Stitching in the New England heat wave!

Spent the heat wave at the canal watching my husband fish!

The sun was brutally hot, we only lasted an hour in the sun,

thankfully there was a bit of shade which made the

six hours of fishing

(2 bites, 1 snapped line, no dinner!)

a bit more enjoyable!

I was prepared! Brought along my latest

embroidery project

"Sun and Sea"

 by Sandi Bard Designs.

A very cute design of small children at the beach!

Using a variegated Sulky 12 wt thread #4014

it runs from a medium blue to  aqua 

very pretty and reminds me of the ocean!

To beat the heat at home

(thank you central air conditioning)

worked on outlining my applique,

it's a work in progress,

I've never done this before so

there is a bit of a learning curve going on!

Enjoying the process!

Block 10 and 11 of Winter Taupe Quilt

Slowly the blocks are getting done!

Block #10

Block #11

Winter Taupe Block #8 completed

Today was a beautiful day at the Canal,

the sun was out, the boats were going back and forth,

I worked on block #8,

the only thing missing were the fish!

My poor hubby - no fish for him today!

Yippee ... finished block #8

(bad picture ~ sorry)

I know I said I wouldn't start anything new until

 all of the UFO's in my bucket were finished.....

Well since block #8 was done and we were

still fishing (not me just hubby!)

I had to do something!!

Technically this is a UFO since I traced out the

sampler pattern onto the fabric over a year ago!

Once done it will be a small table runner.

 Love Sashiko.

I find the stitching very relaxing...

now if only the wind would cooperate!

Block #4 of my Taupe Winter Quilt

Here is the fourth block of my Taupe Winter Quilt

only ten more to go!!

Block #2 completed

Snow Days Quilt

Block #2 is completed!

I am loving this variegated floss Cosmo #8049 Seasons by Lecien

Here is the pattern by Crabapple Hill.

My fingers are itching to start in on the pieced blocks...

but I have a few UFO's to complete...

First on the list is my daughter's high school t-shirt quilt

she is now a sophmore in college! and has been patiently waiting for her quilt!

It's getting there!!

Birdie Stitch Blocks....

I have just finished my 12 Birdie Stitch blocks!

Since I LOVE blue birds....

I stitched my Birdies in blue and a red/pink color!

Here they are....

For the pattern check here

I just loved these way too cute little birdies!

Now onto deciding what to sash and boarder them with???

Hmmm... time to go Stash Shopping!

I just love swimming in fabric!

If  I'm not back soon - I've drowned in my fabric...

please send a quilty life raft!!

Another new project....

Yes I know ... I need another new (long term project)
like I need a hole in my head!!
But I just could not resist!! I'm a sucker for hand stitching.
I found this pattern from Crab-apple Hill

last year at A Quilter's Gathering and was just taken by the beauty of it.
This year I saw it again and made up my mind to jump in and get it started!

The pattern uses Seasons (#8049)Cosmo

embroidery floss by Lecien ... made in Japan.

I love this floss it is a variegated from a

light taupe/green to olive green to a darker silver muted evergreen color.

Absolutely beautiful!

Here is block #1

If you notice on the edges the pattern stops ....

Once it is sewn in next to a pieced block

 the embroidery will continue onto that pieced block!

I used two different stitches
the back stitch was used on the
 evergreen trees to give a fluffier look,
like they were covered with snow.
For everything else I used a running outline type stitch,
to give a thinner crisper look.

Fabric selection for the pieced blocks....
well it just had to be from my Japanese Taupe collection!!
 

I searched my stash of Japanese taupe's

and selected these for the project. 

I just love it all stacked up!

All though I hate to cut into these fabrics

I think this is the perfect project for them.

I want this quilt to hang in my dining room

during the winter months.

New England winters are full of cool crispy snowy air and

I think this quilt with these colors will be perfect!

I hope to have it done for next Christmas!