Skipping Around The Garden Path, Again♡

Hello lovely lovelies♡ Welcome to my little place, this very chilly Sunday. It was a blue-sky day, where outside the winds were a-blowing all day, but inside the sun's rays sprinkled warmth and cheeriness wherever they touched. It was one of those washing-flapping-in-the-wind, kinda days. Freezing outside but warm as toast inside.

This week I laid my pretty Tilda Chic Escape fabrics aside for a little while and picked up my Skipping Around The Garden Path quilt. The last time I chatted about this pretty I had finished all the blocks; the days were warm, the cosmos were sashaying and the dahlias were putting on a glorious show. This week I stitched all the blocks together. There were a few sunny days where  my sewing room was awash with warm sunshine, where I cosied down for many an hour soaking up all the cheery rays. It took a little while as I had to make certain the squares met exactly. When I handstitched all the wedges together, I didn't actually sew down the sides of each of the intersecting squares because when I eventually joined these together, if indeed these didn't meet perfectly, I would manipulate each one so they did. I hope to hand stitch these down later this evening (though I fear I have run out of time) when I join the other slow stitching lovelies at Kathy's place. 

I want to add a border around the outside, so I have a thought of hand stitching pentagons in a continuous arrangement skipping all the way around the edge. These pentagons will be stitched onto lengths of the slate grey fabric. I have no idea if this will work, but I will certainly give it a whirl. As I am a mathematically challenged gal I am going to make it up as I go along. Just playing yet again. So, I have covered many more pentagon EPP shapes and have begun to stitch these together in groups of six. I thought too, that this quilt would look fabulous with a scalloped edging all the way around, but of course this is jumping the gun, just a little. =) 

Now to see if what is in my muddly head can translate to lots of happy pentagons filled with scrappy loveliness, skipping around the border of the quilt. Another good-in-theory, lame brain notion perhaps?? But.....if it pans out in the end, then I will be doing a happy dance. =) If perchance it goes belly up, then at least I will have oodles of scrappy pentagons in readiness for another pretty sometime down my hand stitching path.

Hoping you enjoy a lovely week, lovely lovelies♡ Thank you for gifting my day with your lovely visit♡ May you find small joys in the ordinary of the everyday♡ See you next week........perhaps. =)

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

Tilda, Glorious, Tilda♡

Hello, lovely lovelies♡ Well....June 1st finally arrived! And, although here in Australia the calendar refers to this day as the first day of winter, my least favourite of the seasons, here in my little place this fact surprisingly did not cause me any alarm. No discontentment, no displeasure; indeed no regret here.  For it was the day that Tilda's new glorious collection 'Chic Escape was to be released to the world!

My good husband and my good self jumped out of bed with glee. For it was the day that he and me were to rock up at my favourite patchwork shop, before it opened, to be first in line, so that I might empty my purse and purchase metre upon metre of the glorious fabrics.  Well, I do tell a fib....just a little one, for my Pete wasn't quite as enthused to greet the wintry-like morn quite like me.  But, he did nevertheless. He even cooked breakfast for me before we embarked on our little 'adventure'. He is a good man, is My Pete. I did query a week ago that perhaps we could camp on the doorstep of the shop overnight, but to my astonishment he said, a monosyllabic, NO. Did I say last week  he and me have been strolling along the path of matrimonial bliss for 44 years? Oh dear...I wonder if we will add another year to that number?? 

Alas, we should've stayed in bed to enjoy a leisurely cup of tea because enroute to the amassing of these sumptuous fabrics, Sarah,  the lovely proprietor of my favourite patchwork shop, rang to say the fabrics were delayed and she didn't know when they would arrive. So, we diverted from our chosen course, and continued to drive down a picturesque, winding road in search for some tea and cake. There are always beautiful views to drink in, especially on the road less travelled. All was not lost. =)

So...3rd June rolled around and with word the night before that the fabrics had arrived; and much like Groundhog Day, the two of us  set off once more the very next morning to acquire some lovely Tilda pretties. As I opened the door  all the lovely bolts of Chic Escape were before me just waiting for me to choose. Good thing we arrived early though, as the lovely Sarah was busily cutting fabrics to fill online orders.  After having chosen a quite a few fabrics,  I did wonder if the EFTPOS machine would explode as the final amount spent was keyed in. Thank goodness....all was well. You American lovelies are very spoilt with the prices you pay for your patchwork fabrics.  Here in Australia we seem to pay through the nose; two and a half times what you pay. But, that's okay, as I really wouldn't want to live anywhere else but Australia these days, for so many reasons.  Also, I did wonder if Pete would buckle under the weight of all the fabrics, as we made our way to the car but again, no; all was good. So, he and me journeyed home with me petting all my lovely pretties and at intervals me exclaiming "wow....will you look at this peacock....look at this vase.....just have a gander at the roses....!". Pete just smiled and kept driving with both eyes on the road ahead. For I know he didn't want us to meet our untimely demise, just yet......at least not till I had a chance to play with my Tilda pretties.=)

Anyway, let us chat about the gorgeous fabrics that is  Tilda's Chic Escape. They are all so very chic and give the feeling of escaping into another era where grand old houses which have stood tall and strong for hundreds of years, burgeoning with antiques, chandeliers; dimpled and at places threadbare, well-used chintz-covered sofas with coordinated fabrics (chintz again) draping from 20ft high leadlight windows, puddling on the floor. The colour palette is bolder and deeper, and the patterns bigger than the Tilda fabrics we are used to. As I pet and look at these fabrics more closely, I am struck by what a clever designer Tone Finnanger is, both in pattern, obviously; but also the unexpected colour and tonal choices. Along with Chic Escape there are ditsy little flowers, Daisyfield, to coordinate with Chic Escape. They are all truly gorgeous, imparting a feeling of joie de vivre. 

There are vases with chinoserie-like patterns spilling over with flowers; peacocks strutting their stuff, with tail plumage trailing behind them as they preen amongst a background of climbing roses, and heady arrangements of blousy roses mingling with other flowers. All the patterns luxuriant, full-bodied and screaming sumptuousness. Sumptuousness, I hear you ask?? Is there such a word?? Well, there is now. =)

Now to imagine what I will fashion from these lovely fabrics?? Perhaps a few 'just because' quilts as gifts for friends. Perhaps a quilt for me.  Some to find a home, perhaps, on my quilted coat, which is at the moment just a fanciful imagination?? Oh, I most certainly can see a proud and beautiful peacock strutting somewhere on my quilted coat. I can definitely see broderie perse pretties, too. So, so many possibilities.

Oh, and about my previous words that the arrival of Old Man Winter did not cause me any discontent, nor indeed displeasure; forget it!   I was obviously not quite right in the head. The rush of blood to my cerebral region was evidently caused from excitement of the procurement of these splendiferous fabrics. Just a tad hasty, perhaps, in my nonchalance of the frigid season. Because today, Old Man Winter has blasted in, swirling and howling all around the place in a furious and frenzied manner. Huffing and puffing, and trying to blow my house down. But, thus far my little  abode is still standing upon the foundations. Heavy rain, and at times gale-force winds was my lot this Sunday. I'm surmising the  frigid fellow is settling in with the determination to stay for a long while. Not to worry. With the fires belching out fevered  heat and me playing with my Tilda pretties, perhaps 'The Big Freeze' will be tolerable.

As it is Sunday, I really should think about a little slow stitching, after all I suppose that is why I'm here. =) Truth be told my 'little' photo shoot has taken the good part of my day. I capture a photo or two in one setting, then another; with my muddly brain exploding with ideas. Now I really should pack everything away. What I need is an assistant to tidy up as I go. =) This post has really been to a showcase Tilda's Chic Escape fabrics. Later this evening I think I might begin to prepare a few hexies together from my gorgeous Tilda fabrics for the patchwork coat. Not slow stitching exactly but the beginnings of some. There surely must be a spot or two for some hexies on the coat. About this coat?? It may well turn out as one of those better-in-theory-than-in-practice kinda projects, but it will be fun playing, nevertheless. Always the eternal dreamer.  =)

Thank you for stopping by♡ Hoping you enjoy a pleasant week, lovely lovelies♡ Enjoy your Sunday. Hoping yours is a sunnier one than mine.  'Tis a good thing I took much too many happy snaps of my Tilda pretties, outside, yesterday, when there were blue skies. =)

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

Autumn.....All Wrapped Up♡

 

Hello lovely lovelies♡ Autumn♡ It's a wrap for yet another year. 

I have been absent through the month of May. I didn't intend to. I never do, really. It's never my intention to be absent for weeks on end, but I've been hibernating within the safe cocoon of my humble abode. My little, humble abode; it ain't much.....but it's home. =) A safe place from all ills, both here on the home front, and the ails of this sorry world. A sunshine-filled, little home on those sunny days with the sunbeams slowly creeping across the rooms, embracing...warming; and on those not so sunny days, a cosy fire to ward off the winter chills. Be it ever so humble, I love my little home. So, so thankful for my little home.

While I am on the subject of  'home sweet home' I have been leisurely reading a beautiful book about all things home. It was a Mother's Day gift from my Pete. It is a sumptuous book, both in photos, layout and words. It is a book which enthuses all things home, giving me a peek into others' culture and their homes. I am enjoying slowly turning page after page, delighting in the words and photos. I mean, what's not to love about a book where the title page for each chapter has details of running stitches scampering across the page and the number of the chapter in cross stitch?? Oh, how I love a book where the words dance off the page. Oh, how I love a book with a beautiful binding and cover. It is what attracts me to a book  in the first place; shallow woman that I am. Whenever I cross the threshold of a book store my eyes ricochet from shelf to shelf in search of gorgeous covers. Well....I am a visual gal, after all. =)

I have had my nose deep within many a fabulous book of late. Both fiction and non fiction. Many have made the month of May speed by. Oh, how I love to immerse my hours, my days; my thoughts, my imagination in the land of the literary world where gifted authors (and illustrators) spin their tales, their truths, and some, inking page after page of whimsical and magical illustrations which cause one's heart to smile. Two of my favourite books (not that I can choose a favourite, as I have loved them all for varying reasons) are ones which I suppose would be considered as 'children's books' but I think everyone of all ages would love them. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy and Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury. Both are poignant in words, thought and illustrations. Both are a must read in these times. Why, I bought three copies of each book; one for me and the other two for my two adult daughters. Do yourself, your child....indeed your grandchild a favour and gift them a copy. In this horrible, dark world of late these beautiful stories touch the soul. Besides, one is never too young to read a beautiful children's book....is one?? So love the power and insight that books bring into our lives. Indeed, books have always been the very best of  friends to me.

Elizabeth Gilbert, when she reviewed The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse said "The world that I am required to inhabit is this one. But the world that I long to inhabit is the one that Charlie Mackesy has created."  I must say I would have to agree. I happened upon an interview (one of many) here with the fabulous Charlie Mackesy. As I have said, do yourself a favour and buy this book. Let the beautiful words and delightful pictures hug you♡ 

Autumn♡ As always, it was alive with glorious, burnished colour. Truth be told, the trees here are still in the process of shedding their leaves. I suppose within a month all that will be left are the skeletal limbs of the trees against the wintry landscape. The dahlias were lovely for a good while and the hydrangeas changed into those lovely muted hues.  I must say the cosmos, too, hung on for dear life but have now been pulled out, the seeds sprinkling wherever they will in readiness for a gazillion flowers next summer. There were celebratory days during the autumn months.  There was  my Pete's birthday where cupcakes sent from my daughter via a courier were enjoyed in the Fernery. There was Mother's Day, and our wedding anniversary, also. Goodness, he and me.....us two; have been pedalling, in tandem, along the scenic roads of life for such a long time. Forty four years.....goodness it doesn't seem that long. Of course, perhaps if you were to ask my significant other as to how the years have passed during our matrimonial bliss, he could well give you an entirely different answer. =)

During this last little while I seem to have been hopscotching from one imagination to another; dreaming, thinking of more pretties to start, but alas, not a skerrick to show for all that time wasted dreaming. My knitting needles have been rhythmically knitting in a fashion, though. Both sides of the front are knitted and the back, too. The bands are done as well. Gosh, they were a bit of a pain. I can't tell you how many times I unravelled these, but finally they are done and I have been wearing my lovely kimono jacket around about town. I rather love the pattern of this one. It reminds me of a lovely knitted shawl with opening for the arms where cuffs have been knitted on. A buttoned-up-kinda-gal-that-I-am, I will cinch the front together with a variety of brooches. I will probably live in it this winter. For those of you who are interested in the pattern it is from a Patons book 'Women's Merino Collection'. My woolly kimono is so very comfy and very warm. So, so love it♡ 

For a very long time I have wanted to fashion a coat in the design of a patchwork quilt. There are many, many to be seen popping up everywhere on the net.  Honeybea and  Lady Lancaster, are a few designers that come to mind. Now, I don't have any vintage quilts here that are threadbare waiting for another life in a new guise, and I don't really want to cut into any of the quilts I have fashioned, so I thought I might play with fabric and patterns and see what I come up with. Such fun.

I'm excitedly waiting for the new Tilda collection Chic Escape to burst onto the market. June 1st is the day when this exciting event happens; so this coming Wednesday I will be high-tailing into my friendly patchwork shop and purchasing metre after metre of this new, gorgeous line. So, so excited! Have you seen Tilda's Chic Escape?? 'Tis gorgeous! Big, blousy roses....flowers...urns....peacocks.....so, so delicious. Why, I'm quite certain some of these fabrics will find a place to show off on my patchwork coat. I cannot wait to fashion a few quilts from these luscious fabrics, too.

So, there you have it. The month of May skedaddled along and with it it the last of autumn. The trees are still in the process of shedding their gloriously coloured leaves, but very soon with one blustery force the leaves that are clinging on for dear life will be swept from the trees in an almighty whoosh, falling to the ground forming crunchy, mosaic-coloured carpets to dance upon. Not that I will be dancing as winter doesn't enthuse me to dance; much more like sitting in front of the fire, reading a book or enjoying some hand stitching. Oh, and speaking about slow hand stitching I had better go and find a pretty to stitch joining in over at Kathy's place tomorrow. Perhaps some hand quilting......my Hydrangea Cobblestones has been left languishing of late.  But.......I did immerse myself in knitting throughout the merry month of May, so that is something, I suppose. After all, I did want to finish my woolly pretty in readiness for the Antarctic blast that will arrive at my doorstep, sooner rather than later.

Such a rather lengthy post, but I suppose that is what happens when one  has been absent for a wee while. I have had a pleasant month of May, a lovely autumn, tucked away here in my cosy, humble abode. Though, of course the cocoon of my little place does not stop the 'horribleness' of this world from filtering through......nor should it! I  need to be jolted from my safe and pleasant existence and be made aware and act upon others' tragic circumstances; to walk in another's shoes and cause change to happen. Sometimes though, it all seems impossible.

The world this week, and in particularly America has saddened me to my core. The murder of children and their teachers in Uvalde, and the racist murder of people who just wanted to shop for groceries in Buffalo last week; and all the tragic ramifications, is devastating.  How does one begin to fathom those who will not begin to nut out the vexed issue of gun control; to begin to try to put laws into place to stop the senseless carnage of their citizens caused by military style guns??  It seems to me that although the majority of the population want changes, there are those who by hook or by crook stop everyone from getting over the line. Mid term elections coming up.......make your vote count!! 

I know, I know, what do I, someone who lives in Australia, know about the political dealings and subterfuge of America?? Obviously.... not much. I admit I continually shake my head in befuddlement of the political machinations of the US. In Australia, here in Tasmania, we had a massacre 26 years ago at the hands of a lone gunman bearing a RK-15 rifle, which caused the government to put in place new gun legislation. Thirty five people were murdered and 23 injured. What happened at Port Arthur  caused our government at the time to move in twelve remarkable days. The gun lobby here, too, was powerful, but thankfully they were "outpaced, outflanked and outwitted" by a very determined Prime Minister and his cabinet; and others. I might say at this juncture it was a bipartisan legislation where both sides of the hallowed halls of parliament unanimously concurred. Here in Australia, as a collective, we never wanted to experience carnage such as Port Arthur ever again. I am continually nonplussed that America does not act upon the tragedies that is the continual massacres. In what universe is it okay for an eighteen year old to be able to stroll into a store and buy military assault style weapons??!! He can't legally buy beer but he can buy an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle......REALLY??!! Time after time I watch the conferences after each tragedy and see pro-gun governors....senators, mouthing senseless platitudes. Quite frankly their thoughts and prayers....their platitudes for the families, spilling from their mouths is outrageous!! Shame on them!! Enough said!

Should I say have a lovely week, lovely lovelies?? Somehow, it seems shallow. The paradox of these days; deep sadnesses living alongside the small joys of our everyday life remains, as ever, such a conundrum to me. Indeed, my heart is heavy these days. Heavy-hearted by the stupidity and disgusting, self-serving nature of some of those in power, and their evil. Heavy-hearted by the murder of innocent children and adults, just going about their everyday lives.

Nevertheless, I do hope you find joy in the small moments, this coming week. We have to grab those moments of joy with both hands. Hoping all you lovelies way up yonder are enjoying your warm, sunny days. As for me I brace myself for Jack Frost to blast in. I suppose I shall wrap my new knitted woolly ever so much closer to ward off the chill. =) Hoping your day causes your heart to smile a little, however difficult that may be♡ Such a mix bag this week. So, so very thankful for the cocoon of my little home; and so, so very sad for all those families whose lives have been shattered. I cannot for the life of me imagine waving  my 'babies' off to school, kissing them, hugging them, wishing them a lovely day; and them never returning home ever again. It is beyond me. It causes me to weep; to sob. I am so sorry, my lovely American friends that you are going through tragedies such as these, yet again♡

Perhaps when next you visit my little place, I will be in a cheerier frame of mind. Perhaps next time, normal transmission will return........... 

PS My husband has just bought a book; probably another sad book to read, but then, other people's stories inspire me. I consider these stories, as hard as they are to read, need to be chewed upon; digested slowly. Why, though I have read many peoples' memoirs of the Holocaust, I have never read one from the perspective of the dressmakers who sewed to survive. Should be an interesting read. 

Anyway....on that note, it really is goodbye from me♡