Nature Journal: Pokeweed

Nature Journal: Virginia Creeper

For years, DH and I thought that this was poison ivy.  I have no idea why.  It doesn’t bear any resemblance - but we avoided it like the plague!  To compare, click here for a drawing of poison ivy.

TAST 2014: Up and Down Buttonhole Stitch Variations

I added three more rows to my sampler consisting of: alternating up and down buttonhole stitches, beaded alternating up and down buttonhole stitches and interlaced up and down buttonhole stitches.

I also used up and down buttonhole stitches to embellish the edges of the doll vest, below, just because they add more oomph than regular buttonhole stitches.

A Song for My Cat...

Still Lost in Austen

I just finished reading Sense and Sensibility this afternoon and am looking forward to reading Emma, next.  A couple of years ago, when I first resolved to read all of Jane Austen’s novels, I started on my eReader with free downloads and read three on that device.  Then I happened upon the complete collection (six volumes) in hardback (in unread, nearly pristine condition) on eBay for $25.00!  What a find!  I had to add them to my library.  Although the digital reading devices have their own charm and advantages, I think I may actually prefer holding a real book in my hands, feeling the paper as I turn the pages (downright heretical these days, I quess).  It just takes me back to the joy of reading as a child.  I was wondering what everyone else thinks.

 

Tast 2014: Beaded Herringbone Stitch

I used heavy-duty craft/button thread instead of embroidery cotton in order to fit it through the narrow eye of the needle I used for beading.  I have a difficult time keeping herringbone stitches even - and found it almost impossible with the added challenge of beading.  DH suggested that I should have used my magnifier, but I'm not sure it would have made much of a difference...

TAST (Continued)

Trying to get back in the swing of things a little bit, I thought it was about time to revisit TAST and resume work on my stitch sampler.  I wanted to add a little bling so I did a variation of the chained bar, zigzagging over metallic gold rickrack.  Below that is a row of closed herringbone stitches.  Then comes a row of backstitched herringbone stitches. Next is a twisted lattice band.  Lastly, there is a row of double herringbone stitches.



 

Another Song

I’ve been AWOL from this blog for quite some time and hope to resume posting on a regular basis, soon.  In the meantime, here is another little original song I just uploaded to SoundCloud.  I wanted to make a test using TX16Wx Celtic high whistles.

The photo is of me from “back in the day.”  I’ve been thinking about the past quite a lot, lately…choices made, times when I simply chose not to choose (out of fear or confusion), roads not taken… and I marvel at how I arrived at this place of blessing and peace.  My mom would have laughed and said it was “more luck than management!”  I am married to a man who is altogether lovely from the inside out. He’s “the warmest chord I ever heard” to quote Joni Mitchell.  Long ago, a friend described him as an angel that God had sent to land at my feet.  And just in the nick of time, too…
 

A New Dress for Ellowyne

I made this easy sundress for Ellowyne from a free pattern available at MHD Designs called “Robe Soleil.”  Magalie Dawson’s instructions are very thorough and the pattern was a joy to sew.

 

Nature Journal: Rhododendron Leaves

I drew these leaves last night before the big snowstorm.  We got eight inches of snow overnight.  I knew the leaves would curl and droop, today, in the bitter cold as the temperature only reached 22 degrees.


 

Happy New Year!!!

Gulli is enjoying a quiet evening at home, watching the fireworks on TV and enjoying some French fries from his favorite fast food restaurant.  He's such a party animal!

Mittens

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We tried the Tofurkey Feast for the first time (had a free coupon from ShopRite) and were very pleasantly surprised at how tasty it was!  We will definitely be having that again.

I had some fleece left over from a Santa outfit and found this adorable free pattern from Simplicity to make mittens.  They require less than ½ yard of fabric.  The pattern is simple, quick to sew and fun to embellish.  I added fleece flowers to mine (instructions here).  Make the initial square for each flower any size you want and add a fun button to the center.

 

Another New Song: "Steampunk Serenade"

I used to have a bunch of synthesizers and a rack of effects modules plus a hardware mixer to produce music.  Nowadays, everything is done in one computer plus a keyboard driver.  I record my songs in a digital audio workstation (DAW) called Sonar using a variety of softsynths.  Each instrument (soundfont) is recorded to a midi track and, when the song is finished, the midi tracks are converted to audio tracks.  Then the song is mixed down and exported to an MP3 file.  That file is uploaded to SoundCloud which you can hear, here:

Wooly Bear Caterpillar

The wooly bear caterpillar is the larval stage of the Isabella tiger moth (Pyrrharctia isabella).  His body consists of thirteen distinct segments and, according to folklore, the more reddish brown segments there are, the milder the coming winter.  While this little guy seems to be forecasting a mild winter, human weather prognosticators are predicting the opposite.  I'm rooting for the caterpillar!

Gunther and Old Lace

I have just recently become obsessed with all things Magnolia Pearl.  I was browsing on eBay a couple of weeks ago and happened to come upon this book by Robin Brown, A Bit of Velvet and a Dash of Lace, and it looked so intriguing I bought it.  I was not disappointed.  It inspired me to go through my collection of old lace and trims and create this Santa.  He is definitely sporting the lagenlook (German for layered look) with an undershirt made from a vintage lace dresser scarf (coffee-dyed and a little tattered) hanging below his jacket.  I further embellished him with vintage mother-of-pearl buttons and belt buckle and a combination of new and vintage trims.  Had myself a big old time! He tells me his name is Gunther.

 

Driftwood Santa

Here's my newest boy.  He's sitting on an interesting piece of driftwood that I purchased in "The Old Salt" on the Ocean City, NJ boardwalk.  The driftwood has tiny bits of shell embedded in it. I left it in the back seat of my seldom used car all summer in a plastic bag to make sure there were no live  "critters" in it!  Santa is not affixed to the driftwood so he could be seated anywhere.

Beachcomber Santa

I just finished a new Santa doll.  I wasn't sure how I was going to accessorize him until I found a little basket (in my stash) trimmed in the same colors he is wearing, mauve and grey.  I glued in some small shells, some purchased and a few gathered from the beach in Ocean City, NJ.  The plastic shell-shaped buttons on his jacket were another serendipitous find, again from my stash.  I had forgotten I had them.  I embroidered the open edges of his jacket with the up and down buttonhole stitch. 

A Little Song...

I joined SoundCloud the other day and uploaded a new original song. I hope you like it.

Caroline's Bonnet

If anyone is still out there, a thousand sincere apologies for being so slow to update this blog!

I posted this yesterday with a promise to upload a photo of the completed bonnet I had been working on.  I decided to remove the post after it had displayed briefly - and repost when I actually had a picture to show.  So here it is.  I added cockades to each side of the bonnet in the same vintage ribbon that I used on the dress.  I’m also working on a couple of Santas, but have no pictures yet.




"Rustle of Spring" (WIP)

Susan Sorrell graciously invited her former students to join her Doodle Designs workshop at Fiber Arts/Mixed Media to encourage us to work on pieces we started and never finished.  I finally finished stitching this piece but still need to add lotsa beads.  I purchased a frame for it at AC Moore that is a hybrid between a shadow box and a standard frame so there will be plenty of air between the stitching and the glass.  Been looking for a frame like that for quite awhile...

You can sign up for Susan's class through the end of June and it is self-paced.