Sunday, March 7, 2021

Snapshots of Summer ❣





The loveliest of welcomes to you❣ It is a delight to have you visit my little place where the dance of summer has slowed noticeably. The garden is still awash with flowers, but the buds are less inclined to open. They are less willing to greet the early chilly mornings. The flowers seem to need warm, summery sunbeams to warm up the cells inside the petals to perk them up; as do I. The sun's happy beams are still warming the cockles of my li'l ol' heart, but very soon it will be thick, aran knitted woollies, piles of quilts and the crackling of open fires that will warm dem ol' bones of mine.

The seasons they are a-changing. There are signs that autumn is just around the bend of our winding country road. The leaves are ever so slightly beginning to think about transforming into those glorious hues that only autumn can gift. There is a crispness to the mornings and early evenings. The light too, is different, and the daylight hours are lessening. The sun's happy rays have begun to once again peek around the curtains, of the family room and creep across the room causing everything they touch to shine.

Summer was beautiful. Why, this summer the garden flowered more gloriously than in other years. It is as if Mother Nature sprinkled  happy dust over our little garden, causing the sweet peas to reach for the sky, the dahlias to flower in multitudinous blooms.....the hydrangeas to grow taller, and with the biggest of blooms, these mop-headed beauties have blossomed splendidly for months on end. Truly, the garden this summer has been astonishing. 




I have stitched more of my applique, flower garden quilt this week. More wisteria flowers have blossomed, more leaves have wound their way across the vine, and a little yellow birdie flew in to nestle among the leaves. Again, preparing the wisteria flower elements was a tad trying but I was determined to fashion a lot so I could then play with the placement of them. Gosh, some of the parts are itty bitty! The calyces of the wisteria buds are about half the size of my little finger nail.....impossible. I coloured parts of the wisteria petals with Inktense pencils. I must say I am more than happy with what has 'growed' on my quilt this week.








Soon, summer days will be but a memory down here but I am warmed by the thought that  they will knock on my door once more, later on in the year. For now I will but drink in the glorious hues of autumn as it slowly paints dazzling and magical hues everywhere. Thank you, lovely lovelies, for stopping by my little place. You have delighted my day. I am going to make myself a cup of tea, settle down for the evening and enjoy a little slow hand stitching with the band of merry hand stitchers over at Kathy's place. I hope all is well in your little corner of the world. Sprinkling a little summery, flowery love into your day❣

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







47 comments:

  1. Thank you - thank you - thank you :-)))
    You capture the wonders of nature ... it is a pleasure to see the play of colors ... thank you for your wonderful photos and a lot of fun and joy in your work.
    Greetings to you from Europe ... winter is going away and spring is coming soon here with us. Hugs Viola

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    1. You are very welcome, Viola❣ How fabulous spring will soon be there and you will be able to enjoy the wonders of nature in your little corner of the world. Thank you for your beautiful visit and your lovely words. Enjoy a wonderful week❣ Kim Xx

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  2. The birds are wonderful on your flower quilt. Is the wisteria the last step in this quilt or is there another section to be appliqued? She's a beauty, happy stitching!

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  3. oh Kim... the Loveliest of Lovely Visits was had enjoying summer at your place.... I could smell the flowers... enjoy the slightest breeze and LOVE YOUR APPLIQUEd BIRDS... can you share your methods... they loook so real.. I struggled through applique on the dresden's this week and more applique is in my near future with this quilt... Thanks friend.. Enjoyed my lovely visit down under! Kathi

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  4. Lucky you to live in a place like this !!!! So many colors and flowers... an inspiration to create...and create...and create....
    Have a lovely week enjoying the last days of Summer...
    Hug
    Anna

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  5. I’ve never seen flowers as beautiful as yours! Both appliqué and the real thing!!

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  6. You garden is just gorgeous. Sadly, I don't enjoy gardening, but I am very envious of the color and variety. There is even a pumpkin ripening! Your applique is beautiful. All those tiny pieces! Wow!

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  7. You are making a wonderfull applique, Sarah. Such tiny petals... so delicate. It will be a masterpiece, I am sure. hugs

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  8. Beautiful flowers and quilt progress. I can smell the flowers yum!

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  9. Thank you for sharing all the lovely flowers. (Both applique and real). There is the faintest hint of spring here in the midwest US, as if Mother Nature is apologizing for the sub zero (F) temps a couple of weeks ago.

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  10. So nice to see the wisteria dancing across the top of your flower garden quilt. Gorgeous flowers in your garden!

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  11. So lovely to see all your flowers and the ones on the quilt are spectacular! Those tiny pieces of applique are really challenging sometimes.

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  12. What a gorgeous, colorful post! I’m sorry your beautiful summer is coming to an end but the bright hues of fall will cheer you as things start to fall asleep for winter. On our side of the world, I’m finding small signs of rebirth in my gardens, very small, but I’ll take them! I’m sure God planned to gift you with extraordinary blooms this year. I really enjoyed our gardens last summer, too. Maybe, because we were forced to stay home, we just focused on them more. Who knows, but I look as it as a blessing! Your wisteria stitching is coming along beautifully! The birds look so happy to be sitting among the vines! Wishing you a beautiful week, dear Kim!

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  13. Did you hear me suck in my breath? That last bouquet of Sweet Peas is absolutely, un-deniabilly gorgeous. I can almost smell their sweetness from here. I am amazed at all the glorious blooms you have at your small place. I'm glad you're enjoying the wonders of fall.

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  14. Your garden is looking magnificent. I would just want to sit and look at it all day. Your stitched garden is equally marvellous and I love the addition of little birds. They look very painterly perched in amongst your wisteria.

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  15. Wow oh wow! Your garden is spectacular! Your garden quilt is also stunning! What a pretty world you inhabit!

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  16. Thank you for your flower pictures! Spring is on its way here. My first daffodil is almost open.

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  17. Thank you for the delightful photographic review of your summer blooms. It gives those of us in the northern hemisphere hope that spring is indeed on it's way. And, I know it is, because the spring bulbs are poking their way out of the ground and the snow is mostly melted away. There will be more, but it won't stick around long and the glorious sun is warming us even on the chilly days. You've made good progress on the wisteria and I'm confident you will reach your goal of a finish in the near future. Take care, Kim soak up the glory of your gardens as your autumn approaches.
    Pat

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  18. Your floral photos are just beautiful. I am so thrilled to see all the beautiful colors and variety of blooms. And it is a much needed brightener while living in piles of melting snow. And your hand applique is so pretty. We don't have wisteria here, but I love how your have tips of yellow in parts of your flower. There are so many intricate shapes. Amazing!

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  19. The sight of your beautiful garden and lovely work always puts a smile on my face and lightens my heart. It's a pity that Summer is coming to an end it never lasts long enough does it? I always long for Summer but when it does arrive I always think it will soon be over, the days seem to go by so much faster as we get older. I hope you have a lovely sunshiny week. xx

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  20. Your Flower Garden quilt is coming along beautifully. Love seeing your lovely gardens and flowers and reading your beautiful prose! Brought a smile to my face. My garden is a mess right now, and I need to get out there when it is warm and start doing a lot of weeding and trimming! Thanks for another beautiful morning read Kim!

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  21. I love your flower quilt it looks so beautiful. Gorgeous garden photos too!

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  22. What beautiful gardens you have, Kim! And home grown strawberries - nothing better. I love seeing your flower garden quilt project, too - so many pretty details to look at!

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  23. The wisteria you've sewn on your flower garden quilt is exquisite and your garden is a joy to see. It reminds me I should be planting and clearing and weeding...it seems a bit less of a chore when I remember what Summer looks like :) xxx

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  24. Oh so pretty, all those gorgeous flowers in your garden. I spotted some sweet peas growing, a real favourite of mine, but I've not had much success growing them, should try again sometime. And so nice to see hubby's photo, gathering berries for your dessert. Your applique garden is coming along so well.

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  25. Hi,
    We have been having spring weather this week. Hi 40's and even a couple days in the 50's. But the air is still cold. Your flowers are awesome and so pretty. Love your Flower Garden quilt..so pretty. Have a great day!

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  26. OHHHHH qué maravillas flores y la calabaza.....Hoy por la mañana he pensado en ti ¡¡sííí!! he ído al mercadillo dominical al aire libre (con un poquito de miedo y tomando máximas precauciones) para comprar una hortensia, hydrangea, en color azul-morado, las que tenía murieron el otoño pasado y siempre las he tenido de color rosa, me han dicho que se vuelven azules porque les ponen un producto'''' a ver si hay suerte y prospera en mi maceta.
    No me extiendo más, solo decirte que la colcha que estás haciendo va a ser una obra de arte.
    Muchos BESICOS.

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  27. How beautiful your little glasshouse looks Kim - & your garden - OH MY!!! No wonder you love summer so much if your garden continues to look like that through summer. No mine is very much a spring garden I feel. Your quilt is looking so beautiful & I adore your wee birds. Have a happy flower-filled week my friend xxx

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  28. Thank you for sharing your beautiful garden with us all. We cannot wait for summer, dreaming of green grass and blue skies. Flowers is the special cherry on top, which we hope for. Sweet peas, oh my heart!

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  29. You are such a delight to visit. Your summer garden is beautiful as is your garden quilt. Your wisteria vine is growing and thank you for the tip on using the pen for small details. Have a very lovely week and happy quilting.

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    1. The Inktense pencils are fabulous, Melisa. May you too, have a beautiful week filled with pleasant quilting of that pretty quilt of yours. Kim Xx

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  30. Hi Kim
    Thank you for the cheerful photos. The wisteria looks amazing, must take forever to do, but at least you have the little birds for company. They are so cute.
    Best wishes Kay c XX

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    1. Those little birdies are cute, aren't they. Let's just say I won't be unhappy when the wisteria are all done.=) 'Tis always a pleasure to beam cheery photos up to you, Kay. Hope you enjoy a pleasant week. Kim Xx

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  31. When life is all dismal and gray here, the last mounds of snow still frozen to the early spring earth---your posts give me HOPE...and smiles, so thank you for that...and your creative talents inspire me to paint! Hugs, Sandi

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    1. Get out those paint brushes and paint, Sandi. =) So happy to remind you what spring will soon look like up there. Kim Xx

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  32. I so enjoyed all your lovely flowers, it gets me so excited for what we have coming so very soon, we are seeing the budding of leaves on the trees and it is getting me so happy for what is to come! This was the perfect year to have such a wonderful amount of flowers to enjoy!!
    Your gorgeous quilt is coming along beautifully, I love it, wonderful stitching. Those birds are just perfect with it all too!
    Take care and have a wonderful week!

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  33. Your gardens are amazing (how long have you been working on them?). I always have to stop and think about what point in the seasons you are. There's an equinox coming up! (Where did that come from?) The wisteria looks terrific. You've brightened my day. :-)

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  34. Your flowers and yard are so beautiful! I can’t imagine sitting outside in all the loveliness and stitching or reading a book and having a cup of tea. Your appliqué is stunning, I look forward to seeing your finished quilt. Enjoy the coming week. Hugs,

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  35. Such a beautiful garden Kim and your wistaria flowers are so beautiful. xx

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  36. i have never, ever seen hydrangeas quite that beautiful or numerous. the deep, dark purple ones are stunning. mine are starting to get little tiny buds on the stems, where the leaves will be!!

    the quilts you make are like nothing i have ever seen before. the wisteria, the birds...so unusual and beautiful!!!

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  37. Kim your flower garden is amazing! Absolutely gorgeous! Does it get cold enough that you have to life some of the more tender flowers? And your quilt is blooming too! The wisteria is lovely.

    Michelle
    https://mybijoulifeonline.com

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  38. I love visiting your piece of heaven on earth, Kim!! My but your garden is so glorious and your quilt is flourishing, too, with each and every tiny stitch! You always put a smile on my face.

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  39. Dear Kim, what a happy person you are to stay in your wonderful garden, to enjoy all that beauty and also fruit (I saw) delicious! You make the impossible come true, your quilt keeps getting more beautiful, with the exceptionally beautiful wisteria and birds flying along with it.
    It's still cold here and this week it's going to be a storm, we crave a little warmth and we get that by looking at your blog, thank you for that.

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    1. Lovely Loes, 'my' little garden is a place which when sitting in it or working in it, one can only feel bliss. Flowers truly do cause one to feel contentment and peace. Why, gardens (and sweet little glass houses) are magical. =) I am happy with how my wisteria is growing. I didn't think I would be before I started stitching them, but I am. Hopefully, the days will begin to warm up in your little corner of the world very soon. As ever, lovely Loes, thank you for blessing me with your sweet visit. Kim Xx

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  40. You know what I've been thinking, Kim? Your photos should be featured in magazines and calendars! What incredible gifts of nature you have there!! I know I've said it before - but this is a true paradise! Your impeccable work, masterful hands and the passion you invest in creating your art quilts, never fail to leave me in awe! Kisses and hugs!

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  41. Kim - as the world turns ... autumn comes to you and spring comes to us. I saw the first robin yesterday, but it didn't stick around!!! Your astonishing garden is the reward of much hard work -- and the berries look mouthwatering! Enjoy the rest of your week!

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  42. Your summer garden is beautiful and has obviously flourished this year. Did you have a cooler summer this year? I feel we did here. Not too many scorching days. Your wisteria looks stunning and the little birds are so cute. You are creating another masterpiece.

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