The Sopwell Ladies

I suddenly realised today that I have never shown my completed flimsy of The Sopwell Ladies Basket Society Quilt.
I started this quilt last year as a BOM sample for The Country Yard. I did finish the top earlier this year but I must have been busy then and forgot to share.
I really enjoyed making this quilt. There's quite a lot of work in each 'block' but there's a nice variety and it stays pretty interesting :-)

(Not the best photos sorry as I had to get it into the shop and I think that may have been why I didn't share at the time, I was going to get some better pics.)

I did all the applique by machine, using fusible applique paper and turning the edges over with glue, and then using invisible thread to zig-zag it to the background. I do prefer hand turned under applique but this was certainly a lot quicker and a good technique to use on a project from time to time so you actually get it finished :-)
The border fabric was a fun one to use and helped with the choice of scrappy-type fabrics used within the quilt.

In other news, I've completed one of the sweet stitcheries Michelle Ridgeway kindly offered on her blog —

Stitched using 'Honeysuckle' Cottage Garden Thread

He didn't take very long to stitch, which is just as well as I am gathering a wee pile of ''Lockdown projects' I'd like to sew up to commemorate what we're all experiencing at the moment!

I've decided I really must be getting fitter with all these walks I'm doing. A big walk used to be to the top of the first hill across the road... now that's a 'quick walk' when I'm considering where to walk. (As in "Where shall I go?" "Oh what about a quick walk up the hill over the road"). So that's where I headed today, and then I decided to carry on past the beehives, and up to a wee knoll I've been eyeing up for a bit - but putting off as it was too much of a walk.

Past the beehives and up the next bit of hill

Down that bit of hill and then heading for the knoll on the right

Up the top of the knoll and looking back to where I'd come

And looking the other way to our runoff which is further along this track.
(The pasture areas you see above, where we graze non-milking animals.)

I mentioned the other day the fire that ripped through this area a few year ago. A lot of this area was burnt and has slowly been recovering. In the Private Reserve alongside some of the track the 'team' spent a lot of time and energy doing a springtime planting of some natives they had raised from seed from the area.

(As well as the bush being on our land, it's also on the neighbour's, the Reserve, Conservation land and, over the road back on the main farm, Maori land. It's all interconnected and sometimes it's hard to know where the boundaries are).

Anyway, I'd been wondering how the new plants were doing with the extended drought we're in but I was pleased to notice today that quite a few of the plants are doing well. The Manuka scrub that has come up provides good shelter for the small plants.

The autumn weather is making my walks quite pleasant. Today was a good day for some strange looking shadows—

Oh to have such long legs!

Another peaceful unhurried day keeping to my bubble :-)

Take care and stay well,

Happy stitches,