Garden Goddess

It's late Summer and gardens are bountiful. All the gardeners are busy harvesting, and baskets are spilling over with ripe fruits, squash, carrots, potatoes, onions, greens, garlic and tomatoes. Many folks are proudly wearing dirt under their fingernails on a daily basis.

 The Garden Goddess is smiling on us.

I needlefelted this seasons figure from soft, colorful wool roving in honor of late Summer. You can see more pictures of her here on my Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74251325/garden-goddess

Homestead Sunrise

Roosters crowing at the break of dawn, the sun peeking up over the mountains, fiery colors on the tops of the trees, woodsmoke curling out of the chimney...there are so many wonderful things about mornings on the homestead. It just makes a person want to get up early!

I have needlefelted this scene on a couple of occasions, and this is my latest one. These homesteaders have planted a small orchard beside their winding stream. I imagine they're sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee and getting ready to go out and start the morning chores.

You can see more pictures of it here on my Etsy shop at:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74248832/homestead-morning-felted-wool-wall

The Birds of Fern Ridge

Living close to a large reservoir and wildlife refuge that is a major stop along the west coast's migratory flight path, this is the time of year when I've got birds on the brain. They're everywhere you look. All sizes, shapes, colors and songs. I spent a Saturday vending at our local Wings and Wine festival, and made this wall hanging in honor of our fine feathered friends. A canoe paddles across the lake in between stands of marsh grass and cattails. Redwing blackbirds sing, great blue herons stand stately and tall, swans glide across the water, a mother duck is followed by a row of fuzzy yellow ducklings, and overhead a "V" of Canadian geese prepares to land. Fern Ridge Reservoir is a haven for birds and bird watchers alike.

You can find more pictures of this one on my Etsy shop at:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74249628/the-birds-of-fern-ridge-felted-wool-wall

Giveaway on the Wooly Moss Roots Blog!

My dear friend Taryn is giving away one of my cast-iron skillet grabbers and mason jar warmers over on her blog, Wooly Moss Roots! Stop on by at this link:

http://woolymossroots.blogspot.com/2011/05/mountain-hearth-handcraftsgiveaway_17.html

for a chance to win!

Giveaway!

Be sure to head over to my other blog, A Mountain Hearth, to enter my giveaway in honor of reaching 100 official blog followers! I'll be sending off a handmade bird's nest, a cast iron skillet grabber and a mason jar warmer to the three winners.

You can follow the link here at:

http://mountainhearth.blogspot.com/2011/05/100th-blog-follower-giveaway.html

Around the May Pole

Yesterday was our Waldorf school's annual May Faire, and in honor of the season, I made this needlefelted wool wall hanging of a May Pole dance to sell at my booth. I had started out intending to felt a different scene entirely, but the excitement of May Faire got me thinking about the May Pole dance, and it took shape from there. As I was making the pole I decided it should have roots, and then branches with a tiny little bird's nest tucked in them. The girls are from all over the world, dancing together upon the earth to weave a unified thing of beauty for everyone. The woman who bought it really loved it, and I hope she enjoys it in her home.

You can read about our May Faire on my other blog at:

http://mountainhearth.blogspot.com/2011/05/may-faire.html.

A Merry May to All!

The Runaway Bunny Returns

"Shucks," said the bunny, "I might just as well stay where I am and be your little bunny."

And so he did.

"Have a carrot," said the mother bunny.

-Margaret Wise Brown

 

I so enjoyed needlefelting a wall hanging based on Margaret Wise Brown's "Runaway Bunny" last year, that I decided to make another one. I've been seeing little wild bunnies hopping away at the edge of the woods when we're out on evening walks, and was reminded of the story. This wall hanging depicts my favorite scene at the end of the book of the mother and child in their cozy burrow. After talking about all the far-flung  places he is going to run away to all day, his mother just tells him she will follow him anywhere because he is her little bunny, and offers him a carrot for supper. It's a tale of motherly love.