Botanical Sun-Printed Pillow

I dyed some cotton muslin fabric using a photosensitive dye, placed little bits and pieces

of plants on top, exposed it to the sun for 10 minutes on a bright sunny day, and this is what happened.

I wasn't sure what to do with the print, so I sewed it into a pillow.

Leather Purse

I made this purse from a scrap piece of hide and used a pyrography
(wood-burning) tool to imprint the leather with astrological and tarot symbols.

Mini Leather Booties

Made these mini leather booties for a little two-month-old.

Spring Blossoms

Some spring shoots and blossoms collected from my garden and along my nature walks.

Macramé Hanging Planter

A simple macramé hanging planter for a young red maidenhair fern.

I used the half knot and the josephine knot and hemp twine to finish it off at the bottom.

Plants Stands II

New plant friends, new plant stands.

Plant Stand

This afternoon, I made this simple plant stand out of bamboo sticks and 

a small wicker basket. I used a thin ring of wire to connect 

the sticks to the basket at the top and bits of twine to connect the sticks at their joints.

Floral Embroidery

Experiments in floral embroidery. 

Incidentally, the most calming, meditative activity.

Pop-Up Book

I made this illustrated pop-up book as a present for my sister's birthday. 

From late night swims in the Mediterranean to hours of board games and 

made-up card games, to all our favourite foods, to after-dinner runs into

town for vanilla soft serve, to floating in the hot sun on the cool waters of Georgian Bay,

these are just a few of our favourite memories from this past year.

The bottom photo is of the individual pop-ups, pre-assembly.

Paper Sculpture // Nests

I received a package of delicate handmade paper in the mail from Share Studios 

and decided to make it into this paper sculpture inspired by insect nests.

Pine Needle Basket II

Just added another pine needle basket to the collection.

This time I used fresh green needles so there was no need to boil and soak them in advance.

Hand Pendants

The other day I found myself playing with polymer clay and this is what happened.

The results may be a little creepy, but I kind of like these miniature hands and I've been wearing one every day.

Rigid Heddle Weaving No.3

Latest pieces off the rigid heddle loom. Cotton yarn recycled from old sweaters.

Model Ship

I got bit by the ship-making bug and had to get it out of my system.

I made this one from scratch, using balsa wood for the body,

bamboo skewers (split) for the railings and masts

and scrap cotton muslin for the sails.

Ship in a Bottle

I came across a ship in the bottle kit (a privateer by Authentic Models) and of course I had to make it.

I had no idea what I was getting myself in to. 

I thought I could finish it in an hour or two, but it ended up taking much, much longer.

In the middle photo, it is partly assembled. 

The body is built, sanded and painted and one of the masts is finished.

In the bottom photo you can see the entire ship rigged, the threads are taut - if I were to let go,

all the masts would fall down. This is so the ship is collapsible and can squeeze 

through the very narrow bottle opening. The hardest part was getting all 

the sails untangled and the masts upright once the ship was in the bottle.

Nature Treasure

Little bits of nature I've collected on my walks.

Tapestry Weaving

Some wall hangings I've been weaving on the rigid heddle loom
using 100% wool yarn and wool roving attached to pieces of driftwood.

Rigid Heddle Weaving No.2

My second piece off the rigid heddle loom.

I'm in love with the texture of this single ply wool yarn - it has a stiff structure to it

and I am finding little bits of hay in my skeins. 

Rigid Heddle Weaving

I recently got a small 15" Schacht rigid heddle loom and I am in love.

This is my first piece off the loom - a scarf woven from single-ply wool 

in various shades of cream and grey. 

It's incredible how fast the weaving goes on a loom 

after spending so much time knitting and tapestry weaving by hand.

Knitted Wool Socks

 Knitted wool socks based on this pattern from Canadian Living.

I modified the pattern a little as I used single-ply Briggs and Little yarn

(2.5mm needles, cast on 60 stitches for size medium).

Small Shelf II

Another small display shelf made from salvaged wood lath.

Small Shelf

I made a small shelf from wood lath I found on the side of the road.

I cut it into small pieces, stained it with walnut gel stain and nailed it together.

Rocks in Watercolour

Experimenting with watercolour, painting rocks over and over from different angles.