Doorstep Creations and Serena

Our home has been happily full of children and family, and still is off and on for the next week or so.  It's been wonderful, but I love this post holiday quiet time of year.  The new year looms, and I'm excited yet peaceful.  I'm already looking ahead to the greens of springs, but so enjoying the winter browns and golds.  Christmas brought me this lovely lady to reside with us.  She came already named, Serena.

I think she'll be happy here.

I've been rug hooking and playing with designs and colors.  I did this piece and incorporated a little fiber collage I made a few years ago.  I had acquired the piece of antique paisley, and instead of cutting it to hook, I kept it whole and worked it up into this rug. 

I made these bags awhile back, but recently added the pretty vintage-like ribbons.  Have sold a few that were very similar, but decided to keep these for myself.  I find that I don't keep many of my smaller creations, and later wonder "why?".

I did the same with my flirty ribbon shawls.  I've made five, and sold every one.  I didn't take a picture of any of them!  But I was SO happy to have moved two shawls on to a lovely lady visiting here from Mississippi.  She had the most fabulous vibe about her, and I was honored to connect and share a creation of mine with such a lovely person.  The following is a shot of one of my shawls that is long gone.  But not to worry!  Another is currently on the loom. 

Hoping to get back to my sketching this week, and out and about with my sketching buddies, Mary and Tammy.  I feel really rusty! 

Lovely New Year's Wishes,
dulcy

From Our Home To Yours

xo
dulcy

Calming Books and Beauty Oil

Hello!  Such a busy time for many of us, so I'm going to share a few "lovely" things that are making me content, calm, and happy.

Firstly.... a couple of wonderful little books have come my way.  I've been reading gobs of fiction lately, and these two little gems are a nice change of pace.

The first is The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.

This is more than your average organizing system.  Actually it's way more than that.... so far it seems to be about decluttering not only your space, but life in general.  The author teaches her method all over the world, and it's just a nice peaceful read.  Great for this time of year and excess.  Even if you don't feel you have clutter, there's plenty to learn and a different take on organizing.  You can find it here.

Another book I've got in my pile is The Gifts Of Imperfection: Let Go Of Who You Think You're Supposed To Be An Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown.  I've just started this one, but I'm liking where she's going, and her happy writing style.  You don't have to be in the middle of a "life drama" to get something wonderful out of this book.

You can find this one here also.

Okay..... here comes the beauty part!  It's all about oil, especially in the winter.  I've almost completely given up on lotion because oil seems so much better for winter skin (well.... and summer too).  Here's a couple of products I've been using.

The first I discovered when reading a book by one of my favorite "common sense" authors, Mireille Guilano.  She writes about an oil called Aragon Oil.  I've been using it daily (actually throughout the day) on my face, nails, and hair for over a year.  Oh Gosh!  I love this stuff!  I know Walgreen's carry it, but too expensive.  I buy pura dor' and one bottle lasts a good year.  I buy mine here.

Another new oil that I'm so pleased to have found is......

Dr. Teal's Olive Oil Bath & Body Treatment.  You can find this about anywhere.  I came across it at the market.  It smells heavenly, and no oily residue.  The price is right too!

So.... just a couple of "happys" to share with you over these holiday times.

xo
dulcy

Holiday Studio Show

If you're in the area, this will be a nice show to attend.  My husband, Jim Mayfield, will be displaying his work along with several other talented area artists.  Hope you can make it by!

xo
dulcy

Tansy Aspinall And The Gorillas: Reunited At Last! - OFFICIAL VIDEO

Watching this video makes me so happy!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving......
xo
dulcy

Cold, Ribbons, and Studio Time

It's all arrived!  Cold, wind, snow..... the holidays!  Very busy in studio, home and at work.  No time lately for blogging, but wanted to get something out before Thanksgiving and related busyness sets in.  I've been playing with my triloom and shawl making.  Added some ribbon embellishment, and quite happy with the results.

This pretty coral/green combo sold the first day I took it into work at the Vintage Suitcase.  I've since sold another in blue and rosy jewel tones, have another in the shop in lovely shabby antique creams, and one on the loom in grays, blacks, and lavenders.  It's great fun to choose all colors, sizes, and textures of ribbon for the embellishments.  Some I tea dye, but all I scrunch up wet and let dry all wrinkly and crinkly.  We have the best ribbon assortment in the shop you'll find just about anywhere!

I've been knitting mittens with crocheted pretty ribbon borders.

I'm currently knitting my fourth pair!

Of course, always rug hooking.  Tammy and I organized a little hook in at Ivy Jeans a week ago.  I began this piece.

I think I'm going to incorporate the collaged fiber piece that's next to it somehow.  I did that piece a couple of years ago to use this sweet little swatch of antique paisley.  I hope it will come together well, and for once, have the perfect place for it.

Loving Sketchbook Skool.  I've been sketching in public places with friends Mary and Tammy, who are also taking the class.  As you can see, wine is usually involved.....

Heading back out into my cozy studio for some more weaving.  Stay warm, and have a lovely Thanksgiving!

xo
dulcy

Bike'n With My Buddy

We went up north to bike parts of the Katy Trail and had a wonderful little trip.  I think mini trips are my favorite.  A few days from home in the fresh air, the Missouri River, wineries all over the place, great food, and my best friend Jim.

A very small sampling of the many photos we both took.  These are all mine, except the one of me that Hubby shot.

The gorgeous Missouri River, maybe a bit of what Lewis and Clark saw.  Awesome views from the winery (and great wine, some of which made it home with me.....)

Hubby taking a break from his bike to photograph. 

Me taking a bike break to do a quick little painting.

A couple of shots from the great old hotel we stayed in the first night.  I'll share some of the B&B we stayed at in a later post.  All was lovely!

Saw many wonderful barn quilts!

Vibrant fall colors galore!

Spooky little tunnels to bike through......

And to close...... grabbed this shot yesterday evening on our way home from dinner.  The crescent moon is always my favorite!

Happy Fall!
xo
dulcy

Fall Finds and Daily Color

Fall continues to be brilliant!  It's a gorgeous Monday following a fabulous and fun weekend.  Today is a bit rainy and cloudy, but colors pop even more when everything is damp and the sky is grey.  I finally finished my latest hooked piece.  It's big and it's red!  My original plan was that it was to be a wall piece as there's quite a bit of 3D going on.... but for now it's on the floor in front of the fireplace.

Kinda crazy, but I just wanted to hook color and texture.  It's full of not only wool, but silk, velvet, various yarns, metallics, sari silks, and some cotton.

And you can see the beginnings of mittens I'm knitting.  This is just the first of a pair.  I wove in the silk ribbon for a bow, and will crochet the same ribbon around the cuff.  Just doing a bit of experimenting.  Hope to make a few pairs for The Vintage Suitcase, gifts for family and friends, and a pair for myself.

Speaking of The Vintage Suitcase, I grabbed this shot of our "sweet" new bakery at work the other day.  Needed to be quick before the customers started to arrive!

In the shop part of the Suitcase, we carry a nice selection of art papers and vintage look silk ribbons.  I was playing around with a cone made of doggie themed paper at work the other day to sell in the shop.  But, after I finished I decided to purchase it for a Christmas present (can't mention anymore about that here....shhhh...)

Love making these things!

And..... it's hedge apple season again.  My favorite color of fall!  My sweet husband picks these up on his outings and brings them home for me.  They don't last too long, but so gorgeous!

I just had to do a quick little watercolor in my sketchbook....

I love sharing the little things I make and do here in the Ozarks, and I so enjoy visiting all the other fantastic and creative blogs out there.  Such a great source for inspiration, education, and friends!  Thanks for popping by!
xo
dulcy

Fall and Happy

Beautiful fall day!  I guess that's been my theme lately, but this time of year gets me so jazzed and happy.  Here's a shot of our front door taken by my hubby, Jim Mayfield, this morning.  We live in an old rock house built in 1929.  WE LOVE IT!

This past weekend was perfect!  I spent Saturday with my dear sweet friend Katie.  It started with a honey almond latte from the Mud House, moved on to a trip to one of my very fav places, Leolas, and ended with these very fashionable black birds sitting in our chandelier on the porch.

Their top hats with feathers are so posh!  And the keys around their necks look important.... like they really mean business!

Last evening we ended the weekend with a small house concert by our good friend Randle Chowning.  I had to buy a green rock (artistically painted by a little girl who was handling the door).  Not a bad price for great music!

A cute couple of tiny fans danced the night away.........

Hope it's as gorgeous wherever you are as it is here in the Ozarks!

xo
dulcy

Fall, Food, Creativity, and Beauty

FAll

This early fall is quite fantastic!  The temperature and light are just perfect for outdoor play and creativity.  I'm taking advantage of it and puttering around the house and outside.  Nightly bicycle rides with hubby are wonderful.   We're getting ready to hit the road with our bikes for a few days and trying to get into "bike shape" for the trip.

I'm not a big seasonal decorator, but love to put out bits of fall in my home.....

 

Willow likes to bask in early morning fall light.  The spare bedroom is actually hers..... or so she says!

 

FOOD

Fall encourages my "culinary skills".  Enjoying some of this bullet proof coffee.  You can find out how to make this yummy latte at Tammy's blog  here.

 Currently have a pot of tomato soup simmering on the stove.  I just throw in organic diced tomatoes, vegetable stock, lightly sauteed celery, basil pesto, and a good bit of crushed red pepper.  Makes for a light and spicy soup!  

CREATIVITY

Almost done with my crazy abstract red rug.  Wanting it finished, and anxious to figure out my binding.  Hoping to take it completed to a neat little hook in Tammy and I have organized at Ivy Jeans in Cape Fair during November.  Already have 19 "hookers" and newbies coming.  Should be a fun day at Cindy's farm hooking, eating, sketching, and spending time with lovely creative friends!

BEAUTY

This is sort of "off topic" for my usual blog posts, but the most amazing info keeps finding it's way to me lately.  Pinterest, Facebook, blogs, friends.... I'm hearing the same message over and over from very gorgeous, educated and accomplished baby boomers.  NO PLASTIC SURGERY FOR ME, thank you very much!  Love it!  First, last winter I was turned onto this book....

"French Women Don't Get Facelifts" by Mireille Guiliano.  This is not a "French women know everything because they're French, blah blah blah kind of book.  Very practical advice on everything from skin care to food, relationships, life in general.  Lots of info on good creams and oils!

I LOVE this quote from Annie Lennox, musical artist and beauty.....

 

"I really think people need to think very carefully before heading for the needle or the knife. If it were subtle and it just made you look a bit better it would be fine. But that's not what happens. It's very obvious, and looks like the person's wearing a static mask. You just lose all semblance of authenticity. I don't know why so many women seem to flock towards having their lips swollen and their foreheads stiffened like cardboard. It doesn't make women look younger. It just makes them look disturbing... Plastic surgery looks very obvious and truly unappealing."

Or this quote by fav actress, Emma Thompson.....

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"It's psychotic, isn't it having your body opened up and stuff put in, injecting yourself with poison?" Emma Thompson.  I read where she and Kate Winslet have a girlfriend pact not to have any kind of plastic surgery.  I love how these women speak their mind!

I also have recently come across two panel discussions on line that included several famous models, actresses, fashion designers, and journalists discussing this very topic.  There's lots and lots more of this type of thing from many gifted and self assured women on line and all over the place. I think it just displays a bit of sanity in this currently, at times, very insane world..... Is cutting, burning, and injecting about beauty, or is it about something completely different?  Just something to think about.

xo

dulcy

Animals, Color, and Friends

Today is the most gorgeous type of early fall days!  The light and temperature are perfect.  It makes all the colors outside, and in, particularly vibrant!  The kind of day to put sunflowers on the mantel.  Picked these up at the little farm across the road.

 

I also put out my Debbie Wilson print.  She's a fabulous mixed media artist that we befriended when doing shows.   Such a sweet piece of art.

I'm so happy because our little feral Firefly found his way home after a botched (on my part) attempt to get him to the vet and fixed.  If you're in my circle of animal loving friends, you already know the story and how completely devastated I was.  Let's make this short..... got him trapped (amazing because he is so feral) to the vet in a carrier in the car.  A whole another part of town across creeks, neighborhoods, busy streets, etc.  And he burst apart the carrier in the vet's parking lot and was gone in a flash.  I looked, my husband looked, my husband and I looked together, my friends went by and looked.  No luck, I assumed he was gone for good.  I felt horrible since he had lost his excellent food source and safe outside home.  I sobbed and sobbed!  Well....... late Saturday afternoon (11 days following the escape) we're leaving for a get together with friends, and there he is in the drive right by where I always feed him!  It's absolutely mind blowing to me that cats can do this!  I truly never expected to see him again.  I'm leaving well enough alone for now.... no trapping and fixing..... too much drama for us both.  My hubby took this picture of him yesterday in one of his little hiding places outside.

 

I did manage to get my mind off things during this unfortunate situation, when I went with Tammy to the Warsaw hook in.  This is one of my favorites because they have the best vendors there with all kinds of unusual fabrics and other trinkets.  Here's a few things I snatched up!

Three gorgeous pieces of hand dyed velvet......

 

This exquisite piece of antique paisley from Anita White.  I splurged here because of the cream color.  So different from the deeper reds and maroons.  I won't hook with this... will most likely use as embellishment for a clothing piece.  Ideas are forming!

A fun colorful hunk of curly sheep wool.  I think part of this will eventually find it's way into a hooked bag.

I like to keep my new pieces of fiber out where I can see them.  It keeps me planning and thinking creative thoughts.  I can't imagine living in an environment without lots of color.  How unstimulating and boring!

Ended the afternoon with sketching by the lake.  Here's Tammy working on her piece.

My little sketch.  Very excited because I've just enrolled in Sketbook Skool on-line.  Tammy and my friend Mary have also enrolled.  I think it's fun to have a little group to head out to parks and cafes to do some sketching.

Fall always brings a lot of reflection.  After all that's happened over the past week or two, I've thought about how wonderful life is with friends and a husband who go out of their way to look for your  uncatchable feral cat,  or friends that take you away for a day to a happy colorful creative retreat, and all the little animals that we care for that give us such love and happiness....... and of course........ lots and lots of color.  The perfect combination for a wonderful life!  Thank you Tammy, Katie, Sarah, Jim, Lora, Dr. Pfander (my vet) and his wonderful crew that looked and kept food in the little guys bowl, and of course Firefly!

xo

dulcy