and now - relax.............

Yes, it is all over! 

Thank you very much for all your Christmas wishes; it was a bit hectic there for a while, but I will get around to thanking you personally.

I hope you had a lovely time, what ever you were up to; we certainly did, time spent entirely with the family, at ours, our daughter's and son's houses, we covered it all!

Now it is time to breathe out.....

I love Christmas, but I also always look forward to that quiet time after, to relax and unwind.

That is exactly what I am doing right now, just taking it easy, "clearing the decks" and thinking about new projects. No "New Year resolutions" here, I don't do that, I prefer to take it as it comes and start new projects as the mood takes me.

So last night I finished the top for Little Patchwork Village wall quilt; it will now have to wait for a while to be finished completely.

All the fabrics used here came from my stash, which I am very pleased about.

However much I like redwork, I am done with it for some time; 

I need to get away from reds!

Tomorrow will be another busy time for us, so just in case I'll don't get the chance -

I wish you very Happy New Year !!!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

it is nearly time

Christmas is nearly here, 

and I am sure you all have been very busy too. 

Not very seasonal in our part of the world, quite mild and wet, 

yes, it is very English Christmas.

This week I managed to put together all the blocks for Little Patchwork Village wall quilt, 

and started to stitch the block together. 

But now I am putting it away for a while - I will be far too busy for sewing for the next few days!

Last minute baking today,

"Vanilletorte".

I have been making this cake since 1980, when I found the recipe in that year's December issue of Burda Moden magazine!

(Admittedly, I don't make it every year!) 

The house is taking on Christmas look,

 

my latest quilt is on the wall,

and Christmas tablecloth is out for its annual outing.

We keep Continental Christmas at our house, Christmas Eve is still "Christmas" for me, when our children and grandchildren come to our house for a special meal and we exchange presents.

It means that I will be busy in the kitchen tomorrow, so I shall wish you now

VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

my version of the Scandinavian Rose quilt

is all finished!

I managed to take a picture outside this morning, before the rain came.

I loved this design by Rosalie Quinlan the first time I saw it,

but it was a very long time in making. 

Looking back through my blog, I can see that I started the first embroidery in February 2013!

I added an extra border, machine quilted inside the blocks and hand quilted the rest, and embellished with few buttons.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

Quilter's Parch quilt - block 10, and more

Honeysuckle block

I have remembered this week why I haven't touched this project for such a long time.

 This quilt is really testing me; 

the 12" block number 10 is made out of 120 triangles!

No, it did not come out exactly right; the width is OK, but it is little short.

I should imagine there will have to be quite a few adjustments later on.

I have finished all 9 stitcheries for the Little Patchwork Village quilt,

so the decision will have to be made about the fabrics.

I have also finished all the quilting of the Scandinavian Rose quilt, and it is ready for the binding.

That should not take long, once I decide if I should go for blue or red!

But I do want to finish this one before I start making "Awakening",

for which I now have most of the fabrics.

I am really looking forward to doing some applique again.

I hope you all have a good week ahead; 

I know, it is that crazy time of year, but slow down, take a deep breath and make some time for yourselves 😅

Christmas will come whatever you do or don't!

Before I'll go, this is what is on my display wall right now;

This quilt comes out every year, around this time. 

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

changing colours

I can't believe it was spring the last time we visited Stourhead; the fresh greens were just coming through then. 

Now the trees and shrubs are slowly taking on new shades; not fully blown autumn yet, but well on the way.

We took a longer walk than normally, through the woods surrounding the gardens.

Beautiful sunny day; we have been having some frost at night, 

but day temperatures have been pushing up to 19 - 20 C, and again very dry.

At home I have been having fun with butterflies,

and I nearly finished stitchery no 7 for Little Patchwork Village wall quilt, 

only 2 more to do.

And this is a start of my new crochet project, a shawl, which I have rather fallen in love with.

I hope you will have a good week, where ever you are! 

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

FNwF

How does the time fly! Here we are in September, with autumn creeping in.

We have had some cold nights, but most days are still nice and sunny, real "beer garden" weather, and even some little stitching in the garden is possible.

Last night we met up again at Cheryll's for FNwF; thanks Cheryll, for being such a great host!

What was I up to?

Last night I nearly finished stitchery no 5 (of 9) 

for Little Patchwork Village wall quilt by Rosalie Quinlan.

Earlier in the day I finished joining together all the 2 in hexies, removed the papers from the back and backed the whole piece with Vilene.

What to do with it now? 

You know how some fabrics just speak to you? 

This piece of batik just shouts "applique leaves", doesn't it?

So last night I started playing with some ideas. You can tell I miss doing applique.

An idea is slowly developing.....

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018

more redwork and weekend baking

When I was putting together Scandinavian Rose quilt, I remembered that a long time ago I bought another of Rosalie Quinlan's redwork designs, it must be somewhere in my room....

I found it - Little Patchwork Village wall quilt. 

With 9 redwork blocks just 6in square, small and very portable,

and I have already stitched 3 of them over the weekend.

Expecting friends for coffee, what should I bake?

In the end I decided to make a chocolate cake, Hairy Biker's version of Austrian Schokogugelhopf.

I had not made this one before, so I was a bit nervous about it.

With lots of chocolate and almonds, it just sounded so good, although I was concerned that it could be too heavy.

I did not need to worry, it was delicious. 

 And it proved to be very popular! 😀

            I will definitively make this again! 

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2018