Back Yard Saturday

Excavation! This is where the pavers will go... that's a tiny piece of the new deck!

Last weekend I pruned a couple of trees and look at the mess I made. That big pile of brush is covering a whole brick patio! I need to clean up a few more trees before the job is done. They look great but what a mess. We are having a new small deck built downstairs in the back and new pavers put in near the hot tub - so exciting to have our secret garden. I'll be building a little brick pathway starting at that red chair to the house.

Waldorf Doll Experiment

I'm attempting my first Waldorf doll for my daughter. I made the head and started the hair/wig today. I've never made a doll before.... we'll see how it goes!

Look What I Found!

Here is a cute casserole dish... handmade pottery! I got it at an estate sale for $5.00! It's a nice green-blue with gold ochre and in perfect condition and the shapes look like lillypads. I have a thing for serving dishes with lids- the unveiling is a nice effect at the table plus, it keeps the food warm.

Fresh May Prints

The prints above my press

Last night I got lucky and had some time to print!!! Here is a peek at my printing studio, it's a bit messy but it's a great set up and I can leave everything out so I'm ready to go when I get a chance to print. Now, I just have to wait for them to dry. I printed on some old book pages and solid printed backgrounds to print over... plus some larger ones that I will also be printing over. It's exciting to do some layering... haven't done it for ages. :)

New Things in My Little Shop

Sea Lilly wool felted purse

Detail of bird diptych I

Bird with egg predella - II

Detail of bird diptych I

Flight wool felted purse

Here are some new items I've added to my ETSY shop. I have a nice sale going on there right now. My fiber art purses are on sale and there's free shipping til May 31! It has been so great to have the shop back in order after a very long spell of photography problems. (the bird diptych has not yet been added to the shop but is coming soon)

I'm also planning a woodblock print give-away in the near future, so stay tuned for that! Other than that, I have been enjoying the holiday weekend! I've planted many seeds... wildflower mix, dill, basil, chamomile, marigolds and of course tons of violas. My son's veg garden is doing well... the lettuce and onions look quite good. All the lilacs are in bloom here -Spokane is known as the 'Lilac City'- and accordingly I will be planting 2 or 3 in our side front yard for a bit more privacy!

Now, I'm off to the grocery store to buy lots of apples for the pie I'm making. We're having a BBQ at my brother's house tomorrow, Yay!

Purple Cone Flowers

The Purple Cone Flower purse (yep, that's me... probably the most of me I'll ever post!)

Here's a new woodblock I'm working on. I love these flowers, I planted my first last year. I did a purse inspired by them and now a woodcut. (the purse sold - I'll have to make another) I think I'll do a more stylized drawing and print on fabric. (Click on the pictures for more detail!)

Empty Bowl Quilt

' Your bowl must be empty before you can fill it up.' - Buhdda

Like all my quilts, this one has a story. I wanted to make this after seeing photos from a Kaffe Fassett class at the fabric shop in the village I used to live in. (For you Portland peeps - Fibers in Motion in Multnomah Village) I was so inspired!!! I was about 6 months pregnant and was determined to start and finish this quilt before she was born because I figured I would have to give up art and quilting once my 2nd child came. (I was wrong, but it is a bit more complicated)

I hand cut each block one by one and hand sewed it too. I did finish it before she was born and had it machine quilted last summer. It is one of my very favorite quilts...