Ostara Blessing and a Warm Welcome to Spring

 

Spring arrives with dry cooler weather, clear sunny skies and birds singing throughout the early morning accompanying me on my walk.

After my walk I begin the hand embroidery on my newest Greenman piece, starting with Weeks Dye Works floss in Monkey Grass 2168.

Starting a new greenman project on the first day of Spring is perfect for welcoming the new season, I see the Greenman as a symbol of Spring and Nature.  I plan to stitch on the piece for a good part of the afternoon.

Marching Toward the Turn of the Wheel to Ostara and the Spring Equinox

 Time has a way of getting away from me this year, I don't know what it is that seems to make the days fly by so recently I ask myself am I too busy?  Am I making up for time lost while I was ill for nearly 2 years, and trying to fit in as much as I can?  

I don't have the answer to either question so I'll just take each passing day in stride, be glad I am regaining my health even though I am having surgery in early April, life is good.

First Happy St. Patrick's Day 

I am currently working on a hand embroidery kit I purchased from Cozy Blue, one of my favorite places to by kits and patterns for embroidery.  Moon Flow is the kit.

Everything you need to complete the hoop design is included in the kit, I am using my clover hoop for stitching and will use the included wood hoop to finish it to hang.  I also purchased a separate pattern for the design so I can make another with a different color background.  I made a similar moon phase Cozy Blue design from a kit Lunar Blossom in April 2017.

I am also preparing to start a new Greenman hand embroidery, once again I plan to use Weeks Dye Works floss, I love the over dyed flosses in colors named after herbs and other vegetation it just seems a perfect fit. I had to restock 4 of the colors I have used on my last few greenman/greenwoman pieces. I use between 6 and 10 colors for the leaves most from Weeks Dye Works and some from Gentle Arts. Once I start the project I will include which flosses I use in my updates.

I should be starting this in a few days, I wanted to get Moon Flow completed by Ostara but I don't think that will happen here is my progress to date.

Perhaps if I stitch all day every day I will finish it in time.  Another kit I purchased recently is this lovely Aegean Sunrise from Avlea, I thought it would make a love piece for Litha. I will leave links for both sites at the end of my post.

In addition to my hand embroidery I have a few other crafting projects in the works, I made a crocheted goddess doll from the Fiber Magick book by Opal Luna. The pattern is Goddess of Journeys on page 155, it worked up quite easily though I did notice the stuffing is showing through, I used the suggested hook size for the yarn so next time I will go down 2 hook sizes. I ordered some dark fiberfill for my next one.

I used Skein Tones Lion Brand yarn in Cedarwood.  I changed the arms for my goddess so they are in front of her instead of over her head.  I am going to make a small bag to place in her hands to hold a crystal and or herbs.

This week I am reading through a few magazines from my pile of to be read when I have time pile in between stitching.

Here are the links to find the embroidery kits I posted today

https://cozybluehandmade.com/   https://www.avleaembroidery.com/ 

Before I post this today fresh from my oven this morning my traditional Irish Soda Bread