So many birds, so little time....

This winter I discover rug hooking. Since I didn't have all equipment I need initially, I start making birds from scrap wool. Of course red and white color combination  my all-time love. But also I'm working with bold & vibrant colors. The texture of wool is perfect for inexperienced person like me. It is  very forgiven -  all mistakes I made so easy to undo. Wool  easy shapes to the right form. I make few pincushions.  They are quite primitive and lovely.  I made pictures  today in the morning and suddenly realize how many birds of any kind I already planted in my house.  There are only few of them: 

When we combine goodwill shopping with little imagination and latex glue....

New addiction . When we combine  goodwill shopping with little imagination and latex glue....  That's what happens. I am making candle-holders for my garden and also make few bird-feeders.  Lovely and cheap. In a sunny days  my glass creations glimmering in between plants. At nigh  they are perfect for little votive candles. 

 there is  the key for my friend's cottage. I also finished my bans sampler and will give it to my dearest friend Marian.  

 Bird feeder. Just finished. Need to find place for it...

lots of gardening and one very hot dog

My garden finally looks like a true English garden. It took only  five or six years of hard labor, sweat and back pain. But this summer it looks  really good.  I can't see any soil under the plants. I am thrilled to see no weeds anymore. They probably still exists, but my flowers much bigger now.  Lots of gold and house finches as usual, lots of bunnies (monsters try to eat all my David Austin roses!)

So, there it is: My  Garden 2011

It is Logan  - my daughter's dog. He spent couple weeks  with us and became true michigander.  Finally learn how to walk in the yard without mom and dad. It take 3-4 days until he became so brave.  But look at him now! Happy face!

 I used  part of rotten bench to make Forth -of-July flag. Looks good!

He  even help Gordon to plant tomatoes. Of course, the most exiting part of summer vacation in Michigan for  him - sleeping in the shadow.  He prefer to do it in the air conditioned home, but I try to keep him outside as long as possible. 

 Yesterday I make six balls covered in beach glass and marbles. Glue gun such a  powerful tool in my opinion!

 Old clogs find new place as a planters on my fence

 Little nap after dog spa.

Update on the Band sampler

I made some progress on my new sampler. So far about quarter of it already done. The only problem - I am not sure what is my next line..... Hmm... Need to do research ...

I also finished some petite penny-rugs and want to display it today. There it is - my first two of

them. I was surprised how easy to make them. It takes almost no time...

I will brave myself to make another tea warmer in the next few

days.

Red and gray

This is my long-term obsession. I absolutely in love with two color combination of unbleached linen and red floss. This time I made new quaker sampler for valentine's day. It is not a first my quaker's sampler ( I hope not a last one also!).

The first two images is my old needlework, it was done in 2008 and 2010. Hmmm... Do I have more room at my wall to place new one? I don't know....

Inspired by English band sampers

Two days ago started new project - band sampler, inspired by book of Stephen and Carol Huber "Samplers. How to compare & value".

So far I don't have clear idea about how exactly will look my sampler. I just take design line by

line and we will see what happens... I making some research about 18th century English samplers. Hope it will give me more ideas about design. Will post!

Also we have little addition to our extended family. Puppy, named Henry the VIII. Lovely boy! There is him ant 5 weeks. He is 5 month now and very bright!