A Little Bit of Summer, a Little Bit of Fall, and Some In Between

New bedding for the season ahead, limelight hydrangeas in full bloom, three Maine makers I’m loving, and a new way to shop my favorite finds.

It’s September. And Labor Day weekend.

I’m back for real — not just a lone dispatch and then gone again.

It was a fabulous summer, and I am sad to see it nearing its end. I will carry the warm, bright memories of time with family and friends forward with me into the colder, darker seasons ahead.

Now, though, it’s time to get back to work again.

So today I’m easing back in with some new sheets to transition my bed from late summer into early fall. The limelights are putting on their annual show, and I would be remiss if I didn’t share some bloom eye candy with all of you. There are a few Maine makers I have been wanting to feature for a while now. And, lastly, some signs that fall is, indeed, starting to tiptoe in here.

A little bit of summer. A little bit of fall. And some in between.

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New Sheet

Last week I was helping my daughter Zoë make her bed — or, more specifically, showing her the burrito method for putting the cover on a duvet. (Try it if you haven’t!) She thanked me when we were done, and I said that I actually love making a bed. There’s something about pulling together all the colors, textures, and patterns that makes me happy. (It’s the small joys…)

So naturally a bedding swap is a favorite way for me to mark the changing seasons.

Last year around this time I added a lovely block-print-style quilt and shams to my bedding collection. I paired them with sheets pulled from my linen closet. Their gold and white geometric pattern was fine, but this year I was craving a floral on floral look.

After searching some of my favorite sites, I settled on a pretty set from Garnet Hill. The chevron background creates texture and matches the taupe of the headboard. Blush and sage green flowers mix beautifully with the quilt. And the embroidered design on the edge of the top sheet and pillowcases is the kind of extra detail I love.

The sheets arrived while I was in Maryland last week. The nights had turned a bit chilly while I was gone, so upon my return I was ready to switch to a quilt with a little more weight than my light summer coverlet.

And, yes, sigh, a plaid wool blanket folded at the foot of the bed for the even cooler nights ahead.

Climbing into this cozy bed at night, though, helps to make that inevitable shift a bit easier to embrace.

Shop the Bedding

Limelights! Limelights!

Another thing that helps me move on from summer is that August and September are peak bloom time for my limelight hedges. They are without a doubt the superstar of the late summer and early fall garden.

Some of you have been with me long enough to remember when I planted my first 20 along the back deck in 2020. Then a few years later I added 6 more to wrap around the side. And last year I planted 6 by the stone wall in the front.

Someone on Instagram asked me if I had any tips, because she finds cutting back the shrubs each year to be an onerous chore. Yes, 32 makes for a lot of work. No, I don’t have any shortcuts. And no, I don’t enjoy it one bit either. But (and this is a big “but”), the spectacular show the limelights put on each year is totally worth the effort.

I wrote a post several years ago with all you need to know to care for and enjoy your limelight hydrangeas. My number one recommendation — don’t cut them back until late winter/early spring. That way you can enjoy their dried flower heads all winter long. They look lovely covered in snow.

The huge blooms make a statement when cut fresh, and they dry beautifully too. Summer through winter, the limelights frame every view — inside and out.

They bring me so much joy. I hope you enjoy my photo drop.

Maine Makers

You know that I love sharing Maine makers and small businesses with all of you. This summer I got to know two a bit better and discovered a fun source for great Maine-themed t-shirts and sweatshirts.

Swans Island

In July I was invited to an evening for local creators at the Swans Island shop in Camden. I had stopped in the store many times to admire their handwoven blankets and scarves, but this event was an opportunity to learn more about the brand and their products.

Swans Island is best known for their heirloom-quality blankets made with natural plant-dyed wool and time-honored techniques. Each piece is handwoven just up the road, one at a time.

They have a beautiful selection of cotton and upcycled throws, scarves, wraps, and hats, as well — all woven here in Maine too.

I was also taken with the quilted bags and block print napkins.

Their signature blankets are an investment, but they really do have something at all price points. I have linked some of my favorites below.

Some fun news: Swans Island will be doing a photo shoot at my home later this month. I can’t wait to share it with you!

Erin Flett

Erin Flett is an artist and textile designer based in Gorham, Maine. Her boldly whimsical hand-drawn designs are screen-printed and sewn into bags, pillows, quilts, hats, and table linens.

I have admired her creations for a while now. Last summer I purchased a pouch to corral items in my vintage bean bag purse. This summer, I snagged one of her “misprint” bags — one-of-a-kind pieces made from fabric used to test screens during the printing process, resulting in unexpected layers of color and pattern.

She has a web shop. (I have linked some of my favorite products below.) Also keep an eye out for her occasional Sunday drops, which she previews on Instagram!

Downeast Tees and Sweatshirts

At the Swans Island event I had the pleasure of meeting fellow Maine creator Julie Redding. Julie lives just up the coast “downeast”, and shares life in this beautiful state on Instagram.

I learned that Julie worked with local small business Maine Hoodies to design a line of tees and sweatshirts which captures the spirit of Maine. I love the bold but understated graphics of the Downeast Collection — if-you-know-you-know references to essential elements of life here.

I immediately fell for the Blueberry t-shirt, because, well, you know how I feel about Maine blueberries… (I’m “wild” for them.) And the weather over the last few days has me feeling the “Foggy” sweatshirt for fall. Of course you can’t go wrong with “Lobster Roll” either.

Maine Hoodies is owned by two Air Force veterans. They screen-print each item individually, and all designs are available on a short or long-sleeved tee and a crew neck or hooded sweatshirt.

Which graphic would you choose?

A New Way to Shop My Favorites

You may have noticed that my shopping links in this post look a little different than they have before. Always running a bit late, I have finally joined the ShopMy family. You have probably noticed other creators using this platform.

ShopMy gives me a permanent place to gather and organize the things I own, use, and love, as well as new finds I want to share with you. Instead of a product link living only in the blog post where I first shared it, you’ll now be able to find things again in organized collections on my ShopMy page.

I am just getting started, so it is definitely a work in progress. Right now I have collections for bedding and Maine makers, including things featured in this post. Over time, I’ll add favorite finds from past posts, along with new ones as I discover them. Be sure to check back as I continue to fill it out!

This Week Into Next

I had a wonderful week with Zoë and her family. Life isn’t easy with two busy careers, a toddler (who is in the throes of potty training) and a baby. I was glad I could be there for a bit to help out.

As I mentioned, I returned home to definite signs of fall. The nights are cooler. The sun seems to suddenly be setting much earlier. The field is starting to fade. I can see some red leaves on trees across the harbor. And the farm stands are now brimming with the bounty of the fall harvest — apples, plums, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and kale. Pumpkins and mums have even started to make an appearance. I picked up two last pints of blueberries, one to eat now, the other to freeze.

Beyond the bedding swap, though, I’m not quite ready to start decorating the home for fall. That will come later this month. However, I have started to add some new things to my wardrobe for the season ahead. Would you be interested in a little fall fashion?

Next week is the last week before the Weekend Meals program starts up again. My work there begins just as my time at the lighthouse starts to wind down. It’s all part of the rhythm of the seasons.

I hope you all have a fun (and safe) Labor Day weekend.

Be well!