Gone To The Beach

Friday, February 21, 2014

Mud, Fog, Thaw

Hello!~
Is this what ''they'' mean by cabin fever? We are having a thaw of sorts [hello, potholes! hello, floods!] but I still cannot get onto my beach for my daily walk. I feel a little claustrophobic when I can't get out to the beach.
My own access is still massively drifted.

I got out my ski poles and boots, clambered halfway up, see the glimpse of the ocean?
Wednesday...

Thursday

Friday...

and chickened out every time.
I have tried my other alternatives: the bird sanctuary's parking lot is not even plowed! And has deep drifts. The parks have parking but no access to the beach.

Before H. Sandy we could use their higher raised wooden boardwalk bridges to get to a snowy beach but those are gone, not replaced. This is an 8 foot high seawall!

So I have been taking my walks around my small neighborhood, now that most of the sidewalks and roads are cleared.
A secret little alley, path to the beach...

Today I was looking for signs of spring. Are those buds on the forsythias?

How about on that twisty willow?

I don't dare take photos--- can't you just hear the neighbors: WHO is that nosy woman! And why is she taking pictures of our house? "You! Hey! Lady!?" LOL. No.

As the snow recedes I am watching for tiny shoots of crocus or daffodils. So far, only my indoor plants are showing signs of life. The paperwhites are so rewarding! Well worth making a note to self to always stock up each October.

One of my weather alert things says snow next week! Should I buy new snow boots? Are there any to even buy!? here
And note that LL Bean's boots are almost all out of stock! here

Is this what we have to look forward to this summer? Gonna need a wetsuit!

(photo by Gray Malin, via OKL)

But for now...a dense fog advisory (LOVE fog!). This is not a joke, this is what I could see from my deck earlier.

Followed by the first thunderstorm of the ''spring''!

And much longer days, did you notice that it's still [sort of] light at 6 PM, hooray! Just a few weeks til Daylight Savings begins, too. Tonight the sunset was lavender and shell pink, a spring sunset! An omen...a promise?

I'm off to check my pantry---and sew on my newest batch of lavender hearts. Have a great weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

Monday, February 17, 2014

Winter Blues a Doll Quilt

Hi! It's time for Lori's Linky party so we can all show off our "Winter Blues" doll quilts. This was a winter quiltalong, so generously designed and shared by Lori at Humble Quilts. Be sure to visit her blog and see all the fun versions.
Here is my completed top. It is about 22" square.

I changed the setting a bit. I wanted a simpler, more primitive design of nine complete blocks. (And Lori's half blocks make me crazy,lol.)

I LOVE this little quilt!

I chose the faded robin's egg blue-green for the borders, mostly because it's a fave color and it was my daughter's favorite too.
You may recall that I spend almost as much time dithering over backings as I do piecing a quilt.
Many are auditioned. This gorgeous white lilacs print was chosen then rejected.

Often I use old feed sacks on the backs of my quilts, especially on doll quilts, but I am currently running low on choices, having missed all last summer's fleas. I especially love the grain and feed sacks with graphic advertisements, instead of the 30s florals.
I looked online and a listing for a feedsack *dish towel* gave me an inspiration: I'd use a favorite dishtowel on the back.

I knew I had two blue choices.

I hose the wonderful pitcher and bowl. Just imagine, some who might have used one of my yelloware bowls might also have embroidered this, 100 years ago! Placing a piece like this on a quilt preserves it for the future, though it of course destroys the textile's integrity as a collectible..

Then I had to audition back borders.

boring [and a very odd photo, sorry]

too kitcheny

I decided on the robin's egg blue sprig, which I love. (It is new but has no info on the selvage, and now I can't find more! Any ideas?)

Usually I layer up my doll quilt from Lori's winter quiltalong --this is the fourth one?--and then set it aside to be handquilted next summer on the beach. But I am playing with the idea of trying out this odd roll of sew-thru paper quilting pattern, from the thrift shop.

It would be machine quilting, looks like it may fit perfectly.

Because this summer I know I will be catching up on my Noah and Matilda block of the month.

block # one, January.
mostly Antique fabrics.

As well as working on Mr Sunshine. I can't decide....shouldn't a doll quilt be handquilted? I kinda think yes.

A little label, below. I have to add the quiltalong info and quilt's name.

Other notes: Here is what Sue chose for her giveaway prize! I am so thrilled to share it with her.

And if you wanted white hearts from the previous post [below], I expect to have a new group ready at the end of next week maybe.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach

Kitty!

Don't forget to visit Lori's blog and see all the other versions of "Winter Blues" :
Linky party here

Sunday, February 16, 2014

White Hearts and A Winner

Hi! Happy Sunday.

The winner of my giveaway is Sue! Yay!

This past week I made lots of white hearts for my etsy shop.

This is the rescued antique linen embroidery I used for this group:

Some of the heart sachets are lavender filled and some are plain.

sold ~ thank you!

I like to offer some hearts without lavender for people who want to add their own perfume, or those who do not care for any scent at all.

sold ~ thank you!

These larger hearts are sometimes chosen by brides for ring pillows! So pretty. They also make such a special gift.

sold ~ thank you!

sold ~ thank you!

This is very much a one of a kind heart. Ballerina-shoes-pink satin, now faded to almost an ecru or cream.

The vintage child's collar, treasured though tattered, came from my blog friend Ann. I carefully laundered the piece and made this heart with every usable bit. I love the tiny glass buttons and handmade French ribbon rosebuds. Definitely a heart for your lingerie drawer or scarf box! Unscented, waiting for your own perfume...