bee creative

one of the best things about where I live

It's been a pretty lazy weekend.  Sometimes that's just the way it has to be I think.  Last night I went to this year's first outdoor concert that the community I live in holds.  Every year there are free concerts at about 5 different parks, at least 31 concerts have been announced so far. 

Last night's concert was the Paperboys.  Most of the concerts are done by very talented local performers. The Paperboys are sort of local and a little more nationally/internationally known than most of the people who will play at the concerts.

 I got a lot of knitting done since we went early to claim a good picnic spot.  It's a very popular event.   

I bet you all can guess why.  It was the perfect evening.

leaves in the dye pot

About a week ago I tossed a handful of hazelnut leaves in some water and left it to soak.  About 3 days ago I wrapped a piece of wool in the wet leaves and left it out in the sun.  I'm thinking about the difference between staining and dyeing.

Today I poured boiling water over another handful of hazelnut leaves and tossed the wool back in.

And I went to visit Gerdiary and found another wonderful dye project. 

One other leaf to share:

I counted 7 lady bugs on my golden hop plant this morning.  I wonder if there are aphids around somewhere?

for jude because her roses have bugs and she doesn't knit

My roses have snails.  What is this snail thinking?  Check out the thorns on this rose!

When my roses have bugs I usually ignore them or spray them with water.  Not a big problem. 

I decided to try printing on some silk fabric that has been prepped for printing.  Very pleased with the results. The koi is a photo that I took and then altered on the computer with a filter.   I used some silver silk thread for the stitching.  It made me think of moonlight. 

Now I'm going to go knit....

Persistence

The nice thing about having a front porch and a back porch is that when the neighbors are having guests over and hanging out in the back, I can hide in the front.  Worked on my knitting some.  One row a day is working great, and I'm doing extra on the weekend so if I miss a weekday, I'm still where I need to be. 

I'm always amazed by the will of some plants to survive.  Many roses (and fruit trees) are grafted on to a a different rootstock than their own.  The theory is that they will grow better.  A couple of years ago I moved a pink rose but it seems that I left a little rootstock behind...

I've decided it can stay where it is. 

layering fabric and growing lettuce.

Is there an intersection here, some common theme?  Maybe the results of experimenting. 

Sewing projects: 

A while back I had done a "what if I layered a printed sheer over printed fabrics and quilted them together?"  It really did create a summery fun fabric.  Last night I decided to do a bit more:

 

It's a great way to work with less favorite fabrics and I like the peek-a-boo affect.  I was surprised at how beautiful blue and green fabrics were underneath the pink and orange sheer:

This is something that I want to work on more this summer, along with the sweet pea quilt.  Maybe a little less wool....

Lately I've been thinking about how I really need to work on many projects at one time.  I like the variety and like being able to choose which project suits my mood.  If I start a project, it acts as a way for me to remember an idea I've had.   Having many projects going means that when I am stuck and don't know which direction I want to go next, there is something else to work on while the problem is being sorted out.  And I do get stuck, because I usually only have the vaguest of plans when I start. 

A garden problem resolved:

This is the second year that I've grown lettuce in a hanging basket.  The slugs and snails stay out, I water it enough that it does well (lettuce likes water), and I've figured out what is the "just right" amount to grow. 

Hmm, maybe the common ground is, this is what I"m sharing today. 

the real reason I got chickens

So that I would have lots of eggs to make yummy things like home made ice cream.  I found this recipe for honey ice cream via Spirit Cloth (the inspiration that Jude provides goes so many directions!).  Oh yum, oh yum.  All local too!  And made without an ice cream maker.  I just poured the mixture into a flat shallow dish, placed it in the freezer, stirred it every once and awhile for about an hour and then took a nap. 

Here are the girls with their first watermelon treat:

Today was really about gardening. Quite a few little plants to put out:

Toilet paper tubes for starting seeds did not work, the dirt in the tubes just dried out too fast.   I did find a nice way to recycle old bus passes and an assorted little pieces of plastic.  I cut them in half and used them for plant labels.  A little bit of masking tape on the end makes a good writing surface.

Oh and just a little felting:

Love the way the cheesecloth and the wool mix together.

a few what if's

What if I ironed a transfer on to cheese cloth and hung it as a prayer flag?

What other possibilities might there be?

What if we stop measuring?  What if we tear up seams?  What would happen if we broke outside the box?  Would the sky fall open?  Would there be "Peace and Plenty?"

looking through a window

Next to my porch swing I have a few old windows leaning against the side of the rail.  I looked down and saw:

The round disks are the seed pods for lunaria, or money plant.  Another part of a life cycle....

"A garden offers a face, an expression.  From the outside it's a mural one can enter.  Inside, its details become visible.  One can wear it like a voluminous garment, disappear into it's sleeves.  Insider and outsider experience very different gardens."  -Diane Ackerman, from Cultivating Delight

it's not socks

It's a sweater:

It was 83 degrees F, and I sat in the shade and worked on my wool sweater.  At least it wasn't on me.

I have 9 1/2 inches done and 8 more to go before I start working on the next part of the sweater.  I've decided to knit one round each night, which will put me at about an inch a week, which means that I'll be done with this section by the end of July.  Well, it's a goal.

While I was sitting out in the shade I was enjoying a rhubarb soda:

I don't remember where I found the link, but I sure am glad I did.  This is yummy and I'm making more, lots more.

I've been thinking a lot about how I always find flowers inspiring.  I think it's not just because they are beautiful, but because they are part of a cycle. 

Also thinking about how long I've been interested in gardening not just as a way to provide food and a beautiful environment, but also as material for crafting and creating.  I have some of these rose petals seeping in almond oil right now that will be used for salves or lotions.  I used hips from these roses to make jam last fall and will do so again.  I could use the petals to make rose beads.  I want to use some for making rose water.  I think this spins the cycle of gardening out even further into my life.  Or maybe it creates more intersections. 

socks for summer

Dinner tonight at my brother's.  He lives on the edge of a small lake that is on the top of a mountain.  I love his view and his house and really dislike his driveway. 

I sat on his deck and worked on my latest pair or socks:

The perfect summer weight.