Threads and Roses

Embroidered Word Pillow

 

My sister Judy loves all thing French. When daughter Anna sent her this special pillow we could only dream of what it might look like in a room we'd never seen.

Conjuring up pretty chandeliers and antique samplers don't seem to be part of the process though. So when I visited my sister in Oregon, last December, it was a special joy to be able to photograph Anna's FLEUR pillow in Judy's guest bedroom. I couldn't wait to show the pics to Anna, and now you.

More lovely details in the room

 Antique button cards look wonderful propped up on the moulding.

And a portrait of our mom, on our grandmother's lap, makes the room extra special.

 

Lavender Sachets

"I scrubbed both rooms floor to ceiling, cut new liners for the drawers, and replaced the lavender in the sachet I keep with my underclothes," said Bess.

~ The day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

In another passage, Bess's sister hides a note from her lover in a lavender sachet. What a good idea.

How often do I read about lavender sachets in a novel? Never, but I did last week while Anna and I were making these.

  

Fragrant, freshly harvested lavender from our garden fills Anna's soft handkerchief linen sachets. The luscious scent lasts for years. I've had one in my drawer for more than three, and it still smells wonderful.

Anna's embroidered bees head toward her signature French knotted lavender blooms. 

Lavender's green, dilly, dilly, Lavender's blue,

If you love me, dilly, dilly, I will love you.

Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly, And the lambs play;
We shall be safe, dilly, dilly, out of harm's way.

~17th Century English Nursery Rhyme

 

A Magic Yarn Ball in the Mail

Royal Mail for me?

 Yes indeedy!

Out came the camera-- I had some unwinding to capture.

There were delights before I even got to the yarn ball- lovely wrapping, pretty candles, a sweet note.

Cashmere yarn wound around little blue tissue wrapped packages. Buttons, ribbons-- even a crocheted pin--I wore it through the winter on a denim jacket.

At the center of the ball, this charming egg hatched a key chain!

I use it every day with pleasant thoughts to the sender.

Thank you Pamela !

The yarn ball swap sponsored, last November, by Theresa at T does Wool was so much fun. Giving and receiving took on a new dimension of creative sharing.

Click here to see the Yarn Ball I sent Pamela.

Magic Yarn Ball

I asked her what colors of yarn she liked. She said, "Natural colors."

Hmmmm--- I wondered if lavender would be O.K.

"Oh yes," she said.

Then I looked through my life's little gatherings and came up with . . .

On winding day, the yarn's ready to roll.

From the beginning, this little grape-patterned box would be at the center of the Magic Yarn Ball, but what to put in it? How about a crystal pendant on a bed of dried lavender flowers, tied in silky floss with bead grapes and a copper leaf? Can you see the beginning and end pieces of the yarn? The winding has begun,


and here it's about done, and nice and round at that, but it needs more . . .

Ah yes this bracelet-- so many little jewels to attach . . .

All done and ready to send to Pamela in the UK as part of the yarn ball swap sponsored, last November, by Theresa at T does Wool, last January.

The finished piece became an object d'art to enjoy for a few days. I was sad to see it go, but happy in anticipation that I 'd be receiving a yarn ball from Pamela.

PHOTOGRAPHERS

What a fun project-- finally I had a reason to shoot yarn. Theresa's and Gail's yarn photos had tickled me with wishes to revel in yarn bokeh long enough. Aside from the little gifts, a good light source, an easy background, and a macro lens were the only requirements. On an overcast day in our sun room, lavender chiffon and a piece of white plexi glass were the background options. The photo fun was moving and focusing in, out, up, and down.

After receiving her yarn ball, Pamela emailed me that she would have been thrilled if she'd only received the rose gift tags of her initials.

Here's the Magic Ball Pamela sent me.