Where Bloggers Create

Thank you, My Desert Cottage, for hosting this event! I am looking forward to
visiting many wonderful places in the coming days.


Wow! In anticipation of doing this I actually cleaned up my space!

A lot!

I really should include a "before" shot, but this looks so much better.

This is my office where the office work, blogging and other computer stuff happens.

Since it's the first place you see when you come in the house, I do try to keep it neat.

It's a nice, bright space. Especially when cleaned up!

I keep some of my basket making supplies here, tucked away in hollow books.
Kind of like my treasure chests.

This is my official studio.  It's a rather small attic area, and can get dangerous
if you stand up too fast in the wrong spot and bump your head.
But I like it. It's cozy and I can make as much of a mess as I want
and no one will care.

I did clear off the desk top for these photos, but chaos still reigns in other areas
as you can see in my book corner (oh, my!)

I also share some of the space with my granddaughter.

Yes, this is a 1950's miniature Formica table and chair set.

It was mine many years ago. It's a great place to have a cup of pretend tea.

I'm hoping she will absorb the craft habit by being nearby:-)

So there are bits and pieces everywhere

and lots of unfinished projects

 including pine needles to sort 

and baskets to create.

These are my newest creation...herbal baskets! You wouldn't believe
how wonderful these smell. Lavender, chocolate mint, mmmm...
I'm still fine tuning the process and will be test marketing a few this fall.

I always finish my baskets but find I seem to

have knitting projects that just need a little something

to be finished...like a lining for a bag,

 or handles for another bag,

 or a sweater that needs work,

 or pieces that need to be joined to make a blanket.

And the list goes on...

This knitted and crocheted bag won a ribbon at the State Fair.

I'm really glad I finished it!

But since both basket making and knitting are portable,
a lot of my time is spent here

in my favorite recliner!

But my favorite spot to sit and work is

 on the screen porch

enjoying the view.

Thank you for stopping by.

I hope you enjoyed your visit and that you'll come back again!!

What I Do

So... what do I do when not traveling?

Well,

I make baskets out of pine needles.

These earned ribbons at the 2011 & 2012 Florida State Fair!

                                                        

 Each basket takes hours and hours to make and since nothing in nature is exactly the same,
each basket is also unique.

You can't believe how smooth these baskets are to the touch.

 Recently I started adding embellishments

including dried herbs and flowers
which smell awesome

and some sparkly bling just for the fun of it!


I also make jewelry out of pine needles.

These are my pine needle pendants. This one is a picture stone jasper.

I love creating items out of nature!

But when I'm not knee deep in pine needles
I am usually keeping busy with the other kind of needles...

...knitting needles!

I have been knitting and crocheting forever.
I love feeling the texture of soft yarns running through my fingers.


My latest adventure in knitting has been making ruffled scarves.
This one is a soft mesh in the most beautiful, muted colors.

And they go great with my Vera Bradley handbags!

How fun is that!!
 
Only problem now is that it's too hot in Florida to wear any of them!

 And finally...

this loopy scarf starts out as a simple garter stitch
which is then unraveled, creating this fun, loopy design.

It seems so wrong to knit knowing you're going to take it apart!

But the end result is worth it.

And isn't that what life is all about anyway?