Two fierce cats.

Emily- this post is just for you. No words needed.

So Ducking Cute

Embroidery from my time down with the knee injury. Turns out, there are trillions (or a few) vintage transfers that sweet nice bloggers have posted online and are free for use. As much as I love some of my more "modern" themes in my books... sometimes the classics are just too much fun.
Like these ducks:

I love these little ducks and their little love story. 

But, if these ducks seem a little kitchy, just wait until you see the kitty--

Holy lazy daisy stitch.

These are both on dish towels. Here they are in all their cuteness:

I think I can only have one out on display at a time. Both might be over the top cute-ness.

It's getting hot in here

A Move to the Sun

I've moved outside! And the cat came with me:

She curled up under my chair for a bit to eat some grass. Hours of begging to be outside... and she spends her time eating grass.
What's that on my lap desk?

 A nest that was tucked in the roses. The birds have long since left the nest, we got to see them when they were just open beaks and some beady eyes- now they are off flying in the trees.
Trees?-- Check out my view from my new chair-

My toes are so happy to be soaking up some rays. I'm so happy to be out of the house. I think this is an important part of my recovery. I know a few people that expressed sympathy that I couldn't do my surgery in the winter when "There is nothing to do". But... it's hard to imagine recovery on dark, stormy days. I love a sunny day, laying in the sun, reading my books, perhaps a little crafting...

(I KNOW- adorable! I found this vintage embroidery pattern online and printed and made an iron transfer. SO kitchy, but I couldn't resist. Look how the boy duck likes the girl duck. QUACK!)

And I can think of no better excuse than knee surgery to be ignoring laundry, gutter cleaning, yard work, dishes.... of course, while I ignore it, my husband has to deal with it-

But I make a good cheerleader/boss/backseat driver.
We did have to put Tesla back in the house, as she was getting too adventurous with her exploring. S had to chase her down- see her tail? She came to hide by me, but alas, I am not a place of sanctuary.

A little sun does a lot to help a girl's spirit. I'm happy to be outside.

Through the haze

"My heart is like a singing bird."
   -Christina Georgina Rossetti

With my knee surgery two days behind me, most of my craft projects are on hold. No quilting for a few weeks. But... that doesn't mean a full stop! With inspiration from A Rainbow of Stitches I tried some embroidery. It's been years since I've done any, but I think I'll enjoy it for the next week, while I'm in bed. This was done on a flower sack and will be a dish towel in the kitchen.

From the start

I'm just at the start of a quilt...
Look at this wonderful fabric, just waiting to be cut-

The flowers in the middle were the first fabric I picked and the rest of the fabrics are colors from it.

Now, to begin the cutting.

"Who Hoo" will this go to?

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea

In a beautiful pea-green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money, 

Wrapped up in a five pound note.

"The Owl and the Pussycat"

Edward Lear

I finished a quilt without a class and all on my own! And there are owls all over it!! What a wonderful thing!

Okay, on my own is stretching it. Without the class at Modern Domestic, taught by Elizabeth of oh Fransson! this quilt would not exist. I referred constantly back to oh Fransson's blog for tips with the quilt sandwich and binding. Tips that made no sense to me before I had a live demonstration of them. (I'm a hands on kind of gal)

 

I also took inspiration for this quilt from Cluck Cluck Sew. I made it smaller and learned a bit about planning for quilt dimensions. I should take a photo of my planning page in my idea journal- I'm pretty proud of it. Numbers, colors, careful planning. (And still, I had some errors- but I worked through them all)

I went with a pea green flannel background. Soft a cozy for the little guy who is getting this one. I also managed a binding on my own. Well, with reference of some tutorials for reminders.

The quilting process itself... less than satisfying. I kept meaning to get over for some open sewing time at M.D., but never did. I just shoved it through my machine and did some stitch in the ditch action. It worked, but not pretty. But it worked. And the people getting it will never know it could have been something different. I'm not ready to commit to that new machine until I know I'm really committed to this quilting and sewing thing. 

Oh, those Owls. I picked up the Owls at Bolt in Portland during their sale. I'm so glad they've made it into a project.