To weave, or not to weave.....

My friend Kaite from Yarngarden is taking an on-line workshop from the extremely gifted Jude Hill. Kaite is already quite knowledgeable about weaving, basketmaking and all things fibre, but she thought that she might enjoy the additional exposure and the social aspect of this class. I was intrigued by the simple process, so decided to attempt it, with a few tips from Kaite. The following is my humble attempt at the raw edge weaving of some gifted decorator fabrics (two patterns & a sheer). Let me tell you, it didn't even put a small dent in the stash!!!! I rotary cut (roughly) and then wove the strips, stitched them by machine (apparently a no, no), then cut them in half and rewove them into a much smaller piece. After I finished, I threaded in some recycled sari yarn and added a few hand stitches for effect. I like it.....don't know what the heck I'll do with it....but it's actually quite addicting once you get going. I call the piece "Damn You Kaite", because it's not the project I was supposed to be working on last weekend. That one is still not finished!

Have you ever.........

.....seen anything as magnificent as this yellow tree peony? I visited Marilyn & Rain's garden on the weekend, but naturally, forgot my camera. However, I did come away with a couple of cut peony's to grace the table. I wish that I had been able to take a picture of the tree, as it was absolutely loaded with sunny fleurs. More than I've ever seen on this plant before (probably because of our unusually mild winter). I'm having serious garden envy right now!!!!!

Little Leo returns

Little Leo is a wonderful little plant that I was gifted with years ago, by my sister, Suzie's sister-in-law, Diane (from Sault Ste Marie, ON). I turned around and re-gifted him to Marilyn and so he still grows!! Every year, Little Leo is one of the first hot colours to bloom in the garden.....and every year he struts his stuff proudly. This is a very tidy plant and oh so true to it's name. It flowers for a long time, yet stays small and compact in a nice neat clump. When the flowers are finished, he disappears back into the soil. After basking in the son, Leo rests to wait for yet another spring!

Goodbye spring!

Every year I eagerly anticipate cherry blossom time. See what happens when the rain falls? LOL! These pictures were taken a couple of weeks ago in Marilyn & Rain's garden. Do you think it's all Rain's fault? The rest of the flowering trees were still blooming and the lilac was particularly delightful! I wonder who's showing off this weekend? Perhaps I should check them out!

Tada! My first Russian Leaf

Boy am I ever proud of myself!!!!!! This is something that I've been wanting to do for a while. I actually learned it from the ever generous, Marilyn Parker at the Toronto Bead Society techniques night last month. Thank goodness for her written instructions, because I just didn't get it that evening. With a little perserverence and a lot of ripping out and swearing, I finally figured it out. Yeah! Funny, it seems that you need to follow the instructions.....what a novel idea for a totally undisciplined artist like myself! Okay, I admit that it's not perfect. I'm not all that happy about the veins, but it's a start. I'll need to make several more before I'll be comfortable saying that I know the technique. The leaf is constructed in a diagonal peyote stitch, using Miyuki delicas and size 15 seeds beads. I had to use the GOOD light for this one!

BTW, do you like my display rock/crystal? Someone gave it to me and I have absolutely no idea what it is. Any tips would be appreciated. Any geologists or rock hounds out there reading my blog? Like, say Kristi??