A lovely hello from my little wintry world❣ 'Tis Sunday morning yet again. It is a chilly, wintry kinda morning here, with a biting nip to the air. Old Man Sun has not made an appearance for days. Where oh where is he?? How I miss the radiant magic of his cheerful beams. Day after day of impenetrable, threatening clouds and drizzles of rain have been the order of my little world. I could've, would've, should've jumped out of bed to behold the magic waiting outside of the early mornings, during this last little while. I just know that God's masterful handiwork would have been a sight to behold........oh well. If only my hand stitched, hand quilted, squishy squashy quilts that bundle me up during the night would relinquish their cuddly and snug grasp, then I would jump crawl (never in my life have I ever, ever jumped out of bed) from my oh-so-warm-and-comfy place of slumber. Then of course, when indeed I do finally throw off peel the bed covers, layer by layer, from my quiescent frame and arise, there is the cosy fire and a warm cuppa which entice me to linger in the warmth of my humble abode. Who am I to ignore these creature comforts. I don't seem to want to stick my nose out in the early morning, glacial air, where as far as the naked eye can see, ice-sheathed paddocks sit shrouded in mist.
Even Maisie who relishes her early morning walks, has been loathe to greet the morning with her customary ecstatic wag of her tail and a smile on her face. For some reason she is a little tardy coming out of her kennel. Mind you, I am quite certain if she sees me with her leash in hand her excitement will abound. Perhaps the two of us are just feeling a little aged these days. Winter can do that to me. =) I hope the two of us find our zeal and vigour for traipsing over the countryside soon, as I do love (well I did last winter) to capture, through the lens of my camera, those wondrous moments that wintry, early mornings gift.
Spending more time than I normally would inside has induced me to stitch my Sweet Sunday quilt until the final stitch has been stitched. Yes indeedy, the hand quilting is done and the binding is dancing around the edge. AND.....even if I do say so, I am loving it. I am loving the hand quilted texture to it and the fabulous soft, tactile essence of the Liberty fabrics. Those of you who have stitched with Liberty Tana Lawn fabrics will know exactly what I mean. For the binding I used leftover Liberty fabric to make strips, stitching them together for a patched effect. Oh.........and just because I could, I gussied up some pillowcases to sit merrily with my little quilt. I don't normally do matchy, matchy but in this instance, well, I could not help myself. Just one of those spur-of-the-moment, kinda things. I must say, they do look rather fab........but that's just me. =) Mmm....I could get used to this matchy, matchy phenomenon.
Sweet Sunday was a joy to stitch. Every facet of this quilt was a delight; from the playing with gorgeous Liberty fabrics and vintage embroidered linens, the hand piecing of each triangle and diamond together to form my favourite shape, the hexie; to the hand quilting, and the hand stitching of the binding. It is a pattern designed by Emma Di Stefano of Treehouse Textiles, but I didn't follow the pattern. I wandered off the patterned path and explored other possibilities and delightful discoveries. The slow meditative essence this quilt bestowed to my days spent in my humble abode, during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown was akin to many warm hugs. When I look at and touch this quilt I will remember this pretty as being the one fashioned during a most bizarre time in our world's history.......which is still being played out in every country of the world. It seems to me, with each new day there is a new situation that is demanding our attention, our immediate consideration; injustices which need to begin to be put right.
Whilst hand stitching this quilt from start to finish, the rythmic and repetitive steps of stitching have stilled my thoughts and calmed my mind; helping me to think upon positive things during these disturbing times. This is what slow hand stitching does, doesn't it, it quietens those troubled thoughts that persist in seeping into the consciousness, which can sometimes bring a dark cloud to one's day. With needle and thread, stitching each little stitch, in...out; one just breathes, inhaling...exhaling; pausing; I suppose reflecting upon anything and everything; with hand, mind and imagination harmoniously working together to create something of beauty, something of intrinsic value to each person who joys in the pleasure of hand stitching. It never ceases to amaze me just how therapeutic slow hand stitching is. Many a time throughout the stitching of these gorgeous Liberty fabrics and happy hexies, I often smiled, wondering how disquieting thoughts could possibly persist when playing with Liberty Tana Lawn, vintage embroideries and hexies....as they are always the perfect pick-me-up.
So.....another queen size quilt, completely hand stitched, is finished. Another quilt with so many thoughts, reflections and memories whirling around it. My first quilt fashioned from Liberty Tana Lawn and I am quite certain will not be my last. I do believe with the exquisite silken touch, the gorgeous colour palette and beautiful patterns, these iconic fabrics will once again stealthily find their way into my humble abode.
Down here at the bottom of the world the doors of our homes have creaked open and we are allowed to once again amble through the countryside whenever we desire. Once again we are able to go to a city park and play 'photo-shoot' and walk and skip over carpets of crispy leaves which scrunch underfoot. Oh, how wonderful it is to walk among ancient trees whose appearance are worthy of a J.R.R.Tolkein tale. Why, I do believe we might have stumbled upon a relative of Tolkien's Treebeard. Do you know what, I think 'he' might have winked at me. Oh, 'tis good to have fun with a photo shoot and entertain passers-by as they smile at my husband's, and my antics. My husband is an hysterical fellow who is always up for a merry photo-taking outing. Photo shoots can induce much merriment. Yep, our days are beginning to sleepily arise from all things lockdown. We, on this little island, are once again allowed to twirl and whirl in a merry dance with our friends.
Thank you lovely lovelies for popping by this wintry morning and gifting me with your sweet visit. As always each one of you has beamed sunshine and cheeriness to my wintry day♥ Now, if only Old Man Sun could beam some rays of sunshine through those clouds and warm dem ol' bones of mine. I wonder if........and when he will??
Until the next time.......................
