turkey feathers

So Long Summer, Hello Fall

I seem to have finally fallen into a cadence with the FWYH projects around here.  There's a nice give-and-take as I finish something old and start something new.  I'm already lining up my next project for October; these colorful maple leaves are fitting for the season. 

An autumn quilt that I started, um--let's see, some time ago. 

Not being able to remember exactly when I started this--is a sure sign that it's been put away too long. 

The top is done, now I just need to turn it into a finished quilt. Trying to decide how best to do that.  By machine or by hand?  Decisions, decisions.  I've got it all laid out with the backing and the batting on the dining room table while I ponder this big question. 

In the meantime, quilts I've been admiring from deeprundays and maryjane55. 

If they can do it, so can I. 

Vintage Vibe

I did some fun sewing and can't wait to show you another quilt I've been working on for fall.   In fact, I hardly left my sewing room. Well, that's not entirely true. I did sneak off for a few hours for just a teensy-weensy peek over here.

OK, it was more than a peek.  But can you blame me?  

The old grange hall opens its doors a few times a year when Blackberry Junction comes to town.  The place gets stacked to the rafters with all kinds of wonderful stuff.  I really don't need anything in particular, it's just fun to poke around. 

Collections are arranged by color and theme.  This was one of the "white" corners.  The groupings are fun to study in more detail from the photos I took.  I am seeing things I missed while I was wandering around and gawking.

Birthday Bliss

Thank you all for the thoughtful birthday wishes and sweet notes.  I've taken them all into my heart where they will live on forever.  I am truly grateful for my family and friends, old and new, and those I've made through this blog.  I want to thank Diane at Persnickety Quilts for the darling Birthday Tribute too!   The fall quilt (she made in 1994) is a stunner, as all of her quilts are.   

She's also shared her method for organizing quilt information which I think is brilliant.  Check it out if you need a little more organization in your quilt life.  I'm always looking for some!

Well, I must say it's been a wonderful birthday week for me.  Downtime, fun quilt-sewing, a walk in the woods, dining out and dining in.  The girls baked me the best cake I've ever had, hands down.  They worked on it most of the day.  I was told to cover my eyes and stay out of the kitchen, so I didn't even try and peek.  I'm always so touched by how hard they try.  All the effort they put in.  

After all, it's the gifts of the heart that mean the most. 

 

Sweet Annie Quilt

A finished quilt is a beautiful thing!  Lily would agree.  There's a nip of fall in the air this morning.

This quilt seemed to take a little longer to finish than most.  Summer is when I mainly worked on it--and a lot of summers have come and gone with this project on my lap.   

How many summers?  Well, some of the patterns (and the general theme) were inspired from the Kindred Spirits books, published by three quilting friends--in the 1990's.  I'm so happy it's finally done. 

I still like this primitive style and the rich colors of nature never lose their appeal.

Time to put another notch on my quilting belt and pull out another project to finish.

Yes, there are more. 

I've had decades to build up a good supply. 

But first, I'll be adding this one to the FWYH flickr pool along with the other amazing projects that are trickling in from this amazing craft community, making me wish that we all lived closer. 

Garden Shade

The bean tee-pee makes a great hiding place. I think this is the nicest looking one we've ever grown.   And of course, there's all those the scrumptious green beans that magically appear, seemingly overnight. 

But what I really love, are the herbs!

The colors and textures are at their peak right now. 

I tried to weave the subtle shades of the garden into a crazy quilt.  This has been a long work in progress--but it's almost to the "finish line".  Will share more pictures soon. 

Wednesday Wonders

There's been a parade of deer through the yard today.  One group after another. Mostly does with fawns trotting behind.  They are always wandering through.  I love watching them.  

Three deer were grazing outside my window this morning.  One of them wandered away from the other two and starting digging in a pile of landscape bark that we have sitting at the end of the driveway. 

Yes, I said digging--with his little hoof. 

It reminded me of a cat using a litter box.  And I thought, surely he's not going to do THAT! 

I kept watching. 

He continued digging for several more minutes.  When he was quite satisfied, he curled up in the hole he'd made. 

Apparently, even deer have their creature comforts.

But enough about the silly deer. . .

I have some fun stitching to show you!

Can you believe this is constructed from a square and four rectangles? 

Well, it is! 

I'd always wondered how these traditional peasant-type garments were made because I'd never seen any commercial patterns for them.  So when I found a website with a downloadable pattern (from the *Mexican Dress Lady) I had to give it a whirl.

I made a small blouse to start with, just to make sure I was on the right path.   Ginger designed the yoke and I did the embroidery.  We love how it turned out. The only thing I did differently was cut out two yoke pieces, instead of roll-hemming the neck edge, which is more traditional.  I used one as a facing to hide raw edges and to cover the back of the embroidery, which finished it quite neatly and made a nicer edge for the blanket-stitching.

UPDATE 2018:  *The Mexican Dress Lady website is no longer online.

Rearranging the Refridgerator

Somehow, all seems right with the world in a blueberry field.  It's peaceful.  There's birdsong.  And the berries seem to taste the sweetest.  As summer draws to a close, we've been enjoying the last of its seasonal gifts.

We've made our share of muffins, jams, and pies this season, so these will be frozen, to revisit summer, all winter long.  Yum.

Update on our backyard garden: SUNFLOWERS! 

Each day seems to yield new surprises.  We've learned that there's nothing quite as wonderful as keeping a little garden just steps away from the back door.  The girls have especially loved tending it and picking their homegrown vegetables to prepare for our meals.  I watch them from the window, gathering baskets in hand, and it all makes me so happy. 

As the September harvest peaks and a new season sneaks in, I realize, somewhat sadly, that soon our sunny garden days will be over. 

However, that can be a good thing.  Especially when "zucchini watch" is waning.