Porch Stitching and a Trifle

Happy Sunday, ya'll and welcome! I am so happy you stopped by for a Sunday visit and a little porch stitching.

                       

 I have been able to sit on the porch for the last 2 days . Woo Hoo! It has been in the low 70's today with a  slight breeze. I hope it is warming up in your area.  Not much going on in the garden so I will give an update on that next week if weather allows. I did clean out some flower pots, but they are not very pretty to look at all. Lol.

 I have several projects to share with you today. I was so delighted when my friend Jane sent me a link last night  to a sweet freebie called "Lydia the Garden Angel" by Leslie Davis of One of a Kind Heirlooms.

                        

 I whipped her up in just a few hours finishing her up today. I left off "Happy Easter" and some swirls and changed her colors to make her look more like an Annie. I am so excited to add her to my Raggedy Ann collection. I look forward to FFOing her soon. 

Thought I would share some of my country toy clutter. I love little toys, wooden pieces and of course Annie and Andy. 

                           

What else have I been up too?  Still plugging away on my Easter quilt.

                                   

 It will not be completed by Easter time, but that is ok. A few more stitches will go into it tonight. When I take it off the hoop , I will share a better view of it. 

                           

 The quilt on the swing is an Around the World quilt. I got the top at the Goodwill and quilted it a couple of years ago. 

 I pulled out my Little House Needleworks "Sampler Stitchers" . I love this design, and it does need some attention. I hope to work on it tonight and tomorrow. 

 I have my cookies all baked/ stitched.

 I have added a new trifle for you to  enjoy if you so choose. Please take a little cookie.  The new one is called Strawberry Picker-  a little robin enjoying a small berry.   Of course , I have it plated up with all of the other trifles.

 I thought I would share how I make my little cookies  though they are really ornaments or fobs. 

This is  an itty bitty stitch measuring 16 x 21. I put it next to a quarter to show you how small it is on 14 count tea dyed aida.  

After I stitch my design, I gather my supplies. I need a piece of cardboard, my votive candle (to draw out the circles the size that I want my cookie to be), backing fabric for the cookie, thread, needle, batting and a bit of glue.

 I draw 2 circles on the cardboard using the votive candle as a template. I cut the cardboard circles out- one will be for the back and the other for the stitched piece.

 I cut 2 pieces of batting the size of the circle and add a dab of glue to the batting and cardboard and let dry. I then cut out a piece of backing fabric for the back of the cookie larger than the circle. I also  trim my stitched piece into a large circle- it is  larger than my cardboard circle.

 I  start with the back or bottom part of the cookie and stitch a running stitch around the backing fabric.

                                        

 I then draw it closed and tie it off. 

                        

 I then repeat the same process with the stitched piece with the batting between the stitching and the cardboard. 

                     

 Next step, whip stitch these two pieces together at the seams using thread the same color. There are several videos on youtube that show how to whipstitch.  Now my cookie is complete.

 But I wanted to add trim and make it into an ornament/fob too. So I used ric rac that is 17 inches long. I start at the bottom of the cookie. I  start with one end and stitch up to the top of the cookie. I use a whip stitch going in and out of the peaks and valleys of the ric rac going back and forth from front side to back side. 

                   

Once I got to the top, I wove my thread underneath my stitching to the bottom of the cookie  and started stitching the other end of the ric rac to the side until the ric rac met at the top.  I made  sure there were no twists in my ric rac as I went.

                                           

  I stitched the ric rac closed once it met at the top. My  sewing was complete.  

                     

I then tied a knot in the ric rac and settled it against the stitched piece.  I hope that helps on how I finished mine.  Vonna Pfeiffer The Twisted Stitcher has all kinds of great tutorials.   This is just how I do it. 😊

                    

Click here if you would like to stitch Stawberry Picker. 

I was also asked  what pattern was my chicken quilt.     

               

 This is one of my applique patterns which  I would love to share. I am  appliqueing mine to a 10 1/2"  unfinished background block using needleturn applique.  One of the amazing quilters that I love to watch demonstrate  needleturn applique' is Jan Patek. She has a number of videos on Youtube. Click here to see her work on Eagle Wings and Rooster Tails

Click here if you would like the Chicken applique pattern. 

                              

Well, I am off to enjoy the last few hours of sunshine and hopefully get a little more porch stitching done. Thank you for keeping me company; it is always a joy .

Have a very blessed week and as always...

Happy quilting and stitching, ya'll

Melisa

I am joining these lovely ladies in their link parties as they come available. I know they would love for you to visit. You will find lots of inspiration. 

Kathy at Kathy's Quilts  for Slow Stitching Sunday

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework for Oh Scrap

Beth at Love Laugh Quilt  for Monday Making

Judy at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday