Moons.. Hares.. and Foxes..

This month (AGAIN) has flown by!  I haven't gotten much felting done, but there's been a definite theme running through what I have done..

The Moon.. and foxes and hares :)  some of my all time favourite subjects!

All brought together in this big picture -
'Moonlight Tryst'
27" x 17"

'Hare by Moonlight'
16" x 13"

'Fox by Moonlight'
15.5" x 13.5"

I've been playing around trying to figure out how to do a time lapse video of a design layout.  Finally figured out that the camera automatically stops recording after a certain amount of time!  This is toward the start of the 'Moonlight Tryst' design.. It's only a short sections, but hopefully I can do better in future :)

Building a hare..

I used freemotion machine embroidery to outline the
design and add detail

Another thing that I really LOVE about outlining with F.M. machine embroidery is the reverse side looks like a pencil drawing..

Back of 'Moonlight Tryst'

Back of 'Hare by Moonlight'

Back of 'Fox by Moonlight'

AND I've made a couple of teacosies too..

Moonlit Hare

Moonlit Tree

Both have silhouette cowslips on the back and silver star beads sewn on 

All are heading to my Etsy shop tomorrow :)

Under the Beech Tree - JULY

Well, June passed in the blink of an eye..  and July arrived in glorious style - beautiful sunshine.  I love long hot summer days!

Lush deep green leaves murmering in a gentle breeze

Perfect blue July sky against the green leaves.. beautiful

Beyond the beech tree..

Wild blue bellflowers line the path from our back gate through the woodland,
I love these they're so pretty and flower for ages

I don't know what this one is called.. can anyone help?
I have tried to find it but no joy so far..

The bindweed is flowering :) 

and foxgloves are still here.. a lovely flash of intense colour

Bindweed always makes me smile and think about the small books Gary brought for Rachael when she was tiny..

Cicely Mary Barker's flower fairies..
Bindweed was my favourite :)

Much as I love to see those big white trumpets, there are many times I've had to rip out armfuls at a time.. when I worked at Oakhouse, where it used to swamp our kitchen garden. I spent lots of hot, drowsy Sunday afternoons working in that kitchen garden!  No sound but buzzing bees..  That's the other lovely thing bindweed reminds me of :)

July:

Gemstone - Tuby

Flower - Larkspur

Anglo-Saxons called this month Hay monath or Mead monath.. because they made Hay and Mead now.

According to weather lore:

'If the first of July be rainy weather

        Twill rain more or less for four weeks together'

This is the first year in the last 15 that I haven't had a child getting excited about 'breaking up' for the summer holidays :)  as my youngest left school recently.  It feels funny to think that my dear cousin, who is about the same age as me, is just beginning the same journey.. her one and only starts nursery school in September this year.

Whatever you have planned.. whether it's holidays or work, kids breaking up from school or no.. I hope that you have a lovely July :)

While thinking of my friend..

A couple of months ago I sketched out a playful new teacosy - inspired by my dear friend Heather, who makes beautiful, happy, colourful felt which reflects her sunny personality. 

I was picturing it in my mind.. all lovely bright colours 

I started felting :)  first off.. a coffee pot cosy.

Gathering my materials.. the green fibre and red prefelt pieces
came from Heather when she came to stay and play last year :) 

Layers of white English fibre.. followed by layers of green merino

with spikes in the corners..

'drawing' the design.. using fibre, prefelt and pencil roving

part way through..

I've used white English wool fibre for the inside (first 4 layers) followed by 2 layers of colourful merino.  I like the way the white creeps through to slightly soften the colours.. just a little..  Worked well so it's thoroughly felted (as always), the English wool fibre when felted has a bouncy texture, great for insulating a pot :)

Finished coffee pot cosy  - fits a 6 cup French Press
(it actually fits my tall slender teapot well too :)

Then I made a matching tea pot cosy..
the spikes are like curly horns on this one :)