A Hint of Fall

By the time the second group of friends visited from Two Star, I had had time to put out a bit of fall color. 

 

New tea towels from Trish Travis at Country Gatherings

The warm colors of the Chalk Deer Rug are always ready for this season.

 

Fresh green in the atrium is a cool contrast to all the warm colors inside. It is seen from the breakfast table in the kitchen and also from the long dining table in the next room.  At night the atrium is lighted and adds drama to candle light suppers! 

The already busy rooms do not need much in the way of color added.  I am searching for some Indian corn to add on the table and on this cupboard. That will be enough for me. 

How many years ago did Irene Gunn teach me to put a lamp always beside a cupboard? At least 40 years back.  There is a lamp beside every open cupboard in this house. 

The pretty candle wreaths come out each fall, they are pleasures bought from Eileen at Chappell Hill.    Homemaking is an acquired joy, the sum of many friendships and experiences.  

 

In that way also,  I think of beloved family members each time I look through my recipe box.  The faded writings of my mother and aunt are there along with the recipes shared from friends..  e

Two Star Rug Camp this week in Fredericksburg TX

Teachers Maggie Bonanomi, Kathy Clark, Lucille Festa, Sharon Smith, and Diane Stoffel joined directors Trish Travis and Gayle Soileau to present another great rug hooking experience here this week.  The creative excitement is almost palpable in the room full of rug makers and their colorful projects.   I have appreciated the invitation to visit and enjoy it. 

 

I took photos of some of the rugs. There were dozens of good ones on display. 

Hooked by Diane Lampe  and Designed by Carolyn Tobin

Hooked and Designed by Becky Marshall

 

An old Frost Pattern Hooked by Dorothy Panaceck.

Hooked by Melanie Stevens, Designed by Keith Kemmer

Cheryl Bollenbach pattern and hooked by Carrie Martin

 

 

The sales room was full and enticing. I bought the tree shown here. 

 

 

This does not show the fun some of us had shopping for clothing and jewelry one afternoon and eating together in some of Fredericksburg's informal eateries.  It has been a treat for me to be around some old friends in this field and to get to know some new ones.  Thanks!  E

 

 

 

A Bay Tree Like Tasha's

Isn't it a wonder how things in your life circle back around again and again.   Example, the joys of great grand children, new children to love but somehow the same as it was with my own babies.  And teaching a new generation to love art and guitars and horses. Macy at close to three is horse crazy, as Cheryl was even when a tiny child. 

In the early 1990's when Jack and I lived in difficult circumstances while re building the old cape,  I felt I could not cope with my huge bay tree in a pot, to carry it in and out and protect it from deep freezes. It was then about 6 years old and large.  My friend Virginia gave it a happy home and had it planted in her yard. San Antonio has a slightly warmer climate than Fredericksburg 70 miles west and higher.  The tree still thrives there 20 years later!  And now it's cuttings are here with me.

 I want a bay tree again, so yesterday Virginia sent me 5 cuttings from our bay, and though I have never had luck rooting anything, I am trying!  Wish me luck at this.

  Two cuttings are now in water and three in a pot of potting soil, all having had a boost of rooting compound.  I have them where they have good light but not direct sun.  e 
Post script in October, every last one of them died!  I think I will buy one next spring.

Love of Southwest jewelry

I had my first piece of silver and turquoise at the age of 15, bought in a hotel lobby in Arizona when traveling with my aunt and uncle. It is a bracelet of the Harvey type having stamped thunderbirds and a small piece of turquoise.  The Harvey pieces and similar such were made for sale to tourists and featured things from never never land like thunderbirds, an anglo man's ideas imposed on Indian art to make tourist items.  This bracelet now belongs to a dear friend in San Antonio, I gave it to her when it fit her wrist as a child years ago.    I have had a few old pieces over time, some Indian made and signed, some not known.  I buy some pieces and wear them a while and resell them and enjoy a different one.    This old Squash variant with talons from some predatory bird, is an unusual piece I have not see the like of before.  There is a lot of silver work on it and some wear on the old talons. I do not know the origin of this piece. 

 

In 1991 and 92 Jack and I learned to make some simple Navajo style pieces, and these are still my favorite to wear.  Examples are the crosses I made. The bird was perhaps my most complex piece, almost sculpted from a piece of sheet silver. To me it too is a cross form.  The beads and chain pictured here were not made by me but purchased from Indian Jeweler's Supply in Gallup NM. 

 

The Isleta cross necklace is styled like one from that pueblo.  These early necklaces were featured in the book Heart of the Dragonfly by Allison Bird.  When I was studying the jewelry, my brother took me on a 9 day trip to Albuquerque and Santa Fe and Taos to see the museum collections there. That trip is a treasured memory!     

 

My nicest piece may be the dime beads made by Jackie of old silver dimes. The naja I wear on it is one I made, when I had not yet learned to use silver  solder of different heat requirements. As I would fasten the pieces on one end of the naja the other pieces would melt off!  It took a full day and 18 tries I remember to get it together!   These beads are heavy and wonderful!  I find them too heavy to wear more than a few hours at a time. 

 

One of my daughters recently bought the lovely heavy beads pictured below and lets me wear them. These are called Navajo pearls now, I never heard the term a long time ago, though they may have been called such then too. 

We like them long so I got out my box of a few remaining supplies and made a 6 inch extender to go at the back of the neck, thus letting the beads hang three inches longer. Just working with the sterling chain and clasps and jeweler's pliers gave me the fever to make jewelry again.   I would like to make another hat band sometime, like a tiny concho belt with medallions on a thin piece of leather.  A piece of an old rein is best for this.  I think I have some somewhere.... e