Bits and Pieces

It's such a lovely time right now.  60 degree days interspersed with days in the 40's.  Warm enough for early crocus and bees.

My beloved snowdrops are also starting to poke up their tiny heads.  Something about the small early bloomers really makes me hopeful and happy.

I' ve been tending my indoor gardens this winter here's a favorite of mine.  The "toilet garden".

Plants just seem to be accumulating in this nicely lit spot.  

Another project this week has been denim redo's.  First I decided I really wanted a particular kind of denim skirt.  It had to be just below the knee and a bit a-lined.  I found a Youtube video that showed how to make one out of jeans, so I starting ripping out the seams of my old beat up garden jeans.  Ended up with my perfect fit denim skirt!

I am so pleased with it!  I actually have it out now being embroidered with my initials in gold on the front pocket, a bit more fraying on the hem, and good to go!

The man saw me rummaging around for denim and gave me his horribly ripped 501's.  The knees were too ripped to be stylish, so I patched with a bit of antique paisley and hand dyed velvet.  I have them on now (2nd day in a row), and am totally in love!  

Also been working on shawls, and have a couple of new ones at Ms. Gilmores Vintage Suitcase.  Her style works well with my style.

Love how they're displayed so lushly layered.

And...... a visit today by this big boy at the bird feeder (with several lady friends who had scattered).

Spring may officially be some weeks away yet, but oh..... I can feel it coming!

xo

dulcy

Pompoms and Lemons

I've been weaving away, and decided to add a new little "happy" to one of my shawls.

Notice the three raggedy pompoms?  Just enough to add a bit of charm without being silly.  Also used the same silk/mohair blend with the pompoms as I use with my shawls.  No cheap yarn pompoms on my shawls!  Actually it's very cute on.  Especially when I wrap it with all three showing in the front.

I like the following picture of another recent shawl.  I draped it with a tote I made about 20 plus years ago.

I needle pointed these sweet little folk art houses from a pattern book of my mom's.  The designer is Mary Norden.  I then turned the needle pointed piece into a bag.  I don't carry it much anymore as I prefer much smaller handbags, but mom and I did several patterns from her book, and this piece has a great amount of sentimental value and love in it.  I keep it on the door for memories and inspiration.

Another home "happy" that I recently acquired is this pretty little lemon tree.

I had been wanting one, but thought I would have to wait until spring.  Then.... a couple of weeks ago at the grocery, I found that they had brought in a bunch of lemon and lime trees!  I was so excited, and brought this one to it's new home.  Hope it does well.  I've been gently visiting it each morning when I open the blinds with encouraging loving thoughts and words.

And I am very encouraged by the huge turnout in our small/medium town at the Women's March Saturday.

On my right is my very dear friend Katie.  We made a perfect marching pair! 

xo

dulcy

Happy Day

Today has been fun for the following reasons:

- package in the mail

- surprised visit from a my friend, Ann

- finished another shawl

- hydrangeas!

- wearing my new pretty red glasses

I won't go into all of above, but here's a peek at my happy day........

I received a lovely package today from Peggy at Woman With Wings.  I've admired all her creative endeavors, and really love her stitched moon clothes.  We did a little trade, and today I received the June Cloth.... my birthday month!

Love the color, little house with eye, the calendar, the complete composition!  So charming.  Thanks Peggy!

I finished another shawl in my favorite Noro yarn.  A gorgeous grass green in a cotton/silk blend.

I already have one of these green lovelies, so added this one to my Etsy shop.

I hosted a class on hydrangeas for our local chapter of Master Gardeners Monday evening.  Our extremely knowledgable presenter shared her love of hydrangeas.  Mine are, for the most part, full and lovely this year.  I put one pretty white bloom in my little vintage heart vase I found while flea marketing with my buddy Tammy.

I have lots of blue and pink plants, but not wanting to cut blooms yet (tip:  leave blooms on plant until color is completely full.  the cut blooms tend to wilt sooner if the color is not all the way in).  The robin is a pastel I did a few year ago.

It's blazing hot here!  Hope you're staying cool.  I'm weaving in my air conditioned studio, drinking lemonade, and gardening in the very early morning.

xo
dulcy

It's All About The Yarn!

I saw this lovely little tunic on the Primitive Spirit blog.  This tunic is called the Liesl, and can be found here.  I had an awfully good time knitting it the second time around........  The first time I made too many mistakes, and it just didn't fit properly.  I'd rather rip than keep something out of this lovely linen yarn that would never be worn.  Fortunately, I was not completely turned off of this project on my first try, and soldiered on until I got it right.

I'm so happy with it that I've ordered some yarn in a pretty shade of eggplant to start another!

I can't tell you how much I'm enjoying my triloom at the moment.  I've woven a few shawls, not wild about all of them, but getting better.  Here's one just off the loom.......

I'm completely smitten with all the Noro yarns right now.  I've ordered some more in a gorgeous turquoise, lime, violet, gray combo out of their Spring Garden Silk collection.  I'm going up north this summer, and these shawls should be perfect for Michigan and Canadian summer weather!

Happy Spring!
xo
dulcy

Fireside Creations

Well..... coming nicely out of my brief creative slump, and jam packed with fireside ideas for winter.  Apparently, little Iris has beat me to my favorite hooking chair.

I'll start out with my loom project that I was so disappointed with the other day.  I worked with it some more and decided that I am happy with the size and began to weave my new lovely bloodroot yarn.

I've been working slowly and methodically making sure all my weaving is straight and even.  This will be a light and airy shawl.

When I take it off the loom, it will fall together more and the weave will be tighter, but not too tight I hope!

I've also been working on wristies for the library gift shop.  I thought this pair turned out super cute, and am starting another pair just like it.

I think the crocheted wool along the bottom looks like a tiny flower garden.  Instead of weaving in the ends, I tied them in a tight bow and frayed the ends.

I've also been working on more hooked cuffs for the gift shop and my little Etsy store.

And..... I have a nice full knitting basket.  Love that!

And.... when I'm not knitting, hooking, or weaving... there's always my lovely new mags and a nice glass of cab waiting for me.  sigh...........

xo
dulcy