Springtime Arts and Crafting

I'd love to share with you a few little items I've worked on over the past few days.  I've been enjoying all the posts on Karen's Primitive Spirit blog.  She shared a pattern and instructions for a little Birdsnest bag sometime back that I thought I'd give a try.  I changed the pattern somewhat, but used most of the construction directions.

I call it my little "scrappy rose bag".  I think it came out really cute, and I used colors that I've been loving this spring.  Lots of lavenders and greens.... also the addition of rose and golds just make the whole color composition come together! 

I'm working on another rug for a new family baby.  This is a little free pattern I found in the Rug Hooking Journal several years ago.  I've already made it twice with the addition of names and  different flowers.  Just little changes here and there.  But it's the mommy sheep and her lamb that make this such a cute pattern!  This is for a little baby girl named Chesney. 

I haven't seen Chesney's room, but the colors are bright pinks and greens.  It's such fun to play with these brights!

I shared with you on a previous post that I finished my Master Gardener classes.  One of the very nice perks of this program, is that they offer lots of advanced training in a variety of gardening interests.  Saturday a class was offered in botanical drawing.  We spent the afternoon with a very talented teacher who had been doing botanical drawing as a profession for many years.  Below is the piece I drew.

The instructor had laid out all kinds of plants, seeds, and leaves.  I grabbed this one because it looked interesting, even though I don't know what it is (I'm still an MG newby).  Anyway, I haven't drawn in ages, so this was a nice way to begin again.  Maybe I'll get the pastels out this week!

xo
dulcy

Share Time....

I ran into an old and very dear, dear friend this morning while out walking.  We shared current family updates and this and that.  We then started to talk about our passions and creative pursuits (he's a master carpenter and teaches those skills at one of our local colleges).   I told him about my rug hooking and current desire to draw and use pastels.  He told me about how he's finally following a dream of his which is to play the electric guitar.  We discovered that we're both at "that certain age" where the old bucket list comes into play.  He told me that he just wants to know he can play the electric guitar well enough to feel good about it.... to have accomplished a goal that's always been on the back burner while it's still realistic to do so.  I told him it's the same with my drawing.  I don't have any aspirations to become good enough to show, sell, or gift... just to feel good about it.  Drawing is so much fun, and it gives me such a sense of accomplishment, more than anything else I've done in some time.  I guess my blog is where I feel comfortable enough to put things I do out there for you guys to see and share a little about where I'm at right now.  So, that being said, here's my latest pastel!

This pastel has been great fun, but also a challenge for me. The piece is somewhat large, about 12"x12".  I love owls, as we have several that grace our treetops regularly.  I think this may be my Christmas card this year.

Below is my latest pencil drawing of our little Iris....

 

Another challenge, but I learned a lot about shading and light.  Also the use of my various pencils.

Of course I'm still hooking, and once again (oh dear, I just love making these) knitting socks...

I adore this sweet little turquoise stripe..... didn't think I'd be knitting more socks, but I couldn't resist these colors!  Have a wonderful weekend!

xo

dulcy