WIP Wednesday: Reindeer Applique

I'm still spending time on some top-secret projects, but when I get a chance, I spend a little time on this.  Now the antlers look more like antlers and all that's left are the trees and some of the leaves.  Maybe I'll get this done for this Christmas!  I hope so.  There are a couple of borders and then the quilting to do.  Fingers crossed.

I've been enjoying this voyage into needleturn applique.  I haven't tried it in a long time and I can see why so many people love it.  Not sure I'll always use it in the future, but I feel like it's something I have in my repertoire now.

Our tree this year is all cross-stitch ornaments and crochet snowflakes that I've made.  A lot of them have the year and one of the kids' names embroidered on the back.  When they each leave to start their own Christmas traditions they'll have a few ornaments to take with them.  I'll have to make some more for myself to refill my tree!  That's something to look forward to actually.  I'm trying to find every positive angle to the kids growing up and leaving the nest.

Linking up today with Freshly Pieced and Sew Fresh Quilts.

Slow Sunday Stitching

I've been working on my reindeer applique today.  It's been a busy few days with Thanksgiving and family events.  I hope to get a lot more done on this during the coming week.  I love how the layout is coming along so far.  After I get this layer stitched down there will be a layer of falling snow and snow on the trees, which I think I might do with wool.  Then after quilting there are a lot of buttons and bells to add.

Wasabi Girl took a class with me yesterday and we made good progress on some tuffets.  It was a lot of fun and I'll have pictures of those when we finish them up next week.

Linking up today with Kathy for Slow Stitching Sunday.

Design Wall Monday: Winter's Dream

This is what I'm working on today.  It's an old pattern from Robyn Pandolph and these are just the first few pieces.  It's called "Winter's Dream."  I'm going to do needleturn applique, which I need to practice more.

Happy to be working on another Christmas quilt.  I've just spent some time on instagram and found a lot of inspiration. 

Linking up today with Patchwork Times and Bits and Bobs.

Slow Sunday Stitching: Country Cottage for May

This is my project today.  I love the little basket of flowers.  I've decided houses are not my favorite applique shapes because its so hard for me to keep lines straight. I swear those windows were lined up perfectly when I glue-basted them.  This is cute though, and will look even cuter with the embroidery added.  After this, I just have one more block to do for this quilt and I can start putting it together.  The pattern is from Shabby Fabrics.

The next block for my month of Harry Potter Project of Doom show and tell is a mandrake!

This will get some embroidery too.  I'll add some squinty eyes and a big "O" for a crying mouth.

Linking up today with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sunday.

Call Me Snow White

I had a wonderful day. I stepped outside this morning to take out the trash and I smelled the ocean. We don't live very close, but when the wind is right, the fresh sea breeze is wonderful. It was especially nice after days of smelling smoke that's drifted from the fires in Northern California. I decided to take my applique project outside and enjoy the beautiful weather, the smell of the air, and the sound of birds.

As I sat down, I saw that there was already somebody in the yard; a little fawn resting in the shade.  I held up my applique for perspective on how close it was sitting.

The fawn considered me for a while,then stood up and walked off.  I continued stitching.

The next time I looked up, I had several visitors in the yard.  I took a quick little video.  My fawn had circled around and come to visit me over by my left elbow.

It was just a perfect moment.  I included my project in the video to hopefully give some perspective on how close they were. The quilt block is resting on my knee. 

They stayed nearby for quite a while and finally all three wandered off.  I started to get a bit hot in the sun so I returned indoors.

For an animal lover like me, this was the best day ever.

Slow Stitching Sunday: Sweetheart House #3

This is the third block for my "Sweetheart Houses" quilt.  I love the fabrics for this one.  I'm not ashamed to say that I'm all about girly pink flowers.  My inner child is so happy.  This block will have some embroidery added later and a cute button doorknob which I'll add after quilting.

This project is going to take a rest for a bit because it looks like it's time to put some work into my Autumn and Halloween projects!  Our weather is so beautiful, I'm not really ready for Fall to start.  The kids are busy with homework these days though, so it must be that time of year.

Today I'm joining Kathy at Kathy's Quilts for her linky party.  Lots of beautiful hand work there.  Follow the link to see.

If you are in the U.S., have a nice 3-day weekend!

Top 10 Hand Applique Tools

My applique kit is one of my favorite things.  I open it up and find a jumble of perfect tools to help me do hand applique.  Here is my list of top favorites.  This does not include the tools I use to prep applique pieces - I do that using several different methods.  This is just what I keep handy while I'm relaxing and stitching.  Clicking on the pictures will take you to the product pages at Amazon.

• Superior thread donuts.  Nice weight thread, strong, and every color I need.  I just pop the bobbins in and out and nothing ever gets unwound.  There are several sets of colors to choose from.

• Beeswax and thread heaven.  I use one or the other depending on my mood.  Both work wonderfully to help the thread glide and not fray.

• Needles.  Many styles for many moods.  I tend to use longer needles to help me sweep stray threads under.  Bohin Applique size 10 are a current favorite.  Maybe because I find them easy to thread.

• Glue stick.  Sometimes inside points want to put up a fight, so I stab the needle into the glue stick and sweep the tip of the needle under the threads.  It's just enough adhesive to help short threads stay in place while I stitch.

• Tweezers.  If I've prepped with freezer paper on the back side of fabric, the moment comes when the paper needs to be pulled out at the end.  I also find long black cat hairs all over my work and sometimes I need the tweezers to clean everything up.  I like a cheap one with a flat end.

• Embroidery scissors.   Sharp, fine-point, and cute.  I have a dozen pairs around the house but one always lives in my applique kit.

• Pins.  For days when I'm doing needle-turn or to hold pieces in place while I baste them.  I like Clover brand with a white head because they're easiest to see and hold.

• Pincushions.  I have one that fits on a finger if I'm moving a lot of pins in and out of a piece while I work.  Also a wrist pincushion that sits more than it gets worn.  I have found it too easy to stab myself in the wrist with that one.

• Thimble.  I don't use it often, but sometimes my finger gets sore or I find I'm going through extra layers.  I like a simple lightweight leather style, but I keep several different kinds handy.

•  Cocktail skewer.  This nicely shaped piece of plastic is another tool for pushing around fabric and tucking it under.  The picture links to the product, but it's more fun if you go out and get your own in a nice cold drink.

What are some other tools that you like to use while doing applique?  Help me find some new favorites to try!

The First Glimpse of Pumpkins

Here is the project I'm working on today.  Some of the leaves are wool, so you can see the basting still in the one in the upper right.  Now that I've taken a picture of it, the 5 looks a bit wonky.  It seems a little tilted.  This always happens to me, placement that looks great right under my nose looks a little off when I step back.

The pattern is "Cinderella Pumpkins" from Fig Tree Quilts.

The air is definitely cooler today, so pumpkin season can't be far.  I found these at Target yesterday: 

Pumpkin spice latte m&ms.  Definitely delicious.  I might have to go hoard a few bags to keep me going through the season.


Linking up today with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Crow Cushion

Wasabi Girl and I spent the weekend putting away all of the summer quilts and finding spots for all the fall quilts and decor.  I know it's still early in the season for crows on pumpkins, but I couldn't resist making this when I had some time today. The pattern is available at Thimble Creek.

And speaking of fall, I have a new favorite soap.  Did they have this scent before?

The smell is divine.  Goes with the pumpkin spice candles I already have out around the house.  Maybe they should just change the name of the season from fall to pumpkin spice.


Now I have the urge to make some pumpkin muffins.  Must be fall.

Needlework Tuesday: Benjamin Biggs quilt block 1 progress.

I wasn't going to get started with too many new projects this year, but I couldn't resist this big long quiltalong that is hosted by Sentimental Stitches and Dear Jane.  Not sure if I'll stick with it but I'll get at least a few of the blocks done.

Pictured above is just the first layer of the first block.  I decided to go with Kaffe fabrics instead of the more traditional red and green.  The historic quilt that this is based on looks like this:

Here's the link if you're interested in collecting the patterns and getting started.

I'm linking up today with Heather at Books and Quilts.