Alpha-snake

This is a new direction for me, scroll cutting. I have done some wood burning carving before. This puzzle seemed like such a great way to learn the alphabet. It is going to be a Christmas present soon, but I wanted to record its creation, the first alpha-snake. It might be a bit scary for a 3 year old, but he will soon get the idea.
The detail is done with with a burning tool and leaf-shaped tip used for shading. The tip had the perfect shape for the scales on the snake.  Hope he likes it. Photo to follow of befuddled little boy with a wooden snake puzzle.

turtle neck

Hi, I found this pattern on www.knittygritty.com thought it was cute. It's a turtle neck for a tissue box. I changed the pattern and made it fit a smaller tissue box.

Christmas felting projects

A dear friend generously gave me some felting wool so I have been busy working on some felting projects this week. Using some pearl embroidery floss, felted beads and a charm from the Bead store in Johnson VT, I made a couple necklaces for Christmas gifts. To make the holly Christmas tree ornament, I used a cookie cutter to form the leaves and the berries are more beads sewn on with floss. These are all needle felted, and yes, I did manage to poke myself real good! But only once!

South American Style Purse

This little purse was woven on a simple peg loom by a five year old and me. She will receive this for Christmas as a present for her doll. I think it will fit nicely as a shoulder bag on the doll. It certainly is colorful! I hope she likes it.

Succulent Greens in Winter

I thought I'd take a break from my usual "printing posts" and share a simple way to have fresh greens during the long cold days of winter. All you need is potting soil, a container, (I used a seedling tray) and some seeds. I used sunflower seeds, but you could also use pea seeds as well. To begin, put a shallow layer, approx. 2 inches deep of damp soil in the bottom of your container, then sprinkle your seeds on top of the soil rather thickly. Put in a window (and hope for some sun!) adding a cover to keep in moisture until the seeds germinate. The warmer your window spot is the faster the seeds will grow and make sure to keep the soil moist. In about a week or so, the "shoots" will be tall and have leaves. Cut and enjoy! When you have eaten all your "shoots" take the container to your compost pile or garden and dump out the soil. It'll be a "mat" of soil held together by the roots of your shoots and start the whole process over again!

Little woven heart ornaments

I've been enjoying making these little paper ornaments from cardstock with a variety of Christmas motifs. Each one is a unique combination of colors and designs. They are a cheery sight during these cloudy November days in Vermont and a nice reminder of the holidays ahead! I've just added them to my etsy shop today.

God's Eye Tree Ornaments

God's Eyes are perfect for tree ornaments. They are quick and easy to make. Using up my fabric scraps and twigs of gray birch and red osier dogwood is so satisfying. After bringing home an assortment of beads, I can make the eyes come alive. Check back for more pictures, this is just the beginning.

Sock Monkeys

These are the four sock monkeys I made. My sister is crocheting afghans for her grandchildren and wanted a sock monkey to match each one. My great nieces and nephews will find them under their Christmas tree this year.

Folkart Star Gift Cards

I thought I'd share a photo of the new set of cards I've recently added to my etsy site. They are approximately 3x3 inches and come in a set of 6 with matching envelopes. I'm also thinking of making some with a punched hole in the corner and tied with hemp twine to be used as a gift tag. These would come w/o envelopes and perhaps have 10 tags per set. I can just imagine one tied to a jar of homemade jam, etc...!

Bead Loom

Jessica and I made this bead loom today. Jessica made this collar
for our cat Morgan. Jessica also is proud of it.

Harvest Card (whole view)

Here is a view of my complete Harvest card, along with a few of it's real live models! Now that November is here, I'm beginning to think of Christmas Card designs...

I'd love to hear from anyone who might have a card design idea! Please feel free to share your ideas by commenting on the blog or by email through my profile page. You can also contact me by clicking on the Etsy.com link on the right hand side of the blog. Thank you!

New Harvest cards by RebasPrints

Hi Everyone!

Well, I am glad to be back after another busy and productive garden season! As you can see, I still have harvesting on my mind! This set of cards is on it's way to Lancaster, Pennsylvania along with a gift tag from the giver. I am looking forward to having more and more time for printing as winter sets in and sharing more cards and crafts along the way...!

God's Eyes

The Ojo de Dios (God's eye) is a ritual tool, magical object and cultural symbol evoking the weaving motif and its spiritual associations. For the Huichol peoples of northwestern Mexico, the God's Eye is symbolic of the power of seeing and understanding that which is unknown and unknowable, The Mystery. The four points represent the elemental processes earth, fire, air, and water. These are so basic to weaving, and a great way to use up odds and ends of yarn. Experiment with color, twigs and looseness of the weave for variety. They go fast and are only limited by your imagination. A 3 foot diameter one next.

Lighted Terra Loom

At this time of year the light each day is less and less. It occurred to me that a loom could give light with tea candles. The driftwood candle holder was available and became part of this little beaver - chewed birch loom.  Care must be taken when using the loom and candles, of course, but how wonderful to work on it when three little lights are flickering on top. When finished, it could be a natural  candle decoration with holiday colors woven into it. A perfect "Solstice Terra Loom". There may be more of these little numbers coming along.

Terra Loom - New Design

The driftwood and alpaca cutouts are not a new design. The tensioning bar and string are new. With this system you can pull tension on the loom as you weave. This is often seen on the tapestry looms of the SouthWest that are used to make rugs and such by the Native Americans. This loom is done in gray birch and has the tenon on the tops of the verticals. It is large enough to do a small rug. The new owner keeps alpacas and will be most happy with the animals walking across the top.

What IS a Terra Loom?

That's easy. Terra is the Latin word, terra, earth. Today people are talking alot about "terroir", or the taste of place, usually associated with wine. What it boils down to is that what grows in the soil in a particular place has characteristic qualities. To get back to terra looms, these looms are made from wood generally gathered in Brownington, Vermont or the nearby area. The soils here do vary, of course. Our idea is that our looms come from wood left behind by beavers, storms, and rivers. The wood is often collected just as it was found on the earth or taken from the earth in a responsible way, and peeled, sanded or left natural. Then this wood becomes a loom. The orginal intent was for people to use the looms while sitting or standing on the ground, looking out over a garden view and or any other landscape. We have found that people also want to feel closer to nature by using the loom indoors. This, too, is a wonderful idea. One loom, the poplar beaver-chewed one, recently sold still giving off the fragrance of the wood. The buyer's little dorm room will have an interesting aroma for awhile. At the Champlain Valley Expo this past weekend, kids were weaving for two days on the looms we made. The public really enjoyed seeing such a loom for the first time, and I do believe that as a result, there will soon be a few first time weavers  as well.

Fragrant Terra Loom

Once you have smelled the aroma of poplar, you never forget it. This fragrance is somewhat sweet and can only mean one thing......Beavers. The wood in this little loom( crooked picture, not the loom) was chewed by beavers and left on the ground. No bark was eaten, and no part used in a dam or lodge. Poplar is not what I would call a pretty wood. The bark is often blotchy and rough. But the one thing that you can't mistake is the aroma. This may put people off or not make a difference. We shall see. The warps are being strung in a figure eight now, after a weaver acquaintence suggested it as a better way. Then the paint stirrer idea just happened. This free wood at the local hardware store will make a very nice batton to form the shed. Always learning  new ways of keeping the looms "GREEN".

Terra Loom with Sitting Alpacas

 The latest loom features sitting alpacas  in light and dark woods, on beaver-chewed driftwood. The stand is different also, with coped pieces of wood rather than tenoned. This one will be shown at the Alpaca Breeders Assoc. event Oct 16-17 in Essex, VT at the Champlain Valley Exhibition Center. Every one comes out so differently, and that is what makes this fun to do.

Laptop Terra Loom

 These days, people are doing everything on their laps!! 

Here is version of a Terra Loom that is easily used on your lap. It is made from beaver chewed maple from a pond in Derby, Vermont. The chewed parts are visible on the tops of the vertical pieces and at the bottom of the stand.

This is also portable!

The stand is one stick that is not attached. It comes apart and can be carried in a brief case!

Terra Looms Are Catching ON

I was sad to see the peeled cedar loom go, but two women were trying to outbid each other over it, so someone had to have it. The silent auction experience allowed me to present the loveliest loom yet to the public. Orders may come in as a result. One order just came to me from a friend, small birch table top style. My hopes that these would be something people would want have been realized. I must get busy.....bye for now.

Terra Loom for Silent Auction

This new loom is going to be available at a silent auction on Sept. 25th, at the Vermont Coverts 25th anniversary celebration.. I am a member of the group and on the board of directors, so I offered up this
loom out of wood from our land (except for the driftwood). I am getting more confident in the construction of the looms, still run into unforeseen problems with cutting and drilling , but for the most part, they come out pretty nice. This would probably sell for 75.00, but we shall see what people who have never seen one before are willing to pay. The money goes to a good cause, www.vtcoverts.org, so I am glad to do it.

Terra Loom With Alpacas

This loom was finished today and is on its way to an alpaca breeder in Irasburg. The barn board detail of alpacas is compliments of Kyla Myott's board, Kathleen van Gelder's alpaca cookie cutter and my scroll saw, and other tools. The loom will be on display at the Big E where Kathleen and her alpacas will be showing off their great fiber coats. She is promoting alpaca fiber for all manner of crafts, and also helping get the word out about Terra Looms. Kyla and I will be at the Alpaca Breeder's Assoc. gathering at Champlain Valley Expo, in Essex, VT during the 3rd weekend in Oct, using and showing off the Terra Looms we have made. Kathleen will have her new one there and will be weaving along with us. It's catching!!!

Crocheted Birthday Gifts

Grace and David were thrilled with their crocheted gifts, can't you tell? Tina Turtle was a big hit when the eggs inside her were discovered. The sock monkey became Mrs. Fred and when the hat came off showing the white head, David couldn't stop laughing. The first thing he said was "I want to sleep with him". I guess the hand made toys really are a big hit. I am glad to know that.

An NEK Sock Monkey for David

 

Another sock monkey is born in the NEK.

This one is a birthday present for my 3 year

old step-grandson. Do you think he will like it? I seem to go back to red, brown, green and tan yarn, very north woodsy, but also, well, Christmasy.  Look for the next post of David and his monkey and its name. His sister, Grace will also be receiving her Tina Turtle today. (see earlier post)

Farmer's Market Bag

This marketing bag is made from cotton nubby yarn using double crochet stitches. Somewhat challenging pattern for me, I kept ripping it out and starting over somewhere. Now is the time to use it as the harvest season is well upon us here in northern Vermont. Next picture will be of it full of veggies to show its capacity. On to the next project, a sock monkey for my grandson. This little boy was instantly attached to the sock monkey that Kyla made for the Irasburg Church Fair. He even licked it!! They are such lovable toys. We are planning to try them in alpaca yarn that will make them soo very soft.

Terra Looms for Children

Terra looms are a perfect place for kids to lose themselves in creation. They choose their special things to weave in and then they just.... weave. At two and a half, the boy on the right developed his own style of just grabbing a bunch of strings together and wrapping the yarn around it. We decided to do the same all the way across and realized that it was a "pattern" and could be used to tie on things like beads. These moments were the most gratifying for us at the craft fair, because we could really demonstrate our products with the public.

Irasburg Church Fair

Terra Looms and birdhouses made it to our first craft fair of the summer. The barnboard birdhouses of Kyla's Country Crafts went like hot cakes. The Terra Looms were a first for the fair and something the most people in the Northeast Kingdom had never seen before.