Walk in the Woods

 Yesterday was Deepavali and it's a holiday here.  I walked to the Forest Reserve Institute near my home.  It was bustling with activities of joggers, walkers and cyclists.  I think I'll walk there on Saturdays next time instead of public holidays ... less people and vehicles.  I stayed on the main roads but when I get stronger with my walking I'll take on some trekking.

Many years back I took tennis lessons here

And here's where I trashed out all my aggression on the squash courts! :)

It was a nice day albeit tiring, rediscovering the reserve again. 

Size: 12-1/2" x 13" with 1" finished squares

Simple 4-patch block quilt top.  It was a challenge on SQT.  I have wanted to work with some blues and browns and this was the perfect quilt.

4-1/2" unfinished Cake Stand / Basket block

This too is another challenge on SQT.  Red & White or any 2 colour challenge.  I did not take up this cake stand block challenge some time back so I'm now killing two birds with one stone :)

 I couldn't help not starting another stitchery design.  This time it is Aneela Hoey's Little Apples (freebie).  Love Aneela's illustrations, I may just get some of her other designs from her Etsy shop.  With stitching all 6 strands of floss, it sure is a different experience and I quite like the beady looking effect of it.  Now the filling of her jacket will be a task, with 6 strands my threads run out FAST!

 And here's a start on a small doily.  Faizon's blog is my go to blog for free tatting patterns. A generous soul indeed.  The pattern is Merriment doily.  I am tatting this with Zarina's hand dyed Hakelgarn tatting thread sized 20 Aubrielle.  Faizon will know that I'm not into 2 shuttle tatting so I am employing her tip of using the SLT (shoe lace trick) instead.

Christmas State of Mind

 A free stitchery sampler by Red Brolly.  Had a wonderful time stitching this sampler.  The muslin was divine to work with.  I did not use a stabilizer as the muslin was thick enough.  The muslin is from Bird Brain Designs. And the small pieces are Kona Snow solid, these were interfaced.  It'll be finished into a small wall hanging.

I completed the cross stitch piece last Christmas.  Christmas Eve Flight is a free design by The Sampler Girl.  With a couple of red and green fabrics from Judie Rothermel's Colonial Christmas for Marcus Brothers, I intend to sew it into a cushion cover.  Maybe even a quilted one.

LHN's Quilt Time Sampler, going really well.  If I am not quilting, I am stitching about quilting! Ha!

And it was about time I caught up with some of the Civil War blocks by Barbara Brackman.  You will notice that I've skipped all those tricky and applique blocks, the last thing I need are some crazy calculations!

#31 Empty Spools

#32 Carolina Lily

#42 H is for Hospital

#38 Ohio Star

#36 Kentucky Crossroads

#39 Hovering Hawks

#35 Star of the West

#29 Railroad Crossing

 I have done 35 blocks out of 43 (including yesterday's issue).  I may look into my previous blocks and re-do them.  Some I am not too happy with the piecing precision and some the colours just don't go right together.  We'll see when all the blocks are issued and decide then.  Here are my blocks together on Flickr.

Sewing and stitching

I got some garment sewing down and I have plans to work on the online sewing classes.  I've got to get some pattern drafting done too.

 This is a top by New Look 6356.  The fabric is a white cotton/linen blend.  I employed the tips I learnt from my classes.  I intend to make this again maybe in a different view a square or V neckline.  I will make a few changes namely widen the facing, and lengthen the sleeves.

  I've added some running stitches around the neckline, sleeves, hemline and vents.  It's 3 strands of DMC321.  Love that red.  Christmas must be around the corner!

 Then another pair of shorts for my dad.  The pattern is Burda Andre.  Fabric is dark blue cotton twill.  I've added 2 seam pockets and a back pocket.

 LHN's Quilt Time Sampler in progress.  Stitching on 32ct Cream Belfast with chartered DMC threads.  It's very rare that I start on a project the moment I received the chart and even rarer still if I complete it!  So we'll have to see what happens :)