About Me

My photo
Shoreline, CT, United States
I would love for you to join me (a retired senior)in my zany crafting adventures with quilting (waaaaay too much fabric); scrapbooking (will I ever catch up?); redwork; counted cross stitch; crossword puzzles; reading; and cooking.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

FLAMINGOS AND FROGS, et al

I finished binding my "Flamingo Ojos" this morning
after having my early morning cuppa coffee on our deck...


Here are the flamingos cavorting across the top row...
↯↯↡↡↶↷
๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜
They were the "springboard" for these Ojos...
can you spot their little feet above?????
I wanted to use every last bit of that fabric;))))

And here are the cutest froggies on the backing fabric...
I just thought--how perfect to pair them up...;)))

I've had this fabric for quite a while and never really
wanted to cut it up--too neat as is;
so, a good choice to use with the flamingos...
[click to see the froggies]
*********************
So, One more "little" done and dusted...

***************************
I had showed you the embroidery grid
previously that
I am working on and,

[I bought it from Spoonflower; and
btw: I am  not in any way 
connected with that site.
Below is the info on it in case 
you are interested...]

And...

in case you haven't already seen
what I will be aiming for starting
in January 2027 on a daily basis of
one block per day.....

Below is a partial view of what 
Karen Turner's looks like
on her YouTube channel...

I just love the variety of stitches and how when you would
look back over the days and weeks you could see 
where you were...
and what you were thinking about...

I plan on featuring the "full moon" each month in
its own block on my version....

Can you just imagine a full year of these????
I am smitten๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’œ...
๐Ÿ˜
Also, just one little block per day does
seem doable...

So, presently I am working on a practice cotton piece
doing grid lines and then onto squares until
the first of the year to see how it goes...

Our weather has finally calmed down
and the DP is only 63--making
for a lovely coolish late Summer day...

Hugs, Julierose,
La Blageuse
(finishing-littles-and-planning-ahead-euse]







 

Sunday, August 23, 2026

TALLY-HO, et al

 

This post is really a status record for me...
of my "Littles" waiting in the wings
for years and years!!

Above  is my next quilt top to be
machine bound...all pinned and
ready to go today, hopefully...
And....

Below is what I have left of the small pieces
I've made over the years in
various stages of being finished....

These four all ready to be quilted;
the embroidered one will be
hand quilted as my next project...
the others by machine, minimally...


AND
These SIX need to be backed and layered
and then put into the "to be quilted" pile...

They are pretty much small items that
used a lot of favorite fabrics...

I keep them on hangers on either side
of my stash closet to remind me that
I want to get these done this year!!!!!!!
Right????๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜‡
This is next in line for binding ..
↓↓↓↓
I did some machine quilting on the longer vert. and
hor. seams on this Flamingo Ojos...not
my usual densely textured hand quilting..
Now, I need to make binding for it...

*****************************************
I took stock yesterday and this morning
to see what I had and what I wanted
to work on....
I also 
[GASP!!--]
threw out the ones I don't
think worth the effort!!

Yes, I couldn't even see cutting them
up for anything else....
๐Ÿ˜ฑ๐Ÿ˜ฐ๐Ÿ˜ฏ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜ญ๐Ÿ˜ณ

Don't judge me too harshly...
My advancing years(??) are determining
what I still can and cannot accomplish
these days 
for....
{I am "olde"}
๐Ÿ‘ต๐Ÿ‘ต๐Ÿ‘ต๐Ÿ‘ต
*************************
Today we will be watching the 
Netherlands Grand Prix Race
and I hope to do the final 3 hand quilted
lines on my Dresden table runner...
Then it can go onto the binding wait list...

***************************
Dinner this gloomy, rainy, humid Sunday
later on today will be:

Meatloaf topped with chopped onions,
Boiled Russett potatoes
and two ears of 
steamed "Butter & Sugar"
corn on the cob...
YUMMY!!

I hope your Sunday is a 
good resting day...

Hugs, Julierose
La Blageuse
(counting-out-day-euse)

P.S.  Edited later on...to add
Two more "Littles" finished today

"Pineapple Welcome" 

and

"Ocean Cabin"
below is the reverse

So two more done and dusted
:))))))))))
YAY
















Friday, August 14, 2026

FRIDAY MISCELLANY, et al

 

Little Bunny House  slow stitch
is finished...
{at least for now--I may be adding
to it later on...}

**************************
The first Lavender Dresden is all quilted now...
and
I will be moving onto the second one after
giving my hands a resting period...

*********************************
Here is the finished cover for my
En Masse Volume 2...
I used Matte Medium to seal it;
new for me using this product...and
perhaps another coat will be needed???
Meanwhile, I am collecting images
and setting up collection pages...

***************************
My "Quilters Dream Request" batting
arrived yesterday and I am letting it
rest on our dining room table 
to try to straighten out 
the wrinkles
and fold lines...

mentioned that she puts her batting
into the dryer--I am assuming on air dry
to de-wrinkle it...I may give that a try...
This is my first experience with this
brand of batting--I will let you know
how I like it--
[or not;)))))].

I will be setting up Jelly Roll Jumble
to be layered over the weekend
once my hands and fingers 
have recovered...

***************************
AND...
I have been watching
on her youtube channel do an
"Intuitive Daily Stitching" in small
squares--one per day...
Very compelling and fascinating...
I will be working on making my own
throughout the year.  I think just
that small amount of stitchery
for one day 
 will be do-able with the
state of my hands now...
{Another rabbit hole to explore} 
๐Ÿ‡๐Ÿ‡๐Ÿ‡๐Ÿ‡

I dearly MISS MY DAILY
stitching/embroidery....

Embroidery was my very 
first needle art taught to me
by my lovely, patient 
๐Ÿ’—Grand-mere๐Ÿ’—

*****************************
That is what has been going on here,
at the House on the Hill..
Looking forward to working on all these
varied projects...
Hugs, Julierose
La Blageuse
(stitching-paper-crafting-quilting-euse)










Monday, August 10, 2026

DECK MORNING, et al

 

I decided that this "little" --
"Lovely Lavender Dresden"
was crying out
to be hand quilted...

I took her out on our deck with my coffee
early this morning--it was actually cool enough
to sit out for an hour or so...
Got my hand quilting "gear" on and
began to finish up the 2nd circle...
My fingers need that extra help to
pull through the layers--

[and yes, I have to take
the finger shields 
off when threading 
and knotting a new thread, 
but that's okay
at least I can quilt....]


I love all my lavender bits and bobs
{all my faves}
on this table runner...;)))

Here's where I have left off today...
↓↓↓↓
Working on the spokes...
So relaxing.....

hugs, Julierose, 
La Blageuse
{hand-quilting-deck-days-euse}



 




Sunday, August 9, 2026

SUNDAY SMALL STITCHERY, et al

 

I have four of these vintage "cutter" blocks
that I bought (rescued ) a while ago;
and I have decided to use them as a 
backing for my new slow stitch project...
"My Little House"....
thus giving them a new life and purpose
instead of the junkyard!!!

[I was inspired by Karen at "Railway Cottage Studio"
on YouTube...visit her to see amazing hand
slow stitching projects....]


I set up the "initial" background on Friday
deciding to use my brown bits and 
pink-ey-mauves leftovers as
my color theme on this one...

Below is the final setting 
for the background
with the house pinned in place
Basting the entire background 
in place before adding anything...

I have pinned on my 
proposed special bits--
in this case  three little bunnies
(so darn cute!)--
and
 my little house 
with mauve/lilac-ey 
doors and windows..

Today
 I began stitching edges and the 
three little "bunnikins", 
deciding to add some little
bits of lace..
↡↡↡↡

I am working in short spans of time
and just really stitching slowly...

and, as per usual this is what my
space looks like :
๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜†๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜ƒ๐Ÿ˜„
Like a fabric bomb exploded...
๐Ÿ‘€๐Ÿ’ฃ๐Ÿ’ฃ๐Ÿ’ฃ๐Ÿ’ฃ๐Ÿ‘€

I have three big boxes and several
baggies full of little left over 
pieces from making my fabric
books and decided to make some
little wall hangings with houses
as the main theme for all four...

This is a nice change after working on 
getting my "Littles" ready to be bound and
the Jelly Roll Jumble and Posies-- all
of which are fairly big in scale...

I do enjoy working in this smaller style...
No fancy stitches just whip stitch, 
running stitches, and maybe some small
seed stitches to come...

********************
Still hot and humid here, maybe
just a tad less steamy than yesterday...

Still and all feeling like 99 is not great!!!

{"Where O where..."  
is that Canadian
Cold Front?????}

I hope if it is really still hot where you are,
you can find some relief in AC...
Hugs, Julierose
La Blageuse
(Small-stitching-euse












Sunday, August 2, 2026

GETTING THERE [JRJ update], et al

 

My four STAW blocks
[short trip around the world]
are sewn and pinned up on my wall.

They need to be trimmed up and
sewn together.  I tried to cascade
the little doggies and scooter kids
to meet in the center...

[I think you can see that 
if you click to enlarge.]

This is my first trial run 
with these blocks and
I really love the process...

They will become the centerback 
for my JRJ (Jelly Roll Jumble)
quilt...I am still figuring out what 
I will do to make the back larger...

I hope to make another 
larger Trip Around the World 
lap quilt for myself using one of my
 four jelly rolls left--
{one of which is all white}.

And....
TA---DAH.....
here is my new acquisition that
helped me get these so much better
matched at the seams...

My all metal 1/4" foot made to fit Helga...

All I could ever find before was a 
generic plastic one that wobbled all
over the place--so not good!!!

Fantastic for sewing these long strips and
borders....I just moved my needle over 4 clicks and
got a lovely scant 1/4"...
๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜„๐Ÿ˜…๐Ÿ˜‡
I have the top and bottom 
borders on Jelly Roll Jumble sewn on
and I will do the side ones tomorrow...

**************************
It is still hot and very humid here
today--not a deck day for sure...
79 degrees with 74 dew point...
Outside I feel like I'm breathing
in water not air...
So staying inside with  our AC...

Hope you are finding some quality 
sewing time...
Hugs, Julierose
La Blageuse
(Jelly-Rollin'-along-euse)










Wednesday, July 29, 2026

JELLY ROLL JUMBLE RECONSIDERED & LEFTOVERS, et al

 

Remember me????? 
I've been in "time out" for a long time....

I had put Jelly Roll Jumble aside for quite
a while and I am now reconsidering.....
and
I have decided to
 leave it as is and use 
the leftover strips to make blocks for the 
back:
↓↓↓↓
Here is my first effort:


I've always wanted to try out Bonnie Hunter's
"Many Trips Around the World" tutorial....
And, I have enough strips to make four
big blocks to use on the back.

This was my first trial block to see if I like
making these...
and I do....๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‡๐Ÿ˜Š

Easy strip sewing is
so relaxing...and refreshing.
It seems to be taking me 
out of my slump....
;))))

But....
 I find that
getting the strip tube 
even on both ends is
the most difficult part...

I am using 8 strips across and they are not
really all 21" long, so the ends are rather
ragged..

BUT...luckily---
So far, I have enough to cut 
8 little 2.5" tubes
of squares...

I began the 2nd block this morning...
it is now at the "ribbit" part
๐Ÿธ๐Ÿธ๐Ÿธ๐Ÿธ
:))))
๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜‚

The strip on the far right features the little
doggie which will cascade down the center 
from the top left corner...
What fun;)))
AND

I have the other two set of strips ready
to be sewn together 

I had mostly gray strips left and used them to
alternate between the other more interesting
Sherbet Pip strips...
I also still have all the lovely extras that
Rose gifted me....
so i can either make borders or use
them to fill in as needed....

Since I have 4 more jelly rolls waiting in the wings
I think one, at least will be put together in
this fashion....

***********************
Other than fighting off a head cold, this
is how i have been spending my time after
machine quilting 8 "Littles" that are now
all waiting for me to make bindings for them...
๐Ÿ‘ฟ๐Ÿ‘พ๐Ÿ‘ฝ
[Not my favorite part]

*********************************
The big rain storms moved to our North
once again and we ended up with
.67" of rain here...good as we are still
in drought conditions and this will
help if only a little bit....

I hope you fared well during the storms...

Hugs, Julierose,
La Blageuse
(short-tripping-around-the-world-euse)