WIP

I've had something like this image in the back of my mind for several months and when the blue sky fabric came out of the dye bath, I knew what it needed to be used for. I think the green cheesecloth is not going to survive. And I'm not sure of direction at this point, but hopefully something will pop soon....any suggestions?

Book Jackets

Back this spring, Frayed Edges had decided to cover an artist journal with our own designed covers and swap them at our meeting in September. This is the one I made. It's hand painted fabric, in blue of course. I'm getting pretty sick of myself for always choosing blue, but I can't HELP it! The leaf print was done by holding one foraged from a walk on top of the fabric and using a paintstick, blending out from the edge. Wish I had taken a picture of the inside because it had a place to hold a dozen colored pencils. Ready to go!

You can see all of them by going to Sarah's blog and scrolling through her pictures of Mt Washington to reach it.

Common Ground Fair

Every year in Maine this country fair is a much anticipated event. It draws people from every walk of life. It bills itself as a "celebration of rural living" and promotes all the things we should all be conscious of. Recycling. Promoting sustainability in gardening and energy. Behaving like the responsible human beings we should be. Truth be told, I love this fair but can only take it about every other year. This was an on year and along with 59,000 others (over three days) I checked out some new crafts, some cute animals and ate some not so "fair" food. No sugar allowed, as well as coffee, though you can get that outside the gate. One year I went for the fried dough (it was okay) and Maine's famous John's ice cream. (disappointing, but that just proves how addicted to sugar I am). Moving on...

Beautiful handcrafted canoes being made while you watch.


Gorgeous colors!

Wool in the most beautiful shades.

Socks just waiting to happen!

Some new and different pottery this year. Always in the past, too much pottery, but this year the balance was just right.

Rug hooking, the old fashioned way. Made me want to take a class and learn how to do my own.

And of course vegetables: tomatoes and pumpkins along with some of the best looking herbs and flowers.

A good day and a great fair.

Already????!

Something happens this time of year, no matter how much I want to hang onto summer. I'm NOT ready for it to be over. NOT. But there's a tug inside me that I'm realizing is as strong as the tides and the full moon and despite the fact that I'm FIGHTING it, I start to gather and store. Just like the squirrels. I start looking at pumpkins in the field and think about putting them all over my house, for decoration at first and then to use for pies. I look at all my beautiful herbs in the garden and start making pesto like crazy, bring my rosemary inside, freeze sage and thyme. Fresh corn right off the cob: freezer. Applesauce. Zucchini bread. Blueberries picked straight from the field and into the freezer. I'm retired now, so I can.

We had our first mild frost last night...just nature's way of saying, "Be Prepared! It's coming!" Yuk. But really, well defined seasons are the reason we stay here in Maine, despite the fact that I don't want summer to end.

Fall Flowers

Lovely

Read It!!!

I'm enthralled with this book. Garth Stein wrote it. Whoever would have thought I'd read, and ENJOY a book written from the viewpoint of a dog? I've been listening to this as I do tedious machine quilting on a new piece and I love it. My daughter gave it to me months ago, and I really put off listening to it thinking it was just going to be another sad ending, dog dies(as they do) story I didn't think I wanted to experience. But my enthusiasm for this book equals that I had for Water For Elephants which up to now has been my very favorite book this century. I find myself laughing and at the same time, surprising even me, find tears in my eyes. I promise you, if you read this, you'll never look at a dog in the same way again. And for an even greater treat, listen to it. The reader, Christopher Evan Welch, is talented and reads with perfect inflection and voice changes.

Some things never change.

Another two picture comparison...this was taken last year when Deborah and I sat in the early morning sun and just enjoyed being feet apart as opposed to miles (Texas to Maine) apart. This year was no different. Friends are the best, after family of course. I feel rich with both!

We, (the frayed edges) stayed in a sweet little Maine cape right on the edge of the river. Beside the very large pine tree with the eagle nest practically out the back door.

What do these....

...two pictures have in common???? This is why I would NOT make a great photographer. I have the perfect cute, handsome, and awesome subjects in my sight and something always gets in the way. Charlotte having her first ever merry-go-round ride with her dad, a moment to surely document as the horse moves by...and I get the pole. An eagle in it's nest just feet from me, and I get the limb. Drats.

Disclaimer: No, I'm not pregnant...

We had a fabulous visit, my Frayed Edges friends and I. We took this picture at the end of the point overlooking the Kennebec River, or is it the New Meadows River...no matter. Sarah Ann Smith, me with the wild wind blowing my cotton shirt, Deborah, Kate and Hannah. Presents exchanged, wine drunk, good conversation, and the finale, a workshop with Natasha Kempers Cullen. More posts and pictures tomorrow.