This Rainy Morning in My Studio

Despite waking up to sunshine streaming in the window, and having a refreshing walk to the garden to pick some greens, by the time I'd finished with Sunday morning coffee and a giant Green breakfast smoothie, it had started to rain again. I shouldn't have been surprised. We've just wrapped up what seems to have been the wettest March ever recorded here in damp NW Oregon. 

So instead of spending the day puttering in the gardens with Sweetie, I'm back up here in Cutelandia, plugging away at making stuff. Here's a glimpse:

Sweetie's old Lees were worn beyond repair. After chopping them off into cutoffs, I was left with some scraps of gorgeous faded indigo denim. As my gaze fell upon the overflowing numbers of overflowing bags of tiny scraps on my studio floor, I remembered that I'd been wanting to sew myself a tuffet. Tuffets are an excellent way to use all those little bits of scrap you're saving from the landfill. The last tuffet I made was quickly claimed by the cats. This time I wanted to make a firmer, higher cushion to sit on while I work from the floor. This one came together in a flash and I crammed 2 1/2 large bags of scrap into it, making quite a firm perch. In fact, it's so firm that it's rather awkward to grasp. Next one I make will have a handle! I also have just enough of that stunning denim left to make a little zip-pouch.

I'm designing my first Duck Dollie!

This has been on the needles, hidden away for months. I finally finished the knitting part, and felted it up. Now for the fun part, which is stuffing and animating.

Here I'm working on lining this vintage suitcase to use it in my display. I use the sewing machine to laminate scraps of wool together, add some touches of embroidery and applique, cut to size, and glue it to the inside of the case. I'm trying to keep it neutralish, so as not to detract from my products, but it's such a fun technique I have a hard time restraining myself!

For some reason, ponchos are always a hit. I like to make them whenever I score large enough pieces of nice fabric. I'm in the process of composing oak leafs on this plaid wool poncho. With the cowl neck, it is super cozy and I have a hard time taking it off whenever I try it on!

A wool vest embellished with applique and hand-knit trim. As you can see, I've been getting into oak leaves lately.

Greenhouse action. Even when it's rainy outside, it can be warm and cozy, doing greenhouse work. I'll just have to save planting peas, mucking the duck house, mulching, harvesting nettles, and walking in the woods for a slightly less drippy day.

Louie has the right idea for a day like today!