Stumpwork Masterclass Book and Telling The Bees...

Brynwood Needleworks - The Stumpwork Masterclass by Alison Cole

 

I've stayed in touch with my RSN tutor, Owen Davies through the pandemic, and had a chance to discuss furthering my stumpwork skills until I can take more classes from him. He suggested Alison Cole's The Stumpwork Masterclass book, so I immediately set about procuring a copy.

I waited weeks for it to arrive, but it's finally here, and I'm anxious to really dig into it. Alison begins her nearly 200 page masterclass exploring the history of stumpwork in Australia and the UK, and moves into historical techniques and materials. There are lots of photographs, and great stitch diagrams along with her instruction.

While I'm healing, I think this will be just the resource book to have handy. I may approach this book as a real class, and actually put into practice the lessons as she lays them out in the book. What better way to work on my skills, don't you think?

My Fall Pillow is now assembled and complete. It's sitting in our living room where it will be enjoyed until the snow falls. One can only hope that that is many (many!) weeks off. For now, the chill in the air, along with the leaves already turning color, signals that this summer is drawing to a close. 

I learned that the bees that we help nourish with hollyhocks, lavender, bee balm, and other flowers all summer will soon leave with their hives to live in Florida for the winter. They'll spend their winter pollinating the orange groves. Isn't that wonderful? 

I think they may already know, but I've been telling the bees, the great news as they buzz about in their attempts to wring every last bit of nectar from the blossoms in our garden. I don't want them to be surprised. I want them to know I'll look forward to their return, too. It seems we'll all be preparing for the season's change.

Resilience...

"Resilience" by Autumn Skye ©2017

I saw this image on Facebook a week ago and, based on the watermark, managed to find the artist's website. Autumn Skye creates beautiful images, and this one is my favorite. It really speaks to me. Were it not for bees, my garden efforts (and much more) would be for naught.

Whenever I visit my kitchen garden, it is abuzz with honey bees, bumble bees and other pollinators. They allow me to work among them, too. If I don't bother them, they don't bother me...and I always leave blossoms for them to feast on, too. I know they need the nectar for the hives up the hill, or to nourish themselves for the winter ahead. I'm more than happy to share.

"Jasmine Bees" - ©2018 DLiljegren-Brynwood Needleworks

 

I had a lovely day yesterday with Daughter-in-Law #2. We went shopping in Cedarburg (WI), shared a delightful lunch at an old stone farmhouse restaurant called "The Farmstead", and even made it to a local farm market (Witte's) so I could bring home fresh produce for dinner.

 

Before I turned for home, I stopped at the home of one of her and our son's friends. They have concord grapes growing on an arbor in their back yard, which they offered to me for the picking. I'll be sharing grape jam with them when I make it today.

 

When I arrived at their house, I was greeted by a huge jasmine bush (comparable in size to those we had in Florida), and the fragrance was intoxicating. I knew I'd be taking a picture to show you. When I got closer, I saw that it, too, was humming with bees. It was a veritable feast for them, and they weren't wasting the opportunity! (I managed to capture two of them in this shot.)

 

After taking a few pictures, I walked to the back of their yard, where they told me I'd find all the grapes I cared to pick. I was also warned about the mosquitoes, which are legion in Wisconsin this year. No kidding, I had to battle them to harvest about three gallons of grapes! I pulled my jacket up over my head and closed it across my face to keep them from swarming my ears and face. Even so, I left looking like I'd played goalie in a dart game! My face was pocked with "sting and go" mosquito marks. Thankfully, they weren't full-blown bites, and by the time I got home, the redness had disappeared.

Handsome and I will be making Grape Jam and the last batch of Zucchini & Pepper Relish for this year, plus canning pears over the weekend. All that will be left is applesauce. First things first. I can almost smell the grape goodness rising in the kitchen.