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.

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

Dragon Mitts & Gauntlets, wip

Dragon Mitts & Gauntlets, wip, originally uploaded by marcydebbie.

My daughter has a set of metallic markers that are really fun for doodling....so here is my insomnia born doodle dragon, coincidntally matching yarn, and a new pattern in the process of working itself out.

New Journal and Tea in my favorite cup

New Journal and Tea in my favorite cup, originally uploaded by marcydebbie.

Last winter i lost my journal, a beat up leatherbound affair i had owned for a decade. There was nothing earth-shattering inside, just recipes, doodles, knitting note, to do lists, poems i had written with my children.

I have been making do with a series of notebooks, blank books, etc...none of which looked right, felt right, but I kept hoping my journal would show up. Magically one day it would appear behind the couch or at the bottom of a basket off laundry, but not even my housekeeping is that bad.


So finally I caved, I spent two hours at the book store trying to pick one out. At one point the store clerk asked me if I needed help. I said, "no, i lost my journal." He gave me a sympathetic look and replied, "i'll leave you to it."

I ended up buying one just like the one I lost except half the size, and completely empty.

Catching the Summer Colors

When word got out that I had lost my yarn stash during

the bedbug nightmare

a friend of a friend sent me a huge bag of yarn

in the most beautiful, bright, summery colors.

Here is my summer bounty so far

with much thanks to the stranger who

paid it forward that day.

The Flower Garden That I Left Behind

                          knitting in progress and much further along that in this picture,
                                              it is going to be the shrug in the small picture,

which is a Lion Brand Pattern

it's seven plus feet of garter stitch.

and minus the fringe on the sleeves.

Then there is this linen and wool vest

that is a really simple improvised in the round pattern that I

have used a few times now in different colors.

The Trees in my Backyard

the linen is woven in at the bottom

and knit in at the top.

Same pattern as the wool vest,

this one is acrylic and mohair

and feels much nicer than that sounds

Vanilla Ice Cream with Sprinkles

                                                        super soft and ready for fall.

it is super soft and ready for fall

but in all the colors of summer.

Growing a Little Garden

The most difficult part of losing our house has not been losing the house.

Not for me.

It has been the loss of my garden, my yard with its' apple trees, blueberry bushes,

grapevines, and ten years of carefully tended perennials.

I thought I was okay with it until spring showed up but I find myself grieving the loss of my growing things.

And experiencing a certain amount of worry for their future.

I drove by recently and at last there is work going on.

Signs of life instead of neglect.

Hopefully there will be a new family in our old home soon.

They can enjoy all of the things we enjoyed.

I hope by June there is a family there in time to sit by the fire pit and watch the fireflies in their full glory.

Because we must grow things.....

here is Joe tending his little garden, a geranium, some ivy,

and nasturtiums and johnny jump ups that we started from seed

along with our tiny herb garden which is outgrowing its' present pot

more geraniums and nasturtiums

and then there are the wild things growing nearby

including some Lily of the Valley

trilliums

tiny moss

and more moss

anyone know what these are?

an enterprising city mouse is using hosta leaves to make a nest in a drain pipe

another mystery flower which is growing in abundance in the lot behind us.

Of course there are beautiful things growing everywhere,

I just need to remind myself to stop and look at them,

and be a little less proprietary.

I really do hope someone is in our old house soon,

I hate thinking of her shabby and forlorn,

forgotten.

She is a wonderful house in need of love.

She already has lots of flowers.

Achooo! said the Bride

The button bouquets are done!

Packed off first for a wedding showcase in Warren, RI

and the off to my friend Bridget's shop

The Greenery

on Water Street in Warren.

Here is the first.

Made from vintage buttons

beads

a wirework birds nest

and some odds and ends

Birds on a Wire

and Yarn! fluffed up and looking feathery

I am really pleased with how it came out

I hope some bride to be feels the same.

And for those allergic to flowers and bees

but love them just the same

Here is the Bumble Bee Bouquet

bright and beautiful and

my favorite so far

Then there are sneeze less centerpieces

and nosegays

to brighten the tables

at any country wedding

I think I will make a bouquet in these colors as well

already for display

last but not least

Nellie's contribution

 My personal favorite

and the one I'll be keeping just for me.