I cannot count my day complete
'Til needle, thread and fabric meet.
~Author Unknown

Sharing a common thread with those who love the art of hand embroidery

Friday, February 17, 2012

There is an archway

standing at the entrance walk that leads to the back grounds
and greets anyone who comes to visit. Ever since we moved out to the country years ago, I have wanted the grounds to have an "enchanted" look. One that when one does come to visit,  they will be pulled in and made to just want to walk around and enjoy for awhile....................
this is still a work in progress.  

I have always wanted this archway to be the "greeter" of the grounds and  to say "welcome!" in a bright and cheerful way, overflowing with lush flowers and twirling vines. I have  planted various flowers throughout the years at the base of it. With it being partially shaded, I have not found the right kind of flowering plant that has grown over it enough to give it that effect. Being in a drought ridden and high heat area as West Texas, makes it even harder to find such plants.
Any suggestions or good plant ideas??

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have several designs that I love to embroider over and over again. I have cross stitched this particular pattern a couple of times, always stitching it onto linen towels and given away as gifts. I have always wanted a stitched copy for myself. This time, I want to frame it and hang it in the back entry of our home...........as a continuation of the grounds.
What do you think?
I would love flowers much like these in the stitched piece to be on the outside archway.

The wall paper I had ordered for my grandfather's trunk arrived and I spent the day wall papering the inside of it! I am so happy with it and today I will be placing my embroidered linens into it!
To see more photos or to read a little more about it, you can visit my country blog
by clicking on this link
How about you??
Do you have a particular way you like your grounds to look and what plants do you like the most to achieve this?
I would love to hear!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kathleen, my vision for an arch, if I had one, would definitely be the way your embroidered it. That would be sooo beautiful! I did look up some websites you may like to look at which feature plants suitable for your region. http://www.txsmartscape.com/
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/xeriscape/table2.html

Have an excellent day of joy,
Marianne

penny said...

I love that ole trunk and the lovely lining.

Nicola said...

I love wisteria for climbing up Walls and trellis but do not know if they grow in your area. In the UK they like to be south facing in full sun. They are very beautiful when in bloom especially the double headed ones.

Bev said...

You are great!... That is wonderful.

Anonymous said...

I can't help you with what plant, but what a beautiful area you will have in time.

blessings, jilly

Susan At Glen Oaks Primitives said...

Oh, the wallpaper is perfect for the trunk. It's beautiful.The stitchery with the flowers on the arch is so pretty, I think you would like clematis on the archway. It's lush and some types flower twice in the year. You can plant climbing Queen Elizabeth roses with it. I did that when I lived in Eastern MA.I can't grow anything here!
Hugs,
Susan

A Colorful World said...

First of all, the trunk turned out beautifully! How exciting! Then, I have to say, I love the archway cross-stitch. For your own archway, might I make a suggestion...there is a place in E TX that sells vintage roses and many other varieties as well. I can't remember the name of it, but it's very well known in some circles and is located kind've north of Burton maybe close to E Washington. If you can't find it by googling, let me know and I will ask my friend who lives in Burton. But, I bet they have the perfect rose for your trellis!

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Gosh I LOVE that stitched design. I can see why you have stitched it several times.

I have always loved trumpet vine. I have tried to get it started for about 10 years and always ended in disappointment. Last year I looked at the fence on the other side of your pond and what the heck...trumpet vine and I had never planted it there.

We used to have a trellis arch with a seat and grew climbing roses on it. It was beautiful. I hope you will find the perfect vine that grows in your area.
xx, Carol

GardenOfDaisies said...

A climbing rose would be pretty. One that is hearty and does well in texas heat. Or honeysuckle vine... those grow really well here in our hot summers. I'm not up on my texas plants, but your local nursery would be.

Sharon said...

The inside of your trunk is lovely!

I wallpapered the inside of a trunk years ago and it's quite a job!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

It is hard to keep anything lush and beautiful when you live in a very dry climate. What about bougainvillea? They are able to thrive in this country despite the heat and drought. I know my ex-father-in-law had beautiful ones in Louisiana. They can be cut into bushes or grow as big as trees and are great climbers too.

I love your stitching. I don't often do the same pattern over unless it is very small and won't take long.

Hope you have a great week. Tammy

Anonymous said...

Kathleen, the pie sounds delicious. How nice that it gives you memories of your great-grandmother.

I tasted buttermilk pie once and it was too sweet for me. I would like to try your recipe one day...is it possible to add much less sugar?

Also, I noticed that most blogs have the 'prove your not a robot' word test. I tried 10 times to leave a comment and it wouldn't take. I hope this time it will.

Blessings,
Marianne

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

To Marianne and everyone else who commented here, I am so sorry for the verification problem. I had removed it a long time ago and after reading Marianne's comment I went back to find that it had been placed back on. I once again removed it and now you can comment without any problems.I have had problems commenting on blogs with this new verification thing that blogger has created. The words are extremely hard to read. Does anyone else have this problem? blessings,Kathleen