Cross stitch and Pumpkins

 In the evenings, I enjoy handwork like bindings or applique. And lately, I have found some small designs to cross stitch.

I have pushed myself to finish up these little ones last week: 

Both of these are from Pinker n Punkin. She has such cute seasonal designs. But these befuddled me. I worked on evenweave with 2 strands on 2 squares.  But I really NEED a higher power of readers although I already use 3. 5s and a bright light beside me. 

And this last one, I experimented with painting the canvas with acrylic paints added with Textile Medium, 2 to 1 ratio is suggested online. To highlight and brighten it and give it a mottled look, I added additional yellow paint to give a mottled look. I like how it turned out. 

It was easier to stitch and I used 2 strands over 2 squares. It went fast. 

I don't remember where I located this pattern. 

Lastly, I have been quilting: I have a Fig Tree pattern that has both an orange and white pumpkin version. I chose the grayish brown background I already had and a layer cake of Fig Tree's fabric from last year. I am altering it to make it fit a space on my wall. 

This is the lay out.  All that is needed is sashing and pieced horizontal borders between the rows.

Over the weekend I took a trip to Indianapolis to visit my sister and Mom. 

Diane had found my mother's wedding album from 1952. We looked at the black and white photos with her. Mom's memory of the event wasn't very clear. We were fortunate to have a newspaper article detailing the people including attendants and grandmothers as well as details of the apparel and flowers. 

Not bad for a 92 year old lady with Alzheimer's