Monarch Butterfly

What a gorgeous morning it is!!!!!! so I took my coffee (vitamin C) and went out to the patio to get some vitamin D. Before my first sip I saw a Monarch butterfly on my zinnias so I grabbed my camera and snap, snap, snap my coffee was cold. She was the first Monarch I had seen in almost 2 weeks.

I know she is a female because she doesn't have the black spot on the lower wing that the males have. She was so busy with the zinnias she didn't notice me getting closer and closer.

Anticipating cooler days I sewed a cardiagan from a sweatshirt the other night. I just cut up the center and sewed a strip of fabric to the cut edge and turned it back and stitched again. The sewed buttons and buttonholes.

Happy stitching,
Ann

Tessellating Stars

This little quilt was made from a 5 inch charm pack of fabric. It included some extra red and cream for borders for a table runner but no pattern. I chose to make a tessellating star so there would be no wasted fabric.  I cut stacks of squares all right sides up in half then cut the rectangles in half corner to corner always at the same angle then arranged the triangles into stars. The collection of fabrics had dark  and light fabrics but not a lot of mediums.

KansasTroubles Butterfly Garden collection of fabrics
quilt measures 29" x 38"

detail with quilting to accentuate the stars

Happy Stitching,
Ann

Last Day of Summer

Today is officially the last day of summer. So sad. It was warm enough to sit outside and enjoy my vitamin D  (the sun) and vitamin C (that would be coffee). The view from my backyard.

I'm reading Can't Wait to get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg. I agree with her philosophy life is a gift we should enjoy it.

other books I read this summer

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett
• These is My Words by Nancy Turner
• The Choice by Nicolas Sparks
• The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo by Steig Larson
• The Girl Who Played with Fire by Steig Larson
• The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest  by Steig Larson
• Sarah Revere by Ann Rinaldi
• The Lost Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini
• State Fair by Earlene Fowler

Carpe Diem
Ann

Another Glorious Day for Morning Glories

Today might have been the last warm day of summer, the afternoon wind turned chilly but then the autumnal equinox or the first day of fall is only 11 days away.

I was afraid my trellis was going to blow over in the wind today.

Considering the possibilities of my red watercolors mixed with colbalt blue.

my colors need to be more intense

A five point star in every bloom

Savoring their brilliant colors until summer fades to fall.

Squash Blossoms

I picked squash blossoms to sketch just for fun.

I have eaten enough zucchini and summer sqaush for the year so a few flowers won't be missed.

I never really looked at all the texture on a squash blossom before its very rough or crinkley like old fashioned crepe paper and there are little hairs leading to the trumpet tube to capture the pollen.

I thought the vines were done producing for the summer then we get a little more rain and they start all over again.

My favorite way to cook either zucchini or summer squash is to slice thin and saute in olive oil with garlic, onion and mushrooms then season generously with Italian seasonings from a grinder.

Squash blossom quilt made with all plaids and stripes.

Back side of the quilt

I'll savor the summer memories wrapped in my quilt.