When was the last time you thanked the moon?

I've always loved the moon. Of course, I was just a kid when mankind visited this celestial sphere, but I remember! I watched it at our neighbour's house. They were the first people on the block to get a colour television. Okay, so I'm dating myself! ;o) Ironically, the event was in black in white! lol

I've been watching a documentary on the History Channel via Netflix called The Universe. That's how I get a lot of hand work done. There's nothing like getting an education while working on some hand projects. I'm the queen of multi-tasking, but I'm digressing..... ;o)

Anyway, come to find out that had it not been for our moon, this earth would be in a big mess! I learned so much about the positive benefits of the moon's gravitational pull and I'm not just talking about tides here! ;o) Next time you look up to the heavens, be thankful! This planet we call earth and it's surroundings is truly amazing!

On the quilting front, I've been scheduling play dates with Penelope.

This weeks lesson, cross hatching!

It's a lot harder than it looks! It's challenging to say the least!

I'm positive I have some warpies going on here! But, I won't show you where they are! lol

I've had this little reproduction quilt top done for a while, waiting to schedule some time to quilt it! I'm hoping to have it finished today so that I can show it to you as a finish!

Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy the day! Cheers!

Another finish.....!

Some of you have been asking about the renovations. There are coming along nicely. We are moved back into the living room. What remains is the dinning room.

As I've mentioned in a prior post, I'm just pleased that the hot water heating system is up and running. Let me explain!

Have I ever mentioned how Stephen and plumbing do not mix? As talented as Stephen is in many fields, plumbing just doesn't work for him. Oh, he can do it, it's just that .... well ..... we all pay for it before, during and after. The last time he touched plumbing, I firmly informed him that he had 2 (two) choices, either we hire a plumber or a lawyer! lol

Thankfully I do not need to hire either, as my favourite brother, has he likes to be known, graciously offers to do any plumbing that needs to get done in the house. Now you know why I am so pleased that we have heat! lol

Hubby has been busy taking care of the finishing trim, and there is lots of it!

We have crown molding in both the dinning room and living room! The lower part of the walls will have wainscoating!

On the quilting front....

I finished Rural Jardin, a Moda pattern by French General. It's another free pattern and you can access it here.

I used both Rouinerie and Rural Jardin fabric line by French General. Both lines are available at Fibre Junction.

I used the Plumage panto on this quilt and I really like how it turned out!

I love a scallop border, I don't know why I do not make more quilts with scallops! It is a pain to mark, ruler or not, but so worth it once it's completed!

I use the Large Scallop Radial Rule from Katie Lane Quilts to mark my scallops. The ruler does make it easier.

Thanks for stopping by! Keep well!

The beauty of it all......!

It is hard to believe that fall is quickly approaching! The leaves on some of the trees have already started to turn their magnificent colours.

Here last week we had the most amazing sight!


The picture does not do it justice! The colours were so vibrant!
I hadn't seen a double rainbow since I don't know when! I cannot say, "since I was a kid" because, well I don't think I've grown up yet. lol

Adulthood is so over rated, who needs it! ;o)

I love nature!

Speaking of nature, our vegetable garden has been quite productive this year.

Last year, the tomato blite claimed most of our potential harvest. Thankfully this year it has not been the case. There is nothing like a fresh home grown tomato! Beats store bought anytime!

Hubby has been busy drying, as our supply of garden fresh sun dried tomatos has been exhausted.

On the quilting front, you will be astonished at the amount of quilting I have been doing! It's always a great feeling when you have completed a project!

Tah dah!

Machine quilted and all! Yes, I've been enjoying play dates with Penelope!

The pattern is called Park Avenue by 3 Sisters. It's a free pattern on the Moda site under the Fun Stuff heading. You can access the pattern here.

There's something to be said for a quilt that does not have borders. It's probably psychological, but it feels like a quick finish! ;o)

It will make a nice sample for the shoppe!

Thanks for stopping by! Keep well!

Friendship and stitchn' away ....!

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful privilege of meeting a blogging friend.

We had planned a trip visit to my in-laws in Massachusetts. As you all know by now, they live close to one of my favourite quilt shops. What a perk!

Anyhow, that Saturday, The Quilted Crow was hosting their monthly Breakfast Club. I thought perhaps Linda, from A Simple Life, would like to join me, and she did. What a wonderful time we had! So much so that we went to a coffee shop to continue our visit! I so enjoyed her company!

A couple of weeks ago I received this lovely note from Linda.

I am so glad that we had a change to meet in person.

Wow! Now I have two perks for when I visit my in-laws! lol

Thank you again Linda for your company!

On the renovation front, we've moved back into our living-room! Yea! Oh and the heat is functional again. You just never know in the north! lol

Now, I did mention in my prior blog entry that I have been stitchn' away! ;o) Well, get a load of this!

Voila! Block 7 (seven) of Hocuspocusville!


Have I shown you block 8(eight) yet?


I'm telling you those 2 (two) little thimbles are marvelous! I can go on for days on end! It's great!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm off to do some more hand embroidery! You never know, I may have that quilt done by Halloween!

Cheers!

I've been a stitchin' fool.....

Last week was one of those weeks where solutions to problems just seemed to come. You see, I've been bothered by the fact that I was limited on the time I could spend hand embroidering.

For some reason, when it comes to hand embroidering, I find using a normal thimble cumbersome. So, the finger I use to push the needle would develop a small surface hole that's quite tender and the middle finger underneath my work would get scraped by the point of the needle, thus becoming sore.

You would think after years of hand embroidering I would get callouses rendering this a none issue, but that is not the case.

It was time for a solution!

It dawned on me that we had these little Thimble Pads at the Fibre Junction. So, I gave them a try!

They work beautifully! They are not cumbersome and thus allow me to push my embroidery needle through.

I was impressed!

They last too! The adhesive works for a long period of time. I've been using one for the past 4 (four) days and it still sticks to my finger. As for the colour, well it sort of has picked up the colour of my thread - black!

Of course this didn't help the left hand issue, the one that's underneath my work. Sure I can alternate between fingers, but after a while they all get sore.

Ding, a light bulb came on!

Why don't I try the Under Thimble by the same company?

Picked that up at the Shoppe too!

It was my week off, but you wouldn't know it by the number of times I found myself at Fibre Junction! lol

Well, stuck one of these metal spheres on the other middle finger and gave it a try.

Took me a few minutes to get used too, but it's working great.

The needle scrapes the surface of the metal as opposed to my finger.

No more sore fingers!

Look out, I'm armed!

With these little thimbles on, I can stitch for days on end!

What a relief!

Now, try getting a 13 year old to take this picture? Yea, she wouldn't stop laughing! "Mommy..." lol

Of course I feel kind of funny myself when I show off my middle fingers with the thimbles on! LOL! Kids?!?!

I haven't tried the Under Thimble with hand applique yet, but I sure will give it a try. I'm hoping I can extend the time I spend hand appliqueing! When you're on a roll, it's nice to be able to keep the pace!

Tell me, do you get sore fingers when you work on your hand embroidery? Do you use a thimble? I'd love for you to share your method/tools!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!