work as love

A snow day - devotional.  I spent hours sewing, creating, taking brisk walks to the bird feeders and throwing snowballs at a goofy knucklehead dog.  His test results revealed a form of Lymes disease and he is taking his gigantic pills in his usual good-natured way.  The pain killers really loosen him up and reveal his dorky side.  At one point this afternoon I came downstairs to find him asleep on his back, all four paws in the air.  He was snoring to beat the band!

 It was a good day to address washing and blocking -

This is SMC's 'Down To Earth Cotton' and I really like it.  The fiber has a creaminess to it that one seldom experiences in natural cotton.  It's certified organically grown and dyed - I like that it feels smooshie and perfect for a baby's tender skin.  

Packing a box to send to a friend - making new bags with vintage 'aprons' -

These activities, this 'work' energized and delighted and filled me with optimism today.  I was completely tuned into my inner world, so transformed that the fading light caught me by surprise, I'd lost track of the hours.  This, I think, is the essence of work = love.  

dreaming, again

Spent the weekend with two of my favorite things - the fiber is a given.

 The winter shoreline is saturating my dreams.  Its influence appears in all that I create.

My wish is to pack up the car and head east and not stop until I reach the ocean.  This guy would ride shotgun, of course.  He is my constant and perfect companion.

beaded mitts and long awaited snow

We woke to snow - beautiful glorious snow!  In haste, I grabbed my small camera and went out with the dog to capture some of the magic.  When I uploaded this evening I discovered these images of the last of the holiday gifts - a pair of beaded mitts that went to live with a special friend and coworker.  I'd forgotten all about them!

Solemate - I've crowed about this fiber before!

The knitted floral bookmark was a nice and appreciated finishing touch.

I-cord.  I love everything about it.  I also found these images of a baby sweater that I designed.  I call it Creamsicle, named for my favorite ice cream on a stick.

I'm saving this one for a future granddaughter - from my mouth to God's ears!

The tiny biscuits and sweater are knitted in Baby Cashmerino ... the crochet edge was added by my BFF Patty.  One of these days I am going to learn how to crochet.  Maybe. 
 Enough with the knitting.  I want to show you the splendor of our countryside - and the reason I was deliriously happy  this morning.

The snowfall sealed up all sound - a silent wonderland, so still and inviting.

I followed my companion - he knows the best spots for exploration.

He'd gone lame the night before and I was worried about further injury, but he could not be held back - he NEEDED to go out and investigate!

The stillness was so complete that I actually HEARD these wings beating in tandem as they passed overhead -

I am concerned about my good dog.  He has never had any hip issues, or lameness of any kind.  It breaks my heart to see him moving about so gingerly.

We'll get to the bottom of it - we'll call Dr. Wonderful Garner tomorrow.

peas and carrots

Baby quilts and sweaters go together like peas and carrots.  

It's always a happy occasion when I'm asked to welcome a new baby - this one is Carson's first nephew.  Which makes Hilary an "auntie".  Which is a grand reason for me to pick up my needles and thread!

Cashmerino in my favorite shade - so soft and cushiony when knit in garter stitch.  The quilt top was originally a printed panel which caught my eye several years back.  I don't normally choose preprinted designs, but THIS had me at the "U"...

I couldn't walk past that little sea urchin.  Oh, and his friend - Mr Octopus -

I've dismantled this little piece and reconfigured it into a personal alphabet for the new baby.  It will be hand quilted and (I hope) ready to send out by the end of the weekend!  I have something whispering to me that I cannot shake.  It too involves little knits and a seaside theme.  See you later.

letter to dad

You've been gone for one year, today.  My world seems infinitely smaller without you in it.  I know that a part of you hasn't really left, because I see you everywhere ... at the river's edge where you liked to park your truck and read the paper - imprinted in the little birdhouses that you liked to make that hang from my trees - in the faces of your grandchildren - 


I see an elderly man struggling with his aging body and I weep.  Your last years taught me about compassion, a lesson I needed to learn.  The family is closer now, another gift from your passing.  Last night your daughter and I watched the AKC Best In Show in true Mellenthin fashion - commenting on the judges, exhibitors and 'picking' the winners.  We all share that gift - given by you.


One likes to think that you are sitting up there with your famous father, smoking cigars, remembering what it was like to be in the winners circle.


Miss you.

cherries and robin's eggs

Winter returned this weekend.  

My dear friend Pauline gave me a pair of these delightful tea cups.  How I wish she were here!  An awful lot of creative do-dads appear whenever we have time together.

Can you see the steam lifting from my cup into the air?  Someone needs to hike up the thermostat!  I prefer a cool house to an overheated one, but, really Scott?  (he must have gotten the fuel bill).  The truth is, we have escaped the mammoth heating costs of the winter of 2011, but it's only February.

I am knitting I-cord closures for this sweet cotton jacket.  I'm hoping to finish this project tonight.  The wind is howling through the trees outside my window.  It sounds like a loss-of-power evening to me.  Luckily, I can knit by kerosene lamp and/or candle light! But I always worry about trees falling on the house.


Weekend sewing included a baby quilt using a combination that always sings for me - cherries and robin egg blue blocks.  

I added one of my favorite cottons - and this was a real struggle as I have been hoarding holding onto this fabric for some time.  

Little vintage trailers ... love.

This early version isn't doing much for me.  I'm hoping that the ladybugs I've planned to parade around the outside border will take it to a new level.  If not, it could easily shape shift into a summer table cloth.

Or a series of pot holders or wreaths ... recycling is the rule around here!

beautiful beads

My daughter and I went to Janice's extraordinary store - I Dream Of Beading.  It really is a treasure trove for creative beady sorts - and I've never left without renewed inspiration in a little green bag.  

We'll be creating our own beaded leather wrapped bracelets!!!!  I can hardly wait to get started.  Hilary and I must have been on the same wave length yesterday as we picked out very similar colors for our bracelets.  We both love the ocean and all of the shades that imitate the waves and the water, the sky.  Sometimes, when reality is a bit too harsh or overwhelming, I close my eyes and imagine that I am on the shore - walking barefoot in the sand, searching for sea glass.  

Spending time in the bead shop is therapeutic - it has the propensity to lift me from my winter inertia - cleansing, restorative.

I have been contemplating this bead for a long time.  

I'm waiting for it to reveal its purpose, but there is no conversation, instead - a distinct monologue.  Patience.  

Can you see the green grass beneath this tree?  The so-called "winter" of 2011-2012 has been a bust.  I'm sure that you are weary of my lack-of-snow sniveling.  I know that I whine about it entirely too much.  But I feel CHEATED, dammit.

It's FEBRUARY for crying out loud!

So why is Bubbha wearing shades?

I have discovered Clip Art.  I know, late again.  Bottom line - it's just one more time-sucking computer trapping ... WHATEVER!  (I do admire the image of this owl). I don't have anything really original to report. The past week was pretty stressful with all of the publicity surrounding the unfortunate decision letters that mistakenly reached some  of our applicants.  The dust is settling, thankfully.  And I have quilting to keep me occupied and out of trouble!

A little ladybug for the back of the piece -

I am hoping to finish this before the weekend is out because there is a wee outfit that needs to accompany this gift.  And I'm still hoping for snow.

I want to take my friends outside and build snowdogs with them!