Transitions, Changes

 

Hello, hello!  June is halfway over. Blink and you'll miss it.

Winter and cold spring slammed the door on us yesterday! We went from cold: jackets and flannel sheets, lots of layers---to fans ON!! shorts and flip flops.

May have to air condition tonight to sleep. We had an odd mini storm, a squall, last evening. Huge wafts of sudden wind, clocked at almost 40 mph, slammed the inside doors shut, blew out the screens! Rain mist and billows of sand blew in as I frantically closed up the house. And then--3 minutes later, the storm was gone. Hot humid calm returned---with rainbows.

Now come the hot months, humid with intense sunshine. Usually no rain til November when we look forward to a week of Fall, then winter.

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This week I totally focused on completing the camp tees projects, as I have a medical confrontation scheduled Monday. Did NOT want to disappoint Little Friend. I love jazzing up her shirts!

Lots of stages, including sewing more than 30 patches and hand tying ''yards'' of hem fringe.  Hours of work, if  I'm candid. I love every moment, so excited to be part of LF's world: I'm the auntie who sews and creates. Will she remember me someday in the far future? Who knows.

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I did get in my walks though the very hot day was a challenge. I love hydrangeas in the  chartreuse early bloom stage. So summery.

a neighbor's rose hedge.

I was invited--via flyer in my door--to a pre 4th of July block party.

But residents only? I really want to go and have a hot dog and rwb pie, but alone? My little beach area has changed now, I don't know anyone anymore. We'll see how it goes. [issues of a socially shy woman, I know]. Wish I could bring a friend.

 I started afternoon sit and sew hour.

One[now 2, 3] Posy center is done. It was lovely, my deck is always cool and breezy.

The large scale floral is perhaps not my best idea tho.

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I missed the transplant window of opportunity this past week. The flowers are no longer seedings, they're quite big. This  coming week   if it's cooler/ cloudier I may try to gently thin and replant, esp the marigolds and zinnias. I think the tall weedy plant on the right is my chocolate coreopsis, I'm so pleased.

v

Below in right top corner, my Baby Bear dwarf sunflowers! Thrilled, they look so healthy and strong.

These are my no-bloom amaryllis. They need gentle sun and fertilizer now thru fall. I have to find a more sheltered spot for them, they aren't happy outside at all.

Have a good week.

ove

lizzy 

gone to the beach....

Bedazzled!

 

Summer has arrived: it's hot, humid, sultry. It's June. Time to trot out my tie dye and bedazzle skills again.

The kids' fad here is to decorate one's not-very attractive camp shirts, to personalize them.The kids and moms call it ''bedazzling'' but rarely are the actual  Bedazzled tiny rhinestones used. [hell on one's washer/ dryer]. You can have the tees professionally done [almost $100.oo sometimes, maybe more?], or you can have Mom or Grandma or creative auntie do it. I think this is my 4th year.

t's a lot of fun and i learn something new about dyeing, heheheh, each year. This year I 'm doing a couple new ideas--one is a secret, one is the much-loved, much used Rainbow Spiral.

Here it is on You Tube.

My first was best, here's my fold: 

Result/ good.

then these.

This week I will sew and glue on patches. Themes are: K-pop DH/ Sweet Shop/ Aloha/ Name and Cutie girl/ Good Vibes.

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I'm not so good at juggling many projects, so w the tie dye, spring cleanup, and deck garden, I haven't done much quilting.

Here's Boardwalk. I think the center strips are  pieced now.

And I've made 4 Posies, plus patterns for the circle and star centers. You must tak a look at Julierose's Posies, they are lovely and all 12 are made. HERE

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My friend came this morning and we did more deck clean up. Umbrella installed plus removal of the lattice fencing that kept Mo safe from falling. I swept up buckets of blown in sand---again. Sprayed for ants and bugs. The deck looks welcoming now.

                                                

This is the best part! My wildflower pot has a poppy in bloom. I've never had a poppy grow, I was so thrilled.

I planted nothing in this pot this year. I planned to let the coreopsis bloom before discarding the big old pot. These wildflowers must be from last years' Botanical Interests Seed pack that never grew. Maybe the wildflower seeds need a long hard freeze to geminate? We sure had that.

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This past winter into spring I rather let myself down, maybe due to the flu at Christmas? I had nothing planned after the four 2025 quilts were sent to Lori C. I was baffled and depressed, focusing mostly on Mo's poor health. So now I'm pulling out some ideas, something to inspire, and ready to audition if not to go.

Sometimes  I make "kits", you know how I love kits! I pull the fabrics and place them in a basket. This doesn't mean I actually make them any time soon. It's more an aide memoire, a creative memo.

I 

gathereded fabrics for Crows in the Garden, a tentative October mini. Love the dark chocolate background.

Loved these Baskets by Kathy Tracy. The Baskets are 4" finished---3" would be even cuter.

And these fabrics from Two Thimbles, a fat eighths stack.  I love the odd, moody colors. It's a new color story  for me.

Not ordered yet though.

And as I rummaged I found maybe half a dozen pattern versions of the Tiny Baskets in my library. None of which I'd need, I can draft so easily. But I like to support designers' efforts and work. I also have a large scale version from Norma Whaley, what a fun project that would be!

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Then Sherry at Temecula Quilt Co dug out one of her old pamphlets for a blog post, T is for Tiny.

 I so love her very tiny quilts. Love both of these. The Bowties is a block I have not made, will be a fun one. Teeny tiny 7" x 10".  Maybe in--3os feedsack repro. For a rainy late summer weekend.

 Only 5" x 9"!

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Tomorrow is Mo's adoption Day, I've been  remembering the joy that June day as his tiny self was carried off the Pet Jet at JFK.

I actually was never his favorite  person--but I was the steadfast mom who loved him so dearly always. We'll raise a toast to him tomorrow and always. Here's the drinks tray and its finished quilty liner. I went w white premade binding, fast, easy, crisp.

And here is Dolly in her 60s retro Learn to Sew dress. Little friend left her by mistake.

I think she has enjoyed her visit.

The quilt is Lizzy's Garden from a few years ago. It is all hand pieced and hand quilted. TQC sewalong, free on her blog.

Earlier a friend dropped by and the conversation went to  someone my friend calls ''lazy''--I read over my blog draft just now  and think, is this the week of a lazy woman?

I do my best.

 [also washed/ removed storm windows. Put in screens. Tested ceiling fans and air conditioners. Got out summer sheets, washed all the fleece throws, cooked some, walked at least 30-45 minutes daily, paid bills, read an entire  book almost every day---you know,  life.] 

Have you ever been called lazy? Does it feel hurtful or unkind--or true. Maybe lazy is good.

Have a lazy summer week, dear friends,

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....