And there by the fire

while the snow outside whirled and danced,

while the woodwinds played their song,

and while onlookers watched,

she sat.

She sat, though hands not idle~

As the old adage goes.

Dreaming of warmth 

and facing the sun with closed eyes

in order to better hear

the sound of spring,

in order to better smell

the buds unfurl,

in order to bask

in all that's joyous,

she dreams, mind's not idle either~

And here

she comes to an end

and a beginning.

Finished another block of the wool crazy quilt.

On to the next.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches 

Spring...Please

Oh, whoa is me.

(those are actually marble eggs - wish I would have bought
more when I had the chance.)
I am so ready for spring.

It's been dreary and cold and blowing sideways.
The last two mornings, we have awaken to more snow.

So while at the store day before yesterday,
I saw they had beautiful tulips.
There were yellow, purple, white, and fuchsia.

I got the purple ones.
I needed the cheeriness so they are on my table
where I can see them all the time.
So here's wishing you all a warm, cheery, and
most perfectly pleasant spring.

Until next time,
Nimble Fingers & Even Stitches 

Fixing A Flat in Heals!

I know, it sounds like a really bad redneck joke - Nope

Just a day in the life of me.

We live in a beautiful place that will look like this again soon~

As I was coming home from work this evening, it happened.

I remembered at one point in life working with a wonderful lady

that said she wouldn't know how to begin to change a flat tire.

She said, "I just call AAA."

Well, the other usually wonderful thing about living out here

 is no cel phone service.

 I was quite thankful that I grew up on a ranch with miiiiles

of dirt & pot hole roads.

Instead of helping each other to change a flat,

we would time each other.  

I think between my mom and myself, our record is 14 min.

from popping the trunk to closing it.

I can't remember who did the changing though.

Changed the tire (yes in heals today of all days) 

and am safely home.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers & Even Stitches

The Chicken or The Egg

Oh, let's just say the egg.

I have eggs, but probably won't get more chickens

until next year after we build a new coop.

It began with a mess on my table.

It's too embarrassing to show the whole table. 

I tried several different techniques - I like these and

have one other set that are in process that I like.

A couple sets are going in the rubbish bin. 

It's fun to play and experiment so will keep at it.

Have a beautiful day.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers & Even Stitches

"Yum," said the bunny.

Oh what fun!

I did get a few fun things done this weekend.

These will be listed in my etsy shop in about 5 minutes.  It was fun

making a mess in the kitchen.

I also made a couple mushrooms for my mantel.

I had fun just playing and

experimenting.

I love the lore that

surrounds

St. Patrick's Day.

It is so whimsical.

Easter is rather early

this year so it seems

as though they

kinda run into each other.

I don't like

to rush the holidays

so I will have a couple

mushrooms and

maybe a little gold

around until after

the 17th.

Then I will bring out the

bunnies.

Have a beautiful day.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

Drop Spindle Spinning

Have you ever been mesmerized by the vast knowledge

of someone and their talent?

Renee was someone I had never met & was kind enough to

teach me how to spin using drop spindle.  She showed me different 

dying products (some of which I've used on fabric:) and the

processing from a fleece to a fiber - so to speak.

She got me started with a spindle made from a couple of CDs

and a dowel and even provided me with some prepared 

fibers (both wool, but of different sorts) to get start on.

Yes, here you can see my very uneven yarn.  I was doing okay

the evening she showed me... then... I waited a few nights

before trying it again.  Aaaah- I had to re learn so the yarn

went from really chunky to pretty fine as I remembered just

what I was doing. 

 The white is really long fibers and the 'old man green' as I like

to call it is regular ol' wool.  In addition to showing me all

of these fun things, she introduced me to her spindle collection.

Oh, some of them were just beautiful.  A Turkish one that

came apart so your wool was in a ball when you were done, and

one with an ebony spindle and a wooden (can't remember what type)

of whorl.  I just love the terms as well.  They sound like words

from a faerie tale.

Anyways~ I had these clay discs that I got in a box of "stuff"

at an estate sale.  I hung onto them because they were

kinda interesting.  I thought, "I'll find something to do with them."

Well, I did.

The first I left the dowel plain, the second cherry stain, third oak, 

and last walnut.  I thought I might as well play with stain too.  

I love how they turned out.  

I haven't used them yet - I won't tell you how long

it took me to do what is on the spindle in the picture above :)

But, I am looking forward to using them.  I love the

long wool that I have started with - will have to find out

what it is.  I'm curious to see how I do with the green.

Don't you love learning 'how to' things.

I would eventually like to learn how to use a spinning wheel, 

but right now, it would be a waste of fiber.  I need to get

better at drafting (pulling the fibers to feed them into the yarn)

More words - love it!  A whole new world to me.

Again, thank you Renee. 

Until next time,

Even Stitches and Nimble Fingers

Bit O Blarney

Just a little something I actually made 

for last St. Patrick's Day.

I tried to keep it pretty simple, and was pleased.

It was one of the first things I sold on etsy:)

My description had to have a little disclaimer though:

As I was walking to the corner this morning, I heard a small rustling near the river. I am used to seeing and hearing small creatures where I live so I wasn't alarmed; however, when I glanced over toward the direction of the sound, I spied something unusual. There near a large moss covered rock were 3 intriguing mushrooms that I don't recall being there as well as a small green top hat trimmed with golden thread, buttons, a small piece of lace and a fine feather. It appears as though something (or someone) was making a quick get-away as he seemed to have spilled part of his treasures. The tallest mushroom measures about 4.5 inches tall, and the hat is about 2 inches tall. 
This set includes the hat, 3 mushrooms, and the spilled gold (about a tablespoon).
Little disclaimer: This isn't real gold, and I actually made these items, but it's such a lovely story for the young or just the young at heart.

I love the little hat.

As you can see, we had a little warmer spring last year.

No sunshine or vibrant green moss yet.

~Soon~

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches