Today is...

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.

Warm Wishes for a Happy Imbolc!

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.

What I have been doing so far in January

Wow the 27th of January, this month has been flying by and my lack of posting for the past few weeks sows me how busy I've been.

The first week of January I was recovery from a nasty bout of bronchitis that hit me during Yule week which made me so darn tired I put all my energy into what had to be done so I could rest, I didn't want this to last for 7 weeks like it did last Spring.

Once I was feeling better and able to get around more I resumed my stitching projects and this week I have a Brigid's Cross in the making and should have embroidery done by the weekend.

The winter goddess has finally been started, is coming along slowly and I think she will be a fine addition to my other hand embroidered goddess pieces. She is an Urban Threads pattern.

The newest Greenman is in the hoop and ready for the stitching to begin I have most of the embroidery floss colors chosen but while I stitch I tend to make changes.

Aside from hand embroidery I have ventured back into my beading and jewelry making supplies and will have a few pieces to post soon.  When my fingers are too sore to stitch or bend wires I hit the bookshops and library.
This week I have two new books on my reading table the first book is a gift from a friend she is just coming into the Goddess path and thought it would be nice if we could read and discuss.

The little gardening book I ordered after several of my friends posted the book on their Facebook pages, I have hopes of finding a few quick tips for days when my body doesn't have the stamina to be in the garden for 6 hours, I miss those days so much but my body began to feel the heat and humidity

https://www.facebook.com/TWOwomenANDaHOE/

about two years ago so spending an entire day in the garden is no more because it takes me too long for my body to recover. Speaking of the garden my rhododendron showed its first buds last week and

even after the tornado like winds and warnings all of the blooms are intact.

My poinsettia is doing very nicely after being put outside I even forgot to cover it when the temps dropped below freezing earlier in the month.

My lemon and lime trees have beautiful buds and are so fragrant it won't be long till there are some bees buzzing around.

Lime

Lemon

This week I'll spend a few mornings clearing up the fallen twigs from the storm, doing some weeding and cleaning out the beds so I can start my spring planting.
Well that's what I have been doing so far for January, I getting prepared for Imbolc and on the 31st will be attending a wire wrapping class to refresh my skills since I haven't done wire wrapping in quite some time.

Happy New Year!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Warm wishes for a wonderful Yule!

and a Blessed Winter Solstice!