handmade

I try to give a lot of handmade things, but not everyone in my sphere likes getting those types of gifts..so I trudge through the stores and do my thing. It's getting smaller, year by year though, those trips..

I did some illustration work in the day, and still like and collect children's books with wonderful illustrations. They inspire me.

I've done some handmade cards for our New Year's party:



Here's some potential, I'd like to sit down with, but alas, will have to wait a while...I haven't found a Colinette or a Noro yarn I didn't like.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, no stressing!

{december views}

interiors

A few objects around here...

{december views}

a few of my favorite things...

feeling musical lately!

{december views}

december

{december views}

winter scenes

{december views}

I love lanterns

and snow!


{December views}

december views

Darlene at this site has a great idea for December...silence.. A silent night, a holy night. How I love this idea. So for the rest of December, not many words, but lots of love and images..

Peace. If you are interested, take a look at the other bloggers being quiet too..

{december views}

scarf weather

Can finally wear this! Noro Iro, simple garter stitch. Let the yarn do all the magic..

No need to embellish this one!

Yea! Look what was there this morning!

andy goldsworthy

It occurs to me I haven't posted about the artists that I admire lately. People I look to for inspiration once in a while..
So I submit British artist Andy Goldsworthy for consideration:


An environmental artist, he wanders the Scottish country side (and elsewhere) and uses no tools or implements to construct cairns, wool fences, sculptures in situ. I was not familiar with his work and was recommended to watch this video, "Rivers and Tides". While I was convalescing a few months back , I watched it. Can I say you will never take a walk in nature and view it the same way. You will have the urge to stack rocks, arrange leaves and dig holes.
How about this thing:

Like an ice meteorite. He stuck the icicles together with spit, his..

And this... I would love to build something like this just to confound my neighbors! Well worth it, check him out. There are also several books around about his life and work..

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!!