Indigo Threads

We're having our first heat wave of the year right now. We've been very cool here this spring and early summer . . . cool for the Pacific Northwest, even. As few as 4 days ago, the heat in the house was still coming on early mornings and nights. I kid you not! We were in the 60's and drizzly rain for the 4th celebration. It's said that summer doesn't start around here until after the 4th of July, so we're right on schedule. Because now summer has finally arrived. Yesterday we hit 87* F, and today and tomorrow we're supposed to be 90* or more.

I've been out watering the yard the last few days, so my new little plants don't croak in the unusual heat. So, I thought I'd take some photos while I was out there.

Here's my 6 foot tall Foxglove. This was taken at eye level! I think it's the tallest one I've ever had. This was a wonderful volunteer plant. Foxgloves grow wild all over here, and almost all of them are this color.

Here is one of the last two rhody blooms for the season, both of which are on the same plant.

Here is our terrarium that we planted last year. I thought I had put a picture of the start of this on the blog last year, but I can't find it. So you'll have to trust me when I tell you that this is thriving! That fern is about 3 times the size it was last year. I wish all my ferns grew that fast! We have a wonderful woodland-type back yard, and all the plants we put here are from our yard.

I've been busy sewing on my challenge, and finally have the center all put together. I still think putting all those crazy pieces together is the hardest part. This is pretty close to the true color, which is a deep red-purple. The lighter batik is pale violet.

Now I'm starting on my borders. I had a hard time making up my mind what to do for the borders. I decided to go with this design because I think these kind of echo the shape of the O's in the words and also are kind of a button shape, which will echo the buttons I'm going to embellish this with. Three more to go.

I have one week to finish this, so I'm trying to sew like crazy and not panic. It's too hot to be in the quilt studio until late in the afternoon, as it's on the east side of the house, which has no shade. And we have no air conditioner, as we only need it a few days a year. So, my studio time is limited. There may be some late nights going on around here. Wish me luck!