Spring is A-Buzzing

Hello lovely lovelies❣ How are you all, in your little corner of the world?? Down here spring is a-buzzing. The flowers are continuing to sashay rythmically to the slow cadence of spring. There is much loveliness to drink in. There is a cheerful jumble of  floraliciousness everywhere. The bees are a-buzzing, too. After what seems like little activity over the winter months all of a sudden these little honey creatures are flitting here, there and everywhere, busily collecting pollen and nectar from the flowers; and I suppose going back to their beehive to do what bees do, making beautiful hexagon-shaped hives, and both making and storing all that lovely honey. Gotta love a hexagon-shaped beehive❣ I am always a happy gal to think that in a small way, our little garden benefits and enhances the biodiversity of the landscape.

These last few weeks the blossom trees have been delighting me, and as the flowers finish and gently fall to the ground in the spring breeze, carpets of petals have formed; so beautiful. The deciduous trees have begun to cover the bare branches with masses of beautifully shaped, green leaves. Of late the garden is gifting me with bunch after bunch of irises, foxgloves, azaleas, granny bonnets.......and still the pretty bluebells abound. Why, one of the joys of my everyday is to pick lovely bunches to bring inside, casting cheeriness to many a corner in our home. Truly, a simple thing such a vase of flowers always sprinkles joy to my day.

I have been enjoying moments playing photographer and stylist, too, as you do.......well.....as I do. =) Delighting in the capturing of happy snaps of the garden; playing with favourite quilts, dotting them here and there among the blossoms. I know, I know; I have way, way too much time. =)

There has been much delight in the stitching and the completion of the piecing of  Lucy's quilt. Triangles have been stitched to the edges and there is now a border of hexies skipping around the polka dot border. In each corner I used leftover hexies from my Spring Blossoms' quilt and stitched them onto a hexie-filled fabric. Now 'tis time to quilt. To keep it simple and because I want to finish this quilt and get back to my flower garden quilt, I am only stitching around each large hexie. As always I am heeding to the KISS philosophy......'Keep it Simple Stupid'......in case you are wondering.  When it comes to hand quilting, it is a philosophy that works perfectly for me, as my quilting stitches are never impeccable. They seem to march across the quilt  in a sometimes rather disorderly manner. Try as I will they just will not behave.

Oh dear, there is a glut of happy snaps, are there not???? But......when spring beauty abounds it would be such a shame if I didn't capture a sense of the explosion of floraliciousness down here. I am always delighted to share with you the beauty of my li'l spring place. The blossoms that dance on the flower stage each week are fleeting and they must, must be recorded.  This is one of the reasons I pen a blog.....to record my life of simplicity, day by day......week by week.......and it seems....year by year. But, for now I am off to enjoy a little hand quilting and think upon happy things. I am going to join others all around the globe who celebrate each Sunday with a little delightful slow hand stitching. 'Tis with a joyful heart I thank you lovelies for your sweet visit. Hoping I have sprinkled a little spring, blossomy loveliness to your day❣

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

Sugar and Spice.....And All Things Nice ❣

 

A lovely hello to you ❣ 'Tis Sunday morning here and I see, somewhat unbeknownst to me, the calender has sneaked over to the month of October. How oh how did this happen???? This year is hurtling along, is it not?? 'Tis early in the morning and I can hear the mellifluous birdsong filling the air and flowers are sprinkling a potpourri of fragrances everywhere. Spring is bustin' out all over. The flowers on the pendulant branches of the blossom trees are slowly unfurling....so very pretty. The magnolias are flowering and the orchid-like, silky petals of the dutch irises are  beginning to burst out from the papery spathes to stand tall. There is a sea of glorious blue hues of forget-me-nots everywhere and the bluebells are swaying in colours of blue, pink and white. Oh, I can see too, it won't be long till the lilacs explode into their purple gorgeousness; and the granny bonnets and foxgloves are about to burst onto the scene as well. Yes indeedy, the days down here at the bottom of the world are as pretty as a picture. 

As each day floats into the other, I have been stitching Lucy's wee quilt. All the hexies are now stitched together. To even the edges along the top, bottom and sides, I will stitch triangles to them, and then I will add a border of white and pink polka dot fabric. As with my Sweet Sunday quilt, I like the thought of  small hexies skipping around the border.....but I will see.

I have unearthed a fabric from one of my armoires for the backing of Lucy's quilt. I have been saving this sweet fabric for an occasion such as this. Several years ago I happened upon a curtain in a thrift shop with sweet Sarah Kay girls featured all over. When I was a young teenager, Vivian Kubbos', Sarah Kay; and Denise Holly Ulinskas', Holly Hobbie designs were seen everywhere. The charming artwork of little girls dressed in floral prints and calico, with sweet bonnets atop their heads, were imprinted on many, many things. I remember I would save up my pocket money and collect greeting cards, plates, dishes, hurricane lamps, calendars et cetera et cetera. Why, I sent many a Sarah Kay greeting card to my friends for their birthday or a special hello note. I will never tire of these sweet  illustrations  and the sense of bygone days each sweet design captured. Days of a long ago time, evoking a feeling of a simpler and gentler way of life; of quiet pleasures, of a homespun spirit. The good old days, a time which I have been reminiscing and reflecting upon of late. Funnily enough my friend, whose granddaughter this quilt is for, and I, would exchange Holly Hobbie gifts with each other, so I consider it fitting that I use this sweet vintage fabric for Lucy's quilt. I remember a favourite Holly Hobbie quote of both my friend and I was "The road to a friend's house is never long" or even "When a good friend shares a day with you rainy days seem brighter, too". So, so many other delightful quotes  which added a touch of whimsy to another's day. Thankfully, I have a length of this fabric left over, so one day I may well fashion a quilt for me....just for old time's sake, just to indulge in the memories of the good old days.

I wonder, do you lovelies of a certain age remember those days of old where young girls found joy in the charming artwork of Sarah Kay and Holly Hobbie?? I know I do and those sweet reminisces make my heart smile♥ As I have stitched these sweet fabrics and gazed upon the Sarah Kay fabric this week, I have felt myself in a little cocoon of sugar and spice and all things nice......despite the horrendous drama of the world stage. We have to grab with both hands the precious little things in the everyday, don't we. Sometimes difficult given the times we live in, but for me I want to be mindful to delight in those fleeting moments which bless my day. I want to be joyful for the miracle of the flowers I pick, the warm sun kissing my cheek, a hug from a friend, a smile from a passer-by, the wide, blue sky of God's open-air cathedral; oh, so, so many things can brighten my day, regardless of what is happening in this world. In these times I want to gather a bouquet of happiness in the everyday little things, as each day passes by. I want to be thankful to God for each day He gifts me and all those little and unexpected, precious blessings❣

 

Thank you for popping by my little spring place and catching glimpses of Lucy's sweet quilt. I hope in some small way I have sprinkled a little charm to your day. Throughout today, here in my blossoming, little spring world, I am going to join that little band of lovelies all around the world, pick up my needle and thread, and delight in a little Slow Sunday Stitching, on sweet Lucy's quilt. Take care lovely lovelies. May God bless and sprinkle you with smiles  as you gather a bouquet of  sweet contentment throughout your day❣

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