Getting Organized

What is it about the upcoming New Year that makes me want to get organized?  I guess its like opening a never read book and seeing that pristine first page before you. What will the story be, what journey will I take?

And so, I have totally reorganized my fiber rods.  I'm sorry I didn't take a 'before' picture.  Some things are best not shown.  But here is the 'after' and I'm so pleased with it.  I have organized each rod to hold a certain type of fiber.  Some of them are ribbons, some are chenille, some are quite glittery and fluttery.  At least now I know what I have.

Next came my fabric stash.  I know that compared to most of my friends my fabric collection seems quite small - but most of what I do involves very little fabric.  However, I can never say no to an interesting piece.  So my wire baskets now hold the various types of fabric.  A couple of my favorites are the wool felt pieces that I've collected and the flannel that sits there, unused, but much loved.  

I'm not quite finished as you can see here.  My 'bits and bobs' metal basket is filled to the brim with things both known and unknown.  This will be an adventure -- not only to go through everything but to then figure out a good way to sort it all out.  Sounds like I have a few more hours to go before I can say 'job well done'.  

Happy New Year!

"Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up." - A. A. Milne

Winter Solstice

Winter has come a bit early this year - beginning just before Thanksgiving.

A lacy looking bench changes the landscape with just a little bit of snow.

Although water is still running here - this little grotto pond doesn't look at all like itself.  Are the toads buried deep in the mud below - trying to stay warm?

Nature has outlined the bricks on this path - making it look like the path on a board game.

"In a way, winter is the real spring, the time when the inner changes happen, the resurgence of nature." - Edna O'Brien

[To each of you a Happy Holiday -- I'll be back after Christmas.]

Tis the Season

I'm late this year!  Christmas is creeping upon me -- and I haven't even done my Christmas cards yet.  Where do the days go? 

And so my needles and threads have been pushed aside and I am spending this day writing cards with the goal of putting them all in the mail tomorrow.  While gifts are important to many -- I value Christmas cards.  Having lived as long as I have I know that gifts come and go but the contacts and relationships that we make with people along the way are one of the most important gifts we can give ourselves.  

Okay - I've postponed this long enough and its back to card writing.  

"Christmas isn't a season.  Its a feeling." - Edna Ferber

Today I am thankful for...

Blueberries, in a white bowl every morning!

I'm thankful that there even is something as wonderfully scrumptious as this.  I'm thankful for the fact that due to technology (meaning freezers) I can eat them year round.

I am thankful for the farmers and their laborers who plant these bushes, care for these bushes and pick my berries for me all through the season.

"I love berries.  Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black berries,

 anything with an 'errie' in it!" - Jordin Sparks

The Best of Three Worlds

These days I'm incorporating my love of punchneedle embroidery, doll making and words into one small package (or hopefully 'packages')

I'm also learning along the way - with several missteps.  But then for me, that's always part of the play. After a brief frustration with myself, I move on, knowing a little bit more each time.

Training myself in the use of materials, especially if not traditionally used this way, is always 'interesting'.  That's the fun part.  The not-so-fun part is taking stitches out (and ruining a whole face in the process) and/or putting one piece aside and starting another to replace it because the first one did not work.  I shall persevere!

Don't lose your confidence if you slip

Be grateful for a pleasant trip

And pick yourself up, dust yourself off

Start all over again.

Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields

The Bee Skep

I'd like to introduce you to two delightful people who I discovered quite by accident a few weeks ago.  They are  Lisa and Bob Prive and their website is The Bee Skep.

Their collection of both rug hooking and punchneedle items is great and their service is probably the best I've ever had.  Right now they have a sale going so this is a good chance to load up on either supplies or patterns for the upcoming year.  Meanwhile I'm off to start punching using two brand new gripper frames from The Bee Skep - thanks Lisa and Bob.

"There'll always be serendipity involved in discovery." - Jeff Bezos

"All Is Calm"

I have set aside this past wintry week to punch, punch, punch.  Sounds violent doesn't it.  But really its all about trying to get this Brenda Gervais design finished.

The gods of punchneedle were with me and I was able to get it punched, backed and framed in time for my self imposed Christmas decoration day, December 1st.  

As I worked on this design I pondered the words and embraced them.  Beautiful music in the background, snow outside my window and a lovely design to work on.  Its a gift to myself.

"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset." - Saint Francis de Sales