seed gifts...

Years ago, my friend Molly gave me a packet of seeds for rudbeckia.  I've been amazed at the variations that have emerged through the years:

The traditional single:

The Irish eyes with a green center:

 The single with chocolate in the center:

 And the multiple petaled version: 

Somehow, these variations developed through time on their own.  I would love to say the birds brought the seeds to our garden, but the truth is, many of these variations aren't anywhere in the neighborhood (yes, I've checked while walking the dog).  Isn't it wonderful how gardening can reaffirm our sense of wonder?

June Greetings!

I've been really busy the last few months.  I'm taking July and August off.   I'm hoping to get more sewing done!!  In the meantime, I am so enjoying my garden this year.

 The weather has been astonishing and the dogs and I have been living outside.  After a long hard winter, we really appreciate the garden!  

Below is a new vintage piece I just purchased.  It was a kit from the Clark's company and I think it is adorable.  It will be part of my Storytime Stitches program:

 Close up: 

\Hope you will frolic a bit this summer too!

Flag Day, 2014

Happy Flag Day!!!

June Report...

The last of the planting of this year's garden was completed on Sunday.  Just in time for a nice rainy week to help everything settle...

I've also been busy this month with programs at local guilds.  Things won't slow down until July but it's so gratifying that the business is picking up.  I'm hoping to get some sewing completed in July and August before I have to hit the road again but for now, I'm just enjoying the garden and taking time to smell the roses...Hope you are enjoying the Spring too! 

Bubble boys...

Seamus and Miles on Memorial Day:

Sewing for me...

I've been making a lot of pieces for our Civil War Program.

This week I just wanted to work on something more 21st century so I started working on my poppy quilt (seemed somewhat appropriate for Memorial Day weekend).  Here are my block so far:

I saw drawings of this chevron style (or quarter or half) log cabin on pinterest a while ago and filed it with this fabric as a possible pattern.  This fabric is so beautiful I just wanted to allow the fabric to "sing" and really be the focal point.

I love this fabric!  I wish it was still available but am happy I got some when I did!  What are you working on?

Memorial Day 2014

“May thy sweet blossom never cease to bloom in love and trust and peace.”

From the attic...

Here's a different piece of embroidery.  It is a coverlet that would fit a full size bed.  It probably had matching shams because it goes to just below the pillow line.

It's chicken scratch!

Love the dog, horse and birds...

 Okay so these monkeys remind me of the wretched creatures (flying monkeys) from the Wizard of Oz but you have to take the bad with the good....

 Love her:

I've never seen a coverlet like this in any of the old magazines I've collected through the years.  However, I am reminded that when I did cross stitching in the 1980s, I often used old lace patterns instead of store bought ones, and I wonder if this lady did too, way back when.

And as always, what pleases me the most is the evidence that the piece was loved:  a patch pieced carefully from the back near a cat teasing a squirrel.

Hope you enjoyed this little trip to Mick's attic!

Garden garden garden...

No big news here, I'm in the garden as much as my schedule allows.  This year we lost a lot of plants and bushes but I am taking it as an opportunity for change and pruning...LOTS of pruning, here is my handsome Teddy who is always barking outside:

Normally, we have hummingbirds nesting in our "Butterfly Bush" tree (it got so big it was like a tree).  It's the only Butterfly bush that survived but had to be cut back so severely that we know the hummers won't nest there, no privacy.  I've been filling the willow tree with hummingbird feeders and hanging plants in the hope that they will nest there...

Ted likes to be in the picture.  Here are some other photos of the garden:

Above: view from Sewing room window

columbine

Tree peony: