a sweet little November embroidery

I just finished this little Novembre embroidery,and I had fun setting it up in a small gold frame,with some pumpkins on my little vignette table.

I brought it back from France a few years ago,I am pretty sure I started it right away,but somehow lost it in my sewing room...and I just found it a few days ago!With only a few details left to embroider,I finished it in 2 day!

The pattern from Rouge du Rhin: Novembre,the linen is printed in soluble red ink, making it easier to do the embroidery,and vanishes nicely afterward, since I did not do a great job....

I chose to use a rectangular frame, I added some ribbons and a tag on the sideto give a more modern look at this very traditional embroidery.

It is a great addition to my newest embroidery corner:

(Apple cross-stitched pillow here)
I moved a few things in the living roomwhich I will share next time!
Happy day!

pumpkin mug mini quilt

I am not done embracing pumpkin season,

so I sewed this cute pumpkin mug mini quilt:

Doesn't it make you want to go camping, or at least go hiking?It looks perfect with that little Montagne cross stitched!
It is a traditional patchwork block and not too challenging,and it would make a great large quilt.The pattern is from Satomi Quilts, available on Etsy.

I will definitively make some more,when I have more time, for next fall!
Until then I will be hiking to the lake...

Happy sewing!

a last minute Halloween pennant

Are you ready for Halloween?

I wasn't until a few days ago...

I had set up the front porch with pumpkins

and this cool pillow,

but nothing inside...

But with the addition of these pennants,

I feel ready!

I followed this tutorial from Diary of a Quilter

and sewed the pennants pretty fast,

using left over fabric from my Halloween pillow:

a mix of orange and Halloween prints (recent and quite old, I am a collector!)

and some black bias binding.

The brick fireplace seemed like the perfect corner to set up

a little Halloween vignette:

It seemed a little too early to start a fire,

so instead I light some candles.

I am more of battery candles for safety reason,

but I feel quite comfortable lighting really candles in the fireplace!

Of course a little scary literature, a hot drink in a caldron mug

and a warm blanket make for the perfect evening!

Unless you lose your spot to the dog!

Bosco is a big fan of my Tartan blanket.....

Happy Halloween!

apple embroidered pillow

I finished my apple embroidered pillow in time!

I was getting concerned that I was not going to make it!

Well I knew I would finish it,but in time to go to the park to take pictures,that was less certain!

with French cidre (from Normandie, not Bretagne... but yeah cider!),

apples and harvest cake.

The cross stitched pattern from Madame La Fee

was long but not too difficult,

with the proper glasses!

I must admit I was looking forward to have it complete!

I was able to find in my "collection" the perfect print:

a thimbleberries apple print from 2004!

I remember buying it when Miss C. was a tiny baby!

I used the print to frame the embroidery (a little too small for a pillow)

and for the back.

Then Mon Cheri and I went to the park to take pictures....

with pillow, blanket, cake and cider!

I think people look at us a little funny,

since there is a no picnic policy right now!

Luckily the pictures turned out really nice,

and we had a nice walk around the pound.

Cakes like to go on walks too!😜

Happy day!

the fall outdoor cocktail hour

What to do when you dream of travelling and you have to stay home?

You try to recreate the scene of the travel of course!

I recently saw this cool pic on IG of an "impromptu" fall picnic 

in the English Countryside:

(Photography: @hope_and_wander)

and it was simply lovely.

As I was sharing this with one of my girlfriends,

she dared me to recreate it our backyard!

I had to change the narrative from impromptu fall picnic during car ride

to fall cocktail in the "woods".

It required grabbing planters, pumpkins from the front porch,

and blankets from different rooms to the backyard

and set it all together....

The final ingredient was the cocktail,

 I found the perfect one: apple cider Manhattan from Inspired by charm

Originally I was concerned it was too sweet with the maple syrup,

but it was just right.

We have made it 4 or 5 times, a new favorite!

2 oz bourbon, 0.5 oz sweet vermouth, 1.5 oz apple cider, 0.5 oz maple syrup,

2 dashes of bitter (orange which I do not have) and a cherry, of course!

I quickly prepared a little appetizer,

to help absorb the alcohol...

some thinly sliced baguette with a little fresh goat cheese

and herbes de Provence, toasted in the oven...perfection!

Somebody decided that they smelled too goodto let them sit outside....

so Lou ate them all!🙈
At least we enjoyed the cocktail and the setting!
Happy day!