Gone To The Beach: 07.26.2024

Friday, July 26, 2024

Another Box from the Mail Guy!

Good evening everyone. It's been quite the lovely summer day today, and the prettiest pink and blue glowing sunset too.

another day, another sunset

However--the much promised cold front and ''dangerous'' thunderstorms never materialized. We had a few drops of rain, maybe last Monday? And certainly no cold front, 81* today, the deck tiles and outside house walls just radiated heat, even just now as Mo and I went to tie up the umbrella and admire the twinkly lights of the many ships out on the horizon. Unusually for Mo, after he had his chew toy chewed he immediately asked to come back inside. He has been shunning his cozy beds and splatting out on cool wood or tiled floors instead. His tummy lesion finally stopped bleeding today; chronic eye infection back and icky. Mo is having a rather miserable time this summer, poor mite.

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So...? What was in that other box, you are wondering....

That box contained such a surprise---Christmas in July! I was so delighted. It was filled with gifts from my brother and SIL who have the great good fortune to live in the Midwest, heart of flea market country.

Springfield Flea Market and Extravaganza posts often on Instagram, and I have fun sending screenshots to my no-IG brother. I sent him a pic months ago of a truck bed full of gorgeous handmade rag rugs. He texted back that he knew the seller, imagine that. And...they got me the rug. I love it. It's handwoven then overdyed a rich indigo blue. flea links at the end of the post

I was just astounded. I will save it til Fall probably , def until Mo's tummy is healed.

It's so subtly beautiful.

And the little treasures.

My brother often asks what can he look for for me. I have many many collections and I try to limit my requests to small and not too expensive items. His/ SIL's finds often show up in my Christmas box! How fun is that. Some years they even use thrifted or flea-ed wrapping paper and cards.

I love sewing pincushions of the tomato variety. And emery strawberries to go with too.

Someday I'll have enough tomatoes to fill my big wooden bowl for late summer display.

Another person's gathering: HERE

Some are newer, some older, even handmade. This one has the sweetest tiniest emery berry you can imagine.

And this handcrafted antique berry is big, filled with real emery powder [ heavy] with the leaves hand embroidered in green wool yarn.

I also collect old thimbles. Note reds, blue, orange! Two are celluloid.

Yes I admire the silver and gold fancy ones, I'd love a gold mini for my charm bracelet---but what catches my heart are the old junky inexpensive---free! back then giveaways: plastic, celluloid, Bakelite---even aluminum or brass utility thimbles.

Extra points if they have ads, like this gasoline one. Imagine buying gas and being given a thimble. Beyond quaint. It was very loved and used; misshapen by hours and years of mending, hemming, quilting.

And so many. I have more than 50 thimbles now, my estimate, they fill a small yellowware bowl at the moment. I'll have to count them.

This was just so fun for me. Christmas in July---yes!

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On a little quilting note I sewed my pineapple block for my summer handwork Sara Sporrer / Favorite project.

But I'm lagging on the embroidery. I really hate embroidering, esp simple words in stem stitch, ugh. It's actually ruining Summer Sewing Hour for me as I uncharacteristically procrastinate to avoid the task. BUT I like the look. What to do, stop embroidering while I can? Maybe. I only have a couple done , could pick the stitched out? Your thoughts?

Have great weekend!