shorter days

It's getting dark pretty early now..so I've been working on some snuggly things.. this is a very colorful shawl made with hand dyed chenile yarn from blue heron..

Not sure if something was eating at these, out there in the garden..

The gloaming, as the Scots say. Dare I use the word 'twilight'? Is a lovely, peaceful time of day. Winter just around the corner..

stitching weather

I'm a sucker for this type of fabric. Soft, feminine and floral. I was (am) a huge Laura Ashley fan from way back. I remember those shops, so girly! I wanted to wear a peticoat like Laura and Mary Ingalls. I know that that style of decor is not popular now. But I am always drawn to that country cottage stuff. I love peeling paint, rust and tattered, frayed fabrics and objects.

This is a wall hanging quilt, about 45x45", I took these blocks on various trips and hand appliqued and quilted them while traveling. I look at this quilt and remember what we were doing and where we were going. That's a huge secondary benefit to hand making something, a reminder of where we were and what we were doing..

I am Thankful

For the small, insignificant things I used to overlook, but now I stop and really see them.

The color of things, the way they are put together, the way food really tastes. How much there is to be thankful for. Even when you don't feel like it.

The simplest things are what matters. God, family, conversation, eating meals together. Where ever you are I wish you a very Thankful Holiday. Shalom.

progress

I've been working both on the knitting and the quilting a lot lately. I've concentrated on scarves and shawls for the knitting, and smaller, intimate quilts here. I love embellishing the quilts (and scarves) to personalize them. Hand and machine stitched, beaded and sewn. About 9x11"..

Very satisfying projects to do in an afternoon or two..

When we lived in S. Florida, I bought several hanging pointsetta baskets for the holidays. Of course, there, you can just hang them out anywhere. After the holidays, I planted them along the side of our house, as I hate to just get rid of something. By July, they were over my head, and bush-like. Amazing.

transitions

There is a cold snap now, as the chilly air descends to the forest. There are few tenacious leaves hanging on here and there. Time for lines, paint and color. Even if the colors are subdued and cool. WIP painting going on, wip landscape going on...

stepping stones

I've intend to make an entire blanket with this type of treatment. I've used various Noro's here, silk garden, kocoran, kureyon , crochet in various circles, then 'attaching' with crochet 'mortar'. A very freeing exercise, even more than, say, the granny square. Right now it's a stepping stone scarf, on it's way to where the road leads to.. yarn heaven?

paint + craft

Along with the craft show, I have picked up the paint brush again..a batch of WIP's all oil on canvas (my fav right now) and all based on biblical or folktales as subjects. Hope you are enjoying a nice weekend.

the fleeting season

I have another craft show on Sat., which, if I had my act together, I would be getting ready for..however, Fall, above all other seasons, seems like the briefest, most fleeting of them all. I can hardly sit still, and need to get out in it, before it all blows away, as it seems to overnight. Of course, a little companionship is welcome.

If you are near Fredericksburg VA this Sat. drop by and say Hi!

vote

On a beautiful autumn day...



I did! I hope you did too!

The wonder of democracy..

a keeper

hand dyed mohair, I bought at a fiber show, and boy, do I wish I had bought more! grrr w/Colinette Isis in 'blue parrot' colorway.. moss stitch shawl, which, if I hurry up I can wear, now that it's cold!!

a little halloween

A sampler quilt I did for fall/halloween/autumn..I love combining piecing and applique in one quilt..my designs, and about 50" x 65", lap size..

middle: a japanese bowl I love, if I did ceramics, I'd want to do this type.. Hey M.K. recognize that blue table runner? Thanks again!

energy

I'm in high creative mode right now, which I am grateful for. The yarn, paint and fabric are flowing like a river. Unfortunately, I can not find the *&$#@ camera for some w-i-p pictures! I'll find it grrr... anyway, here are few shots I had uploaded recently, top is a color pencil drawing about 18 x 18", it's framed under glass, so it's tricky to take a picture of it..

Middle is a mixed media piece, mainly fabric, beads and acrylic paint on canvas, about 18 x 24", it's a series about Lot's wife.

And the last is the yarn explosion going on around here... :-) I see you Noro!

peter

The craft fair went well, I'm amazed at how creative people are with ordinary objects. I love the whole found/recycle idea people have. Making something creative and artistic out of stuff people discard. Bottles, cans, etc.. really amazing. Is there a separate category for these people? Green crafters, or such?

Anyway, here's some detail of a piece from a mixed media series I'm doing on the apostles. This is part of Peter, he who was a fisherman, who became a fisher of men! Mounted on canvas, it's fabric, netting, beads and paint... 24"x24"

ready

We went from 85 to like 65 today, finally! This is starting a pretty busy time around here, I am in some craft shows, which I enjoy, so I'm taking a small break to post some bad pictures, sorry! Anyway, I always look forward to being at these events, but the prep is tiring. Hope you have a lovely weekend..

Some knitted goodies, scarves and shawls, and a few small quilts waiting to be tagged..

full moon night

Enjoying a balmy night, cricket song, quiet

early fall

The last hot gasp of summer, fall is here at last..

quilt

A quilt I started at a handwork reatreat way back when. All hand stitched, quilted and appliqued..a touch of embroidery work too.

fall seeds + sketch

I love pods, seeds, berries and rose hips kind of things. The garden is in never ending shedding season right now, squirrels are frantic, and the cricket song is quite urgent, cool weather is almost upon us. I can't step out with out some leave, or seed underfoot, all just waiting for that right environment to take root.

Also a sketch in ink and watercolor from my sketchbook..

a child's eye view

Finished quilt hand and machine stitched, 24" x 24". Much pleasure in doing this one, I love the idea of "drawing" w/the free motion on the machine. I plan to do more of that.