Textures & Colours to Delight the Soul

Another rainy day today – This morning at 5:30 the sun was peeking through but by the time I got my day going it was torrential rains. That seems to be the story of the summer up here on my island in the St. Lawrence River. One never knows what the weather will be as we are situated in the middle of a valley between the mountain ranges north of us and south of us in Vermont.
Last week was cool and comfortable - this week heavy and humid (which by the way I hate). It’s been a topsy turvy summer in more ways than one.

I have been having fun with some of my smaller punch needle designs – and if you want to know what punch needle is all about peek in at The Primitive Gathering where you can get a lowdown of what it is all about plus a couple of my more seasonal pieces are for sale. This month for PFATT Marketplace I did some quick thinking. What is practical and yet pretty? I had bought these felted mini purses – they are 100% wool Fair Trade from Nepal. Add some of the punch needle and voila. I am into beading so added some felt and glass beads. I love the subtle play of light on glass beads.

I have been adding beads to my knitted socks and to some of my punch needle designs. My next step is to make bracelets – I love the ones that have all those funky beads especially lamp work ones. No I am not about to attempt to go into the jewelry business – this is something I enjoy in my spare time – at this point Peter would interject – what spare time is that??

I am quickly knitting a pair of socks for my mother- in-law in a hand painted wool called Macintosh put out by AppleLaine. I had bought the skeins from an online website Earthfaire – which is such a delight and I love all their yarns, beads and kits. If only I could knit faster. So I got the wool –which was to be a beaded scarf and then decided a few days before my MIL’s birthday that these would make beautiful socks. So two days past her birthday my fingers are flying! I then discovered that this wool is local wool from Ottawa. What heaven! This called for a road trip (2 hour drive) to see all their sumptuous wools in their true colours. It’s a beautiful wool/mohair and silk blend, knits like a dream and so soft. I can confidently say there will be more of these skeins in my wool basket waiting to be turned into little treasures.

Since taking up knitting again I have to say that I am awed by the amount of hand dyed wool out there and the quality of the wool. To knit today is such a pleasure with the resources that abound. Unfortunately when I get going on a new craft – I tend to go overboard. It’s good I have limited space what with all the other crafts taking their place in my home. This calls for a good clean up to see what can be got rid of. I keep saying that but then I pick up my punch needle or my rug hooking and now knitting and say another day. Nothing gets done but a lot of creativity and where would I be without that to enhance my life.

Have a great day - Joni

Get Busy

It has been awhile and although I had the best intentions to blog more – life just happened to get in the way. June was spent going from home to the hospital for hours on end and putting everything else on hold. My better half came down with a serious illness and it meant his staying in the hospital for 3 weeks. Happy to report everything is fine and he is on his way to recovery. It was just a very scary time for me and blogging was the last thing on my mind.

July was just a month to get our life back in order and catch up on necessary chores and those endless things around the house that you wish would take care of themselves. The weather was rainy and cool – actually weather I don’t mind as I am not a summer person. I like the occasional hot day but too many is too much for this girl. People think I am crazy but I love our winters. I like the still quiet of a snowy day, the crispness of the air where the cold sears your lungs and especially the snuggling under a warm quilt while all the animals are peacefully snoozing in their various spots around me. What can I say but that I am a fall/winter kind of gal. I like that bliss of hibernation.

PS .. It gives me a good excuse to stay in the house and not feel guilty about being outside doing the outside chores – I can craft to my heart’s content.
Although I talk about not liking the outside chores I do have some flowers that do grow – I like the ones that take care of themselves.. Here are some poppies that I love and have been growing for years.

So while visiting for hours on end in the hospital these hands which are NEVER idle had to do something. What takes two needles and an endless hunk of beautiful hand dyed wool – but knitting. I used to knit years ago and I think I got so frustrated by the endless UFO’s of sweaters that lay around the house that I gave it up. Ahhh the impatience of youth – I wanted that sweater done quickly and invariably they never fit properly so what could I do that was quick, small in scope, practical and where I could explore all the different knitting techniques – dare I say socks were the solution to that. I know. How many socks can a person have – well lots I say! Especially when they are gorgeously rich hand dyed wools – using intricate lace patterns and for added pizzazz some beads thrown in.

The first purchase was a beautiful carrying bag for my projects. A plastic bag would not do for those luscious yarns. I love the Jordana Paige line of purses (simulated animal texture) and this colour had a WOW factor for me. They are big roomy bags that can carry everything and dressy enough that you can stick your essentials into it and use it as your everyday purse. Two in one – I like that.

So with socks knitting in mind come September I will be launching another ETSY shop called “Wooly Footsies - Hand knits for happy feet " - where you will find some of the socks I have been knitting. They are one of a kind – meaning I don’t repeat the sock in either yarn or pattern. I like working with different wools and there will also be exotic yarns for those that prefer something other than wool. I am not a particularly fast knitter yet and I do these to relax my weary brain in front of the TV (mind you the stuff on TV contributes to that mindless void) so as you see them on ETSY that is what I will have – no duplicates. I will be introducing them here on my blog and maybe showing a work in progress.

I have other projects on the go that I can’t say too much about here due to confidentiality issues but I am happy to say I am busy (which is a state I thrive in). The approach of September has always been the best time of year for me. I was one of those kids who loved going back to school – cracking open those new books with the crispness of fresh pages and the scratch of those pencils on a snowy white page. To me this time of year is when I wallow in creativity and the possibilities of new endeavours. It prepares me for the peace of winter which is when all these exciting projects see life.

I am excited and thankful. Always good to remember what you are thankful for – puts everything in perspective.
So if all goes well I hope to be blogging on a regular basis and have plans to set aside a time each day to chit chat about this and that.
Have a great day - Joni

Holiday Pics of Maine

Just a quick post of some pics of our holiday in Maine.

View from our front window of the beach. My early morning seat! Who am I kidding... my sit all day seat if I could...



A hot day - in the 90's and the beach had more people than I had ever seen before. Usually not in the water beach day when we are there!

On one of our road trips looking for the elusive light house that we could see from our front window every night

Sun setting on our beach...

A beautiful sail boat off our shores...heavenly.

Definition of Happy!

A very glorious 10 days in Maine by the ocean with Mom. Just got home - and the holiday was so relaxing..it was perfect - sun , great companionship, and lots of fresh seafood....needed it after a very hectic year of turbulent changes. I will be posting pictures tomorrow.

On my way to Maine I discovered a wonderful new place to visit in Vermont,which is inspiring me to knit - knit - knit! Kaleidoscope Yarns in Essex Junction, Vermont. They have a great website with mail order .... Just loved that store - went twice and won't be my last.

The wools these days are so delicious in colour. I love all the hand dyed ones - being a hand dyeing kind of girl. I picked up some new colours to be knitted into socks for gifts that Santa will bring to some of my favourite people. Sprinkle in a couple hundred beads and they will be picture perfect - beads and knitting - my new favourite thing. No I have not given up my rug hooking or punch needle (working on finishing a sampler for Pfatt in our Halloween themed June) but knitting is filling in a space I needed of pretty but practical. What can one say to knitted shawls and socks - a necessity for our cold climes and this gal loves her fall/winter season. Even more so with a lovely textured shawl and some sparkly colour on her tootsies!

My newest punch needle pincushion was available on TDIPT Mercantile this month but has been sold. Here is a picture of it based on an Americana theme for May. This was a departure for me - being Canadian - and I puzzled over what to do for this theme. Then it hit me just stick to the colours - so brought out my primitive palette of hand dyed wools in old blue paint, morning fog and barn red and came up with this pincushion. They are punch needled hearts appliqued on a wool background and then overlayed with more wool - I do love my wool!

Another happiness today was coming home - always nice to go on holidays but it is especially nice to come home. Hubby and Roby greeted me at the door. Poor Roby I always have a hard time leaving him as I am sure he does not think I am coming back. It was not his usual barking of "oh Mommy you are home from work - now feed me" this was a plaintive crying "Where did you go for sooooo long" Now he is fast asleep with one ear to the ground to make sure I am within his sight and hearing - oh dear they are such wonderful friends. Peter is glad I am home for the company and to take over Roby's routine. He gets a good night sleep!

That is happiness - loved ones and sweet homecomings.

Good nite all - Joni

Busy as a Bee

New Punch Needle available on The Primitive Gathering

I just finished knitting my lace shawl , was working on the beading and casting off and what do you know my worse nightmare realized! I ran out of wool. I guess my style is looser than I thought. What to do..Should I just continue and hope that last foot would do it or should i undo all the beading (all 200) and redo the last 4 rows (each row being about 600 stitches) a daunting task to say the least. Then I thought of the recent hand dyed hunks of wool I have been purchasing - maybe there is something in there that is close to the colour. Madly sorting through those richly dyed yarns at 1:00 in the morning is not how I would normally like to spend my evening hours.

Usually I am asleep at this time - but this was a problem I was determined to solve or there would be no sleep for this gal. Aha! something that might work... undid a few stitches ...and combined the two wools and no one would know the difference - well except for me and I can live with that. It was a peaceful sleep I enjoyed! So my first lace shawl done and now to block it . Not my favourite part of knitting but very necessary in order to make it look perfect!

Pattern of new Shawl just finished

Gorgeous Dandelion colour

The pattern is called Waves in the Square by Silvia Harding and the colour Dandelion - wool by Fleece Artist out of Nova Scotia. I just love their wool! This is their mini Handmaiden product line.

Now on to some new projects. I have about 5 lined up along with some knitted beaded bracelets and some new punch needle designs that have to be made. I need 2 of me!

Multi Coloured shawl

Autumn shawl - but I will be using Autumn Colours - my favourite colour way!

Some of the knitted projects calling to me.....using jojoland yarns which has amazing melding of colorways...

I just listed a new punch needle design on The Primitive Gathering.

Pomegranate Tree of Life

I loved doing this one and decided it needed to be practical. I am all for something to have a use besides being wonderful to look at. Must be my new philosophy of material wants vs needs. It is that midlife purge of your unnecessary entanglement with material items in your life. The question I ask myself - Have I used it? When? And will I ever?

This pincushion besides being pretty to look at is also something I would have next to me. I don't just have one pincushion - I have at least 3. I used my own hand dyed wools "Red Island Threads" to do this one. I even added some beads to this one.

I am just finishing a great book titled "The Friday Night Knitting Club". I have had it for awhile but with my growing interest in knitting (well I did knit years ago - sweaters and all) thought this book would be just the inspiration. I am really enjoying it. While linking this title to Amazon - lo and behold Dan Brown is coming out with a new book "The Lost Symbol" continuing from "Angels and Demons" - finally is all I can say. It's been awhile since I read a new one from him!

Well I must be off. Saturday mornings are my day for visiting family and doing the dreaded grocery shopping. A beautiful, sunny warm day to enjoy.

Have a great day....Joni

A little bit of Whimsy...

Just a short post but I will be back in a couple of days. I have been knitting up a storm - I am doing some lace knitting - new for me and challenging. I love it! I needed something that was a little difficult to execute and exercised the brain cells. Anyway will talk about that later and my immersion into hand painted wools and beading :)

Talk about beading. I treated myself to a little self-indulgent gift. This wonderful artist appeared on Pfatt this month and I adore her pieces. This is the bracelet I bought made of copper, lampwork and swarvoski beads. Her name is Sheri from Moondog Cottage. If you have a minute check out her pieces!

Good nite...Joni

Pleasures of Creating

Hard to believe it is already the middle of March. Where does time go? I expect lots of people ask themselves that. I have always been a very busy person – well I make myself busy. I never have idle hands and have been that way since I was a kid. I can’t remember ever telling my mom and dad that I was bored. There was just too much to do. The fondest memories I have are living in a two storey house in a rural setting (which has since been built up) and exploring woods and streams. We did not have computers or TV (by choice). Our imagination was our best friend. They are very fond memories and I consider myself very lucky to have been a child during those times.

Today I often hear from children I know that they are bored – and it puzzles me. Is it too much reliance on the instruments of technology that surround the youth of today? Honestly I can’t even keep up with the new things that come out every day. It is beyond me. Perhaps it is not using their imagination that has them bored. Crafting is such a wonderful way to let children explore their imagination. This month I have been told is craft month so why not take up a new craft and if you have children in your life expose them to the pleasures and satisfaction of creating something on their own.

For myself I have signed up for some doll courses. I have always dabbled in doll making but was never really happy with them. So why not learn the basics – get introduced to some of the materials available to doll makers, run with that and see what happens. That is my new craft to learn this month! It is not like I need something new to keep me busy! But sometimes you just need that new little burst of energy.

The past two months I have been working a lot with wool. I bought some lovely silk thread and I am knitting a lace pattern shawl. It took quite a few starts to getting the pattern down. This girl is a sock knitter so it was a little challenging for me. But I got out my trusty new row counters and they worked like a charm. I bought these on Etsy from Crimson Orchid.

I have made some new wool pincushions - one of these a large tomato - this one is available on ETSY.

The other is a small dainty one combining some punch needle and some wool felting. I call these Ladies Treasures as they are tiny little pincushions.

I discovered this great site for all kinds of crafting necessities JOGGLES. I am always looking for new ways to display my punch needle patterns . On this site I came across wool felted purses and fell in love with them. So with that in mind and a new pattern in the works, I came up with this piece. I have plans to make a few new punch needle designs that would use these different coloured purses.

Now that the weather is getting a little warmer - it is time to get the dye pots out. There is just something about spring that brings about a yearning for colour. That in between time in the seasons when everything seems to be brown and gray. You just know you need some colour to speed up the coming of spring. For me the rite of sprin g is bringing out the dye pots. This week I have been replensihing my stock of wool threads and introduced 3 new colours..Aubergine, Bitterweet and Cinnamon Rose.

Having said all that -time to get back to the pots and start creating some wonderful colours. Have a great day and hope you are planning to do something creative today! TTYL Joni

Socks,Socks and more socks

I just love socks! Although in the summer I don't wear them, our cold winters warrant my need for lots of hand knit rainbow coloured socks. I have set aside my punch needle and rug hooking and have brought out the bamboo needles. I get into these passionate forays for different crafts that may last a week or a month or several months. Right now it is knitting socks.

I love the Fleece Artist hand painted wools out of Nova Scotia. I think if I had lots of disposable income a large portion would be devoted to shelves of wool yarn just so that I could feast my eyes on them. As it is I have to do with a couple of skeins and pictures :) This site Grand River Yarns has a great selection of their wools.

Oops my show is starting and I don't have a VCR anymore so this will be it for tonight and will talk some more about socks in the next couple of days.

goodnite...Joni

A Moment in History

I am glued to the TV watching the inauguration. I have been waiting for years for this and never thought to see it. I hope that the new President and his government can make some headway through this mire of muck that we see ourselves in. I say we, because as a Canadian it has affected us here too. His speech, I felt was powerful in its realism of the situation. I hope that the resolve of this 44th president will inspire the confidence and hope in all peoples. Such a momentous day that even now I have to pinch myself to say " Yes it has and by the will of the people who said Yes we can".. change is in the air and it is powerful!

The amount of people watching the event was unbelievable. I started watching it at 6:00am and the crowds just grew and overflowed. Now watching the parade and I think this is a first for me too. The day I hear he is coming to Ottawa will definitely be a road trip. Another first. Maybe the upcoming year will be a list of many firsts...That will make for an exciting and challenging time.

Goodnite..Joni

A New Year - New Projects

These are some of the projects I have been preparing. I love making pincushions. They are small, made quickly and very precious in their smallness. With punch needle you can get a lot of detail in just a few punches of the needle. These boxed pincushions shown here are two of a set of six. I have a 20 year background of quilting so often quilting designs inspire me. This project is based on old quilt patterns that had meaning in every day life. They were a lot of fun to make and I am sure will eventually end up as a pattern booklet sometime this year - hmmm patterns of punch needle pincushions - that's an idea. I love smalls!

These are available on Pfatt Marketplace - a wonderful place where you can find all kinds of talented artists. Some more of these pincushions will be popping up on Etsy and some on TDIPT this month.

The bottom pincushion is available as a complete kit for those punch needle enthusiasts out there. Contact me if you are interested. I plan on making a couple for the mothers in my life - come Mother's Day.

The Christmas holidays are over and now it seems we talk about summer holidays. I hope to make it to my favourite spot - PEI - in September with Peter and the hairy beastie - the pooch. Before that Mom and I make our annual pilgrimage to Maine in May. We have been doing it for years and all we do is eat, relax, soak in some sun if we are lucky and just gaze at the ocean. We rent a lovely place right on the beach. Can't say enough about the ocean. For me it just is not a holiday without it.

Roby got his first professional grooming last Saturday. OK he is 5 years old but I could not stand leaving him with anyone even for a couple of hours. So I found a groomer that comes to the house and Roby got pampered. I was so nervous as to how he would be - he does not like me brushing him and it is always a tug of war - have you seen that dog - he earns the name hairy beastie. He was good as gold and I sighed a big sigh of relief. Got a big kiss from his Mommy and even better a cookie treat!

Update on Noogs... our little orange boy came home last night after being at the vet's for a week. He is eating again and they have stabilized him. We hope for the best and have done all we can to help him to good health. Now it is up to him and we'll just play it day by day. What a sweet baby. They said he was well behaved - had a wonderful temperament and even when sick, purred. He was so glad to be home last night and reacquainted himself with all his favourite spots in the house...

Everyone is safe and sound in our humble abode. Snow is lightly falling and it is going to be very cold tomorrow but we are all snug and warm. Goodnite.. Joni

Noogs

We are having some up and down days lately. Our little orange buddy took off for 6 days over Christmas and came back just before New Years - terribly sick. He has been at the vets since Saturday undergoing tests and we went to see him tonight. He is seriously ill and they have not pinpointed exactly what is wrong but I have seen the X-rays and I keep hoping and thinking I am prepared but you never are. So we will know over the next couple of days after some more tests what kind of decision we need to make. I wish our furry beasts lived longer. How many do we part with during our lifetime? I guess the most we can do is love them as much and as best as we can while we have them. Such unconditional love we get from them.

Good nite ..Joni

Happy New Year

I have been very busy with the holiday season and have not not been very diligent about posting to my blog.

Had a lovely Christmas! Santa was very good to me and went shopping at Deanne Fitzpatrick's website bringing me all kinds of rug hooking goodies. Got this new hook that I am very anxious to try out. It will get a lot of use finishing up the cat rug I have promised myself to finish by the end of January. Mine is the wood grain one on the far left - cool!!

photo copyright Deanne Fitzpatrick

This is a print I got from her which is one of my favourite rugs of hers. It is called "Standing by the Monument" and is based on a photograph taken by Ted Pritchard of women in their later years that were babies during the Halifax Explosion. The border reads - "Unlike the poet, my life has most often taken the road that is well travelled and I have made it whole with gifts of bread to neighbours."

copyright Deanne Fitzpatrick

I don't make NY resolutions. I know what I have to do and I try my best to do it and if it does not happen I don't stress out. Life happens. Sure there are goals I would like to achieve and hopefully by the end of 2009 it will happen - if not - oh well!

Did lots of baking and had lots of big family dinner parties = 19 for a sit down dinner (my sister loves to host them..thank you for that). I even made some confectionery which I never do. Get some pictures of those posted on the weekend. We had lots of family fun which I think is important. Soon it will be time to take down the tree and put the decorations away and settle down for the winter and some punch needle and rug hooking.

Have taken up knitting again. I love the new hand painted yarns out there. My preference is for small quick projects so i stick to socks, mittens, scarves and shawls. May try my hand at felting purses. Found a great website with some very creative knitting - Cat Bordhi and of course that led to all kinds of surfing. These have to be the cutest place markers I have seen. I usually keep track of stitches on paper but then thought place markers and where could I find some really creative ones - on Etsy of course. These are wonderful from Crimson Orchid.

copyright photo Crimson Orchid

So as I said it has been a busy month and I am already into knitting socks for next year's gift. 2008 I was so behind that that stressed me out. 2009 goal is to make sure I get more hand made gifts done.

All the best for 2009 - good health, much happiness and may you be successful in all your endeavours!

Good night - Joni

New Rugs to Hook

Well the show is over and for my first show it was a lot of fun. I had my two elves, my sisters, helping me and would not have been able to do it without them. I am still recovering from the hectic weeks of busyness so basically just vegging out and doing nothing much. Have to post to my website some of the goodies I set aside and some new kits I released this week.

Two are rug hooking and the other two are punch needle. You get everything you need except for the hoops. Here are the two rug hooking ones. A beautiful red cardinal using quite a bit of British wool with lots of texture and a quick and easy snowman - perfect for gift giving. I only have limited amounts available and that will be it for this year.

You can find them here on my website.



I also added some great little scissor snips and mother of pearl sewing accessories on my website. Wonderful to add a vintage look to your sewing box. These are a beautiful quality and each mother of pearl piece is different from each other. You can find them under the category Needlework Necessities.

I will be posting more new things in the upcoming days..Here is one of my punch needle ornaments that has been spoken for. When I have a minute I will post some pics of the show - I took them quickly so who knows what they will look like. Off to Vermont for the annual pre-Christmas shopping marathon that the ladies in our family love to partake in - It's girls weekend shopping!
G'nite.