Mixing New Colors

The green was easy to achieve. I used bright green from Cushings direct dye. The red was an experiment. I started with Cushings American Beauty but it was too much of a blue red. Very pretty, so I dyed some reed to use for another project. I added a packet of Dylon Old Gold after I had dyed the first bit of reed in the American Beauty. Experimental yes, but I think it worked. Both dyes are hot water dyes so they seemed to mix fine together. The poppy color I was looking for is really more of an orange than red so adding the yellow shade brightened the color. Now I just have to get the weaving done!

It's The Color!

I can't get past the cover on this magazine. Absolutely love the poppy red and citrus green. I have some work to do getting the color just right in a batch of reed but this is my next challenge. I love any green but use this shade as much as I can in  in weaving. It looks great with chocolate brown, turquoise and even a dark plum. Reds are a bit of a guessing game when it comes to dying reed. It's usually a surprise when it comes out of the pot. I've been known to check the batch , add some blue to adjust the shade or some brown to tone it down. So, I have a bright green and poppy red basket to make. Haven't settled on the style of basket yet but I'm thinking...........

Project Magazine Love

This is really going back a few years. It's the April 2001 issue of Victoria, told you I had archives! A sweet picture with the little girl and the no doubt nervous bunny.

March Motivation

Decided I should find another challenge for the month of March. I've been following with keen interest the making of a magazine over at Restyled Home and Flea Market Style although I haven't got my hands on a copy yet! It got me thinking however, about my magazine love over the years.  I went to the basement where there are stacks of old favorites, some of which are no longer published. Some of my favorites over the years have been Victoria (the old one), Country Living and Craft Illustrated. My mom shared the magazine love and often sent me letters with clippings of things she thought I'd like and I saved her all of the great quilt designs and hooked mats I could find. My big sis who shares the gardening bug always has a stash of glorious gardening magazines and has gifted me a subscription or two over the years. These are safely tucked away too. So, my mission for the month of March is to make something inspired by one of these copies from the archives at least once a week. 

 

Here's the first project. Yes, more felt. Isn't this a gorgeous cover photo from the August 2001 issue of Victoria. Aren't these pansies so simple and beautiful.  There is more inspiration inside this issue but I'll pick another magazine for the next project.

One Year of Blogging!

 

I just realized this afternoon that I must have been blogging for a year by now and when I checked back to my first post it was  in fact February 27th 2009! It's an anniversary! It hasn't been consistent but I made it through a whole year. 
I'm pretty sure things looked familiar to this in February last year with perhaps a bit more snow. This is a picture of one of the flower beds in the garden. Can you see the hydrangeas and the David Austin roses and the big leaf goldenray blooming happily? There's always a few stray pansies and in July butter yellow  and soft pink Asiatic lilies leaning over to whisper to the  blue hydrangea. I digress. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by over the last year. I've learned a lot already by blogging and have enjoyed so many posts from great fellow bloggers. This will be the year to learn all I can about websites and get one established for the studio. Better get started!

Finished by Friday February 26/10

The felt projects continue to be fun! I experimented with welt felting over the open weave of a basket. The fibers probably needed to be mixed up more before I applied them to the surface. I did needle felt them a bit so the layers would stay together to get started. It is something I'll work on lots more to get the desired effect. The wool is certainly securely attached to the basket. It felted to itself between the gaps so although the rim section is not as well felted it wouldn't come off without scissors!

Next I played with making cords or lariats and added some little blue flowers and leaves. They have necklace potential and look great as a hair accessory. I was really pleased at how well the flowers match the blue reed in this basket!


And then since I'm fond of trees and all things associated with them these little acorns came along and they will look great among the fall splendor which inspires so many of my baskets. There's a flickr group devoted just to acorns! Delightful!  

And not to be forgotten a couple of little buds of another kind, a mother daughter project :)

Yes, I am loving the needle felting! It's so great to have a new interest that I can do  in a tiny place without water being flicked all over the room. The basket weavers know what I'm getting at. Bonus is how nice a compliment it will be to my handmade baskets and I'm thinking of new projects as a result of the woolly wonders. That's a gift this time of year when all is gray and I want to see spring. Maybe I'll make some spring this weekend. Cheers!

Wonderful Wool

I've been waiting to dive into this box of wonderfully soft wool. It came a week ago and I've been trying to finish the other things I should do before starting a new project. But nothing is in the way now so I'm "challenging" myself to work on a new skill this week. I got a taste of needle felting at a Finders Keepers workshop and have just been doing little wool doodles with yarn I had since. I'm excited about trying lots of different ways to use wool and needle felting techniques. Will make some embellishments for my baskets and try incorporating some felting into the weaving as well. I guess the challenging part will be whether I can felt something worthy of posting! Can't believe the month of February is almost gone and I hope the folks involved with the Scarfa challenge are still having fun with it. Thanks to Janet for being the instigator. It will all be finished by Friday. :)