cozy.

"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas."

-George Bernard Shaw

Autumn creeps up, the rain falls, the wind blows, and even our apples need a little warmth. 

Yes. This is the most amazing thing you have ever seen.  

The only words for this image are either A) "how adorable." or B) "how rad is that?!"

Tomorrow this apple will go with me to work, warm, safe and unbruised in the bottom of my bag. It will take its place of honor on my desk. Then I will remove the apple from the sweater and eat it. (Pattern found at Unravel Me Designs on etsy)

Thank you to mi Hermana for finding pictures of the apple cozy and sending them my way to thus inspire me to pick up my hook and yarn and try it out myself.

The hexagons have found me....

"Laura was sewing two long breadths of muslin together to make a sheet. She pinned the edges together carefully and fastened them with a pin to her dress at the knee. Carefully holding the edges even she whipped them together with even tiny stitches."

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Hexagons. Taking the quilting world by storm. And now... me. 

Lake time found me basting fabric to paper hexagons.

The car ride home began the whip stitching (BY HAND!!) together.
Winter evenings will be full of hexagons. I will sew them together until my fingers are calloused and strong. I will have a blanket of hexagons.

In the meantime, it's a lazy Saturday in bed with the cat.

She sleeps on a recently thrift-ed quilt, a true find with hand quilting goodness all over it. We listen to Bobcat football (the cat listening to the Cats) with hubby. A wonderful day with sewing and crafting in the future. And chicken soup. Pictures to follow.

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.