Latest Projects in the Studio - Needlepoint!

 Hi!

Hope you are having a great Autumn. In between picking figs from our fig tree, I have been working on a little needlework. I will get back to quilting the finished Dresden Plate quilt top, but it was fun to take a break and work with another medium and project. 

Many years ago (decades!) I purchased some needlepoint supplies - canvas and a bit of yarn. After working on the Aurifil Dresden Summer Quilt-along project I was inspired to try some more needle work. It is something I enjoy. I haven't done much needle point, but I decided to try it again. I am enjoying it very much!

I had thought about buying one of the beautiful Ehrman Tapestry kits, but I really wanted to use my own design, created from my artwork.

Here is the finished Needlepoint Canvas. It is from a drawing of one of my Breadseed Poppy photos.

Needlepoint Poppy Design, size 5 and 3 Perle cotton on size 13 canvas

Needlepoint Poppy close up

I had to replenish my #5 Perle Cotton supply, so I ordered some from Michaels. Happily they had a sale at the time. I used a bit of #3 Thread I had in my stash also. 

New threads - DMC from Michaels

Thread aftermath on table (after stitching
some!)

Here is my original Sketchbook drawing:

Original Sketchbook Poppy Drawing

I'm planning to design another piece, using a bit smaller canvas, since my canvas base was showing a bit. (I used #13 canvas, I have some #14 canvas which is a bit smaller). I am still very happy with the outcome. 

I plan on creating several projects inspired by the photos I took 2 seasons ago of our poppies. 

Recently planted some more Breadseed Poppies this month and they are coming up!

Wishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving and Fall! And many Stitching Adventures!

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Completing older projects - this one is from the 1990's!

Hi,

I recently decided to spend this year completing some of my older projects. I realized I have many that are in progress! 

I decided to add a binding to this little quilt which I began in the 1990s. I liked the 1930s reproduction prints at the time (I still do!), they reminded me of quilts my mom had made when she was younger, and one yellow quilt of hers that I grew up looking at a lot. I found the little prints fascinating. 

 I also finished stitching down some hexagons which I had basted to it a few years ago, when I was trying out hexagons with English Paper Piecing. I plan to continue working on it and add a bit more hand quilting. It will be a great way to practice stitching. The little quilt originally was stalled when I wasn't pleased with all my quilting designs. Though, I think my stitches look very nice!

Little wall size quilt. Feeling more complete!

Detail, center of quilt. I may name it
 "Trip Around the Kitty".

Quilt Detail.

Since then I've been doing mostly machine quilting with a bit of hand work occasionally. 

I am looking back on this project less judgmentally and it feels good to have somewhat finished this little one, and made a plan for it!

It brings back memories of another "Trip Around the World" quilt I hand quilted and sold to a friend as a baby quilt. I followed the process to make the quilt after watching Eleanor Burns on the Quilt in a Day TV show.

How many UFOs (unfinished objects) do you have in your Studio? It is fun to finish them, but sometimes they are just a record of what we were doing, or the quilting journey we were taking at the time! 

Let me know in the comments if you like! I would love to hear from you.  

Hope you are enjoying the seasons and creating something fun in your Studio or Sewing room!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Dresden Summer Stitch Along Update - Final Weeks - Week 6 and 7!

 Hi,

I have had a fun Summer, stitching along on this project! Thanks to Aurifil, Moda and Susan Ache. Here are my final two embroidered blocks:

Last 2 stitched Susan Ache embroidery designs

I completed 9 Dresden Plates to create a smaller version of the quilt. I also changed the layout a bit from the quilt along, mine is a bit simpler.

I added some light gold fabric for the sashing and plan to add light blue and lavender fabrics for the borders. I had a mini charm pack in my fabric stash that had gold and black prints, and bees on it, which I'm using for cornerstones. I plan to add an additional bit of green ivy print fabric for the outside border. 

Here is a photo of the completed Dresden plates laid out on my guest bed, just before sewing the sashing and corner stones. (The guest bed makes a great place to lay out a design!) I plan to gift this little quilt, I made extra embroidered center so I can make a quilt for our home later, perhaps.

Quilt laid out on bed, before sewing.

Pressing tips:

I had some difficulty getting some of my pieced Dresden plates to lay flat. Here is how I solved the problem, which was caused by over ironing and steaming too much!

I sewed the wedges together in sections. I very gently finger pressed the seams to one side after stitching each section (no obsessive finger pressing or ironing!). (I sewed 2 wedges together, then sewed those to 2 other sewn wedges, then 4 wedges to 4 wedges, then finally connected all the sections, to complete the plate.)

Then I pressed (not ironed) with NO steam the seam side of the block, then turned it over and pressed (not ironed) the front side (emphasis on NO steam!). The plates came out perfect and laid nicely on my background fabric. 

Here are the links to the final postings for the Stitch Along:

https://auribuzz.com/2025/08/29/dresden-summer-stitch-along-week-6/

https://auribuzz.com/2025/09/12/dresden-summer-stitch-along-the-final-installment/


I hope you have had fun stitching along or will perhaps save the project to create later! I'll share a completed photo once the quilt is done!

Many Blessings to you,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Dresden Stitch-along update - Week 5 and some canning too!

Hi!

I've really been enjoying stitching along on this project. Here are some photos of my progress for Week 5. I have been busy working on the project and doing some canning a bit too.

Stitched Susan Ache embroidery designs for Dresden centers.

Appliqued, one completed Dresden block with embroidered center
 (Susan Ache embroidery design).

My studio time has been interrupted a tiny bit by food preserving. We didn't have as much fruit this year (last year we had tons to share), but we still have enough to put away some. I'm doing mostly canning, as our freezer is currently full of other things!

Here is the latest I've canned - some Fig Jam/Sauce. I used a little bit of honey and molasses in it, the figs already have some sweetness to them. I've also canned Blackberry Jam, Asian Pear Jam, and some Kumquat Jam/Sauce from Kumquats gifted to us by friends (I had them in the freezer). Also managed to freeze a few apples for pie!. It is nice to have some fruit to put away for the months ahead.

Fig Jam in jars.

Here is the link to this week's Dresden Stitch-a-long. You can still download and save the previous weeks, and stitch whenever you like!

https://auribuzz.com/2025/08/15/dresden-summer-stitch-along-week-5/


I like Susan Ache's embroidery designs very much! Thanks to Moda, Aurifil and Susan Ache for this fun project.

Wishing you a great rest of your Summer!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Dresden Summer Stitch Along Week 4 progress!

 Hi!

I've been enjoying working on the embroidery for Week 4 of the Aurifil, Moda and Susan Ache Dresden Stitch-Along Quilt project. I am contemplating creating some of my own hand embroidery line drawings for future projects! It is very relaxing stitching the designs. I do like Susan Ache's designs!

Here are my stitched designs for this week:

This week's stitched designs - I enjoyed playing with the placement of the thread colors to change the look of the designs.

I've prepared some of the stitched centers this week. I was starting to stitch the Dresden wedges together. The first 2 circles (Dresden plates) came out beautifully and laid flat. Then, I think I got carried away a bit and ironed them a bit much, and maybe too much steam on my fabric wedges cut from pre-cuts. I am going to experiment with some ideas, then I will share what I find out! (To avoid the not laying flat part.)

Prepared embroidery centers for Dresden Plates

How the embroidered center will look with the Dresden plate wedges

Here is the link to this week's designs:


https://auribuzz.com/2025/08/01/dresden-summer-stitch-along-week-4/

I hope you are stitching something beautiful and having a great Summer season!

Many Blessings to you,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Dresden Summer Stitch Along - Progress update! Week 3 sewing and embroidery

Hi!

A little update on my progress on the Dresden Summer Stitch Along - here are my embroidered blocks from Week 3:

Week 3 Susan Ache Embroidery Designs stitched

Here is the back side of the embroidery, I carry my stitches along by catching the thread in the previous stitches. This way it doesn't show through the fabric on the right side.

Backside of the embroideries (fun to see)!

I have been busy preparing wedges for the Dresden blocks too, here are some I've created so far, there are 240 wedges in the quilt:

Some of my prepared wedges - using Riley Blake Liberty London
fabric (a 10 inch layer cake) and Kaufman fabrics (a jelly roll).

And, I even managed to sew some of the wedges together to make 2 Dresden plates. I still need to add the centers. I was thrilled with the result! I think I may be adding some more Dresden Plate projects to my list of quilts to make!

Dresden plate blades sewn together.

I'm enjoying this process, just doing a little at a time. I cut and sew a few hours in the afternoon in my studio, not all day! I have been stitching some of the embroidery in the evening too.

I hope you are creating something wonderful this Summer! It is great for lifting your spirits, and you have beautiful projects as a result, too.

Blessings to you,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Dresden Summer Stitch Along Week 3 - sharing the link

Hi,

A very short post today - I am sharing the link for the Dresden Summer Stitch Along, Week 3, with Aurifil, Moda, and Susan Ache!

Here is the link: https://auribuzz.com/2025/07/18/dresden-summer-stitch-along-week-3/

I am excited to see this weeks' embroidery designs. I have been enjoying working on this project. I'll share my progress with it in a later post.

Happy Stitching and Summer to you!

Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk