Octagons + Squares = Cobblestones

Hello lovely lovelies♡ A beautiful welcome to you♡ I am sitting here in the fernery gazing out the windows. My little place is beginning to awaken from the deep slumber of Old Man Winter, and Lady Spring (as I think spring must be a lady) is beginning to stir everything with her  magic. Day by day Lady Spring is sprinkling here and there a delightful preview of what is to come when she comes to stay in a little while. The daffodils are beginning to flower, and very soon they will be everywhere, causing me to smile.

Sitting here inside the fernery, even as I look at the peaceful vignettes which surround me, which embrace me, I cannot help but think upon this raging world in which we live. With every new day it seems another catastrophe rages on  some horizon, somewhere in the world. If only  'the world' would wake up one morning, and decide it was going to be better. To be kinder. To be gracious. To walk a mile in another's shoes. To be compassionate. To respect others, even though beliefs held tightly are poles apart. To treat others as one would love to be treated. A simple ethos really; but somehow, seemingly impossible. It's been one helluva week, hasn't it?? Is there a country in this world where all is well?? Thankfully, there are a crush of beautiful people, selfless souls who are graciousness personified, who with their everyday acts of  beneficence show kindness and humanity; show love to others as they go about their day♡ Thank you, all you beautiful people♡

But, as this little place's ethos is a cheery one, let us chat about other things. Pleasant things, such as hydrangeas, cobblestone patterns and mindful slow hand stitching, shall we?? As after all, it is Sunday where I and other lovely ladies from all over the globe enjoy a chat and a show and tell about what we are hand stitching. 

Besides sitting here pondering the state of this rather sad world with a sorrowful heart, I am stitching. My fingers are stitching along octagons and little squares in the form of cobblestones. A hydrangea-filled cobblestone path on which to skip along, if you like. When last you visited I was tossing up whether I would fashion a simple cobblestone pattern quilt, or a more complex one mixing the octagon shapes with eight-sided stars. Simple, won out. Just a simple quilt with hydrangea-filled octagons and little squares of another patterned fabric. The fabric I have chosen for the squares is leftover from another quilt I stitched ages ago. Both these fabrics evoke a vintage aesthetic. To me, these patterns remind me of a tablecloth that might have graced the kitchen table of my childhood....way back in the 1960's. I am not being finicky with the placement of the  hydrangea-filled octagons; just placing each one wherever they fall; perhaps with just a little tweaking. Some octagons are filled with full blown hydrangea flowers; others are just a wisp of a flower with leaves, or a butterfly or two, as the main focus. I am enjoying stitching these cobblestones. I am loving stitching the pretty blue hydrangeas. Blue is my favourite colour, and hydrangeas my favourite flowers. I haven't made up my mind as to the size of this quilt. I will just play and see what happens.

Alas, another photo shoot in the fernery. The fernery is my little cocoon from the big, wide, nasty world, these days♡

Another Sunday afternoon drifts by. Just sitting here, thinking, praying; stitching happy cobblestones. And....drinking tea, because somehow tea helps when pondering the world and its unholy messes. Tea, and stitching pretty pretties♡ Lovely friend, may you.....and I, this week, be a little kinder than is necessary♡ 

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

My Sewing Room This Week

Hello lovely ladies❣ A warm hug of a hello to you, on this bright and cheery Sunday. My goodness it was a chilly morning, but even though Jack Frost chills dem ol' bones of mine, I have to admit he leaves much beauty. Glorious ice-sheathed paddocks glistening in the sunshine; and frosty windows on which I can scribe messages. And then, there are the reflections dancing on the frosty windows as Old Man Sun rises, beaming his warmth and sunshiny smiles everywhere. Such beauty❣

But, to all things sewing rooms. Once again this week, I have spent many delightful hours in my cheery sewing space; sorting, tidying, playing.....dreaming♡

As I played I thought how lovely it would be if you and I could visit for a while; in my sewing room. I am quite certain many a delightful hour would pass by. We would chat. We would giggle. We would laugh. We might even cry, for there are many goings-on in this world which are sad. A very wise person once said, shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. We would drink tea in pretty fine bone teacups. A piece (or two) of chocolate frosted, chocolate cake with strawberries and lashings of cream, would be enjoyed as it would be a very special and celebratory occasion. For it is not every day such an esteemed and honoured guest, such as you, visits my little sewing room. You might show me how to stitch perfect little quilting stitches; or perhaps teach me all things crochet. You might enlighten me as to the workings of my camera in order to capture that perfect shot. Perhaps I would show you how to fashion a pretty rose, a fuchsia, a pansy, or a leaf; from a length of pretty swirls of ribbon. I might show you how to fashion a bag dancing with embellishments spilling from those suitcases of mine. Oh, I forgot to say, whatever pretty you unearth while fossicking through my suitcases of treasure, then you may have it. A gift from me, to you. 

Oh.....there are so, so many things we could do, to pass the time in my sunny, sewing room♡ Fun times♡ Pleasant times♡ Memorable times♡

Why, you could help me rummage through my jumble of quilts and help me decide which one I will display at the window. Those of you who have stopped by my little place over the years know I am that gal whose windows, for the most part, are not festooned with store-bought curtains, but window dressings fashioned from vintage embroidered linens, crochet tablecloths and Italian coverlets. So, why not quilts?? For quilts not only look lovely resting on a bed, displayed on a wall, or in a cupboard, but I think they look fabulous decorating a window. I have decided my Spring Blossoms quilt will cause my window to sparkle for a little while♡

If you could visit me in my sewing room, you and I could arrange flowers, freshly picked from the garden. There is an inkling that the garden is beginning to stir. After which seems a very long time I have picked my very first bunches of sweet daffodils, daphne and hellebores. Yes, the earth is awakening, the bulbs are beginning to pop up and very soon there will be a sea of cheery, yellow daffodils swaying in the breeze. How exciting. Why, you and I could chat about all the flowers, your favourites....my favourites. I must say, you and I would marvel at the intoxicating fragrances of  the daphnes and jonquils permeating the room. Just divine♡

If you were to sit with me in my sewing room, you could help me choose the fabrics for the sky and garden of my Flowers in Her Hair, Flowers Everywhere quilt. You and I could audition different fabrics; playing, seeing which is pleasing to our eyes. I think I know which fabrics I will use, but a little more ponderation is needed. =)

This week I have been quilting my applique flower garden quilt. Straight line quilting stitches skipping around the border. This is what I will be happily doing later this evening, when all the other ladies at Kathy's place gather together for a little slow hand stitching, too. Why, wouldn't it be nice if you could sit opposite me and help me quilt my pretty flower garden, too. Then, my flower garden pretty would be all stitched and quilted in time for spring. Now.....wouldn't that be 'loverly'♡ 

And.....after we have chatted and giggled and stitched and played with all my pretties, we could then have afternoon tea in the fernery. It is looking rather lovely at the moment. It is cosy and warm in there with the sun streaming through the windows. Potted flowers have found their way there; pots, too.....and a sweet little glasshouse where the odd teacup rests. We would enjoy tea and a piece (or two) of that chocolate frosted, chocolate cake, I was chatting about before. I have baked it especially for you. In the shape of a heart, of course♡

But......as you are not here, and I cannot eat a whole chocolate cake all by myself (well.....I could.....but I really shouldn't) then I guess I will sit with my husband, in the fernery, and he and me will enjoy some lovely companionship; chat about everything, chat about nothing, and eat cake and drink tea♡

If you cannot visit my little place in person, then the next best thing, I suppose, is finding your way through cyberspace to me here, at my little place. Thank you so much for your sweet visit. Your visits are always delightful. You always make my heart smile. I hope I caused you to smile; just a little. May your day be one where a little beauty sprinkles into your day♡ 

Bye for now♡ Until the next time........

Sugar and Spice.....And All Things Nice ❣

 

A lovely hello to you ❣ 'Tis Sunday morning here and I see, somewhat unbeknownst to me, the calender has sneaked over to the month of October. How oh how did this happen???? This year is hurtling along, is it not?? 'Tis early in the morning and I can hear the mellifluous birdsong filling the air and flowers are sprinkling a potpourri of fragrances everywhere. Spring is bustin' out all over. The flowers on the pendulant branches of the blossom trees are slowly unfurling....so very pretty. The magnolias are flowering and the orchid-like, silky petals of the dutch irises are  beginning to burst out from the papery spathes to stand tall. There is a sea of glorious blue hues of forget-me-nots everywhere and the bluebells are swaying in colours of blue, pink and white. Oh, I can see too, it won't be long till the lilacs explode into their purple gorgeousness; and the granny bonnets and foxgloves are about to burst onto the scene as well. Yes indeedy, the days down here at the bottom of the world are as pretty as a picture. 

As each day floats into the other, I have been stitching Lucy's wee quilt. All the hexies are now stitched together. To even the edges along the top, bottom and sides, I will stitch triangles to them, and then I will add a border of white and pink polka dot fabric. As with my Sweet Sunday quilt, I like the thought of  small hexies skipping around the border.....but I will see.

I have unearthed a fabric from one of my armoires for the backing of Lucy's quilt. I have been saving this sweet fabric for an occasion such as this. Several years ago I happened upon a curtain in a thrift shop with sweet Sarah Kay girls featured all over. When I was a young teenager, Vivian Kubbos', Sarah Kay; and Denise Holly Ulinskas', Holly Hobbie designs were seen everywhere. The charming artwork of little girls dressed in floral prints and calico, with sweet bonnets atop their heads, were imprinted on many, many things. I remember I would save up my pocket money and collect greeting cards, plates, dishes, hurricane lamps, calendars et cetera et cetera. Why, I sent many a Sarah Kay greeting card to my friends for their birthday or a special hello note. I will never tire of these sweet  illustrations  and the sense of bygone days each sweet design captured. Days of a long ago time, evoking a feeling of a simpler and gentler way of life; of quiet pleasures, of a homespun spirit. The good old days, a time which I have been reminiscing and reflecting upon of late. Funnily enough my friend, whose granddaughter this quilt is for, and I, would exchange Holly Hobbie gifts with each other, so I consider it fitting that I use this sweet vintage fabric for Lucy's quilt. I remember a favourite Holly Hobbie quote of both my friend and I was "The road to a friend's house is never long" or even "When a good friend shares a day with you rainy days seem brighter, too". So, so many other delightful quotes  which added a touch of whimsy to another's day. Thankfully, I have a length of this fabric left over, so one day I may well fashion a quilt for me....just for old time's sake, just to indulge in the memories of the good old days.

I wonder, do you lovelies of a certain age remember those days of old where young girls found joy in the charming artwork of Sarah Kay and Holly Hobbie?? I know I do and those sweet reminisces make my heart smile♥ As I have stitched these sweet fabrics and gazed upon the Sarah Kay fabric this week, I have felt myself in a little cocoon of sugar and spice and all things nice......despite the horrendous drama of the world stage. We have to grab with both hands the precious little things in the everyday, don't we. Sometimes difficult given the times we live in, but for me I want to be mindful to delight in those fleeting moments which bless my day. I want to be joyful for the miracle of the flowers I pick, the warm sun kissing my cheek, a hug from a friend, a smile from a passer-by, the wide, blue sky of God's open-air cathedral; oh, so, so many things can brighten my day, regardless of what is happening in this world. In these times I want to gather a bouquet of happiness in the everyday little things, as each day passes by. I want to be thankful to God for each day He gifts me and all those little and unexpected, precious blessings❣

 

Thank you for popping by my little spring place and catching glimpses of Lucy's sweet quilt. I hope in some small way I have sprinkled a little charm to your day. Throughout today, here in my blossoming, little spring world, 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, on sweet Lucy's quilt. Take care lovely lovelies. May God bless and sprinkle you with smiles  as you gather a bouquet of  sweet contentment throughout your day❣

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