Let The Sun Shine...

A bumblebee enjoying one of the "volunteer" sunflowers

Imagine my delight when I noticed a quartet of volunteer sunflower plants that sprouted under the bird feeders hanging from the old apple tree. When I went to photograph them, I noticed a bumblebee collecting pollen from the tallest one. Double delight!

I had my physical therapy appointment yesterday morning. As usual, I now start on the stationary bicycle, and move from there to the other exercises. Jenna, my therapist, took my "bend measurement" right after the bicycle, and then again at the end of my appointment - and before the blessed ice machine therapy. At the beginning, I was 112º - a degree better than last week. By the end, I had progressed to 114º!  

We ran a few errands before coming home, and by then, I was wiped. One treat was another package from a dear blog friend with a card and gifts for Handsome and me. I'll be sending a proper thank you out to her, but you can imagine how nice it was to find a gift after a tiring day. It was really wonderful.

I didn't sit to stitch. I elevated my leg and rested instead. Handsome had band rehearsal, which always means late night dinner, and I wanted to make something to surprise him. So, I spent most of the time between getting home and making dinner doing absolutely nothing except taking two Tylenol, and drinking lots of water.

It was so rewarding to look at my blog to find so many kind messages from you. I read each and every one, and am responding to them all, too. Your words made my day. So, I'm back and will update you on my knee progress, as well as anything creative (as soon as I can kick start my artistic muses). Believe me, I'm working on it! In the meantime, hugs to all!

Meet Jann...

 I'd like to introduce you to one of the ladies who attended the retreat

last weekend. Her name is Jann, and she belongs to the Peace River

Guild, located in Punta Gorda, FL. She's in that guild with Susan 

Slaton. (Susan also belongs to the Disconnected Piecers Quilt Guild.)

Jann sat across from where I was set up with my machine, so I caught 

glimpses of her work. I was instantly intrigued, and had to ask about it.

 One of the coolest things about Susan's retreats is that we can work

 on whatever we want to. I had decided to work on the "group" project

(Purple Mountains Majesty, in my case), but Jann was hard at work on

something completely different. She was working on an art quilt piece she's

entering in an upcoming show in Manatee (in only a couple of weeks!).

When I asked about it, she graciously showed me her inspiration, her

concept and her design work. I had a hard time concentrating on my

own projects the rest of the weekend, because I didn't want to miss each

step as she built her quilt. It's comprised of piecework, embroidery and

applique'...and if you keep track, you know how I love those pursuits.

 Jann began with the concept of flowers and her garden grew from there...

 She pieced batiks for the background of her quilt, and then she 

added machine-appliqued' coneflowers. When she was showing

the group her finished flowers, the light coming through the back
of her fabric made it look just like a stained glass window!

 What really got my attention was the center for her sunflower.

Hundreds of French knots were stitched using 3-ply cotton floss onto

a ground batik fabric that she hand-dyed herself. When I looked at the

fabric from a distance, I initially thought she was stitching on wool.

 While we were talking about her needlework, Jann explained that her

next step was to add more knots using 5 weight pearl cotton thread.

She wanted to create a different texture, so I suggested colonial knots.

After a quick tutorial from me, Jann was stitching away making knot

after knot. Her colonial knots in the pearl cotton were a perfect choice.

 This will give you an idea of what her next floral block will look like. She 

appliqued' her hand-dyed fabric to create the petals, stitched a chocolate
brown ruffle for a clever center accent, added fabric tabs which will be
embellished further and inserted the center motif. When Jann is finished,
the center will be entirely stitched in French and colonial knots. That same
center will be hand-appliqued' to the background when the embroidery is done.

I'm sure as I write this, Jann is working feverishly to complete it in time for

the take-in portion of the quilt show. I know she's going to make her deadline.

The girl knows "Focus".

Thank you, Jann, for allowing me to shadow you during retreat. Thanks 

also for your sharing spirit. Not only did you cheerfully answer my

questions, you also graciously allowed me to photograph your work. 

I'm planning to attend the quilt show where you'll be competing this

piece, and I could already see that it's going to be a stunning art quilt.

I'll be showing up to cheer your fabulous work. Good luck!

Victorian Cross Stitch Kits - Elizabeth Bradley...

Before I ever learned to quilt, I spent many happy hours working on
cross stitch. After I opened my needlework shop, Stitches in Wisconsin
I attended more than a few needlework markets and discovered these kits.

They are cross stitch executed in wools on printed canvas, and the
technique is called "Victorian Cross Stitch". The kits are designed by
Elizabeth Bradley from the UK. (She also sells through stockists in America.)

When I attended market, Elizabeth could be found stitching at a frame in her
booth while her gregarious husband, Nick greeted shopkeepers and took orders.
It was difficult to ignore all the beautiful wool pieces they brought with them.
I couldn't resist their quality and detail, so I chose many of the kits for my shop. 

When we moved to Florida, I decided to work on my first kit, "Daisy".

It took six diligent weeks to complete, to the exclusion of all else.

Although I haven't had it framed (which is my intent), I take it out from

time to time and admire the vibrant colors on the black ground wools.

Using the black, as with quilting, really pops the colors in the flowers.

"Lily"

In addition to the "Daisy" kit, I also selected a few other personal favorites.

The finished designed are 16" square on 20" square canvased and come complete

with printed pattern, printed canvas, wools and needles in a box showing the full 

color design on the cover...ready to stitch! Exquisite kits from start to finish.

"Hollyhock"

Of course, "Hollyhock" would have to be one of my choices!

"Sunflower Basket"

"Sunflower Basket", because it reminded me of Mom Grace, and

"Magnolia"

"Magnolia".

All the kits are perfect for taking on our travels, and this one reminds me 

of the heady, fragrant blossoms on the specimen tree in our front yard.

When pulling the link for Elizabeth's American website, I found that

there is now a "Geranium" kit, too. (sigh) I may have to add it to my 

collection. If you'd like to look at her designs, this is a link to kits like mine.

Oh, and here's the link so you can see the "Geranium" kit.

It's gorgeous, isn't it?

This is the last of my "auto pilot" posts. Thanks for being so patient with me.

I'll be back tomorrow to tell you a bit about my short hiaitus.