Seasonal Home

New rug is hooked and waiting to be finished off.

No, you can't see the whole piece since Little Iris thinks it belongs to her.  I'll add some covered cording to the edge, and then may attach to painted canvas.  Very fun rug to make!

A wee bit of Christmas is showing up at home.

Amaryllis Blooming

New Primitive Flea Market Santa Appeared Today

Festive Outside Decorations

All Is Well.

xo

dulcy

Carrying On

These short, and unseasonably warm days are a bit strange, and yet so lovely........ they make me feel  lazy, and not sure what to do with myself.  My inner seasonal clock wants to nest, work with wool, and make soup.  I'm actually doing these things, but don't feel as driven as I usually do.  I have an upcoming bazaar that I'm forcing myself to get ready for.  

One shawl done, and last one on the loom.

Ready to be crocheted off, then finished up.

Spent an afternoon dyeing wool with Tammy.

 These colors inspire me to get something on the hooking frame.  They're just luscious!

I've been very intrigued and wowed by the work of Louisa Creed, and her cats.  I've drawn a similar pattern with our little cat Iris in mind.  This pattern is lacking almost all detail.... which I'll add as I hook.  I've put together, what I hope to be, an awesome color palette for this one.

Excited to start the eyes!

And...... finished my "Create" pillow.

Had gobs of fun making this.  Some things come together with little to no real effort, and others are just plain hard.  I think it has to do with where my creativity level is at.  Energized or low octane.  I seem to not have much control over that.

And, with kiddos arriving tomorrow, the man wanted to have some lights out to greet them.  

They look like bright red berries in this old scrubby tree!

xo

dulcy

Always Good To Get Away

It's always good to get away, even for a few days.  It doesn't have to be far.... just a tank of gas or so.

We took off with the bikes to the wonderful Katy Trail that runs along the Missouri River.  Gorgeous scenery, and best of all, lots of wineries!

Here's honey after a long day of biking and photographing.

We also took time to do a nice portrait with my sturdy little bug and bike rack.

Lovely vineyards surround..... lots of fall color finally starting to explode.

One of the many things I love about Missouri, is the old and historical homes lovingly kept up in the small river towns.  This one is a beauty!

Another fun find are the barn quilts all over the place!  There are maps to all of them, but really, if you drive the back roads like we do, you're bound to spot several.  I just love the happy surprise when they pop up!

We spent a day and night in the quaint river town of Rocheport.  Had fun biking, wining and dining.  Took a few minutes to sit on the steps outside our B&B to sketch the cute little cottage across the road.

Home now and back in the studio weaving (and today, cleaning and organizing art supplies).  I'm really excited about rug hooking again, and having lots of fun with a new project.  Here's a peek.

xo

dulcy

October Love

October

Favorite Month

Haunted walks in the woods

Newly knitted throw with hooked pillows.  All is cozy.

Lovely late afternoon sun peeking in the windows.

New shawls off the loom and in my Etsy shop.

Royal blues and orangey pinks.

Shades of green and teal with violet.

It's in the 50's today, finally it feels right.  Enjoy.......

xo

dulcy

Green Brown Red and Turquoise

It's cloudy, and it's thundering, and the colors are changing, and I LOVE IT!  

Are you seasonal, or really tuned in to changing cycles of seasons and time?  Most likely you are.  I know that I feel so exhilarated during this time of change.  I'm lucky to live in a part of the country where the seasons most definitely change on time, and for the right amount of time.  Just when things become too hot and muggy, or too dreary and cold, change is in the air.

Right now, of course, it's becoming all about fall and fall colors.  Today I picked a bouquet of lovely greens, reds, and browns around the yard.  I'm leaving it dry in the vase with no water.  Will watch it dry more and change color.

Lovely little pumpkin type fruit and a hedge apple add more fall color.

Today has been a good day to weave in the studio, plus I have a new stash of gorgeous Noro yarns.  Love this pretty autumn color combination of blues, oranges, pinks, and purples.

I'll fringe it with yarn tomorrow and get it off the loom.  Then I'll wash and further embellish with ribbons and sari silks.  Excited!

I've been hooking little Posey Pouches for sale and gifts.  They're just the right size for phone, keys, cards, and lipstick.  Lots of fun to create and hook.  Not a huge time commitment like a rug or mat.

Really like the red, green, and black color combination!

And finished another shawl in my favorite turquoise.  This one is at the Library Gift Shop.

I think turquoise is a wonderful fall color.... or anytime color for that matter!

Early fall/late summer is bringing a lot of visitors to our place.  Our latest count is a regular herd of deer (about 10 or so), and quite a flock of turkeys.  This beautiful big boy was visiting the other evening.

xo

dulcy

Secret Gardens and Small Things

My garden is changing quickly.  Less brights, but lots of greens and browns.... which are just as lovely.  I have one more page of my garden journal that I really need to get done so the project is complete for this year.  Already new ideas collecting for next spring as shade is heavier than ever, and I need to move away from some of my standard bloomers.  I'm actually already quite excited to make some changes, and plan to add a special page in my journal to record my 2017 garden ideas.

The above is a tiny secret garden we were steered to while visiting the little country town of Ava a week ago.  We went to attend the Saturday market on the square, and while visiting a wonderful little art gallery, the owner told us to check out her secret garden down the block.  It's not wide enough to stretch my arms between the two buildings.... and at the end she's painted a lovely mural on the skinny wall.  I just love it!  So sweet to take this wee space that no one really sees, and yet make it beautiful!

Speaking of wee creations, I made this tiny pillow last week.  It's actually a little pattern on linen I picked up several months ago.  I've been wanting to create and hook something large and grand..... but just can't come up with what I want, or the enthusiasm to do it.  So.... this little piece was enough to feel productive, and hopefully, jump start a new design.  It's only about 5"x10",  and just the right size to find a good spot.

Someone else has also found a good spot!  Little Iris on the hedge apple rug.  The yellow bird house behind her was one of the reasons we went to Ava.  There was a very old man selling them.  He had lots and lots.... all bright colors.  We ended up getting four!  They are finding homes in the yard, and also for gifts.

I never seem to tire of weaving on my triloom.  I especially like how this shawl turned out.  It's a special order, and will be moving on.  Hard one for me to let go of, but going to a lovely lady and a good home.

It's a bit muggy here.... but I'm feeling fall and good energy.

xo

dulcy  

Yarn Snag

I finally was able to snag this yarn!  A Noro blend I love, and a color that just kept getting sold before I could get my hands on it.  Lovely not purple, not rose, but sort of a combination.

This color makes me think fall.  Added lots of long sari silk and one white quartz crystal as a happy surprise.  It's now in my little shop.

xo

dulcy

A Home With A Name

I took a fun class the other night at Lowlanders Yarn Shop.  I learned to broomstick crochet.  It was a great class, we received yarn, a hook, and a wee broomstick with the lesson.  I've been crocheting along, and due to an uncorrectable mistake (as in ripping everything out) I added a bit of ribbon.  Always good with shabby ribbon!

Something different, and thought the color variations very pretty.  May make a belt/and or scarf of it.

Working some more on my garden journal.  Finished page three.

I'm going to need two to three more pages to finish up this front garden section.  I really enjoy quick sketchy watercolor painting.  Not too much precision or thought.  Just paint!

We've had quite a bit of rain lately which always brings out the garden visitors.  Had this "lovely" nibbling about yesterday.

I like the happy surprise lilies off to the right.  Things are very lush right now and quite overgrown.  We don't do much about it as we like it like that.  I just control a couple of gardens close to the house and studio.  Feels and looks a bit like a jungle right now.

Peggy over at Woman With Wings wrote about naming her spot..... gardens, sacred spots, home..... and I've thought of this many times.  My idea is Stone Fox Cottage as that fits quite well with our stone house, stone fox head above the door, and the many fox families that have resided here over the years.  I decided to go with the Spanish translation because everything sounds better in Spanish and I'm getting ready to bring out and dust off the little I know for an adventure next year.  So the Spanish translation of Stone Fox Cottage is.......

casa de piedra de zorro

(quite fitting)

xo

dulcy

American Made

Spent a lovely day at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art with my friend Ann.  We took a tapestry class, and got to catch the American Made show.  Lots of FABULOUS folk art!  Here's a shot of a lovely old, and gorgeously simple, hooked rug.

We're so lucky to have this absolute jewel of a museum in our area.  Going back soon to spend more time at the show.

I haven't been hooking, but wanting to..... just don't have a design idea right now.  Maybe something small that doesn't require too much time, planning, and wool.

I have been knitting on hubby's yellow socks.

They're bright, happy, and his favorite color.  I ordered this fabulous yarn from old bloggy friend Dag.  She has the most wonderful yarns that she spins and dyes.  Check out her Etsy store!

I've been working on a small garden project.  It seems that each spring I get a bit too excited to clean out my garden, and start pulling up vinca, leaves, etc.  Well I, more than occasionally, pull up other little plants that have been patiently waiting to come up on their own.  Sometimes I forget what they are, and replant.  So...... I started a little watercolor garden journal to help me remember.   These are my first two pages.

They are pretty sketchy and a bit abstract, but fun for me to paint this way.  I've since labeled the plants, and attached little packets to the back of each page for the cards of new plants, and maybe some seeds.  I have three more pages to go to complete this front garden.

Nice rainy day today.... planning to cut some of the pretty crepe myrtle that's profusely blooming at the moment and bring in a bouquet.  Loving summer, but feeling the tug towards fall.  Not yet though.

xo

dulcy

Summer Is......

Spent Sunflowers

The next best thing to sunflowers in a vase, are spent ones laying outside for the birds.  They're still so lovely!  I'm looking forward to tomorrow when our little farm across the road is open and I can get some more.  Way too much shade here for them to grow.

Ava's Hooking Project

Grandchildren are visiting, and that means activities.  Our little Ava finally finished her rug hooked puppy dog.  She worked so diligently on this.  I think she did a really nice job!

Rides In The Convertible Bug

Ava and I have also spent lots of time driving around with the top down (or hood, as she calls it) and AC blasting.  She likes to go where there's lots of people out and about and wave to them as though we're in some kind of parade.  So much fun!

Indoor Fiber Art

Hot days bring me inside to work on more shawls.  Already preparing for fall and holiday bizarres.  I've started adding extra long sari silk in with the fringe and each shawl has one embellishment.  This one is now Janet's, but adorned with a small piece of patina brass.

I really love this turquoise shawl, which is a nice cotton/silk blend.

On all the others I've added one or two rough cut mineral stones.  Small and subtle.  This one has a bit of aqua aura and rose quartz.

The one below has a cool chunk of smokey quartz added to the fringe.

I love the idea of one added stone or embellishment as sort of a "happy surprise" to each shawl.  Not enough to become too hippy or clanky, but you know it's there.

Need to get out and hit the flower garden.  I've worked so hard on it this year, and am proud that I still have quite a bit of color using only perennials with not much sun time.  Maybe two to three hours a day of it.  Discovering new flowering plants through the Master Gardener program, and knowledgeable friends.

Happy Day!

xo

dulcy