Recently I made a trip to the apple orchards near where I live. I make a trip out there each fall to get apples because they are so much better than any I can buy in the grocery store. I bought plenty and like so many others....I've been canning some of them. Here's what I did early this week. The pint jars have Gala apples slices and the half pint jars have sugar free peach jam. I canned the apple slices without adding sugar too. I'm a diabetic so it will be nice to have these sugar free treats later on. I still have more apples in the refrigerator to can. I plan to make applesauce with those.

I have not been doing a lot of stitching. Just a little in the evenings. I am making slow progress on the blocks for my Rainbow Sherbet and Licorice wall hanging. I now have 2 blocks completed. As you can see, I have help when I try to take pictures.
I guess Truffles thinks she has to check out my stitching and make sure I'm doing it correctly. This happens each time I lay anything for a quilt on the floor.






Here's a picture without her interference!


These blocks are fun to stitch. The only thing I do not enjoy is working with the silk thread I'm using. I prefer to do my hand applique with cotton machine embroidery thread. DMC is my favorite. With this multi-colored fabric, I couldn't find a cotton where my stitches didn't show, so I ended up using a neutral silk thread. I hate stitching with it as it is so slippy.

No new project starts....NOT!!!

I know I said I wasn't going to start anything new, but I had time on my hands yesterday and I decided work on the Bareroots wallhanging pattern I shared with you earlier. In case you don't remember.....this is it.

I have no affiliation with them, but if you like stitcheries and patterns, you can see more of their products at their website www.Bareroots.com

Andrea at the Welsh Quilter liked the pattern when I showed it and she ordered one too. She already has some of her stitching done. You can see hers here. Seeing hers motivated me to get a start. I decided I wanted to select my own colors, so I am piecing the background first. Then I will trace the designs and do the embroidery. Here's a look at what I pieced last night.

I still have 3 border strips to add. I also have to decide what colors of floss to use. I think I will assemble this into a ziploc bag as a take along project once the design is traced and the floss selected.

When I worked on this last night, I did not sew one of the string blocks I've been making each time I sit down at the machine....so I will make 2 today. I do plan to sew because I am staying in where it is warm. We had sleet after midnight and with it being so cold...the roads are slick and icy. Today was to have been my monthly applique class at LQS. This is the third month I have not been able to go because of the weather. Would someone else like at little sleet, ice and snow?? I'd be happy to try to send it your way!