Images of Virginia Beach 2016

It's just over a week since I returned from my annual visit to see my friend, Laura, who lives in Virginia Beach.

It's always a special time for me...to visit with my friend. We first met at the local pool club when my son, Aaron and her son Nathan were babies. The two of us became close friends. I recently found photos from when Aaron and Nate were just under a year old. I also found some of the poetry that I wrote when Laura and I had regular writing get-togethers. Guess what I'm trying to say...is that my friendship with Laura runs deep.

During my visit, we spent lots of time outdoors on nature walks and cooling off in the ocean and the bay.

I got to admire Laura's flower garden...

And, of course, had the annual tour of Brian's vegetable garden.

These yellow tomatoes were SO sweet!

I enjoyed lots of yummy vegetable meals (and also some delicious meals out).

Sign on wall at the restaurant.

On the last full day of my visit, Laura and I spent some time printing fabrics. I can't believe that I didn't take any photos! She worked on a piece with printed trees that looked like hands that were lifting up a creature that was fish-like (again...how did I NOT take a photo of this!). She also started on a piece about her grandmother using lots of green (her grandmother's favorite color) and printing with Hibiscus...a favorite flower. I got involved in making another cloth book. I spent time printing the "edges" of things.

Laura and Lucy

On the last evening (at sunset), we went down to the ocean beach for a swim and a last walk...though Lucy, the dog had other plans...running off and greeting everyone on the beach!

Here are a few other things I want to remember...
--Cracking and eating my first crabs (I'm a lobster girl remember) at a surprise birthday party (for one of Laura's friends)
--Gorging on the most amazing home-made ice cream cake (I need that recipe).
--Riding bicycles with Laura and Brian at dusk.
--Watching a watermelon deflate (yes...that was an experience! It was rotting from the inside (unknown to us) and had a very slow leak. Laura inspected it...put it back down on the counter and then I watched it quickly deflate, leaking all over the place!)

Thank you my dearest friend!

Stitch-In July 2016

Ann Z: From her travels out west.

Just a quick post before I head off to Virginia Beach to spend time with my dear friend Laura.

We had a great Stitch-In this month. Lots of helpful (to me) discussion about upcoming classes. I was able to bounce some ideas off of Ann Z., Susan P., Barbara M-C., and Jodie F. ...especially about my new version of Story Cloth that focuses on memory. Thanks ladies!

Here are the pieces that were being stitched and shared at the Stitch-In:

Ann Z.: Detail. 

Ann Z. was working on a landscape. She fell in love with the red earth in Oklahoma from her most recent visit to see family.

Barbara M-C.: Bookmarks

Barbara brought along some stitched bookmarks using satin stitch...a stitch she learned while growing up in Hungary.

She also is continue to work on a "word-a-day" piece using some of her indigo dyed fabric.

Barbara M-C.: Word a Day

Barbara M-C.: Detail

Jodie brought along this piece...part of a series she is working on. BTW...Jodie is being featured in my upcoming issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News in a new section I'm calling, The Stitching Zone. The issue comes out on Sunday.

Jodie F.

Susan P. is continuing to work on her pieces from my spring Hand Stitching class. Aren't they fabulous! If you're interested in the taking the class this fall...click on the highlighted words above.

Susan P.: Using an unusual ribbon as inspiration.

Susan P.: Couching

Susan P.

Susan P.: Stitching over sheers.

I brought the book that I created at Cape Cod and some other stitched samples I'm working on for my Boro and Beyond workshop that I'll be teaching in October. I'll be showing you how to make the book in my upcoming newsletter (be sure to subscribe in right-hand column...if you haven't already!)

Julie: Summer Memories Book

Julie : Soap resist.

Julie: Printing with shells

Julie: Sample for Boro and Beyond.

Off for some fun in the sun!

Searching for Roy G Biv 4: Brown Update #5

We've now ventured beyond Roy G Biv to the first of our remaining colors for 2015...BROWN!

My BROWN photos are from my summer travels to Virginia Beach (and the Eastern Shore of Virginia) and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Where did you find your BROWNS this month? Post up to five BROWN photos and leave a comment here or on Jennifer Coyne Qudeen's blog. We'll link to your post for our monthly blog hop. I'll be updating through Saturday, August 22.

 Jennifer has flora and fauna BROWNS this month.

Fiona at Paper Ponderings has some lovely Thursday thoughts about empathy starting with a quote by Brene BROWN. I love all the calligraphy...beautiful words. 

Sharmon Davidson has an astonishing variety of BROWNS this month...that river is pretty impressive!

Susan and Elizabeth at PG Fiber 2 Art have posted some New Hampshire BROWNS. Love those rolling pins!

Fran at At the End of the Day says, "Please NO MORE BROWN!," after a parched and fiery summer.

Linda Stokes has some beautiful textural BROWNS.

Cathy at Bucolic Dreaming has some fine "crafty" BROWNS. Love the thrift store finds and that sewing basket (I have one like it!).

Maya at Take Diversion has some beekeeping and bison BROWNS!

Margaret at Charlton Stitcher has Orkney BROWNS. I'm in love with those crab pots!

Here are the colors for the rest of the year:
September 17: Metallic Gold
October 15: Gray
November 19: Pink
December17: Blogger's Choice

Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore

Relaxing on the dock at Bay View.

It's hard for me to believe that a week ago I was walking on beaches, swimming in the ocean and just having an all-around fabulous time with my friend, Laura B.!

Here are some highlights before too much time passes...

This year we decided to take a trip to the Eastern Shore of Virginia...which requires a journey over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. This curious crossing consists of 20 miles of alternating spans of bridge and tunnels that dive under the Bay. If you want to "experience" crossing over the Bridge-Tunnel...here is a YouTube video.

We drove up to Onancock for the late afternoon and had an early dinner (seafood, of course!) there at Mallards.

After a "long and winding" detour through the back roads we finally arrived at our destination for the night, Bay View Waterfront Bed and Breakfast in Belle Haven. We made it just in time for sunset. I loved the narrow dock that went out into the water and had a bench to sit on at the end. Great views of the water and sky!

Bay View Waterfront B & B.

The dock at sunset

Beautiful cloud formations...little did we know that a big storm would arrive a couple of hours later.

In the evening, Laura and I worked on our "story/healing" cloths that we'd started in the morning. Here's mine. Laura took the various pieces of hers apart before I had a chance to photograph. So...hoping that she will send me a photo when it's further along.

My cloth of the sunset.

Next morning we had a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit with yogurt and Eggs Benedict. Since we were the only guests, we spent a pleasant time chatting with the owner, Mary Will Browning. The inside of the B & B is filled with family treasures, portraits and stitched samplers. Very homey!

Laura went kayaking. I'd hoped to do the same but my tendonitis flared up so instead I spent the morning walking the grounds and taking photos. Also enjoyed some meditative moments on that bench on the end of the pier.

The afternoon we spent in Cape Charles visiting shops and galleries and walking on the soft white sands of their local beach.

Thanks, Laura for this sweet gift. A mermaid dish by a local artist.

We arrived back in Virginia Beach for some delicious veggies from Brian's garden. Laura is certainly a magician with those fresh veggies!!

Thanks, dear friend, for another wonderful getaway!