Autumn Hearts

Hi!

Did you have a cold snap this week? Some places even had snow?! I have had  chilly fog, early autumn this year.

Hints of amber in the marshes, though the trees are still fully green. No leaf peepers here, lol. The goldenrod has finally burst into bloom...our main source of fall color on the dunes.

Enjoyed my first fragrant cup of hot tea...so comforting, isn't it?

When the drizzle keeps us indoors it's a perfect time to do a little decorating.
I've just listed these plaid wool hearts in my etsy shop, and on eBay.

The hearts were made from a salvaged c. 1930? crazy quilt. The quilt was too shredded to save, so I cut out the best sections and carefully washed them in Woolite and Retayne [Retayne is a product that stops fabric dyes from bleeding, fading.].

Had to patch a few spots with homespuns from the Porch quilt stash. But so worth it...I love the subtle autumn tones, so mellow.

This set is not what I had in mind, but the very day I went to complete them I had found wonderful old but sturdy rusty wire on the beach. Had to use it, along with a key and neat old buttons.

I plan to make a set, with Thankful mottoes for my Thanksgiving table...little party favors!

Some fog grey hearts....

And early Holiday/ Christmas...

these are ''Marie Antoinette/does Shabby Chic'', so over the top---I couldn't resist. Got out my glue gun and all my saved bits and pieces.

And I love how they came out...

Here's the only bit of sunshine during this rainy time.

Have a good week!

love

               lizzy

gone to the beach.....

Why I am Not a Famous Artist

Yes! It's true...I've always wanted to be a successful artist [not designer, been there, etc]...like my idol Susan Branch. Her wonderful blog is  Heart of the Home .

I so admire how she has made a business and a huge success out of  living her life as she pleases...on Martha's Vineyard!--- and sharing her lovely artwork and charming writing. I wish I could do that! But in her post last week...she says she gets up every day at 4AM!
OMG! I couldn't do that. I am a night owl...I see lots of 4 AMs, and yeah, it's nice. Love mid-summer when the sun is rising 'bout that time. Or snowy dunes under a full moon. I love to find Orion, and the planets, watch the nightbirds fly overhead.

But c'mon! What person, self employed, would actually choose to wake up at that hour? hmmmm...? I'd mope the day away waiting til my creativity kicks in, never earlier than ...4PM?

Now I know.

  

That's depressing, isn't it...[4! A! M!.]
Maybe she fibs? Goes back to bed?

Anyway here's my fun fall project, undertaken at yes, midnight, most nights.

I got these orphan "Baskets" blocks on eBay. At first when they arrived I was dreadfully disappointed. They're huge..13 1/2 " And weird coarse fabrics! Ugly!

But then they grew on me...a certain graphic yet primitive charm? I carefully washed them in Retayne. As I ironed them afterward I began to admire how this long ago quilter [an early riser, I have No Doubt!] so wanted to make orange and black Halloween blocks that she dyed all her odds and ends orange. She dyed cotton sateen and  lovely linen a pinky-tangerine. One of the sateen blocks still has writing on it [above left lower corner], a big scrawl, like it had  a weight or price scribbled on it. A couple of very pretty old calico black-and-whites, good black linen, and some truly awful coarse maybe wool? or linen/wool? tangerine orange dyed fabric. It looks like the layer of wool interlining once used in hand tailored coats...or upholstery! Gotta admire that lady's effort.

The blocks are hand-pieced, quite nicely.

So I decided to make a small quilt.There were a couple bad stains that I removed by replacing / reusing the damaged pieces; I left the written on square, I like it!

I used some of my cherished feed sacks for the backing, keeping the make-do theme going....

Some patches needed on the old feedsacks...

I sit and sew and think about that long ago lady, the early riser...would she be happy her Halloween blocks are being loved and used? What would she think about using purple binding? [What do you think?]

Would she like my quilt design?
I hope so....

Collectors' note[below]: stunning Halloween quilt currently on eBay. Wow!

Happy Autumn!

love

lizzy

...........gone to the beach....

Sometimes It Rains

October

 Hi! Oooh, nasty weather---a grey and drizzly October day. It looked chilly but was 70s and muggy, no breeze at all.

Had to get out though, and check on my birds....

From my windows it looked like foggy light rain...

 ....but it was a soaker, I was wet through. My slicker did nothing, even my camera's waterproof case, in my shorts pocket was sodden.

Most of the oystercatchers were gone, as scheduled. Only this little guy remained. He is not fully fledged, poor guy; a late hatchling; he also limped!

Later I saw his parents with him; they must have stayed behind when the flock left this morning. [How do they know it is October 2nd?!]
Treasures were sparse. A driftwood piece for angel wings. It's a well-worn keg base, see the circular hole in the middle?

And a sprig of beach heather!

Ours is white heather, not purple.

Back home and into dry clothes, and the first hot cup of tea of this autumn. I just stocked up on these yummy teas from a favorite shop in Cape Cod.

Some work, some play...ugh! the slipcover washing. Not a task I like but the result is so fresh and clean smelling [Yay, Downy!]...

And finishing up some hearts for etsy...

I LOVE how this batch came out. Over the top but so precious.

And Baby Boo...I am waiting for her dress fabric to come from eQuilter....

Then some baking to make the house smell nice! A pan of raspberry oat bars.
Oats, flour, sugar/ Splenda/ butter...

Raspberry jam and frozen berries from the August farmers market.
I

Another layer of the crust patted gently on top....

Yummy! easy!

And I made a big bowl of autumn slaw: cabbage of course...

apples and brussels sprouts....

Julienned the apples..

Added raisins, celery, and store-bought dressing....

Since I am busy with projects and fall cleaning I didn't want to cook a big meal....for dinner I had the slaw with croissants and wonderful Irish butter cheese. Th kids added chicken cutlets to their plates.

Raspberry bars for dessert!

An excellent day. Including the rain...

Hope your day was good too?



love

    lizzy

.............gone to the beach