Summer Sampler

I'm back after a much needed break to catch up on a few chores. Being a carpenter's helper, housekeeper, lawn care associate, and home organizer is hard work in this heat. Not quite caught up, but I feel better now that my surroundings are neater and my to do list is shorter.

I did squeeze in sewing time to finish another project.  Summer Sampler is an adorable retro style table topper or wall hanging, made up of four different blocks in the same colors. The cheery red and blue daisy and strawberry print was my inspiration; I found coordinating fabrics in my stash to cut triangles and strips with Accuquilt dies.

Summer Sampler

The bright white tone on tone print is the perfect contrast, set off with plaid sashing. This cute 30½” square is channel quilted with white thread in a decorative zig-zag stitch. Wouldn't this brighten up the breakfast nook in a country farmhouse kitchen? It's for sale now on my Etsy site.

By the way, aren't those veggies pretty? Local farmer's markets are brimming with fresh produce right now. There's nothing like the rich mouth-watering flavor of Tennessee tomatoes right off the farm. 'Mater sandwich on white bread with mayo...mmmm good.

It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts

while eating a homegrown tomato. ~Lewis Grizzard

Tomato Soup & Crackers

Tomato Soup & Crackers

It seems that I may be on a food theme for naming quilts this year. I've used the tomato colored fabric again, this time for a 45" square lap quilt.

I finished this one back in February, using 4” blocks set on point. The neutral tan and beige fabrics were mostly scraps from other projects, with a few new solids tossed in. The back is one red/beige block surrounded by cream strips.  Machine quilting is free motion twists.  This one is currently displayed on the wall in our living room.

Tomato soup sounds good for this week, since it may be chilly. It's comfort food that I remember from childhood. I think we just had red bud winter with dogwood winter not far behind. In Tennessee, these mini-winters usually start in late March or early April, and only last a couple of days.  I believe they're coming earlier this year.

Strawberry Winter: late March

Redbud Winter: early April

Dogwood Winter: late April

Locust Winter: early May

Blackberry Winter: mid May

Britches Winter: late May

(after this one you can wear cotton britches)

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If you can't be in awe of Mother Nature,

there's something wrong with you...

Inspired By Chips & Salsa

Chips & Salsa

One of our favorite snacks became the inspiration for my latest quilting project. It started when I ordered some red fabric called tomato. Scraps of yellow batik print and a dash of lime dots gave me the classic colors I needed.

Now for a pattern with triangles. I found Grandmother's Puzzle, a vintage block that takes on a modern look with these fabrics. The multiple sized pieces are time consuming to cut and sew, even with a few short cuts. I'm glad I didn't plan on a bed size quilt for this one! The diagonal overall quilting was the  right finishing touch for this 15” x 27” table mat.

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You can find inspiration in everything.

And if you can't, look again.

~Paul Smith

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Don't waste time waiting

for inspiration.

Begin, and

inspiration will find you.

~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

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Anniversary, 'Maters, Odds and Ends

This week Jerold and I are celebrating our 38^th wedding anniversary.  We've had a happy life together since we walked down the aisle at Riverside Baptist Church on a hot August night in 1973.  Always best friends and partners, we'd love to be together for 40 or 50 more. To quote Kenny Rogers, “As long as it's ok, I'll stay with you...through the years.”

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We have 'maters—lots of them. Earlier this summer, it didn't seem like they were going to do well. It was too wet to plant, so we got them out late. They didn't grow quickly. They took their own sweet time coming in. The deer and rabbits have been snacking on them. Now after a few weeks of offering up two or three per plant, they all decided to ripen at once. So today I'm making salsa and a big mess in my kitchen.

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After the past six weeks of hot ninety and one hundred degree highs, we have a few days of blissfully cooler temperatures and lower humidity. On Sunday, I took my book to the screened porch and enjoyed a nice breeze while the laundry dried on the clothesline and Rowdy dog snored in the corner. 

 

Zinnas are happy flowers, don't you think? All they need is sunshine, water, and a little weeding. I wish I'd planted an acre of them!

 

What a peaceful August evening at dusk: a full moon is rising behind the trees, stars begin to twinkle in a clear navy blue sky, bats swoop down to catch mosquitoes, crickets are chirping, and cool air is flowing through the screen door. To me, this is simply life at its best.

You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

--Max Ehrmann

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