I Cut the Lawn by Hand

I got a big batch of felt recently, with many colors slated to become Christmas stockings. I’m still dreaming up my newest designs, but in the meantime, I cut a very long “ribbon” of green felt grass. It might end up on a gift, or in a scrapbook, or who-knows-where. I rolled it up and tied it with tatting thread and played with it a little–it sort of looks like a kermit mum or something.

Travel Bender with Mossy Interlude

Mushroom pipes on Guerrero Street in San Francisco

I’m back on the right coast after a week’s vacation on the left. My husband and I spent a few days in San Francisco, then a handful more in Portland and on the Oregon coast.

Craft-related highlights include:

• checking out the jewel of a store Bell’occhio finally, after missing the chance on earlier trips. It was a special place, but I expected (hoped?) it would be chockablock with goodies. It was well-edited; I wanted More Stuff! No photography allowed in there, so you’ll just have to believe me, or check it out yourself.
• just stumbling upon the Rose and Radish show in SF, where Laura Normandin has a handful of things on display;
• the Incredible Mosses of Oregon. I’m a bit of a moss freak, and felt like I had unearthed this great, green secret. Why aren’t more people talking about all the incredible moss out there? It’s so magical, beautiful and spongy! Behold:

Taken at Multnomah Falls. Moss loves it there!

Such a collection of weird green colors!