Beach Quilting ~ August

Hi! Today I'm doing a little summer show and tell, my August round up.

August was HOT, and worst of all, humid. I'm not a person who revels in working up a sweat, especially a quilting sweat,lol. I hate when sweat rolls down my face and fogs my $3.oo cheater glasses. [Who doesn't!] And when the humidity is so dense that crisply ironed quilt blocks turn to sodden rags before our very eyes.

Hand quilting Bitty has been my big hand project, Summer of '18. I enjoy hand quilting and it's a nice stable sort of sewing for the windy beach.

I estimate the central section is about half done, then there's the borders. The quilt is about 24 x 36, so it may get done yet this year. When I get discouraged by my slow progress I think of friends who have worked on quilting a quilt for years! albeit large bed-sized quilts, but still.

I roll and baste the half I'm not working on, to keep it clean and smooth. Here I have unfurled it for a few days for inspection and to allow it to relax, checking the grain and bubbles and mistakes. Shaking out the sand.
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My August project for deck afternoons with Mo was the Basket blocks, here.

They proved to be a bit more intricate? fussy? than I anticipated.

The flowers aren't very pretty.

I redid the blue ugly rain cloud flower at least four times.

Next block pair in the series, for September, is the Eagle x 2.

I like the design!
But I am puzzled by the fabrics, which do not appear to go  with the photo.

This project is a new experience for me, a BOM kit. I love the designs---and the fabrics, not chosen by me [oooh, stressful!] are so interesting and different. Beautifully curated. But the fabrics aren't designated as to what goes where. Sure I see a Flag, but then...arrows etc? Hmmmm.
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August had few---no?--- rain days, so not much machine sewing was accomplished. Not an issue, this is how I plan my year, but I felt a bit sad not to do much on my TQC 1889 Sampler.

Only 2 blocks since mid-July! I'm about ten blocks behind.

The clipboard is new, just nailed securely by my sewing machine, so I can look at projects as I sew. It's useful if not so cute.

Originally my understanding was that the blocks portion of this project would end in August. [though I don't mind if it continues, it is very fun!]. I am waffling around about my setting fabric though. I fell in love with the neutral used in the BOW sample photos, it was a big part of what made me choose to do this quilt. The bright colors of the blocks/ the drab neutral of the ground. Love!  [right vertical choice is the original.]

But on inspection, and looking for the inspiration antique  quilt on the Internet, I discovered the antique quilt's ground is much darker.

I finally ordered these choices from Fat Quarter Shop [the white grounds are just because I loved them, a little treat]:

Aren't their fabrics presented beautifully!

So now I just don't know.

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A few weeks ago I received a wonderful box from a quilting friend! In it were quite a few beautiful quilting books. These are just a couple of the stack she sent. She knows I rarely buy books nowadays.

Such inspiration!

I especially love this quilt from Civil War Legacies IV. Love the unusually soft colors and interesting setting.

However what ''makes'' it is the unusual almost vibrating, optical illusion-y, twisty fabric used in sashing columns.

I ordered this green cable design, which I like but it obviously will not work. The cable fabric has to match the mid-neutral ground. I'll keep looking, I suppose. Or move on.
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And a few  plan-ahead ideas, [I should live so long!]:

From and old Red Wagon/ Gerry Kimmel book:
A Christmas quilt

A delightful Moon and Stars Postage Stamp.

Fall wool small projects.

Maybe I am just a dreamer....but the postage stamp is almost a ''go'' as I have actually begun cutting 2 1/2" scrappy squares and have the cheddar in my stash.

My friend also enclosed this amazing stack of teal and turquoise fabrics, My colors! I never see them to buy. Such a diverse and exceptional grouping.

She says the fabrics are leftovers from a recent quilt she made. She is away for the summer but I can't wait to see what she made. I will save these fabrics as a group, maybe for one of Lori's Fall doll quilt projects?
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And, knitting:

A little sweater for Mo.

The neck and one arm are the rainbow tweed but the body is fluffy grey, plain.

Back in the bedroom, air conditioned only at night, Mo and I had to have a talk about boundaries. When I get ready for bed, go to brush my teeth, every night when I come out of the bathroom, I find him ensconced on a mound of MY pillows. Mo has his own pillows and a blankey, his Gator doll...but no. Mo is the King, if only in his own mind.

He looks so hopeful, I feel mean. Oh he sure grumbles when I dislodge him!

Have a good September week!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach......

PS Sunflowers. I always seem to have a few beautiful, un-sowed by me, sunflowers. See the sidebar, that's years ago. Here is SF 2018, smiling and waving at us all.

And so---September

Hi everyone!

September, a time of endings and beginnings artificially imposed by humans. June's excitement and anticipation has now faded into nostalgia, sweat, and disappointment. Picnics not eaten, wine not drunk; sandcastles un-built. Your bright new flip flops are faded and worn through, no longer pretty and hopeful. Instead we have hot days and too early sunsets. Homework and sports practice. I much prefer February .

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book review:

All my life I have collected, read, studied natural history books. I got my first bird guide for my 6th birthday; it is still on the shelf with my many other, mostly coastal, guides. HERE

Recently I read about Celia Lewis's beautifully illustrated nature guides.
Coastal Year.  Country Year:

Lewis is an English artist and illustrator. I don't buy many books anymore, but I had to have these. I found them on a US used book site finally, no big bucks UK postage.

The two books are in perfect condition except a small tear on the Coastal guide's paper cover. [I have already repaired].

The Country Seasons book goes month by month; it is out of sync with our climate here on the US East  Coast, their August is like our September.

Yet I was surprised at how similar the wild things are, and yet so different, especially the seacoast finds.

A favorite quote: "All sorts of fascinating things wash up and can be found on the strandline and high tide line if you keep your eyes open...."

In my own pocket, one winter day:

I am reading both books now, cover to cover,  a half dozen or more pages per day. Each page is a delight; I'm taking it slow--me, the fastest reader on the planet. Savoring. Then as my new year here unfolds next January I plan to read each month and season as that time begins. A year with Celia :Lewis's nature writing and drawing, and a year with my own environment.

Both books combine natural history---land and ocean plants and creatures, birds, clouds, weather advice---all are here, illustrated with woodcuts and watercolors, with recipes and fun craft ideas. The varying subject matter adds to the books' charm. Garlic scallops! Driftwood lamp? Paper fish for earrings, estuary worms, oystercatchers, seaweed and eels. 

I'm looking forward to the journey.

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I saw this plant again at the supermarket.

It is what I thought my pretty blue ''mint'' plant is. But no. I believe my blue plant is catmint, the ornamental version of catnip. I remember planting the seeds a few years ago, for Kitty and the Twins [local beloved feral cats]; but it never grew and now the little cat family have a good home and no longer visit me every evening, to be enticed by fragrant [to a kitty's nose] catnip. It has no scent for me.

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This is this week's harvest of zinnias.

Just in a plastic pitcher outside. I spray them with garden Raid before they come into the house. I wait a few hours, spray again, wait; I am terribly afraid of bugs! I can't spray the plants themselves because they attract bees and butterflies, and less charmingly, wasps. I don't want to kill the good pollinators.

The main type of zinnias this year is Cut and Come Again. The other shapes and sizes are reseeds, I assume. The Cut and Come Again must be, well, cut each week as well as deadheaded, to keep them blooming though October or longer.

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Something for the Weekend

This weekend I am making a special family dinner, for me and the kids, before summer beach days finally end and school begins. I'm making my mom's famous shish kebabs and pilaf. [recipes at the end.] I suppose this is a funky retro dish, but delicious all the same. I recall my mom telling me how , back in the 60s or 70s they had never seen or heard of shish kebabs or pilaf! It was exotic, like we might think of raw sea urchins? ---only with a less eeew factor.

Have a great weekend!

love

lizzy

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

the horizontal streak of grey, center left,
 is thousands of tiny shorebirds!
Here from nesting in the Arctic.
Sanderlings.

Young gulls, born this past spring.
Ugly babies!

Dredgers, replenishing the sandy beaches
H Sandy repair continues

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Shish Kebabs with Rice Pilaf.

Rice: 

Near East Original Mix, add garlic, sauteed onions, and beef consomme [not broth!] for the liquid, plus a little water to create the amount of liquid called for, less 1/3. 

We use less liquid so the rice is al dente, not mushy.

Kebabs

Wooden kebab skewers are sold in most grocery stores. If you're grilling you may wish to soak the skewers for a few hours in water so they do not catch on fire.

grill or pan fry, best if served medium rare.

One day ahead, marinate the meat: Use cubes of good steaks. I use rib eye. 

Marinade: red wine, olive oil, salt pepper, meat tenderizer, 

and about half pack of Good Seasons dry salad dressing mix. 

Toss the meat to coat, cover well, refrigerate one day/ overnight.

When making the skewers, alternate sweet peppers, sweet onions , both cut in squares,

 and tomato wedges with the marinated beef. 

Set the finished skewers on a plate and pour the rest of the marinade over all. 

Let it sit at room temp for about 15 minutes, then grill or pan fry. 

When done, if cooked in a pan, pour the hot juices over the plated kebabs.