Sunday, September 29, 2013

The Happiest of Birthdays is Art

When my family asked what I wanted for my birthday I said,
"Nothing"
I have everything I need.
The more I thought about it the more I thought that wasn't quite true.
What I would really like was to spend some time together,
doing something fun.
So. Why not some art.
We had been admiring pictures of  trees made with buttons
on Pinterest, that was our starting point.

Sam had some opinions about Nellie's choices.


Joe getting started on a small scale.

Our friend Tammy joins in when we moved the project outside today.

Table of art in progress, the tree is mine with contributions from everyone.
the tree is made from a pair of Nellie's old pants,
the ground is pages of Pride and Prejudice,
Amanda added some flowers, birds, and a horse,
Gabe gave my tree some roots, just like he gave my life when he came along.
Everyone added buttons.


This is just what I wanted.

Early on in the button progress, Gabe contemplating his next step.



Joe's independent masterpiece,



and Nellie's.  They are going to hang these in their rooms,
one painting was not enough.

And last of all mine, and every ones.
Along with the two mini canvases that were the trial run .
You can still see the glue where it isn't quite dry,
other than that I think it's perfect
and the best birthday present ever.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

September Morning

It was a busy summer for making things, one of the
advantages of having to stay home.
I missed work, missed my routine, but in early July my mother became
seriously ill and spent several weeks in the hospital.
She is on the road to recovery and I did get to spend a lot of time with
my children.  That made all the inconveniences worth it.
We had a lot of picnics and beach days, my two youngest discovered the joy of
quahogging and providing your family with a dinner you caught.
And I had a lot of time to sew
and knit.

The pink fairy bracelet.

Autumn Fairy

Hoot Hoot Fall is here!

A pattern I worked out for ruffled cuffs

My daughter's beautiful hands with the cozy cuffs

and I made some vests too, this one appliqued with a beautiful fabric panel
that I rescued from the remnant bin at JoAnn's.

Berry mitts

Berry mitts and matching vest

Emerald City mitts

More ruflly cups

and pebble mitts

harvest time

the set that started off the knitting frenzy
the softest merino wool in the prettiest fall colors