EQ Quilt Journeys Sew along - 1st block completed!

Hi,

Just a quick post!

I decided to participate in the EQ Quilt Journeys Sew Along for this month. It is a fun way to try out some new blocks, and use up some of my fabric stash!

The sew along uses blocks in the EQ Quilt Journeys Add-on, by Barbara Brackman. You can purchase the Add-on, or use the blocks featured in the Sew Along blog post. I'm using the blocks featured in the Sew-along blog.

I'm considering purchasing the add-on in the future (on a bit of a budget lately!) Though, they do have a nice discount code for it in the introductory blog. I have the Block Base program by Barbara Brackman, which works with my EQ8 program, and I like it very much.

There are giveaways for each week of the sew-along, and a final big prize (all random, no judging, which is nice sometimes!)

1st block completed - Ohio Trail

Here is a link to the blog so you can read more about it:


https://doyoueq.com/blog/2026/08/sew-along-featuring-quilt-journeys-and-tilda-fabrics/

Happy Sewing!

Blessings to you,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

A lovely volunteer Poppy in the garden bed!

Hi,

Just sharing some pretty Poppy photos! We didn't have as many nice poppies this year, but the last one is beautiful! It was a volunteer Florist Pepperbox Breadseed Poppy (seeds of original plant were from Baker Creek seeds)! 

Here are some photos:

Hope this brightens your day a bit!

Many Blessings,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

A few souvenirs from London!

Greetings!

Finally taking time to post about our London trip this year! We enjoyed our Rick Steve's London 7 day trip last year, so we decided to return this year. Be sure to carry a RFID protected wallet for your cards. Last year we had one card scanned, and we hadn't even removed it from the wallet it was in. This year we both had protected wallets. 

It was a busy, fun trip. We planned it ourselves this time. We experienced a lot of new things, and discovered we are a bit more achy when walking! The things we enjoyed the most were the theatre shows we went to, and also shopping at a market, and at the local grocery stores. 

The sites were nice that we visited, but everything seems to be spread further apart - so lots of walking. We discovered that it is easier taking the bus, than going up and down subway stairs now. A few things to deal with, but we did well and enjoyed our trip. (We are both a bit older, and have a bit of arthritis!)

I plan to post more photos - there is a lot to see in London and in England, so it was easy to fill up our itinerary.

Here are some of the souvenirs we brought back, they are Paterson's Shortbread from Iceland store in Winchester (it was a bargain purchase, but very good, all gone now!), Penguin Pin from Victoria & Albert Museum gift shop, we also purchased some soap, notebooks from Liberty London store, Tana Lawn fabric bundles from Liberty London - I'll most likely use them for quilt/art projects, Koh-i-noor watercolor stack from Kew Gardens - we also purchased some flower seeds, Koh-i-noor Chalk pencil and erasers from Tate Britain gift shop - I discovered the Chalk pencil works well on fabric for marking and is easy to erase, a nice surprise! We also made it to Fortnum & Mason's Piccadilly store and purchased half off Easter candy, tea and biscuits. 

I tried to purchase a little something from the places we enjoyed the most. Many sites (museums) had free admission, so buying a little something helps support them.

Hope you are doing well and enjoying the Spring season,

Many Blessings to you,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

Mission completed! First loaves of Sourdough Bread!

Hi!

I purchased some dehydrated Sourdough culture earlier last year, I think around my birthday. I finally decided in early December to give it a try!

I began using bleached white flour (one of the flours in my pantry), but didn't like how it was developing. I decided to try feeding the starter with Rye flour, and it then worked quickly!

Starter risen in jar

 

View from top of jar

Here are photos of my first loaves:

1st loaves of Sourdough Whole Wheat bread

I found an easier sounding recipe on AllRecipes.com. You mix the starter with the flour, salt and sugar (I used a little honey) mixture. Then let it sit in a greased bowl overnight, in a warm location. The next morning you knead it a bit and divide for loaf pans. Then let it rise again. (I let it rise a little over 2 hours, our house is a bit cool right now.) The recipe also is in cups and tablespoons, rather than grams, which was helpful for me! I just ordered a food scale, so I can use some other recipes I have in cookbooks.

We baked the bread in our solar cooker. It came out wonderfully and tasted great too! I use whole wheat flour and white flour (50/50) in the bread recipe, with the rye starter.

It was fun, and not a cumbersome as I thought it would be.

I have started using the sourdough discard (the portion you take out of the starter when you feed it) in recipes. So far I've made Sourdough crackers with sesame seed on top and Sourdough Pumpkin pie. I plan to make Pumpkin Pie again tomorrow - using some pumpkin we have in our freezer. Both recipes were enhanced by the sourdough and tasted wonderful!

I encourage you to try it if you like baking and sourdough! It was actually a very fun process! 

I also read that the sourdough culture is good for inflammation - which is great for arthritis. Also, the fermentation reduces phytic acid, which improves mineral absorption, making it easier for your body to absorb calcium.

Here is a link I found with some of the information on calcium absorption: https://www.sourdough.co.uk/glossary/calcium/#:~:text=Long%20fermentation%20in%20sourdough%20reduces,body%20utilise%20calcium%20more%20efficiently.

Hope you enjoyed this little post on a different topic!

Blessings to you,

Denise A. Buchwalter-Losczyk

BERNINA Holiday Video 2025: Bernli is here! - resharing!

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