Everything is Blooming

Flowers are dancing in our garden and flowers are dancing in my head....so that's what I'm stitching today!

Happy Weekend!

Smiles, Nan

Slow Days Of Summer

How I will miss them.

Taking the day to enjoy the beautiful weather and stitch outside.  I always feel very lucky when I have time to do this.  I've taken inspiration from the garden by selecting a pallet

of faded mauve,  greens and maybe a bit of gray.  I've only just started this piece, but it's feels easy and comfortable, like an old friend.

The gardens have started to fade, but there are some plants that are at their best right now.

I thought I'd take a few pics of them to show you.

The Sedum, Autumn Joy is a buzz with bees and butterflies and even a few praying mantis, which are considered to be good luck.  I always makes sure to say hello to them so they know they are welcome :)

And the Liriope is so beautiful this year with it's purple spikey flowers and variegated foliage.

Even the Hydrangea looks great with it's faded blooms.  I love to cut and dry them

to place in a white ironstone pitcher. 

I hope you are getting time to enjoy what you love on this beautiful day.

Sweet smiles to you all.

Hugs, ~Nan

All In Bloom

A very busy day in the sewing studio today and 

yesterday, but nothing I can really show.

The temps have cooled off a bit the past few

days, so I have been taking my lunch break

outside.

The garden is definitely in full bloom.

I know Summer is in full swing when

the Blackeyed Susans are at there best,

along with, one of my very favorites,

the Purple Coneflower.

Gosh, I just can't help but smile when I look

at these pinkish beauties.

The butterflies are abundant now and I think

I counted 8 yesterday while sitting 

out on the deck eating lunch.

They love the Lilies the best. 

These just keep multiplying year 

after year.  Don't you just love when

plants do that?

*~*~*~*~*

Hope you are enjoying the beautiful days

of Summer.

Smiles, ~Nan

Happy Father's Day

It is just a beautiful morning here.

I sat outside in the gardens this morning with my

 cup of coffee and enjoyed the sounds of nature.

I took my camera to get some new shots.

The birds were so happy and our resident

mockingbird was practicing her dozen or

so tunes.

Papa Robin was celebrating the day with a 

quick rinse in the fountain.

We really are having a wonderful Spring this year

and the garden is a real reflection of that.

 Cool mornings and nights and warm days, but

not too warm.

I love how beautiful the clematis looks on

the new iron trellis we purchased for it.

May just be a perfect day for 

a ride in my beloved Islander.

Take the tops off and feel the wind.

This is my mode of transportation.

as where my hubby prefers his Harley :)

I wish for you all the joys of this day and

hope you get some time today to  slow down 

and enjoy the things you love.

Hugs and smiles, ~Nan

Today's Projects

 I just thought I'd check in to say hi.

Today was really a lovely day.  

Sunny and warm, but not too warm.

Perfect for gardening and I still have

plenty that needs tending to.

Here were today's projects....

Planted some pots and the window boxes 

on the shed.  They look pretty wimpy right

now so I hope to show you them in a few weeks.

Got the fountain working and filled

for our fine feathered friends

Yep....still need to weed.

Taking it one day at a time :)

Planted a bed next to the deck with 

Frilly Russian Sage and Impatiens.   

These should fill in nicely and the 

sage will come back every year....I hope anyway :)

 Installed a new iron trellis for the 

Clematis Vine.  Should be very 

pretty once it starts blooming.

x x x x x

I also did some finishing work, printed charts,

 worked on the instructions for a new chart

 and even did a little chatting on the phone

with a few friends.  Not a bad day!

Hope your day was full and filled with 

things you love too.

Smiles, ~Nan

Please Send Prayers

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims 

and everyone affected by the tornadoes in Oklahoma. 

Cherish your friends and loved ones today and always.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I was not going to post today,  but I just needed to take

 my mind off of all the devastation and utter sadness.

I spent time on the phone with a few very good friends

today and that helped, but I finally just needed

to get out of the house and away from the tv.

So I took some stitching and went out to sit in

the garden.  Even though it was very humid,

it was good to be out with nature, the birds

and clear my mind.

~*~*~*~*~

Here are some of the ever changing garden

views.  Everything is just exploding because

of the warmer weather we're having.

 It's amazing.......a few days ago there was only one Iris

open.

Now they're in full bloom.

As you can see I still have some clean up to do, but

they love decaying leaves.  Free fertilizer!

The Hostas are so full now and not even close to 
being all filled in.

My faithful Palace Purple Heuchera

next to the mop Hydrangea.  

Will it be more blue this year or more purple?

We will see.

Only a few Allium this year, but 

still lovely to see.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I hope you enjoyed my garden pics

and thank you to my friends for calling today

to chat.  You know I love you dearly.

Big hugs to all.....

~Nan

Sophia Waters

Finally got her done.

And I just love her .

~♥~

~Sophia Waters~

R&R Reproductions ~ Sophia Waters

 I'm really happy with how the staining

came out on her.  She looks very old

and loved.  Click on the pics

to make them larger. 

~*~

I've been asked recently to share my 

technique on staining.

  I usually stain my linen before 

I begin to cross stitch my piece 

because I like to use a

lot of over dyed floss.  Even though they 

may say color fast, it's still possible for 

them to run and ruin your finished piece.

 Spray or soak the linen with water. 

Mix up a batch of strong instant coffee 

or walnut crystals with some water. 

Use a sponge brush to randomly brush 

the linen with the staining mixture. 

 I blow dry the linen to set the 

staining and it's faster, but you could 

also let it air dry. Repeat if needed. 

If you're using DMC floss you can stain 

your piece afterwards if you choose.  

~*~ 

 I hung her on my large antique bucket

bench in our sunroom.

I think she looks great hanging

among all of my garden prims

and mason jar collection.

x x x x x

By the way....I took a few more

pics of our bloomin' garden.

Front Side Yard

First Iris to bloom!

   Before I end this post I would

just like to say thank you to all

who purchased my Civil War 

Needlebook kit.  I am truly amazed

and very touched by your response.

I'm all sold out, but there may still

be a few left at Dyeing to Stitch.

Many Smiles,

~Nan

Yep....Another Start

I'm all done the last sampler 

I started.  I love how it turned out.

So old and loved looking.

  I don't want to 

show the finished reveal yet.

I've got to work on the chart

and instructions, but I should

have it all done very soon.

x x x x x 

Now.... I've started another new

design.  I have so many

buzzing around my head : )

hehehehe.

This is the other bee

design that I mentioned

awhile ago.  It was inspired
by our gardens, which will be
full of blackeyed susans in a
month or so.   

I'm stitching this on
32ct Creme Brulee by
R&R Reproductions.
"ooh la la"  
I've got a different kind
of finish in mind for this one.
x x x x x   
In between stitching I did some 

much needed gardening.  I'm late this 

year with all the stitching ; )

     but I'm getting there.  Just need
the weather to cooperate a bit more.
Lots of rain in the forecast.
  Here's some garden shots.

Scotch Broom

Lilac Bush

Sand Cherry

Redbud Tree Forest Pansy

 The Forest Pansy was a birthday 

present a few years ago from

my hubby.  He gave me a wonderful

red wheel borrow that year too : D

 As you can see, I'm not much

for fancy things.

I hope you've enjoyed the garden tour.

Until next time....

Happy Stitching!

~Nan      

What I've been up to ~ Warning, Picture Heavy

Hi Everyone.  I hope you

are enjoying this very hot Sunday.

Just thought I'd show you some

of what I've been up to lately.

Had a little stitching time for 
myself.  I'm still in a patriotic
mood, so I decided to stitch up 
and finish this Americana
ditty bag.  The house is still 
decorated for the 4th, so I hung it 
right up.
* * * * * *
Thought I'd also show you some pics
of the garden.  I spent a few weekends
earlier in the summer planting and the
garden is starting to show off.

 

I cut some of the hydrangea blooms,

since there were so many and put them

in my antique sap bucket.  It's

painted the sweetest robin's egg blue.

* * * * *

I do hope you enjoyed your visit and

thank you so much for stopping by.

Smiles,

~Nan