A new camera, a new day and an open road...

 
We headed one way, changed our minds and headed another!  It turned out to be a good idea because we ended up  at the  Fantastic Umbrella Factory and the gardens next door.   Pictures say more than words..

 One of the three resident emus!

A little trip over to Stonington Village CT,  to visit some shops...

Meanwhile, remember those drawings I make?  I tried my hand at making swatches at Spoonflower and have had so much fun seeing them printed on fabric.  

Hope that you are having great weather wherever you are.  It's the last day of summer in New England USA.  It still looks and feel like late summer though and  we will have lots of enjoyable days ahead for sure. Until then,

As always,

enjoy the day!

Things are getting better...

The weather has improved!  Just a week ago today we had four inches of snow.  Warmer days are here and it will be in the 50's for at least a week and no snow in the forecast!

Have been busy with projects and stuff...here is a book with a cover made from fabric scraps. As you can see, my Teddy Bear friend decided to hold the book and pose!

Lots of vintage fabrics...lace...

You probably have figured out by now that I will collect just about anything...and do including  collect metal frogs.  

Now, these are not animal figure frogs but actual flower holders (kenzan) to keep arrangements in place and are especially useful for ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging.  I have always had  interest in ikebana. When I was younger and took a class and made arrangements for a florist shop I worked in as a teenager.

These metal frogs used to be everywhere in dime stores and later in antique stores.  They are getting hard to find.  Ikebana was once a floral design that went well with modern decor. I was happy to see ikebana in several places in Manhattan the last time I went.  As you can see, my frogs are in the company of mushrooms/toadstools and gnomes.

Over the weekend, we took a ride to Stonington CT, and enjoyed the beauty of Long Island Sound.  We grabbed lunch at a local take-out and headed to the beach.  It was too cold to eat outside but a fun picnic in the car.  We never tire of the New England shoreline!

So that's what's new in my neck of the woods.  What are you doing these days?  Is your weather better?  I hope so!

Back to work here.  In the middle of cooking and need to get back to it.  It's Monday and laundry is calling to me, too!

 Until next time, 

as always,

enjoy the day!