December's First Slow Stitching Sunday

December seems to have arrived while I wasn't looking, after being ill with the flu and viral infection for a few weeks the days tend to run together and before I knew it I was turning the page on my calendar.  I am happy to say I am feeling much better not quite 100% but very close and I'm back to my hand embroidery with a clear head. 

I finished the 3rd house block for the I Love Home series by Jacqueline Steves, so now I need to print off and trace block 4 which is the last block for the project. https://jacquelynnesteves.com/

I have two new embroidery projects  in the works. One project has been printed onto the Pellon Stitch N Washway stabilizer and affixed to the fabric and await stitching. I love using this when I have a piece with a lot of detail like the greenman pattern below, it's much easier to print the pattern onto the product that way I don't miss any of the details, which I have done in the past.

The first project is another Greenman piece, he is being worked on unbleached cotton muslin which I am also using for backing the piece for more stability. I think this is the 6th Greenman I'm doing.

Greenman from Urban Threads

This Greenman pattern is another from Urban Threads, I have quite of few of their patterns this one can be found here: http://www.urbanthreads.com/products.aspx?productid=UTH1590 

I was out and about a few days ago dropping off a bag of donations at one of my favorite thrift shops and decided to browse for a few minutes, I'm so glad I did I stumbled upon a great find I nearly missed 50 packages of Mill Hill beads and 6 charms, all sealed packets for $5.00.

I thought how serendipitous since I signed up to take part in the 2018 Crazy Quilt Journal Project, I'm sure some of my embellishing will include some beads.  Registration is open until December 31 here is the link if you are interested in taking part and signing up:   https://crazyquiltjournalproject2018.blogspot.com/p/crazy-quilt-journal-project-2018.html

The thrift shop where I found the beads is the same shop I found spools and spools of velvet ribbons and all kinds of lace trim a year or so ago.  I wonder if there is a crazy quilter in the vicinity.  I am linking my post today over at Kathy's Quilts come over and have a look at what other bloggers are slow stitching today https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2017/12/slow-sunday-stitching.html

A future project coming up will involve embroidering these blocks by Darlene Zimmerman for Robert Kaufman's Windowsill Garden collection, there are eight blocks and I decided to do both the colors and the redwork blocks.

in colors

all red

I like to have something at hand for when I get tired of working the same project or the tedious use of one color which will happen when I begin stitching the Greenman. 

'I Love Home' and Slow Stitching on Sunday

Autumn weather has finally arrived to north central Florida, the early mornings and evenings have been much cooler and this week we are supposed to have a cold front come in and evening temps are to be in the mid forties, if only.

This week I stopped in at Brick City Cross Stitch to pick up some embroidery floss and an issue of the Country Register, a lovely periodical listing various needlework, quilting shops and events going 
on throughout Florida, if you visit local yarn, quilt or needlework shops you are probably familiar with the Register which is available throughout the US and Canada the content is the same the only change is the cover and shops and events which are region specific.  Recently the register was re-named as the Florida Register, other states have also renamed the paper happily it still has the same great content.

I have been picking up copies for years, its where I discovered the creative work of Jacquelynne Steves, for years I have clipped out or scanned her free pattern designs included in each issue,  I signed up at her website a while back and I am currently working on her I Love Home project which consist of 4 house blocks with the option to either applique or hand embroider them, I chose to embroider them but I am thinking of making applique blocks too. It's not to late to join in the fun.  You can check out her site here https://jacquelynnesteves.com/

I came late to the party so to speak so I am working the blocks backwards here is block number 3 with just about all the embroidery done.

I still have to finish the window trim and the flower then I'll start block two, I joined the Facebook group too and I just love seeing the different ways these blocks are being made.  In between the 3 house blocks I plan to work on this latest pattern a cute little pumpkin that was included in the current issue.

If you don't have access to the Country Register you can get the pattern right from the Jacquelynne Steves website https://jacquelynnesteves.com/   just click the link and follow the instructions or pop on  over to see the wonderful things she has made with another pumpkin pattern.

On another note yesterday afternoon I was able to snap a photo of  one of the ever elusive cardinals that enjoy the trees and shrubs in my yard.

a quiet perch

scratching an itch

still sitting pretty

I was thrilled to get the photos and thankful for the zoom lens on my camera otherwise I'm sure I would have only gotten a flash of wing as the bird took flight.  On the Ocala Rocks front I found two more painted rocks and have since hid them in a new area for someone else to find.

lady bug

car

I love finding these cute little rocks as soon as I spot one I know exactly what it is and a big smile hits my face.

This photo is of a spiderweb I snapped early on Friday morning while taking out the trash can to the curb.

It still has the morning dew and for once I noticed it before walking into it and getting a face full of web which usually happens.

I mentioned above that I visited the Brick City Cross Stitch shop on Friday to pick up some floss and the Register I also picked up a sweet little kit and a few pieces of hand dyed fabric.

I love overdyed embroidery floss Weeks Dye Works and Gentle Arts are two of my favorites.

I love this little kit though my cross stitch skills are not great I think I can manage to work the kit.

I will be linking my post today to Kathy's Quilts https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2017/10/slow-sunday-stitching_22.html

UPDATE Monday October 23rd
I am happy to say I spent most of Sunday evening doing embroidery and I have finished block 3 of the I Love Home project.

I will start working block 1 or 2 later today and hope to have them both done before block number 4 is released.  One of these days I hope not to be late to join in on these stitch along projects. I will be linking at Super Mom No Cape today follow the link to see what other bloggers are embroidering today.
 https://www.supermomnocape.com/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-133/