Wool Banners--Count Your Blessings!

These have been the cutest wool blocks!  This is block 4 from

Sew Blessed!  

Here is another one of the blocks--you must join Facebook group

Wool Applique to get in on the fun.  The latest block is free for one month,

but you can purchase the other blocks from Sew Blessed

The Facebook group has hints and techniques for sewing with

wool plus giveaways!

It's a very informative and fun group.

Knitting Along

Knitting in progress................

Estonian knitting is super fun and I even enjoy placing the beads!

It's hard to see the beads on this handspun yarn--

only because it's stripes

This is May's pattern for one of the Estonian pieces that

I'm doing

Beads, beads and no nupps!

I'm knitting away on my Rhapsody shawl--thinking

this is way to easy--after about 10 rows, I read the pattern over again--

astounding! I've left out a couple of rows that call for decreases!!

Drats!!  Do I start over? or continue on--

soldier on, I say!! 

Today We Celebrate Motherhood

Yes, today we celebrate Mother's--although, some might not be mothers themselves, we have all had mothers!  We have been born of a woman, whom we shall call Mother.    Here is video from History channel that you will might find interesting.

The Natural Home

In our small vacation home town, we have an eatery that also

is a 'natural home' shop.  When we stop in for lunch, I will

browse through the displays.  Being a weaver, I'm fascinated by

the cloths that are accent pieces.

This is a linen piece that has creped--interesting texture

"The Natural Home" by  Hans Blomquist  is on display.

It features simple tastes for the home.

Linen rugs adorn the floors

Plain woven textiles are throws over chairs

Cotton towels--all simply woven 

There is some twill work in this linen length of cloth

And this added color in a monochromatic world 

Simple but elegant in its own way--plain wove with

handspun cotton

Add two lengths together with  baseball stitch in a different color

In my world of colors, this is an eye opener!  Could you decorate

with simple joys and pleasures or do you, like myself, need a little

color?  This shop has no color, except for a few accent stitches--

none the less, it's still fabulous as it features the simpler things in life.

fidget quilt

Lately, there has been much talk about the "Fidget' Spinners that kids

are collecting.  Some schools allow them to be in the classrooms in order

to hold the child's attention.  There are some good things to be said and

there are some bad things, but right now, the topic is "Fidgets"

Fidgets can be a very effective and helpful self-regulation tool! Use fidgets and sensory balls for calming and alerting, to promote focusing and concentration, decrease stress, increase tactile awareness of fingers/hands (through proprioceptive input), and as a way to keep fidgeting fingers busy! Fidget toys can also provide a fun way to strengthen hands and "warm-up" fingers before handwriting activities and fine motor skill tasks. Sensory balls are a favorite OT sensory diet tool, make a fun gift, and are one of many fidget toys that can help relieve stress! We also have silent fidgets for the classroom, quiet fidget toys, and fidgets for feet that can help improve concentration and focus, and lots of great office and desk toys that relieve stress and keep minds alert at work.

And if you thought that "Fidgets" were only for children and teens, think again!

Fidget, Fiddle or Busy quilts 

 or Activity blanket is a lap quilt, mat or blanket that provides sensory and tactile stimulation for restless or fidgety hands of someone with Alzheimer's or related Dementias.

Patchwork Posse Nancy Zieman and Pinterest have some

ideas and suggestions on how to make one of these touchy quilts.

Locally, you might find that your quilt shop has a Fidget group.

Summer Stitch Along!

I'm always happy to find a stitch along that gives me a reason

to enjoy the hot humid days of summer.

Bee In My Bonnet has the perfect solution!

I enjoy these patterns--And the best part--

there will be fabrics to go along with this.

Just take a look at this!  Now, why isn't this the greatest

sew along quilt!--Summer, here I come!

Wooool Work!

I'm ready!  our local quilt shop has wool--lots of wool and

even the floss colors needed for the May pattern.

I've signed up to do Rebekah L Smith's year long project.

This will be fun--something I've not done.

I know the colors are hard to see--and I'm not too sure I like the 

light wool, so I might add some color to it at a later date.

Okay, I looked at this for the longest time and decided I really

did NOT like that light green!  What to do?  Well, dye the wool,

of course!

There are no acid dyes in my pantry but I do have food coloring!

That works brilliantly on wool--just heat the wool in water with

small splash of vinegar, drop in a few drops of blue dye, simmer

and it's done--color has been added!

Now, look at this compared to the other piece--much better!

As the wool absorbs all the food coloring (dye), the water

runs clear--so much happier now!

This is a closed list on Facebook--but, you can go to her website

to purchase the pattern ($35) and then you'll be asked to

join Facebook page.