Slow Sunday Stitching

 I have finished my In Friendship Sampler. 

I took the last stitches in it on Friday. I started it after we moved up here to Muskoka and we’ve been here just over 2 months. Not bad considering there are a lot of tiny stitches in it. We went out to a local art store in Huntsville that does framing and I chose a frame for it. So once the frame comes in I can get it done and up on the wall. The last bit of stitching was this bird holding a strawberry in its mouth. 

That strawberry is done over 1 thread. This fabric was 36 count, which means there are 36 threads per inch. My 4x magnifying glasses were essential in doing this whole piece, but especially that strawberry.

While working on the In Friendship piece I set aside the Harbour Village from Victoria Sampler. I also had to order threads for this one since I ran out of the black and the white threads needed to do a lot of the buildings. I ordered those at the same time as the threads for In Friendship so they would be here when I needed them. I suspect I am going to need more of the black before this is done. Of course I could always substitute something else. I’ll wait and see what happens. I could probably use a cotton black in places where it is the only stitching. I also have some of the Onyx colour left from the In Friendship sampler which is a black with tones of grey in it that would work for some roofs. I’m on a don’t order anything unless absolutely necessary diet at the moment, so that might be the way to go.

This coming week has the potential to be a busy one. There are plans to go blueberry picking and then make some blueberry jam on Thursday and Friday. Our grand daughter was at day camp all last week so we had a good rest. I think I am going to continue that resting today and quietly stitch some more on my village. My dear friend Susan and her husband were able to drop in on their way out to the east coast. It was so good to see them after way too many years apart. So much to catch up on even though we keep in touch through facebook messenger. It isn’t the same, but it is so much better than when they first moved and we were dependent on snail mail letters or expensive long distance phone calls. (sigh)

I’m linking up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching.

Slow Sunday Stitching

 I’m continuing to work on the Friendship Sampler from my friend Charlene. I’ve made good progress this past week. Last week I was here. I’ve since finished the pond and the swan, along with the grass and the 2 ladies. The ladies are holding up a large cornucopia type thing with flowers in it which I will start today. This just might be finished in the next week or 2.

There isn’t a whole lot that’s new happening around here. We went to church this morning for the first time in over 6 months, so I guess that’s new. It’s outdoors on the lawn at the moment, which is lovely and also low risk on the virus scale. Our grand daughter is going to a day camp all this coming week, so we will have a bit of a vacation.

 I am hopeful for a visit from my dear friend Susan and her husband this week. They live in Alberta and are driving cross country in order to see family on the East coast. They are planning to stop by on their way. Another bonus of living here. We are only an hour or so south of the trans Canada Highway so it isn’t all that far out of their way. And they have to come down this way in order to get the highway to Ottawa. I haven’t seen her since Becca’s wedding which was over 11 years ago now, so that is very exciting.

I’m going to link up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching and then head out onto the porch for some lovely sunshine to go with my stitching.

Slow Sunday Stitching.

 I missed doing a blog post last week, and this week was looking iffy too. I got my second covid vaccination shot on Friday and it packed a bit of a punch with fever, headache and muscle aches. Thankfully it only lasted 24 hours and I’m now good to go, whenever there  is actually someplace to go to.

I have been doing a lot of stitching on the Friendship piece that Charlene gave me. When I last posted back at the end of June I was here. Since then I have finished the second house and done most of the grass and the path and the pond. There is a swan to go in the pond yet to do.

 I think I can safely say that this piece is at least 2/3rd finished. It will soon be time to think about finding a frame for it. This is going to be my occupation for the afternoon. It’s a lovely day so I will be spending it out on the porch. 

We are enjoying our new home, in spite of the seeming endless rain. I think I read a news report that said they have received several months worth of rain in the space of a couple of weeks. When we first moved up here the signs that are posted regarding forest fire risk were indicating that it was extreme. Now it is at low. And don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining about that at all. I know that people out in British Columbia and Alberta would be very grateful for the rain. But mostly we are grateful for the family around us the the beautiful scenery that surrounds us. 

I’m linking to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching.

Slow Sunday Stitching

 My friendship piece from Charlene continues to claim all my slow stitching time. I may put it aside for a day or two though and get the June section of my monthly sampler done. I don’t want to fall behind on that or it will end up as a cross stitch UFO. I don’t think I want to start building up a supply of those to go with all my quilty UFO’s. Last week I had finished all the background stitching around the lettering. This week I have finished one of the houses and have gotten a start on some of the strawberries. 

This is how the whole thing looks so far. There is still lots of stitching left to do on this piece.My picture taking seems to be on the wonky side today.

I’m going to make this another short post. We seem to be having a break in the rain that is forecast to be lasting for the rest of this week. I have some plants I’d like to get into the ground before the next round of rain hits. So I’m going to link this up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching, get some lunch and then get out into the beginnings of a garden here.

Slow Sunday Stitching

I’m exclusively working on this friendship piece for my hand stitching these days. My new threads for it came this week, so I was able to go back and finish the dark box around the lettering. This piece is precious to me because it was given to me as a gift from my friend Charlene before we moved. I think of her as I work on it. And I also think of all my other friends as well, all of whom are now at a distance from me. I am so thankful for the technology that allows us to keep in touch through facebook, text messages and video chats. My goal is to continue on this until it is done. 

I’m not going to write a long post today. It is glorious outside and I want to be out there. It is everything we had hoped it would be. The only sounds we can hear are the birds singing, the wind in the trees and the occasional car on he road; no sirens, no barking dogs, no air conditioner or pool pump noise.

I’m linking up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching.

 

Slow Sunday Stitching

 I’m working exclusively on the sampler that Charlene gave me these days. As the summer progresses time for stitching has decreased, so sticking to just one project is easier at the moment. Plus I really want to get it done.  Here’s where I was last week. And this is my new progress. I’ve run out of the colour that goes around the lettering, so I’ve had to order more and will be working on the other elements while I wait for it to be delivered. 

A number of years ago I made a stitchery folder. But one it was made, it sat and didn’t get used. I was finding that I needed help confining all the different pages and threads for this project and I came upon it while unpacking. I’ve now put it into use. It sits on my lap while I stitch and then I can fold it all away and keep it all together when I’m not working on it. 

We are beginning to get a bit more acquainted with the area surrounding our new home. There is a lovely beach only 15 minutes away. We’ve spent a couple of afternoons there. Our little Abbie is quite happy with it. And considering it is only June, the water was surprisingly warm enough for Grammy to go out into it with her.

And as if I don’t have enough to do I’ve decided to try my hand again at sewing clothes. I’ve bought some patterns and some fabric for some tops and pants. I’m starting with this top from McCalls. I have this pink and white striped fabric that I’m using for it. However I have made the decision that a 67 year old Grammy should not have horizontal stripes going around her hips so I’m changing that bit. I laid the pattern out onto the fabric yesterday. I am hoping to cut it out today. Although, it looks like such a gorgeous day that I may spend at least part of it outside on the porch. I’m linking up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching

Slow Sunday Stitching

 Well here we are, my first post from our new home in the beautiful region of Muskoka Ontario, also known for good reason as cottage country. It’s taken several weeks to get to the point where things are feeling semi settled and unpacked. Some of the windows now have proper curtains, rather than sheets thrown over them. I found some fun fabric that I bought quite a few years ago now that was designed for the Row by Row shop hop theme that quilt shops were doing. Back in the days when shops were open and a girl could actually go in and browse the fabrics in person. Do you remember that, way back when? It seems like it has been ages since we were able to do that.

Anyhow, I found this fabric in my stash and it seemed a perfect happy choice for curtains. And isn’t this a perfect spot for a sewing machine station. Lots of natural sunlight during the day, a lovely breeze and a gorgeous view. That was my view for part of yesterday as I made curtains for this window and also for the bathroom. 

When the weather and bugs allow, we have been spending some time outdoors planting up some grow bags and also some pots. I have 5 tomato plants, a couple of bags of green beans and some pots seeded with dwarf zinnia and another seeded with some calendula. Here’s 3 of the tomatoes, perhaps not all that exciting, except this is the first time in years I’ve had a sunny spot in which to grow things so it’s exciting for me. I’m thinking of getting outside again this afternoon and seeding up a few more pots and bags.

Between unpacking and planting up the pots and looking after our grand daughter, my slow stitching time has been mostly confined to the evenings. Before we left London a good friend of mine, Charlene, gifted me with a cross stitch pattern and the fabric on which to stitch it. I ordered the threads for it and as soon as the threads got here I started it. The pattern is from Plum Street Samplers by Paulette Stewart and is called In Friendship. It can be found here. It will look like this photo when finished. I’m working my way through the lettering. 

The entire saying states: “How much to be esteemed is a friend on whom we may always with safety depend”. I’ve never done a sampler in this style before, so it is fun and also reminding me of all my friends on whom I can safely depend. I am so grateful that this day and age friends can still keep in touch no matter the physical distance between them. 

I’m linking up to Kathy’s Slow Sunday Stitching. and then am heading out to enjoy this gorgeous day.