So this bouquet of lisianthus is in remembrance of her and her love of flowers and gentle things.

However, on the eve of summer solstice, Father’s Day, my husband and I decided that even though the weather should be getting warmer and sunnier, and it was still rainy and cold, we would have a fire in the fireplace. We ate our dinner gazing at the fire and then we read our books. I started a new one yesterday…..

This is one I have had on my ongoing stack for some time now. When I was with my daughters last weekend, both great and voracious readers, my oldest was astonished to find that I had not yet gotten to this book. So even though I am currently reading an autobiography by one of the Bloomsbury women, Frances Partridge, I decided to start this one too. I am already caught up in the story and the beautiful way it is written. I am always drawn to books about strong women, this definitely being one of those.

I made this skirt when I was in Mendocino out of a vintage linen curtain panel. I have had it hanging in my studio trying to figure out a way to make it more appealing. I love the fabric and color but something is missing. I think I am going to shorten it a bit and add some old crochet trim to the flounce. I want to wear it for summer……soon.

I returned from Southern California to Portland at midnight Sunday. It is still raining here, but this morning on my walk I found a door that hit me with a jolt of color, so I went back to take a photo so I could share the joy of it. Now that I am home, I am thinking about all kinds of sewing I want to do for my newest grandson.

I have had these curtains cut out for several weeks now and yesterday I finally resolved the design dilemma of how I was going to hang them. I am going to make loops with buttons. Seems like a young and more modern look as my daughter, Jeanette, loves contemporary design.

I also found this book on making stuffed animals. It is great because it advocates using recycled materials. The designs are so much fun and unique, full of personality.

I think the long legs and arms make them so quirky and different.

I know Jeanette will like this soft ring toy because she found one in a book and commented on it. I asked her not to look at my blog until after the baby was born so I would have a chance to share some things here and still allow it to be a surprise. I also am going to make her a quilt with the weaving technique I learned in Jude’s class, “Cloth to Cloth”.

We three girls stayed in a hotel together Saturday night so we could have time together alone. It was so much fun. We talked and talked and talked. We all decided that we should have a girl’s night away from husbands and children every so often so we can enjoy each other without the usual interruptions.

a new grandchild on the way,

a beautiful rose in the garden,

a collection of fabrics waiting to become,

a much-loved cat,

a view of nature and finding solace there.

I really welcome comments if you have the time and inclination, but I probably will not be able to respond to each one of you at this particular time. I simply wanted to share some thoughts and let you know I am still present in this space.

This is the next piece I have done for Jude’s class, “Cloth to Cloth”. I have been trying to post my work here, so if anyone in the class would like to get a closer look they can do so. This whole process is addictive. I have more ideas in my head than I will ever possibly use. Such a nice predicament. Now I need to break away from this more linear format and see if I can do something with curves.

This photo shows another piece of fabric for the woven circle. It is a fake ikat. I hate to admit that, given the fact that I am a textile effete at times. I am no snob, so I think this just might be a good choice. The red circle is actually a linsey-woolsey from the 1850′s, a little snooty you might say, but it does make a nice story.

My husband and I are going on a two-night trip, and my deadline before leaving was to finish four lampshades. I am most pleased with this one. It is reaching, finally, a mark of good craft, good enough to market. Plus, I absolutely love the fabric and the design. I bought it many years ago on a trip to Italy and found it in a small shop in Florence. Sometimes a fabric does not lend itself to a shade in terms of light. This one seems to glow. It adds a certain ambiance to a room when the light is turned on.

This is what it would look like in the daylight.

A closer examination with more intense shading brings out the beauty of the design. I am very happy with this shade. It will give me a chance to be confident, something I find elusive sometimes.

Yesterday before lunch I saw that the sun was shining (briefly is the key), and decided to go cut some of my roses. The wind, rain, and hail have really been whipping them around just as they were all starting to blossom. I had to save a few and bring them inside. In this bouquet there are probably five different roses even though they all look the same. If textiles are a passion, roses come up as a second or a winning tie. I seem to never get enough of them when they are in bloom.

I have been reading, again, the British author, Beverley Nichols. I love his books. I always laugh out loud when I am reading them, the only books that seem to generate a sort of spontaneous giggle. So as B. Nichols would say, I rescued the languishing pink ladies from their drunken despair and brought them in to dry out. Of course Nichols would have elaborated with more flourish and irreverence, but I think he would have maybe giggled a little at my effort to embellish.

I think I might be beginning to blossom a little too. This package arrived in the mail yesterday. I am still engulfed with the meaning, the effort, and the beauty.

After my absence, I am feeling as if I am restoring some energy finally. Jude is really inspiring me with her ideas and teaching with the “Cloth to Cloth” workshop. Today I tried to do one of her techniques called “anchored weaving.” I started with a solid piece of fabric, in this case a printed silk basted at the top on to a cotton backing.

The instruction was to cut up to about a half inch from the top in varying strips. I love that Jude does this free-form, so I did too.

(Please excuse this photo). The next step was the actual weaving process. I wove in one silk strip and then placed a ruler to guide me for the next strip. I tore the strips this time instead of cut them, and I love the way they fringe and add more texture to the weaving.

This is the finished piece. I cut the edges to even them out and then pinned them. I need to baste them as well.

This is a closer view. I used a variety of silks including two velvets and another that I printed about ten years ago. I was thinking a great deal about this technique and how much I love it. I feel as if I have broken free of so many rules. I am guessing this method will be my favorite going forward with any kind of quilt making or creating of fabric pieces for other projects. I feel like a rebellious teenager who is refusing to accept the old worn out standards of doing things. It feels so good to be a little brash and carefree.

Almost three lampshades done and five more to go before I am ready to go market them. I consider this my job now. If I did not set my mind to this, I would never get anywhere with them.

The third one is on my work table waiting to be finished….tomorrow. Until then I will be weaving in my head!