I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Friday, August 28, 2026

Late August



 Hello, friends! August is almost over, I'm so sad--we waited so long, counted off each frigid day, patiently waited--now boom, September looms.  School starts early, before Labor Day, unheard of here, another tradition broken. I don't have little ones in school but I  so remember secretly crying as they happily ran into class, summer already just a memory. 

A grey drizzly day like today is definitely a harbinger of change, even though Summer, oh so hot and sunny, will last well into October, maybe even November. That makes me smile. I'm still sewing bindings every afternoon. Earlier this week I finished  Merry Christmas, a tiny feather tree mat for a friend.

I had planned to hand quilt it but this much loved and cherished Santa feedsack backing proved much too heavy for that plan; 

Lori C to the rescue! She did swirls and stars, very Van Gogh, very winter night.

This was a practice piece where I used the fusible method of sewing small squares. Worked so well.


This is the binding section I accidentally chopped into. I think the ribbon patch is so cute and plan to leave it. I'm always charmed by make-do's.


Now I'm working on the final biggest finish, Noah's Ark. This is why I don't cut the binding ahead of time. It was always intended to be a crossgrain stripe. 

Loved the stripes on Lizzy's Tulips and Blue Pineapples...

But oh no, a big Fail on Noah. Those quilts were modern--Ark is primitive folk art design. Stripes did not work at all. Auditions:

even tried out the blue Cowboy Bob. Love a hint of whimsy.

But no. I chose the big bubble dot that echoes the sashiko dot on the back. [such a stupid choice, backings should scream Joy! Hello! Surprise!]  Just now I sewed one side of the binding w no thread. Time to walk away. 


I'm still struggling to fix the Lighthouse red roofs. Second resewing, all bunchy and bad. Prob why I set it aside 20 years ago.

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And I made the first K-pop Demon Hunter rockstar outfit for my little friend's dolly.  She wants three outfits,  I am not so sure. The white satin was really hard to sew.


Here's the girls who reenact the pop group for parties. 

I think I captured the ''look''.....designed  together with my little friend who who was captivated by the velvet and trimmings sent by one of my designer friends. I always save her drawings to show her the process of how her ideas become actual clothes. 

August is surf camp for the kids. Little friends is six, has been surfing since age four. Crap waves/ shore break in this pic, but looks so fun, doesn't it!!


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PS Did I show you this? This is , I think, the ''curated '' shop that sells size nothing,  fairly recent designer clothes with big bucks price tags. Perhaps the market is limited? And the vibe too exclusive and clique-y? ? I know if I had a shop, I'd welcome everyone who wanted to come in to enjoy my wares and shop. [Feeling a touch of schadenfreude here.]


Grey and drizzle continue tonight, no full moon, no eclipse view. Too bad.

Have a good weekend.


love 

lizzy 

gone to the beach....















12 comments:

  1. "Summer afternoon, summer afternoon...''

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  2. K-Pop outfit is so "right on" Lizzy--what lovely delicate work on this...and with your wrist and all!!
    Loving that little Christmas mat--so olde timey looking--sweet!!
    Boy, summer just flew by in a heat and humidity haze for me...inside most days--might as well have been winter for heaven's sake!!
    Ahhh, but fingers crossed for some lovely Autumnal days of lingering mild heat and sunshine-y days...
    Hugs for a super weekend Julierose

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    Replies
    1. The little Christmas quilt is tentatively for friends who do a small German feather tree and old ornaments. I don't think they read this blog.

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  3. The little Christmas tree quilt is sweet. I hope that you find the binding material you need. Decisions, decisions! It really feels like autumn here now it has finally begun to rain. Quite muggy and hot out this afternoon though - humid. I am not missing clear blue skies at all!

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    1. Hi. Yor weather all summer sounds difficult, hot/dry now soggy and humid.
      For the Ark quilt I am happy with the blue circle dot binding. I do not like the backing I chose, was being frugal--so stupid. Looks like hospital gowns. But I suppose no one notices but me. I originally had set aside a red novelty print, it had black and white cooky cutter animals. But Not enough. I could have used the Rainbow tho, what was I thinking.. Too late now.

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  4. We're hoping for some warmish weather for September, at least until the leaves begin turning in earnest. We were lucky enough to have clear skies for the eclipse and I managed to wake up when it was at peak. Christmas mat is a perfect small size to go most anywhere in your house, something I've yet to learn, sadly. Little friend is a very lucky young lady, I hope she appreciates these wonderful costumes you make for her dolly. Such intricate work is way beyond my skill level! Hope your weekend weather improves!

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    1. Hi! It looks like SEptember and October will be hot, so even up north you should get your wish. How wonderful to see the eclipse.
      My little friend seems to like the doll clothes. I'm sure she has no concept of the effort involved, but that's okay. Seeing her face light up when I hand her the baggie w the outfits is more than enough thanks for me. I just hope someday she remembers her ''auntie'' who sewed and tie dyed for her. Maybe grown up Little Friend will even take the Pineapple quilt I made her, out of the closet floor where her mom dumped it and she'll use it? [dropcloth, moving drappe? oh well.]
      Waiting for ne deck umbrella, too hot to be outside in intense sun.
      love
      lizzy

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  5. i do believe you nailed the doll clothes...love the little christmas piece..ah yes still summer here in MD, 90s all week ahead

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    1. Thanks! Oh I bet it's muggy in MD these summer days.

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  6. Our littles went back to school this week. I guess with Labor Day on the 7th it would extend the school year but it also gives the a long weekend after that hard first week of readjusting to the daily routine of school.

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