Harvest Home

As the autumn leaves are still swirling about here on Garrison, I turn my focus to the coziness of "harvest home".  I just completed and framed a fun little wooly sheep and pumpkin.  I mentioned in my last post that I had fun dragging out the needle felting machine and some funky threads.

 The finishing touch to this pattern from Elizabeth was the hand-stitched flowers and leaves.  Two of my favorite stitches are the Colonial knot and the lazy daisy stitch... and I got lots of practice with those on this one!

I've adorned my table with a favorite "harvest couple" and turkey.

I have some cherished pieces that stay out all the time, like this forever-loved reading bunny.  

For now, he's perched on the mantle, overlooking the family room.  With the days getting much shorter, I think even my "boys" feel the urge to nestle in a little closer and get some extra "z'sssssssss".

I love the work of Mary Oliver.  Here is her "Song for Autumn".

Song for Autumn

In the deep fall
    don't you imagine the leaves think how
comfortable it will be to touch
    the earth instead of the
nothingness of air and the endless
    freshets of wind? And don't you think
the trees themselves, especially those with mossy,
    warm caves, begin to think
of the birds that will come — six, a dozen — to sleep
    inside their bodies? And don't you hear
the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
    the everlasting being crowned with the first
tuffets of snow? The pond
    vanishes, and the white field over which
the fox runs so quickly brings out
    its blue shadows. And the wind pumps its
bellows. And at evening especially,
    the piled firewood shifts a little,
longing to be on its way.

Hello November

While waving goodbye to October, I'm still enjoying the "pumpkin theme" in my fabric creations.  This afternoon I pulled out my great little needle felting machine and started turning my wool sheep into a "woolier" guy... even standing on wooly grass, too!  I have some flowers to hand-stitch before he is finished.  I think this little guy will be framed and kept out throughout the harvest and Thanksgiving season.  

The last few days have been so stressful, as we watch the aftermath of the "monster storm" Sandy.  We were so lucky here in our area to have no real problems except some gusty, cold winds. I was holding my breath that the power would stay on, and thankfully it only flickered a couple of times.  My heart goes out to those not so fortunate, to those who lost so much.

While being glued to the coverage of the storm and last-minite election news, I felt the need to break the tension and spend some time tidying my fabrics. I "try" so hard to stay organized with my art stash.  The organization thing is definitely a work-in-progress for me.  I have tried so many different ideas.  One thing I know for sure... if you can't find it, you can't use it!  

I had a very large chest of drawers in my art studio, where I stashed most of my textiles.  The problem with that "cavernous" piece was that my fabrics got "lost" in those huge drawers.  I couldn't really see what I had.  When I took everything out, I found fabrics I hadn't seen in forever.  I have so many fat quarters and small pieces... oh, how to arrange them so that I could really see them???  I came up with the idea of rolling them and standing them on end in some fun suitcases and hat boxes.

Love this "shabby chic" box... complete with a great way to label the contents.

I adore looking at and working with wool... 

Hatboxes were the perfect way to "house" the many fat quarter pieces I have accumulated.

I don't have as many of the velvets, silks and organza pieces... but they look so lush inside this fun, little case.

Tying on some tags helps me know the contents without having to open every one!

Even my wooly yarns found a new home... tucked inside a sweet little vintage green suitcase.

Some of my blogging friends are beginning this month by sharing things they are grateful for.  I think gratitude is such a therapeutic practice... a real road toward peace... at least I have found that to be true in my own life.  

I am truly thankful to have made it through a stormy few days, safely tucked inside my beloved nest with my boys.  I am so grateful that my parents are safe and sound as well.  

Don't forget to "fall back" this weekend!  Won't that extra hour of snoozing be great???  Enjoy!