The Golden Woods

Sunday afternoon was perfect for a hike. Daisy didn't want to drive anywhere though, so we did what we should do more often--we walked through the backyard and down the back side of the mountain.

It had literally been years since I had done this. It's very, very steep--you almost have to slide down. At the bottom, you come out in a perfect golden valley, and then you can walk over to the road and have a reasonable stroll home.

However, we abandoned reason, and came huffing and puffing back up the steep way,  just to keep in practice.

Fruit for a Teenager

Daisy was headed to Laney's birthday sleepover this afternoon. It was "no gifts," but Laney loves fruit, and her mother said it would be fine to send some along. Daisy put this together and it looked stunning, especially in the afternoon light.

I'm @ The Factory

It's close enough to my birthday/ the Composer is always up for a little road trip/ who needs a reason to visit Alabama Chanin again?

A jumble of salvaged chairs painted in cheery colors.

Stenciled pieces available for sale. I think these may be journal cover size.

The collection garments are so substantial--even monumental--in person.

I absolutely love the varying shades of white and cream and the different elaborate treatments in the wedding collection. Of course.

My real business today was choosing a small palette of fabrics for some new summer clothes. Two pale grey, some hyacinth, and a dab of pink.

I tried very hard to stick to my plan. And also remember to get foldover elastic. Done.

Eye candy: this "Lace" stencil which is one of my favorites ever. Here are three treatments. I love the top one because of the extra row of stitching above the edge of the design, which carries the embellishment further into the plain fabric (this is an elaborate scarf, so beautiful). Also love the coppery sequins filling the cut-out spaces at the bottom.

Then here you can see the same stencil treated differently--the dark areas are totally filled in with coppery bugle beads. Oh my word.

And finally, below, the same stencil done in a black appliqué on pale pink, with all those openings filled in with black beading. Just like glamorous lingerie from the fifties.

At the Greenhouse with Clara

Saturday morning errands with a little recreation thrown in.

I've been wanting a maidenhair fern--they didn't have any, but I got a little rabbit's foot fern.

Short Hike, by the Lake

A short hike after church on Sunday is all we had time for.

Also, it was all we needed. Water, woods, rocks, moss.

Of course Felix climbed a tree.

Bonus: pelicans.

Last Apronful of Tomatoes

Clara and Daisy and I went to New York this weekend to meet up with our kids there--it used to be the boys, but now it's Giles and Tia and Felix and Molly--Felix was able to join us for the weekend. Actually, we were a secondary consideration. He was there to see Molly, and boy was he happy.  Bella couldn't get off work but plans to make the trip in December.

We met Molly's parents, shopped for bridesmaids' dress fabrics, and looked for special tea and chocolate croissants. 

We got back really late last night and Clara had to plunge right into teaching her classes at 8:00. Daisy and I eased into things a little slower, and I found time to check the garden for one last apronful of tomatoes.

The Big Four

Felix has been living and working in South America for about two years now. Molly will be joining him there as soon as they're married in December.

In case you're new, that's Tia on the left (married to Giles), Molly in the middle (engaged to Felix), and then Felix.

Giles and Tia. First time to South America for her--she looks great in that scarf.

Adventures, for sure. I hear the hike was eleven miles. At altitude.

This is my favorite. So much beaming and explaining. So much happiness.

Evening at the Fair

Back at the fair this evening to engage in more livestock business. It's strenuous! I can't even imagine keeping a cow comfortable here. Those who have cows set up entire living/lounge suites with haybale footstools, Crock-Pots, and coffeemakers.

An array of quilts. I feel the judges don't get my quilts. They're not fans of the visible knot. But that's okay.

I'm fascinated with these wooden signs. Someone designed and painted them. They chose to slope the word up to make it fit in. Good for them!

Part of Daisy's display featuring various chicken breeds. Since we don't have a color printer, she prints out a black and white image and then colors it in with Prismacolors.

Just before the storm blew in.

Her Non-Classical Debut

While Bella was boating with a bunch of physical therapists and Daisy was at a birthday party, Clara was making her Non-Classical Debut. 

She played with a folk-rock band on a the first part of the set. It was awesome.

She says when Josh Garrels asks her to sit in, she's getting some skinny jeans and slouch hat to wear.

A Beautiful Morning at Alabama Chanin

The garments on display--the current collection--are beautiful shades of cream and ochre.

Someday I'll do this myself--the appliqué over a vintage quilt. Gorgeous!

Ice cream shades. Yum. And look at that subtly-curved side seam.

Sample garments to try on before you DIY. Brilliantly, all the smalls are gray, all the mediums are black, etc.

A look at the sample books, of course,

And one last bit of drooling over the elaborately embellished collection. Breathtaking stuff.

I shopped quite small this time--I'll save my major yardage purchases for a sale weekend. But I wanted to put together a project for Clara's Christmas present. I bought the Climbing Daisy stencil, realizing I couldn't face cutting that one out myself. So many little petals. She'll make it up by embroidering it with cotton tape. 

Artful botanical things: gladiolas on the front desk, and galvanized steel tubs of reeds outside.