Stitching Summer's End

Hello Gentle Readers. Our weather continues to be warm. Cooler mornings make for lovely walking. A few monarchs still flit across my path. A yellow swallowtail sipped nectar from a bright magenta zinnia. Squirrels binge on the acorns. I wish they would stick to acorns and stay out of my flower and herb pots. I know, that is a forlorn hope. This morning I noticed a healthy ash tree with a beautiful streak of burnished brown/copper color. The blackberry lilies show part of the black clusters that give them their name. 

I will link this post with Kat and other Unravelers writing about making and reading this week. Lest you think I abandoned the Stitch Journal project, here is my latest stitching.  In August, I used two prompts from K3N Cloth Tales 2024 stitch journal project. The first was to choose a print fabric, use it to guide stitching and then display the "backstory." I often think the back of embroidery is an interesting as the front. Other pieces in my project have more interesting backstories but I decided to honor the spirit of the prompt as it turned out. So here is Backstory - because everyone has one. 

My second August page was a piece of crazy quilting. I used quilter's cotton fabrics as that is what I have on hand. I learned a couple new embroidery stitches and also that I prefer some space between stitching. 

I recently heard Nicole Nehrig, the author of With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories interviewed on The Long Thread Podcast. She said some believe crazy quilt patchwork of the Victorian era was a way for some women to creating their own designs and assert more independent ways of thinking. My library doesn't yet own a copy of the book so I haven't read it but hope to soon.

The first September page is a fabric envelope of my own design. For years, I have kept a set of four very pretty napkins that belonged to my Grandmother. I deemed them to pretty to use at the dinner table. At this point in my life, I decided to use one of them to make an envelope. 

Then of course the envelope needed something in it. I used some fabric that came from my Mom and cut out the shape of a Friendship star to stitch onto another lavender piece of fabric. Originally, I thought I'd put in the pieced Friendship Star my Mom gave me on my 50th birthday but I couldn't bring myself to fold that star several times in order for it to fit in the envelope. 

The second September page is adapted from prompts by Kathryn of k3n Cloth Tales. During the ninth month, I stitched nine little squares and then couched a circle of red yarn. I like to think that during my birthday month, I am encircled by family and friends. My brother John whose death occurred in September is part of that circle. I thought of him as I stitched.  

If you have stuck with me through all of this stitching chatter, thank you. I hope you enjoy your making as we slide into October and more seasonal autumn weather.