Something to Crow About

Design - "Wee Rooster"

Designer - Heart in Hand

Fabric - 32 count Summer Khaki linen

Fibers - GAST & WDW

Started - 1 August 2010

Completed - 5 August 2010 

Something to crow about indeed!  I finished this up last evening.  I did change the border stitch - it called for using two threads, and I thought that looked too bulky.  So I changed to one thread - I think that has a more "detailed" look to the stitch.

 

If you allow a single "wild" verbascum (mullein) to grow and go so seed, this is what you get the following year!  It's too bad we are not raising mullein as a food crop!

Another hazy morning - according to the newspaper we are getting smoke from the large fire in Russia - it truly is a small world after all.

 

Arctotis - Pumpkin Pie

A Ladybug For Your Viewing Pleasure

Design - Little Bugs - Ladybug

Designer - Knotted Tree

Fabric - 32 count raw linen

Fibers - DMC & GAST

Started - 24 March 2009

Completed - 26 March 2009

I mentioned in an earlier post that I'd stitched several of the Knotted Tree's insect patterns.  This ladybug is another in here series.  I particularly like the effect of the GAST thread on the border.

This morning the light is diffused and a bit golden.  It is cool and feels more like mid-September than early August.

The California Quail family was out and about this morning.

My sister's volunteer sunflower has come into its own.

The hummingbirds and I are enjoying the blossoms on the Iochroma

and the Phygelius.

 

Roosters and Cat Worries

"Wee Rooster" is stitching up quite nicely.  The border is rather complicated - uses a "new to me" stitch called Crossed Corner Cushion.  I've saved that for later when I'm feeling more confident.

This morning as I filled up the birdfeeders, I was "helped" by five barn swallows perched in the garage, two three-point bucks eating birdfood out of the feeders, a couple of chipmunks, a bunny or two...

but no Cleo-Cat!

   

She is an indoor/outdoor cat.  Monday night we all were outside until about 9:00pm enjoying the evening and watching the barn swallows. 

Tuesday morning, no sign of Cleo.

We've called and called - looked all around our property inside and out.  Now it's time to create a flyer to handout, post on Craig's List, and talk to our neighbors. 

Peacocks and Fuchsias

I'm proud as a peacock! 

It took a month, but I finished "Peacock Spot Sampler". 

I especially like the Eyelet stitch detail that forms the peacock's wing.

The piece also uses Double Leviathan and Smyrna stitches.

Design - "Peacock Spot Sampler"

Designer - Ewe & Eye & Friends

Fabric - 36 count Summer Khaki Edinburgh linen

Fibers - Anchor

Specialty Stitches - Double Leviathan, Eyelet, and Smyrna

Started - 3 July 2010

Completed - 2 August 2010 

Allison Patricia

I'm also proud of my fuchsias!  Our front porch is north-facing so does not get alot of direct sun. That makes it a good spot to grow shade tolerant fuchsias. I've been a fan of fuchsias for decades now, it part, because my previous garden was very much a shade garden. Now though I do have lots of sunny spots, I still prize these lovely plants. In the last several years there have been many new introductions, lots of them frost tolerant too. Each year it seems I grow a few old favorites, and try out several of the new selections. Here are some that I'm growing this year:

Violet and White

Cherry

Double Otto

Unknown (no tag)

Magellanica alba

Eden Road

Rosea

Santa Claus

Miss California

Genii

Jim Muncaster

Okay I Cheated...

That catchy post title caught your eye, didn't it?  Well, the gist of it is this...yesterday's post photo was of an unfinished stitch!  I was in a rush to get something on the blog before dashing off to help with an Estate Sale.  So if you viewed "August=Corn" yesterday, you might want to scroll down for another peak.  The latest photo has the lavender "C" completely stitched.  I also included a couple of family photos from the early 1940's - women in the cornfield on flesh out the theme.

Now on to today's stitching and gardening news...

As I really, truly did finish up "Corn", I'm now morally entitled to begin a new stitch.  I've decided to work on yet another barnyard fowl.

This time...

"Wee Rooster" by Heart in Hand.

   

I was surprised and pleased to see that my Thunbergia was blooming this morning.  It is a wonderful bluey/violet color.

With more blooms to come...

August=Corn

Design - "Corn"

Designer - Ewe & Eye & Friends

Fabric - 32 count Desert Sand Wichelt linen

Floss - GAST & Anchor

Started - 24 July 2010

Completed - 1 August 2010 

I think the satin stitch really makes this piece "pop". 

A great, seasonal stitch. 

My Great-Grandmother and my Mother - about 1943

My family has grown corn for decades now - just for personal use - to eat fresh and to can.

My Mother and my Grandmother - about 1943