Small beginnings.  A friend stayed and we played in the studio.  She brought some lovely mordanted cotton that we covered with botanical prints.  We used parchment paper between layers to avoid ghost prints.  The papers were almost as lovely as the cloth.  I tacked a piece of one onto some slubby silk and did this small embroidery with wool thread.   The paper is only about 6” x 7”.  It needs a little more...not much but some dark then a frame. I think it is a gift for someone....

Testing

Fall is here and walking has begun again in earnest

After all, time heals all wounds 

And now I have only scars

I don't show them much and I’ll not talk about them here

Just let them fade

And be quiet memories

The studio has been re opened 

I have started experimenting

to see 

See if there is meaning for me 

in what is there

See if colors will sing again 

See if I still have a voice in fiber 

The little engine that could

Is blowing his whistle 

Dyeing on Easter

I've been quiet as I've had lots of stuff going on in the background.  Spring is one of my favorite times of the year.  After the cold and quiet time of winter I start to get anxious to be outside.  Yesterday was a glorious day of warm temps and light.  

I managed to clean part of the studio after some construction.  I now have a Dye Station.  

It's not quite organized yet but doable.  Those 3 crockpots had onion skins, eucalyptus and acorn baths left from last Fall.  Under the mold scum was some delicious looking broth.  I dipped some silk in, turned them on and simmered.  In the morning I got these:

Pleased with my success, and goaded by the lovely weather I declined the usual Sunday ride with my DH and instead set up the Turkey Cooker....AKA  The *BIG* Dye Pot. 

I had a delightful supervisor.

With his excellent assistance we came up with this:

I now have enough silk yardage to continue with the Felted Flower Quilt edges.  

Hope everyone enjoyed their Sunday as much as I did.  The windows of the house were open and the renewal of Spring was invited in.  

I started one side of the quilt skirt....but that is for the next post.

Fini

I decided on beads.  Lots of beads for the little red dots that are on the manuscript.  

I also decided I didn't really like to true yellow in the hair of the man.  It needed to be "knocked back" as they say.  I had no other yellow in the piece and it drew too much attention.  

So here it goes. 

He his also surrounded by gold, rose and blue beads.  Different than the little red ones. 

They, the red ones, added more than the pictures show, they sparkle but only a bit. 

All in all, I'm OK with the finished product. 

Now on to the next project.  

I've been playing with beasts and quilting for now.  

I've signed up for Jude's  
cloth whispering and I hope to work on my felt quilt as well as an embroidered quilt. 

Two Weeks ketchup

As it gets closer to *real* Spring weather I do more and more outside.  The swamp is changing and showing signs (sooner than my yard) and one of the first are these. 

Blending colors of winter and spring they are the harbingers of the change to me.  I love looking for Skunk Cabbage.  They hide in plain sight and are everywhere, but you have to look to find them. 

The Swamp itself has changed, the ice and snow are gone and it's waters begin to reflect and enhance what lies above the tall trees....blue skies. 

And the little stream begins to move faster and saturates the ground around it. 

I didn't spend every day walking in the swampy woods.  I was the awkward assistant to my friend Diane as she taught a felted landscape class to some first time wet felters.  She has enormous patience and such a gentle way with people.  A fantastic teacher.  She moves people with kindness and praise toward their best work, not her ideas but only her technique to express their ideas. 

I also added more stitch to my creation piece.  

It is getting closer to Fini

I think all I need to add now is the red dots.  Beads or thread?  Or both?  

Quick Peek

I'm off to visit my friend, Diane, this weekend.  She is teaching a class and has kindly asked me to assist.  So before I go, since I didn't post last weekend, a short picture show of new elements before I started the embroidery.  I didn't make the due date for the pictures, I'm not finished.  I just ponder so much over the process I have a hard time with deadlines.  

It is all about the process.  I know for sure it is. 

Next.... the embroidery. 

Needlefelting

Is not my favorite, but I was concerned that the elements wouldn't stay and rather than cause myself lots of frustration I needled.  I've made a fair amount of progress because I had four days set aside to walk the dogs and work on felt.  

I'm not finished.....but I am getting closer.  This element was added.

And this language

And so it moves a bit forward.  Not ready for the 28th for pictures....but closer.

I made circles with Celtic designs today but they are not attached yet.  

I really needed some time outside and so when it quit snowing I took the dogs for a walk.  

This is the swamp....mostly frozen but for this

A lovely weekend and much accomplished.