Simple Pleasures During Confusing Times

Such complicated and confusing times we’re living in these days. Do I go out or stay in? Mask all or some of the time? Travel?! It’s all so exhausting. What I do know for sure, for me, is that the value of making and creating keeps me calm and grounded. Using my hands to make something beautiful or yummy lifts my serotonin levels quicker than anything. Sitting, wondering and discussing what to do next creates such anxiety and even anger. Now is the time, especially with fall here, to drag out those watercolors, dust off that old cookbook your mom gave you a million years ago, pick up those needles and some gorgeous luxurious yarn and make with your hands. This does not have to be some great work of art. Whatever puts you into this happy and mindful zone is doing the job. Also, maybe gift some little bit of your creativity to someone without it being a birthday or any special occasion. A “just for fun” thing! Would love to hear what you do or make these days that lifts your spirits.

Happenings

 Sometimes I have difficulty staying in my happy place which is mindful and creative.  But, my best solution for that is to get outside and walk, garden or just sit and observe.  Lately we've had a visitor to our pond.  This large friend swoops in and we never see him arrive or leave.  He obviously likes to visit the pond, which is overrun with gold fish.

Happy To Be Back!

 I haven't blogged in a really long time.  I had lost interest, and found myself smitten with Instagram, which is a site that I really enjoy still.  But, I decided to give blogging another try, hopping to share more thoughts and content.  Hopefully I can stay with it.  There's still blogs that I love to look at, and I think more people are starting to blog again.  Maybe?

I'm still rug hooking.  The above is my current project, which will eventually be a large poppy pillow.  I stopped hooking for awhile, but joined Deanne Fitzpatricks creativity class called The Harbour.  It's a monthly class for one year full of great books, interviews and lots of creative inspiration and discussion.

This class really got me jump started back into rug hooking!

I've also had a lot of fun designing and constructing hooked bags.

These three are my most recent.  The blue and black are currently in my dulcysdoorstep.etsy.com.

Another favorite pastime that I continue is weaving on my triloom.  I'm addicted to Noro yarns and have recently woven these two lovely shawls made from a soft and vibrant cotton blend.  They drape beautifully!

These two shawls are also in my shop.

Another fun thing that I recently dipped my brush into is Annie Sloan Chalk paint.  I have/had these white cupboard doors in my bath.  Well, I became enamored with Annie Sloan's chalk paint palette after reading an article about her in Selvedge Magazine.  I fell in love with all her colors, but really have a passion for the Antibes Green.  So I used that on the insets of my doors.  Then I cut a stencil using inspiration from seeing the gorgeous purple/black tulips in Amsterdam.  So happy with the results!

Hope you're enjoying this gorgeous spring.  All the flowering trees are in full bloom here.  The colors and lilac fragrance outside my door in amazing!

One of my new fancy tulips I planted last fall.

xo

dulcy

It's Been Awhile

Thought I would share a bit today.

I've been on a furniture painting spree! 

I was so inspired by a photo of a cabinet painted by Gudrun Sjödén that she keeps her textiles in accumulated from travels.  I have a similar cabinet that I had chalk painted white about five years ago.  I decided to give it a face lift.

I'm also using it to keep textiles from travels, things I've created, and my small fiber library plus books on spirituality and travel.  So happy with it now!

Have been rug hooking of course!

Designed and hooked this tulip rug..... wanting to hook some florals in red and yellow.

Also have been working on a few bags.  Below is my Floppy Sunflower Bag.  I taught a class on this one Saturday.  

Here is a a series of three of my most recent bags.

Also I've enjoyed making posy pins! Have taught a couple of classes on these and currently have a few for sale.

And..... a bit of knitting.  One sock done, and currently working on its mate.  Also my very fun knit, the Hitchhiker Shawl.  Which I finished yesterday!

And I'll leave you with a sweet shot of a recent backyard visitor.

Happy June!

xo

dulcy

February Quiet

My days are so quiet right now, and I'm really enjoying the pre-spring peace of it all.  Crazy weather from sunny 60 degrees, to ice and snow in the teens.  Right before our last icy snow day, or wintry weather mix as the weather people call it, it went outside and took a few photos of new growth.

Snowdrops about ready to bloom.

And my lovely hellebores will be showing their color soon.

 There should be a nice full bloom from both our dogwoods out front.  White and pink.

I've had flowers on my mind and spent the last week making a new pillow.  I just sort of free hooked with no particular pattern mind.  My only plan had been to leave a nice bit of natural linen showing.

It looks sweet next to my old snowdrop pillow I made several years ago.

I also made a batch of posy pins.

These are really fun and fast to make.  I will be teaching two classes on various ways to make these later in March.

Yesterday I decided that I wanted to clean out my bookcase and dedicate a couple of shelves to my textiles and fiber art.  This is the case in the spare bedroom.

I took bags and totes I had made and stored away and put them out to see...I also have a few textiles out I purchased when in Guatemala last year.  I have a nice little library of textile books and publications that were scattered throughout the house and studio.  I grouped my favorites together on the shelf, and will donate rest to the library.  This sort of job is great when I'm between projects.  Perusing through my books keeps me inspired and dreaming about what comes next.  Well.... actually now that I look at this white bookcase, which is really quite large and painted with white chalk paint, wouldn't it be interesting to paint it multicolored with some stenciling?  I'll probably be out buying paint tomorrow.  No kidding......

A little February heart rock laying on a needle point piece I did at least 20 years ago.

Enjoying the quiet while it lasts.
xo
dulcy

Winter Means Make Something!

Brrrrrrr..... cold wet snowy icy.  We've had it all, but not nearly as bad as many other parts of the country.  Actually pretty typical January, one extreme to the other!  Perfect days to get in the studio and create.  

One project I've been working on is some triloom weaving.  I've been weaving a pretty melon cotton shawl for spring.

I think it will be just the right touch with a white tee shirt. Triloom weaving is so relaxing..... I love listening to podcasts or books while weaving.  Sometimes even a movie on Netflix!  

I've also been having fun with flowers.  I purchased the Raggedy Flower pattern from Primitive Spirit and spent an afternoon hooking pretty posies.  

It's fun to make them into little pins.  Directions for all of this comes with the pattern.
Here I have it pinned to my navy pea coat.  You can see a peek of a bag I needlepointed at least 20 years ago.  The pattern is from an old folk art needle point book by Mary Norden.  I've needlepointed several of her patterns..... not doing needlepoint these days, but who knows, may decide to give it a go again.

 I will soon be teaching a rug hooking class at Pheonas's.  Pheonas's is a CHARMING historical home turned into a shop and studio in Billings, Missouri.

Over the course of two classes we will hook and assemble this pretty pansy pillow.

We will meet Saturday February the 9th from 1:00-4:00 for hooking, and Saturday March 2nd at the same time for assembling.  All materials are provided, and no experience is necessary.  Great time of year to learn a new skill, or add some additional techniques to your rug hooking repertoire.

Hope you're warm and cozy.
xo
dulcy

A Quiet Creative Winter

Wow!  Time flies too fast!  It's been over a year since I've blogged, and frankly, I thought I was done with blogging.  But I find myself missing it.  I don't check out as many other blogs as I used to, but plan on getting back out there.

Over the past year I've been creating regularly and trying some new things.

Mixed media painting

A bit of portrait painting

Some sewing

And..... as always....... knitting and rug hooking

I will really try to be a bit more regular here.  I've been so tied up with Instagram because I love the sort of curated and easy little virtual magazine I've created by following all those that inspire and post  regularly.  But I do miss the nice little reads I get from other bloggers.  It takes more time, and of course, social media is mostly all about pictures, less reading, and speed.  This quiet post holiday time of winter is perfect to slow down and appreciate and take a bit more time with things.  Maybe that's why I'm feeling more inclined to blog.

Hope all is well in your world!

xo

dulcy

P.S.  Next post I'll take time to write a bit more.

Winter Quiet

Brrrrrrr........

Freezing here, as it may be wherever you are.  Good time for some new year's reflection.  I decided to break from blogging for a bit.  It's one of those "things" that feels a bit like it's hanging over my head with a loss of enthusiasm.  Of course. I could just not return for awhile or longer, but it seems that lots of bloggers do that.  I'll take a look at what sounds like an interesting blog and see that the most recent post date was in 2013!  So, instead of just leaving it hanging out there, thought I'd let my readers know that I'm giving my little blog a rest.  I do post under "dulcysdoorstep" on Instagram all the time.  So if you want to keep up with me, just pop in there.  Also, I still keep up with many of you that are blogging.  This means that I do check out my side bar and see if anything new is up with you!  

Happy New Year, and hope to see you on Instagram!

xo

dulcy

Shawls, Bags, and The Little Blue Cupboard

HELLO!

I've been making, and organizing, and trying to make creative plans for 2018!

Put a couple of shawls and bags in the Between Friends library gift shop where I volunteer one night a week.  It's the absolute best place to shop for gifts and just fun things for yourself.  No tax, and proceeds go back to the library.  WIN WIN!

I've got another on the loom that needs to be fringed, just haven't "felt it" lately.  Maybe this weekend I'll get back at it.

I'm showing a bit of my work for the month of December at a sweet little bistro, Tea Bar and Bites Cafe.  "Willow's Dream" is one of five pieces I'm showing.  The reception is tomorrow evening, and I'll post a few photos from that soon.

Willow's Dream

Having the best time with my Little Blue Cupboard spot at the Vintage Peddler Antique and Vintage Market.  

I've put a bit of Christmas in, but looking forward to January for a complete redo.  It's a tiny spot, but I've got big plans!

Loving this late spring like weather, but also looking forward to a bit of winter (crazy, but I love all four seasons!).  We don't have as much of that anymore, and things are starting to rebloom, not to mention insects are still out and about.  Saw a pretty little yellow butterfly the other day.  Oh... and a couple of mornings back, I was up early getting ready for my morning swim, stepping into the dark living room to turn on a light, looked up, and a bat was splayed out on the ceiling!  After much swooping about, hubby was able to get it in a large jar without any injuries for us, cats, or the bat.  Aren't bats supposed to be hibernating by now?

xo

dulcy