Sunday, February 26, 2017

Greenman hand embroidery progress

My progress on the newest Greenman hand embroidery is coming along at a slower pace then I had anticipated, it seems February has been a month of restlessness for me with a little busy tucked in to.
And on top of it all I was hit with a nasty bug this week that had me in bed for most of the week part of which I fought a high fever and bouts of nausea I could live without.

So far today is the second day I'm fever free so hope I'm on the upswing, last year at this time I was laid low for 7 weeks I just don't need a repeat of that.

Here is the progress of my newest Green Man embroidery in the snap frame and waiting for stitching
 the hand embroidery underway
I am using DMC embroidery floss throughout, 2 strands of thread most are variegated
When I got to this point in my progress(above pic) I wasn't sure I liked the look so I put my work aside for a nearly a week to rethink the pattern.
I mixed single strands from two different skeins to change things up a bit so I have a little of brown in the mix of greens which you can see best in the photo below where I'm working the bottom corner.
 I changed to the circular hoop which makes working the edges easier, the thickness of the Q-snap frame tends to get in the way. When I was once again happy with the overall pattern I picked up my work and began the corner leaves and stitching continues.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Two magical little blessings for Imbolc

The wheel of the year is turning toward light, the sun gaining strength through the lengthening days. The festival of Imbolc, in early Febuary, marks the birth of lambs, the thawing of streams, and the first stirrings of Spring.

I do quite a bit of projects with fabric so I thought I would share two little blessings with you.

A tradition of hanging a piece cloth (prayer flag) from a tree for Brigid to bless as she passes by on her day. I hung my prayer flag in a tree, where the sun and wind can lift the words to the spirits, who now and then need to be fed by our praise and thanks. The words were simple as they spiraled across the cloth, in the end asking just one simple thing:
May we be blessed, and through our lives, Bless.

On midwinter’s eve (Imbolc) place a piece of linen or cloth outside. It is said that on this night Brigid travels all over the land and if she sees this cloth she will bless it and give it healing powers you can use this blessing: Let the cloth of life be mended. Let the thread be linked again, restored, cleansed - the forests growing, native plants in field and fen. Let the cloth of life, in beauty, be restored by will to be. People with the plants and creatures, tending earth and sky and sea.

Brigid's Cross hand embroidered
Spring is right around the corner so I'll be clearing and cleaning the garden over the next few days to get ready for spring planting.  Living in Florida allows for an earlier planting time and this year I'd like to get in the garden since I have been feeling healthy.

Wishing all of you a warm and wonderful Imbolc.