Keeping Warm

Whew  - since I'm finally able to safely use my computer again, I was able to get some new scarves posted on my Etsy site today. 

I've had alot of scarf sales recently, so I made six more last weekend - just in time to keep us warm on these darn frigid days. At least the sun was out in all it's glory today. Helps lift my winter spirits...and helps bring out the bright colors in my scarves when I photograph on a sunny day. 

Cheers to sun shiny days!

I'm All Better!

Thanks to my very computer-smart friend Dan, I'm up and running again!  Thanks Dan! Watch for a new post coming soon.  Ahhhh....it feels good.

I've Got a Virus

I wanted to update you quickly and let you know that I'm having mega virus problems with my computer and won't be able to post until I get it cleared up. I can't for the life of me understand why people would do this sort of thing - on purpose - to other people. It makes me very angry, but even more, it makes me very sad.

Hope to talk to you again very soon! In the meantime, keep seeing wool! :-)

Fleeting Thoughts of Spring

Is it terribly wrong of me to already be thinking of tiny green growths popping out of the soil, excitement of remembering what was planted new last year and waiting to see if it survived the winter, the sound of the shovel as you plunge it into the ground to move an overabundance of purple phlox, and dirt under your fingernails because you, once again, didn’t bother to put on your gardening gloves before you started pulling those nasty weeds?

Oops, I can't seem to help myself...

Grandma and Her Hats

Oh sure - maybe I'm just a teeny bit biased because it's my great-aunts, great-uncle and my grandmother - but aren't these the ding-dang-darn cutest pictures you've ever seen? They are taken on family farm land.

My grandma is the sweet little thing in the hat. I suppose she was in her early teens here. She always loved hats and looked rather lovely in them. She passed over several years ago at the age of 81. After her passing, we were blessed with being able to keep many of her belongings - I treasure many - but one item that I particularly treasure is her old straw gardening hat. It sits proudly on my back porch waiting again for the day to head out to the garden and dig up some fresh potatoes.

Sitting Pretty Chicken Paperweight Tutorial

This is officially my first tutorial. Wish me luck.

This is a tutorial for a felted wool chicken paperweight made from recycled wool sweaters. I'm still working on details of patterns and such - so I don't have the actual pattern pieces available for you - but they are simple shapes that can easily be drawn to a size that suits you. This pretty little chick happens to be approximately 5-6".

1. I wanted to do a collection of Valentine-themed chicks, so I first picked some fun sweaters in creams, pinks and reds.

2. With two basic pattern pieces - trace two of the body pieces and one of the belly piece in a different color. Since I wanted to make several at one time, I trace and cut all pieces out at the same time for all the chicks and then have fun mixing and matching the pieces together in fun ways.

3. Cut traced pieces.

4. Begin sewing with the belly piece. I usually sew one side first and then go back and pin the other pieces together at that time. You need to also pin in a small yellow piece of wool for the beak, an orange/rust colored piece of wool cut in the shape of top comb, and the fun and sassy tail. I use the "seams" of the felted wool sweaters for the tail.  First cut about 5 pieces at a length that will hang loosely from the chick. To help hold the pieces of seams together, run them through your sewing machine a few times. Then you can roll the up into a tight coil and pin in the tail area of the chick.  This is where it gets just a tad tricky - you have to be careful to keep all "inserted" pieces inside the chick and not get them caught in the seams while sewing.

5. Leave a small opening in one side of the belly area for turning and stuffing.  Turn right-side out.

6. Stuff with polyfil. Leave a small area near the closing to add some small pebbles to help weigh the chick in the belly area so she can "sit pretty".

7. Stitch the opening closed with a hidden whip stitch.

8. Add a fancy little brooch using wool, buttons, beads - anything you'd like to adorn her with.  Use small black beads for eyes.

9. Use a wool yarn or cording and a small wool bead to give her a pretty baubble necklace. Use an awl to poke a hole through the bead and carefully add a small drop of gel-superglue in the hole before poking the cord into the hole with a pin.

10. Enjoy your Sitting Pretty Chicken Paperweight!

Unexpected Trip Around the World

I’m excited. Since starting The Lavendar Tree blog on August 31, 2009, I've been honored to have exactly 800 visitors (as of today!). Some new and some repeat. It has amazed me that I have been fortunate enough to have that many visitors – and what has also wow-ed me is the variety of places people have visited from.

When you create a blog, you can see where your visitors are from. Don't worry – there are not details about exactly who you are, where you are, or a way to specifically locate you – but it provides general locations. I've been amazed how far some visitors have “traveled” and I'd love to share it with you.

I've enjoyed visits from the following locations (in no particular order): Maine (six different areas!), Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Perth (Western Australia), Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire, Birmingham (United Kingdom), Pest (Hungary), California, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. AMAZING!!

I want to thank each of you – truly from the bottom of my heart – for visiting. I hope you enjoy your visit and keep coming back. Really….I hope the best is yet to come.

My new-year-blog-resolution is to make more wool/project related posts and more informative/helpful posts that entertain and delight visitors from all around the world.

Tall order, but I’ll do my best.

PS. This picture is of a beautiful globe that my grandmother bought for me when I was in High School. Hmmm...it feels like just a few short years ago….well, ok….we just celebrated our 30th class reunion last summer. My how time flies.

Lavendar Jane

My Lavendar Jane Angel Pillow is featured on a fellow-felters blog today!  Check it out: http://www.themagiconions.blogspot.com/.

Thanks Donni from FairyFolk!

One More Note

I have to post one more happy note about my friends returning safely tonight from Mexico.  They were interviewed by KARE11 when they arrived at the airport.  If you're interested, here's a link to their story: http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=834526&catid=391 and video: http://www.kare11.com/video/default.aspx#/Wisconsin+family+survives+carjacking%2C+shooting./60202178001.

I believe in miracles more and more every day!

Rockin' in the USA!

Friends are safe and back in the US! Coming home today.

Oh, the power of prayer......

Extra Prayers Please

I received word late last night that a friend of mine has just gone through a tremendously scary, unbelievable, life-threatening experience on New Year’s Eve in Mexico. They are lucky to be safe and alive and are expected to be on their way home tomorrow. I’m more than anxious to hear they are securely back in the United States. Please join me in extending extra prayers for their safe return and healthy recovery.

May God bless you.

Dreaming Big in 2010

Wow - this week between Christmas and New Year's has flown by. I've been busy, busy, busy....well, maybe not really busy, but let's just say that I've filled my days and nights.

Heading into work a bit - but having most of the week free, I've watched TV marathons (Twilight Zone marathon New Year's Eve AND New Year's Day), played computer games, napped alot, cleaned a little and in my spare time managed to do a little wool work. I can honestly say that I haven't been very productive. But I guess that's what time off is for. I'll try to not feel too guilty.

I'm not normally one for resolutions in the new year, but this year I do have a few. I want to eat better, exercise more, take better care of myself and.....dream big. Why dream big?  Well, really - what's the sense in dreaming if you don't make it worthwhile?

I plan to keep dreaming big and watching my dreams come true. I hope your big dreams come true too!