Gone To The Beach: folk art

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

"'Twas the week Before Christmas, and All though the House...."

Not a creature was stirring....zzzzz.

Hi! My little cottage here at the beach is all decked out in its ''less is more'', oh so 2018 sort of way.

I tried hard to keep it simple. [Though of course I have almost two weeks to embellish, hahaha.] I celebrate the holiday with my children on Christmas Eve, a tradition from my own family. The day and celebration are meaningful [to me] but low key and easy, hence the less than sparkly Santa's Wonderland this year.

The main rooms:

Dining room:

I love this corner now that I have the bride's bench here instead of stacks of beach chairs and golf clubs.

The beautiful wreath was made for me by my brother, quite long ago now.

Mel always likes to see a real life photo or two, so here is my messy dining table.

Set up for writing cards and letters this evening. Mo snuggles at my feet in the last rays of the wintry sun.

Bedroom:

A few Christmas quilts. I plan to do a holiday quilt post in the coming week, so just one pic today.

My stacks of Shaker boxes and bandboxes. Still can't find my red or green boxes...or my mercury glass large ornaments. A mystery.

One of my folk art angels from Cape Cod.

I'd choose one during a summer visit, then my mom would buy it and save it for Christmas. Sadly she passed away after two angels were purchased, so my collection is cherished but small.
Her companion [note her tiny red shoes!]:

Mo's Christmas Eve jammies:

The weather has been gorgeous, cold, clear and crisp. Tonight at sunset the waves were slow rolling but very large; must be a storm somewhere, far out at sea. I do love a good winter day.

Enjoy your week.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

PS Not mine, from etsy. Spectacular early to mid-20th century collection, in original boxes. I think in the $600.oo range for all. So beautiful.

Friday, September 30, 2016

30 Dots Has September ~ Dottie 365 plus Nature Notes

"The days go so slow but the years, they go too fast."

Hi! Today is the last day of September. How come March and April don't fly by like these late summer, early Fall months do?
I have all my Dotty 365 blocks finished for the month, hooray! September 30 block is block 330 only 35 [36, it's Leap Year// 50 to even the rows] more to go! The year has gone too fast.

I continue to enjoy this project, I find it relaxing, yet interesting. I'm excited now to see the final textile that will result from my year's efforts. This month I tried to use darker toned Dot fabrics to increase the graphic impact and contrast in my Dots.

Mostly the choices were things to remember, or references to old times, fun times. A few are scraps from current projects, especially P2, which was my main sewing focus this month.
Morning glories, Monarch butterfly migration...

Full moon and a medical appointment day.

A sad day, a beach day...

Hydrangeas, P2 flowers, shells....

Dragonfly migration days....

P2, first day of School, Kitties visited, Cape Cod blueberry memories...

a Mo day or two...and more Cape Cod days, butterflies on the late roses.

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A nature note, for those who don't visit here for endless quilt quandaries and musings! [and for me.] As I sit each day sewing on my deck I am now seeing flocks of birds filling the skies. The migrating birds follow the coastline west, then south. The empty saltmarshes here provide safe resting territory and abundant food, plus I imagine the coast makes a good sight map for their travels. Lately I've been seeing small flocks of oystercatchers. They are easily recognized by their odd awkward flight. In the spring they arrive in small groups of two or three, often nesting as threesomes once they arrive. This is an oystercatcher decoy or carving.

But in the fall they form larger flocks of perhaps eight or ten birds. Maybe they are the parents and babies from summer? In late September they begin their practice flights, round and round the beach. Tomorrow they will stll be here, stalking small somethings yummy along the tideline. But Sunday they will be gone. Just as they arrive always on St Patrick's Day, they leave for their winter homes on October 2nd. I've lived here many years. Some things never change....Have you ever kept a birding journal or nature journal?

PS Finding ''madders'', red-brown prints, once created by a vegetable dye called madder...for Lori's new sewalong. So excited, i's again a mystery quilt.