Green Hand Dyed Wool...

I have been dividing my time between the gardens and the dye kettle...

so the natural color choice for wool this week was green.

Whether I am rug hooking or wool appliqueing, I like having
 many different shades of green to choose from.  Some greens blend nicer with certain colors.  I will usually place them side by side to see how they look, 
before deciding which shade of green to use in my project.

Warm greens, bright greens, dark greens, primitive greens...
almost sounds like tossed salad.  
(Or maybe with names like kiwi and lime - a fruit salad)  ;)

These greens can be found in my Studio, 
under the Quarter Yard section.


Be Inspired by color...
Rose

A Spring Garden Tour...

 Iris blooming in my gardens

The sun is shining and gentle breezes are blowing -

at finally the windows can be opened.
I love seeing window sheers billowing with the breezes.
It is one of those comforting feelings, 
like fresh laundry drying on the clothes line. ;)

I love this time of year...

the gardens are putting on a show...

Soon I will be on weed patrol, but for now it is just a "breath of fresh air".

Blue Forget Me Nots, Candy Corn Vine, Roses

While at the Landis Valley Herb Fair, I purchased a Candy Corn Vine.  How cute is that...doesn't it look just like candy corn ?  
I don't think it is a perennial, but I couldn't resist bringing it home.
I will collect seed to plant it again next year.

Chives, Bleeding Heart (also known as Dutchman's Britches), Primrose, Lilacs

This is Wild Ginger.
At first glance, it looks like a mound of heart shaped green leaves.  But if you part the leaves and look underneath, you will find beautiful flowers hidden away.
I have always wondered why this plant "hides" it's flowers !

My Golden Chain Tree is always blooming for Mother's Day.

This is one of my favorite trees...
a Weeping Purple Beech.
The leaves emerge coppery and turn a deep dark purple.

Enjoy your weekend...
Rose

The Little Frog...

 The Frog...design by Gary Clarke

How hard could it be to stitch up a little Frog ?

He is only 2.5in. x 2in. (6.35cm x 5.08cm)

Much of the sewing is a simple Running stitch.

He is sewn on Organza, and for as simple as he appears, 
it takes a lot of thinking before you make each stitch.

A small group of us are meeting about 3-4 times in the Month of May... 
each of us are working on a tiny little Frog ! 

The design is from Gary Clarke.

The fabric is Organza and it is very sheer.

Some of the stitches are on the back...
they just look like they are on the front, because of the sheer fabric.

Every stitch has to be calculated...
no crossovers, no unsightly knots...everything shows !

He will be cute as a button when finished, but for now, I see mistake after mistake... and it seems each week I am wondering if I should start over.

This little Frog has humbled me.

I am learning. ;)

Happy Friday...

Rose

My Chickens Have A New Home...

My Chickens have found a new home...

This 22 page Pattern Book includes full size patterns for 

9 unique and different chickens.

Original designs to make you own coop full of "woolen" chickens !

The pattern book includes full color photographs, easy to understand, 

step by step instructions, pattern templates for 9 different chickens 

and a "Helpful Tips and General Information" page for working with wool.

The Urban Chickens Pattern Book is printed and bound in my Studio.

These Chickens would love to roost on pillows, be hung on the wall 

or gather together to create a fun throw blanket.

For more Urban Chicken Pattern details, visit my Studio.

Amazing Needlepoint Pillow...

 Needlepoint Pillow

This amazingly detailed Needlepoint Pillow is the hand work 
of Jessica Conroy from lesjardinsdevie.

Jessica is an extremely talented Needle Artist.  I have featured her work 
 on other occasions.  She is always coming up with new and fresh ideas.
I simply love this design pattern !

The rich colors draw you in...

Jessica stitched this Pillow in soft, rich Liberty Wool.

No detail has been overlooked !

The Pillow is finished with hand dyed cotton velveteen cording.  

The back of the Pillow is soft 100% wool fabric.

To see all the details of this beautiful Needlepoint Pillow 
and more of her creations, you can visit lesjardinsdevie.

Wool Applique Foxglove Pillow...

I decided to make a pillow from my Foxglove design.

It measures 16in. x 16in. (40.64cm x 40.64cm)

I placed a Scalloped Blanket Stitch around the 'panel' 

in a shade to compliment the flowers.

I trimmed the edge in a Beaded Blanket Stitch in shades of Pink and Coral.

The back of the pillow is a Taupe and Cream Houndstooth, 

the same as the 'panel' that the Foxglove are appliqued onto.

This was a fun and fast project to work up.

No sewing machine is needed.  All the work is done by hand.