Free Embroidery Patterns, Blues Courthouse Steps, Pond Views

  I'm always the first one up in the house and most mornings that gets to be my time...to walk Ned first and then go back out alone with my camera, sit by the pond, fingers and toes crossed that some special bird or other critter will appear just for me. That is also my time to mentally count my blessings. That bit makes me think of the lines of the old hymn...Count your blessings, name them one by one, and then it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Anybody else sing that when young?? I remember singing this in a United Church junior choir eons ago and being happy when it was added to the hymn list rather than another of the stodgy, mournful hymns. 

Pond views

SIL mowed the path around the pond...this year's tick count is 4...two bites but all okay- caught early. Having this mowed is a big help. It's such a great spot for a good think. 

This was the first summer in the 7 years I've been here,
I did not have to run a hose to refill this vernal pool/pond. A sure sign of all the extraordinary rainfall this summer. 

It is haying season here in Ontario and I snapped this photo of a nearby field. This is a common sight in our area.

Ned is bored by photo shoots. He moved into the screen just as I took this shot... resting his head awfully close to that bowl of plums and strawberries. I realized I hadn't shown the little tabletopper that got finished last month so here's a final look. 

And here are various sashings for a number of projects in the queue to be completely finished.  The greenish ones, not at all the true colour, actually the darker green as in the photo above, are now in use on the Solidarity quilt. Just goes to show how off the lighting is for photos in the sewing room.

I did not meet my goal  way back in June's OMG at Elm Street Quilts. That was to get the Blue Courthouse Steps blocks all stitched. I did get to add to them but that still makes it only about a third of the way done. I've stitched four more blocks so this is going to take a little more time at this rate but that's all good as I'm still concentrating on the long time WIP's. 

Here I've decided to swap out the lighter yellows and oranges for ones with more oomph. I like the stronger contrast with the blues. 

Cooler temperatures recently and I noticed our wild crab apple tree has a few blooms that have turned. Apple Blossoms are so beautiful. They are the state flower of Arkansas and Michigan. At Turkey Feathers in the side bar you'll find a link to the free download for all 50 State flowers embroidery patterns including, of course, the apple blossom.

Lots to keep me happily busy and I hope it is likewise with you. 

Also happy to link with It's a Small Town Life, My Quilt Infatuation, Alycia Quilts, So Scappy and Quilt Fabrication. 

Free Patterns, FPP Blues Blocks, Turkey Talk

We wonder if this is Tilly, our lone female turkey who has been wandering through every now and then over the years. She had many more poults and sadly is down to two. But these look healthy and hopefully will be able to fly soon and thereby avoid certain predators. Their feathers have such beautiful markings.

Last weekend stitching added to my FPP Courthouse Steps blue blocks. I stitch three at a time and that's about the limit of time I can handle at the machine in one sitting.   LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is to do with fairs and festivals. Fall Fairs are the thing here and I've spoken about them already. But do pop over to her post and read about wonderful fair and festival memories folks are sharing. 

Free Patterns this week... I seem to be drawn to scrappy projects.

Debbie at Piecing the Past Quilts is running another free BOM called Grandma's Scrap Basket.  So pretty and who doesn't have scraps. I like the way this uses interplay between light and dark fabrics. And I would be interested in embroidering that border. 

I've remembered  Planted Seed Designs and their page of free patterns. So pretty like this one called Chinese Checkers.

And at Days Filled With Joy, Susan has started her free Christmas in July stitch along-will be lovely little motifs to embroider like her other SAL's, I'm sure. 

And this happened...

 Recently I'd had my grocery order rung through, I'd pushed my cart a little away from the line and paused to put away my glasses and secure my wallet, etc.  I glanced up and saw a woman waiting on me ...I was blocking her way. I immediately said so sorry and hurried to move my cart. She smiled and said that's okay, no problem at all which was nice but it was her tone that got me.  All the way to the car I thought of it...the way she spoke was like I was a doddery 5 year old who didn't know better. Has this ever happened to you? I didn't take this seriously, mind you, and Tony and I had a little laugh about it when I got home. A sign of my times I guess. 

Hope your weekend times will be wonderful!

Sharing this post with It's a Small Town Life, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Life in Pieces, Songbird Designs, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Creations Art Quilts.

Hand Quilting, Free Patterns, Fair and Bird Sounds

 I step out on the veranda quite often during the day. Sometimes to smell the air with the hope that it is clear enough (free of smoke) to take a walk. But I always stop awhile and listen. Summer's song is still strong...birds tweeting and singing. Occasional squirrel chitter or blue jay squawk. I tell myself to remember this in winter. My Dad became a little hard of hearing in older age and Mom always said how sorry she felt for him because he could no longer hear the songbirds singing. 

Speaking of which, the Song Sparrows are home building. This one had taken a bath in the bird bath then very industriously went about collecting dried grass bits. I watched it make many trips doing the same thing over and over; it must have liked the particular grass it was finding there between the stones. A heartening fact is that these tiny birds can live over ten years in the wild.

In the sewing room I am pleased with how I've used my time. I've been able to move a few projects forward and as we all agree, every stitch counts. The Rainbow Neighbourhood has been layered up and basted, ready for the quilting lines. I used the thinnest batting I had. Surprising though you can see through the layers in the light.

I really don't understand why the sashing fabric is just showing as white only. Here are the first hand quilting lines where you can see it clearly has enough black flecks to be noticeable.

I'm going to set getting the hand quilting on this done as my July OMG at Elm Street Quilts.

Here again is a photo of the three hand sewn blocks that didn't make it into the quilt. I'm wondering what to do with them.  I spied those leaves on the ground yesterday and they looked so much like the colour of the beautiful girl's dress in the Leighton painting seen here. They were wet at the time and just shone against the greens of the forest floor. I wonder did he take his inspiration from nature.

Commenter AnnetteJ told me this colour is called Saffron. Thanks Annette!

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is about county/state fairs. Fall fairs are very common in this area of Ontario. In addition to the special rides and food venues, they include farming attractions such as tractor hauls, horse and wagon rides, and various farm animal shows. 

The longest running fall fair in Ontario (with Covid interruptions) is in the little town of Richmond not far from here. I attended it for awhile and older grandson went every year with his dad while growing up. One time when the fair had just started, I was driving him-5or 6 years old at the time, and he asked me to pull over, stop and lower the windows. He said he just wanted to hear the fair. So we sat there while he took in the sounds of the rides, music, folks talking and laughing, animals neighing, etc. Fair sounds are happy sounds that's for sure.

Any special memories about fairs you would like to share?  How about the food? You know I love reading about food. :D

My scraps are mounting and I'm looking about for scrappy projects and that in turn leads me to patterns to share with you.

At Prairie Moon Quilts you will find a bank of  great free patterns. I've marked the Happy Tree block. Shelley is also the writer behind The Life of Hazel Ilene blog that I read and loved. At that post you can find the link to her free download of another vintage style Apple Tree quilt block. Another that uses small scraps and I love it too.

And an aside to this is I embroidered the blocks for Hazel's Summer Wildflowers, a free stitchalong quite a while back; mine eventually made it to a quilt flimsy stage.

 Here is one of the blocks...I loved stitching this- the fancy version as Shelley called it. Here is the link to Block 1. The free downloads are still available!

Hope your week has been a good one and your weekend will be even better!!

Happy to link up with The Inquiring Quilter, Kathy's Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Alycia Quilts, The Quiltery and So Scrappy.

Free Patterns, Blue Courthouse Steps, Rosy Garden

 The rose bushes are all in bloom. This year the first blooms opening up were tinged by pink because of the cooler temperatures we had had when they were buds...low single digits overnight and staying cooler during the day. 

These hardy bushes will bloom all summer and into October as I noted last fall. The bees love them too. I must look where I could purchase more of them. 

Sitting waiting for grandson one day, I watched the chinstrap Canada Geese stand about in parking lot puddles. It was very hot that day and they just stood there looking a little sad. By the end of the day, all the puddles had dried up and the geese were gone too. More of them are not trekking further north like they normally would do. 

That day was such a busy and sweltering one we opted to visit the neighbourhood drive in, the Crispy Spud, to pick up supper. Family run and so friendly. They make great hamburgers with fresh meat not frozen and poutine as well. 

The measuring, cutting and stitching sashings for the house project is once again top priority this week. 

Below are a few more blue courthouse steps blocks which is like fun stitching in comparison to the houses.

. No overly exact measuring required and just have to follow the straight lines on the foundation papers. I like the look of them together; much brighter than I had thought they would be. Seeing them together like this is helpful as perhaps I need more darks now in the next blocks. I didn't want this quilt to be too dark. 

I keep coming across great free patterns that I must share with you.

First up is  Avlea Embroidery where Krista shares sweet little cross stitch and embroidery designs and some that are free as well. She offers many of her designs as kits and they are beautiful. I have my eye on the beginners embroidered Peloponnesian Pomegranate kit that comes with its own beechwood hoop. Here is a sample of her work which would make a sweet edging. 

Krista also provides several lovely How To Videos. 

And I couldn't resist sharing this one...Fruity Grapes from Fave Quilts. Some of us have been trying our hand at paper pieced hexagons. This placemat is a fun idea for using them. 

That reminded me of strawberries which will be ripening soon in July here in Ontario. There are numerous strawberry patterns to be found online. Here is just one from My Patchwork World where  Hatun Comak leads us through how to sew this strawberry mini quilt. 

There are loads of interesting patterns from many designers to be found at that link.

My week is off to a good start and keeping very busy both inside and outside will be part of it. Thursday we have appointments and will be dropping several bags of clothes and goods at the thrift store along the way. It will feel good just to have that stuff gone. I'm including in that lot a number of quilting and cross stitch books that I bought at thrift stores over the years. I'm finally realizing I can't make all the the things! 

          Hope everything is rosy in your garden!

Sharing with these happy creative folks...Songbird Designs, Wendy's Quilts and More,  So Scrappy and Alycia Quilts.

Courthouse Steps in Blues, Mail, Hand Injury

 Days flying by... June already which is crazy. We broke a weather record for heat yesterday. The former high was 29C and we had it 39C (102F) here in the Ottawa Valley. That is extreme, but no humidity thankfully. We pulled the drapes and halted the outside chores.  

Look at how quickly all the leaves have opened!

LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color's prompt this week is what is our favourite ice cream flavour. Mine is Haagen-Dazs' Salted Caramel. I can't have it in the house. I do not have a sweet tooth but this is delicious to me...maybe it's the salt against the sweet. So what would be your favourite?  Do you like your ice cream slightly melted like I do? I think the all time favourite is still vanilla.  Quick question...I've heard Rocky Road flavour originated in Australia. True?

Mail Call

A lot of ads for this product below kept showing up on my Facebook feed. I took the online test to determine which shade would be best for me. I normally just need the lightest/palest of anything.  I wondered about the texture and whether it would feel greasy on my face. It doesn't at all. The first day I wore it, when daughter came over she said you look nice and I wondered if this new face balm was the reason. :) Bobbi Brown's Jones Road tinted moisture balm. Here is a link. Not affiliated. 

And my copy of Quiltmania, Issue 155, arrived.  A pretty summer edition. Folks who have access to Dutch prints are so lucky as they are the prettiest of florals it seems. 

I'm working on a house in reds for the Rainbow Neighbourhood QAL. And I've made a start on a lap quilt for SIL.  I'm using blues and a traditional red in the middle for heart of the home. I'm also including light yellows and deep orange bits for sunrise, sunset. He is busy from sunrise to sunset...never stops so a little nod to all that he does and hopes/wants to do. These blocks are foundation paper pieced Courthouse Steps and machine stitched of course. Lighter blues show off the darker nicely. Going to link up with  So Scrappy.

I'm enjoying including some of the thrift store men's shirts material in these. Can you spy them? I'm making this a goal for June...to have all the blocks sewn. Linking with Elm Street Quilts.

I had a small injury on Monday. I was carrying an armload of pool stuff down concrete steps in the back when the dogs swept by me a little too close. I moved my body to avoid them and that took me down to my knees on the step. Somehow I hurt my left ankle and saved myself from falling all the way down with my right hand. The ankle was only momentarily aching but my right hand didn't fare as lightly. I have two fat fingers...middle and ring. That has affected my grasp which hurts as well when I bend them. But they are fine just a little sore. I've been more worried about the hand stitching which turns out to be okay, just a little slower than usual. It could have been so much worse so I am feeling very thankful this week. Thankful as well that I have a high threshold of pain which has stood me well over the years.  Update Friday...hand feels fine and the ring finger knuckle is still a little swollen, can't wear a ring. Wow, when I look at those steps... I was so lucky...

Please all of you, stay upright and have a great weekend!

Also thankful for linky parties like Quilting is More Fun Than Housework, Songbird Designs and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Completely Done Year, A Finish, Stitchy Purchase, Free Patterns

I declare every Sunday Pyjama Day here at the Wooden House. It is also my very slow stitching day (cross stitching) and also photo day, time to go through more of my bank of photographs and delete or save. I'm finding the older the photos, the greater my willingness to axe them. 

Speaking of cross stitching, my stitchy purchase last month was a pattern called The Jack Rabbit from Cottage Garden Samplings. That link will take you to their A Year in the Woods series, a group of 12 designs featuring mostly woodland creatures.  And if Rabbit goes well, I will definitely want to stitch the fox.  Since I encounter lots of rabbits (and foxes are around too) here on the trails... I thought it would be fun to be stitching a memento and a change from the sampler style I'm currently stitching as well. It's all about those ears with this one!

                    

 I'm happy to say that Courthouse Steps Quilt is a finish, at long last.   It is a little more square than I wanted but it is single bed size or a very ample lap quilt. This will be a gift next Christmas.  Machine foundation paper pieced and very enjoyably hand quilted. It was my OMG for February and my Acer has been acting up which is my reason for not posting in time. 

Down in the sewing room, when I've warmed it up enough to manage, I've good news. I've finally worked out how to stitch my Summer Wildflowers   embroideries into a sampler. I unstitched all the fabrics I had them in ( a night's work that) and chose a completely different palette. One with soft colours and tiny prints. Many of you recommended this approach so thank you very much!

 

This way the embroidered bits can really shine.  I can see that now; why I didn't see it before is a mystery. So I've been measuring and cutting- keeping it all very simple. I like how it's working out so far. I'm putting each one into its own pretty "frame".  I'm going to set this as my Elm Street Quilts OMG for March and hopefully that will keep me on track. TO DO this week will be getting these blocks all framed. Then I will enter into discussions with myself on how to quilt it. 

 You can download all the free patterns for this stitchalong and others here at Shelley's blog, The Life of Hazel Ilene. Thank you Shelley!

I do enjoy being up close with the fabrics. Perhaps it is really all about the fabrics for me. I love looking at the motifs and the feel of the material in my hands.  It is enjoyable then to ply a needle stitching through it. You too?

I also love getting another UFO to the finish line! 2022 is a completely done year for me, in more ways than one. 

Thank you all for sharing your memories of Woolworth's Shopping and the Lunch Counter in response to my last post.  For the record, I remember having Coke Floats and fries at the Corner Brook, Newfoundland Woolworth's as a very special treat, usually on Report Card day. 

Hope you are finding enjoyment in the stitching journey this week too!

Linking with The Texas Quilt Gal, Quilt Fabrication, My Quilt Infatuation, Life in the Scrapatch, Powered By Quilting and The Inquiring Quilter. 

Shopping A Bargain, Project Roundup, OMG, New Scrappy Patterns

I must mention how much I appreciated your marvelous comments and emails on the the Sliding Post. I heard from so many folks all over the world who shared their sledding memories, some so special with tales of brothers or sisters or the whole family hitting a town's local sliding hill.  It made me so happy (and sometimes gave me a tear) to read these wonderful little vignettes of childhood times well spent in fresh air and safe fun. Thank you all!

I know where the hills are definitely covered in snow and that is the whole Eastern Seabord.  A huge Nor'easter blew all the way up the east coast and even reached into the Maritime provinces in Canada. Our little deep freeze has lessened and we too have a forecast of snow for midweek which is what happens here when it "warms" up. 

I cannot say how badly I want to start a new scrappy project!  Halo is on my mind probably because I bought the templates for it. I'm also thinking of  Glitter, which I have the book it is in.  Both are Jen Kingwell patterns and beckoning to me with not just a finger but the whole arm!

 I've been gathering a few modern fabrics for these as I would like to be somewhat current and in line with how Jen uses colours and prints in her work. 

I love Sentimental Stitches. I've purchased a 2022 program from Gay called Little Blocks 4.5; they are foundation paper pieced blocks. So far I'm downloading the patterns.  Gay also has a cache of free patterns and BOM's well worth checking out, btw.

But all that lovely stuff aside, I'm holding fast and finishing two current projects. My OMG for January was to finish the QAYG Courthouse Steps which I very nearly did. I am binding it now and that is surprising me with how large it is. Taking absolute ages to finish a side! 

I settled on this for the binding, a tiny print black on white. Sort of neutral and goes well with the red.  The grey is my soiled ironing board cover.

 I'll have to carry on with this and make it my OMG for February at Elm Street Quilts too. I have one side left to finish. Handling it on the machine felt like I was mauling it to death but other than loosening the odd pucker and it taking so long, it is all going well. Now not show worthy or anything like that, but passable. LOL

A little shopping...

Before I forget and while this is on an excellent sale.,,  I'd ordered one for myself when it was almost half price and I liked it so much I ordered two for the daughters.  Very light and also very warm. The Eddie Bauer Fireside Plush Pullover. Mine is in teal. (Not affiliated just sharing something I love).

I know Nanette at A Passionate Quilter From Texas mentioned this recently  but I've had a lot of questions about cross stitching so thought I'd share it as well. The fabulous Fat Quarter Shop is offering cross stitching lessons from Kimberly on their Floss Tube channel. 

And this wonderful free PDF design below. They call their program Cross Stitch University and you can even buy a t-shirt.

TO DO this week besides the above quilting project, is finish crocheting the border on Yuletide Blanket, 

 and finish the border on the Lilies hanging. I'm using a herringbone stitch which I'm loving the look of. More about that next time.

I have Robbie here for the day as his school has a PA Day so we will be outdoors roaming about very soon. 

Hope your Tuesday is going great!

Sharing this post with Texas Quilt Gal, Life in the Scrapatch, Wendy's Quilts and More, The Inquiring Quilter, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Quilt Fabrication.

Free Patterns, Small Topper Finish, Choosing Binding for Courthouse Steps

January 31, 1948

Sledding hills are open around the capital region and it always reminds me of all the "sliding" as we called it I did every winter growing up in wintry Corner Brook. Our "hill" was right outside my house, a dead end road so no traffic.  The year I got my own five seater toboggan for Christmas was memorable. Someone was always on the back with me. I loved every minute. And I can't help but think what marvelous exercise we all got traipsing back up the hill countless times on a Saturday afternoon. My Mom is in this story too because it was always wonderful to go inside to the warmth of the house and good smells coming from the kitchen. Saturday's supper was usually soup (often pea) with homemade bread and gingerbread with custard sauce for dessert. ( In those days in Newfoundland, there seemed to be set meals for each day of the week and these were pretty much the same all over the province. A fact I learned when I went to university in St. John's and stayed in residence with girls from around the province.)

Stitching News

Janet Winkel at The Spruce Crafts has collated this marvelous group of 14 free quilt patterns. Design a Quilt With These Free Block Patterns. #10, the Bento Box  caught my eye.

Thinking of Valentines coming up- another site I enjoy browsing, By the Bay Needleart, offers this free pdf pattern. Love is the Key. I think that is a major truth in all things in this life. John Lennon got it right.

I was very happy with this fat quarter bundle I received from  Missouri Star Quilt Company. I'm quite low on blender style fabrics and these will be pressed into service right away. Very delicate motifs on whites and creams. Hush by Riley Blake.

This little topper is finished. I tried various colours for the binding but I thought the black picked up on the moons the best of all and went with that in the end. Machine stitched to the front then hand stitched around the back. 

That's a dying Christmas poinsettia I took from Daughter's house to see if I could revive it somehow. Wish me luck!

 This is what is on my TO DO list this week and will be getting the most attention. I think of this as a "real" quilt as it is destined for a bed. 

It is my Elm Street OMG for January and is now very close to a finish. Discussing with myself...what to bind it with. I've been trying out a number of fabrics as you can imagine and I don't have much that would have enough yardage to get around this size for it is large. Happy dilemmas!

Rose Marie at Applique 'n Patch Quilting finishes each of her marvelous posts with 

Cherish your day, Cherish your life!

Sharing this post with Texas Quilt Gal, Life in the Scrapatch, Quilt Paint Create, Alycia Quilts and My Quilt Infatuation.

Pretty Messes, Snowmen Embroidery, Improv Hearts, Sewing Room Snacks

 Neddy walked, fire made, coffee being sipped....everything tickety boo here at the wooden house this November Sunday morning. 

It's been rainy and misty down at the little pond with icy edges lately. Last year's photo but ditto for this morning's walk.

Here is the pretty scrappy mess in the sewing room this weekend.  Besides the mess, I'm creating more layered slabs for hand quilting later on. 

Oh and my nuts. I keep nuts down there for a snack.  I confess I have sometimes kept less healthy things tucked away there too. Do you do that? What might you have tucked away in your sewing cupboards to eat???

And here is a UFO from last winter I've dragged out for some slow stitching finishing in December, which is just two weeks away. EEK. Please tell me time is moving fast for you all as well, not just me. 

These are Kathy Schmitz's Snowbound Snowmen project that I enjoyed embroidering very much. I started on a layout for them but later didn't like it. So changing that up is my plan for this winter.

This is so pretty. Improv Pieces of My Heart by Australian designer, Wendy Williams.  

Here is a link to the post where you can watch Wendy's video showing how she created this piece and you can too. I'm very tempted to give it a try. 

Wendy is the designer behind the recent BOM called Color My World. I have been following The Knitting Quilter,  Rosemary's  progress as she works her way through the monthly patterns.  You can see her wonderfully precise skyscrapers here.

All the pretty things to stitch and dream about stitching.  Sustaining! Also sustaining me, your wonderful and interesting comments. I appreciate hearing from you so much. So do share what you snack on while stitching. 😋

Happy to share this post with Kathy's Quilts, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Love Laugh Quilt, The Inquiring Quilter and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.