If you know me, you know that hollyhocks are amongst my most favorite flowers, and this double ruffled pink one is, well, just look at it will you?!
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Category: Pictures
Today’s Beauty – 07/31/2008
OK – I must confess. This lily belongs to my neighbor and is right next to where I park my car in the drive. But, I ask you, how could I not include this stunning creation in my collection?
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Today’s Beauty – 07/30/2008
This day lily filled me with joy when I saw it at Kelly & Kelly last year. I had to have it. You see why. It’s the most feminine seashell pink. Oh, it does take one’s breath away.
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Today’s Beauty – 07/29/2008
This is a fancy hybrid, I think, of the rudbeckia family. Harald picked it up at one of our many nursery stops this year and it just went in the ground – and it is blooming spectacularly already.
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Today’s Beauty – 07/28/2008
This is another favorite lily. I don’t know the name, but I bought it because of the way it looks and this year is the first year it has done really well.
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Today’s Beauty – 07/26/2008
These globe thistles are a constant joy this time of year, their round orbs blooming in a beautiful purplish-blue.
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Today’s Beauty – 07/25/2008
It is a gray and rainy day here in Minneapolis this morning. What better to lift the mood on such a day that something sunny and cheerful. These are Citronella lillies (another Asiatic) that are ever so sprightly.
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Today’s Beauty – 07/24/2008
It seems as though we are bombarded almost daily with scenes of ugliness, barbarism or brutality – at least if we watch TV at all. The nightly news has almost become too much for me to bear. I’ve been wondering why I am so much happier when I spend time on the north shore. I’m convinced one of the reasons is because I don’t watch any TV when I am there, so my sensitivities get a rest from the otherwise daily onslaught. And I’ve been watching far less TV since I got back from Lutsen the last time. And it has helped tremendously. So, I’ve decided to start a new feature on my blog, at least for a little while, to showcase some of the beauty I am seeing around me each day. I have a ton of pictures from my garden, which has given me enormous pleasure this year. Every day when I turn into our driveway, I smile inside. I’ve decided to share that with the world. So here goes …
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One of the beautiful Asiatic lillies we have have in our front garden bed. It just opened, finally, yesterday, and I must say, she’s gorgeous, wouldn’t you agree????
Minnesota Quilters 2008
I could just have easily titled this post “or How Boyd sought to get his mojo back” because that’s precisely what I’d hoped would happen. I’ve been quilting in fits and spurts since last year and haven’t just connected with that pure excitement and joy that quilting used to bring me at every turn. I was hoping for an instant change of heart, as if by shear osmosis at a quilt show, somehow the fire would be lit again. Instead, I got sparks and a gentle fanning. Which might turn out to be OK in the end. I attended two lectures and Margaret Miller challenged me to re-exam what got me involved with quilting in the first place and to ask myself what sustains me and connects me with the community of quilters. And Ellen Anne Eddy, always a delightful speaker, reminded me that doing one’s art really is about focusing on what you love, what excites you and leaving the rest of the world behind. Yesterday, I picked up a journal for the first time in a long time to try to start writing and sorting some of this stuff out. I don’t have answers yet, but I am still pondering.
As for the show itself, while there were obvious highlights, some of the show left me a bit cold. And I bought one, count it, ONE piece of fabric during the entire time I was there. I bought some tools I thought were cool, especially the specially-created presser foot for sewing drunkard’s path curves without pins or matching. I’m excited to try that. And I got a great book of vintage apron patterns that I am anxious to make up. But most of the quilts left me flat. Here are some (but by no means all) of the quilts that I thought were remarkable.
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Ellen Anne Eddy’s work is as remarkable as she herself is. How can this piece not blow your mind as to the possibilities that await those who have the clarity to follow their own vision?
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This was Sue Rutford’s journal quilt and this picture doesn’t nearly do it justice. You had to get up close and really look at it to see what a wonderful and unique piece of work it was.
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This quilt just made my soul smile. It is so exhuberant!
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Again with the happy-happy, joy-joy.
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My Wisconsin quilting buddies at the show, from L to R, Joan, me, Sharyn, Wendy, Carol, Pat, Jayne, and Nancy.
Socks for Nancy
Now that she has received them in the mail and opened the package, I can finally share these on my blog. These are socks I made for my bestest friend, Nancy, who just moved from LA to Bellingham. I figured since she’s in a cooler climate, a nice pair of warm, comfy, handmade socks were just the ticket. I started them on Sunday May 18th and finished them on Monday, May 26th, a new record for me that will likely go unchallenged any time soon.
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Nancy, girl, to quote Clairee Belcher (from Steel Magnolias) – “I love ya more than my luggage.” I am so happy you like the socks. I knew you’d like the colors. Wear them in good health, my friend. I miss you way much!
