Sunday, August 16, 2020

"I'm Itching to be Stitching" ❣




Hello lovely lovelies❣ These last few weeks have been ones where I have been "itching to be stitching". It has been an interesting couple of weeks where I have found myself sitting in my sunshine-filled family room, more than I normally would, with embroidered thread and needle in hand, happily stitching details to my flower garden quilt. More wintry weeks done and dusted, which means inching closer to that happiest of seasons.....Spring, Spring, Spring.... The garden is beginning to reveal the slightest of notions that beneath the garden beds, the magic of nature is beginning to.....begin the begin. Aah yes.....the daffodils, the bluebells, the irises, so many other early spring bulbs are beginning to pop up out of the cold earth and in a couple of weeks there will be a sea of the happiest of yellows and blues everywhere. Can you tell I am just a wee bit excited????

The environs of the family room has seemed like my home for the past twelve days, as I have been keeping an eye on my Maisie who is recuperating after a nasty accident. Maisie decided to jump over a fence to investigate a new born calf who had found itself in our garden, and in the process ripped her belly open, thus resulting in many stitches. She has been a very sad pup. How do you keep a stitched up springer spaniel from springing through her day???? She would much prefer to be chasing ducks across the paddocks or sniffing out critters in the garden, than being confined inside. I tell you, the first few days it was knee high impossible, but now she is remarkably happy and content...and very sweet. Oh, and there is the problem of the plastic 'cone of shame', the 'Elizabethan collar'.  Sweet Maisie wasn't having a bar of it, so to keep her from doing more injury to herself  I have wrapped a towel around her neck, rather like a thick scarf, so she won't lick her sutures to death and rip them out. Not very glamorous I'm afraid, but I must say the towel 'pillow' works a treat. Maisie cannot get to her sutures and the towel is much more comfy than those nasty plastic cones. Is there a cat or dog in the world that will tolerate these cones????  I have been witness to a new look in her eyes I have never seen before. A look of pure disdain when she looks at me, the nurse from hell. Poor baby......only two days to go to be rid of her stitches, though there is still a small wound which has been left to heal naturally. I suppose I will be keeping a close eye on her this week, too. Yes indeedy, shall we say an interesting few weeks. Now, don't judge me harshly because those of you who have had the pleasure, (and it is one of life's delightful pleasures) of enjoying a springer spaniel as their faithful companion will know exactly what I mean.


So, with all that sitting and keeping an eye on Maisie as she mostly snores her head off as she runs free and chases imaginary ducks in her dreams,  I have been stitching  embroidery to my quilt. With each little simple embroidered stitch, I have 'painted' stitchy details onto all the leaves. I must say  I am loving the texture the embroidery gives to the leaves, especially the hydrangeas. The texture which is added with the embroidery adds that little bit more dimension and definition, taking my fabric flowers to another realm. This fabric flower garden  makes me smile. Love, love, LOVE it❣

Though, I didn't replicate the veins as those afficionados of  all things botanical would think perhaps I should. I apologise profusely to those of you who have a Latin botanical book in one hand and Stirling Macoboy's What Flower is That in the other. Naughty of me I know and though I have stitched the veins resembling those that nature would replicate, I have used artistic license with my stitching. After all, my aim with this quilt is to fashion one with a Monet-esque aesthetic, an impressionistic painting, so to speak. Isn't artistic licence a most wonderful thing. 

I purchased a tin of 72 Derwent Inktense pencils thinking I would add shading to each flower. They are beautiful pencils with scrummy names such as Fuschia, Scarlet Pink, Lagoon, Sherbert Lemon, Spring Green....and so many more. After playing with the pencils I decided that perhaps I wouldn't use them as much as I thought I would. As this quilt will be a bed quilt, I decided that they might loose their intensity with each wash and as I would have to use a fabric medium with the pencils the quilt would lose the soft tactile feel that I love for a bed quilt. Don't get me wrong, Derwent Inktense pencils are fabulous, but I think they might sing a more lyrical song on an art quilt which would be displayed on a wall and not be washed regularly. I was going to shade the irises with several shades of  yellow but decided that stitching with embroidery thread would look spiffier. So, for now I have put them away, eagerly looking forward to playing with them sometime in the future. Though, I did paint the 'splotches' on the corolla of the foxgloves with the pencils. Another thought is that a lot of the fabrics I have used are batiks and dyed so there is an element of shading and interest with a lot of the flowers anyway. With the embroidery on the leaves finished I have begun to add the finer details to the flowers as well.























I am happy with the progress of my fabric flowers. With each embroidered stitch the flowers are slowly blossoming before me. No doubt, with my faithful hound snoring nearby, more delightful stitching will be enjoyed this week. The tulips, gladdies, lilies, granny bonnets, more irises......all need the minutiae, the finer details to make them....well....flowers.  Hopefully when next you visit my little place, sweet Maisie will be fully recovered and back to her springing self, and all the fabric flowers will be in full bloom, with their completed faces smiling at all who gaze upon them. Then I can begin to design the wisteria that will meander in a lovely, tangled fashion across the top of  my fabric flower garden.



As it is Sunday afternoon here, I will be linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching later this evening, where other lovelies all around the globe are putting their feet up, enjoying a little slow hand stitching. With me playing photographer and stylist this morning I too will pick up my needle and thread and enjoy some more embroidery. When speaking to a friend the other day she said it must be lovely to sit, while keeping an eye on Maisie and not feel guilty at all for sitting day after day, enjoying many hours of stitching. I immediately replied that I never feel guilty enjoying all the stitching I do, even if the reason is I just want to stitch.  Why, for me to imagine, design and stitch is as necessary as the air I breathe. Why, it is the very essence of me. No pangs of guilt  here. =)


Thank you all for visiting my little place to have a peek at what I have been up to. May you all enjoy the loveliest of days with sprinkles of beauty causing you to smile.



Until the next time................






67 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, your work is absolutely beautiful! I am so happy to see my daffodils coming out here - so cheerful in the cold winter weather. Poor Maisie. I hope she recovers very quickly and is running around again soon; but not jumping fences!

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    1. Daffodils are such happy flowers which tell us that Spring is not too far off. As you say a spot of cheeriness in our cold wintry days. Just a few more days (fingers crossed) and Maisie will be back to her 'normal' life. I hope you are faring okay up there, Jayne, in all the COVID lockdowns you are experiencing. Take care, lovely lady. Kim Xx

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  2. Oh my, your flower garden quilt looks amazing and the frame is so beautiful. So nice to see the daffodils again. What a pity for Maisie, hope she recovers soon, she is such nice company.
    We had a tropical week and it is still hot.
    Keep safe and healthy!

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  3. So beautiful, as always Kim. And your writing style is delightful too. Poor Maisie, so pleased her stitches are healing, and without the ghastly plastic cone. Such a good idea to try out the idea with the towel, obviously Maisie doesn't try to paw it off her neck?

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  4. Ooh....I am a bit pea green that you are enjoying tropical days, Loes. =) 'Tis still a bit chilly down here. Maisie is nice company; she is the sweetest girl. Yes indeedy, it's wonderful to see the daffodils visit once again. Thank you for popping by, lovely lady. Enjoy those hot summery days of yours. Kim Xx

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  5. Yes ! I'm smiling reading and admiring your post !!!!!
    Your quilts are gorgeous and I must say I love seeing birds and insects flying around your flowers !!!!
    Poor Maisie....reckless and now suffering from not be able chasing the ducks ;)
    Have a lovely week in your sunshine-filled family room !
    Hug
    Anna

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  6. I am again in awe of your work, Kim! Stunning in every sense of the word!!!
    Thank you so much for sharing about Derwent Inktense pencils - once in a while I like to dabble in art (to be honest I would love to dedicate all my free time to it- but alas!) and combine it with my textile / yarn projects and I am always on the lookout for quality art supplies.
    Wishing you a lovely Sunday - or is it already Monday at your place?

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  7. Such a feast for my eyes to come to your blog today sweet Kim! I love your embroidery and hope Spring comes in a fun way to you and yours there in your country <3 We are enjoying the whispers of Autumn here :) Maisie is darling too!! Kathi

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  8. Hi Kim
    So glad Maisie is on the mend. Thank you for the wonderful photos of your amazing quilt. Love all the details, as for wisteria I would not know where to begin. Looking forward to seeing more.
    Best wishes Kay c XX

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    1. Kay, I have a few ideas about the wisteria, but oh my goodness, it is going to be tricky. Fingers crossed what is in my imagination will find itself on my little fabric flower garden. =) My sweet Maisie is beside me snoring her head off as I type. Thank you, sweet lady, for gifting me with your beautiful comments. Hope you week is a beautiful one. Kim Xx

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  9. The detail in your quilt is amazing! You are making a lovely art quilt even if it's going on your bed. Enjoy your coming spring! Happy stitching.

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  10. Lovely stitches, beautiful details, I love your quilt! And so glad Spring is coming, as winter is definitively not your favorite season ;)

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  11. It is YOUR sparkles of beauty that make me smile, Kim! Oh my, the combination of the floral details and knowing spring is coming your way....what a winning combo! Your styling is impeccable, each and every photo and the stitches that make each framed focus. Poor Maisie, but it sounds as though she will be springing with spring again, just as her momma will be with a newly completed project. Happy Days!

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    1. Rita, your beautiful comments have made me smile; thank you! I admit stitching my fabric flower garden with the thought that perhaps spring is not too far off, inching it's way up our country road is causing me to smile as well. Happy days indeed! Your lovely visits always sprinkle many a sparkle to my days, lovely Rita. Thank you for the gift of your visits. Kim Xx

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  12. What a gorgeous "work of art" quilt you are stitching...such a lovely style.
    I so enjoyed viewing all the flowers and stitchery; your work is so unique and special. Thank you for sharing--you made me smile this morning.
    I hope your baby doggy heals quickly--our
    (long gone sadly) springer spaniel, Winnie, would gaze at us in just that way...How neat to sit and stitch with her at your side...
    Hugs from afar Julierose

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  13. Your designs and work are just gorgeous! I love all of the little details in your quilt. I hope Maisie continues to recover nicely and is, once again, out chasing ducks and such.

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  14. Kim, your many tiny applique bits that created this gorgeous flower quilt are amazing enough, but the embroidery detail being added are the icing on the cake. The time you have spent overseeing the convalescence of poor Maisie is a gift that has allowed you to progress on this lovely, since the garden, as it springs to life, will soon demand more of your attention. I will eagerly look forward to seeing your garden explode into glory while we hunker down for another winter season. Given the weather extremes that have been visited upon us so far this year, it is somewhat frightening to imagine what Mother Nature might have in store for us in the coming months. I need to resurrect a long neglected EPP project so I can occupy my mind and hands more productively, while trying to avoid the acrimony of our upcoming election. Hope Maisie recovery is complete in short order.
    Pat

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  15. I love all those gorgeous pictures. Maisie looks so sad. I am so sorry that she had such a terrible accident. Glad she has you to watch over her recovery. I am sure she will be good as new real soon.

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  16. Your stitchery is pure dreaminess!! Ah, yes! Wisteria.....its perfumed fragrance is amazing. The Inktense addition to your flowers would not have been as dimensional as your fab stitching additions! So glad you opted to go that direction.
    I have dear friends in Hobart which, I suspect, is long distant from your sweet corner. Looking forward to your next glimpse into your stitching "nest". Hugs from southeast Minnesota, USA................

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    1. Wisteria has the most exquisite fragrance, doesn't it. I cannot wait till ours blooms profusely in a little while. I agree with you re the Inktense pencils as the embroidery has given lovely dimension and texture to each flower. Hobart is a lovely place but as you say a long way from our little corner. I always love to visit Hobart; 'tis so pretty. Thank you, Doreen, for visiting my little place all the way from Minnesota. Your sweet visit and beautiful comments have caused me to smile. Kim Xx

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  17. Your stitching is absolutely gorgeous! You are making your quilt come to life. I never feel guilty about the time I spend sewing or doing handwork. It is good for us. I’m so glad Maisie is doing well, what a terrible accident. I had a springer spaniel many years ago. I agree they are wonderful dogs. I dearly loved mine and had him until he passed away. I look forward to your next post. Until then, enjoy your stitched and family, Maisie included. Hugs,

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    1. It seems, Sandi, that Springer Spaniels are a much loved and popular breed of dog. Maisie is nearly recovered now.....it took a while. Yes, I think that with each stitch my fabric flowers are beginning to take on a life of their own. Thank you for your beautiful visit and comments. Kim Xx

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  18. Oh my gosh! So pretty! You definitely achieved an impressionistic feel.

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  19. Dear Kim, I sure am sorry to read about Maisie and I pray she will be back to her healthy self soon. I am happy you have your most beautiful quilt to work on while being by her side. After all the lovely work of piecing that quilt; you are making it even grander by all those wonderful embroidery stitches. I am happy Spring is about to bring all its beauty your way too...how lovely to work on your quilt indoors, and have the pleasure of having lovely views outside as well. (Sandra)

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  20. Maisie is so cute,I hope she gets better soon.Your artwork is unique and I enjoy it so much,really "balm to the soul and feast to the eyes"...Those yellow daffodils are amazing and so happy!Always a pleasure visiting you. Hugs,dear Kim.

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  21. Hello Lovely Kim, I've been itching to see what you've been stitching! You certainly have been busy sewing so many lush floral delights. Today the daisy with the bee and the iris take my eye which does not detract from all the other pretty, colorful blooms. Poor Maisie to have gone through such an awful injury. Lucky Maisie to have you as her nursemaid. How wise to figure out a better alternative to the cone of shame. Certainly, the towel is more cuddly. Yes, her eyes are quite questioning why you two can't go out and play. Hope she'll be fully recuperated soon and you both can frolic in the spring sunshine!

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  22. Poor pooch! I'm very glad to hear Maisie is making a good recovery but I know how hard it is to keep a spaniel in one place ( speaking from experience!) your quilt is so gorgeous full of detail and colour. I do love the hydrangeas especially but the detail you have added to the iris is beautiful!

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  23. Kim your flower quilt and details are gorgeous, as are your lovely pictures. Hope your poor Maisie heals up quickly. Thanks so much for sharing your world this morning!

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  24. oh you are such a good mamma to Maisie, she is so lucky to have you!! the quilt is looking so lovely, i enjoy seeing all the details, and the hand sticking that make it a real work of art!!

    are those daffodils from your garden?? did i miss that spring has arrived, the spring blooms are so cheerful!!

    many thanks for your kind words on my recent downer post. i did not want to share that awful news but i wanted to let everyone know what i was up to. the recovery process, of a commercial building, is a lot of work. the hubs and i work well together!!

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    1. cute title!! i didn't really take note of the title so much the last time i was here!!

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  25. Poor Maisie - she looks confused in that picture - "Why me?!" Your photos of the different sections in your quilt are just beautiful, Kim. What a treat to get to share them!

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  26. Oh dear me, ouch for poor Maisie! I cringed when I read what happened. I hope that she is recovering nicely under your loving care. Your stitching is coming along so beautifully, again under your loving care. 👏🏻💙👏🏻

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  27. Oh my your quilt flower garden is just as spectacular as God'd beautiful flowers. Love the bird and all the detail stitches you have donw. Happy Stitching!

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  28. Magníficas puntadas en tu colcha y sólo disfrutar de coser y de mirar con ternura a tu perro............. es pura felicidad.
    BESICOS.

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  29. What a beautiful quilt. The flowers are just gorgeous. The colors are spectacular. Hope Maisie is feeling better. Have a blessed week. God Bless.
    Marion

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    1. Maisie is feeling better with each day. We are off to the vet tomorrow....fingers crossed that all will be well and she can once again 'spring' to her little, doggy's heart content! Have a beautiful week, lovely Marion; thank you for your beautiful visit. Kim Xx

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  30. Kim, as usual you have done such a lovely job with the quilt. Sorry about Maisie getting hurt. He is adorable. Enjoy your Spring weather. Have a blessed week. God Bless.
    Marilyn

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    1. Spring is inching ever so slowly up our country road, but hasn't arrived as yet, but if the bulbs are anything to go by it can't be too far off...fingers crossed. =) Thank you for popping by, lovely Marilyn. You always leave sprinkles of sunshine with each visit. You have a blessed week too. Kim Xx

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  31. Hi Kim oh i love your beautiful work,well done my friend. Oh dear poor Maisie hope she is back to her old self soon,take care and stay safe my friend xx

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  32. Your flowers are looking just so beautiful Kim. Yes I can see signs of spring here too & it excites me so much. But Oh Dear .... poor dear Maisie. How horrid for her & also for you. I know how much our furry friends just loathe those cones so I think you have done a fine job with the towel for her. What a good idea. I hope she is soon springing around all fit & well.

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  33. What a beautiful floral quilt you are making. It is going to be stunning when done. I certainly know the wonderfulness of a springer spaniel. They are wonderful dogs. We no longer have a dog -- it's hard to keep them with very small property and we were "hoping" to do much more traveling. But I have been a volunteer for Mid-Atlantic English Springer Spaniel Rescue. We have had to cease taking applications as we had about a year and a half long list of families wanting springers. People are doing a much better job of neutering their springers -- we just aren't getting the number of dogs in that we used. I hope Maisie is feeling better. Will this teach her not to jump fences? Give her a hug from me. I need my doggy fix!

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  34. Inktense pencils are beautiful, aren't they?! The flowers are looking beautiful, Kim!! Enjoy your stitching and the company of Maisie. I am so sorry to hear about her! She does look with quite mournful. Tell her that she will start roaming the countryside soon.

    -Soma

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  35. Poor Maisie. I'm sure she will forgive you and the vet in time. Your blooms are gorgeous and a vision of loveliness.

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  36. Your stitching is just beautiful and adds such detail. Poor Maisie. That sounds awful, but so glad they were able to do the repairs needed. Ouch! I wish we were approaching spring instead of fall.😉

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  37. Oh Kim, poor Maisie having troubles with her belly, yes we have had to use the cone thing on our dachshund when she was fixed and that was fun keeping it on, sure hope she heals well so she can get the towel off too, that was a clever idea to use instead of the cone, I love that look she is giving you in that picture!
    Onto your beautiful quilt, the embroidery does take it too the top, such great detail it gives and interest, I love how little details can add such a big punch, just gorgeous in every way, all that work you have been putting in over the last two weeks has been time very well spent, just gorgeous!
    Wishing you the best week ahead!

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  38. I am so sorry to hear about your sweet Maisie. She is such a pretty dog. Hope she is well soon. I forget just how beautiful a blog can be unti I see your's again. Your stitching and fabrics are amazing. Simply amazing. Bet you can hardly wait for spring...and we are getting clse to Fall.

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  39. Another lovely post. I am glad that spring is beginning to spring outdoors, but it definitely looks like it has arrived inside with all your lovely stitching. I hope Maisie recovers quickly, although with your care, she may want to let her illness last as long as possible, just for the extra attention. It is interesting how we sometimes feel guilty for doing something enjoyable like stitching, yet time passes just as quickly when we are scrolling the internet or watching some videos. Definitely no need to feel guilty.

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  40. Oh poor little Maisie. Your towel idea is great. I had a dog that would get out of the cone in 10 seconds flat. I wish I had known this towel trick back then. Exquisite - Just exquisite hand work.

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  41. I´m sure the Inktense pens are going to be very useful sometimes on certain projects that don´t need much washing but I love your hand stitching on the flowers, bringing them to life, gorgeous work as always. Kisses, squeezes and hugs for poor Maisie.

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  42. SO much beautiful texture and so many lovely details in this piece of art! I never thought about the washability of the pencils but it sure looks like fun to play with them!
    Thanks for taking the time to link up with the Slow Sunday Stitchers!

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  43. Your beautiful quilt is one of the most interesting and intriguing projects being undertaken right now. I was looking at it and decided one of the most unique aspects is that it looks like an antique quilt-something about the colors and fabrics-I am not sure.

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  44. Goodness, Maisie!

    I just love this quilt!

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  45. Poor dear Maisie! Nothing could make Poppy more sad than being confined in the house and unable to leap about madly and they have all their springer-spanielness in common so I feel for Maisie. I'm glad she sounds to be healing up well and will, no doubt, be fit as a fiddle again in time for Spring. Your quilt grows more amazing with every stitch. It really is an art quilt even if you are going to keep it on your bed :)

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  46. Oh how I love this quilt! And, I love your every stitch! What an artist you are! I really took to heart your comment about not feeling one bit guilty for sewing. I hope your sweet Maisie continues to do well.

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    1. Thank you, Mary. Never need to feel guilt for enjoying many moments through the day, stitching. Why, I believe it is necessary to keep one calm and in a healthy state of mind. Sewing always leads one down a most delightful path. My sweet Maisie is healing with each new day....thank you. Kim Xx

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  47. Maisie, Boo is sending you a heartfelt woof...and she says you are such a beauty and very brave...our little furry loved ones are so much like our children, aren't they Kim?! I can't tell you the many times little Boo has hurt herself in play or curiosity...tomorrow Boo will have stolen my heart for 4 years since she has come to take care of me!!! I thank her daily for living with me...beautiful art, as always and I'm glad Spring is on its way to you, take care, Diana and boo...

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    1. Your Boo sounds very sweet, Di. Maisie is healing with each day, though it is impossible to keep her from springing about everywhere. Thank you for your sweet visit. I hope you and Boo have a fun week. Kim Xx

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  48. Kim, you are such a talented lady. I just can't get enough of your beautiful applique'! Thanks so much for adding so my close up photos of your work.

    I hope Maisie will stay calm long enough to heal. I love spring spaniels. My first ever dog was one. We called her Springer.

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  49. Oh, poor Maisie! I can see that she is feeling quite sorry for herself, too - her expression is priceless! Glad to hear that she is on the mend and being a good little patient while you stitch away on your amazing, beautiful, work of art! I am in awe of your creativity and talent and it is always such a delight to stop by for one of your fun chats and to see what you are working on. So much detail and love that goes into your work. We are winding up summer here and the grass is turning golden with sunflowers and black-eyed Susan's blooming alongside fences and outbuildings. It's a different feeling than your anticipation of spring and I am envious of your new bulbs coming up and budding leaves and flowers. I love how you devote time to your stitching every day and make it a part of life. Give Maisie a scratch for me and enjoy your quiet time creating your gorgeous work of art. Hugs xo Karen

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  50. I so enjoyed this post dear friend, but gasped when I heard what happened to poor Maisie... and the resulting issues of having to keep her quiet, oh I can't imagine how hard it has been for her! Oh the cone of shame... yes, we've endured it many times. I like your idea of a towel, and will have to keep that in mind. That poor sweet face peering over your lap, looking into your eyes was just the sweetest picture... but I can't get enough of the gorgeous handiwork you do. I am truly amazed at the talent within your fingers as you sew such beautiful stitches onto the quilt. I look forward to seeing your beautiful blooms as they come out of the cold earth to warm your heart and soul! Much love to you dear friend!

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  51. Oh dear, poor Maisie! Please give her some really special get-well skritches from me. Our Odin was a springer/border collie so I know all about the normal activity level. I love all your creations (as you know) but I think you are outdoing yourself with this one. There are so many fine little details - a work of he-art!

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  52. Wow....such beautiful works of art...I love gazing at your blog....
    Maisie, Maisie, please know your mama loves you! It's true that our four legged friends give us such looks of disdain as we take care of them. But, then they make up for it with their warm cuddles. :)

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  53. I'm Itching to be Stitching as well! It's been all work the past few weeks, hardly any time for crafting or blogging. Life can be unfair like that. I've missed my visits and your gorgeous stitching, you are creating real treasures here.
    Amalia
    xo

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  54. Absolutely amazing work! I was in awe as I scrolled from picture to picture. I've never seen anything like it. What a treasure!!!

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  55. Kim - first of all, I hope Maisie has now had the stitches out and is (almost) back to chasing ducks ... That picture with the mournful eyes says it all!

    Your stitching details are amazing - this joyful time for you underscores what I already knew - how you chase away Old Man Winter! Beautiful, beautiful. And you're right - no reason for any guilt whatsoever!

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  56. Glorious stitching, Kim!
    Derwent Intense Pencils are wonderful--bright and beautiful.
    However, without any added colour, the scenes look so beautiful just the way they are.
    A true work of art!

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