Welcome Summer!

If you ever want to give your house a little "perk up" for any season a quilted table runner is the answer. It's a wonderful way to use some of the new fabrics that are out, (without spending a lot of money) or a large investment of your time.
Last week at my quilt bee we each brought our own fabric and made a new table runner.
My friend Jamie picked the pattern ahead of time and made a sample to show. She used some beautiful Japanese fabric with a great focus fabric for the center blocks and boarders.

I have several winter/Christmas/autumn table runners so this was the time a make a summer one. At our local quilt shop I found these great batiks looking summery.

                                              After cutting the fabrics the piecing begins.

Laura choose to make a festive Fourth of July table runner for her cottage. (We'll be looking for it this fall Laura!).

Jamie made another one with Christmas fabrics.

Joni's with fewer blocks finished into a square for a little table.

                                       Jody's batik fabrics, an elegant one for her dining room table.

Now even though we all spent the same amount of time piecing, there is always one over achiever, Cathy, maybe it's because she works without talking!

Sunday my husband and I took a ride North gathering wild flowers for my herb meeting. Isn't this a cute picture of a small maple tree growing in the curve of a poplar tree.

Our herb meeting was our Summer Solstice gathering. After our long winter/spring we were all ready. We met at P.J.'s farm. Everyone brought an herbal dish to pass and lots of fresh flowers to make into head wreaths.

                       Two kinds of punch, rose geranium lemonade and a fresh berry punch.

                   This is the only time everyone can wear flowers in their hair and no one wonders,

                                                            from our young members,

                                                     to Mother Nature! Isn't she so pretty.

And afterwards we hang our wreaths in our homes for summer. As some of the flower do not dry well I pull them out and add roses from my garden to the wreath.