the middle of March

 I had been planning to start working with larger scale but got sidetracked with these little oak leaves. I made them specifically for this little basket...

which holds this little doll. I am sending them to my youngest niece for her birthday. My grandma gave the doll to me forever ago when I was already a bit too old for dolls. She had one similar that she used to let my sister and I play with when we were visiting. My mom gave it back to me a few years ago. I packed it away and it recently resurfaced. I want to pass it on to someone who will enjoy it now. The little quilts add some softness and spring is so near the leaves just had to be green. It was pretty gray out when I started them.

It's absolutely beautiful today. 72˙ as I type this around 4pm. This afternoon, just a few minutes before I photographed the quilted leaves…

the sandhill cranes flew over. I heard them calling from way up, through the open windows.

painting vs dyeing

This piece was made with painted cloth. Some of the variation in color resembles dyed cloth but it is painted. I used a small amount of paint to apply washes as needed to create the colors I wanted with the fabrics I already had. Most of the fabrics I used were solid colors to begin with - I used the paint to add some variation. I also used the paint to emphasize edges - darkening with washes inside or outside of a stitched line. 

I used Pebeo Setacolor transparent fabric paints. The big bottles I have had for quite awhile. The small bottles are part of a wonderful starter set available through Dharma Trading Co.

I also used sun printed fabric (sun printed with the same transparent fabric paint) I had made awhile back and just cut choice pieces out of it. 

However, we did dye some fabrics in the gold and amber range with smashed apples this weekend, which yielded some similar colors. I think I have mentioned this on here before but we just made cider this weekend and so here it is again.

My people (and pup) - Brett holding the apples that have been pureed through a garbage disposal system he has built for cider making (not shown). The cider colored bag is full of the pulp before it has been pressed. That bag has been used for several years and retains a beautiful rich cider color.

The one used for years shown on the right. Two new bags shown left and middle - of those two only the middle one was used this time. This is after being washed. Pretty amazing I think - just apples.

The lighting on some of my inside photos are all over the place today. We have crossed over into winter temperatures in the last few hours and it feels like it has been getting dark since about noon today. So -  hot cider tonight. Stay warm.

the light, the cat, the quilt and the pup

color journal :: all together now

I am finding this squared cycle of seasonal color very encouraging today and not just because all the blocks are finally pieced together.

White, gray and brown will eventually turn to green and then it will turn brown and then white again. Over and over and over.

studio mates

It's nice having company in here. They sleep and watch the bird feeder and then sleep some more. 

Eva was making that hunting clicking noise yesterday, while watching the birds flying above and then down to the feeder. It's the first time I've heard her do this.

Next week I will tidy the studio to start the year. Bring the things I really need out in the open and put everything else away.

Eva

Three weeks ago a friend and I found a black and white kitten meowing loudly, shivering and sneezing huddled up beside the front steps of my house. There have been efforts to find out wether she is someone's lost pet but no replies. From the start she has acted like she has never known anything other than living with a big furry dog and two little boys constantly interrupting her naps and carrying her around. She already looks less like a kitten and more like a long lean cat.

I love her loud loud purring (the boys call this her motorboat) and the deep brown tiger stripes that are showing up in her black fur. Her quiet moments of contentment are contagious.

Stitching attracts the quiet company of my animals so I thought I would take a moment to introduce her here, as I am sure she will show up often.

The beginning of my new year of stitching is likely further postponed due to the expected arrival of ridiculously cold temperatures here these next few days which may extend the boys' holiday break from school a day or so. Today we will play in the snow.

the similarities

I found *this post* from one year + one month ago and it's in a way comforting - the similarities. Thoughts this time of year are still about staying warm, but we are all a year older and some of us a year bigger.

My youngest has graduated to reading chapter books but I am still stitching leaves.

I finished this one on the curtain this morning - started last year but I was in a hurry to just get it up into the window to insulate the room. Now it's done and in the window again.

I like the changing of the seasons and the rhythm in it all - quiet momentum.

sugar maples in November

Golden inspiration. It has that same pleasant overwhelming of the senses, like with all the white of snow, but in yellow and gold.

summer begins

I set aside some time this afternoon to really feel the quiet. At our house, summer begins tomorrow - the last day of school. I am looking forward to the daily company of my two sweet boys, and the pup is going to love having them home to play.

Things have a way of getting busy in the summer, even though in many ways we are slowing down.

I have plans to keep on stitching but I might not be posting here very often for the next few months. Thanks to all who continue to check in here.

red + white

The red with the white for the peppermint stick anything and everything we love to sweeten these December days. The white snow star for the high hopes we have for enough snow to play and sled in.

restful spot

I have slowly been working on my sewing room/studio, removing all unnecessary clutter. Trying to be very honest about what I use and what I don't use/need. It is becoming a place I want to be rather than the catch-all it had become.

Before Maple even came to be with us I placed this old sectional piece in the dormer window in hopes she would be my company in this room. This morning, after a lovely and apparently exhausting walk in the woods she has settled into her spot.

Have a restful weekend.

Warmth

The room that holds our fireplace also has the largest and oldest window in our house. I am making a window panel to help hold in the warmth on the days we need it. When it is cold outside and the fire is lit we will move homework, dog bed, toys, work, play and whatever into this room. Today was very sunny and so I thought great to test fabrics in the light. This is a thrifted heavy canvas drop cloth and I love the texture and weight yet transparency of it. The center indigo panel was made in the wonderful springtime indigo workshop with Glennis Dolce. I like the way the sun shines through the four white squares even when overlaid on the canvas. Today this was held with rubber bands and straight pins. There is a lot of the construction to figure out.

I want to be able to roll up and secure like this on warmest sunny winter days.

The panel must include these beautiful sugar maple leaves that closely surround our house. I want to remember all of this yellow in this time of year we begin to move into this room.

as leaves

It has been a pleasantly busy week. Not a lot of it involving needle and thread - but I dreamed up and laid out a few things in my head. It feels like a good start.

and this morning I saw Us - as leaves.

winged sumac and red

The weekend was beautiful and the leaves are starting to really show their color. Winged sumac - red!

You can see why they are so named. This one will enlarge with a click.

I had my red runner (last mentioned here) close by - to inspire some leaves in the stitching.

These are the last of the reds from the garden. Soon I will try making hot pepper jelly. It's time to bring everything in, there was honest to goodness frost this morning.

far from everything

The pup and I are finding ourselves with our feet in the cool creek water as often as we can. Maple sometimes goes far enough out to swim a little - she makes a tight little circle of doggie paddling.

We walk through our busy little town to this place that feels so far from everything. During the week I start to crave a few moments here to refuel and breathe it all in. The sycamore leaves are falling and becoming part of the water and rocks.

This one half summer - half fall. The yellow then brown sneaking in through the veins.

I want the things I make to have a sense of all of this.

Maple Summer Sunshine

I never intended to be away from this blog all summer. We have been quite busy spending lots of time getting to know this little lady, Maple. She has been with us two months now.

Keeping up with her puppy energy and love for outside has made for a wonderful summer. We are crazy about her.

We have had hot dry weather and hot hot sunshine all summer and so it brought me back around to the paint printing again. Hot sun makes a sharp print. I had been thinking on ways to do things differently - pushing all my favorite elements to coexist. Working towards the many threads of ideas here and there all coming together. I have worked on softening some of the colors.

 

Stitch had begun on a small scale - to try some new construction and work a few things out. 

Everything is shifting here very soon. School will start and I am grateful to have a little pup to keep me company. Thanks to all who are still listening and looking.