as the days slip by...

there was a magical wedding

in the neighborhood this weekend, 

amidst a daylily farm

and sunshine and summer breezes.

our mama dear and her growing fawn

have been sunning themselves in the meadow.

we harvested the garlic yesterday

and the yellow wax beans are coming on strong.

the sun slips down behind the mountains 

a little earlier each evening

and a light blanket gets pulled up around the shoulders

just as we're falling off to sleep. 

she is subtle, our fair summer, but 

she is flirting with the end of her reign.

pebbles and lichen and moss

british soldier lichen and reindeer moss

Indian-pipe or Monotropa uniflora

Under the cedars and birches along the road, there is a magical patch of beauty.

 Small delights, right there, quietly waiting to be noticed. 

What are you noticing today? 

finding comfort amidst a world gone mad

the sun rises and sets

no matter what we mere mortals do.

amen.

the fabulous scrap fabric swap

I signed up for The Fabulous Scrap Fabric Swap, via Sharon's blog, The Teacup Incident. I received this package of goodies from Yvonne in Sweden. I had to set them aside for a few weeks due to a splint that immobilized my left wrist and thumb (can you say frustrating?). Then, I couldn't find the box that has all of my beloved Bernina's presser feet in it. (I do not have a sewing studio here in VT yet). After getting into quite a snit, I took a deep breath, relaxed my shoulders and decided to improvise. I did not sketch or measure, but just played around with the fabrics and trims as I went along. 

I ended up with a free spirited tote bag, using lots of the fabric Yvonne sent me. The only fabric I used from my own stash was a bit of solid lavender for the back of the tote.

Limited by the 1/4 inch pressure foot that was on my machine when we made the move up here to Vermont, I did not even have the ability to use a zig zag stitch, so I maneuvered carefully around the appliqued shapes with a small, straight stitch.

I had fun incorporating some of Yvonne's buttons. And I have a card of little white ones that I did not use, to add to my own stash now.

The trims I used along the bottom looked a bit like garden fencing to me (see below). I made the handles with two different fabrics, and the tote is lined with other fabrics from Yvonne's swap. My interfacing basket is also missing, so the bag is lightweight and a little flimsy, but I'll get over that. 

The take-away from this project is that sometimes when we have to "make do" with circumstances (delayed start, limited tools and supplies) and when we let go of perfection, we can still find our way through a project and have fun in the meantime.

Many thanks to Yvonne for the cheerful fabrics and trims. And thanks go out to Sharon, too, for getting us organized. Be sure to pop over to her blog tomorrow to see what other folks have done.

(For another story about improvising, check out the latest post at Our Home in Vermont.)

my clever mumsie

My Mumsie has a sunny studio where she draws, snips and glues to her heart's content. Shelves are filled with old family photos, fun little mementos and jars of markers and colored pencils (especially turquoise). Lately she has been working on ATC's (artist trading cards), and she uses tiny little bits of paper...from catalogs, magazines and her stash of special papers. Luckily, I have found a bunch of these in my mailbox lately and she has given me permission to share them with you here.

left: no!   center: no!    right: well, maybe

left: winslow homer   center: bad kitty!   right: hero worship

  

I love the way my Mumsie uses silhouettes and spare details to tell a story in each card. I especially love the top row, a series that  most every cat owner will appreciate.  

I suppose since these are artist trading cards, that means I need to get busy on a few of my own...

Thanks, Mumsie, for these snail mail treasures! xo

field trip part two::bread and puppet

The barn/museum at Bread and Puppet last weekend. Haunting and magical and spiritual and inspiring all at once. I have no other words. 

field trip::dog mountain

We visited Dog Mountain again, and the Dog Chapel there, too.

It is a good place to be reminded of the power of love...

...and of being open to all.

To learn more about magical Dog Mountain,
look here.

in the heart of clover bloom

Work is like other good things in that it should not be indulged in to excess, but a reasonable amount that is of value to one's self and to the world, as is any honest, well-directed labor, never need descend into drudgery.

 

It is a tonic and an inspiration and a reward unto itself. For the sweetness of life lies in usefulness like honey deep in the heart of clover bloom.

-Laura Ingalls Wilder, Farm Journalist

drifting in to july

Garlic-scape and pistachio pesto.

Recipe here.