Summertime Flowers

Time for another walk in the garden.  Our summer continues to be a spectacular year for our vegetable and flower gardens.  This is a hibiscus that I added to the garden a year ago and may now be my favorite.  I'm so glad these beauties are perennials in our area. 

 I have always been a big fan of sunflowers and over the years have started many varieties from seed.  These are two that reseeded themselves this year.  I love watching the increase in Goldfinch once the sunflowers start blooming.

 

Surprise lily is appropriately named as they are truly a surprise to see each year.  I often notice them blooming in someone else's yard then go home to find that mine have shot up to over 2 feet tall over night and are in full bloom also.

 Zinnias are so easy to start from seed and have in the garden each year for flower bouquets.  Their colors are so bright and vibrant and add great interest to any bouquet. They are pest resistant and long lasting.  So hard to beat.  I always wish I had planted more and this year I did include them in several beds as good color filling in several areas.

 

 This is a unique and interesting bloom I added to the garden last year.  I like any "daisy like" bloom and the shape and color of this one appealed to me.  It is called osteospermum Lavendar Bliss.  Even with a hard winter it fared well.

  

 This unusual plant is also in its 2nd year in my gardens.  It is a long lasting bloomer and quite unusual.  It reminds me of allium  but I don't recall the name of this variety.

The rains this Spring have been wonderful.  My flowers have never looked better.  I have favorites that each year I make sure to have in my flower pots on the patio and in the beds.   

These happy nasturtium are an old time favorite; I love the leaves in arrangements just as much as the pretty blooms. 

This hyacinth bean vine is an annual favorite that quickly fills the trellis. It puts on many seed pods that are easy to dry and save for next years plants.  I especially love the contrast between the flowers, vine and leaves. 

I look forward to the blooms of the tall garden phlox each year and have added several varieties and colors over the years.  The fragrance can not be beat.

I have always liked the colorful foliage of coleus and now with many sun tolerant varieties I use them in pots and beds. 

Cleome is such an unusual plant and very hardy.  Each year it abundantly resows itself, often needing thinning.  This completes todays walk through the garden beds.  I'm looking forward to the blooms still to come on hibiscus and hydrangeas.  The zinnia starts are ready to be replanted in beds to fill in with color through out the summer.  Check back for another garden tour.

Just heard this morning that this is the 10th heaviest snowy winter season for our area.  It just doesn't seem to want to end even though it is now March.  What better way to spend a cold, snowy Sunday than in my comfy chair stitching.  I continue to work (and rework) this pillow top and I'm pleased with the results.  A few more touches then ready to make it into a pillow.  The size is somewhat odd 15" x 15" plus the sides so will now search for the pillow form to finish the project.  I was not pleased with the daisy wreath in the top left section so reworked it yesterday using Brazilian embroidery stitches to wrap each petal.  It added some dimensional depth to the piece.  What do you think?

I started 2014 like many of my crazy quilting friends....feeling like it was time to clean and organize my sewing room.  I took some photos but don't want to show how really bad it was stacked.  The good thing about having a sewing room is that I can just shut the door and leave it in what I call organized chaos.  Others would call it a mess.  During my organizing and cleaning I admitted to my husband that I may have a hoarding problem.  I was seeing some of the signs but I'm not quite convinced yet.  He laughed.  I found too many UFO's that I had good intentions of completing. 

 The above items started out to be a lampshade but I soon decided that opaque fabrics would be much nicer for a lampshade.  I now have plans to complete it into a pillow. 

 This came as a kit; I saw one completed and thought it was really cute so started this one for my grandson a couple of years ago.  I work on it each Christmas but can't seem to hold my interest.  I will get it completed!!!

I saw this quilt made up in a Branson shop and really liked it.  I want to work crazy quilting into the piecing of the embroidered blocks. 

This is a purse that I worked on during a crazy quilt retreat in O'Fallon.  I really like it but again haven't gotten it completed.  But I will soon.  Stay tuned for my progress.

I have been home for a few days and decided that the cq pillow would be my first project to complete.

I am pleased with the results so far; I have a hard time deciding when enough is enough.  So many great ideas and stitches to incorporate into each piece.  It is so nice to have my trims, buttons, beads, and fibers organized.  Made it easy to pull just the right ones for this project. On a cold day like today can't imagine a better place to be than in my comfortable chair (otherwise known as "the nest") stitching.

Project Complete and the winner is........

   A day later than planned but the CQ witches hat is now complete.  All names went into a box and out came the winner's name which is Go Crazy With Me.

Grandbaby's visit yesterday prevented me from putting the finishing touches on until today.  I will place in the mail tomorrow if you contact me with instructions.  My email is  msbjray@cs.com  This project like most of mine evolved along the way into this finished piece.  It was great fun to work on.     Hope you enjoy having it in your home.

Looking like a HAT

Today is the day.  Hat brim to be added, drawing done and hat goes in the mail to arrive just in time for Halloween. It is the perfect day to be inside where it is warm, stitching away.

I will be wearing my hat on Halloween and it will be fun to see the surprised looks from all.  I talk about my crazy quilting hobby and of course everyone thinks I'm making quilts.  This will give them a glimpse of the various ways that CQ can be enjoyed.  Check back to see photo of completed hat.  And it isn't too late to get in on the drawing.  Just leave a comment so I can put your name in the hat.

CQ Witchy Hat continued

This has been such a fun project.  As always I never know when to quit.  But with Halloween just over a week away I will soon need to wrap it up, do the drawing and get it on its way to a new home.
A few more stitches then will seam the top, add the hat brim and a few buttons and trims to finish.

It has been a beautiful weekend and much was accomplished.  Couldn't just stay inside and stitch all week end.  Flower beds were cleaned up, hay was hauled and put away in the barn and some baking done.  Along with the usual week end chores it has been a busy few days and gone by way too fast.

Missing embellishments-oh where could they be??

                                                               

  When something catches my eye as a future project the journey begins as I start to collect fabrics, trims and such. This to me is  part of the process and a part I really enjoy. That has been the case with the witches hat which stretched over quite a bit of collecting time.  As I started piecing I had  the fabrics all organized together; but when it came time for trims and buttons, etc. I have put things away so well that I now can't find them.  Frustrating!  Am I the only one who does this?  So today I made a trip to JoAnn store to explore.  Didn't come home empty handed as I found a few items that will be included; mostly I came away with more ideas so stay tuned to see how it all comes together.

 

Crazy Quilt Witch's Hat

I love to decorate for fall in and around my home but I generally stay neutral when it comes to Halloween decor.  I came across this fun CQ project that I could not resist.  I started gathering fabric, trims and such and have more than enough to complete two or more hats.  If any of the readers of my blog (which I know is rather random) comments I will gladly ship the extra completed witch's hat to a lucky winner.  My progress so far:

Pieced two hats and ready to start embellishing.

Added trim and now for the fun....stitching!

More photos to come as project continues.  It will be fun to see who stops by my blog.
Please leave me a comment so I can enter you into a drawing.

Shopping In Branson

Before returning home daughter and I took time to shop the outlet mall and my favorite needlework shoppe-Cecilia's. ceciliassamplers.com
They carry a nice selection of threads, beads,silk ribbon, many patterns for needlework and supplies.  I love to stop in and restock my threads and browse the great displays.  I always find new ideas to inspire me.

I picked up kits for two cute projects- A cross stitched heart and a Funky
Flower pin.  These are kits that came complete with fabrics, threads, trims, etc. If you look closely you will see a printing error.  Daughter had to point it out to me.... See the Funky Fower pin?

A storm blew in while we were shopping and we got drenched.  Had hoped for the same rain at home but upon arrival could tell we did not get a drop.  At least this week will give us some relief from this 90's and 100 degree heat.  So happy for this day of rest before returning to work tomorrow.

Allie's in Stitches: Easiest CQ Finish Ever...Herringbone Hearts

Allie's in Stitches: Easiest CQ Finish Ever...Herringbone Hearts

Daughter's 30th birthday

Enjoying some family fun over the 4th of July and celebrating daughter's birthday on the 5th out on the lake.  Husband with the help of 2 year old grandson did a great job of steering the boat.  We had a good time in spite of the heat.

The catch of the day

Our evening was spent with the entire family which doesn't happen often enough.  Dinner at The Landing Bransonlanding.com ending with an enormous slice of chocolate cake for our birthday girl which we all had a generous piece of. 
Still adjusting to the fact that I have a 30 year old child.  Yesterday brought back a lot of thoughts and memories of raising children and the good times we had at the lake.  Now a grandson that is growing up fast right before our eyes.  Good family time is the best.  Even worked in a little stitching time!

Crazy Quilting fun

Returned home a little over a week ago from a great Crazy Quilt retreat in O'Fallon, Illinois so inspired.  It was a relaxed time away to enjoy our common interest and each other's company.  Everyone was so ready to share their talents and tips and ideas as well as offer encouragement and praise for each other's work.  Of course we worked in some shopping and eating with lots of laughter mixed in.  My sister Bonnie and I left the retreat committed to spend some time each day on projects, even if only a few minutes.  So far I must admit I haven't held to that everyday-life gets busy and energy runs low.  My first choice would be to sit and stitch every evening but duty calls and I feel pulled in many directions.  I have several ideas for new projects as well as UFO's to complete.

I am please with progress made during the retreat on my cq purse.  It was a project started during a class taught by Barbara Randle randledesigns.com in Omaha a few years ago.  Will post pics of the finished purse when complete.

Now off to the lake for a few days to celebrate July 4th with family and daughter's 30th birthday.  Hoping for some relaxing time to stitch while there.

Homer Laughlin Currier & Ives china

Homer Laughlin "Home Sweet Home" collection

While shopping with my sister in law we discovered another common interest.  I have collected this set of vintage china since I first came across it in the early 90's.  I picked up several pieces at a silent auction we held at work.  It was love at first sight; they just really appealed to me.  I think I paid $30 or so for several pieces and over the years have had fun poking through flea markets and searching ebay to find additional pieces to complete my set.  They were first offered through Montgomery Ward catalog in the 40's and have many serving pieces to complete the set.  They are rather hard to find and can be rather pricey.  My first purchase was a steal!

St. Louis Botanical Center

 While attending the Crazy Quilt retreat in St. Louis we took an evening to attend the Japaneese lantern display at the botanical center.  mobot.org  Called "Art by Night" it was a wonderful visual display when the lights came on and the many lantern displays were lit amongst the flower beds, trees and lily pond.                                                                                                                         

More Fall Flowers

This is a wild flower I came across while on the trail. I have never seen it before. Any ideas???? I would love to know what it is. It stands 3 foot tall and has a varigated head of pink blooms.

This is a pot of annuals that I put together last spring. I love the performance of vinca which blooms strong spring to first frost. Mixed with sun coleus it puts on quite a show in pots on the deck.

Does anything look any happier than a sunflower? Especially in the fall when it is going strong. I know they aren't every one's favorite but I cannnot go a season without this favorite flower in my gardens.

Fall Flowers

Caryopteris - I purchased this plant/perennial/shrub a few years ago and have loved it's performance every fall. It has beautiful blue blooms (I love blue flowers of any kind!!!) on chartrues green foliage. I have also since divided it and started sprouts in two other beds with great results.

Last Blue Block Going Home

On the CQ for Newbies website I joined in my first round robin which started last March. For the past six months, 6 ladies in the SLATE blue group have circulated blocks all pieced in blue fabrics. Embellishments had to all be in the blue tones. This is the last block for me to work on and then home it goes to Marianne in New Jersey. I think her block turned out really nice and can't wait to see mine.

On this block I first added the flower trim with 5 buttons in the center of the block below the bird. I tried to add some stitching detail to the bird applique with stem stitch and buillon stitiches. I then did a silk ribbon flower spray tied with a bow in the upper left of this photo. It just still needed something else. (Or I just wasn't ready to quit.)

So I put together the dragonfly using fabric for the wings, outlined with chenile fiber and then beaded. This round robin was a great experience, one I will definitely try again.