Underneath the Apple Tree

Underneath the apple tree, a little gnome is taking a well-deserved rest. He gathered all the apples he could pile in his basket, and now it's time for the squirrels to do their harvesting. I wonder what sorts of dreams he is having, nestled in those roots...

A Little Family

I made this little family of sunflower faeries for my friend's birthday. Taryn and Jeff, are expecting a baby in the coming weeks, and I wanted to make her something honoring the beautiful little family they are creating. Sunflowers are very special to these folks. They had them in their wedding, they have beautiful photographs of them in their house, and they pop up from time to time on Taryn's blog. I decided they absolutely needed a sunflower family. I had a lot of fun making a little beard, so you might be seeing some little bearded fairy men on my Etsy store sometime soon. I also have more teeny tiny baby acorn hats!

Wave Rider

I just finished this needle felted wool wall hanging as a custom order. The parents from a Kindergarten class at our Waldorf school wanted to give their teacher a gift that honored her other big passion in life, surfing.  Although I have never surfed myself, as I was working on this, I thought to myself that it looked like a lot of fun! Standing there on the shore with the waves spread out before you, as you prepare to travel upon them must be a great feeling.

 Living here, in the Willamette Valley, I am always impressed by the diversity of regions and landscapes within such a short distance, and all the ways in which folks get out there to enjoy the outdoors. Surfing, skiing, kayaking, white water rafting, mountain climbing, backpacking, canoeing, and the list goes on and on. I'm glad to see all these people getting out there and connecting with the earth in their own individual ways. We all need it, really. It's just a matter of finding what your way is.

Happy surfing, Miss Robyn!

Homestead Mornings

It's that wonderful time of year again. When I go out in the morning to feed the chickens, the air is cool and crisp, the roosters are crowing, and it feels like fall is here.  This is my favorite time of day, full of the possibilities of the golden autumn day to come. Soon the smell of wood smoke will fill the air from our neighbors chimneys and our own.  Squirrels are busy up in the oak trees building nests and storing nuts (and driving our dogs crazy!) I'm busy right along with them, gathering, harvesting, and storing food for the coming winter. I love every minute of it.

I needlefelted this wool wall hanging a few weeks ago in celebration of these sorts of mornings. It was so popular, apparently, it sold to two different people at the same time! Both to someone at our Waldorf School store, and an Etsy customer in Greece on the same day. What are the odds? It must mean that other people out there love homestead mornings as much as I do.

I am busy at work creating an identical one right now.

Summer Abundance

With all the bounty of the earth ripening in the garden and the fields, and the creative spirit of the Women's Festival at Stillpoint Farms where I vended this past weekend, I wanted to create something honoring this flow of abundance. I needlefelted this wall hanging, working on it late into the night, of a woman in the fields with a basket of apples she has just harvested from the tree. I wanted to convey the feeling of sowing and reaping, and of things being plentiful. This feeling abounded at Stillpoint Farms on Saturday. My little booth was surrounded by the crafting booths of so many amazing women artists, all of whom worked together throughout the day to uplift one another and create a  flow of nurturing and abundance. I sold my handcrafts, I bartered for some other beautiful handcrafts, I won some beautiful art in the raffle, I listened to soulful music all day long, and I had numerous conversations with other women, healers, musicians and artists, making a few new friends along the way. I spent some time appreciating the landscape around the farm with its rolling hills, forests and fields. Apples hung ripening on the trees, blackberries glistened on the vine, and strawberries grew juicy and red in the fields below. I am grateful for this day, and for abundance.

Busy in the Craft Room

I've been so caught up in the busy goings-on of summer on the homestead, that I realized I haven't posted anything on here in a while. Life has definitely involved more gardening and watering and less crafting as of late. In preparation for the upcoming Women's Festival at Stillpoint Farm, at which I'll be vending with my booth, I'm busy at work again in the craft room with my wool and gemstone beads making some whimsical creations. I thought I'd share a little peek here with all of you.

Wool pouches wet-felted around river rocks

Lady of the Forest

Abundant Harvest Goddess

Queen Winter

Lady Spring

I made these gemstone necklaces with beautiful ceramic goddess pendants handcrafted by a local artist.

Last, but not least, here are a few of my Mountain Hearth cards. I've been turning some of my favorite photographs into cards and selling them at my booth. I'm still planning on adding these to my Etsy store online, along with the new felted seasons table figures and necklaces after the Women's Festival. Be sure to check Mountain Hearth Handcrafts on Etsy from time to time for new creations posted.

Stillpoint Farms Women's Festival

http://www.stillpointfarmsfestival.com/

I'll be there with my Mountain Hearth Handcrafts booth! See you at the farm!