Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The First Day of Spring

Design - "Sampling Easter"
Designer - Lizzie Kate
Fabric - 30 count WDW Parchment linen
Fibers - WDW & GAST - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 12 March 2012
Completed - 19 March 2012 

I remain enamored of the periwinkle alphabet.  As straight-forward as this stitch was, it entailed frogging.  I stitching the top row of the three eggs as three across (and increased their size from there) instead of two across; and I misplaced the letter "A" by one thread.  I must be in need of remedial lessons in chart reading and counting.  Notice the daffodil in the lower right corner?  That's the theme of today's post!  

Spring began March 20th at 1:14am EDT.  Hurray for Spring!
This time of year, gardening is still mostly about inspiration and planning.
Let's join the Tuesday Garden Party over at an Oregon Cottage.

On Saturday my sister and I headed off to the Long Tom Grange Daffodil Festival outside of Junction City, OR.

 
First up - this is a whimsical (one of a kind!) water feature.

The Grange also had lots of spring bulbs potted up for sale.

I liked how these were displayed in a old wooden wheel barrow.  That would be pretty in a rustic country garden setting.
Oh Spring color!  Lots of inspiration there! 

I've said it before, I'll say it again - there is something about the plant combination of yellow and blue - it gets me every time.

One of the vendors had a metal forge and constructed these tulips and daffodils. 

Here's another "take home" idea - I love this motif of wheel barrow, chicken and shovel.

The Grange had a small display of Spring Inspired quilts.  This was my favorite.

Don't forget to enjoy Spring inside too!  We bought three generous bunches of daffodils for just $9.

17 comments:

geeky Heather said...

What a great Spring eye candy post! I love everything you picked to highlight from the Festival. Those flapping chicks on the quilt are too cute. Looks like it was a lot of fun.

Congrats on the finish; I love the design, and I'm a fan of the periwinkle alphabet, too. Periwinkle!! How can you go wrong? The bunny charm is really neat.

Vickie said...

Love Sampling Easter!!

Deb said...

Congrats on another finish!!! It turned out so cute!! I love yellow and blue together too - such a wonderful combination. I love that quilt! So very cute!!!

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Very pretty colours in your LK design. It must be something about LK designs - the one I started twice has been set aside as I miscounted and didn't notice till it was too late.

Unknown said...

Congratulations on a great Lizzie*Kate finish! I loved that water feature. My yard is big enough to handle it, but not my pocketbook - LOL!

Athena at Minerva's Garden said...

I love your posts about your garden jaunts to wonderful places--well done! The cross stitch is colorful and spring-filled as well. Takes dedication and work to finish a cross stitch, so well done! I also love yellow and blue--flowers, as well as indoors. I am thinking about yellow and blue for decorating the house for later in the spring. It's the first day of spring, but in my neck of the woods it is so grey, wet and dreary you can only tell by looking at the calendar!

carol fun said...

Love the little Spring sampler. That periwinkle floss is such a prett color. Great vendors. - that quilt with the eggy /chickeny birds cracks me up- LOL

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Love that little metal chicken.
I've seen those at Canton First Monday...
makes me want to learn to weld...oh the yard art I would have!~Pat

MoonBeam said...

Love your little LK spring stitch. Quick, cute, and festive.
I think I need to start stitching more smalls!

Nice daff pix, too. I had the wonderful experience of going to the Daffodil Festival on Nantucket several years ago.
I should scan my photos in and post some of those.
Scan photos in????

Bobbi

Melanie said...

Very pretty finish!! :)

Ruth said...

For all its frogging troubles, your sampler is soooo cute. You are right to be enamored of it because it's darling. And daffodils... I just love them-- thanks so much for sharing your adventure at the festival. I'd have to buy those metal ones (fantastic!) since I kill plants right and left. Oh I do wish I could grow daffodils!

Carol said...

That is the perfect piece of stitching to show us on the first day of spring, Beth--so, so cute :)

Debbie said...

I love the wheelbarrow, shovel, chicken idea. I will be stealing that! I'm visiting from An Oregon Cottage. You have a lovely blog.

Barb said...

What a great piece and perfect for the start of spring! I love the photos of the daffodil festival. We have a few daffodil parades coming up soon.

Veronica said...

Cute finish. Congratulations!

Oh my, what gorgeous flowers. I especially like the ones planted in the wheelbarrow. Lovely idea :)

Hugs,
Veronica.

Lois said...

L*K come up with such great Spring pieces. Love this one! Really enjoyed seeing the pics from the daffodil festival. Such vibrant colours.

Mouse said...

oooo lots of daffdown dillies .... love the blue and yellow combination too and sorry to hear about the probs with the chart ... think I may join you in those classes heheheh :) love mouse xxxxx