Hardy Mallow Hibiscus, and a neat art wreath

Well, hello again! It has been a busy week...school started today for the grand kids, and daughter-in-law at her brand spankin new office job which she is loving! Yeah! Back to the sort of normal yearly grind around here.

When hubby and I drove to Lakeland last weekend, we came upon these giant, sort of Hibiscus-looking flowers...only thing was they had a different kind of look to them, they are huge (the size of my hand) and they have a different purple leaf.....so they are a big mystery to me...but I will tell you with all sincerity, that I WANT SOME OF THESE!!! I love the dark leaves...and these appeared so healthy, I was inspired that, I too, could make these flowers grow in my own yard!

Mystery solved: These are called Hardy Mallow Hibiscus, as best I can tell, and are only hardy in zones 3-9. That is why I do not see these super giants down here in zone 10! Sadly, they will not be for me...:(



When touring my grandsons new school, we found this wreath on the art room door!!! I just instantly loved it, and thought quite a few of you might as well. His new school is open, airy and very homelike. I really love it. His school (my old alma mater) is being torn down and a new one built to replace it, so for 2 years they will be in this other location. The whole building is under air, so not much walking outside except for P.E. and band room. NICE, specially in this horrid heat!

Lazy embroidery, and organized craft storage area!!!

This beautiful vintage fabric (and about 10 others I brought home with me) were in my Moms craft/sewing room! I decided, I wanted to be lazy and just embroider on an already established pattern...so I am doing it. Just started tonight...and am loving it. So relaxing to have no cares...just start filling in. I plan to just make quick decisions, and add other details as they come to me. Very carefree, and perfect for summertime stitching. I don't know about you all, but trying to do much serious decision making in full dead of heat summer here, is impossible...I am just strapped inside in the a/c. So during my few down times, this is what I am whiling away the time doing!!! I will share it again later as I progress.

BTW, I love this one particular thread I had never used or seen before...I believe it is called a Brazilian thread called Lola...rayon. It has a sheen to it, and it is so easy to pull through the fabric. No strands to separate...just cut and go. I thought I might like to become their major saleswoman for this product, but then I found that it is sold out in some online sources! I guess they don't need my sales skills! :)

This larger shelf with all the new storage bins was a huge disaster area a few days ago. I asked daughter is she would get it cleaned up and organized for me, and she said YES!!! We measured the space, went to Target, bought 4 of these containers...each is three drawers that measure 13x13, so scrapbook papers are no problem...4 of these just fit perfectly! She did a great job, and even labelled each drawer. What a gal!!! Below that you will see the grandkids newly cleaned up and organized "home library", which they just love!

Stay cool in this summer heat, and if any of you want to start embroidering, let me know so I can come see!
Love Julie

Newest area for crafting/art

Today I made time to accomplish a few things around my house! It feels good. Cleared out the pass-thru in my kitchen. Brought in my 4.5 ft. long craft table which had been moved out into the screenroom months ago and never brought back in. I positioned it right near that one shelf that housed all my craft stuff, and started clearing it out. I threw away a lot of trash that had made it's way in. YEAH! The bottom 3 shelves are low, so the kids stuff can be there. This pic is kinda dark...I need a little more light in the area...but you can see I at least got all my thousand PENS and PENCILS onto the desk area! (I didn't realize I have regular pencils, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, gel pens galore, and Sharpies and Razor Point Pilot pens, and more. This has always been a sort of fetish of mine...pens especially!!! I can sit down and just do something quick now. I also got rugs washed and ALMOST got my bathroom floor mopped. Almost.

Here is the little assistant. I try not to take so many pics of her, but how can I resist?????