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

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