Slow Stitching

We've hit the slow side of summer.  The days that move like molasses.  The kids who are tired of reading on the sofa.  The heat that just. won't. stop.  On the other hand, Aria's brainstorming ideas for marketable crochet projects (because she's already made sweaters for all her friends), and Liam's drawing a collection of characters and backgrounds.  We may be super bored, but we're also extra creative.  And that's what summer is for, right?

Slow stitching

I'm in between machine sewing projects, while waiting on new fabrics from The Intrepid Thread for my next quilt.  Meanwhile, I have three hand stitching projects vying to fill my time.  This week thornflower is getting all the attention.  It's just the kind of mindless stitching that fits best when your preteen is eager to fill you in on all her grand plans.

I usually enjoy basting English Paper Piecing projects, but not joining the pieces.  To minimize time-consuming hand joining, I was going to join just the flower petals around the centers, then applique the flowers and triangles as separate pieces on a background.  But simplicity won out.  Getting all those pieces placed perfectly on the background was more than my molasses brain could handle.  And once I decided to join everything by hand, I settled in and enjoyed myself, truly.

Slow stitching

I just have one long row of staggered triangles and petals left to join to finish the asymmetric applique piece.  Can't wait to see how it all looks when finally in pillow form!

And can I just say I love these flower centers?  The dark navy compliments any petal color and the whimsical "ghost sardine" prints are the perfect element of subtle pattern for a modern flower center.  I always forget about fussy cutting, so I'm proud of myself for thinking it through this time!

Always some new way to grow, right?  I do love that about sewing.