Garden Peeping ~ Summer Blue Hydrangeas Time

July--welcome, July!

Fourth of July weekend was lovely, in a cool breezy kind of way. Bright sunshine, blue blue skies. But tonight there's a 30 mph gale off the ocean, bringing early darkness with drizzle and fog. I wore a winter weight Patagonia fleece to walk Mo. 

Mo and I have been feasting our eyes on all the hydrangeas, now bursting into mop-head bloom.

I love this shell pink hydrangea. It will mature into bright Carribean blue and chartreuse.

Lime green and raspberry.

A tall shrub we pass every evening, in massive bloom and buzzing with bees and wasps. I thought it was a euonymus, but now I am unsure. There's a robin family nesting in this sweet bower.

The wild roses, some cultivated, but hardy beach type, continue.

My friends' beautiful carefully evolved garden, most photos taken by my friend. My friend learns quickly and has become very expert at producing stunning results. He feeds something to the hydrangeas to keep them bright sky blue.

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back home ~ My wildflowers and zinnias are in bloom. 

Always such a fun project, to watch and see what returns, what appears spontaneously, and how the seeds that sprout and grow compare with the photoshopped color enhanced pictures on the seed packs.

The two tone coreopsis, below, are volunteers, unplanned.

These coreopsis were planted maybe 5 years ago, just get better each year.

more...

Unexpected Candy Tuft

Something sweetly daintily blue.

My lilies---year ten?

New cannas. They will take over as the wildflowers fade by August. Have to add a photo!

And oh my goodness this was a Fail, bedding flowers from Amazon. Three ''sunpatiens'' for 26.oo. What was I thinking? I was upset that I could not yet make the drive to the flower nursery, so late one night, I gave Amazon a try. Yuck! took me two days to get a refund, they don't make it easy.

[Speaking of Fails, the flowers I ordered from Bouqs were very much just so-so, nothing special, well past their prime. My friend was too polite to send me a picture. Bouqs did immediately give me a full credit for another bouquet. I will try them again and let you all know. Another thing I am learning is that not everyone loves cut flowers as much as I do, not everyone wants to bother: an ah-ha moment for me. post about the  Bouq's flower order here:  Bouqs  NOT referring to the gorgeous Hollandridge Farm A++++ order, Bouqs is at the end , scroll down]

My new white windscreens, so beautiful.. They create a secluded oasis for me and Mo, and maybe even for guests again soon.

Have a good week.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

I love the little Cessna type planes that pull the big signs above the beach. So old-fashioned.

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ongoing art project, @roomportraitclub week 71. I see no improvement, discouraged and losing interest.

First pic is their photo, not mine!

Below is one reason I perhaps will give up on RPC challenges. This is a new computer program, a make do app I found on my pic files page. The wonderfully FUN app disappeared a couple weeks ago during an unasked for ''update''. I cannot seem to to retrieve it. The one I used below is clunky and hard to use. So disappointed.

And...Last week's room by @sosunammy my favorite artist. So imaginative, how she combines the scene with her pug depictions. Look at that puggy face!

And my June into July nature journal doodle, just silly fun. 

Colorized!

Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July!

                           

*****flashback Friday / Fourth of July. Baby Mo!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

photos of past ten summers' celebrations, good times, happy days and sunshine. 

As my dad always said, 

"Happy Birthday, America!"

Sarah Sporrer Vintage Quilt Designs

Welcome Summer! Midsummer, called Litha on the pagan calendar. A candle lit, some beach treasures set out---to welcome the good days ahead. 

                                        

I wonder what those ancient folks thought, still cold, but long evenings, let's celebrate! And then, too soon, the days are shorter again. 

Anyway, today is lovely, mid-60s, windy, sunny. I am supervising the installation of my new white canvas windscreens, much lamented since their removal in February when a new railing had to be installed. I missed their aesthetic value but was surprised that the wind and blowing sand has been much worse without them. Not just for pretty and privacy after all.

                                         

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Last week on eBay I found a nice set of c.1998 Sarah Sporrer pattern cards.

Aren't they so cute.

The seller had 8 cards,  I already have 2 more---the bee and the garden.

I also have a S Sporer book with some fun ideas. Must do Friends, and yes, another giraffe.

Love this blurry but sweet jar of marbles, how fun!

And Dish Ran away with the Spoon.

Look, in the eBay batch! --- a Pineapple, and a pumpkin full of sunflowers...

A white pitcher of Tulips, so Lizzy.

I had so much fun making Year in the Country here that I want to make another Sarah Sporrer quilt project, using an idea I saw to set the blocks in striped ticking and ecru rough linen. 

The patterns may seem to be just greeting cards, but there's an insert with detailed directions, plus a full sized layout page.  The design are very large, about 15" x 18", must resize smaller. Love the free and easy bumblebee's flight quilting and often raw edge applique. Sporrer's work is even more primitive than Jan Patek's, who does needle turn, or Cheri Payne's, who did whipstitch. Of course one could switch to all needleturn and no dark over dye, there's no quilt police in my world.

Beautifully done for 4.00 originally and 4.oo now on eBay. The seller was very gracious and adjusted the postage too.

There's also detailed tea and coffee dye instructions, dated 1998. This method is often attributed on FB Groups to various quilt designers, looks like it is not such a new idea after all. I may, or may not do this, as it does leave an odor and I don't care for that.

This project may reference the months and seasons but will not be a month by month "Year". If I end up with ten blocks---or 4 or 14, that's fine too.

In my research I find no history or current info for Sarah Sporrer. I wish I knew more about her. I remember when my dad and I used to go the quilt shop on Cape Cod every summer. One year they had a block of the month of Sporrer's designs, all of them beachy and nautical--lighthouses and seagulls in yellow fisherman boots, etc. My dad was a design snob and always said a sewer should make their own patterns, so I never bought that set. How I wish I had done so. Have never found any blocks to buy since.

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I started my TQC Slow Stitching handpieced little project. It is quite lovely to sew these tiny squares [2" sewed], the result is much softer to the touch that machine pieced sewing. The stitching is similar to my hand quilting which I always enjoy. 

The next batch looks harder, miniscule HSTs, etc.Here is Penny's sweet selection.

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Cartwheels top is finished and pressed. The backing needs to be pieced. My work in it was interrupted as I tried making a beach blanket for a little beach girl's end of school year gift. A mermaid panel and Minky, ugh. I struggled with the minky plush. I expected it to stretch a lot and instead it shrank! The cotton top was incompatible and bubbled up. Bin time. I knew better, but my quilter didn't seem like she'd do it, so I tried. Nothing ventured etc.

have a great weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

We are seeing the lovely blues of summer now--- hydrangeas beginning to bloom....

Clamshell garden edges and dark red roses, too.