September Song

Hi All!  We're back from our road-trip to south-eastern Washington (to attend a wedding).  It feels good to be home again and back into a routine.  In general, I've been getting caught up on things around the house, restocking the pantry, tackling the mail--virtual and otherwise, updating the website (we must not forget the new bonus transfer for September), and trying to get a handle on the garden, which seems to have flourished with abandon during our absence. I actually had to stop unpacking and make pickles right there on the spot!

It's been warm and dry and rain showers are in the forecast again.  Which are most welcome, as summer rain is the very best kind of rain, I think.  Autumn certainly seems to be nipping at the heels of summer.  The leaves are already drying out and drifting on the wind.  Soon the transformation of the landscape will begin.  Like a painting, in progress, as the colors blend and change.  It's my favorite time of year.  I'm SO excited, aren't you?  

The month of August sort of came and went in a flurry of activity around here, as good-weather months usually do.  There were places to go, things to be done, people to see.

I have been admiring and gathering up some of the flower motifs from the old WorkBasket magazines.  This page features the Aster; from Volume 20 - Number 12, published in September 1955.  It seemed a fitting subject for today (and the season), since I am short on sewing projects to share just now.  These are not hugely inspiring, but they are fun to look at.  Hopefully I will be able to pick up my needle again soon. 

Here's a summary of page 59, regarding the aster:

  "In late summer and early fall the roadsides and meadows and edges of brooks are turned to blue and purple by the abundant native aster.  In our gardens the same plant, in its cultivated forms, provides a bright display of pinks, blues, white and crimson.  In any of these colors, this cluster of asters will be a colorful part of our flower design series. They may be embroidered, appliqued, hand painted, worked in needlepoint, or traced on paper for children to color.  Quilt, bed spread, luncheon cloth motif, head scarf decoration, or needlepoint picture are some of the possible uses.

For a quilt, we suggest working design on 8 by 9 inch white blocks, alternating them in the quilt with white or pastel blocks of the same size.  Depending on size of finished quilt, you will probably need three or four blocks of each flower.

In embroidering, the petals may be made with open lazy daisy stitches, with the line down the center of petals just one long stitch.  French knots will make the centers.  Leaves and stems may be worked in outline stitch.  For the ambitious, satin stitch is a possible way of working the entire picture, and the effect would be striking. 

To applique, it would be best to cut the outline of each blossom, rather than attempt to separate the petals.  Details of petals may then be embroidered on, and the centers also.  Use pink, blue, white, lavender or crimson for the flowers, with yellow centers.  Make leaves a strong green."

The aster is also the birth-flower for September.  Did you know there are over 250 varieties of Aster?  Blue ones appear around the yard this time of year.  They rise up from the ground confident, no worries at all, as the deer seem to avoid it.  And that makes me love it all the more.

Because, this is often the scene out my backdoor, where nothing is safe!  (These two scallywags were waiting here for us when we got home.)    

You can click on the aster pic to save it as a file or print it out if you want.  I think it comes up rather large (full size) so you might want to preview it first to make any adjustments, or take it into photoshop to play with.   I'll try and share more patterns in future posts; find them under the 'free patterns' subject category. 

Comments

[Vee]

Good to find you here...can't believe what wonderful guard "dogs" you have! Very charming. I think most of Susan's fans have a copy. I just got mine last week and have been reading in great snatches since. Nearly done and then I want to reread. Thank you for the embroidery gift...asters...so pretty just now.

[Debra]

I just ordered my copy from Amazon. Yours is the second blog this week in which there was praise for this book, and being an admirer of the English countryside and Beatrix Potter, I couldn't resist.

[Sandy]

Oooh, wouldn't those asters be beautiful done in silk ribbon? I may just have to have one. Love the deer. They look so regal and so "at home". They are such graceful creatures. Yep, I know they can be pests but only because we have sometimes crowded them out of their natural habitats. Glad you had a great trip and thanks for the tip about the new book. I'm going to order one for myself. Thanks

[Account Deleted]

What a lovely post Vicki. I love your birdhouse photograph, and of course I always appreciate seeing the deer. They are so pretty. Susan Branch's new book is wonderful! I enjoyed it so much, and know that it is one that I will keep by my bedside to dip into over and over again.

I love autumn too. It's starting to make an appearance here. It rained hard overnight, and we had lots and lots of thunder to wake us early this morning. We needed the rain badly. I'm so grateful for it. This time of year there are wild asters growing all along the roads on the coast in our part of the world. They are beautiful combined with the wild grasses.

I'm so glad you're home.

xo

[Debbie]

I have always loved the Sept. blooming asters...probably because Sept. is my birth month! The blue ones are my favorites. I enjoyed reading "A Fine Romance" and have passed it on to my Mom, when she is done, I will read it again.

[Claudia]

Thanks for pointing out that book. I had never heard of it before and after reading your comment I know I will be putting it on my Christmas wish list. Thanks for sharing! Greetings from Germany

[NANCY JO]

Hi Vicki
Always good to get home. I bet you have more mail to go through then the average person.
Yes! don't you just love anything Susan Branch? I too have that new book and its a real keeper.
Nancy Jo