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

A Shot Of Gudrun

I didn't think anything could get me excited to rug hook again, until I bought this pretty top from the Gudrun Sjoden catalog.  I'm a big fan of her "everything".  Each new season I think "no more Gudrun" and then she comes out with a new line of artful clothes made from organic cotton in places to create a sense of economic sustainability, and I'm a goner.  Casual dressing fits my lifestyle.... mostly jeans...but I do like to add art and color.  Here's a shot of my newly hooked bag and my Gudrun blouse (you can only see a bit of that... but sleeveless and wonderful!).

I made another one of these little pouches that I call my "Midnight Garden" bags for the library gift shop.  It's displayed with one of my shawls.  A gorgeous teal in a silk/cotton blend.

Here's a couple of closer shots of the above bag.

It's funny how one simple thing can jump start a creative process (for me anyway).  With the blouse, I also ordered Gudrun's new book.  Oh my gosh!  It's big, colorful, and full of inspiration.  Plus it tells the story of her 40 years in business.

Aside from all this hooking and weaving, I'm gardening up a storm.  I think I'm going to add one more hellebore to my front garden, and  call it a wrap.

xo
dulcy

Vintage Valentine's, Hobo Tights, and Hooking

It's rainy, and feeling very spring like today.  Daffodils and crocus are blooming outside.  Also blooming is my lovely little clump of snowdrops that I'm definitely thinning and spreading about the yard this May.

I've been using old silver plate to make pretty little hanging Valentines for friends and my Etsy store dulcyann.

I'm getting Valentine lovelies wrapped and ready to mail.  I'm sending on these adorable little Hobo Tights made by bestie, Jessy.  She made them as part of a fund raiser for our local indie movie house, The Moxie, so it can go digital.  They're just perfect for our little Ava!

Aren't they sweet!!

Yesterday I made a quick trip through my favorite flea market, Relics.  I first found this little $1 dish that I bought because it's so cute and chipped... and well.... It was in a rack with all these very nice  unchipped dishes.  I simply felt sorry for it and decided to give the poor little old thing a home.

It now lives in the dish rack, which is in the laundry room, which is sitting right above the washer and dryer.

I also bought this wonderful little hand tooled bag.  I see these a lot, but many times they are too stiff and heavy.  I was drawn to the darling shape of this one.

Oh, and here I'm wearing a new Gudrun dress that I've had for quite a while, but just got it out to wear today!  So fun to have two new things!

The little bag is a bit rough on the inside, so I lined it with some wool scraps.  Now it's soft and cozy.

And while we're on the discussion of handbags.  This is a little design I've been playing with for another hooked bag.  Not sure what's it's going to end up like, but thinking of hooking only the design and leaving lots of exposed linen.  We'll see where it goes........

Have a fabulous day!
xo
dulcy

Color, Hooking, and Inspiration Everywhere!

It's been a way busy week here at the doorstep!  Grandchildren visiting over spring break has made for much happiness, fun, and lots of arts and crafting.  Below is a shot of my two favorite girlies, Ava and Emma (Ava is our grand daughter, and Emma is my dear little friend and neighbor).  Each of these sweeties has a new hooked posy pouch draped over her shoulder.  I love seeing a little girl carrying a cute tiny bag!

I realize it's not officially springtime yet, but you wouldn't know that if you could see out my window.  Redbuds are starting to pop, daffodils have been up for at least two weeks, and green is everywhere!  I get sooo completely jazzed this time of year.  The new Gudrun catalogs are my favorite, and they're bursting with color!

I'm finding the golds, greens, and blues especially captivating right now.  Even though we've been turned upside down with kiddos this week, I've found lots of time to work on my new teapot rug.

It's so exciting working with the golds, reds, mossy greens, and dusty purple and lavender.  I come back to this color combination often.

A new favorite blog of mine is Karen's Primitive Spirit.  There are so many rug hookers and pattern designers that I've admired over the years.  Everything from primitive to abstract to very realistic.  But the one I always come back to for inspiration is Karen Kahle.  I was able to take a workshop of Karen's several years ago and was awed by her designs and ability to teach color technique.  I don't order patterns anymore, but I do like to order from Karen.  She recently had a lovely post on her blog showing some of her pillows.... I'm a lover of gazing balls, and have a few sitting around in my gardens.  I couldn't resist acquiring her gazing ball pillow pattern.  I received it the other day wrapped in lovely paper with this pretty paisley tag.  I'm trying to save it for a hook-in coming up in April, but I don't think I'll be able to leave it alone until then...........

Karen has a virtual geometric chair pad tutorial over at her blog that is fabulous!  I haven't gotten in on it yet, but plan on it between the teapot and the gazing ball.


The other night, while hooking and enjoying a glass of wine, I looked up at my mantel and decided to take a quick shot of it to share.  Far be it from me to actually move my frame and stand up to take the picture (my photographer husband would be so disgusted with my photographic laziness).  My mantle is a place I like to change around with the season.  It's a catch-all for some of my favorite things.

I did the robin pastel, and the floral was done by my painter pal Kathryn Glover.
Various vases were made by local potter friends.  My favorite piece is the little pysanky egg done by my mother.  It's a place that seems to become a home for art and outdoor finds such as flowers, rocks, and bird feathers.  I change it around constantly.

Thanks for dropping by, and I hope your weekend is spring filled, restive, and creative.
xo
dulcy


 

Inspiration Abounds!

It's not hard to find inspiration these days.... color and active wildlife are right outside my window.  This morning a huge raccoon was breakfasting from my "squirrel proof" bird feeder.  It was sitting right smack dab in the birdbath with the edge of the feeder in it's little "hands".  I knocked on the kitchen window, and the masked bandit looked at me like, "Can I help you?" with no intention of ending it's feast!  It finally jumped down and sauntered away...... I know it's just a raccoon, and we've got several living in our wooded world, but I always feel humbled by their tenacity and cleverness.  I must admit that I enjoyed watching it eat for just a bit before it took it's leave.

Back to other inspirations.....I was so excited yesterday when I got home to find a package waiting for me that I was looking quite forward to receiving!

These awesome cards made by Jennifer of Ripplespeak.  Her's is one of my very most favorite blogs... Jennifer is not only a gifted artist, but her poetry is so moving.  She writes from her heart.... and her words are just so completely sincere.  The package contained not only the cards, but other little happies such as the basil seeds and a pressed flower.  Really..... check out her blog, and I'm sure you'll become a regular.  I always find inspiration from her work..... here's a little card of hers I sat on my mantle along with my Julie Whitmore "flutterby"cup, and one of my mom's amazing Ukrainian eggs.

Other recent sources of inspiration have found their way into my mailbox.....

A new Gudrun Sjoden catalog, and the most recent issue of "Selvedge".  I love to drool over the bold prints by Gudrun.... and "Selvedge" is always packed full of wonderful photos and articles about fiber and design.

I'm currently loving the sort of shabby, dusty blue that I used on this bag I made almost two years ago.  It's been such fun to bring it out again for spring. It's gotten just enough wear to make it soft and give it a used look that I love. I always feel inspired when I get out items I love that have been put away for awhile.

I'm using this same shade of blue for the background of my never ending spring/summer rug.  Before making a large hooked rug, remember that you're going to be hooking background FOREVER!

I have not been working on my pastel at all this week, but tomorrow I''m planning to give it lots of attention, and maybe, finish it.

I hope that you're finding lots inspiration in your world........ the redbuds here are just starting to pop!!
xo
dulcy