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...
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.
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God bless you all,
Till next time...
