September!!!

Oh my, the first day of September -- Fall cannot be far away.  Indeed, I found these two 'first fallen' leaves on my walk while we were in the middle of August.  I had to bring them home to give myself hope that our hot, wet summer was fading away. 

Most of the month of August I was working on a Fall punch needle picture and enjoying the thoughts of pumpkins, leaves falling and crows crowing -- does their call
really mean "Summer it almost over - Caw, Caw, Caw"?

 

I wonder if Mr. Crow is wearing a bell on his cap to let us know that time is moving on and we can celebrate the beautiful days of Fall any day now.

 

We heap up around us things that we do not need as the crow makes piles of glittering pebbles." - Laura Ingles Wilder

 

 

 











Earth Bird

 

 

 

Another 'new to me' bird has arrived in my studio.  Around here he's known as the "Earth Bird".  He is covered in 'earth shaded' feathers. 

Sitting here in squelching heat and humidity this bird decided to skip Summer and go directly to Fall.

Wish it was that easy, don't you? 

Again I thank Doreen Frost for this design. She has certainly kept my fingers and punch needle busy!!

"I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder for a moment, while I was hoeing in a village garden, and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance than I should have been by any epaulet I could have worn." - Henry David Thoreau



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A Yellow Winged Blue Bird

Hmmm  -- you say you've never heard of, let alone seen, a Yellow Winged Blue Bird???  Oh my...

I'm so glad that I can introduce this new species of bird.  Related to the "Love Grows" design by Doreen Frost this little bird has come to life here in my studio. 

So much fun to work -- and to play with. 

 It seems to me that this is the perfect time of the year to discover ornithology in the form of punch needle. 

What's going on in your studio during these hot summer days?

"A heart without dreams is like a bird without feathers." - Suzy Kassem

Capturing Floss

 

 

 

 

I used to store all of my floss in these open wire baskets.  Although I tried to keep the various colors separated I often found conglomerations of shade, colors, etc. in one basket, two baskets... I'm sure you get the idea.

   

One day recently I walked into the local Dollar Store and there were glass jars sitting there waiting for me.  They were designed to look like the old canning jars of my childhood and had nice wide mouths on them.

 







 



What a joy to separate out floss colors and put each of them in their jar.  At a glance I can see the colors and shades making it much easier to determine what additions I might need and if I need to get replacements.  'Heaven' in jars!!!

"Colorful threads move through my fingers and onto cloth". -Penny

Summer Time





As July becomes a realty I finish up a new-to-me punchneedle design.  Obviously it is not geared to summer -- but I do love this autumn design and had to get busy on it, even though the Fall months are no where near. 

This design is from Doreen Frost's imagination  and skill.  I have heard people say that they prefer to create their own designs and I would have said that myself at one time.  BUT these days the idea of starting from scratch just does not appeal to me. 

As I stitched this piece the only change I made to the design was to use reverse PN so that instead of the loopy finish I ended up with a textured, almost drawn piece.

 
It so pleased me to sit here in my studio punching each stitch and watching the design become real.  Where is your creativity taking you these days?

"Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair..." - Susan Polis Schutz