a blue stone

A blue stone as repayment to a friend for kindness rendered.

Deep, strong, beautiful blue for someone who shares those attributes.

upcoming workshop at The Crossing Arts Alliance in Brainerd

I'll be teaching a bird class in Brainerd on April 9th.

Details can be found HERE

marks and colors

Something new, totally off my normal track. Permission to play, the company of arty friends, and a workspace full of fiber art supplies lent itself to experimentation with thickened dyes on cotton, and deconstructed screen printing.

Clearly the "less is more" concept escapes me but I do really like some of these marks and colors. I don't know how I'm going to use these swatches of fabric quite yet, but the process was fun.

Happy First Day of Spring, all!

dryer ball kits for beginning needle felters

I put together some kits for those wanting a dead simple introduction to needle-felting.

Using only natural undyed wool, dryer balls help to reduce drying time when using a clothes dryer. They're good for those that are sensitive to dyes and perfumes, and though not advertised for this purpose, they make a fun play ball for kids too, as long as those kids are old enough not to take a bite and get a mouth full of wool.

The kit contains:

Full instructions

3 felting needles

A reusable felting mat

Core wool

3 colors of natural wool for the outer layer

Each kit makes 3 balls about the size of a tennis ball.

They're in my shop.

but they're cute helpers

Home from work a little late, trying to take some photos outside in an effort to catch the light before the sun goes down completely. Not ideal, but I needed a photo of this piece in order to apply for a show.

I got a couple done and then...

Reality.

Reality comes with helpers.

(claw claw claw on my thigh to get my attention)

I had to bribe them with a piece of lunch meat so I could finish taking pics.

They've trained me well.

thank you

Thanks all who took home a stone yesterday, who had a look, who helped spread the word, I'm so grateful.

For those that missed out, I hope to have an offering for you soon.

happy day, friends!

shop update Feb 14 2016 at 10am

I'll have a shop update on Sunday morning, Valentine's morning in fact.

I'm planning to push the go button at 10am Central time (that's Chicago time)

If you are interested, you can find the shop HERE.

Thank you!

stones for sale this Sunday

Ah life.

Here, just days after showing this photo and talking about how I was plotting a future project for these stones I find myself with an unexpected expense and a change of course.

I'll be putting these stones, and a couple more, up for sale this Sunday as I'm able.

(you can find my shop HERE)

Life changes course, so we adjust our sails, right?

Let the plodding plotting continue.

a plotting plodder

I've been immersed in work projects as of late, and burning the midnight oil on a project of my own, which has left me little time to do much of anything else. Add on top of that connectivity problems and a head cold. I feel like I'm plodding along.

Something I have managed to do is do a little stitching each day. I have plans, you see.

I may be plodding, but I'm also plotting.

I'm a plotting plodder.

If I owe you an email, I apologize. It looks like I'll be back in email today and will sneak a little time tonight to get to them.

Have a great day, everyone.

first, some stitching

Last day of vacation for me, back to work tomorrow.

But first, some stitching.

an intention for the new year

A walk in the woods this morning, on a mission.

Stone in my hand, wrapped in colors I coaxed from nature.

Time for an offering. Sowing a seed of intention. A prayer.

When I stopped at my usual tree I found it was already occupied with a clump of leaves and twigs that looked as if they'd been placed there. I dared not disturb it. Not my place.

Down around the corner another tree would act as nursery. An older oak with two split limbs like praying hands.

I placed my stone, said a few words, and walked back to the house.

Live.

Had there been more room on my stone would say "Live this life. Live it well and good and full. None of it is promised, so live." 

But since this stone is just wee, there it is.

Live.