Lydia Sill

This older Bent Creek sampler chart, "Lydia Sill", caught my eye and moved right to the front of my "To-Do" line.  I have a couple of ideas about how I might tweak the pattern to personalize it...I'll have to print off some graph paper and see if my ideas are aesthetically suitable.

Lizard Finish and Thursday Morning Gardening Chores

Design - "Cold as a Lizard"

Designer - Birds of a Feather

Fabric - 28 count Antique Pink linen

Fibers - GAST

Started - 20 July 2010

Completed - 21 July 2010

Unusual colors - makes a striking piece I think.  I certainly never thought I'd stitch a lizard, but I love the perspective - looking down on the reptile.

Our lizards certainly aren't cold right now - they are basking in the +85F temperatures. 

This morning the weather was perfect (for me) - cool and clear with lots of shade.  Get me in the least bit of sun, and I am uncomfortable working.

I bought a couple of replacement plants - some sedum for my strawberry planters and my sedum bench.

I got everything planted (and some things repotted / replanted) by 9:00am.

I am pleased with my shade garden.  It's in a nook on the back porch.

 

And I think my sedum / sempervivum display rocks too!

Happy Stitching and Good Gardening to everyone!

Stitching along on "Peacock Spot Sampler".  I do love the muted colors used for this piece.  I also enjoy using one strand over two threads and the look that creates. 

After thinking for the last couple of weeks that our Barn Swallows were raising three young ones, I discovered that four had fledged!  While they look like they're going to fall out of the nest, they seem to know what they are doing and we've not had any accidents.

Crimson Rambler

One of the rewards for getting up early - Morning Glories!

Milky Way

My Sister's Garden - Dahlias, dahlias, and more dahlias!

Love My Ladybug and Crazy for Coleus

Design - "Coccinella" - Freebie

Designer - Alessandra Adelaide Needleworks

Fabric - 26 count white linen

Floss - DMC / Anchor

Started - 4 July 2010

Completed - 19 July 2010

Wow - I'd not have any problem with aphids if I had this girl in my garden!

And speaking of gardening...

How can you not be crazy for coleus? 

Last year was a banner year for me growing coleus. 

This year I've had challenges...

First off I think the weather was too cold in May / early June and the plants sat and sulked then shrivelled and died - over-watering?

When I replaced them, things looked good until Doris Deer came along. 

She thought it was an "All You Can Eat Coleus Buffet".

So I grumbled (cursed?) and sighed and bought plants for the 3rd time.  

Now they are safe behind a fence and happier with less water and warmer temperatures.

Rustic Orange

Defiance

Oompah?

Henna

Kingswood Torch

Redhead

Stained Glass

Rustic Orange

Kiwi Fern

Burgundy Wedding Train

Mississippi Summer

Black Dragon

The Monday Morning Report

I'm making good progress on my A.A. Ladybug, so to celebrate...a new start!

This is a BOAF chart "Cold as a Lizard".  While it has not been cold, I have spied several lizards basking in the afternoon sun.  I am using a really pretty piece of 28 count linen - Antique Pink.

There are at least two babies in the swallow house outside of our stair landing..

Here they are awaiting their parents' return.  As soon as they spy their parents flying back to the house, their beaks open wide!

After a few year's hiatus, I am growing verbena bonariensis again.  Some people think that this is an invasive plant.  I had a gravel area where it self-seeded happily, but it did not spread out of that area.  Anyway, I love this plant and so do the hummingbirds.

They also like this agastache.

Ladybug Progress

Last night I went to an outdoor concert with my family.  We attended a free Eugene Symphony concert at the Cuthbert Amphitheatre.  What a great way to spend the evening.  The weather was perfect.  We got there early and had a picnic dinner - bagel sandwich and pasta salad.

I brought my cross stitch and was able to work on my ladybug while enjoying the music.  The evening ended with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" complete with cannon blasts!

One of the interesting topics I read on another stitching blog (can't remember which one) was what you might be willing to pay to purchase an out-of-print chart from a favorite designer. I think my own stitch breaking-point is $20-$25, and it would have to be an ultra-special chart!  More typically I spend $12-$16 for an out-of-print chart.  Lately I have been amazed...and appalled...at the going price for "Alpha Bird" by Sheepish Designs.

Yes, I'd love, love, love to have the chart.  Am I going to pay the going rate....which seems to be $98.00 on EBay?  No so much!