Sewing, grasshoppers and a free pattern...

Gathering together a handful of embroidery threads which so beautifully blend together is a rather thoughtful and unhurried occupation for me when preparing a new design.

I can remember many times when I've traced a stitchery and Mr E has asked if I'd like to watch a movie with him, but I still haven't chosen my threads so I reply "Just give me 10 minutes to choose my colours."

Ten minutes? Well, that's wishful thinking to say the least.

More like an hour, or two or four. 

I take my background fabric choice very seriously, but choosing colours definitely takes more of my time than that. 

Fortunately I usually have a spare stitchery 'on the go' somewhere for those movie dates now, having learned to have a back up so I don't keep my beloved waiting. 

At the moment I'm still cutting into one of my flour sack towels and have almost completed a third project from it. There's still enough left for a fourth, and I must admit it's simply beautiful to stitch through.

Each design has been embroidered with a different blend of threads, but I'll wait till later in the month to show them to you.

Today you shall just have to be content with a few peeks at number three and the pretty pastel threads which are making it sing.

Now, how are you going with Mothers Day gifts? I admit this celebration doesn't ring on my radar until the day has almost arrived because Mr E and I both lost our mums when we were babies so it's not something we have ever had to think about for ourselves.

If you're after something sweet and quick to make I've added a free pattern to my Craftsy shop which might suit a few of you as a gift for mum, grandma, or aunt.

This lovely lingerie bag can be made up in a day, or stitch the design the night before and you can finish the project next morning. 

Download the free pattern for "Pink Roses Lingerie Bag" here. 

Remember my potted garden from a couple of weeks ago? 

Everything was thriving and I was so excited, until...the grasshopper.

We have never seen a grasshopper in our yard and we've lived here for 3 1/2 years, but we've seen one now!

The little blighter has decided to feast on my budding cherry tomato plant and parsley...

He obviously doesn't like basil, mint, thyme or chives...just tomato leaves and parsley.

If you have gardening knowledge to help me thwart this fellow's evening adventure in my potted garden please share it in the comments below. Thank you. x

Mr E and I are heading off to the caravan and camping expo in our area on Saturday so tonight I'm going to make a simple tote bag out of this old Cath Kidston fabric and vintage buttons to sling over my shoulder.

Rather plain with a pocket at the front I think, because the fabric is upholstery weight and lovely enough 'not to be messed with'. You know what I mean?

I really hope you have a peaceful end of week and that it flows right over into your weekend as well.

I wonder what your plans are?

hugs

My aha moment about choosing colours...

Stand outside my office door and this is what you'll hear.

Tap, tap, tap, sip, sip, tap tap...

I'm writing patterns and drinking cappuccinos today. 

I did this on Tuesday as well, and thought by today I'd be sewing and singing a happier tune with all my computer work done for the week. But.

On Wednesday and Thursday migraines pretty much stole my hours so everything ground to a halt and apart from a bit of basic food prep in the kitchen Wednesday morning the remainder of those two days have been spent at rest with Mr E and Blossom and Aisha texting through the days to check up on me. Love is such a wonderful thing.

Fast forward to wake-up at 6 am today (Friday) and all pain is gone and I'm feeling rather fresh and sprightly again!

Back to the laptop I have returned and further progress is being made with the next issue of The Stitchery Club.

I even bought a lovely bunch of flowers on the way home from dropping Mr E at work this morning because their gorgeous colours add a smile to my heart no matter how many typing or grammatical errors I have to 'fix' during a day on the computer.

A realisation as I was removing last week's wilted blooms from my favourite vase and replacing them with today's fresh flowers was the increasingly regular appearance of orange, peach, yellow and white amidst the greenery in my weekly bouquets of late.

These are not shades I'd normally tend towards. I usually buy bouquets with more of a pink, red and white palette but at the moment these 'other colours' make me rather happy. 

So I had an idea that before throwing those old wilted blooms into the garden I should choose some threads similar to their hues and put them aside for a 'one day' design, and that's exactly what I did before hitting the office to write. 

The photo on the left is of last week's flowers when they were fresh and vibrant (just so you can see what I mean by having a penchant lately for these colours) and on the right are the threads chosen this morning from the old wilted petals.

I think this is a rather lovely way to choose threads, don't you?

But I should throw in a caution...

One thing I write in every issue of The Stitchery Club is "Choose your fabric first, and then choose your threads to match" and I stand by that.  

There's nothing worse when you've spent many hours on a stitchery and then go hunting for just the right quilting fabric to sew around it (whether in a quilt or as a project) and the colours simply do not blend. 

By having your quilting fabric on hand first you can use it to choose embroidery thread colours that will match, ensuring your finished project will be a beautiful blend of stitchery and fabric at the end.

However, if you're stitching a design to put into a picture frame or only using one tonal colour as a border, then run ahead and find a bouquet that makes your heart beat with joy - whether that be from your garden (oh lucky you!) or like me you purchase a budget bunch from the local supermarket - and gather threads that match your blooms. 

All you need next is a pattern to stitch and some quiet time to enjoy bringing everything together into one lovely project.

Well, there you go, my aha moment this week.

Another thing about flowers and why I buy them for myself, is their ability to lift my countenance when life has taken a toll on me physically, emotionally, in my health, with working from home and trying to balance the home/work logistics...and any number of other challenges.

A cup of tea and a vase of pretty blooms. That's the loveliest down-time, even if it's just 10 minutes before I head out the door to pick up my husband or go down to the laundry to hang the washing on the line. Beauty in it's natural form, God's hand shown in nature, is calming, joyous, and exquisitely divine to behold.

A $10  bouquet two or three times a month is my little luxury, my gift to self, that one small thing which lifts my heart when I'm so darn weary everything can seem too much of an effort.

What's your one small thing?

Share your comments below, and if you like, come join us over here in the Gentle Domesticity Facebook group where we'll be chatting about this too.

Now I'd best return to writing patterns for as much as I try to believe it possible, they will not write themselves. 

Have a WONDERFUL end of week!

Big hugs,