A new creation..

I started out with a v neck sweater.  I really don't like v necks for some reason so I'm trying to chop them up or off at any chance I can get.  I have nothing personal against them I think I might just have a thing for round soft edges heheh...

Getting ready for surgery...

I decided to cut off the v neck so that I could add a cowl neck from this lovely deep purple felted sweater I had kicking around.  After that I took a vintage table runner with a unique bird embroidery on it.  I decided it would look nice incorporated somewhere on the sweater.

Using some fusible webbing to help position the design...

This one took a super long time to figure out how to arrange everything on the back of the sweater.  I swear I must've spent an equal amount of time rearranging the pieces and staring at what looked like mush for a long time before it all came together.  I really liked working with the texture combinations of a wool blend sweater, a completely felted sweater and a thick cotton.  It was challenging to keep the pins in and I'm really grateful that I splurged on the extra long sewing pins.  I highly recommend them for anyone attempting fiber collage appliques!

I finally got the pieces on in a way that I thought worked for the existing sweater.  That's all part of the fun of working with recycled and reclaimed materials!  Sometimes no matter how much I try to brain crunch and pre-plan my steps, I still have to leave myself very open to change and spontaneity for things to work themselves out.  Kind of like life right?

Here's the finished design.  It's available in my etsy shop!

When the moon is full...

 I am constantly looking for ways to add a bit of nature connection into a life lived in a faced paced and busy culture. So, I'd like to share a mini tradition I started about 5 months ago...

On the full moon night, I head outside for a walk.  I love to watch the moon.  Sometimes my walk is more involved and sometimes it is really more of just standing on the front stoop trying to find and view were the moon is creeping up from.  I always wish it could be a long walk on a nearby ridge trail but, I'm at a point where if the front stoop is all I can muster that month, then that is enough.

After checking out the moon I head back inside and cut or tear up some small slips of paper. I write down a few things I'd like to add to keep in mind for the next few months.  An example is something llike "I'd like to eat healthier" or simpler things like " I'd like to make more time to hang out with animals". I try to spend some time concentrating on the one that feels most important.  The one I'd really like to keep in mind the most.

I'm a pretty visual person so part of the fun is spreading everything out in front of me and just taking it all in.  Each months notes are subtly different based on the paper I chose or if the slips had been torn or cut....  I like that sort of stuff.   I go through all the old ones and check em out.  

After that I grab my little envelope.  It's full of tiny reminders of things I'd like to keep in mind from months past.    Some are cheesy, some are super personal, and some are deep dark secrets that I wouldn't want anyone to see. They're mostly about whatever I've been thinking about a bunch or am regretting.  I pour all the older notes out onto the table.

Tucking em' away till next month...

After I'm done I put them all back in the envelope, pop in the new ones that I wrote, and tuck the envelope away till next full moon.  It's pretty fun and keeps me remembering when the full moon is and gives me an extra excuse to get my but out there and do some peeping!

What types of things do you like to do to add some nature connection into your daily, weekly, monthly, yearly routine?

Meanwhile... Nutmeg stays all cuddled up!