"Rusty Toed Flutterby II"

Another Rusty Toed Flutterby has stopped by our yard.  Standing here, looking at one of the ponds - perhaps he wants to take a dip.

Or perhaps he's decided to stay dry, after all, much more rust and he might lose a toe or two.

"Your wings already exist, all you have to do is fly." - Unknown

All around me...

...I see the colors of rust and tea dyed cloth and hot apple cider.

Our Birch tree looks like the leaves have clung to its trunk - or it has been decoupaged by a somewhat incompetent 'paster'.  This is actually the layers of the trunk slowly changing color and releasing themselves from the bark.

I see all of the leaves which sheltered us during the summer now laying on the ground, ready to decay into the earth beneath them.

Some would look at this 'weedy mess' and see just that.  But you and I see the colors and the textures and its all quite beautiful isn't it.

"Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt." - William Allingham

Begin at the beginning

Time to start a new design -- one which I've been pondering for quite awhile (or so it seems).  This picture, discovered in a very, very old book of wall hangings intrigues me.  Unfortunately I do not know who created this weaving -- and I am hoping that they wouldn't mind if I try to incorporate some portions of this design using punchneedle. 

My goal is to create a wall hanging that incorporates some new-to-me techniques.  I've chosen Caron thread in different styles - Water Colours, Water Lilies and Wildflowers all in "Copper"!  This is a color that I love -- I know many of you 'rusty' types will understand.  There is something so rich and earthy and it speaks to me of time.

The working title for this piece will be "Canyon Wall" but we shall see how the interpretation goes -- perhaps another title will become evident as I punch my way through this abstract wall hanging.  That's the adventure of the whole thing isn't it?  The question "what will you be?" is with me throughout this and every other creation that comes from my hands.

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.  Don't resist them -- that only creates sorrow.  Let reality be reality.  Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like." - Lao Tzu

"Rusty Heart"

Why are we so fascinated with rust?  I know that a lot of us like rust and even go out of our way to create it, or to use it in some fashion or another.  There are chemicals that will give a rusty appearance to almost anything.  Some of us carefully nurture rust by wrapping fabric around rusty nails and other implements.

Although this most recent heart is fashioned from un-rusty thread, floss and felt -- you'll notice a rusty heart dangling in the center.  Hopefully while this small metal heart may be rusty -- its is still a symbol of all that is good within us.

"It is better to rust out than wear out". - Edwin Markham