A lovely visit and some hand stitching......

This time last week I had just arrived in the UK to visit my son, daughter-in-law and their sweet little family.  It was an absolute delight to see my latest grand-daughter together with her older sister.  They are just so gorgeous!

We also visited my father-in-law as we hadn't seen him since October of last year.  While we were there I saw the memory quilt that I made for him to celebrate his 90th birthday. 

He has it hanging in the kitchen.  As I looked at it, I kept thinking that there was something 'missing' from the scene..... something that I had felt when I finished it but, that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

I decided to add some hand embroidery to the lower edge of the quilt beneath the tree.  To me it seemed to 'ground' the tree and somehow balanced the whole quilt.  I was pleased that I had added the stitches but, more importantly, my father-in-law liked the additions too.  They were all stitched using variegated hand-dyed fine silk thread from Stef Francis.

While travelling I also managed to finish off my first completed project for 2020!!  I finished stitching a lovely design by Anne Brooke of H-anne-MADE. 

I really enjoyed working on this while I was waiting for various flights.  It made the time just fly by!  This was also stitched using variegated hand-dyed fine silk thread from Stef Francis.

Since I've been home I have trimmed off the excess background fabric and have framed it.

I now have three of these beautiful embroideries in my sewing room.  I love them all!!

Exciting news.....

Just a quick postscript to my last post where I was awaiting the imminent arrival of a new grandchild..... 

A big welcome to the World to my new granddaughter, Amelie Frances, who arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning.

And here is her sister's first visit with her.... so cute!! 

A Quick Update......

It seems that is has been a busy start to 2020 and I haven't had much time to post here on my blog.  However, that doesn't mean that I haven't been busy stitching between baking birthday cakes for my husband, entertaining guests and other exciting adventures!!

Husband's Birthday Cake (Carrot Cake)

First of all, I have started work now on the Gail Pan BOM 'Wish You Well'.  This is the project Gail has designed for 2020 for her i-stitch-club.

January's Block

February's Block

I really love the two blocks that have been released to date and have had a lot of fun using up some Tilda fabric scraps to complete them.

January and February side by side

I have also been excited to join in a Challenge set by Anne Brooke of H-anne-Made which is called 'sew4thesoulhannemade'.

January's additions and stitching

It is basically using up a scrap of batting (wadding) and adding scraps of fabrics, trims and anything else you would like and then adding texture using stitching. 

February's additions and stitching

It is such a liberating thing to work on as you can just follow your heart and add fabric scraps and stitching to please just yourself. Here is a closer look.

Closer details

I will probably make my piece of 'textile' into a bag of some sort.  As I have just treated myself to Anne's new book 'Textile Wanderings' I may even use it as a book bag to keep it in!!

I am also awaiting news of a new arrival in the family.  My second grandchild is expected any time now and I can't wait!!  So, I have also been looking at ideas for a new baby quilt. 

So far, I have made a trial QAYG (quilt as you go) block which I am very pleased with.  So I shall have to get my skates on a make a few more!!

Thank you for visiting and until next time.....