The Mint Needle

Autumn, you've been kind so far. I always wanted to do a little post about the transition in colors from our flowers. And since this first week of Fall has been mesmerizing, what better way to honor it than with some images of the eye candy we get to see daily. There were so many more that didn't get photographed like our astilbe, lavender, echinacea, & elephant ears, but I thought this was a good start! On another note... Seed saving has again taken over our dining room table & some gorgeous fabric is getting put to good use. I'm working on another post to show you all how adorable that wrap dress came out. Ya know, the orange one I started months ago? It deserves a post all its own! Till next time:)

Hello beautiful autumn! The most inspiring time of year has arrived. The fall decorations are slowly making their way out of hiding. We have a couple ghosts that found a home in our birch tree while a tiny witch greets guests at the front door.  It's a little tough to make it look like fall completely due to the container gardens that still seem to be thriving. They are lush with greens! And the girls are getting a little tougher with their decorating ideas. They are 100% into the spooky, while I insist on the magical. Something tells me, I got this one hands down! Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall. ~F. Scott Fitzgerald Here's to fuzzy leg warmers, cute boots, & hot apple cider!

Well.... right before summer break began, my then, first grader brought home a real tiny sprout in a plastic cup. We planted this little thing right behind our house in a small flower bed where I knew it would get plenty of sun. She grew very big, very fast... The gardener and her sunflower at the end of July. Early to mid August she was in full bloom. September.... we're ready for harvesting the seeds! Every year it's so much fun to watch the girls garden & their expressions when all comes out as planned! The small flower bed, which is also positioned outside our breakfast nook, made for some great monitoring and morning conversations:) Everyday, I believe we heard - "It grew another foot!" For harvesting these yummy seeds, all you do is have to separate the seeds, wash them thoroughly  and bake them in the oven with a little salt. Remember to leave a couple for to air dry as seeds for next year:) You can see how they ...

I have a new found respect for quilters. Oh, the madness you all must feel when those squares don't match up perfectly! Even the smallest smidgen can drive a person crazy, especially if you haven't mastered multiple cuts at one time. But I still love the end product and plan on doing this again! This once 'pillow project', however, has turned into something else. As it came to completion, my daughter kept coming in the sewing room, looking at it quite a bit. It just so happens that her doll was in need of a new blanket. "And those fabrics are sooooo pretty." There you have it! I lined the back with a ultra soft fleece and left an opening at the top. In the end, I just inverted the fabric and completed it with a straight stitch:) Happy Trails to working with triangles!

September, September…… How fast you have come! As odd as this may sound, I believe I am ready for the cooler climates & so is the rest of the family. True story, my little one started crying looking at the forecast. "When am I going to get to wear my new jacket to school. It's warm everyday!" Needless to say, she went to school this morning with her new leather jacket. (It was 73 degrees out this morning.... Yup, no joke.) The summer has been unusually odd and muggy in Ohio. I say it’s time to clear the air. The cooler climates, whenever they arrive, will call for more sewing time. Hooray! But that doesn't mean I can't sneak away for a couple minutes now....even in the sunshine, right? I've been on a kick to take another swing at doing some quilting. I'm not sure what my goal is exactly ~ which can be a problem . Let's just say it's experimental. And thanks to that Pinterest...(again), it's a new love. I know, you’re probably...