Big Happenings

This weekly post is a bit late as I was gone all weekend.  I went to the Northeast Feltmakers Guild Meeting.  We had a very large turnout for both our workshop and our business meeting.  Our hostess were Carol and Roz and they did a fabulous job of organizing over 30 people.  They came from Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Mass, Conn, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey.  We had several new members and lots of the 'regulars'. 

Our workshop consisted of mini coats.  It was an exercise on how to make a 3D project with collar, lapels and an overlapping front.  They were so cute.  And I think all of us enjoyed the 'making'.

Roz was our instructor.  She did a terrific job and as usual was very realistic about how to 'solve' glitches and giving people options to try. 

Lots of smiles!

Lots of thinking....

Lots..

and...

lots of felters!

With lots of colored mini coats at the end.

And there was fantastic food!

And there was 'Show and Tell"

WOW!!  Some of the "New" felters made some pretty impressive stuff!  But then there was unexpected and expected felt from some of the "Usuals".

Well, that's it for this week.  A **lot** of pictures because I had a **lot** of fun.  Thanks so much to everyone that worked so hard to make a fun and a special thanks to my friend Linda Vielleux who made this:

That I decided I couldn't live without  =-)

Oh...and one more special Thank You to Diane...my dear friend who put me up at her house, fixed me a fresh egg quiche from her 'ladies', made me Creme Brulee for dessert and made me laugh.  Oh, and her dad...who is delightful and has a great sense of humor. 

It seems every time I went to post this weekend, I got distracted.  Bloggers are posting every day!  And their work and Spring is my downfall.  I love looking at other peoples workand it always gives me a boost.  I live in a fairly rural area and have nature to inspire most of my work.  I love spending time outside...rain or snow or sun....but Spring is always so nice...but so is the first snow...or a deep snow...or the patter of rain on the windows...or the colors of autumn....or.....  I guess what I'm saying is I seem to enjoy all of it. And not just the weather....I find lots of lovelies....like this little nest of a mallard by the swamp.

It makes me think of the wonder of life...beginning...ending...starting out.  The little miracles that sometimes I take for granted.

But I digress.  I have done a little felting.  And my first project was almost a direct copy.

I fell in love with another felter's slippers.  She has pictures on her blog and it is called Jurga Jurdita.  You can find it here and the slippers on her Fliker page here.   She is from Lithuania.  I fell in love with a brown pair with roses at the toe.  I tried to buy them.....but she had none left.  Sigh.  About a week later my daughter called and asked if I could make some slippers for a very special friend.  She wanted something made out of natural fibers in a natural color.  So here is my version of Jurga's wonderful slippers. 

A bit girlish....but my daughter said they were just right.  They are made from the natural colored Icelandic wool I bought while visiting a local sheep farm.  The roses are silk dyed ever so lightly with walnut stain.  Just enough color to take away the optic white.

I did work on the quilt a little.  I'm finished with two more squares.  I worked a lot in the garden this weekend and had very little time 'left over'.  

First Cyclamen or Shooting Stars.  These may or may not make the final cut for several reasons.  The square is an odd size and botonically they are not correct.  

 

I also did the Indian Paintbrush which made me happier even though I favor Shooting Stars over them

 

 

I also have been dreaming and thinking about my new studio.  Right now I share my studio with *everything* in the basement.  You know...the paint cans, gardening tools, washer, dryer, stuff you no long use.  But a while back I made a deal with the DH and traded for the upstairs of our new garage.  

 This will be MINE...all MINE!!  

The floor will be made water proof and floor cushions for moving around.  The wall are to be painted and full spectrum lights will go up.  It is getting close and I am starting to get very excited.  It was postponed for a while because of some 'technical' difficulties but now I'm ready.  Any suggestions from you there about what makes up your dream studio....let me know.  There are times when I am sooo overwhelmed at the thought I can't believe it is real.  I never thought this would ever be possible.

Now I'm off to get ready for my Other Work....the one that will pay for my studio. 

April Flowers

Well the showers came in March and everything started to bloom in my yard.  I, fortunately, did not have any flooding...either at home or my work.  My DH's shop was spared but only by the width of the door.  

So now after the torrential rains have watered my gardens and swollen the wetlands I need to get to work.  My DH finished the hoop house today and I planted lettuce.  I'm sure you don't want pictures of piles of pine cones I raked up or plain dirt with tiny seeds.  So instead.....

Summer blooms of Bee Balm.  

I had a large population of these in the west facing bed.  But as the trees around the house got larger and the shade extended there are less and less.  It's wonderful to watch the hummingbirds work these blooms. 

But I do have shade loving plants in the east garden bed.  Mostly ferns...OMG ... do I have ferns.  But I went to a Native Plant Sale and bought one of these at an auction. 

Jack in the Pulpit hides its bloom under the three large leaves.  My original plant has had multiple offspring and I now enjoy a small colony. 

I have found Wake Robin or Trillium in the wild but have never been successful in growing them in the yard.  I will try again this year. 

Trillium are so magical when you find them.  They seem to be a secret that has left for you and when you find them......shhhhh...........don't tell anyone. 

Cool outside....Spring Blooms inside

This weekend was pretty cold here.  Never got above 41F.  I took the dogs for the required walk and found green...Spring is coming but in little bits here. 

I loved this piece of moss on a tree.....it looks like a tiny bonsai that has been done by Nature. 

Then we went to check on the rock tripe....they no longer look dry and grey with bits all over the ground.  But there are lots more!  And they are turning green.  This is with what I used to make fuschia dye last year.

Once we were back I started on the quilt.  I got involved in listening to my book on tape and got a lot done!

First Wild Ginger.  The flowers are very small, a maroon that is almost brown and mostly hidden under large leaves.  

The color in the above picture did not turn out well and is too washed out....

Then I worked on Mexican Hats.  They don't hide under their leaves but push their tops toward the sun.

Next I worked on Blue Eyed Grass.  These are not much as far as the flowers go....but I love the leaves that look like grass......the way they twist in the wind and and wave the flowers on their stocks.

So that's it for tonight...I now go to dream of flowers.

Spring is Here

Well, officially we are now past the vernal equinox.  Spring is actually starting in my microclimate yard.  My house is placed as the last house down a tiny road and we are always several degrees cooler and a week behind everyone else on the road.....as far as what's blooming.  

Yesterday we went for a motorcycle ride....it was perfect weather outside.  Not too cold nor too hot.  Birds were singing, cows were grazing, farmers were tuning tractors for spring work.  The barns we passed were warm enough to send clouds of manure smells drifting across the road....I just love riding this time of the year.  Can you guess we are motorcycles nuts?  I'll just take this pearl white one. 

I also worked in the garden some.  The cover on the hoop house had shredded last year and we have most of the new siding up.  I will plant lettuce soon.  And also start some veggies in the basement.  

But I have been working on the quilt....just not as much with so many distractions.  

When I lived in California Bull Thistles were considered a nuisance.  I love their relatives, the artichoke, and fix them for dinner often.  The thistles have large stickers on them and will scratch or poke a serious hole in skin or clothes.  I was surpirsed when I moved to the East Coast that people planted them as ornamentals. 

There is not as much contrast as I would like.....but I was happy with how the flowers came out with the stitching. 

The color of this last close up is adjusted because I used the flash.  Not so true as those above.

The second flower I did this weekend is one that I looked for for almost 4 years.  I finally found it....it was an early bloomer and very very specific where it liked to live.  The common name is Twin Flower but it's botonical name,  Linnaea borealis, was in honor of Carl Linnaeus who was the 'father' of botanical nomenclature.  It is said it was his favorite flower. 

It is so dainty. 

I have taken some liberty with the color of these....they are so pale pink, in real life, as to be almost white with lovely pink blush.

That's it for today.  Off to cook dinner for the evening....and have a well deserved glass of wine.

Rain Not Needed

We are forecasted for rain starting tomorrow.  It did sprinkle a bit this morning.  The top of the ground is starting to be dry.  I am ready for Spring showers....my vegetable seeds came today and I'm thinking I can start them in the basement pretty soon.  I will also be repairing the hoop house to grow lettuce for an extended season.  I try to grow lettuce from March until December was unable to do so this last year.  The hoop house was done in last winter and I never repaired it.  I hope to do so this year.  

These flowers don't need any water to help them bloom.  

Mission Bells are a type of fritillary that come in a deep purple...almost chocolate with tiny green checkers on them.  Hence, the name Chocolate Checker Lilies.  

I planted these all over the garden as wonderful little surprises for Spring.  They also come in white....but I like the checkers. 

When I lived in California I spent many summers tracking down different wildflowers.  I had several camping trips to a small place called Butterfly Valley in the Sierra that became my favorite spot.  Not just because of the bogs that supported all the carnivorous plants but the magic that seemed to be in the air.  I would read and paint and just be for a week or two at a time.  It was wonderful.

The California Pitcher Plant .... my favorite....and I'm pretty happy with how it's turned out. 

That's it for todays post .... Now I go to dream about Spring Flowers.....and perhaps listen to rain that may arrive tonight.

Spring's First Delight

Mother Nature finally started to think about Spring this week.  The temps got to over 50F today I took the first motorcycle ride of the season.  It was cold at first...just barely over 50 but as the day progressed it was closer to 60.  Such a delight....the sounds and smells of Spring.  There were bird calls, swans swimming in a little pond, turkeys that flew across the road and the smell of earth.  When I got back I decided it was time to check on the Erosion Project.  It is still hanging in the Cherry tree by it's thin silk threads. 

 

Unfortunately, it was still very white and pristine looking until I looked on the bottom.  

Ah, that's better.....and a visitor, too.  It was dry but we expect rain by the end of the week.  It is cheating if I water it?  

I also looked at the tree house.  Although this was originally hung as a *bird* house there has never been a bird here.

However, there is at least one resident.....a flying squirrel.  Last year he shared the house with a small toad.  Go figure.  The squirrel is back, I'm not sure about the toad.  

There were also these signs of Spring....

 

Daffies push up the earliest in my garden.  This is the north side of the garden with the most sun and always the first to awaken in Spring.  

Eventually I returned indoors and worked on The Quilt. 

First I have Mariposa Lilies.  These are not found here on the East Coast/New England, at least I've not found them here.  But are plentiful in California especially in the Sierras. 

Yes, I did use blue silk with green felt and was not happy with the overall effect.  Too washed out.

 

But they are rather lacey and are easily overlooked when in singles or tiny groups.  They are dainty three petaled summer blooms that come in several colors. 

Next are Lupines.  I dearly love them and have planted several varieties in the yard.  The large deep violet one are the only ones that return year after year.  

These were difficult as the thread kept breaking.  I think the rayon thread was not wound well on the spool.  I changed the needle. the bobbin and the tension.  The white is mostly sewers pencil.  Even though these were set out petal by petal, it was hard to see where they needed to be defined while I sewed. 

I have two more....but I will save them for another post.  I need to be off to bed.  I counted how many squares were embroidered today.....15.  It's getting close to half way.