Friendship is a Sheltering Tree

Today I was able to get some concentrated stitching time in on the Tree project, and I thought I'd share the process here.

The goal for today was to embroider the words Friendship is a Sheltering Tree in the open space.

I am not the world's most competent free-hand artist, so I knew that I would have to use Word and find a font I liked.

I didn't want to risk writing directly on the fabric, so I traced the phrase onto cheesecloth and basted it into place on the hanging.

Once it was on the piece I did a simple running stitch along the words.

and when I was finished I trimmed the cheesecloth close to the words and pulled it away.

After the cheesecloth was removed I went over the running stitch with a wrap, filling in the spaces, and was left with this -

The last decisions are whether or not to add more leaves and whether to stitch just Coleridge or Samuel Taylor Coleridge below.
I think just Coleridge would be best, but I do get caught up in the what-ifs of designing...

Keep Calm and Craft On

Joining Nicole today for KCCO.
Here is the quilt top for the elementary school project I started in December.
The blue is the back, but I think I need to get a little more and use it as a border on the front.
I hope to finish up the quilting and binding by the end of the week.
What's on your work table today?

Weekly Stills (a day late)

I spent the weekend with The Singers on a singing tour of central Minnesota.

We sang with some really talented and committed young people. It was terrific fun!

We didn't get back until after 8 yesterday, and as the baby hadn't taken much liquid nourishment since I left on Saturday (still resistant to the idea of a bottle, but don't worry, she eats solids) I spent the evening nursing said sweet babe.

Consequently, I am a day late with my weekly stills.

The Youngest is taking a few shaky steps here and there. 

Reading.

Sewing.

I got these peg people for the kids to paint. They jumped right in and though the dining room table is a paint-covered mess (along with the floor) fun was had and the little people are sweet.

We drove back from Baxter, MN, where we spent our second day of touring, through a pretty exciting snow storm. Our driver was a pro, and he made great time getting us home.

This is my favorite kind of snowstorm. So very beautiful.

What's going on in your world today?

Joining Emily with Weekly Stills

4 of 52

The Youngest tried eating with a spoon for the first time this week with moderate success.
The Eldest was working on a sewing project on the bed this morning.
The Younger wasn't interested in being photographed, so he hid behind his favorite book.
Joining Jodi at Che + Fidel for 52 portraits.

Weekly Stills

Since I spend the most time with her, The Youngest is the star of Weekly Stills
1. Crackerface
2. Ice Fishing on a 40 degree day, not too brainy...
3. My dream home is for sale. Now to win that powerball.
4. Bundled for a sleepy walk.
5. Gloomy view from the fifth lamp down.
6. Downtown from the fifth lamp south.
7. The Youngest dressed like a polar bear (alternate from yesterday's 3 of 52)

Joining Emily for Weekly Stills.

3 of 52

Joining Jodi at Che + Fidel for the 52 portraits project.

Walking home from the bus with The Elder
Dinner with The Younger, who runs hot and never wants to wear his shirt.
The Youngest home from a walk, dressed like a polar bear and preparing to eat a shoe.

Driving with the Youngest

The Youngest is teething. These four words have dire consequences for the sleep in our house. The morning naps have been few and far between and the afternoon naps almost non-existent. This afternoon after 3 failed attempts at a nap I decided to go run errands. As I pulled up to our first stop I went to get The Youngest and she had fallen asleep. Rather than wake her up I got back in and drove home. When I got there I realized that her best interests would be better served by staying in the car so we went on a drive around the neighborhood. We live by a lovely riverside drive, so we went through the woods and by the lake, and saw these intrepid people ice fishing on a 40 degree day.

A little later we drove by Harriet Island -

Then we finally arrived back home after about an hour and then it was time to meet the Elder and the Younger at the bus stop.
We had a lovely walk home and now it's time for a snack.
How was your day?