Who Would've Thunk it!!

Yes indeedy!! Who would've thunk it......Applique with a capital 'A', is actually enjoyable. I have avoided the "A" word for most of my quilting life. Why, I don't really know. I suppose I thought all those itty bitty, pointy leaves and minuscule petals of flowers, especially those that appear frequently in those Baltimore beauties, were just too tricky to coerce into anything that half resembles a  flower, or a leaf, or a butterfly, or a bird......you get the picture. Yes, I don't know if the tips of my leaves  are the sharpest they should be and yes, I don't know if some of the curves of my flower petals are the curviest they could be but do you know what, I am having the best time coaxing teeny tiny smidgens of fabrics into blossoms. I am loving this growing pretty fabric flowers caper.

This week my magical, mixed packet of seeds have germinated into Pansies and Tulips. More flowers for my big girl quilt have begun to show their happy faces.

Pansies for your Thoughts...........

Tulips for true love...............

Mmm......looking at all these pretties showing off in a lovely frame, me thinks a framed bouquet of appliqued floralicious delight could be rather spiffy! Goodness gracious me.....my imagination will just not stop imagining! =)

Thus far, I have chosen to applique using the freezer paper method. I have found this method to be the easiest as it enables me to finger press around each shape. When I peel off the paper template I dab the  turned under fabric with my glue stick here and there and then iron the fabric shape. I find this gives each shape a crisp, defined look, fabulous for those leaves with sharp tips. After manipulating over 100 petals and leaves I am getting the hang of this finger pressing caper. I have developed a soft touch with my fingers gently easing the curves, thus avoiding sharp indents that should not be there. I find this painstakingly slow, but oddly enough I don't seem to mind at all.

I have yet to stitch the flowers to the background though there has been a little hand stitching. I have stitched individual petals to form each flower and then join these to the stem with the leaves. When I do begin to stitch the flowers to the background it will be easier to arrange and then stitch the completed flower. This is probably not the way 'those people in the know' applique, but it suits me. It would be torture to stitch each little petal, each little leaf to the fabric background separately. Also the finer embroidery details are yet to be stitched. I will do this when I 'plant' the flowers on the quilt.

Whilst my applique flowers have been slowly growing this week, as I look out my windows I see signs that Spring is about to explode onto the scene. The Daffodils, those pretties that provide a spectacle towards the end of Winter are beginning to fade. I always feel Spring has arrived when I see the buds on the pendulous branches of the weeping cherry trees explode and cascade waterfall-like down to the ground. They truly are a spectacular sight.

Though mornings are still chilly it won't be long till I can be found relaxing on the swing seat by the pond, reading a book or two, or perhaps  stitching flowers to my big girl quilt.

Appliqued Daffodils, Pansies and Tulips. Next week I think I might attempt some Water Lilies, after all, the star of  the garden is the pond my husband has created. I can see the Water Lilies spilling out of the magical packet of mixed seeds as I type. How exciting!! Who knows, perhaps when next you visit my little Spring world the real stitching will have begun. Perhaps, just perhaps my applique flowers will have begun to blossom on the quilt. But for now, I will just keep having the best fun Appliqueing with a capital "A". As always, thank you for visiting my blossomy, little Spring place.

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

Linking this week at Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts......well because....it is Sunday and my stitching this week has been slower than a snail's pace. =)
AND....also at Soma's Wandering Camera at Whims and Fancies

Tickled Pink

This past week, in this far rural outpost, I happened upon a quirky little shop which was filled to the rafters with bric-a-brac. A bright pink, painted shop with the name of "Tickled Pink", burgeoning with the funnest of antiquities. Needless to say I am tickled pink (sorry =D ) with discovering this little shop. Actually I am beside myself with great joy, even quite delirious with the discovery of it!!

Upon crossing the threshold of this fun shop my eyes ricocheted from shelf to shelf as to what once-loved relics were on offer. The proprietor who smiled at my oohing and aahing (I know it is hard for you to believe but I do quite often gush in establishments of this ilke) asked me "what things do you collect?" I had one of my "one-of-a-kind" bags over my shoulder; a bag decorated with a needlepoint, ruched ribbons, a vintage brooch etc etc. Well.........she said "I see you like needlepoints; do you sew??" I replied, "a little", to which she went on to say, "I have bags and bags filled with needlepoints  which I have been collecting over the years.........would you be interested in looking at some?" Mmm....now let me think........is the Pope Catholic??!! Needless to say a few went home with me!!

Are they not all gorgeous?? Am I not one lucky gal?? AND.........there were so many more that I just might return at a later date to take more off her hands. 'Tis such a pity my good husband had to eat this past week, or I would have taken the whole kit and kaboodle home with me. I did ask him if the beauty of these pretties would sustain him by the sheer joy of looking at these pretties every day; if they would quell his hunger pains. Perhaps I could empty the bank of the pennies that we have been squirreling away; but even though he smiled, I thought perhaps not. He is still rather thin and I suppose I should be more mindful of fattening him up. As for me, I could forego a few meals this week. Come to think of it, my figure would be most thankful for undergiong a week long fast!! Seriously though, I must say all these glorious needlepoints lovingly stitched by others, were swooped up for the proverbial song, with not a great amount of cash exchanging hands.

Sweet girls!

The cutest cottages.

Vases of flowers......bouquets of flowers......flowers, flowers, flowers!!

Grapevines and lattice!

AND......the piece de resistance......beautiful swans floating among the Water Lilies! Oh, the beautiful swans!!

The needlepoints are different sizes ranging in length from 10 inches to 20 inches. I don't know about you, but my li'l ol' heart goes pitty pat at the sight of these pretties.

Not only have needlepoints tickled my fancy this past week. Pretties of the botanical kind have put a smile on my dial. =)

These Rhododendrons bring to mind little girls' frilly and fanciful petticoats in the prettiest of pinks. Alas, they were not picked from my garden but I pilfered these divine flowers from a B&B garden. Oh, don't worry, I sought the permission of the proprietor before I attacked her bush. =) When these pretties have wilted away, I will pop the cuttings into the ground to see if they take root and gift me with pretty flowers in a couple of seasons. Everywhere you go in Tassie at the moment, the landscape is dotted with beautiful Rhododendrons of every hue.  =)

I couldn't help myself. A teacup filled with some Sweet Pea and Pansy love.

Oh, to lay on a bed of Wisteria petals dotted with Pansies and Granny Bonnets, looking up at the blue, blue sky.

A little more stitching of fabric, origami flowers to my Japanese quilt.

My brainpan is a bit light on in the elucidation of the intricacies of fabric origami, but I am plodding along okay.

Perhaps scaling tall ladders to pick Lilacs from way, way up high wasn't the wisest choice to make, but I have lived to tell the tale. Beautiful Lilacs greeting the blue, blue sky.

A vision in Lilac. =)

Needlepoints, flowers........flowers, needlepoints.......another week filled with beautiful things. A cache of pretty needlepoints, sweet flowers and a little stitching makes for a most beautiful kinda week!

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

A chair and a li'l cross stitch

Remember a little while ago I asked you to "watch this space", to pop by my place in a little while to have a bo peep at how I might transform this sweet little chair?? If you cast your mind back just a little, you will remember my good husband's beady little eyes espied this cute little chair in our new favourite bric-a-brac shop.

It took a little longer than I thought to begin the transformation of this little chair, but this week I bit the bullet and decided to transcend this little chair from it's cute but rather plebian, dark wood condition to a state of winsomeness, giving it a feeling of other world loveliness.

First things first, I sanded the chair and gave it a lick or two of white chalk paint. Having never used chalk paint before I was interested in seeing how my little chair would turn out. Let me tell you, I am the newest convert to chalk paint. I LURVE how evenly and easily it painted on and I love the smooth finish.

With this sweet, little chair smiling with a lovely coat of white paint.....now for the really fun part. I decided I wanted to stitch a little cross stitch using some pretty threads, with the cane as the canvas. I happened upon a few on Pinterest and thought they were really cool. But what design to stitch??

I definitely wanted a floral design. As the size of the cane canvas would only allow  for a small flower, I decided on a single pansy design on the back and an arrangement of pansies on the seat. I decided on a pansy design as I wanted to stitch in different shades of blue, purples and pinks. The sweet, smiling faces of pansies always make my heart sing.........as do a pretty pair of 'stepping out'  boots! =)

With the design decided upon I dived into one of my many suitcases rummaging for some DMC tapestry wool that I bought a long time ago for just such a special occasion, and began to stitch, doubling the wool as I stitched.

A pansy.......a vision in purples with a sprinkling of yellow.

Add some leaves...and voila....the back is finished.

Now for the seat. I thought an assortment of pansies in different shades would give my little chair a touch of beauty.

What thinketh thee?? =)

Of course my pretty little chair maketh my home......home.......(it will eventually live in my boudoir) but it also sings a pretty song under the shade of the Wisteria.

A sprinkling of a posy of sweet, pretty pansies.....perfect!

 My pretty, pansy teapot somehow found itself sitting on my sweet little chair.

Every pansy teapot requires a pretty pansy, tea cosy to keep it warm, don't you think??

Oodles and oodles of pansy prettiness!

Cross stitching this chair was such a fun project. It was rather easy to do and surprisingly, it stitched up quickly. The main concern was to keep the doubled wool flat with each stitch, but really this was not difficult at all.

Who would've dreamt the sweet but rather plain, little chair my husband's beady little eyes espied could have been so delightfully transformed. I wouldn't mind beautifying another cane chair with a little chalk paint and a li'l cross stitch........perhaps roses or maybe a basket of overspilling blossoms, next time??Who knows, perhaps my intuitive husband will find another treasure for me to tart up. He does seem to have a talent for spotting treasures in dark hidey holes. Have I intimated before that I really, really LURVE this sweet li'l chair.....just so you know! =)

Hoping all you lovely ladies are enjoying a pleasant weekend. May you enjoy moments of doing something you love.....oh....and make sure you take time out to enjoy a cup of tea or two, in a pretty tea cup!

Until the next time.......

Linking up this week to:

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home
Amaze me Monday

Jann's Share your cup

Sweet Inspiration Link Party