Sunday, March 14, 2021

Autumnal Hydrangeas; Springtime Wisterias ❣



A lovely hello to you, on this sunny, autumnal Sunday❣ 'Tis a beautiful day❣ Blue skies above, flower-filled gardens below......such bliss❣ As I wander around the garden, it is evident to me that autumn is nigh. It is amazing that only in a matter of weeks the hydrangeas have turned into the softest of hues. From the prettiest shades of blues, to greens....to disparate shades of plums. It is amazing to me that from blues so many shades magically appear. It is as if God, The Master Painter, has pulled out His artist palette and brushes, and dabbed touches of colour onto the petals, wherever He will. No petal is the same. Astonishing really❣

This week, I cut and gathered together what seems like truckloads of my favourite flowers, in order for them to dry out and provide splashes of muted colour in my home throughout the drab, colourless  winter months. Truly, I believe there is no other  flower quite like the hydrangea that gifts colour  month after month. For whatever reason some hydrangeas turn into gorgeous dried flowers and the others, well, they just die and metamorphose into a pongy mass of compost. There is no rhyme or reason why some transform into dried flowers and some do not. 'Tis one of life's mysteries. =) Of course, I could pick the flowers and hang them all upside down in a dark place, then I suppose all the flowers would dry out. BUT....I much prefer them to be in vases scattered throughout my home where they add happy colour. I adore to see the changes of colour day after day. It matters not that some may perish in the process.









The hydrangeas whisper to me that autumn is nigh but with each tiny stitch my applique wisterias nudge me, reminding  me that spring will come aknocking once again. As nothing shouts spring quite like wisterias. Every spring, here in this far rural outpost, the  wisteria vine cascades spectacularly in the prettiest of bluey, purple flowers, and never fails to delight. Both the flowers and the exquisite fragrance never fail to intoxicate the senses. 

This week there are more wisterias, leaves and birds to be seen on my applique garden. There have been a few comments re my little birdies. They are sweet, aren't they?? I found two fabrics a couple of years ago where painterly birds are dotted here and there. I purchased them for no other reason than I loved them and I knew I would use them one day. When one sees a fabric they love, it must be bought there and then because they disappear never to be seen again. From the beginning of this quilt it has been my intention to evoke a Monetesque aesthetic, so these painterly little birdies are perfect. Why, they look as if they could have flown from a Monet canvas and landed in my applique garden, nestling among the flowers. I have cut out each little birdie leaving a 1/4" seam allowance, applied fray stop around the edges (as the fabric frays dreadfully), then lightly clipped all the way round, turning under the seam allowance and stitched.  So, so very easy. 






After the stitching of the wisteria is finished that will be the end of appliqueing this quilt. YAY!! The appliqueing and then the embroidering of each flower, each leaf, has been a mammoth task. I cannot quite believe that this quilt top is nearly ready for the quilting. BUT.....not quite there yet, as there are a few more wisteria blossoms, leaves, birdies and perhaps some more butterflies, to be added to the garden. I cannot say I will miss preparing and stitching the itty bitty calyces of the wisterias! I will continue with the appliqueing this evening and some embroidering of the leaves; joining the other lovely hand stitchers who will gather together for a 'show and tell' at Kathy's lovely place. Thank you for popping by my little place where autumn is beginning it's gloriously-hued dance; beginning to show off. Meanwhile, I will just keep stitching wisterias, dreaming of spring days and the ridgy didge wisteria flowers. May your week be a lovely  one, where a little beauty kisses each day 


Until the next time..............



54 comments:

  1. Your posts are always so delightful. It sounds like you had a very busy week working in the garden, gathering blooms and working on your fabulous quilt. The little birds are so sweet. Have a lovely week.

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  2. The wisteria and birds are just beautiful, so lovely! You can spend your winter hand quilting this treasure, happy stitching!

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  3. Love the colors hydrangeas have when autumn comes...
    And your quilt with wisterias and birds :)
    Wisterias in french is : glycine and hydrangeas, hortensias. In the Azores, there are walls of hydrangeas everywhere...
    Have a lovely week !
    Hug
    Anna

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  4. Another feast for the eyes! your posts are always so beautiful. I'm hoping that this Summer I will have a better display of hydrangeas than I did last year because the plants will be more mature and then I will be able to dry some blooms as you are doing. That quilt is amazing, how lovely and you can see how much work is going into it. Have a peaceful Sunday. xx

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  5. Dried hydrangeas are the best! I have some of the ‘Bombshell’ variety that dries naturally on the bush. It is a cousin of the traditional hydrangeas. Love the birdies and your tiny applique pieces. Certainly it will brighten your days. The quilt will be gorgeous!

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  6. Your handwork and these images where your work literally is submerged among your gardens just takes my breath away, Kim! The birds are such perfect additions. Truly a masterpiece in the making. As you look to fall, we are having our spring awakening, my favorite season. We moved an hour forward this morning to Daylight Savings Time, and the daffodils are blooming all around the riverbanks and rolling hillsides. It's a wonderful time of year, no matter where we are.

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  7. So much pretty!!! I love the birds, too. They look so lifelike amongst your beautiful flowers.

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  8. Gorgeous hydrangeas! Your gardens must be simply wonderful at any time of the year, The wisteria appliqué is beautiful. Cute little birds love the vines too.

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  9. Of course you have to buy the beautiful fabrics when you find them, because it is not certain they are there after a while. Your applications are amazing and your beautiful photos are a joy to see. Hydrangeas are beautiful both when the first flowers come, when they are in full bloom and also when autumn comes and changes their colors. Then it's nice to dry someone who can make us happy in the winter. I was out in the garden and cut away some withered flowers from last year. Now the first shoots on the leaves had begun to appear here. Enjoy the fall and the stitching time.

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  10. You are making great progress on your stunning quilt. So pretty! You have definitely captured the spirit of Monet.

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  11. Another wonderful flower-ful post. You always make me smile! Enjoy working on your quilt.

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  12. I am in awe of your hydrangeas, the are simply stunning, to see your hand work among those flowers is just breathtaking. I imagine working on this through the dreary winter days will bring back fond memories of the flowers in full bloom.

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  13. It's hard to believe you're getting close to a finish on this beautiful project, Kim! It's going to be a work of art!

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  14. Hydrangeas and wisterias... flowers and stitches... what could be more beautiful?!?! Enjoy your stitching today!

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  15. Hi,
    Words can't say how beautiful your quilt is. So I'll just keep
    it simple...gorgeous! Love all the little birds. Have a great day!

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  16. Gorgeous flowers, and applique! Love looking at all your pretty flowers, and little appliqued birds and wisteria! As always love reading your beautiful prose!

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  17. I love visiting you. It’s always SO PRETTY!!!

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  18. Kim, your wisteria and birdies is sooooo pretty! Totally loving it. I am amazed that the hydrangeas will keep their color in dried bouquets over the winter. How nice to have the color during the gray of winter.

    As always you paint a lovely picture with your words.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

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  19. Ive always loved seeing wisteria blossoms cascading down, you have done such a wonderful job fashioning yours out of itty bitty fabric pieces. The birds certainly are delightful.

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  20. Es un placer semanal el poder leer tus publicaciones, ver tus hermosas fotos y tus lindos pajaritos. Disfruta mucho de ésa colcha y un montón de BESICOS.

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  21. Hope you had a lovely day also. You did a wonderful job with those birds, so charming. have a safe and flowery week, Kim!

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  22. You have way more patience than I. I'm sure the appliqueing is going well. Of course, the birds are perfectly perfect for that quilt. I've only done small amounts of needle-turn applique; here is where my patience wears very thin even when you say the birds are easy - I know better. Lovely quilt, lovely flowers, thanks for sharing lovely Kim.

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  23. Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers !!
    And the work is very special with so many details.
    Happy week, a kiss.

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  24. Hi Kim
    Lovely photos, my hydrangeas are just beginning to bud. Wisteria is coming along wonderfully. Are you going to hand quilt. I wouldn’t know where to begin.
    Best wishes have a great week. Kay c xx

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    1. Hello lovely Kay, Yes, I will be hand quilting. I have an idea how I will quilt, but I will have to see if what's in my muddly mind looks half acceptable in reality. How exciting your Hydrangeas are beginning to bud. This is early, isn't it? Ours don't begin to bud till late spring, early summer. You have a great week, too. Thank you for visiting. Kim Xx

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  25. Your hydrangeas add such a beauty to your garden and then inside your home, Kim. Your little birdies do look like they’ve flown in for you to carefully prepare and stitch them on the quilt. You have such a patience to stitch all those wisteria buds and leaves. Your quilts should be displayed in an art museum!! May you have a beautiful week!

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  26. It's been fun watching this quilt come together. You do beautiful work!

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  27. Thanks for the pictures of your hydrangeas. I have high hopes for mine as we have gotten a lot of rain this spring, and they seem to like that. Your quilt is amazing! I love all the flowers and birds. So pretty!

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  28. What a delight to see so many hydrangeas again, getting themselves ready to fill your winter with color. The only hydrangea I have success with is a PeeGee tree hydrangea which is over 30 years old. I'm anxiously waiting to see if it has survived as it was in a precipitous decline last year and yielded only tiny blooms. I fear disease or a borer problem. Your garden stitchery is glorious and will still provide hours of enjoyment for you this winter as you hand quilt it to an exquisite finish.
    Pat

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  29. It's very exciting to think that you have nearly finished appliqueing this top. Nothing dies as prettily as a hydrangea.

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  30. Gorgeous, delicate quilting, Kim. I know the finish will find it's the best quilt in the land!
    I love hydrangeas. And the colours of yours are so lovely. Wonderful ribbons too.

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  31. If autumn is heading your way it means spring is on its way here in the uk! And yes the daffodils are definitely in full flow and my forsythia is just starting to show it's self. Those little birdies are so sweet nestled amongst the wisteria. I'm looking forward to seeing all of this quilt!

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  32. How wonderful to have so much flowers that you can bring them in and fill your home with them. I would be the same wanting to hold onto them and let them change colors and to have them instead of putting them away in a dark room to dry.
    How exciting you are getting so close. I will have to say that the bird fabric was a great buy and you do such a beautiful job of appliquing them onto your quilt. Have a wonderful week!

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  33. Dear Kim, your hydrangeas grow more beautiful with age! I like to dry some of my blossoms at the end of the growing season and, as you say, some are keepers and some aren't but it's fun to extend their beauty and appreciate them inside our homes. My hydrangeas are just barely beginning to put on buds. I'm so looking forward to my gardens coming to life again!! It's been a long winter! Your wisteria applique is really coming along. You have such a talent to create this realistic fabric art. Those birds are just perfect additions and I'm also very impressed that you were able to find them after purchasing them several years ago....I'm still looking for that lace for my colonial dress. HA! It's always such a pleasure to visit your lovely gardens and home. Wishing you a wonderful week, dear friend! Zenda

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  34. Unbelievable that you have applied such fine and small leaves from the wisteria. What an awesome quilt this will be with those sweet and beautiful birds that seem to fly off the quilt.
    Will there be butterflies too? Fantastic.
    The fabrics go very well with the hydrangeas, what a luxury. With us the leaves of the hydrangea are almost hatching, but it remains too cold for this time of the year, we get night frost again brrr. I warm up to your colorful flowers.

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    1. I might stitch some more butterflies among the wisterias, though there are quite a few already flying among the garden flowers. I will wait until the wisteria vine is finished to decide. Yes, you don't want the hydrangea leaves to be appearing if there is still the possibility of frost happening. The frost will burn the leaves. Hope it warms up there soon, Loes. It is beginning to cool down, here. Kim Xx

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  35. How delicious...I was curious about your background material, did you dye that...or was it purchased as is...! Anyways, what a wonderful base to work on....gorgeous! Sandi

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    1. Sandi, I purchased the fabric already dyed. I thought it would be fabulous for a sunrise/sunset sky. I was struck by the painterly look of it, and as I wanted a Monet impressionistic feel to this quilt, I thought this fabric to be perfect. Thank you so much for you lovely visit and comment. Kim Xx

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  36. Your wisteria is looking so beautiful Kim - as are all your stunning hydrangeas. I have just had my sister in law for morning tea & was telling her how disappointed I was in my hydrangeas this year. I think I need to be your neighbour & I could help myself to a bunch. Here is silly blogger saying your post was published 10 hours ago yet I see you published it on Sunday !!??

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  37. Another beautiful work of art, Kim! I love the background fabric and all the amazing details of your applique'. The little birds are perfect and I so agree that you have to buy what you love when you see it or it will rather haunt you as you kick yourself for not! Love all the hydrangeas and the beautiful fabrics you have showcased them with. I just cut all the dried winter flowers off of mine as they are just sprouting their leaves. Here we are at opposite ends of the globe...I have a tip for keeping your blooms - wait until the petals feel a little dry and papery on the bush and then cut them, keeping them in a vase or bucket with a small amount of water until they dry. That seems to work for me, but you might have a different variety. Mine are Nikko Blue. Thank you for sharing your delightful photos - each one just makes me so happy. Sending hugs xo Karen

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  38. What rich colors, what a wonderful amount. You have autumn and here on the side of the globe we are waiting for spring, with the delicate spring colors. It is a pleasure to see your work, the birds are so wonderful and the flowers are a dream. Have a lot of fun, it will be terrific ... a stunningly beautiful blaze of colors.

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    1. I would imagine, Viola, spring is spectacular in your little corner of the world. But then, spring is glorious wherever it is playing, isn't it. I am having the best fun designing and stitching this quilt, but perhaps with the wisterias, not so. =) Have a beautiful day in your nearly-spring world, and I will have a beautiful, autumnal day, here. Thank you for your beautiful visit. Kim Xx

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  39. My lovely Kim,
    Oh, I so love all the nuances of your Hydrangeas, they're truly amazing, and what a stunning Wisteria you've stitched, you're really an artist, Darest friend of mine, thank you for sharing such a beauty!
    Sending much love across the Ocean
    Dany at ~ My little old world ~

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  40. Beautiful quilt, such pretty colours with the birdies about. and the most gorgeous flowers as always. I do love hydrangeas and have tried drying them upside down in the dark many times over the years without much success. I have some on the top of my kitchen cabinets,

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  41. Ahh Kim, you are doing it again. Creating such beauty and not only with that gorgeous quilt but your photos too. I have a bunch of hydrangeas from three years ago that are still okay; however none from last year dried properly. I've not understood why the difference. They do make the most splash in a bouquet.

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  42. Absolutely in love with the hanging wisterias quilt, Kim! Your styled photography is mesmerizing!

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  43. Kim - my eye was drawn to the itty-bitty porcelain birdie in the first photo! The progress on the wisterias is amazing. And if I was a little birdie, I would want to perch there too!

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  44. to say the stitching is a mammoth task is such an understatement i'm sure. every appliqué and stitch made with love and determined intent. it's just gorgeous and i love how you display everything in your pictures!!

    and with reference to my post about the fire, one firman was injured but expected to make full recovery!!

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  45. A great progress on your beautiful quilt, I love watching it growing 🤩. Pretty flowers too 💐

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  46. I've got a feeling you love hydreangea's!!! lol A beautiful, colourful post as always. Stitching is such a relaxing hobby and I don't get enough of it. Thank you for the reminder to do some. A blessed week to you sweetie pie. xx

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  47. Your applique quilt is so beautiful Kim, well worth all the hours of preparing and stitching. I hope the hydrangeas all cooperate and dry beautifully for you.

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  48. Your quilt is beautiful Kim. I love hydrangeas but they don't like growing at our house!

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  49. Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Sandra. I hope you are well. You take care, too. Kim Xx

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