A Trove of Hexies♡

Hello lovely lovelies♡ Welcome to my little place where the last of summer days are ever so slightly beginning to drift into autumn. There is a change in the light. That soft, opalescent light which autumn shimmers upon everything, has arrived. The early misty mornings are beautiful. The sun is beginning to rise later and the evenings casting darkness sooner. I must enjoy these days while I can. I must make the most of these lovely days.

This week I have fashioned more flower hexies. A trove of little hexies bursting with bright, happy colour and pattern. A treasure trove of gorgeousness. The little flower gems all puddled together cause me to smile. A ric rac line of the flower hexies hanging out with the dahlias and cosmos are a delight to my eyes.

I have now begun to stitch the hexies together to begin forming the Flower Meadow quilt, to get a sense of what patterns and colours may be needed when I fashion more flowers. Little hexies made from a fabric called Flights of Fancy by Momo for Moda, are dotted here and there among the flower hexies because I want a muted and soft impressionist feel among the florid-hued hexies. I love the painterly look of grass and flowers these sweet little hexies will give to the quilt.

Sunday♡ The day of the week where I endeavour to join other slow hand stitchers from all over the globe and delight in a little hand stitching♡ I must say I spent a good part of my afternoon beginning to stitch my hexies together......growing my little Flower Meadow. Slowly stitching my little Flower Meadow hexies, delighting in the pretty, flowery prints; delighting in the tiny stitches which form the flower hexies♡ It's been one of those weeks....days.....when the meditative slowness of slow stitching has been balm to the soul♡ May your Sunday be a blessed one......when it comes aknocking on your door♡

Until the next time................. 

Skipping Around The Garden Path♡

Hello lovely lovelies♡ Sitting here in bed ('tis Sunday morning) looking out the window at all the cosmos blooming in pink profusion. They are such happy flowers.  A little observation sitting here enjoying my morning cuppa. All the cosmos petals are facing to the east waiting for the sun to rise. I hadn't noticed this before. Mind you if I was a flower, I too, would wake up with my face in search of the sun waiting for sunbeams to shine upon me and warm me up. It is a universal truth that sunflowers turn to wherever the sun is; but cosmos??  I wonder if this fact is ubiquitous worldwide or just for the cosmos in our little plot. Who know, perhaps our garden is a magical one. =)

I have looked out my windows a lot this week, thinking upon Ukraine and her people; thinking of those whom I know are struggling with life......thinking, thinking.....praying, praying. It seems these days I spend a lot of time talking to God about all manner of things. My prayer list seems very long of late.

At the moment, here in my humble abode every window has a lovely view. Late summer/early autumn views are so pretty, calming...restful. Views of cosmos, hydrangeas....and far off into the distance forests of trees; and mountains rising up to the heavens. Very soon, the canopy of green will slowly change into glorious autumnal hues; trees standing tall, statuesque with the naked limbs silhouetted against the landscape. Looking through the windows reminds me to  be thankful. I can't quite shrug off the feeling of guilt, though. Looking out the window as I stitch, I am thankful for every day I have been given. To cherish every moment; for every day is a miracle is it not?? One never really knows what tomorrow may bring. My heart is both thankful; and filled with sadness at the same time, for all who are facing what seems insurmountable difficulties. Is there ever a time in this thing we call life, when conflicting emotions do not sit side by side and wrestle each other?? I really don't think so.  

But......I have spent moments of my week capturing those views. Capturing still life moments....a moment in time. Moments of time, ever fleeting.  I am struck by the thought that windows shining with sunbeams create beautiful reflections. Probably a 'no-no' to professional photographers but I rather love to see what reflections are captured in an instant.

Many bunches of dahlias were picked this week. Glorious colours.  At the first sighting of Old Jack Frost the dahlias will flee with horror and dive deep down into the earth until next summer. Much like me, really. I have been known to flee with horror, dive under the bedcovers and ignore the undeniable presence of Jack Frost. I wouldn't mind at all hibernating through winter under layers of pretty quilts to ward off the freeze. So not a fan of Jack Frost! But, I must say he does sprinkle beauty in shards of ice everywhere catching sunbeams, capturing shadows of rainbow colours in the reflections. Many, many hydrangeas were picked also. I am bringing many bunches inside, joying in the metamorphosis process of the hydrangeas changing into earthy hues of autumn. Fingers crossed that some will dry in that gorgeous way that only hydrangeas can; leaving behind crinkly, paper like, dried petals. There is no rhyme or reason; some change beautifully, but some are a dismal failure.

Care to see the view from my windows?? =) 

As I have been sitting looking out my windows, I have been covering more little pentagons with pretty scraps of fabric and stitching all these pretties together. Four blocks are finished, with two blocks having been prepped in readiness for some stitching later today. Then there will be only three blocks to do. I haven't joined any of the blocks together yet as I don't know whether or not I want to add something else to the centre of each block. The pattern has embroidered details but I'm not a fan. I rather like the thought of nothing at all in the middle. I could do small dresden flowers in the vein of the pentagons; but I also like the notion of lovely quilting designs instead. This would give the quilt a modern aesthetic, which I rather like. Don't need to make up my mind yet, though. For now I will just keep on playing with little scrappy pentagons. 

I have named this quilt 'Skipping Around The Garden Path' with homage to the memories of a little girl skipping around paths skirting formal gardens. All the little connecting pentagon wedges remind me of a formal garden design. As I stitch around each wedge it feels as if my fingers are skipping around each flowery pentagon with needle and thread.

Those of you of a certain age, do you remember the skipping ropes we had as children?? You know the ones; those with pretty patterned, wooden handles at the end of colourful rope?? I wonder, are there such skipping ropes anymore?? I suppose the ones that are sold these days are those "Jump Rope for Heart" get-your-heart-pumping-cardio-workout kinda ones. Much to my chagrin, I can't really skip now....how sad, but such are dem old knees of mine. Only in my dreams do I skip or run with skipping rope in hand along the garden path. Oh to be a child again. =) Oh, skip that thought.....I rather love where I am now at this stage of life, in this little place. I don't really want to go back and do it all again.

Before I go, the name of the lady my Pete pulled out of the hat for my little giveaway, is LJ. How exciting! Linda, if you email me your address I will pop the sweet little purse and all the other goodies in the post later on this week, and it will wing its way to you.

Please take care this week, lovely ladies♡  This coming week, may there be sprinkles of smiles filtering through the darkness of these days♡Each day seems to be more shocking than the previous one. May we fill our days with thoughts and prayers, wrapped in yellow and blue, sending them on the wings of a dove to the people of Ukraine♡

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

Linking this week to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching

So.....that was Autumn

A lovely welcome to you on this Sunday morning♥ The calender reveals to me it is the last day of autumn. It is a rather chilly morning reminding me that the imminent arrival of Old Man Winter is nigh. This autumn was a rather memorable season in many ways. First and foremost because we have been locked down in our homes for most of it, and it is only now that the restrictions are beginning to slowly ease. Day after day has melded seamlessly into the other and though each day has silently recorded the  change of the season, there has been no gadding about the countryside to drink in the beauty of the landscape's changes as would normally be enjoyed. On a smaller scale I have watched the beautiful but subtle changes in the garden, slowly preparing for a long winter; but it has been strange not to experience the delights the autumnal Tassie countryside offers on a grand scale.

Autumn was witness to Easter, Mother's Day and for us a birthday of great note; which were all celebrated within the confines of my humble abode. Again, 'twas rather strange because for these occasions we would normally venture out to celebrate, making the most of these special days, and for the BIG birthday there were many plans to celebrate in grand style but alas.....it was not to be.

In the garden March and April showcased the dahlias, though now, in one fell swoop Jack Frost has burnt them, leaving behind a mass of lifeless, organic matter. The cosmos were wonderful, but they too, have succumbed to Jack Frost. Their seeds have dispersed from the pods, settling down into the brown earth until next spring, when once again nature will miraculously germinate the seeds and begin the cycle yet again. The hydrangeas are past their best but before Jack Frost's icy fingers touched these as well, I picked bunches to bring inside to dry, and in the process changing into fabulous autumnal hues as only hydrangeas can do. 'Tis no secret I  think there is no more long lasting and beautiful flower than  these mop-head beauties.

 As I am not a social butterfly I have rather relished all the time that has been spent in my home this autumn.  I have been stitching my Sweet Sunday quilt dancing with Liberty fabrics.  Day after day has been enjoyed, pleasantly hand stitching this quilt. Notwithstanding the human drama and tragedy  unfolding all over the world, I have sought beauty in the little things. Enjoying those everyday occurrences. The quiet times with my Heavenly Father, a pretty flower in the garden, sweet bunnies hiding in teacups, a little book reading, a tree changing it's green frock to a concoction zinging with gorgeous burnished tones, the paper-like falling leaves dancing on the wind; delighting in the gift of pyjamas overspilling with  hydrangeas (who would've thought that down here at the bottom of the world there could be pjs with such a delicious print)........so, so many wonders that I delighted in, day after day after day. So much of this autumn was enjoyed looking at, touching and stitching scrumptious Liberty prints. Day after day the enjoyment of gazing upon and stitching these gorgeous Liberty fabrics, caused me to be thankful that the slow hand stitching of something pretty helps me to reflect upon the positive, the lovely, the beautiful.....thankful for all those small blessings that come my way.

Let us retrace my days of the gloriously hued season that is called autumn......shall we.

I have enjoyed hand quilting my Sweet Sunday quilt this week. Simple hand quilting around the perimeter of each hexie is what I decided upon. Elementary I know, but I am loving the simplicity of this as some of the hexies are quite busy. I am rather loving the back as well. The plain blue shows the simple hexie shape perfectly......oh....and I am happy with the quilting. I must say I am even smiling at those disobedient stitches that will not march behind the others in a straight line. I am happy-ish that they wander off. Try as I might to corral them and cajole them to march  one, two, one, two, in sync with the others, I know they won't. Oh wait........is that the dulcet tones of Doris Day singing Que Sera Sera I can faintly hear wafting in the distance???? There you go......what will be, will be. =)

So.....that was my autumn. A season that flew by quicker than quick. Let us hope that winter flies by with an even greater velocity of speed. I have an inkling, though, that it won't. So not a fan of Old Man Winter and his trusty sidekick, Jack Frost. Let's just say I won't be putting out the welcome mat for the pair of them at my bright pink door. Thank you so much for popping by and catching a 'few' glimpses of autumn here at my little place. It is my wish that in some small way I have sprinkled a little beauty to your day, even perhaps quieten  the noise and chaos of this world in which we live......if only for a little while. Thank you for the gift of your visit, you always make me smile♥ This afternoon I am going to join that little band of lovelies all around the world, pick up my needle and thread and delight in a little Slow Sunday Stitching, a little hand quilting on my Sweet Sunday pretty.

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

Linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching