting a huge vegetable garden!

3) And a bit of chicken wisdom... It makes me feel like a million when my little birdies all come running over at the first sight of me. Their little faces look up at me expecting only kind words and good things from my hand. It occurred to me that my family does not come running up to me like this when I arrive back at the house. Well, why don't they? Do they totally trust that only kind words will come from my lips and good things will come out of my hand? Am I the person my friends come running over to, when I enter a room? 

Let's get out there, everyone, and be that person this week!

xoxo
Carol

A Mini Vacation

      I took three days last week to travel to see my son and help work on his bathroom renovation. I love a good home improvement project. Best of all, my DD, the artist-in-residence came along.

     

     It's about a five-hour road trip-- we picked up a mini jack hammer rental at Home Depot and groveled around the floor for another five hours. Wow, that old tile just did not want to come up! We got about 85% done-- both of us had pretty much had it. This has been a long term project, and promises to drag on for a few months yet!

     The second day, we both had appointments with our old dentist, and then we visited some old haunts like Scusset Beach and the Cape Cod Canal.

     It was a glorious day in the 80s. 

     Plymouth has a  vibrant art community, and this spring they had a show of crocheted ocean mammals all over town. I'm not making that up! Realistic right down to the barnacles.

    They were just wonderful. Nothing is better to me then when artists pursue their own creative ideas-- no holds barred.

 

     I was so hoping their would be some quilt-y whales, too, but only yarn was used.

The columns on this building had sea creatures and vegetable wrap...

just look at the wonderful corn!

This must have been really fun to put together--- I have to imagine it was a collaboration of more that one talented crocheter. I'm sure a ton of yarn "stash" was used up!

     Then we visited the local art center-- I used to volunteer there quite a few years ago, and also entered some of my smaller wall hangings for display. I didn't recognize anyone and the whole place has undergone a renovation. I think if I was still working there now, I would have to dress better--heehee. There were watercolors and photography on display, of very high quality.

I did recognize many of the artists, still working away. Tony Visco is above, and Becky Haletky below.

This one is by a very prolific artist, Andrew Kusmin-- I want to buy it, just for the can of Diet Coke!

     I linked the artist's name to their website if you are happily scrolling right now. They are very inspiring to explore.

     That night, we got caught in a fabulous thunderstorm while eating fish 'n chips by the water. It was a perfect day, honestly! Then on Day Three, I got to have breakfast with one of my old quilting besties, before heading home.

     Not much sewing or embroidery, or stitching by machine or hand to speak of this week! I brought my Halloween Town cross stitch, but was too tired at night to even touch it. I have to say I am still feeling very unsettled for whatever reason-- I just can't get over the move, there are a lot of family situations going on, and my mind is just very full right now.

     I'm settling back in now for a few week's time-- there is really nothing in my schedule until the end of June. I have a secret BIG project to finish-- and I also bought the yearly BOM fabric that comes in the Sew Sampler boxes, as well as the kit for the free Halloween stitch-a-long starting in June. Hoping some new projects will bring some peace, love, and joy to my little sewing room once again.

xox

Carol

Will someone please tell me what I did last week?

  I read last week’s post to see where I left off-- I guess it was supposed to rain the whole week and I thought I would just be sewing-- well, it didn’t and I wasn’t! We are having some beautiful days here in the 70s now and I was out more than I was in.

     I trimmed up what I am hoping is a raspberry bush, but could be a rather prickly, and now beautifully trimmed, weed. I settled the chicks into their coop-- very like getting your teenagers off to college. (Whew.) We did have heavy rain one night-- when we woke up in the morning the lake had risen about three feet and our boat was about to say goodbye. A tree held it back-- the shoreline is a good six feet beyond where you see the boat out there. Watching the water level go up and down is very entertaining in the boonies!

      My sewing projects moved along at the usual baby steps pace. Zen of Sewing was released-- I'm really happy with it. It did take the predicted three stitch outs to get it right. I want to make something fabulous out of my quilt block, but like so many things, it's in the "maybe someday" pile for now.

      I got the first charm pack basket stitched out, and I was so hoping to keep it a simple one color design. Hmmm... what’s missing?

     Yep, flowers! The artist in residence said, “Mom, you really weren’t going to make a basket without flowers, were you?” Well I was, but now I'm not! It definitely needs something in there. Any ideas? Simple, but sensational?

   I’ve been getting a Starflower done about every other night for the last Sew Sampler box project. Here's my collection so far: 

      I did get my background fabric in, along with backing and binding from the same collection. 

   The theme this month is “Garden” and I'm just using the fabric, not the pattern included in the box. So the idea in my head is "Meadow Floor" and it's a bit of an experiment...  do you see the similarity between these two things? 

     I'm really having fun making it, but I'm still not crazy about the fabric. I've spent extra $$ for additional fabric on the last three boxes. This one I'm not sure I should have-- again, I love the layout, and I can't wait to see how my oval border idea turns out. The fabric is a total meh. For the May box, I’m going to try to stick more with the project and fabric given. Does everything have to be so fancy all the time?

      Prairie Meadow has gotten a shot of renewed determination! I’m trying to get a block done every two weeks. Do you think I can do it? I don’t. I'm not waiting until all the pieces are prepped and pinned to start sewing each block. On my bed by my birthday, is the mantra playing over and over in my head. Three months. This is Block 8 of 12.

     So that’s about everything from last week. I feel like I need something new to talk about, or maybe what's missing is more of a new direction and/or major goal. It’s definitely that spring fever time of the year-- restlessness and excitement, without the excitement in my case, heehee. I can tell from the online activity across all the platforms as well, the sewing season is winding up. I'm just going to keep on with the things in front of me, until the next great idea comes along.

xoxo
Carol