Daily Stitching, Family and New York City

 I managed to get seven squares done this week, in spite of having house guests for part of it. I wanted to see how many variations I could get from this one very simple design.

My son and Katie were here for a few days from Portland OR. I hadn't seen them in a year and a half, due to Covid. I loved having them here. They stayed with me for a few days and also took a few days to visit Rhode Island, where we had a summer home when he was growing up. 

                        Kurt in Rhode Island, happy to see that they still sell Dell's frozen lemonade.

On their last day here we went into NYC to have lunch at Via Carota  our favorite little restaurant in the West Village, called a perfect restaurant by the New Yorker magazine. We agree! It was interesting to see how many of the restaurants had added outdoor dining, not there before Covid. 

Katie and me, strolling along on Little Island Park.

We went to visit New York's newest little park, Little Island, just opened last week. It is only 2 1/2 acres of sheer pleasure, beautiful landscaping with many ups and down and twists and turns. The weather was a perfect 10 and it couldn't be better for walking around. And walk we did! I counted over 18,000 steps on my Apple watch, of mostly brisk walking trying to keep up with Kurt. 

We also walked part of the High Line. Again, a must see when you are in New York. It is an elevated freight rail line that has been transformed into a public park. I had walked part of it a couple of years ago in the winter, a totally different view this time. A gardeners delight!

All day I had a song going thru my mind. What is that called, an ear worm? Anyway my song was "How About You?" with the line "I like New York in June, how abut you?'" I do, I do!

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.

Daily Stitching and Origami

 I managed to get six squares done this week, partly because three of them were easy-peasy stylized flower heads and allowed me to practice my running stitch, aiming for smaller and more even stitches. The other three were still designs from that book and I have exhausted that supply.

If you read my blog you will know that one of my hobbies is making greeting cards. I've been doing it for the last few years and never get tired of it because there are always new stamps and techniques to try. Pinterest is a font of inspiration and when I saw these origami dresses I knew that I had to give it a try, even tho I've never been good at origami. This video on Facebook was excellent!

Well.....it was like eating popcorn, once I started I couldn't stop. These first five were mounted on 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 cards that I had run thru my embosser first. Some have sentiments, some don't and none of them have the insides finished.

These last two were mounted onto 5 x 7 cards. I think I like the smaller cards better.

This last one used a different pattern and two pieces of 6' x 6" paper and a much more complicated process. I don't think it was worth the extra  effort. It also made a slightly larger dress. I will stick to the first pattern if I make anymore.

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.

Daily Stitching and Hosta

 I did a variation on one of last weeks's squares and several versions of a new one, all from that book I mentioned last week, Zakka Embroidery.

This one took me the better part of an afternoon because I did the flowers all in satin stitch.  Too much time for a little square

                                   Same design but using just lazy daisy stitch for the flowers.

Lazy daisy stitch flowers filled in with two straight stitches. Much faster than the satin stitch and just as effective.

                              More of the same, but losing the stems and leaves and adding more flowers.

I live in a condo complex with town houses and stand-alone houses. I have a stand-alone, the best of both worlds because I can garden if I want to, but the association takes care of all the lawn work, hedge trimming etc. The houses come landscaped across the front and around the corners. I wanted the garden to extend along one side and around to the back where I have my deck and I do a lot of container gardening.

After I moved in 20 years ago I had someone put in a garden for me. For the first time ever, someone else did the digging and planting. It was great. However over the years most of the perennials petered out and for the last few years I kept saying that I wanted to do it over and this year I did. 

I planted a wide variety of Hosta, big ones, small ones, yellowish, blueish, green and striped. Wavy and smooth, cupped and flat.The variety in the nurseries is endless. I know that these will grow and spread and I will eventually have to do some dividing but for now they are quite carefree and I do like the look. They are candy for deer and I know I will have to spray them regularly. 

Hosta have long been a subject for fiber artist, Elaine Quehl, and I am lucky to own one of her pieces, a

 12" x 12" made for the SAQA auction several years ago. It resides happily in a hallway with other original art.

                                                                               Detail

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.

Daily Stitching and a Book

 I did my usual 5 squares this week. That seems to be what I can fit in these days, altho I did stitch every day. My designs this week all came from a great little book of embroidery designs and projects. It gives designs that are "an elegant blend of Japanese and Scandinavian designs". I'm always looking for new round patterns and this one had a few. I was able to get two out of one by giving the design a quarter turn and using different colors and stitches. And there are enough for me to use next week, too.

Here using mostly running stitch.

A quarter turn and using one color and mostly chain stitch.

This one would not look any different turned so I just did one.

All one color, mostly outline stitch.

                                   A quarter turn and more French knots and some lazy daisy.

This was a GREAT  day. My FiberWorks group met in person inside for the first time in over a year. It was at my house, a good excuse to bake. It was so good to see everyone and show and tell is SO MUCH BETTER in person. We oohed and ahed and touched and felt. Alleluia to a new beginning. 

I am linking up with Off the Wall Friday.