Hallowe'en and Stitching!

Here's what the cute little goblins will see tomorrow night when they come trick or treating at my house!

This will be the first time I've had trick-or-treaters in 38 years, so I'm a little excited!
I have my candy stash, and my witch outfit, and I'm ready. Yay!














 

This witchy might show up, too.

Out our backyard is a walking/biking trail with lots of greenspace. It's used daily by the community.

We like to walk the trail, and sometimes follow it to the nearby park.

We often meet our neighbours out for a stroll, walking their dogs, running, or riding their bicycles and getting some fresh air and exercise.

We found out there is a plan afoot to destroy this greenspace and put in a 4-lane parkway!
Needless to say, we'll be heartbroken if this plan goes through.

 There won't be the open spaces with wild plants, nor the old trees providing oxygen.

I certainly wouldn't be able to walk out my yard and see mother nature, nor discover fungal sights like this.

sigh

Fingers crossed that the city will recognize the value of this open, green area in the middle of the city, and save it for generations to come.




I've been stitching. (Surprise!..lol!)
My October block is almost done: just one little seam to finish.....on the lower left.  I also added

some rolled and french knotted ribbon.



















A project I've been working on for the past 2 weeks is a StitchMAP challenge. We were to take a dozen 3" or 4" squares and embellish each with one of 12 assigned stitches. Then, we were to transform the squares into a project.

This photo shows my squares stitched, laced, and with a backing. Two layers of batting sit between the fabric layers, and I have the last seam on the left to complete,  then a bit of quilting to join the layers together.

This quilted mat will be a gift for a friend, so there may be some added embellishing, too.

Here's the back:

My friend loves the colour blue!

I've tatted some tiny thread into this organic form, and I might just use it on another project I've begun with the fabric shown. There's more tatting to add to this.
I think the colours match quite well, and
the tat is ~ 1"x 1.5"

Now, that's really thin thread!

Also on my needles is this blanket. I started one last year for our son as a Christmas gift, but it wasn't finished in time..........gee, how'd THAT happen?...lol

I tinked it 2 weeks ago, and I've begun a new blanket with cables......sheesh, it's the first time I've ever done cables........( I think I may need to get my head examined!)

You can see some of the cables adding interest to the plain green.

The pattern is a 22 row repeat, and I've now done 25 rows...........it measures 10" long so far...........got a ways to go yet......sigh......

How many more weeks until Christmas?




That's it for this week. I hope to return to my wrapping cloth piece #9 during the next few days..........
Hope you've had some nice creative time, too.

Happy Hallowe'en!














and Happy November!

Thanks for visiting.
             
Hugs from Suz

The Last 2 Months and Stitching

Hi everyone.
During the last 2 months, I've received some delightful items in the mail, but there was very little spare time during our daughter and granddaughter's visit to post. So, better late than never.........

Sherry and I share a birthday, and she sent me these wonderful gifts to celebrate the day:

a beautiful pearl and crystal bracelet!

I love the magnetic clasp and the charms.

this lovely card

 this sachet (I love sachets!) is filled with rose petals from her garden, and lavender (I love roses and lavender!)

 pretty hand-beaded pins in an adorable, sparkly 'holder'

such creativity

Sherry, thank you so much for my Birthday Surprise!
I love everything!

I love, too, the fact that Sherry made each gift. As the  bracelet charm indicates, thank you for all the love!













The afternoon before my birthday, I found a bulging envelope in the mailbox. It was from Mary Anne. She didn't know it was my birthday, but the timing was perfect. Look at the delightful laces and trims she sent me!

I've already used some on my wrapping cloth pieces.


There's even a tatted edging!

Thanks so much MA for making my birthday even better!



















Later, a third package showed up in the mail from Lyn. She sent me some of her vintage cards!

They remind me of my Mother's box, filled with old cards, I used to look through when I was young. Memories.

Thank you, Lyn!







My stitching fun continues with work on the October block, and my wrapping cloth:

some alternating lazy daisy trios and cast-on stitch chains filled out this seam treatment

a third chain was added
(took me three tries to get it right!)

the french knots will have bullions added for next week

October, so far.......




















Piece # 9 of my wrapping cloth is progressing slowly:

two tats to cover small seams.....

more buttonhole lace and french knots on the hanky edgings....

a prairie point with buttonhole lace, cast-on stitch 'fastenings' and a white, sparkly button

here's how it all looks...

more titivations to come...


I hope you've had some happy creative time.

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz











 

Suz Stitching Update

Hi everyone. I hope you've had a wonderful week.
Yesterday we took our daughter and granddaughter to the airport. It's been a wonderful 6 and-a-half weeks! Now, they've completed the first leg of their long trip back home to Australia, and our little house is once again too quiet. But, we've made a lot of fabulous memories that I shall cherish. Soon, our visits will be skype visits, only. How marvelous that we have the technology to see and speak with people halfway around the world!
I shall write another post soon, but here is my stitching update:
I've made a little progress on the October block:

Lots more stitching to come, but it's a start.......




















Piece # 9 of my wrapping cloth has also progressed a little:

cast-on stitch chains dance along each edge of the lace-on-wild strip, and is almost complete

buttonhole lace and french knots were added to some of the lace hanky edges, and created 3 smaller pockets

 I've placed some pink paper in each of the three little pockets to indicate their size and shape

 piece # 9 to date, with lots more stitching on the way

 

Vicki Welsh posted these links on her blog, and I thought I would share them with you. Hallowe'en is coming up!
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/john-reckner-roger-williams-park-pumpkins
http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/incredible-blue-squash-carvings-ray-villafane

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Stitching as September Ends

There has been so much happening during the last 5 weeks while our daughter and granddaughter have been visiting, and there's 1 more week until they return home to Australia. It's been wonderful making so many, warm memories together and falling in love with Jewel all over again! She's such a beautiful, loving, and happy toddler.
Catching up will have to wait until the house is quiet and empty.............
You might like to see my last stitching update on the Tuesday Stitcher's Blog
The newest stitching update follows:

I've finished the CQJP September block with a few simple seam embellishments, and 3 cast-on stitch roses.

 All finished and packed away.
(sorry the photos have a yellow cast, but it was a dull, grey day and I needed to use a spotlight.....)

















October is naked, and awaiting needle and thread.........

Stitching fun continues on my wrapping cloth pieces.

Piece #8, completed and damp-stretched

I gathered all the pieces to date, laying them together to determine how many more I'll need to complete my cloth.
Quite a few more.........

I wanted, too, to see just how the pieces looked together, hoping for design and stitch continuity.
So far, I'm quite pleased. :-D

 piece #9 is underway with the creation of a trimmed pocket

beside a doubled hanky, edged in lace are bullion beginnings.....
and the possibility of another pocket created and embellished........

cast-on stitch edges the lace-covered wild fabric




looking forward to lots more fun on this piece




I hope your week has given you some time for happy stitching.
Happy October!

Hugs from Suz












Thanks for visiting. Hugs from Suz