turkey feathers

GEORGIA: Cherokee Rose

 
This hardy, excessively thorny shrub is often found as a sprawling vine and has a tendency to climb like crazy, but in any case, "A rose, is a rose, is a rose" (as Gertrude Stein observed), and here we have the 'Cherokee Rose' (rosa laevigata) the state flower of Georgia.  Because of its vigorous nature, it is well-adapted for hedge purposes and as a natural fencing, often used in this capacity throughout the South.  The petals are actually white, but again, stitching white-on-white in this instance would probably not be as effective, so I decided to go along with the original directions that suggested pinks.  I think pale blue would also do nicely to convey a white flower.  Up to you. 

For the history buffs:  the 'Cherokee Rose' was adopted by the Georgia General Assembly as a floral emblem at the request of the Federation of Women's Clubs, and carried out by Joint Resolution August 18, 1916.  The name is derived from the Cherokee Indians who distributed the plant throughout the region after it was first introduced by China, via England, during the late 18th century.  Because of its hardy nature it quickly became naturalized.  It is sometimes called, the 'camellia rose'. 

 

 

• DMC COLORS: I used #760 for outlining flower petals; #3712 for darker inside lines on petals; #420 brown for stems; #320 for leaves; centers yellow #444.  Lettering dark gray #645.  Overall, I'm using 3-4 strands of floss for the flowers, 4 strands for the state lettering and 3 strands for the flower names. 

• Images should be about 4 x 4-inches to fit a 6.5" quilt block.

• To get the image:  RIGHT CLICK to save it as a file, or for size options--LEFT CLICK to flickr and choose the 'all sizes' option link.

• If you are visiting for the first time, and/or just starting this project, you can download the original stitch guide and color chart here as a PDF:

STATE FLOWER QUILT DIRECTIONS

 

 The State Flower blocks are being stitched in the order they were requested.  Check out the list here:  State Flower List to find your state.  If you're faster than I am and want it ALL now, you can get the whole enchilada on my website here. 

All right then!  On to Vermont we go . . .

 

State Flower Cottage Quilt

  
 A few weeks ago, I was happily surprised to receive this photo from Celine in FL, showing her finished State Flower quilt.  Isn't this sweet?  I love it so much!  She said it was a wonderful project to work on while watching her son play baseball.  These flower blocks are a nice size for take-and-go stitching.  (I can't even count all the projects I have worked on during kid's ballet classes, music lessons, and what-not--waiting for appointments and such.)  This quilt was actually a gift for her son's teacher; for her "little enchanted cottage in Maine".   By not adding any lattice strips or alternating squares, the quilt is small and perfect for hanging up.  Which I love.  In fact, I might even copy this idea, because I have the perfect wall that needs a quilt exactly like this on it. Four 'corner stones' were added to make even rows (6 x 9).  My own summer stitching is progressing pretty slowly right now.  However, I do have one more block finished for the state of Georgia that I'll be posting soon.  On another note, thanks for all the garden love--it's just one of the many things that are keeping us busy! 

Backyard Bliss

Another beautiful, unfettered blue sky is overhead today and a slight breeze is tickling the trees.  It couldn't be more lovely.  The newly planted lawn survived last week's borderline heat-wave and appears to be out of that 'critical stage' now, so we are breathing a sigh of relief.  Now kicking back again.  Ah Summer!  It's definitely in full bloom--at least here in the backyard, where Ive been spending some time puttering amongst the flora and fauna.  Getting my hands in the dirt. 

A few days ago I realized I hadn't taken any pictures to capture all that's been transpiring out here and decided I really must remedy that, because it's all so very fleeting you know.  So here's a little tour.  A few snapshots of the good spots.  (Weeds, and other unruly plantings do exist I assure you, but are out of range today as we focus on the lovely bits instead.)  Like this thyme border.  Oh my goodness.  I am really so pleased with this.  I planted it last year and it is making my heart swell with happiness right now.  Types of thyme?  Off the top of my head--I really can't remember what different varieties went in here; though there are stick markers hidden somewhere underneath, and I suppose I could go prodding for them and report back, but the tiny flowers are covered with honey bees and I hate to disturb their industrious work.  The bees do so love thyme and I plan to plant more of it.

 

Sharing space with the thyme are some medicinal and culinary herbs such as, bee balm, chives, borage, comfrey, artemesia, boneset, echinacea, hyssop, tall perennial sage, and those sickeningly pungent (though worthy) types of santolina.  A most aromatic and colorful bunch that repel critters.

Stepping around the other side of the fence beyond the colorful herbaceous borders, you will find our vegetable garden thriving in an abundance of goodness.  We've been spending a lot of time back in here, mostly weeding (it's all organic), and picking mostly lettuces, spinach, carrots, beets, and  sweet spring peas--still going strong--as you can see.  These are so good.  We've just been eating them raw right off the vines or steaming them whole to round out our meals.   The beets have also been amazing.  The Mister has been roasting the beets and making some incredible salad dishes with them.  The only downside, of course, is that his teeth temporarily turn a bright shade of pink.  We try not to notice.

Three weeks ago, we moved our picnic table out to the herb garden while the painters did some work on the house, and we liked it so much we left it right there.   This cedar table was made by a Mennonite farmer.  We saw it and made him an offer he couldn't refuse.  It is an ingenious design consisting of three pieces that fit together and that can easily be taken apart and stored when necessary.  Out here, we have different varieties of mint, and marjoram, sage, rosemary, yarrow, st. john's wort, and silver artemisia, which has overgrown it's tidy little box just a tad.  I still remember when it all looked like this.  And the garden was just a dream in the making.  And a little wild.  

And so, the dream continues . . .
 

 

OHIO: Scarlet Carnation

Carrying on with the next state flower quilt block--today we have:  Oh sweet carnation!  The birth flower for January.  Also symbolizing love and distinction with different colors representing variations on that theme.   For instance, did you know that a dark red or scarlet carnation denotes 'deep love and affection', while lighter shades of red represent 'admiration'?  Apparently it does.  White is for good luck or pure love.  Striped or variegated symbolize love's sad regret.  (Who knew?)  What's more, purple carnations are the traditional funeral flower in France, given in condolence for the death of a loved one. 

Carnations are strongly fragrant, and the colors are limited, thus whites are often dyed to create bi-colors with tinted edges.  They make excellent cut flowers and are popular in wedding bouquets, as boutineers, and Mother's Day corsages because of their staying power. 

On February 3, 1904, the scarlet carnation was chosen as the official state flower for Ohio.  It was adopted by state legislature partly because it was a favorite of our 25th president, William McKinley, who always wore a red carnation in his lapel.  But it wasn't until after his death (by assassination), that a joint resolution was passed by the Ohio General Assembly to adopt the flower in his memory. 

The carnation may have also held sway after the impassioned speech of one legislator, Elijah W. Hill who said, in part:  "England has the rose, France has the lily; Ireland, the shamrock; Scotland, the thistle. These flowers awaken in the hearts of the natives of these countries memories of home, fireside, childhood days, sweet sorrows, family ties, and incidents of the land of their nativity. To these ends we seek to adopt the scarlet carnation as Ohio's floral emblem."  How could anyone refuse that, I ask you? 

 

• DMC COLORS: I used #498 for flower petals; #319 & #320 for the stems and leaves.  Lettering dark gray #645.

• Images should be about 4 x 4-inches to fit a 6.5" quilt block.

• To get the image:  RIGHT CLICK to save it as a file, or for size options--LEFT CLICK to flickr and choose the 'all sizes' option link.

• If you are visiting for the first time, and/or just starting this project, you can download the original stitch guide and color chart here as a PDF:

STATE FLOWER QUILT DIRECTIONS

Watching Grass Grow . . .

The three-day weekend was lovely!  Hope yours was too.  Our young and very lively granddaughters were here yesterday, and OH how I wish I could harness some of their energy!  With the book now done, (a heartfelt 'thank you' btw, for those sweet comments and emails), I've wandered back outside into the garden after a few seasons of sitting, and I could use a power boost.  [She says, slowly hobbling . . . after days of digging weeds.] 

A new front lawn is springing up NOW and I'm as jumpy as a grasshopper.  Deer have already trod across it leaving holes where their hooves have sunk into the soft top-soil layer, and any minute rabbits are going to discover the tender shoots.  I just know it.  I'm peering out the window every five seconds watching for trouble makers!  (Where is Mr. McGregor and his wild rake-waving antics when you need him?)

This is, I think, our third try at getting a decent lawn going--having initially reduced the original lawn (which had gone to weed), by half in order to conserve water and reduce maintenance.  The roses are somehow surviving, after excessive rain earlier this year washed away the magic concoction (DEER REPELLENT) and they all got munched--badly.  So heartbreaking, I tell ya. They're recovering nicely now, but only because I added a tiny squirt of  THAI and TRUE Sarachee Hot Sauce  to the recipe. 

 

   What can I say, I'm nefariously wicked when it comes to my roses.

Finding the right team of "professionals" has also been something of a challenge living in a smallish town.  We've lived here over 16 years, but still it remains a mystery how to find the right people to get things done.  If you've ever read the Peter Mayle books recalling his experiences in Provence trying to get serious work done, it's that.  Exactly that.  And sometimes more so.  When I read those books, years ago, I was living in California where you could get anyone to do anything, usually the same day, and at a reasonable price. I really couldn't relate to any other situation and thought those stories of village workers were hilarious and rather charming.  But.  Now I get it. One must simply find humor in the situation or one will simply go mAD.

What we've learned now is that there's a small window of opportunity to seed a lawn--particularly here in the northwest, and we've missed it two years running.  In California you have sod delivered, but it's not easily available or possible here, we were told.  This year though, we were on it, and made the arrangements back in February--plenty of time, we thought.  But due to weather issues the crew didn't actually arrive until the end of June; which was just last week by the way, and now I've just heard news that very hot weather is blowing in.  

My sinus headache confirms it. 

OK.  I may not be able to do anything about the oil "spill", or the countless atrocities happening daily around the globe, but I can keep my lawn guarded and damp until danger passes.  That I can do.  Though I shall continue to pray about the other things and offer my support to worthy organizations whenever I can.  (The Audubon Nature Instituteis making a tremendous effort in coordinating marine animal rescue in the Gulf right now, if you want to help too, you can learn more about it here.)

OK then.  Duty calls.  Back to watching grass grow.  

Home Sweet Home

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:

My indie book of handmade embroidery projects is done! 

Yes, it's true!  Woot!  My winsome home team of trusty assistants and I are meticulously going through the second proof right now as I write this, and hopefully it will be published and available in two shakes of a lamb's tail.  That's the plan as I know it anyway. 

For one reason or another, this little stitched piece was one of the projects that didn't quite find a place in the book, so yesterday I decided to turn it into a "sampler" and am offering it, somewhat fortuitously, as a Bonus Design on my website instead.  That's what happens when July sneaks up on ya...you improvise, and follow along in the tradition of:  "use what you have".   Makes perfect sense.  So get it while it's hot off the presses, a new design will replace it in August.   I will now need to add some lettering and fill the heart with initials and a date, but probably not any time soon because I really need to tie up all my loose ends (and threads) first.   I promise, a sneak peek at my new book very soon!