It's Still August ~ Miscellany

 

Happy Labor Day weekend! I know I go on and on about summer, but this has been such a loooong August, hasn't it. Rounding out the month, mid-summer here, random pics from my camera.

I love asters, such an iconic weed/ wildflower. As a nature loving child, I knew that when they appear on the country roads verges, school would be starting soon. [ugh!]

I also love that Trader Joe's stocks weeds and wildflowers, though of course grown for the florist market. I came home last week with two big bunches.

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Hydrangeas have been pretty. 

These were again picked up on the sidewalk after wind storms. Most of the flower heads now are dusty pink, the glorious blue long faded.

Speaking of glorious blue, this morning on my solo walk I saw the first blue morning glories of Autumn. That blue is  the very best, isn't it.

Deck flowers are a disappointment [as previously noted]. I have had a few small posies for the little jars and bottles collection. The candle in the tin is Trader Joe's Peach Black Tea, and smalls divine for 4.99. The tiny yellowware bowl are always a fun find, so cute. Maybe one cup volume, always much used.

The marigolds are tiny in stature but they are blooming. They do look like the seed pack. The nasturtiums hate the salt wind and quickly die off, though I admit at least they tried, grew and bloomed.

So many things did not even sprout. No strawflowers, Mel! No Cape daisies, Penny!---but that can be another post.

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We haven't had many thunderstorms, maybe two?--just some heat lightning now and then and only two very pastel rainbows. We did have these unusual beautiful clouds one evening.

These barrel roll clouds are huge and amazing. They are many miles in length and last for hours. I don't know what causes they, there was no storm, no weather front.

Speaking of evening, so sad, sunset is noticeably earlier now, around 7.45. Very dark by 815. Much as I try to enjoy each season [except icky Spring] but the early darkness that comes with Fall is difficult.

When Mo is not lying hopefully  beneath an air conditioner, he has found this cool spot in the bedroom doorway. There's a good breezy ceiling fan in the hall there. The contractor who worked here in the spring gave it new bulbs and a tune up.

The sun has come out! I am off to a BBQ. It got chilly here, which is nice but what to wear.? I have had the cutest going out outfit set out hopefully all summer, but no, too cold: linen shorts, ivory and taupe faded ---very faded, on purpose---tropical print; creamy boho gauze shirt w discreet embroidery, to wear with a black tank top.  Tan Topsider-y slides. Stacks of summer bracelets. But---brrr---that 25 mph wind. Maybe capris and a sailor striped long sleeve tee instead? 

Happy holiday weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Summer quilting~Some Finishes! hooray!

 
The days of wine and roses!, laugh and run away, like a child at play--through the golden doors...[of late Summer at the beach.] Henry Mancini, I think.

Hello, hello! The weather has been glorious and Mo and I have neglected everything housekeep-y, including this blog, because days like this are like gold coins, running fast through our greedy hands. Here today, gone tomorrow. Beautiful days of rushed morning chores and afternoons that include sewing hour and Mo's spoonful of doggy ice cream, days that  will last another two months, but today as August slowly ebbs, it's fun to see what I actually accomplished.

Actually, editing the photos, I admit I am quite impressed, lol. First up, two finishes! Little quilts, but each required thought, care, time.

Parsonsfield, Lori/ Humble Quilts' fall 23 sewalong. My challenge to myself was to explore ''low volume"/ And every fabric right down to the binding required patience and care, so opposite to my usual colorful "this works!" style.

Fabrics from friends interspersed throughout.

Gorgeous quilting, Small Baptist Fans, by my quilter Lori C.

And the rosebud backing is salvaged from a bedsheet from the church flea.

                                          

Final thought: I love the result, the look of low volume. I don't enjoy making quilts in that style. I also was striving for extra good workmanship, something I focused on all last year. Yeah, fine, but it's a bit too slick for me---I love handmade-y, primitive results instead.

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Then Liberty Pumpkin, my personal fall project from last year. I usually make a small Autumn quilt to mark the seasons' change.

The funny flag pumpkin that pokes fun at the influencers and stores who begin Halloween decorating the day after Fourth of July. The stripes are recycled from the bag my fave star sheets came in; I use them often all summer.

Unexpectedly, the bird became my sparrow friend who visits us daily, looking for crumbs from Mo's chew and a drink from my fountain.

Now he brings his whole family! 

His eye is an antique black glass button, proportionately large to indicate the sparrow's small stature.

I had fun with the big HSTs border block, using my ''shop scrap'' from TQC. I buy a bag of the scraps every time I order from TQC, never disappoints. Wonderful quilting, again by Lori C.---small stars and wavy lines like a flag blowing in the autumn wind.

Backing was a gifted vintage fabric from friend Bonnie; I tea dyed it to soften the 80s patriotic colors and glitter. Label embroidered by my friend L, pattern from Cheri Payne FB group.

When taking the photos I was so pleased that this small quilt fits exactly on the top of my blue Shaker blanket chest. Though the incoming sun may deter that display idea.

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Slowly but surely I've embroidered the Sarah Sporrer blocks, good to have on hand when nothing else is prepped. Even though I loathe doing it.

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Noah's Ark. The leave in paper gives a good result but is a b$#%ch to turn and glue the edges. Issues compounded by my version being much smaller than the original.  There's 24 blocks unless I add more. One or two a day I might get them done by October!

I'm letting hints of color creep in. After Winter Marsh's demanding palette of blue/ black/ neutral and Parsonsfield low volume parameters I just want the Ark to be fun.

I love how I have prim cooky cutters that echo almost all the animals. No snake cookies though.

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I didn't take pics much, but hot summer days include friends, walks, a bit of cooking, swimming a little though my joints scream afterward. Oh how I love to swim and miss it so.

The deck pot flowers are trying but oh so slow. The crabgrass and chickweed are flourishing, and something I am almost sure is ragweed. Ugh. These weeds are all more tenacious than I am.

Mo looking for a cool spot. He's been napping a lot. His groomer gives him beautiful bandanas each visit.

And so it goes, as we while away the summer days here at the beach...

More soon, enjoy each day!  My little artist friend started surfing camp today! She is only 4. [no pics of kids here]. We are so blessed with opportunities at the beach.

#nopumpkinstiloctober [on IG]

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...