Welcoming autumn with a vase of funky flowers, and thoughts from Winnie the Pooh

It is so hard to believe that today is the first day of autumn!  Where did my beloved summer go?  These delightful cooler mornings and evenings sure are a refreshing change. We are in for some stunning landscape views, but  I am already dreading not having luscious flowers in the yard and the neighborhood.  Once that first frost comes, we'll only have our pansies to gaze upon.

Flowers are one of nature's greatest gifts.  I have been taking Melody Ross' online art class, Brave Girl Art School.  What fun we had the first two weeks making a profusion of "funky flowers".  Today I dived in,  creating a vase full of whimsical flowers.  This piece was done on an 11 x 14 canvas board, and will later become the cover of a journal.

Melody's class is so full of great ideas, and she is one of my favorite teachers.  Her energy is absolutely contagious, and her spirit so uplifting.  

The variety of projects and what each participant can do with the ideas is almost endless.  The class will be going on for several more weeks, so it's not too late to jump in, if you are so inclined.

One of my all-time favorite books is the delightful Winnie the Pooh.  This page from  A. A Milne made a smile come to my face.  Even on the most difficult days, we would all do well to have this sweet sentiment.  Make today your favorite day, too.

"Free-style" piece complete

After beginning my "free-style" embroidery sampler quite a while back... I have just finished it!  It has found a new home, hanging by a vintage hanger snagged off Etsy.  

New threads, old buttons, scrunched ribbons, and glitzy baubles all became a part of my hand-stitched collage. 

Several of my favorite artists have inspired me... Teresa McFayden... Pam Garrison... Charlotte Lyons... and Rebecca Sowers... I have gleaned pearls of "stitching wisdom" from each one, applying those wonderful techniques in my own humble creation.  

The next time I post, I hope to have some progress from BRAVE GIRLS ART SCHOOL.  I have an art table filled with dimensional flower parts... molding paste... hot glue gun... Whew.... more later...

Enjoy this peek of what's in store as we move into a favorite season... blessed autumn... Happy weekend...

Feeling a touch of autumn

Ah....how wonderful the last few mornings have felt... such invigorating air during the early morning and late evening dog walks....quite a welcome respite after a sultry summer here in the South.  I really am a "summer girl", but always find myself ready to welcome the crisp, leaf-crunching days of autumn.
During some impromptu shopping on this Monday, I found some sweet autumn items to adorn my table.

I'm in LOVE with VELVET PUMPKINS!!!  

I am thoroughly immersed in finishing my "free-style sampler".  I started it many months ago, and recently made the commitment to complete it, and hang it by the spiffy vintage hanger I purchased on ETSY.  I'm getting close, with a few final decisions to be made about trims for the top and bottom edges.  Here are a few peeps...

I have loved using buttons, fabrics and notions from my "stash".  My favorite find during my "re-aquaintance" with hand-stitching is a fabulous website for lovers of hand-stitching~ threadnuts.  The operator of the website is sweet Jane... and she is just dandy!!!  Her threads are of the highest quality I have used... I can't stop ordering perle cotton, rayon shimmer ribbon floss, and that wonderful "soft cotton".  Here are some pictures of the latest skeins that arrived today...

If I keep ordering from my new pal, Jane... I will have to buy a second storage box.  My ARTBIN I dedicate to my threads is getting packed! Love love love it...

These "spicy" colors will add some punch to the two upcoming samplers waiting in my studio...  I can hardly wait to stitch while sipping some hot cider.... yummmmmm...