I Like Thursday # 63 ~ Seeking Sense and Sensibility

This is one of the last roses in my summer garden.

It has been such a long hot summer

that most of my summer blooms are spent for the season

even though we are just now experiencing the beginning of the season's change.

Today is has, at last, been cool enough to turn on the oven.
So I made Mr Scrapatch one of his favorite breakfast treats this morning ...

Blueberry Custard Bread Pudding
from my own recipe, Here.
It is blueberry season here and it is nice to be baking again.

My Quilty Kitties and I have been continuing to sort and reorganize
my stash and sewing area.
Katniss is helping me to fill my new baskets. 

I have been spending a lot of time with my books,
re-reading old favorites, including Jane Austen.

Are you  a Jane Austen fan?

You might enjoy the quizzes on this this site ... 

The Jane Austen Quiz - Facts Within Fiction

"Your score: 10 / 10

Congratulations! You know your Regency history!"

Take the Quiz Here

Most quilters and readers have heard of ...

 Jane Austen's Quilt on display in Chawton, England.

Many have made their own version of this diamond quilt.

Now many more will make it with this new collection ... 

Jane Austen at Home Collection by Riley Blake Designs

Jane Austen Diamond panel

There is a "cheater" type panel.

It is similar but not an authentic reproduction

as the original quilt had 64 different fabrics in the diamonds. 

It is a lovely collection for Jane Austen enthusiasts, though.

I have had a Jane Austen Quilt on my list for some time

but never have collected enough fabrics to make my version.

I am undecided as to whether I will sew the panel version.

If I really want to get the quilt done,

this might be the best opportunity to do so.

Are you a Jane Austen Quilt Fan?
Have you made your own version of this quilt?

It is Thursday so I shall enjoy a visit with my friends
@
I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color

who once a week choose to find and share happiness.

May you and yours have a Happy Thursday!

Looking Forward to a Fabulous Fall

Fabrics for a new Fabulous Fall Project.

Only the pumpkin fabric is new.

The others are "Last Bloom" from a project started Here

I love fall fabrics and Sandy Gervais designs and colors

so I had to buy a bit of her new one ...

Give Thanks by Sandy Gervais for Riley Blake Designs

 I found my fabric at 

Give Thanks Fabric @ Fat Quarter Shop

I really want to get a panel, too, before they are all gone.

I bought the following pattern directly from the designer ... 

Fabulous Fall BOM Pattern @ Pieces of my Heart

I loved this pattern when I saw it somewhere online.

I plan to make this for next year, a block at a time, 

using mostly fabrics from my stash.

I also want to use my stash to make the following quilt...

Give Thanks Gingham Plaid Quilt @ A Bit of Scrap Stuff

This wonderful quilt is a Free Tutorial!

Click on the Link to go to 

A Bit of Scrap Stuff Blog

Are you planning to sew something for fall this year?

Would love to see you projects.

Today is is cooler and for the first time, I feel that fall may be on the way.

Looking Forward to a Thankful and Fabulous Fall.

Sewcialites QAL ~ Coming in September

My Preliminary Fabric Selection 
for a new free quilt along coming in September:

Sewcialites Main Quilt Along Page

@

The Jolly Jabber

This is the design and setting.

I am planning to sew the largest size.

Also, I may use my scraps to make the smallest blocks and a matching pillow.

The black and white print is my planned background fabric.

I will be adding solid white fabric in some blocks, as I think needed.

Or you may sew from your stash, as I am planning

or 

Shop Here for the bundles in the sample quilts.

There is a fun group gathering at 

The Sewcialites Facebook Lounge

... and another sharing place on Instagram:

 #SewcialitesQAL 

Hope to see you sewing along! 

I have been working in my sewing and quilting place to reorganize.

I have bought these nice plastic bins to store my projects

I bought these at Target and replacing my old fabric bins,

which my quilty kitties have shredded as scratching posts.

My kittes have plenty of real scratching posts and such

but cats will be cats ... and I love my kitties.

Happy sewing!  

We Have A Winner!

Here is the winner of my

1,000,000 Pageviews Give Away

The winner of the

$25.00 Gift Certificate to Fat QuarterShop is

Kaholly said

Wow! That’s quite something! Congratulations!
August 10, 2020 at 2:26 PM

Congratulations, Karen!

This announcement may also be viewed here:

Rafflecopter Giveaway Winner Announcement Page

I have emailed the winner.

I wish I had a gift for all of you.
I really appreciate all of the kind, supportive comments
on my sewing and stitching efforts.

Thank You!

Embroidered Autumn Leaves ~ My Method

One more free form embroidered leaf on my  

Autumn Leaves Quilt

The weather has turned a bit cooler and I have been sitting and stitching 

on our covered deck in the backyard.

The oaks have been dropping their leaves early and green this year.

I gathered some to inspire my free form stitching.

It has been so very dry and hot this summer that even these big trees

cannot get enough water to support their big canopies.

It is concerning when the deepest rooted trees in our area 

cannot find enough water deep in the ground 

and have to shed their leaves.

I cannot recall seeing a summer so dry here.

I am hoping for nourishing rains to feed the trees and bushes

and grasses and crops.

Our water comes from the city taken by the big river that flows on to the sea

so we have plenty of water for the small plants and bushes 

and have been moving the hoses from place to place

but the big trees need water to fall from above.

There is a wide variety of embroidery and pearl cotton threads

in these leaves, but for the last few I have done have 

I have used these lovely variegated 

Valdani Fabulous Fall Collection

which I purchased at Fat Quarter Shop

I have had these threads for two years and love stitching with them.

For these quilted leaves, I use a double strand and a chunky large eye needle.

I start my stitch with a loop method borrowed from my cross stitch methods.

I cut a length about 36" and thread both ends through the eye.

I start by bringing my needle up from the back and insert it down to the back 

about 1/4" away.  I do not pull it tight yet.

On the back, I insert the needle through the loop that is formed by folding

the thread in half.

Then I pull the first stitch secure but not too tight.

This locks my stitches without a big knot. 

Then I insert my needle from the back up into the first stitch 

to start my next stitch.

I like to embroider these leaves in a chain stitch.

Here is the back of the stem and main vein of my leaf.

I end my stitching by inserting my needle through the 

last stitch in the back and pulling it secure.

I slip my needle though the batting to hide my tail and snip my thread.

I usually start each side at the bottom stem and stitch upward to close at the top.

Sometimes I add small veins branching off from the center

like the one you can see in the bottom right of the photo.

Sometimes I do the outside of the leaf first and add the center veins afterwards.

Every one of these organic embroidered leaves is different, 

as real leaves are in nature.

I am making good progress on this project this year.

I am finding it relaxing to sit and stitch.

Linking up today with

Slow Sunday Stitching @ Kathy's Quilts

I hope you are enjoying a happy and safe weekend.

I Like Thursday # 62 ~ Bee Totally Happy

Words of the Week:

Bee Happy!

I have been happily cleaning my messy sewing corner and quilting room.

No photos ... too messy.

That is why I am cleaning and reorganizing... ;) 

This is a Quilt Puzzle by Lori Holt @ Bee in My Bonnet

that I Found Here @ Fat Quarter Shop

I bought it for myself when I saw it as an early birthday present for me

and I am making plans to open it and put it together on my day,

which is in September ... just for fun!

Just for fun, how about a

Riddle of the Week:

If Maureen McCormick , the actress who played

Marcia of the The Brady Bunch
designed a fabric collection what would it be named?


>
>
>

a Blooming Bunch!

@ Moda Fabrics

Coming in October ~ Look Book Here

My favorite find for a pattern for this is from

Want It, Need It, Quilt It @ Quilt Jane

Totally Groovy

which it is!

I just may have to make this one.

Totally Yummy 
are the recipes I am finding at

Quilting Time in Dixie

This one is for Plain Cake in a Skillet.
Recipe Here
There is one for pineapple Upside Down Cake in a Skillet, too.
Yum!!

My homemade latte, extra foam, is empty
so I am going to make a refill and visit my friends
@
I Like Thursday @ Not Afraid of Color

and if you have not entered my giveaway for

Click Here or scroll down to the next post.

Have a Totally Happy Thursday!