Friday, December 21, 2012

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Christmas On The Mantle!

My "Two Friends" little hooked piece is mounted on canvas.  I thought this would be the most interesting way to finish it off, actually, a lot easier than binding, covering cord, etc.  This way I can easily hang it on the wall.  I'm a sucker for red and gold, and thought it set this little winter wonderland off nicely.


I had a bestie date with pal Jessy the other day.  We exchanged holiday happy's and I just have to share the "Christmas Card" she created for hubby and me.........


It's a foundry mold that Jessy, so CREATIVELY, embellished with all kinds of lovelies.  Notice the leather trees, and there's little holiday wonders and words on the front and back.  I put it on the fireplace mantle with a some of my favorite holiday things.


I also have my paper mache Santas that my mom made.  She sculpted each one and they're very detailed.  I also have my little feather tree that she gave me many years ago.  She ordered it from llbean with the tiny glass ornaments.

Of course I'm knitting socks.  This pair is a gift for a certain person that resides here with me.  Hope he doesn't read this.........


And here's a pretty new yarn I picked up to make another pair.  I'm loving the bits of teal that keep popping up as I knit.


 It may seem like I'm a bit obsessed with socks, but really, I don't think I can have too many.  They have, so far, been wearing like iron.  But eventually I'll either be sick of knitting them, my hands many give in, or maybe I'll just forget how!  So, they're like money in the bank for me.

Have a lovely week, and I sooooo envy those that have snow right now.  We've been having never ending days of sun and temps. in the 50's.  I know that may sound like gorgeous weather, and it sort of is.  But, I LOVE the change of seasons, and am anxiously awaiting some real winter!

xo
dulcy

Friday, December 7, 2012

Dreaming of Snow...........

I wish it would snow............................


I hooked these two little friends in a dreamy winter wonderland.  It doesn't show up in this photo, but I added lots of sparkly yarn to the snow.  I want to go there. 


I haven't finished this piece off yet, but may attach it to some linen with a frayed edge, or some wool.  I'm also considering a small canvas, and I'll paint the border.  I'll have to think about this........

I'm very into weaving on my triloom at the moment.  I picked up this lovely Noro yarn yesterday to start a new shawl.  I want a snowy day in the studio, weaving, drinking hot drinks, listening to great books on my iPod.  Of course I do these activities without the snow, but wouldn't the snow add just the right touch?


I can't wait to start this shawl, but have another practice piece on the loom.  I'm afraid I'm going to run out of this pretty teal that I've had so long, I don't remember where it came from.  I've been using it for all kinds of other projects, and it seemed like a forever ball of yarn.  But, this shawl may end up with a stripe down the center before it's through.


Have you decorated for the holidays yet?  Not that I find that necessary.  There's an awful lot of pressure these days to decorate, spend, eat, and that can cause soooo much stress.  I don't put much out, but wanted to share my festive bottle ornament.  I just love it!


I have it next to this sweet little Ukrainian egg done by my mom.  This little grouping of two makes me feel happy and warm.  


Next to them sits another egg done by mom.  It's an ostrich egg.  I also have a needle point egg next to it.  I love red with the pretty soft aqua pottery.

I have other, what I consider holiday pretties, out and about.  Handmade, and things I've acquired over the years that mean so much to me.  Have a lovely day............

xo
dulcy

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Inbetween Time

I think Thanksgiving is grand, but really love the few days after.  Lots of leftovers and turkey soup, so not much cooking.  The south side of our town is where all the shopping is, so it's pretty quiet over here.  Lovely weather, and for me, a good time to work on finishing projects in the works and starting new ones.  I finally finished my first triloom shawl.


I have to thank the lovely members of the triloom group for helping me on-line with a panicky moment, after the shawl was off the loom, and I found I had skipped a stitch in two places.  Great help, and mistakes corrected.  I currently have it hanging in the studio where I can look at it while thinking about new hooking and weaving projects.

Today I started this little piece.........


A little girl with her fox in the snow.  We'll see where it goes from here.  It will be a very small piece.  I've been leaning towards small pictorial sorts of hooking at the moment.  Lots of hand cutting, tedious, but fun.

Below is a shot of my most recent knitted wristies actually on....


This is my second pair like this, and they're now at the library gift shop.  My other identical pair has sold.  I feel like I'm done knitting these.  Easy knits, but just tired of it.  I made something like 9 or 10 pairs for the gift shop.  I just can't do the same thing over and over!!

Hope your Thanksgiving was lovely, and that you have a restful and stress free future in store between now and Christmas.  If you have the time, pop over to my friend Jennifer's blog, Ripplespeak.  She has the most amazing post about her plans for the holiday season.  Jennifer is a gifted writer and poet.  She expresses herself in such a touching and elegant manner.  Perfect reading for this time of year.

xo
dulcy





Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Fall Wonders


A Thanksgiving greeting for you!  Photography by my talented husband, Jim Mayfield.  And music by lovely friend, Emily Higgins.

Happy Thanksgiving!
xo
dulcy

Friday, November 16, 2012

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


Monday, November 12, 2012

Refocusing........

I'm in an art and crafting limbo.  Not happy with my weaving because I feel that my loom is too small.  Wonderful hubby has offered to build a larger one, which is soooo generous, but I feel sort of guilty about that.  I made my test shawl which I wish was a bit roomier.  It's more like a large scarf.  I'm thinking this one out before I proceed with my wonderful new New York yarn.  Best to take some time for a walk in the woods.


I think I'll just straighten out things in the studio today, and finish my almost done sock knitting.  I really need to work on knitted wristies for our fabulous Library Center gift shop, Between Friends.  Our manager/buyer, Shelly has ordered another six pair.  I made four pairs earlier this fall and they've all sold.  But, having a hard time getting into this second order because of the loom "looming" in my brain.  Maybe I can refocus.  A new hooked rug perhaps? 

But, really I feel I'm in the mood to paint and draw.  I think I might begin a pastel today.  I've had an idea in mind for a long time, and have been avoiding my easel.  It's a very cold and crisp fall day, good day to stay home and create.....


xo
dulcy

Friday, November 2, 2012

Cat In The Window


Little Iris enjoying a beautiful fall day from her perch in the window.

Happy Fall!
xo
dulcy

Friday, October 26, 2012

Wool, Weaving, and Livestock


I'm home from a most fabulous trip to upstate New York and into Massachusetts.  The main goal of this little vacation was to attend the Dutchess County Wool and Sheep Festival in Rhinebeck, NY with my bestie, Ann.  Such luscious wool everywhere!

And check out theses little sweeties.


I was thrilled to find this lovely wool to make a shawl on my recently finished triloom.


It's a combo of wool, mohair, and silk.  I love the color, and it's name, "bloodroot".

Here's a peek at my triloom in the studio.  I'm currently working on a practice shawl in a slate blue with just a bit of teal in the color.  It's wool from Joanne's.  Saving my nice bloodroot for the next piece.  It's my first whirl at triloom weaving.  I'm loving it so far.  So exciting to learn some new fiber fun!


While in Massachusetts, I found the most gorgeous yarn in a lovely knit shop.  It was tucked away in one of the many villages we passed through.


I bought a pretty soft Italian extra fine merino wool.  That is the sock on the left below.


And let me point out that the color is not at all that blue..... my camera apparently decided it should be.  It's actually far more neutral with lots of gray and taupe.


There, much better.  The sock on the right is one I took to knit on the trip, but once I had the new yarn in my hands...... plans changed.  Oh dear, one of each!  More sock knitting ahead.

Hopes for a lovely beautiful fall weekend!
xo
dulcy

Friday, October 5, 2012

Old Paisley and Rain

Today is cold, rainy, windy, and I just LOVE it!!  We've had some absolutely gorgeous fall days, but I always look so forward to the turn in weather.  I know our weather, most likely, will return to warmth and sun before deep fall and winter hit...... but I sure do love this sort of day.  It's the kind of day that sends me into my little fiber studio to create!

I picked up a pretty piece of old paisley that I've been trying to come up with an idea for.  I was thinking of working it into a hooked mat, or maybe another cuff.  But, today after pondering this little lovely for a bit, I decided not to cut it up.... leave it alone in all it's glory..... and make a hanging piece.


Since I consider myself primarily a rug hooker, I hooked some wool strips and yarn right onto the paisley.


I like the teal next to the old red.  I also stitched on some of my gold wool, and glued just the tiniest bit of teal along the edge.


I love the fray along the bottom, and I added some very old tarnished buttons.


The frayed linen makes a lovely neutral frame to attached the paisley to.

Most of my hooking takes at least days, maybe weeks, and sometimes months to complete.  This little piece took me part of this morning and into lunch to finish.  Satisfied my need to create... Fun and done!

Happy Friday!
xo
dulcy

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

My Colorful World

I went to a fabulous hook-in in Warsaw, Missouri about a month ago with a couple of my besties, Tammy and Sheri.  I bought some gorgeous wool which I left hanging on the edge of my wool cabinet so I could just look at it and enjoy the loveliness of color and texture.  Well..... I just couldn't leave it alone!  So............



Two new cuffies emerged!  The wool is lovely shades of turquoise, creams, light browns, a hint of green, with a bit of sparkly gold fiber running throughout.  I mixed in some gorgeous blue wool strips, and a pretty taupe alpaca that also has the tiniest bit of gold mixed in.  I had such fun making these because I LOVE the colors, and enjoyed watching the different textures and color play against each other.  Both of these pretties are now in my  little shop on Etsy.



A few of you dear friends have remarked that you don't know what a hedge apple is or what they come from... are they any good to eat?  NO!  The only creature I know of that will eat a hedge apple is a cow.  Another name for the tree they come from is the Osage Orange.  I've grown up seeing them laying about as long as I can remember, and love the brilliant green and bumpy texture of these beauties.   But, as far as I know, they're not much good for anything and rot into a brown mushy mess.   I've been on a hedge apple hooking binge for a year or so.  You may remember my rug I made last year for this fall.


Or my hedge apple bag that I made. Love the hedge apple green against the gray with some crimson and gold mixed in.


Or maybe my little Fiesta that now has a license plate that says HDGAPL.  It's always fun to watch people trying to figure our what that means.

Anyway, I'm not too crazy, just loving fall and the color pretties that come around only this time of year.  And we still have the leaves to look forward to!!

xo
dulcy

Friday, September 28, 2012

Fall Cuffs, Deck Time, And Always The Hedge Apple

I've been hooking away on chunky cuffs for winter and fall......


I just added these three colorful cuff to my little hooking shop on etsy.

I've also been knitting like mad..... working on some lovely soft wristies for winter which I'll post when finished.  Enjoying evenings relaxing with hubby and getting our end of summer/early fall deck time in.


I love the way hedge apples find their way into and around my cozy home.  Fall leaves are definitely gorgeous, but hedge apples falling from trees, gathering in ravines along the road, hedgerows, and the edge of parking lots are my first "call to fall".

We've been able to have a a few fires in our little stone fireplace (well, it's actually a gas fireplace, but I do love to be able to turn the fire on and off at will....).  Willow ejnoys relaxing in the chair next to the fire on these early fall evenings.


Wishing you a lovely fall weekend......

xo
dulcy

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Gobs of Color!

Gosh.... I love the cool, crisp, colorful beginnings of fall.  I know it's not official yet, but I've got mums in pots and in the ground, pumpkins on the porch, and my hedge apple rug on the floor (which Willow immediately took up residence on).


I've been hooking and sewing a bit.  The results of my labors are these hooky cuff bracelets....


I used magnetic snaps for the fasteners.  Had fun playing with color while making these.  They're sewn onto wool attached to the linen.

I took a morning and trimmed out my last hooked hanging piece.  I felt that it needed something more colorwise.  There just seemed to be too much green, so I added this bright strip of wool and sewed on a few little beads.


I went to a hook-in a week ago with my gal pals Tammy and Sheri.
I picked up this luscious yarn.  Can't wait to make something wonderful with it.  I may save it for some hooking, but am tempted to knit a scarf (which I don't really need, but I think it's the best way to show off this homespun loveliness).


There's some pretty sparklies mixed in that don't show up in this shot.  Should have had  hubby shoot it for me.

I told you in my last post that I was having hand surgery.  Well, I did (actually it was on one finger) and it was a breeze (sort of).  So, I'm not hooking yet, but lots of knitting and other bits of this and that.  I went for coffee with bestie, Jessy,  a day after my surgery and she had this sweet little "get well" dolly waiting for me.


She's tied to a blue bottle to put on my bottle tree, but for now she's just resting on the mantle.  No, she won't go outside on the tree.... just the bottle.  Here's a link on the history of the bottle tree.  You may have never heard of bottle trees, but I find them quirky and beautiful.  I also love the folklore that goes along with this old form of garden folk art.  History of Bottle Trees.  One more time, here's my new little rebar bottle tree!


Hope your late summer/early fall is as lovely as it is here and you're enjoying every minute of it!

xo
dulcy

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