Lovely World

wading bird

Thank you all for your nice comments about the birds I posted earlier this week.

I just finished this bird. It is a wading bird. Long legs, long neck, long beak. I am very happy with its sturdy elegance.

I will be listing some new things, including birds, in my etsy shop. I will let you know in this space when that happens. Also, if anyone would like me to make a bird in a particular color, I can do a special order for you. Just let me know. I have many colors of hand-dyed wool just waiting to be turned into a lovely creature.

watercolor birds

I finished these new birds last week. I am very happy with the bright and cheery colors. The hand-dyed wool is so nice to work with. I especially like cutting and stitching the tail feathers.

It was 77 degrees here yesterday. The resident birds worked themselves into a frenzy of song. I can hear them out there again today. I expect we'll be seeing baby birds before too long. I also heard the frogs peeping last evening. That is a sure sign of spring. The peepers are one of my earliest childhood memories. I remember my mother holding me as we stood outside in the growing dark. She told me that the peeping sound that enveloped us was the frogs awaking to spring.

What is it that makes early memories? An experience with strong emotion surrounding it? An experience reinforced by repeated retelling? An experience of something so new that it deeply embeds in our mind and heart?

poppytalk white

Friday is the final day of spring color week at Poppytalk. White!

In particular, I was happy to revisit these photos of the goose egg and cotton boll that my friend gave me for my last birthday.

I hope you have a nice weekend. I'll be here to post my calendar and book on Sunday.

poppytalk lavender

Thursday is lavender during Poppytalk's color week!

I've pulled out some vintage patchwork squares. The ones on top and bottom are quite old, from the early part of the 20th century. The one in the middle, signed by the maker in embroidery, was probably made a little later around the 1930s or 1940s. I like the middle patch of the top one - the little spade-shaped leaf pattern - and the bark-like pattern of the bottom one.

poppytalk pink

Wednesday is pink at Poppytalk!

I am loving the new group of birds that I finished over the weekend. This pink one is a preview. I'll post the others soon!

poppytalk yellow

Tuesday is YELLOW at Poppytalk Spring Color Week!

I was so honored to see some of my photos posted in the green mosaic yesterday, and today my embroidery is posted. Thank you dear friends at Poppytalk!

poppytalk green

I'm participating in Poppytalk's Spring Color Week, a first for me. Today's color is green. I'll post a photo or two exploring a different color each day this week. Perhaps these lovely spring colors (green, yellow, pink, lavendar, and white) will usher in some color in the currently dull landscape around my home!

friday

Lovely, lovely Margie of Resurrection Fern sent me this medicine bundle she made with some of her naturally-dyed fabric. Inside is a special stone. I am so happy to have this to enjoy. Margie has some recent posts up about natural dyes - go take a look. She also has a give-away going on for some of the fabrics she has made. Thank you for being a wonderful blog friend, Margie.

A few close-ups from around the house today. Happy weekend to you. I'm hoping to go to a dinner and moonlit ski at a local x-country ski center tomorrow night.

*********************************

Fear is a contraction, love is diffusion. -the Bnei Yissoscher

When I was young I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. - Abraham Joshua Heschel

calling cards

Don't you wish you had a calling card? I imagine people handing these out at fancy parties. My favorite is the one with the peacock feather.

How about a merit card? I wish my children received merit cards with their names written out in beautiful calligraphy rather than the plastic crap they pull from the "treasure boxes" in their classrooms.

These cards belonged to my grandparents. There are many more in the collection.

Nice names: Minnie, Lettie, Clyde, and Arthur.

Looking forward to a high school basketball game tonight. My nephew is playing. He has worked very hard and is a strong player. It will be a pleasure to watch.

little bit of love

♥ A pink package in the mail.

♥ Inside the package is a beautiful heart embroidery from Barbara of Indiana Blue (she has more - go see!).

♥ Old photos of my sister and me as small children. Could our dresses be any shorter? That is me getting kissed by one of our horses.

♥ My painting of friends walking a tightrope. They look pretty secure in their journey. Probably because they are together.