September 1, 2013

Lavender's Blue


When I was a little girl, my mother used to play the banjo-mandolin.  She didn't have a huge repertoire that I remember, but a couple of songs that she used to sing stand out in my memory.  One of them was an English folk song from the seventeenth century, 

Lavender's Blue, dilly dilly, Lavender's Green,
If I were King, dilly dilly, you'd be my Queen.

There are evidently many variations in the words, but I reckon those are the ones my mum used to sing.  Burl Ives brought it into the twentieth century when he sang it in the movie So Dear to My Heart (1948) and it became his first hit song.

It's amazing how those early childhood recollections are embedded in our memories, whereas I might have trouble remembering where I put something just yesterday!!!

When I was asked to make a cushion for Country Threads magazine, I couldn't get the song out of my head so of course the cushion had to feature Lavender.


Not quite blue, but ... well, lavender:


The other element I wanted on my cushion was a Sundial. On our morning walk we see a sundial in a neighbour's garden.  Once again, it triggers memories of childhood and the red-covered book I had, called "The sundial"!


You can find the pattern in Country Threads magazine, Vol 14 No 5.


Some more of my PASSES (Projects at a standstill) have hit the dust.  A scissorkeep heart:


and this one I made into a keychain:


I've made a few more cards too: 


Early in the week, I pulled out of the cupboard a lovely range of fabric with lots of brown and red shades.  Before I knew it, some white fabric had joined it and now I have a modern looking Cherry and Chocolate Table Runner.  Just occasionally I jump right into the twenty-first century!!!


And just as quickly I jump right out again. Last night I started a pretty stitchery of an old-worlde well:


I really enjoy the freedom of making whatever I feel like at the time - life is never boring!

Hope you have a great week of happy stitching!
Val

8 comments:

Susan said...

Always good top get rind of a few PASSES - such pretty ones too.
I certainly remember that tune form my younger days.

Christine M said...

Gorgeous cushion Val. You have been marking quite a few PASSES off lately!

Sysnella said...

LOVELY very very nice

Ondrea said...

I don't remember that particular tune but I do love lavendar. My grandmother always made me little lavendar bags to put in my wardrobe drawers.Needless to say your cushion looks gorgeous. I looove that sneak peek of the well stitchery. I reckon that is going to be one I will just "need" to do.

Allie said...

DARLING pattern, Val, and I know what you mean about songs from childhood. My grandma had one she used to say to me about there was a little girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead - I didn't know it was a nursery rhyme until I was much older, I thought she invented it for me, lol. Love your little hearts, and the start of your well is making my heart go pitter-patter!!!! Love it!

Regina vicentini said...

Olá amiga val!
Realmente, a vida nunca é chata se nos empenhamos em realizar o que desejamos. E você têm realizado trabalhos de muito bom gosto e maravilhosos!
Um abraço!

Carolyn Sullivan said...

LOVE that song, and I think your designs are awesome. Thanks for sharing your memories!

Anonymous said...

I really like your cushion. I know that song, too!