summer is here

August has shown to be the real summer at last; 

yes, some rain, which our garden welcomes, 

but also plenty of sunshine, without it being too hot.

Evenings have been cool enough to do some quilting on the Butterfly's Ball quilt; 

it is a slow progress as this is a large quilt, but enjoyable. 

Too warm for crochet right now, so that's on hold.

I have been making small batches of my "summer jam", 

which I make every year, mixing whatever fruit is around at the time.

This has proven to be popular when the winter comes - little sunshine in a jar.

And mostly just enjoying being in the garden, 

as was this small visitor, hiding in the clematis. 

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2023

and into August........

The summer seems to just fly past; hot June was followed by wet, wet July........

Dodging rain showers most days, August is not promising anything better, so far.

The garden is lush and very green!

I got seduced again by something new - I joined this year's "Inside the Crochet" magazine's CAL, a beautiful blanket by Jane Crowfoot 

"Spirit of Flora". 

Inspired by William De Morgan's  floral tile designs, it is just too beautiful not to get seduced by it.

I am rather late starting, it has been running for few months, but that is not going to stop me....

This is my first block:

 

Somewhere during the last month I finished Butterfly's Ball quilt top 

(or rather my version of it)

and it is now ready to quilt.

I planned to leave quilting until chilly autumn  evenings, but actually chilly evening are here and now, so there is nothing stopping me from starting.

But .....all that sewing and crochet has given me a pain in my neck (literary), so I am taking a break

from all that for a while, and just doing lots of holiday reading.

"How could those creatures that slither and crawl ever get to the Butterfly Ball?

All had been asked and wanted to go, but snails are sluggish and slugs so slow, how could they have got to the Ball?"

"We put on an air-lift, I think it our duty, and ferry them there" 

said the Camberwell  Beauty, 

"We fly through the sky in this festival weather, a seven-in-hand all harnessed together, and can bring them to the Ball."

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2010-2023