Greeting the Sun

"To be able to greet the Sun with the sounds from all of nature is a great blessing, and it helps us to remember Who it the real provider of all our benefits."   Thomas Yellowtail, Crow

Earth Loom

Mother's Day, my family helped me get the loom ready for this years weaving.
Grandson cut the old weaving off and hubby shored up the loom. Next year we need to replace it but I love this one made from his old tee pee poles.

 A temporary installment into the fire.

The Navajo believe when you take the weaving off you have to warp the loom right away.

It was difficult to warp as I have tiny solar lights hanging on the top and bittersweet vines already growing through the loom.

This years "plan" is to put in a few rows of eco dyed wool then weave a branch of Miss Bittersweet across, continuing that way until I reach the top. The vines will bring the weaving to life and maybe I'll get some berries woven in too.
 

The first 3 rows.

Hopefully Miss Bittersweet cooperates!

Button Flowers

Inspired by this button flower arrangement my quilt bee got together last week and had.....

button bee!. We used vintage buttons and different containers to each make our own arrangement.

This was mine, an antique Bromo seltzer bottle  with wonderful old buttons (thank you Deb C).
I wish I took close up pictures of all the bottles for you, everyone's was so different.

A customer at work brought me these beautiful iris plants.

The new varieties are so beautiful and the flowers last so long!

Out to my weekly "quilt retreat" on Lake Michigan. It is so good for the spirit after a long week, the waves, the birds, and the stitching it's all so relaxing.
Appliqueing on my last Sun.

Michigan Herb conference 2017

I attended the Michigan Herb conference last week, one of our speakers was Holly Bellebuono. Oh my gosh was she good, I highly recommend her if any herbal/natural medicine group is looking for a educated speaker.

This is her newest book she has out and it is wonderful.

I picked up a few new herbs for my  garden, some I have never had before or are hard to find at the greenhouses. Lovage, a perennial that smells and tastes similar to celery. Salad burnet, tastes similar to cucumber, wonderful in a salad. A new type of lemon eucalyptus I will try using this for dyeing fabric. Chamomile for tea.

In our "goody bag" they gave everyone a cute flower button bouquet arranged in a salt shaker.

My ancient peppers seedlings are sprouting.
Love using these egg cartons as mini green houses for seeds.

Wisdom

"The old people came literally to love the soil, they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to a mother power. The soil was soothing, strengthening, cleansing and healing.
Luther Standing Bear
Oglala Sioux

"Have you ever noticed the relationship between children and the soil? Watch how happy they are touching the dirt. The children play in it and eat it. If you are stressed, go to a spot on the Earth, sit down, put your fingers in the dirt, dig in it, wash your hands in the soil. When you touch it, notice what it does to your hands. Our bodies love to touch the Earth. Sometimes we get too busy and forget these simple things. Maybe you'll even want to plant a garden or flowers. These things are mentally healthy.

I planted this dogwood years ago in honor of my friend who passed away from breast cancer. She loved dogwood.
When ever I see them blooming I think of her.

Thank you, Deb C. Love my antique coffee pot and linen table runner!

Thank you putting us up Vicky W.
We had a wonderful time.

Cute table centerpiece with fresh gerbera daisies!