Slow Stitching in July

 Hello friends. If you are here in Aus. you will be decidedly chilly. And here in beautiful sunny Queensland overnight temps of zero are just not welcome lol! Thank goodness there's an abundance of quilts.

As I mentioned last post, I have joined in with #roxyjournalofstitchery once again. The project for Volume 6 is "Field Notes" which is right up my street. The inspiration was UK Edwardian naturalist and journal keeper...Edith Holden. I have loved her pages for years....all her delightful watercolours and poems and quotes appropriate to her theme and nature walks discoveries. 

Because I was eager to get started I made some preparations for the cover I had in mind. I am trying where I can to have an Aussie flavour....not always going to be possible as the inspiration is from the UK. 

The project is to be a concertina form.

So it will unfold in one long strip. The cover will technically be stitched on the back and I am going to use some stiffening to make it robust. I have to admit to having gone a bit over the top with my cover but I love it! You will espy my little Fairy Wren drawing, embroidered and I did the same for the Dandelion...the bees favourite. A real feather collected on a wander.

Now because I jumped the gun with the cover I didn't realise there would also be a title page and not wanting to NOT have a title page I did that too...yep completely over-the-top! But I  care not lol!

The silk ribbon pansy was one of several I made many moons ago. Many of you have probably done the same....so happy to use it. OK still with me? We then moved on to Prompt No. 1 which is SPRING BULBS. Hmmm dilemma. Australia has only about 3 wild bulbs plants. So I caved and went with a Tulip. Thinking of Floriade in Canberra was as close as I could get to Aussie flavour. I drew and embroidered a tulip.

I made a pocket from lace and then drew a tulip and bulb on an aged tag to pop inside.

I added a little quote about Spring on the back....oh how I wish I had lovely hand writing *sigh

I am hoping that I can combine stitching and drawing in this project. I have a little accordion booklet with birds who visit my garden waiting in the wings...pardon the pun for a future prompt.

So I am having a very nice time with this project and hanging out for the next prompt.

I can hear the kettle boiling...definitely cuppa time and I think today a little hand quilting to keep my knees warm.

I shall leave you with this poem which speaks to me and reminds me frankly of myself all through the years from childhood until now.

Take care, 

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx