S.........lide show!

By clicking on this link, you'll see a brief slide show of some of my projects:

http://www.slide.com/r/AKhciGoefD_Jzr2FOfi_aC7h5iVffUFf?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

S.........ummer baskets

It's finally summer here in Wisconsin! After a long, vicious winter and a cold, stormy spring, summer is here in all its glory. These small baskets reflect some of the summer flowers in reds, blues and pale greens. The baskets are made of pine needles and hand coiled and sewn with natural and colored raffias. Sliced walnuts are at the centers. They are useful as well as decorative and are available individually at my etsy shop. Please see the right hand column.

G.........reeting cards

Besides making pine needle baskets and crocheting, I also love making greeting cards. Of course, I justify my purchases of paper, tape, card stock, and other embellishments by rationalizing that it costs less than going to the store for cards! The 5x7 and 4x5 cards I'm showing here, coordinate with the pine needle baskets, but can certainly be used alone. They are all design originals. When we need a card, all we have to do is check the card tote where these, and many more, are stored!

N.........ot to be outdone, Camille chooses a basket!

Since Oscar chose his favorite basket, Camille just had to chose hers. She sat in a smaller one to admire this basket with an intricate lid. Swirling hexagons with teneriffe designs surround a handle of natural pine needle sheaths.
She hasn't decided what to put in it yet, but she's working on it!

I.........f friends were flowers, I'd pick you!

I enjoy this little sentiment, but it doesn't begin to reflect the richess so many friends add to my life. The other day, a friend presented me with this teacup floral arrangement, which she called "herbs and edibles". She had grown most of the items herself and all are edible. I just couldn't resist posting a front and back view of this delightful treasure. May you all experience the joy my friends bring to me!

F.........inally Oscar plays golf!

After more than a week of inundating rains here in Wisconsin, today dawned bright and beautiful here in Kohler. Of the many great golf courses in our area, he chose Black Wolf Run, mostly because it is within walking (or hopping) distance. He took the marked path right around the corner from our house and his two favorite clubs. You may think they're a little long for him, but remember he stands on his back legs to hit the ball. You can see the rest of his foursome on one of the holes of the Meadow's Course. The River Course was still a little under water. You can see more of Blackwolf Run here:

http://www.destinationkohler.com/golf/bwr/bwr_index.html

O.........scar's golf game gets rained out!

It's been raining for many days here in Wisconsin, and although we've been lucky to have missed the terrible storms, the weather has played havoc with Oscar's golf game! So he decided instead to show his very favorite basket (to date). I have to admit, it's mine as well. I love the teneriffe designs in the center! It is made from long leaf pine needles which are coiled around a series of wire shapes. The tenerife designs in the shapes and the stitching on the basket are done with natual raffia. It is an original design basket that measures 9"x8"x2". There is room inside for both him and Camille. He'll be back later in the week when he can tee off again!

I.........ntroducing

Alicia Mae!

Clicking on the link below will take you to another fine ETSY shop with some very delightful andvery different items from those you have seen of mine. In fact, as she is preparing to move, she has some great deals!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5806042

C.........omfortghan

A comfortghan is a small afghan (this one is 46"x36"), often given to someone going through a difficult period of time, or as a symbol of love and devotion you have for someone else. This particular comfortghan was especially designed for those of the Christian faiths, because each of the twenty individual teal colored squares reflects a verse or verses from the Bible. The white borders make the patterns stand out as well as unify the theme. The verses reflected here are "Rose of Sharon" from Song of Solomon, "Waves" from Matthew, and "Evening Light" from Zacharaiah. When I give one of these to someone, I include the Bible verses depicted in all twenty squares, hopefully making it more of a blessing!

C.........amille goes shopping and shows off some results!

Not infrequently, Camille heads over to the yarn shop to select her favorite colors. The big one pound skeins weigh more than she does! Here she shows two of her favorite crocheted afghans, both done in quilt styles. One is "Granny's Flower Garden" and reminds me of the quilts I slept under so long ago at my grandmother's house. The second, in stunning gold and white, seems to have several names including "Ohio Star". Both are hand pieced, just as our grandmothers and great grandmothers did when they made their priceless treasures.