Randomness

Moving on....It seems my current quilt has, well, issues. That made me a little sad but truth is, by the time I sew them suckers up and get them properly pressed I am bored with them. Usually they go to the quilter and by the time they return I am again excited and interested...but really, no big deal.

Instead, let us forge ahead with the next quilt or quilts. I am planning the design for these lovely redwork blocks...

And this one should be fun and wonderfully autumn-y. I love the random serendipity of collecting orphan blocks and making them into a beautiful whole.

So---I have this very beautiful large star c.1890; some Tall Ships, from the US bicentennial, 1976...

...similarly aged smaller sailboats; a redwork bird, c.1910. a 1940's strip border; a bunch of 19th century, post-Civil War smaller stars and a Gambler's Wheel c. 1870, which will have the small cheddar 12 patch inserted into the central section.

Quite a puzzle, hmmm?

This quilt is "Americana primitive"...red or ivory muslin sashings would be the "normal" choice, but that's no fun! I was thrilled to find the cheddar calico on-line recently, though less thrilled when it arrived and the scale was bigger than expected. These babies aren't sprigs, they are clovers or berries. But after laying it out and getting some distance via my digital camera, I think it works.

What do you think?

I'll keep you posted!

PS Modern offbeat stars...

...perhaps a fun vignette for the reverse?

love

          lizzy

        ....gone to the beach

Beach Presents

Everyone loves presents, right? And I especially love little hostess gifts from friends who come to the beach. I makes me feel---special? appreciated? And like I am six years old, LOL!

These are from a recent visitor, someone who often arrives with "a little something". I thought this bag of prezzies was exceptionally thoughtful and fun.

GREAT Crocs in perfect popsicle colors...my beloved last year's ones are starting to, um, show their age.

And a wonderfully ocean-toned handblown fishy for my glass fishy menagerie. He is just soooo beautiful.

In the ocean he'd be perfeclty camouflaged, wouldn't he?

Soooooo...when you guys arrive at the beach---pails, sandshovels and sunscreen in hand, maybe think of the friend who is opening her door and saying Hi! with a big welcoming smile. Even a bunch of supermarket daisies or a six pack of Coke can make me smile!

What makes you smile?

(My lavender hearts---still to come--- make a great hostess gift, by the way! They'll appear on esty and eBay real soon, I promise.)

love

           lizzy

......gone to the beach

Imaginary Watermelons

This week my farmers market had lots of cute little watermelons! They are called Sugar Babies and are so adorable, seedless and sweet!

We've been making yummy non-fruit recipes with watermelon this year: wonderful salsa! Chop with tomato, peppers, and fresh cilantro. Great spooned on quesadillas or with chips.

And an exquisitely fresh salad, perfect with grilled chicken or steak: chopped watermelon, diced cucumber, a bit of red onion and minced fresh garlic, fresh basil, pearl mozzarela, with a dash of balsamic vinegar and black pepper. Oooh! So yummy!

One of the odd but delightful treasures we find on the beach is watermelon slice-shaped driftwood. A little odd, but so amusing.

The pieces are rare finds, just one or two---maybe three--- are found each year! The texture on this piece below alread looks like green watermelon rind, doesn't it? I haven't yet decided how to save that, use that.

Probably it was the wedge cut into a large tree by loggers, to fell it...far, far perhaps in Maine?

I carefully wash the driftwood finds and dry them thoroughly, then I paint them, in perfectly watermelon hues of green and red. I use carpet tacks, upholstry nails and other found items for the black seeds.

This is a new piece below  that my daughter found. It's unusual to find good driftwood in the summer, when both currents and competition are against us,lol.

It is very large and wonderful---look at that cute bite taken out of the edge. I love it!

Um...folkart, right?

So fun! No nibbling!

love

         lizzy

                 ....gone to the beach