Blooming Posy Bags

I've started making my little over the shoulder hooked bags again.  I really enjoy the process of design, color, and texture.  I would sort of like to start hooking something large, but haven't felt pulled that way, and frankly, don't have room in my home for another large piece.  Of course, I shouldn't say that because new becomes old, and old usually finds it's place over chairs on the porch, or home on my studio floor covering spots on the carpet I can't seem to remove.  And anyway, it's about the process....right?

So here's a quick look at a couple of bags I created last month that were exciting and fun to make.

First, I have what I like to call my "Dazzling Dahlias" bag.  I used some of my "sexy jersey" wool that I purchased from Deanne Fitzpatrick.  Great fun to hook with!  Nice and soft, and lends itself to clipping and twisting.  The background doesn't show up very well here, but it's a gorgeous slate/eggplant blue with a tiny gold thread runny through.  Really works well with the jersey pastels.

This little bag is currently for sale at our library gift shop, "Between Friends".

I was so in love with the background color (because, for me, it's always about the color) that I did another.  I like to call it "Gorgeous Gerbers".

Lots of pretty proddy on this one.  It's also at the same shop.

A happy pair!

 Weaving happening too.  Shawls in shop that I failed to photograph, and a gorgeous pink on the loom.

All is well and in color!

xo
dulcy

"Haute Handbags" and Me!

Dear Friends..... I have an article and a selection of my bags in the October edition of "Haute Handbags" published by Somerset Studio.

Last fall I decided, basically on a lark, to read the submitting process and see what was involved.  I took it step by step.  My husband photographed the bags and I wrote an article.  Sent it off, and what do ya know... I heard from them in about two days!  They wanted me to send my bags to them to shoot for  April's magazine.  Did all that, and then was pushed back to this issue.  So... here I am page 67!  If you get an opportunity, you can check out the article.  I found mine at Borders, but "Haute Handbags" is usually also carried by Barnes and Nobles.  I haven't gone over the entire issue yet, but if you like unusual and handmade bags, there's lots of fun and creative ones to see.  Most of them have "how to make" instructions.  Oh..... one more thing..... I bought three copies, but just checked the mail and Somerset sent me another.  So, if you would like me to send a copy to you, please leave a comment and I'll draw a winner next week (probably Friday).  Here's to a fabulous fall weekend!
xo
dulcy

Friday Night At The Creamery

Above you will find myself, Sheri, and Tammy at our rug show held Friday night at the Creamery Arts Center in Springfield.  The Creamery is a wonderful old building that functioned as a place to pasteurize milk many years ago.  It was purchased, restored, and now is an arts center with a lovely gallery, rooms for classes, library, and dance studio.  There are several more rugs in the show, but we took this view because the rugs that each of us hooked are in the same order as we are in the picture (does that make any sense at all?).  We were so honored to be invited to show our work, which will be hanging during the month of September.

 I'm sorry to repeat the same scene, but really wanted to include lovely friends who came out for the show.  Kathleen, her aunt and my dear friend Ann (a wonderful artist and art teacher), and Sally (another patron of the arts, and creator of the most delightful lamps made from charming found treasures.... without pictures, I can't describe her work and do it justice).

On the way home from our show, I talked with my husband about showing ones art.  I wondered, since we weren't there to actually sell anything, why we bother.  Does it seem show-offy, are we boring our friends.... do they feel obligated to come out and see our stuff?  As usual, my Jim has the best answers to my questions that mostly come from some inferior place inside of me.  Having been an artist his whole life, and having perhaps exhibited his work in hundreds of shows, he said, "No.... you're simply sharing your passion with the people you care about."  And that's exactly that!  I love to show people rug hooking, and share with them the fun and excitement I get from creating a rug or bag.  The rush from coming up with just the "right" combination of colors and the fabulous feel of the linen on wool.  Any of you that hook rugs, or work with fiber know exactly what I mean.

So, dear friends.... thanks for letting me indulge in a little show and tell, and know that I so enjoy looking and commenting on your work as well.... blogging has been a HUGE source of inspiration for me over the years, and a wonderful venue to share this crazy and wonderful rug hooking passion of mine.
xo
dulcy

Find Me At Grandmayellowhair!

I have a little blogazine story over on Maggie's  blog.  We bumped into each other out here in blog land sometime ago, and her stories are just the best.  The first time I read her blog about her escapades with "Ms. Pearl" I was laughing out loud, and have retold them to friends.  My story is mostly things about myself that some of you probably already know, but please check out Maggie's blog on a regular basis.  She profiles other bloggers on her blogazine regularly in addition to her personal posts.  Great way to meet other bloggers and get to know Maggie.  It's well worth your time!

Here's a nice shot from Maine that might cool your brain on this hot summer's day.
xo
dulcy

My Switch Is Flipped To "ON"

Do you ever get that creativity/hippity hop/can't stop/I want to do it all thing going on?  If you're one of my many talented bloggy friends, I know you know exactly what I'm talking about.  My summer switch has been flipped to "on" and I can't stop.... nor do I want to.  So much to do and so little time.  I hope you don't mind me sharing all the little things I've got going on.  My favorite part of blogging is visiting other bloggers and sharing in their creative quests.  It helps keep me inspired!  The following is my current project line-up....

The hooked piece I started in Maine continues with the four cut wool, which is very tiny.... but... love the detail I get with the itsy bitsy pulled loops.  A view of the front door on our rock house.

About a month ago I took a class on needle felting from Vickie (her work is FABULOUS) with my super talented bestest bud and collage artist, Katie (her work is also FABULOUS).  This is just a little experiment.  I'm hooking and felting....  a small mat that I'm making up as I go.

If you've followed my blog for very long at all, you know I'm also a knitter.  Knitting is the thing to have on hand when I can't be at my rug frame hooking.  Hands that can't stay still issue.  The following are my knitted sock (Patience is needed because this can really drive a person crazy using four #1 needles), and I'm loving knitting simple cotton dish clothes.... great to have on hand for quick gifts, and an easy knit, especially when I get the "sock headache".

I've enrolled in an ongoing drawing class to help me with my rug designs.  I love to draw, but really need to hone my skills.  Now it's not much, but it's my first eye.  It took me two classes to draw one eye (I think it may be awhile until I'm doing portraits.....)

This last shot has nothing to do with the subject matter of this post, but I just had to share.  We've had three young Cooper's Hawks soaring and whistling around our yard for some days now.  If hawks can be considered cute (and I believe they can) these fellas are just the sweetest things to watch.  They leap and play and seem so joyful just being alive!  Yesterday, all three were sitting on the garden bench together (let me tell ya, they may still be babies, but these guys are huge!).  I grabbed my camera, but one of them jumped to the top of the bench.  This isn't the greatest shot because I was far away, and in the house.  But if you look closely, you can see the one on top of the bench and the other two on the seat.  I love summer!  Have a beautiful day....
xo

One more thing.... I will be back with more shots from Nova Scotia....eventually.... with a heat index in the 100's, I'm wistfully dreaming of the  breezy Bay of Fundy and the cool climate and roaring waves along the Nova Scotia coastline.

New Tote, and Vacation Pics. from Nova Scotia

Above is a shot of my new fall tote.  I just love working with these colors, and I'm especially smitten with the dark teal (I prefer the term "midnight teal") for the background.  One of those wonderful finds when looking for a completely different color.

And now for assorted shots of my trip to Nova Scotia.

Tide pooling on the beach....

Knitting on the ferry...

Gilbert's Lighthouse where I bought a cute hooked mat done by someone in the NS guild.

Coastline with lighthouse (actually, this was taken in New Brunswick).

Shed with fish netting....digging those colors!

Glorious lupine everywhere!!!!!

Lobster traps abound, as does the tasty treat....

 Hastily made new friends who invited us up to watch the sunset over the ocean (there was wine involved.... yippee... great new friends!).

That's all the NS shots I'll display for now.  I don't want you to feel the need to make a hasty retreat with too many "How I spent my summer vacation" photos.  I'll post some next time of the many colorful boats and homes that grace the coastline.
xo
dulcy

Hooking in Searsport Maine

I just returned from a lovely vacation to Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.  And, yes, I'm tired and glad to be home.  But, travel is truly invigorating and always creatively stimulating for me.  It's good for me to see the world through new eyes.  Colors become more bold when viewed from a new perspective.  I just love to see how people live in other parts of the country and world.  I got so excited when I saw the faded salt box houses of Maine, and the brightly colored homes along the coast of Nova Scotia.  Watching whales and dolphins gliding by from the ferry between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia was a real treat as was seeing hooked rugs from the early parts of the 19th and 20th century at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland Maine.

The original purpose of the trip was to take a rug hooking class with Jane Halliwell Green in Searsport, Maine.  My lovely and talented step-daughter, Lily, took the class with me.  We learned so much, and had such a fabulous time!  I'm posting just a very few pictures from class.

The puppies like resting in the display case (how cute!) greeted us at the door.  Dixie and Dexter love being part of all the goings on.

Jane, teaching one of several new techniques.  Lots to absorb..... but new exciting ideas swimming around my overly stimulated brain!

Dee, my neighbor, and Jim's tour director of the area (thanks Dee!).

Gobs of wool everywhere..  Paradise!

Lily and her rug.  It's from a picture she took in Costa Rica of a church bordering the jungle (fabulous!!).

My project, a picture of our front doorstop.  I haven't got much done because I'm hooking in a very small cut, and trying to shade and pixelate as I go.  It's 14"x22".

Last.... end of day on the coast of Maine after a nice lobster (or some kind of seafood.. I had so much I can't remember) dinner.

I'll post more of Maine, and shots from Nova Scotia in a few days. xo

Color Abounds!

Color is everywhere around here, and it's really got me psyched to hook, plant, cook, and just plain create!

We planted many hydrangeas a few years ago, and they're really starting to burst forth with color.  I love it when the colors are not set, but rather mixed.... yet they change over time.  Right now this beauty is pink, blue, and green.  Lovely after last night's rain.

It's really hard to beat white!  This is a small portion of a massive bush that's probably a good forty years old.  It's great for cutting huge bouquets.

I planted this hanging basked with just one wave petunia plant.  It was kind of spindly at first, but has filled out nicely.  I'm currently in love with old fashioned pinks and blues in the garden.

I love the lavender plant mixing in with the pink dianthus.

Jim and Graham feeding the fish among the day lilies.

Swinging in the sunshine.

And playing freeze tag.

Lastly....  the new fall bag I'm currently working on.  I couldn't get my hands on the antique black I had originally chosen as a background.  My best surprises are when I'm forced to rethink my plan.  I found this lovely dark teal/green that gives the piece a more jewel tone feel.  I will hit and miss various colors from the flowers around the edge of the dark teal.

Off to prepare my pattern for the Jane Halliwell Green class next week in Searsport, Maine.  Very excited!

xo

Groundhogs and Handbags?

Are groundhogs considered cute?  I believe so....  especially when they are babies exploring the garden.  This little guy was all over the place!  About the size of a small guinea pig.

New fall bag in progress.......

This fall flower motif will be on both sides of the tote I'm currently working on.  I'm thinking of a background in antique black, with lots of hit and miss colors around the edge.

I've sort of veered away from my original hooking plan, which was to do two more summer flower pillows.  I started thinking about how much I'm enjoying my hydrangea tote this season, and how I would like something to replace it in the fall.  So.... started digging through my cabinet of wool, found some colors I love, and started pulling the loops!  Also, I received this stand for my Puritan frame.  My talented can-do-all hubby,Jim, did some alterations, and now I'm hooking comfortably in my favorite chair.

Yes..... I realize there's absolutely no relation between groundhogs and hooking, but those are things that make me happy, so thought I'd share!

xo

Ring Around Our Rosie

Our little Rosie left us May 12th, and now resides in her own little spot back by the pond.  She had been ill, and had many issues that caused her discomfort.  I hooked this pillow to keep on the bench where she spent about 98% of her time.  Losing our pets, as you all know, is just so horribly sad.  She led a very lovely little quiet kitty life.  I don't know how old she was (probably about 14 yrs.) because we found her high up nesting in our grape arbor at our previous home many years ago.  She was quite a pretty little girl, dainty, and always had the very best of manners.  We miss her a lot right now, but are comforted knowing she is with us in our thoughts and memories...  Also in the backyard..... Thanks to my friends that helped me with some tough decisions, especially my dear friend Katie who gave me some wonderful words on grace and happiness.

It's All About Flowers!

My Garden Hydrangea pillow is hooked, and now on to the assembly.  I think I'm going to stuff it, and hand-sew on a soft wool backing.  I had lots of fun prodding the edges!

I took the following photos around some of our back gardens this morning.  The iris is gorgeous right now, and the peonies are just opening.  One of my favorite "happies" is to make a peony bouquet and put them in an old glass Ball jar.

Hope you enjoyed a nice little garden stroll!