My Boro Sweater, June Full Moon, and Other Random Thoughts for Friday

 Hi! First of all we must look at the  June full moon. This moon is called the Strawberry Moon, and as it's so close to the Summer Solstice, shining for our few brief hours of spring darkness, it's a wonderfully magical and mysterious moon. There is an interesting post on Woman with Wings , a lovely , mindful, spiritual blog: with permission, quoting,
"We have a full moon rising this Friday -- I hope to wrap up more herbal bundles and write my gratitude list during the day...that night I'll set out a jar filled with lemon balm leaves and water to be infused by the full moon and other cosmic energies. I like leaving this water out the following day as well to be infused by the sun, after which I strain it. Lemon balm water helps us to be centered in the midst of chaos, also helps meditation.''

However. Yes it is still chilly here, verging on cold.

For my evening walks with Mo I must wear layers, including a wool turtleneck sweater, hat and scarf, fleece or windproof jacket. I usually wear an old lavender cashmere I've had for years. It was one of the last gifts my mom gave me; she disliked lavender color but she sent it because it was my choice. I  love it because it's from her, and also it's one of Lands End's old cashmeres from when they made thick cozy turtleneck sweaters that are also machine washable, with a bit of care. Anyway, it went from best sweater, to everyday sweater, to dog walking sweater over the years; I wear it all the time. So imagine my distress when it sprung an elbow hole.

Backtracking I've been interested in the Japanese art of ''boro'', a form of patchwork and make do.  I believe that, in Japanese, boro means ''rags''. [I'll put a couple links about boro at the end of the post.] Since I can't find my Japanese ikats and indigos I decided I would practice boro patchwork/ stitching on my beloved sweater.

Two pretty fabrics from my scraps, lined in flannel, sewed with a lavender silk twist cord. Perfect again! I love it.
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Yesterday was Mo's adoption day anniversary. It is just three years since the tiny mite was so brave and flew here all alone from California. Seems like he's been here forever, doesn't it.

I got him a pizza shaped cooky.

A bagel chew.

And a baby splash pool, in case it ever gets hot again. Poor Mo, he  may HATE it. I'll start with ice cubes in it, as Mel suggests. LOL. If it get really hot, heck, I may sit in it myself!

Then I'm working on my deck spruce up. New chairs!

I also ordered new screen disks for the windscreen portholes but Gorilla Glue wouldn't stick. I'll try the F6000 glue next, otherwise Mo will get his head stuck in the porthole.
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Lavender looks good. Two kinds. Pretty and the bees love it

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I'm making reusable grocery bags, six for me, six for my friend L. But then I have to go buy plastic bags for Mo cleanup, so I'm a little miffed. These are linen/ cotton drapery remnants from my stash. Washable, I hope.

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And the best! look what Mel is making!

She is an expert crocheter and she made this amazing wrap bracelet for me. I love it! ---If / when summer comes I plan to wear it everyday.

Aaaand, look what the bracelets were wrapped in. So cool. What a find. Mel has a great eye, thanks so much!

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This came in the mail. I live in the red part.

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Something for the weekend--- here's a yummy sounding recipe from Kelley to try: here .
And this week's wine is Flowers Sonoma Coast Rose` 2016   here



That's it for now. Mo and I hope to do some on-deck sewing this weekend. Fall Festival is so neglected.
Have a good weekend.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach

Boro:  My Pinterest board Boro

            French General Boro tote kit : here

            Interesting post about the History of boro: here

 NOTE for ETSY SHOP: From now, June 10 thru Fourth of July week I am having Dollar Days/ Sidewalk Sale days here in my etsy shop. When I was growing up in a small town in Illinois, the summer night sidewalk sales---many items just a $1.oo!---were always so fun, so I am recreating that here. I have marked down almost everything in my shop to just ONE DOLLAR, plus shipping. Find a treasure or two/ stock up for gift giving!
Folk art items that are not marked down [dolls, quilts, treasures from the sea] are available for reasonable offers, just PM me. All offers cheerfully considered. Be aware that items may have sold privately or thru my blog, things go fast! I'll let you know. Hopefully you'll find something you like and you'll come back soon for my Summer Lavender Hearts in Seaglass and White and Summer Blues. I hope you have fun. Happy Summer! Etsy link on sidebar

Santa's Workshop

Hi everyone!

Today was the first day I've done a lot of hand sewing and wire work, since my hand became so painful back in September. Just one day to make a few things for my etsy shop. Probably too late for the holiday but maybe someone with a gift card will treat themselves?

My hand was hurting after four hours of non-stop finicky work, so I had to stop. I have to be able to wrap the gifts and carve the roast!

Here's what I made;
Beeee-u-tiful very large chandelier crystal ''icicles'', with curly wire hangers.

 

 

 

 

I didn't measure them yet but I am guessing they're at least 7" long.

 

Lovely old crystal, very few if any nicks. Original wires!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I worked on a few strawberries. These make such sweet gifts for someone who sews or collects sewing items.

Last scraps of a supposedly Amish silk log cabin block, all odd darker colors: black, plum, mulberry, wine.

A bit of a blue and white quilt block fragment, note the tiny fleur de lys:

And this, a very special piece. It was inspired by this antique strawberry on Pinterest.here

I had my eye on the old sterling silver handle all summer and fall. The dealer wanted a lot of $$$ for it---and who but me would want it? Finally, at the last market a few weeks ago, I prevailed.

It is marked Sterling and the design is perhaps violets---or shamrocks?! It's very beautiful, about 3" long. It was the handle of a small vanity set brush.

I used antique velveteen, carefully washing and fading the red to soft berry pink. Hand beaded with deep coppery brown seed beads. Ombre silk ribbon for the stem ruffle.

I found a sterling bumble bee on etsy, to add...not sure if it needs it though.

And I am doing a large strawberry make-do. Not finished! The leaves will be hand sewed, it will be beaded, etc. The base is an antique glass candle stick that is turning lavender, a real treasure!

Christmas--just a week now! Tomorrow I'll try to finish my gift shopping and make my cookies. How are your plans coming along?

Mo thinks old Merrell clogs are yummy.
Silly boy.
He has taken this shoe into his faux Nantucket basket
and
is gnawing happily away.
Good thing Merrells are indestructible.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...........

 PS All these ''pink'' photos, here and in previous post, are sunsets. Sunset these days is from 4PM to 5.30...so pretty and serene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cozy and Bright (Thrift Shop Finds and more Storm)

Hi everyone! Since some of you have emailed me about our bad weather, I'll show you some storm pix first. (Thanks for asking!---Weather Channel makes a rainy day seem like the Apocalypse, as you know. Though the vids of Fire Island with the ocean sweeping through the streets were scary---and real.)

waves/ high surf/ flooding

Today is actually worse than yesterday, at least for me and Mo. It's been sleeting with wet splatty snow all afternoon.
Mo doesn't mind.

We walked 2 miles! We visited the koi.

The beach is inaccessible---the water from last night's high tide flood is higher than my wellies...and cold.

You'll recognize my beach entry, with the seawall and No Dogs sign. This is where the wooden boardwalk is in the summer.

 

 

August

I kinda like cold weather, so I didn't mind the storm---and inside the house, all is cozy and warm, cinnamon candles burning, all the lights on, another Christmas experiment in the oven [mini croissants w/ ham and brie/ cranberries and goat cheese. I'll re-warm this batch on the weekend for Christmas tree Day.]

I wrapped gifts for folks who live far away. I love my Marshall's find of these beautiful velvet and linen ribbons, on real wooden spools. I have them in a spongeware bowl, set out to admire , they're just so pretty.

Then I played with my thrift shop finds from Sunday.

Remember my dishtowels that are going to be a coffee table runner?

I found this gorgeous 100% cotton skirt to use for the backing. 3.oo.

The colors are so perfect and I love India prints like this.

If the skirt would fit me I'd wear it instead of cutting it up. But it's a size 2, I haven't been a size two since I was like, 5 years old?

I bought this floaty India cotton top for the wonderful large scale cobalt blue bird motif fabric, also to be cut up
.

But this one's my size! A keeper. White cotton capris, bright yellow---or simple black--- tank top underneath? Jeans and leather sandals?

I also found these Halloween pjs.

Soft cotton batiste, to add to my Halloween collection, for my Halloween string quilt project. 99 cents.

from ?--eBay?

A pretty tin for my sewing machine's tools and extra feet and needles.

I have a neat Singer tin for my old machine's extras, but I want to keep these separate. Again, pretty and so bright, another 99 cents, such extravagance.

And as I was paying I saw this necklace! Summer day, summer day! Black linen shorts/ white tank top, straw tote ---and this! Oh I love it. It calls to me and promises me summer days ahead, soon.

I love the exactitude of the stringing, the roughness of the handmade glass seed beads. The old patinaed clasp.

And these colors...

Makes me smile!

Sunny weekend is coming! I have to plant the daff bulbs I am giving my friends for their garden/ Xmas gift. Mo will help...but right now he is snuggled in his nest he made me build for him. Corner of the sofa---his sofa, good thing we have two!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....