The "Cully May" quilt project...

A day early and I'm back online with a brand new laptop loaded with Windows 10 (ack!) and something special to show you.

Mr E has worked for 48 hours on my new laptop to set it up and transfer everything of Elefantz Designs over from the old laptop...and then, bless his cotton-pickin' heart, he made it all 'user friendly' for this gal who does not like technological changes!

Seriously, my beloved is a true champion, always at work to make my life that little bit easier. How deeply I love and appreciate him!

Another person who holds my heart in her hands is our precious new granddaughter, Cully May.

She was two months old yesterday (the time has flown!) so when I was offline earlier this week it was the perfect opportunity to put all the little stitcheries I made earlier this year for the June issue of the Stitchery Club into a quilt for her.

I have pieced it very simply with nine stitcheries...

...and bordered them with florals and soft candy pink stripes to make 8" blocks.

There's a simple double border around the outside with a floral/bird print and more of the candy stripe, finishing the quilt top at 38" square...

Now to the big decision.

Whether to put pink Minky on the back...

...or to quilt traditionally with cotton wadding and pink/white spot backing.

Blossom and I love the softness of the Minky and as we live in the hot tropics there's more chance of using the quilt with less bulk and warmth.

BUT, I love traditional quilts and it would be much sturdier and do less damage over time to the embroidery if it had wadding and a fabric backing instead of Minky.

Also, I'm freaking about sewing Minky behind the quilt top as it's very stretchy and the quilt top is not. I could do an envelope style and forgo binding but I don't like that look. 

I posed the question about using Minky as a quilt backing on my Instagram page and got some great advice...but I now need to step back and weigh up the options before moving forward to finishing the quilt.

Any advice you have I'd love to hear it.

As well as working on the quilt I've been completing a design and project for November (I'm way ahead for once) but because October's Club patterns won't be sent out till the 17th you'll only get a tiny peek at the one of November's designs.

White linen and cotton lace were a perfect pairing with Bonnie & Camille's 'Vintage Picnic" print in navy and red floral...

Apart from sewing I also took time to purchase potted peace lilies for myself and Blossom.

I did not have flowers at my wedding 25 years ago, instead the altar was lined with peace lilies.

They live up their name as their beauty on our dining table makes you catch your breath and smile.

I've also decided to feed my need to study and learn, so apart from continuing with my favourite daily habitual practice...

...I've chosen to follow a long held dream.

For many years it's been my desire to study health and nutrition but the expense of an online course runs into quite a few thousand dollars which we do not have. After serious consideration I opted to purchase this huge double volume of the Farmacist Desk Reference and learn about the healing and medicinal qualities of plant foods.

The author is not a Christian, but I am, and therefore I believe it was our Creator who gave fruits and vegetables to nourish our bodies and cause our health to thrive.

It will take me a year or two to work my way through these volumes but I'm pretty happy that I can finally study the subject that's been on my heart for so long.

Life through October will slow quite considerably with Mr E home and this is a really good thing for me too. This week he's worked on my laptop and now he'll do some repairs to his Jeep...then I sense a road trip may be in our future. 

We do love a good road trip.

In the meantime, my sewing machine is set up and I have at least a hundred stitcheries to play with and make into projects...

...after I finish the "Cully May" quilt!

And about those Cully May Quilt stitcheries...

The stitcheries I've used in her quilt were all in the June issue of The Stitchery Club so in case you were not a member back then I've added that issue to both my Craftsy and Etsy shops and have it on SALE until October 12th.

Normally the issue (which includes 11 embroidery patterns) is $16.95 but it's down to $12.95 for the next week.
The nine stitcheries I've used in the quilt from June's issue are -
Beloved / Cherished / Princess / Ten Toes / Ten Fingers / So in Love / Dream Come True / Happy / Sweetest Smile

To purchase in USD through Craftsy go here.

To purchase in AUD through Etsy go here.

The finished quilt pattern will be shared here on the blog next week as a free gift.
You might have those stitcheries finished by then, yeh?

I hope your month is relaxing, your week brings joyful surprises, and your day is better than you imagined.

with love