Outlander in Stitches

 

When did snowmen become popular?

Do you suppose Brianna and Roger taught the kids to

make snowmen? Where the first snowmen in America

built in front of the big house on Fraser's Ridge.

I think maybe they were.

 

Lavender, I love lavender.

My book has a pocket for my embroidery hoop and

other notions,  and my second embroidery project is next to it.

lavender flowers with lavender buttons.

If I could infuse this page with lavender that would be perfection.

 

 

lavender and lace, and this over the top peacock

while there is nothing historic about this particular fabric

the over the top opulence and business scream courtier to me

 

and then there are simple homespun dreams

 

and romantic idylls in the French countryside

 

Toile du Jouy.

 another thing that I love

 

 

brief views of court dress

a bodice for day and one for evening

complete products of my imagination

this is after all a sketch book

 

I am a little obsessed with thistle

such pretty colors

such a sweet looking flower favored by honeybees

and oh, so prickly to touch

 

Halfway through the pages of my summer

sketchbook, it is like a busy book for grown-ups

soft, snuggly, full of pretty things

a summer get away for people like me

people who love to keep a sketch book but have

no particular talent for drawing.

My love for all things Outlander is just an added bonus.

 

Thistle - Yarn doll tutorial

 

 

Here is Thistle

he lives in my flower pot

and this is how he was made

 

 

supplies: yarn pieces, approx. 3 yards for hair, 3-4 yards for body

one full length craft pipe cleaner

one half craft pipe cleaner

one wooden bead

 

fold longer pipe cleaner in half and insert bead on the ends

(these will be the feet)

 

fold 3 yards of scrap yarn in half five times

 and put in through the pipe cleaner loop halfway

 

pull the bead up to the top

as tightly as you can

 

fold smaller pipe cleaner in half

 

wrap around the "body" one time

 

begin wrapping the second yarn around the body as neatly as you can

start at the torso, about halfway down the length separate the pipe cleaners to make the legs

wrap up and down the legs, back up to the torso and then across the arms

leave about 3/8" of pipe cleaner exposed at the end of each limb

 

repeat this step until your doll is as thick as you want it

 

when your doll has reached its desired thickness fold the ends of the pipe cleaners up

this creates the hands and feet and helps keep the yarn in place

end the yarn wrapping up at the neck

 tie it like a scarf with a smaller piece of scrap yarn

 



 

and there you have it

variations are as unlimited as your imagination

and how many scraps have gathered in the bottom of your project bag

 

for example you can use a button with a shank for the head

 

and you can make your doll a girl

 

by taking several yards of yarn and folding in halves

until it is a few inches long and then tuck the yarn halfway between the legs

 

twisting around the yarn hank bend the legs up and

twist them together with the arms

 

begin wrapping around the top of the torso and the arms

leave a long tail hanging out

 

wrap until she looks right to you

end at the neck and tie the tails together with a square not

 

add some bits of greenery

 

 

bead and wire variation

 

or needle felt over the base.

this is a fun and easy project

I have made these with minimal instruction with

kids as young as ten, more hands on help with younger children

you can use yarn, bits of fabric, beads, etc...

you can twist the ends of the hands to hold things.

We make some every year to add to our Christmas tree,

they also make great take along dolls for car rides etc......

you can add a bit of fabric glue at the ends and the knot to make them

more durable.  We have yet to run out of variations or gotten bored

making them. The possibilities really are endless.

Catching Faeries by the Sea

This is surely an enchanted place

where faeries like to hide

I swear I saw one flitting here

and two more close by

one curled up in this faerie seat

but turned out to be shy

no matter how quiet we called

they would not come outside

they keep to their faerie glen

 in their home by the waves

you can dance in their stone circle

if you are quick, and you are brave



I swear there was one on this flower

who whispered to me

"Welcome to our home amongst the waves and stones,

If you are ever lost here you will never be alone

bring your bright umbrellas and sing us a song

come dance among the thistles

come dance among the flowers

and never go home"

they were there, Joe saw them run into the thistle

and whistle their faerie tune. 

We'll keep returning until we find,

whether that is never or soon.

Lilacs and Thistle in My Gardern Grow

 My newest projects,  my second summer of

very Outlander inspired projects..

something about those books

Starting with Thistles, because Scotland.

 

 I see them growing around here in great variety,

some tiny and almost delicate, others more robust and dangerous.

I love thistles despite their prickliness

they are much easier to draw than to touch

so they are sketched into my summer garden

 

 

and then they are sewn into my book

my newest sketches

consisting of beads and thread

that catch the light

 

 

a busy book for grown up kids to play with

and to occupy those moments of waiting

while it is too hot to knit

 

 

Lilac in thread, still my favorite despite a certain character

almost ruining it.

I love lavender, I love the colors and how it smells.

I love how it tastes cooked in cake.

 



 

and how it looks in pencil

 

 

what is a garden without birds

and Mr. Willoughby

 

 

or a view of the mountains

of Fraser's Ridge

  

 

and weekends in the French countryside

in a pastoral idyll of cotton and linen

held together with careful stitches



 

of course fall is just around the corner

and then plaid and shawls will be in order

 

 

 

 a plaid shawl with hollyhocks

to keep you warm or to toss over

an inconvenient customs man

 

or cool nights around a campfire....

 

and thoughts of winter and kitting

with a cup of cocoa on the table next to me

and a cat curled up on my lap.

 

days when it is not hot and sticky

or as the meteorologist called it

"air you can wear"