July introduces the last three designs for the Silk Ribbon Embroidery Sampler project: Carnations, Fuchsias, and Poppies.

With all of our blocks and center completed, we have the makings for a beautiful framed picture. The blocks may also be turned into a sampler book that would be a lovely display on an end table.

Check our Facebook and Instagram pages and see all the motifs in our garden and the framed version once it returns from the picture framer.

At the beginning of the year, I shared blocks under construction for the Patchwork Barn by Laundry Basket Quilts. My sisters and I were making individual quilts and sharing blocks with each other.

We were all together for a long weekend last month and able to see the end results of our quilt tops. We personalized each of our quilts, filling them with childhood memories of vacation road trips and finding red barns along the way.

I am still working on my hand appliquéd borders, but Sandy and Jo have finished their tops. Highly recommend this pattern! It was a fun stitch!

During our sisters' weekend, we all felt a wee bit guilty for not touching a needle and thread to our fabric. However, we did stitch all weekend!

The theme of the weekend turned out to be yarn...yummy, luscious yarn. It was not our intention as we did have appliqué and an embroidery project on hand. But once we started with the crocheted Persian Tiles and a knitted shawl pattern, we were all hooked!

We each crocheted a different tile in the Persian Tiles pattern. It was fun seeing this afghan coming together.

Then we all chose a different yarn to knit the Honister shawl pattern by Amanita Agata Mackiewicz. Sandy taught us how to knit the lace and cables. She has the patience of a saint! We also learned to tink (knit spelled backwards). We've had lots of practice so far and are becoming quite proficient in tinking.

2nd Saturday of each month, August through October 2021

1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Cinnamon's Quilt Shoppe, Jacksonville, FL

Learn several techniques in this class...a little hand appliqué, a bit of hand embroidery and a touch of ribbon work. Beach Roses, Bayberries, and Mayflowers, native flowers of Cape Cod, will bloom in a simple summer basket.

If you're out of town and would like to stitch with us, the class is also being offered online as a WebEx meeting.

2nd Saturday of each month, August through October 2021

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Cinnamon's Quilt Shoppe, Jacksonville, FL

This will be our fifth sampler book, this time on composite band stitches. These stitches are a combination of two or more stitches. They will include easy stitches for beginners and a few challenging stitches for experienced stitchers. These band stitches are excellent choices for crazy quilts!

This is a brand new sampler book and no prior classes are required.

If you're out of town and would like to stitch with us, the class is also being offered online as a WebEx meeting.

Each month this section will highlight a new-to-me stitch or technique. I will share a pdf of the technique or a video link so you too may learn along with me. Visit our website for additional tutorials.

In preparation for our upcoming Composite Stitches Class, here is a simple technique for Piecing a Stitch Sampler Block. You can make this Stitch Sampler Block into a pillow or frame it, or place the composite stitches in a sampler book as in previous classes. Whichever direction you choose, it will be a fun way to learn and sample new stitches.

These were two of our stitching companions this weekend, Jo's pups Stanley and Tidus.

It was also Stanley's birthday weekend, so he and brother Tidus received presents all weekend long.

They were very good boys, and made us laugh all weekend watching them play with snorting pig and squeaky squirrel and lizard toys and chewing on their yummy bones! Stanley even entertained us as he intently watched videos of his puppy days. He is such a character!