Autumn Projects

Well it is certainly Autumn down here in Devon this morning:  sunny but there is a real nip in the air.  And the trees have a slight golden tinge appearing, though the garden is still very green and my hanging baskets are surprisingly still looking great. I love this time of year.  It is so good to curl by the fire in an evening with either a good book or my cross-stitch - and a Proms concert on the radio - and next week Strictly Come Dancing returns - I love that programme!

I have started a wedding quilt for my God-daughter Maggie - she is marrying Finn in December.  She asked for pale creams/greys etc. - so have added some subtle colours to give it a lift and just hope she will like: the pattern is from Jo Colwill's book " Cushions and Qults".  I am very pleased with it so far:

I am struggling with my Stacey Nash "Christmas at Hollyberry Farm" cross-stitch - as I wanted to change the pattern and not have "Merry Christmas" on it, I have found it difficult to work out the border:  I now wished I had left well alone but hopefully it will turn out OK in the end.  I have done a lot of unpicking - not good! Picture when finished! I also have  my SL "Country Life"  to keep me going, along with another new one to start -  "Saxony Sampler".  I am waiting for the threads to arrive and then sometime soon I will sew the first stitch - I always love that moment.  A fresh piece of 36 count linen, a new pattern challenge and lots of threads asking to be made into an heirloom!  Heaven!

Talking of curling up by the fire with a good book:  I have just read a real treasure:  "A Fine Romance" by Susan Branch.  She is already well known in the USA but less known here in the UK.  I first discovered her wonderfully illustrated cook books back in the late 1980's whilst on holiday in Cape Cod.  I have been a huge fan ever since.  Her calenders are part of my daily life and this new book is wonderful.  A friend of mine - Nina - has recently been in America and amazingly was in Martha's Vineyard at the start of Susan's book tour.  She so very thoughtfully got me a copy and had it personally signed to me by Susan.  I am so thrilled, such a wonderful kind thought.  I shall treasure this book!
As Jane Austin said "There is no charm equal to tenderness of heart".

So onwards and upwards!  A new season and lots of new projects.  Once Maggie's wedding quilt is finished |I have a bunk-bed quilt to make for 4 year old George, and then daughter Dot wants an Amish quilt!  I love it - the more sewing demands my time the less time I have for housework - that is my excuse and I am sticking with it!
I hope everyone is good wherever you are in the world - and thank you for visiting my little heaven in Devon!