The Delights of the Season

Has it truly been over a week since I posted last? I guess between working, music practice, and so forth that I haven't been doing much social networking over the past several days, or much less finished up any sewing projects to blog about.

I've been enjoying the delights of the season, especially over the last week or so, as this time last fall I was away. We were saddened to see a small maple tree topple over today, but have to admit that its leaves look oh so festive against white wicker.
Mums shining with the sunlight

I like to think that these mums would prefer to be named Caramel or Candied Apples instead of just plain "mums."

White asters in full bloom

...and a sewing project that uses two kinds of fabrics, vintage rick rack, and raspberry colored bias. I'm currently working on something Regency, and then will sew this up. Any guesses as to what it might be?

The first frost is due tomorrow, and the clouds are already rolling in for some cozy inside weather - perfect for wearing that new corduroy skirt. =) And thanks to everyone who kindly left comments and praises of the skirt in my previous post. They [your comments] are almost like getting a hand written note in the mail. =)

One Day Early

Tomorrow is supposedly the first day of autumn, but I'm inclined to think that it came one day early in our neck of the woods.

After donning my cable sweater, I though it fitting to adventure out into the field where there are thousands of wild asters. I've never seen them bloom before (must have been from all the rain and cooler weather we've had this year).
I picked a little cluster of them, making sure to not pick up the roots with it. After all, I'd like to see more of these next year.

I put them in a little silver vase and added a black-eyed susan for good measure.

They add such a bright spot by our kitchen window. Well, I'm off to fix a pot of tea and enjoy an apple-nut muffin before I head out to the Post Office to mail off all of those totes. A happy day-before-fall to you all!

PS. I do so love my new corduroy skirt! Being a fan of sweaters, I didn't really have the need for a jacket, and I did need another skirt for the cooler months.

PPS. Just so everyone knows, there is a new Gracie apron up in the shop today!

We have some winners!

Okay. I have decided to get rid of all of my totes in the shop!
Randomly selected, the winners are:

Homespun Yo-Yo Tote ~ Denise W.

Old Fashioned Blue Shopper ~ Katie M.

Red, White, and Blue Shopper ~ Christy

...and, I have two Red, White, and Blue Shoppers left, so the first two people to e-mail me will receive them.

If you want to send me your addresses, I'll get them shipped out to you! This was alot of fun to do, and hopefully it won't be so long until I have another giveaway.

In the mean time, check out the two new aprons that I added to the shop last night. They're pretty cute, if I do say so myself!

Tote Bag Giveaway!

I'm ready to see the totes that are in shop GO (you guessed it, for the purpose of a whole new batch of 'em in all shapes and styles!) and so this week I'm offering a giveaway of one of the totes listed in my shop.

All you have to do to enter, is leave a comment with your name (first name and last initial, please) and the name of your favorite tote bag that is in the shop.

You can be entered twice, by posting a link over to this post from your blog/LJ/wordpress, etc, and then leave a second comment (please be sure to leave your blog address too)!

I will randomly choose a winner Friday afternoon, and will post the winner shortly thereafter.

A late evening project

An apron (what else would it be?) using some of that "new" fabric and lace that I got the other day.

It's in the shop tonight...

Vintage Pretties

Today I hit 4 antique stores. Do I like them? Oh yes. =) With it being Labor Day, I figured that today many booths would have fantasic sales, and happily, I was right. I came home with a white wicker rounded plant stand (very early 1900s, in near perfect condition) that I didn't take a picture of, a set of hand embroidered dishcloths and potholder and the largest having the teapot design as shown on the pot holder, not-vintage-but-vintage-looking 2 yards of old fashioned American fabric, Little Women - copyrighted at 1915, a few yards of vintage lace, and a silver butter dish.

Many thanks!

All of your comments and recipes just blew me away last week! They all look fabulous, and can hardly wait to start trying them. We're having fresh pesto over rosemary garlic pasta (thanks to a lady who sells gourmet dried pasta at the local farmers market) tonight, and I thought that having a loaf of Cindy's Zucchini Parmesan Bread would be a wonderful addition to the meal along with local corn on the cob.

Lest you think this is turning into a recipe/homemaking blog, don't worry. It isn't. =) Although from time to time, I hope you don't mind posts like these!

In the mean time, take a look at this great pattern sale going on over at Marie-Madeline Studio!

On zucchini overload

I've been given three more zucchini's, the smallest being at least a foot long. Do any of you have recipes that are shareable (ie, ones that aren't secret-coded family recipes) that calls for zucchini? While I do love the zucchini bars, it'd be fun to try something else!