Dyeing for Some Sun

Well summer it pretty much over - Classes start tomorrow. Which is probably why it has finally decided to stop raining - yes, we actually had 4 days this week where it did not rain (but showers are predicted for this afternoon). Last month a group of us were supposed to go out to our friend Trudy's to do some fabric dyeing but a huge storm the night before knocked out their power for about 24 hours and they had several trees down. We were re-scheduled and yesterday we were out on the lake shore in the shade of some Cyprus trees dyeing our fabrics. The photo is just some samples - we actually did a whole rainbow of colors - 24 in all. The fabric is stored in the jars with the dye mixture for at least 24 hours. Yup, the rest of the north country is busy canning produce from their gardens, but the quilters are canning fabric.

Summer Winding Down

Only a week and a half till the end of Summer. Well OK, maybe not the end of summer officially, but for me classes start up on August 25th so it definitely feels like the end of summer. Surprising how few items on the summer 'to do' list got done this year, but with great excuses like 'it rained just about every day' there is not much you can do about it. The priorities before it gets too cold is to do some touch up painting on the house and see about weatherizing as best we can for the winter.

In line with staying warn and getting things done. I finally finished one of the community service quilts I started months ago. That is it in the photo. It is a 9-patch pattern using scraps of blue and white fabrics.

New York Beauty Block

The New York Beauty quilt block is a really stunner. I have seen several NY Beauty quilts in shows the last few years and they are always the ones I am most drawn to. Especialy the multi-colored scrappy versions. So I jumped at the chance to join some fellow quilters this past weekend to learn how to construct the block. The process involves both paper-piecing and sewing curved seams. I have minimal experience with both of these techniques but as you can see from my first blook (I usually have great beginners luck) it turned out really well. To make the block we are using a Karen Stone pattern.

Oh Look, Its Raining Again.

After a June with only 6 days without rain, and a July that was officially recorded at the 7th rainiest, can't say we are surprised that the first weekend in August is also filled with rain.

Instead of worrying about the garden growing we are now worried about it rotting. While the pumpkin is loving all the rain, the tomatoes are starting to get blight. The peppers seem to be holding their own.

On a brighter note we have a few 'volunteer' sunflowers growing in the ditch out front. Volunteers are what our local gardeners call plants that sprout up on there own (you didn't put out seeds or plant.) So the photo for this week - to battle the gloom of the rain, is one of our little sunflower volunteers. I did put a few sunflower seeds in one of the beds, and while they are now taller than me, they have yet to bloom - once they do I will take a picture and post it.