To all my wonderful American readers ! Happy 4th of July ......Then stitching talk.

I  love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.

  ~Erma Bombeck

I loved this quote from Erma Bombeck and I hope that all of my really close American friends and my American readers will have a wonderful day today with their family's and friends.  I simply adore your country and quite frankly love your nation as a whole.  I have only seen a teeny weeny portion of it so far but I have not finished yet.  

This year we are not going to fly out to your wonderful country because we are, as you know looking to move but I hope to be back next year and to explore some more.

Have a great day and fly your flags with pride ..... I hope where ever you are in your vast land that the weather stays good for you.

                                           *          *         *          *          *          *          *

I just wanted to mark this day out of love and respect  and now it is about stitching!

Tomorrow will be the blog about the Sarah Moore vintage fair that I went to on Saturday and you will not be disappointed I can tell you ... I had a fabulous day.

The suffolk puff unpick is going well by doing just two a day and there are now two bowls, one with them opened up and pressed and those that will stay as they are but singular for another type of  design.   I have become addicted to this little task daily as it is both fun and therapeutic at the same time.  This is normally a 20 minute ritual in the afternoon with my herbal tea .. very civilised!

Today I am going to be using some of the tiny tiny little acorns that I have made recently and these ones have a needle and wet felted acorn in a real acorn cup.  I have also got out on my work table some stunning little pieces of fabric to cut out different leaves as well .. you can see a little theme going on in the shape of an Autumnal sampler I would think and you would be right.

In addition I have to sort through my hand dyed shaker threads for the appropriate colour threads for this piece which probably will be ready to start stitching by lunch time.  I have my design in front of me and it is about putting the first bit in place and appliqué will start before any embroidery stitches are added.  I think I have the right combination and balance for the design but just need to choose the leaf fabrics carefully ......

The centre piece is ready to stitch so I will cut some leaves and then stitch the main part on then continue with the leaves and place them and play around with where they need to go.  At this point I photograph it for my use so that I can stitch it exactly, without the worry of

forgetting the exact spot for each piece of the design.  It is the way I work and it really helps me to get the piece of work as I would like it and focused then on the stitching not on the remembering where each tiny appliqué piece of fabric goes ...

I have to report I have a massive 6 work baskets made up at this particular day and time so there is lots for me to be doing and making ... It is so good to be able to focus on the stitching when you work like this.   When I get down to the last two then it is design day again and basket making up ..... 

Well that is it for today and do not forget to come back tomorrow to have a peek at the great vintage fair at Sarah Moore's house in West Sussex and hear all about the fun of the fair.

Have a wonderful day and as always Happy Stitching! X