"Whose woods these are I think I know"

"Whose woods these are I think I know.."

So often lovely dark and deep..

but today,

Lovely and Luminous and bathed in snow.

Viewing the

Redwoods

from the deck.

Oh my oh my.

Who could resist an offer to walk in the snow.  The trip to the top of the hill was nothing short of mesmerizing.  On the way back down we found our tracks to be completely covered.   And the snowflakes....nearly palm size.   Truly.

Our reward...A View From Near The Top.
And I heard them saying so softly... "We are here we are here...beneath this snowy veil.
Come see. Gently, lift a bough.  See the truth of green beneath our ghosty gown. We are here."
 and then..."Leave us now to our silence to our peace.  The spring comes so soon and we need our rest."
"Thank you for coming . . . and thank you for this place on Earth.  We are here." 

And the snow was wet.  Snowballs were thrown.  I was not the better shot.

Nor was I a good loser.

So there will be no pictures of this event.

til next time....stay warm, stay cozy.

And bless all that are trees.

Stitching Guides, Tutorials, Videos

Folsom Show ever so close.  Don't come visit right now...there's nary a path!   I have just a moment though to share a website that is a wonderful source for all of your embroidery stitches.   I used to reference a site in all of my patterns but have learned it is no longer found.   So if you are stitch searching go to Mary Corbett's website and find yourself in stitchery heaven.   She walks and talks you through a zillion different stitches no matter how simple or how complex.   Super site!

NeedlenThread.com

Loved one of her recent posts as she was working with wool threads.  

All for today...back to ripping wool.  See you in Folsom if I'm lucky!

Janet Wins !!

Janet from New Jersey is the winner in our very first pattern give-away. 

CONGRATULATIONS JANET!

I hope that you enjoy stitching up every one of these patterns.

And unfortunately I must add...MY APOLOGIES...

to so many of you that contacted me, and those who did not,  to say that you were unable to post a comment.   Being way too new at all of this, I could not figure out the problem.  Until just now.

Long story short...I have changed some settings so it should not be a problem in the future.

I will leave settings as such unless it creates some unforeseen problem.

SO very sorry!

I will make it up to you by having another drawing soon.

Woolbert was very upset with me but that little warm and wooly heart has already forgiven.

Hope you will too.

Thanks to all!

WOOLBERT'S PATTERN GIVE-AWAY

Hi it's me again...Woolbert.  I told you I would be back.  It's about time we started some give-aways.  See the three patterns below?  You can win them just by leaving a comment to this post...has to be this post. We will put all of the names of those that comment into my little wool gathering bag, and draw a name to determine the winner of the three patterns.  You have until 

11:59 p.m Wednesday night, January 26

to comment.  Please be sure to leave an email address so that Reets can contact you.  I make her do all of the work.  She will need to get your mailing address to send your patterns.

Good Luck To All...your true friend, Woolbert

Bunny Hop  ~  Little Pockets  ~  On The Road Again Part 2

DID BARBARA REALLY MAKE 14 APRONS?

Seriously??...she made 14 aprons??!!!  And they were each and every one reversible??  She told me this at a show where she had previously purchased our No-Hem Reversible Apron pattern.  And then...she sent me the pictures.  Made them all for her friends and here are some of them at her Pie Social.   I didn't dare to ask how many PIES she baked.  Accomplishments like this leave me standing in awe...and dashing for my sewing machine.  Love these pictures.  Remember now, the aprons are ALL reversible.

Here friend Barbara H. sports her
apple apron.  Snazzy!

Ok have you looked at the aprons yet or are you still googling at those luscious pies??!!!
Our prolific SEWer gal Barbara Clark is in the back, wearing the pies apron.   Pure delight in each and every face.  Who wouldn't be delighted with friends like that.   And ohhh... those PIES!
All of them familiar faces to me as I'm sure they have popped into our booth more than once.
See you next year Ladies....wear your aprons!

After this she hosted a spaghetti dinner and made everyone half aprons.
And, there's more..With our On The Road Again pattern, which makes a very large bag, she went overboard with creativity.   She made six different bags.  On three of them she personalized each one to match the recipient.  (She wore me out telling me all of this.)  Look at these bags.

Can't go wrong with ME images.
Beautifully done...and so cheerful.
Don't you just want one?!!

Here is her friend Donna's daughter.  She appliqued her
likeness onto this bag.   This one is particularly amazing isn't it?

Barbara thank you so much for taking the time to take and send these pictures.  You have a lot of very lucky friends.
Ok...I have to go sew something now.  bye bye.     Oh.  One more thing. Within the next few days Woolbert will be popping in to begin our first pattern give away.   Stay tuned.

Little Woolbert Gives A Peek

Have you met Woolbert?

Choice is not a factor.  He insisted on being introduced.

He's one of our little hang-arounds...frequently sauntering into the stitching room and snooping to see what's new...made from his coat.  Considers himself to be a pivotal figure about the place.  Approving new hand dyed colors...seeing that they are mixed congenially

...things like that.

All of the little squares are finished now (oh...and approved).  They must be joined together and the pattern written and our little wool sampler quilt will be ready to share.

When I get the pattern give-aways going, this pattern will likely be one of them!

Woolbert was quite anxious and insistent that he give you a sneak peek. 

Though a meddler..he really is a very sharing and caring little fellow.  And he simply loves you to come walk on the wool side here with us.

For now though, we bid you adieu, with two of Woolbert's favorite blocks.

New Year New Light...and a poem

Even after all this time

the sun never says...to the earth

you owe me.

Look

what happens

with a love like that.

It lights the whole sky.

                                        Hafiz

This was sent to us by a dear friend with wishes that we may have a love filled new year.  And so I pass this same wish on to all of you.    Yes...

Have A Very Joyful and Happy New Year!

On The Road Again Creations

Love it when you send me pictures of items you have created from our patterns.

And love it even more when I actually get them posted.

Below are some of the pouches created by Beth and her mother from our pattern

On The Road Again 2.

Thank you Beth.  Love your fabric choices.

She was nice enough to add a note...see below.

"I wanted to show you the 9” zippered stand up pouches mom and I made from the pattern you sent me.  I’m going to visit my friend in FL, so I made her and her mother one for letting me stay with them.  I cut everything, sewed the buttons and did the finishing hand stitching.  Mom sewed it together for me on her machine.  I didn’t do the quilting stitch, but I am very happy how they came out.  We went to our craft store yesterday and I picked out the buttons and fabrics.  It was a fun day."

Love the nifty little buttons she added in the corner!

Here is a picture of the actual pattern
cover for On The Road Again 2
Wanted to show you the little
wool version of the same pouch.

Frenz Gallery - Gary's Sock

I'm always delighted when you send me pictures of your creations made from one of our patterns.  Hoping the new blog enables me to share them with everyone in a more timely fashion.  Below is a stocking made from our pattern Better Not Pout.   I thought this was a very clever idea.  Read what Donna had to say about her adaptation of the pattern below. We have also added it to our Frenz Gallery on our website.

Thank you Donna!

Better Not Pout Stocking

"This is a picture of the sock that I made

with the kit that I bought last year at the

NW Quilt show.  I thought you might

enjoy seeing how I changed it to fit my

fisherman friend."

 Donna Strom

Little Wool Santa

I gave my little wool santa a new forrest this year on the buffet.  

I don't know...will he deliver the goods?  He looks like he wants to stay right there among those glistening boughs forever.

Deary me, I hope that I have not caused a problem with any expected deliveries.

He is from our pattern

Little Santa Things.

He is only about 12 inches tall. Don't you love his basket of glittery bells?

I want his leather bag.  Really though...it is only painted and antiqued muslin.

He is so very proud of that bag so let's just keep that information between you and me.

Here is another of my favorite decorations..new this year.

Look at that urn.  I found it on my way home from a show...one of those favorite little shops that you just simply must pop into.  No matter how badly you want to be chugging up that last little hill, rounding that one last bend, and seeing that warmy wonderful front door.  With the cats waiting presumptuously on the front porch.  And someone inside is perhaps making hot chocolate..with whipped cream.  No none of that matters.  That anticipation leaves you like a bat with frenetic wings... when you see that exit sign for that little shop that absolutely cannot be omitted from your travel.

That is what happened on that day.  That day I was a winner.

Oh Christmas Tree Napkins - Be Green Be Clothy

I guess I could have left that preachy little "Be Green" out huh?

I bought some very clever Christmas tree napkins at a recent craft fair.  I wished I had bought more of them for gifts so decided to try and stitch some up.  They are basically just a half circle using two contrasting fabrics...stitch them right sides together, turn, press, fold accordion style.   Just do a Search for Christmas Tree Napkin and you will find free patterns for them in both video and pdf formats.  The napkins online did a nice job adding rick rack but I omitted that, as you can see below.

I could not scan the entire half circle...
I had to fold it in half.  What you are seeing
is a quarter circle.

Cheery little thing isn't it?

I made some in the reverse direction also.

You know, looking at them now, I believe my folding is a bit askew.  The napkins I purchased and the free online patterns have a preferred folding...pretty sure.

I will have to go refold  and repress mine.

Anyway, I cannot wait to make a stack, tie them together with some favorite ribbon and wrap them up.   So I'm off now..my fabrics are calling.

Go Tell It On The Hillside, A Childrens' Faire Is Born.

This past weekend, on a crisp sprinkly morning,

I drove deeper into the countryside.

And In these hills..

Beneath this rolling fog..

I entered an enchanted little village.  Really it was a school.

One known in our area for hosting events that freshen you with their creativity.

And these..are the things..that i saw.

You know that something good is beyond these doors.

I told you so.

A bag of dirt.  A branch.  A few gloriously simple ornaments.
Is there a better way to say Happy Holidays?

Chiidrens Art.   Brilliant Tiles.   A Quilted Wall Does Make.

This charming holiday craft faire had plenty of talented crafters.
Children and adults as well.

Below are they, and some of their wares.
Let me first apologize though.. for some of my pictures did not come true.
I am not yet well acquainted with the digital camera.

Young fimo artist with cleverly displayed ornaments.

Be still my heart...WOOL and so wonderfully felted by this little fella.

All could join the beading table.  Look
at the Star of Zephyr. 

I will never know...was it her sweetness or just the sheer beauty of these hand-crafted

hollow egg ornaments.  But here is the artist and the ornament I chose.   It hangs prominently beneath my vehicles rear view mirror.

One should always festify ones wheels.

A young knitter wastes no time while selling her knitty goods.  I was so taken with the knitted dress she wore, which I assume she knit herself, that I forgot to snap a picture of all her lovely items.

 Oh well..the dress speaks a thousand pictures.

Oh you don't say...I recognize those cards..

That is my friend Sue.  No not up there...Down there.

She is a photographer.

Through My Lens

That is the name of her business.   She takes incredilbe pictures and creates cards with many of them.   Her husband Don pens the quotes on the back...each and every one so very apropos.  We hope to have some available on our website soon.

And they are also both knitters, crafters and stitchers and do all of these things

 in the most original ways.

And this is the famous spoon man..George.

Occasionally he takes a break from selling and does a little 

salsa dancing with a customer or two.

There were singers and dancers and musicians of all young ages.

Oh...and an ACCORDIANIST.  A REALLY YOUNG ACCORDIANIST!

Capitol letters mean that I LOVE the ACCORDIAN.

Thank you little accordian player.

It is the kind of gathering that you know sends everyone home in a happy way.

Come to think of it..I was still feeling pretty happy the next day.

I hope that next year you can come.

Aunt Bernie's Calendar

Brrrrrrrr.   The cold turned right around and snapped at the little spell of warmth we were enjoying.   So I am remembering how joyful it was last week, to  turn my Aunt Bernie's calendar to December.  An aged picture appeared and my four cousins arrived on their sleds.  The snow flew furiously...awakening so many childhood memories.

Have you ever been to Pennsylvania?

Brrrrrr.  Put on your coat and hat and peek below. 

The Horton Boys Arrive!

Two Heads Are Better Than One??

Two heads are better than one!

     No they aren't!

Yes they are!!!

     No they AREN'T!!!

Shut up!!

     No you SHUT UP!!!

Oh girls girls please...I heard you all the way out on the porch.  

They don't even have their mouths yet and already they are sqwarbeling.  I'm turning off the audio so as not to disturb you with this recurring nonsense - because sure as sugar, as you read, they are still at it.
It's like this. I start on a new doll.  Not happy with the first head.  Make a second. (sometimes a third ..fourth.. fifth and so on)  Leave them sit for a day or two.  The battle begins.  Most always it's the inferior one proclaiming two heads are better...meaning she wants me to use both and make two dolls.  Well.  No one wants to be discarded I understand that.  Still, no less irritating.   At this point I am favoring the weirder one.   What the jump..they're both pretty weird.
Well, I will contemplate the figures in between the little wool squares I am working on.  Perhaps it will take a few nose stitches on each or a very mindful placement of some mouths.  Or perhaps I will just choose the one that shuts up first.   One will return to meet you later.  But only one, because I have decided..  One head is better than two.

"Reets is such a bag of wind isn't she?  We have been sitting on this
shelf for over FOUR YEARS.   Unfinished and unattended.  She hasn't even noticed that I'm sticking
my tongue out at her."    "Yah and she tosses this 1800's scrim and satin bonnet over MY head so I'll
think I'm eloquent or something.  Did you hear her saying about those faceless babes up there that she
'leaves them sit for a DAY or two.'
"HUH!  How about a DECADE or two.   Humpff..If she ever does give me legs I'm going to give her a
big ole kick in that royal rump of hers.  I am!"
"Oh..Oh!!  And remember that hideous Halloween thing she made...the one she made 13 heads for?
Remember them?!!  She pondered over those things for months...like they were WORTH something.  They weren't worth a bag of beans.  And they ALL looked the SAME!  Oh..oh...and THEN ..then she chose the very first one she made.   Look, some of them are still tossed over there on that old armoire."

Oh..Thanks for noticing us girls. Raggy Reets abandoned us.  And PLEASE do tell us, just HOW that one

down there is any better looking than any one of US?!!  I'll give you a singing sack of candy corn if you can!

We're every bit as gorgeous as she.  And she got the wand and the legs and the shoes and

then the TITLE.  The QUEEEEEN  of  HalloWEEE-EEEN! 

 The Hag. 

Oh my,  The sorry sagas a Queen  must lend her ears to.
I think I'll have some tea.