Erica's Stitches

Just as fall as arriving I've finished my harvest biscornu.  I didn't mean to be seasonal but this was the next project in my queue. I've been wanting to fill my sewing basket for a while and these were the colors it needed. These were the colors I decided upon originally and they go perfectly in my basket.  But, while I was stitching, the colors didn't feel right to me even though they are all over right now. As soon as I finished I pulled out some white fabric and lighter brighter colors and have started another one.  I guess I'm not ready for fall and winter and am looking forward to spring already. This pattern is for sale at Patternsonline .

I've been lucky enough to get out into the mountains some during the past few weeks just as the aspens reached the height of color. I was able to walk along the Colorado River kicking up dead cottonwood leaves. And hike in a rain of golden aspen leaves.  Living in a pine forest I don't get to rake and play in the leaves like I did growing up.  So, in a way, I was a kid again. I've been enjoying it because it will not last long.  Sure enough, I woke up this morning to snow.  Sigh.

This is what I've been stitching on for so long.  It is finally done!  And the pattern is for sale on patternsonline . I like stitching pumpkins and have wanted to do a bigger design with them for a long time. It was inspired by all the rows of pumpkins that I've carved over the years. These are Ohio pumpkins so have to be at least 20 years old. And these are Colorado pumpkins and are probably only 10 years old.  I can still see the resemblance. Instead of filling the pumpkins in with lots of stitching that would take more time than I have I decided to turn the design into a maze.  There's no specific starting or ending place but you can wander across the design through stitched paths.  But beware, there are also lots of dead ends. That's it!  I'm done with fall now and ready to go back to summer.  Except I need to get back to Christmas ornaments.

The fall colors are starting to show even though it's still August.  The goldenrod are blooming. The wild sunflowers are blooming. Unidentified yellow-gold flowers are everywhere. Even leaves are beginning to turn. Of all the colors, yellow reminds me the most of the fall.  To me this golden color signals fall more than red, orange or brown. Normally I don't think about yellow much.  When I'm chosing colors yellow always seems to be on the bottom of the list.  My yellow crayon was always lasted the longest. Maybe sometime I'll think of the fall flowers and build a color scheme around them.

Acorns!  There are acorns on the Gambel Oaks this year! Usually there aren't many and they are quickly picked off by the squirrels. According to Wikipedia the acorn is a symbol of patience.  I believe it because I don't see them that often.  We have planted many baby oak trees and it will be years before any of them have acorns. Thinking back, I have many samplers with acorns on them showing a patience of a different kind. I also have very patient friends.  These acorns were stitched on a round-robin sampler. Isn't it fun looking at all the variations on a simple acorn design.  They are all different and they are all obviously acorns.  Makes me want to stitch some more acorns.  Maybe later.