A new love...

During my two month break from blogging I had time to tinker with a couple of things I'd wanted to try for a while but never had mental space or time to give them a go. One of those things was appliqueing with woven wool felt.

Anni Down's "Day in Happyland" quilt pattern and the woven wool felt were sitting on my shelf for about a year, so what a relief to finally make a start, as I truly loved the pattern when I first saw it.

The applique is sewn with whipstitch, and the instructions I read said the stitches were angled, but I preferred them straight so that is what I did. It's such a gentle thing to stitch with woolen felt, and I know this is something I would like to use in my own designs next year, but for now, making these large blocks brings me a great deal of joy and calm during my afternoon rest break, and at night when hubby and I sit together listening to a sermon or podcast. 

There are twelve blocks in this quilt, and they measure 13" x 17.5" each. I decided to start with block 12 as I love pears of all kinds (real, fabric, glass, or in pictures). There are a number of small, medium and large pieces that are stitched depending on what block you're doing, with a few fabric squares or felt circles scattered within. 

Once they are done, you fold under the edges and secure with a running stitch...

...before positioning on the background fabric and appliqueing in place. I think the folded-under running stitch border really adds to the overall finish of the block.

Here's block 12 completed...

Whenh Rafaella was here last Sunday I asked her to choose what block I should make next, and she immediately chose "the one with a cat" (block 11) so this past week I have been stitching all the little bits for it.  Yesterday at Rosie's (she made us a delicious morning tea!) I completed the folded running stitch edges, and later at home I positioned everything on the background fabric so that I can begin the applique. 

It's been a long time since I enjoyed a 'larger' project this much, and it's really down to the simplicity of woven wool felt applique, and not as much hand embroidery. And that sounds strange coming from a hand embroidery designer, but I have loved applique for many years and incorporate it in most of my designs, but until now I'd never tried it with woven wool felt. Well, I'm in love with this, and look forward to playing around with it in 2025...perhaps remaking some of my older patterns this way. We shall see. 

Update on our Cully May: she is much happier in the paediatric wheelchair and is zooming all over the house with ease. Thank you for praying. She has a long way to go with healing, but you can definitely describe our girl as 'glass half full' because she looks for the bright side in everything. 

I'm not one for taking note of public holidays in countries other than my own Australian ones, but I have to say that I think Thanksgiving sounds marvellous, and have often thought we need a celebration day like that here. So to all my American friends, I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and overflowing with gratitude, family, laughter and friendship. 

I shall leave you today with a few other loves...our garden birds taking turns at the bird feeder, our beautifully fragrant roses that are blooming abundantly right now, the first Christmas beetle of the season in the elder tree, and a morning rainbow over Toolakea Beach when we were there last week. 

Next week I'll have my Christmas hat on, with some thoughts and ideas, and a free pattern. For some reason I feel a desire to put the tree up early, and embrace the season in a fresh way...but the most important thing for us is JESUS right at the centre. And that's not a one day a year thing, it is an every day reason to rejoice, a thankfulness each morning for the day ahead, and gratitude at bedtime for all that has happened in the hours beforehand - whether struggles or celebrations, we were never alone for He is with us in all circumstances. Wow, how blessed I feel!

Before I go, don't forget to sign up HERE for my free weekly newsletter and you won't miss a blog post, a free pattern, or any other Elefantz news. I'll be sending one out every Friday, and if you don't receive it, check your spam or junk folder as it may be hiding away in there. :-)

God bless you all,

Till next time...