HANDMADE PAPER SKETCHBOOKS-FINITO!

We began this workshop by making handmade paper in the garden. With the garden so lush this time of year, our papers were fragrantly brilliant with scent and color. This paper was used for the covers and divider pages in our sketchbooks.

 Jean used various textures of brown craft paper to collage the cover of her book designed to be a wine journal featuring her collection of unique wine labels.

 Hydrangia and zinnia petals were used to make the sheet of paper on the right.

 Joyce stitched her travel journal togehter with waxed green thread and collaged  images of swimming goldfish for her cover design.

 Lynn loves weaving different varieties of printed papers together forming rich textural surfaces.  She wove this beautiful cover with strips of printed images cut into strips interspersed with thin dark brown twigs.  It appears to float on her cover.  In a word:  STUNNING!

 Paula used hair from her cats when she made the paper for her catbook.  She illustrated the cover with fabric collage and little bells- talk about "belling the cat".

Robin's color palette included this striking Chinese red. Whodah thunk that red hardware duct tape would make such a fitting edge binding? She not only stitiched the binding but also the cover of her book with waxed black thread.

PURSLANE: A GREAT SUMMER CONTAINER PLANT

I have a new favorite container plant for summer:  domesticated purslane.  A common variation of it also happens to be one of the worst weeds in my garden.

This is the weed:

 Portulaca oleracea (common purslane)Purslane is considered an invasive weed, it certainly is in my garden. It has smooth, reddish, mostly prostrate stems and alternate leaves clustered at stem joints and ends. The yellow flowers have five regular parts and are up to 6 mm wide. Depending upon rainfall, the flowers appear at anytime during the year. The flowers open singly at the center of the leaf cluster for only a few hours on sunny mornings. Seeds are formed in a tiny pod, which opens when the seeds are mature. Purslane has a taproot with fibrous secondary roots and is able to tolerate poor, compacted soils and drought.  Oh if tomatoes were as easy to grow!

 But, this is domesticated purlane and it takes the hot, brutal heat of our summers, can be wet or drfy and you never havce to deadhead it.  It is covered with large colorfuyl blossoms in the early morning inot the afternoon.  Awesome!  Look for it at local garden centers.

HANDMADE PAPER JOURNAL/SKETCHBOOK

The opening session of our Handmade Journal/Sketchbook workshop, found us in the garden making handmade paper with the flowers and leaves around us. August is a great month for this because so much is blooming and growing well this time of year.

 It was especially nice to be able to work outside.  All of the water splash can simply drain into the grass!

 Zinnia petals are colorful and the right side for handmade paper.

Lynn and her granddaughter Zoe, inspect a newly poured sheet of paper.

PRYDE'S OLD WESTPORT GARDEN PARTY

Louise Meyers, owner of Pryde's in Old Westport threw a garden party at From the Summer's Garden and hit the weather just right.  She heartily thanked all of her employees for their dedication and hard work providing a tasty spread with plenty of good food and tasty drinks featuring Pryde's distinctive kitchen and entertaining goods.  What a find bunch of  interesting, happy people!  Talk about a Garden of Good!  Don 't miss the chance to meet these fun people at Pryde's on your next trip to Westport!