Summer thoughts.

Its the summer of Birds, and It is the summer of Fish. It is the summer of late night swims in the pool and sleeping deeply, long into the quiet mornings. It is a mysterious summer, where pine needles collect in piles in the driveway without a witness to their descent. It is the summer of thursdays with my son and his girl and my sweet grandbaby. Lunches on the porch and playing in the water. It is a summer of worry about my daughter who has injured her shoulder, and has unrelenting pain. Worry about making ends meet the other ends and pulling it all together, not for myself but for my children and my grandchildren.
For me it is a summer in pajamas, feeling the soft cotton legs of my old bottoms wear and rub against the soft cotton skin of my ankles. It feels as if part of the fluid water of my swimming resides in my legs.
It is the mornings of the summer, where on a hard chair I sew my thoughts into things, surrounded by the detritus of thread and paper and fabric and feeling, that I step into my spot as creator. May you be happy. May you be peaceful. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be at ease. May you be free from suffering. Robin

Violet the Spool angel

Violet likes to be called Daisy. She cannot remember where she left the car keys and believes that everyday is Tuesday. She is fascinated with watches and likes to take them apart, claiming she likes to know how things "tick."
Violet has been know to leave the water running in the pool, overnight. We woke to the gentle lapping of waves at the back slider last Tuesday, and it wasn't because there was a high tide. I called the water company and pleaded for leniency.
Violet is made of muslin and had a hand sewn nose. She has been coffee dyed, baked and painted and then glued to a vintage spool of blue thread. She stated that she would have preferred to be glued to a watch but I couldn't oblige.
Violet is almost 6 inches tall and comes with the sewn paper envelope.

http://oldfarmhousegathering.blogspot.com/

The Old Farmhouse Gathering team is having a

Flag Day Appreciation Challenge!!!

Mark your calendars! Beginning Saturday, June 4th through Saturday, June 11th, you will have an opportunity to vote on your favorite Flag Day item. The rules are simple:

• No pictures will be featured on the OFG Blog, however, shop locations will be listed first thing Saturday, June 4th as well as the poll to cast your vote. (Poll will be located on the sidebar.)
• You will need to go to Etsy and type in the search bar FDOFG and visit each Etsy shop to see each participants item.
• Return back to the OFG Blog and cast your vote.
• Post a comment, leave your name and email address (we need this to contact you and have you respond with your mailing address) ~ If you prefer not to leave your email address, make sure you email Debbie at SugarMtnMercant@aol.com

The winner of the Challenge will receive a prize AND one voter (chosen at random among the comments) will also win a prize. Winners will be chosen and notified on Sunday, June 12th.

The Can of Sardines

Here it is. reluctant I am to part with them...The one and only Can of sardines. Made of Osnaburg, the can is sewn and painted and has a handmade key of wire that has curled back the lid revealing four glorious sardine fish.It measures 7 inches long by a little more than 5 inches wide

Bucket List

I have been thinking about making a Bucket List. You know the things that you want to do before you kick the Bucket. Its one of those defining moments, isn't it? One of my work friends Just had her Bat' Mitzva, and I am sure that she is the same age as me...said it was a part of her Bucket List.
Well, I think I have to Think...in Winnie the Pooh speak, about what I would like to do before I KICK the Bucket.
How about you? What do you want to do before you "Kick the Bucket?"
Jeez, I had just started to give myself permission to do the things I love and I am turning 57...now I have to think about this? Hah.
I would urge you not to wait to do the things you LOVE to do. Not Have to do. LOVE to do. I think my Bucket list will focus on those kinds of things.

May you be Happy. and fullfilled. have a great weekend. Robin. P.S. this Photo was taken at Selby Gardens by my Brilliant daughter Friedel.

The Three Bird garland

                   Not to be confused with the Three dog night, is the Three bird garland. They are the quintessial Summer Harbingers, and would look fabulous hanging in your Kitchen window, or any spot where they can get a glimpse of the sunshine.
This Garland is 44 inches long and has three hand-did birds hanging from tiny closed hooks. The garland is made of scraps of fabric and vintage lace and bits of this and that

The Banana Wanderer Bird

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74915232/the-banana-wanderer-bird


I found the Banana Wanderer in a Travelers Palm eating Cheerios. Voracious appetite this one. He is in constant search of bananas however is oddly unable to identify the Fruit.
He is made of Upholstery Fabric and vintage lace, and has a lovely striped ribbon adorning his middle. Vintage button eyes. he comes with his Specimen identifying Envelope that is sewn and finished with a vintage vegetable button.There is a thread for hanging.
He measures 4 inches by 3.4 inches.

Vera, a spool angel

Vera is a spool angel with moss hair sewn to her little head. She is a collage of colorful fabrics and will arrive in this hand sewn paper envelope. Vera is attached to a vintage spool and stands 5 inches tall.
Vera refused to tell me her story. She made some insulting remarks about my writing abilities and said she would save her tale for her new "People."

Along the way Snail

There are Friends that we make along our way...Folks that we come to love, and we would carry them on our backs if need be. Even as she makes her very Slow way along, the Snail transports a tiny bird upon a wire that is tucked in a handy pocket stitched to her side. They are BOTh headed in the Same direction, and though they are different from each other have found a common Purpose, and a common Path.
both are made from fabric that has been coffee dyed and baked and painted. The snail is glued to a rusted jar Lid. Dimensions: 9 inches or so tall and about 6 inches long. happy trails to you, and may you Be joined by a loving Friend to share your way. Long The Way Snail

From Baggaraggs

The Polka Chicken

What can I say about the Polka Chicken? She loves oompah music, and Waltzs around the Barnyard with her Head thrown back and her Beak open. She longs to visit the Alps and wants to Start a Chicken Circus.
Ok, sure.
The Polka Chicken is a little more than 5.5 inches tall. She measures slightly over 6 inches in length. made of coffee dyed muslin, and scraps of vintage lace and fabric, she has a rusted bell attached to her apex . She has pink polka dots painted on her chest.
Everybody POLKA!!!

The Calico Sardines

here's a pair of tiny fish for you. A pair of sardines. Both will come with a hook for hanging. Both are made from Muslin and their tail fins are Calico and vintage lace and Paper scraps. They are at my Etsy....I love Fish. Hope you are having a great day .http://www.etsy.com/listing/73861499/the-calico-sardines

Studio EMesis

I really wanted to call this Studio Vomit. I guess I thought that sounded way to icky...but My drawing table looks like Calico throw-up. I am beyond the time to clean up and organize. But I am working and wiggle into the spot where I sew...and dig through piles of stuff...and make a bigger mess. I don't think there is any help for me. Somethings are better just to accept. I am a Folk artist leaving a trail of fabric detritus. I am a Folk Artist Leaving tiny trails of paint slime and thread lines, fabric crumbs straight to my Hands.

Happy Mother's day

Hey Good Morning and Happy Mother's Day! I hope its seriously a Lovely Day for you wherever you are.

Mother's Day.

From Baggaraggs

"I thought I lost you" said the Mother Bird to the Baby wo had fallen out of the nest. "I thought I could fly" said the baby bird, "but I can't yet..."
"Not yet, little bird, but soon...so very soon."
A Celebration of Mother's day in the bird world.
Made of muslin and vintage lace, fabric and HOPE for a reunion betwix the Mother and child. They have been coffee dyed and baked. Dimesions of the Mother bird: about 5" x 4". Dimesions of the baby:2.5" x 2".

Call for Folkartist interested in a Vermont Show?

Hello Fellow folkartists. I am wondering if anyone has interest in participating in a folkart show that would be held at my sister's Inn in Vermont the weekend of October 22nd. The Inn is an esatblished one and advertising would be done throught the Vermont Lodging Association as well as local newspapers.Here is the link to my Sister's beautiful Inn: lilacinn.com Check it out. We are working on a package deal to those who would like to spend the weekend there.

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