Summertime

Now it feels like summertime is finally here.  Our backyard is green and lush right now and the Queen Anne's Lace is popping up in my patch of Silver Beacon, but it's so pretty I don't have the heart to cut it down.  (I'm not much of a gardener, so if I've named them wrong, feel free to correct me.)

I took these pictures just before we left for the lake, and the mottled sunlight was just right.  I wonder how I can make these into a quilt... hmmm...  now there's a thought!

We had a rainy day while we were there, which left me plenty of time to experiment with my Zentangles.  I think I'm hooked!  I started out just copying some of the doodles in my books so I could get the feel of it, then I started trying to create my own.  I'm the type of person who likes to have everything planned out in advance, so it's a real challenge for me to just doodle without a plan.  But I think it's also good mental exercise for me to wander outside my comfort zone once in a while.  So I plodded along and I'm pretty happy with my first attempts.  I've got a long ways to go yet, but I'm enjoying the process.

 

I didn't realize there was a shadow across every one of these shots till after I downloaded them, but I think it was my own shadow.  Oops!  As I mentioned in my last post, hubby and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary while we were away, so of course I had to do a Zentangle to commemorate the event.

Then when I got home and picked up the mail, look what I found!

There were 4 1/2 yards of this gorgeous batik left on the bolt at the shop where I bought my first 1 1/2 yards, and they were nice enough to pop it in the mail for me.

And I also ordered this before I left...

MY VERY OWN KONA SOLID SWATCH CARD!!!!  This is the new one with their 28 new colors added.  I've seen them popping up on lots of other blogs lately, and I just HAD to have one.  Now if only I had a yard or two of every color on the card!  Right...  Dream on, Kathy!!!  But at least when I order some yardage now, I'll know exactly which color I want for each project.  I bought mine from Fat Quarter Shop, and they're less than $20.  Totally worth every penny!

Now I've got some hand-sewing to finish up, so I'm headed outdoors to sit and sew in this pretty sunshine.  It's a beautiful day in Pennsylvania!