stone completed - as in greece

I finished a stone yesterday for my project.  I had high hopes of having all of my stones completed by now but then life tangled my yarn and I had to focus on other things.  I'm not going to set an official deadline for myself, lest that tempt fate to throw more tangles my way, but for those of you who have been patiently waiting for me to stitch your stones, work is underway.

Today's stone came to me all the way from Greece where Ariadne gathered it from the beach at the foot of the the Olympus mountains.  The thought of the water guided me in the color choice for the wool and the idea of grecian ruins and the lovely bits of sea finds that Ariadne incorporates into her own work led me to add random stitches and clay beads.

I hope the stone captures a bit of what you experienced while gathering it, Ariadne.  Thank you for sending it to me.

The gathering slowly grows.

Happy Friday everyone!

completed stone - ks in Minnesota

 It's been many months since I last finished a stone for my project.  Life got very busy and I set it aside for a while, but it was always in the back of my mind.  I found myself reaching into the box this weekend and pulled out this stone sent to me by Kristin who writes the delightful blog Kleas.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kristin in person one summer at her cabin on the lake.  She was such a warm, genuine person.  We talked about mushrooms and watched as the kids splashed in the water.  It was a lovely visit.

Kristin included some plant-dyed wool and a small doily in her package so I incorporated those in her stone.  The doily sits just under the surface of the pretty blue wool and my stitches roughly highlight its shape.  The inspiration for this stone came from the feeling that Kristin has the ability to encircle people in light.  The stitches did the work from there.

The gathering of stones grows.  Slowly, but it grows.

completed stone - vp in Hungary

I received this lovely stone from Victoria in Hungary.  In her note she said that she gathered it from the river Danube where she used to work as a stewardess on a hydrofoil.

I knew immediately that water had to play a part in her stone so I mixed up some fibers in watery colors.  I added some stitches that spoke to me like ripples, spreading out, occasionally encountering an interruption.

 Victoria mentioned that she has discovered needle-felting and that she finds it an interesting and healing art.  I couldn't agree more, Victoria.  Thank you for send me your stone and for sharing your note with me.  (If you're reading, I didn't get your email address with the stone, if you would contact me at lilfishstudios(at)gmail(dot)com I'll update my records so I can contact you after the stone project is completed.)

 I have over 50 stones already but I'd like to add more to the project.  If anyone else would like to send a stone to me, I'd love to have them.  You can get all the information on this post HERE.

 

Have a great day, everyone.

stones, stones, stones

 Unusual little stones popping up on my table.

 Stones as necklaces too.

 Stones for my Art-o-Mat edition.

 

And this, that I carved this weekend.  It will have stones as well.

And stones arriving from around the world, waiting to be in my hands.

It seems I'm knee-deep in stones here so things will be a little stone-centric on the blog for a bit too.  Right now I'm full of enthusiasm but I know me, and I know I'll need a break sooner or later.  Probably sooner.  Then you'll see something decidedly un-stone-like pop up. 

'Til then... stones.

Have a great Monday all, I hope your week rocks.  (ho ho ho)

completed stone - eim in South Dakota

 A new stone completed.  This one sent to me from South Dakota by Amy and her daughter.  Amy's note described her daughter as being beautiful, and a girl who has a huge heart for others, animals, and nature.  I could feel the pride in that note and knew I had to incorporate a heart into her stone in some way.

I took my cue from the tiny sprawling mosses and stitched a grouping in a natural heart shape.

 

 

Thank you, Amy and E, for sending the stone to me.  It made me feel proud to work on it.

If you'd like to send a stone to me for my project, please see this post HERE.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

completed stone - eml in Wisconsin

 

When Ellen from Wisconsin sent me her stone I knew immediately that I would need to incorporate some element relating to dragonflies in it.  I've gotten to know her a little over the past few years and I know dragonflies are a passion of hers.

 

I didn't want to stitch a literal dragonfly on her stone, but instead wanted to bring a touch of dragonfly to the design. 

 

 

I chose a blue that reminded me of the dragonflies I see in my yard, and used stitches to suggest the structure in a dragonfly wing.  What I wish you could see in the photo, but can't really, is that the thread I used is iridescent and shimmers when you hold it in the right light, much like a dragonfly wing itself.

 

It joins the growing gathering of stones.  Thank you, Ellen, for sending it to me.

I've gotten a few more stones in the mail, thank you so much to everyone who has sent one.  I still need more so if anyone else would like to send a stone to me, I'd love to have them.  You can get all the information on this post HERE.

Have a great day, everyone!

completed stone - dlw in West Virginia

Another stone completed.  This one was sent to me from Lisa (who writes the blog 'in the boon docks') on behalf of her grandson, David, from West Virginia.

The color is earthy, like clay and dirt, supporting growth and greenness.  Just the sort of things my own boys love to explore.  I hope you like it too, David.

 

 Thanks so much for joining me in this project of mine.

My hands are eager to stitch so there will be more soon and a few pieces for the shop too.  Soon.

 

Have a great day, everyone.

completed stone - smph in Alaska

 

A stone completed.  In the aftermath of the holidays, the quiet act of finishing this stone was soothing to my overstimulated soul.  This stone came to me from Sherry on the shores of Larsen Bay, Alaska.  That view on the postcard?  That's her yard and her stone was gathered from there.

 

 It's little wonder her stone was so soothing to stitch.  I think it carried some of its beach-side calm with it.

 

 

I used a golden yellow wool on her stone and let the blues of the water and the pebbly texture of the beach inspire my stitches.  I was also inspired by her island location and found myself stitching an island of yellow amidst the blue.

 

The gathering of stones grows.

I made a mail run the other day and oh how I love opening up the PO box to see packages of stones waiting for me.  The stories some of you are including with your offered stones have moved me so.  I only hope I can do justice to them.  Now that the holidays are over I'll be able to work more consistently and I'm eager to show you more soon.

Thank you to everyone who has sent a stone off or have helped spread the word.  If you or someone you know would like to send one to me, you can find the details HERE

Thank you!

completed stone - jb in denmark

 

A new stone completed, the second in my felted stone project.  This one came to me from Julie in Denmark (you might know her as julochka).  It was given a minty green wool coat, a color that abounds in the leafless woods right now in the form of lichens that coat the oaks.  The stitching suggests to me an explosion of growth (mold, spores, ?), peppering the lichen around it.   As I've mentioned before, the stitches seem to lead my hand instead of the other way around, and I'm often surprised at what the finished design looks like.  I think in this case, Julie's personality impacted the feel of the stitches.  In an exuberant kind of way, not in a "ew, mold" kind of way.

 

This summer I had the privilege of meeting Julie in person when she came to visit us under the poplar and pine.  She brought with her delectable treats (breakfast chocolate?! who knew?), gin, and a baggie of satin-smooth stones.  One of which became her addition to my project.

 

Two stones completed, and more in the works.

Thank you to everyone who has sent a stone off or have helped spread the word.  If you or someone you know would like to take part, you can find the details HERE.

wordless Wednesday

the stone project begins

My stone project is officially underway.  I started off with my own stone, stitched this past weekend while having tea with a friend.  My initials and a sloppy "Minnesota" are stitched on the bottom.  I'm hoping my word stitching improves with practice.

My friend Julie visited me this summer and brought with her a baggie of sea stones.  Her stone has been felted and I've begun stitching.

 

Though I didn't really expect any stones to be here already, I checked the mail yesterday and there it was, my first mailed stone!  I was so excited I was grinning like a fool walking out of the post office.

 

Thank you to everyone who has sent stones on the way.  I can't wait to see them.

If you know anyone else who would like to send a stone my way, I'd love it if you'd share.  The more stones the merrier.

The original post, explaining what I'm doing is HERE.

Have a fantastic weekend!