Palmer Fabric Collections

Two new fabric collections to share with you!

P&B Textiles has brought more of my watercolor paintings to fabric~

'Fresh Picked Farm Stand'

I have taken photographs of farm stands for over 20 years~

Along the roadside, while we're out for a country drive.

Most of the stands are 20 minutes or less from our home.

We LOVE to support our farmers & gardeners!

Winter Snowmen Wreaths!

So much fun!!

Snowmen with their cardinal friends... framed by different wreaths~

I began painting some of my favorite stands several years ago.

A few extra props & signs tucked in here or there...

I will often change the crop to fill my 'garden' of subjects.

We do not have a long growing season here~

It is an amazing variety... sweet and full of flavor!

We are surrounded by apple, peach, plum, cherry orchards...

I LOVE honey...

Grateful for Beekeepers! 

No matter how few or how many hives they keep~

Protecting our bee population is crucial.

Grateful for open fields of wild flowers, hedgerows, windbreaks & field edges.

I search for heirloom & pollinator-friendly plants to add to our garden.

Farm stand location/direction signs at cross roads are often made from

recycled wood. I thought it would be fun to add some

farmyard friends!

I will be releasing some of these designs as punch needle 

and rug hooking patterns soon!

The border...

I can't wait to play with some of these fabrics!

(If I could sneak a few more hours into each day...)

Bustling meadow...

They must have wonderful visits!

Some of the coordinates for Winter Snowmen Wreaths

Perfect size and detail to cut out...

Ideal for ornaments, set inside quilt blocks... patch a Christmas stocking!

Margaret Luewen~ Miss Marker's Quilts

Margaret drives past some of the same road side stands...

She designed a quilt for Fresh Picked Farm Stand~

and...

...a quilt for Winter Snowmen Wreaths, too!

A LINK to Margaret's web page

We are enjoying dryer, sunnier days...

The vegetable garden is delighted!

The flowers are blooming & bees are humming~

Hope you have a wonderful week, Friends!

Thank you for stopping by~

Fraktur wool hooked rug

"Robin Red Breasts" wool hooked rug copyright 2019

Illustration copyright 2010

#1 of 6 Fraktur theme rugs translated from my original illustrations.

I used #6, 7 & 8 cut (wool strips) for my model.

I have the second in the collection finished... I hope to share it tomorrow.

The designs are very similar to each other when drawn with

walnut ink and painted with watercolor...

They are so much warmer and rich with texture when hooked~

the wool rugs look completely different from each other!

I began drawing Fraktur and flourish elements in 1989 when I was a

graphic design student at R.I.T.

Through studying cobblestone structures for American Architecture I found

the most beautiful barns with hex signs and painted quilts.

With more research I became very distracted by Fraktur illustrations!

Fraktur sketches filled my notebook margins... ideas swirled in my mind!

I did my best to focus on the professors lectures...

I tried...

Through the years all of my college sketches,

interpretations from early works, have shared inspiration!

Inspired by the early treasures but never copied... 

Nothing so beautiful as original frakturs and the history they recorded~

Illustrated history...

My frakturs, with a twist of whimsy, record favorite birds in

childhood gardens, perennial beds~ the beauty of season changes. 

I draw my patterns by hand on primitive linen.

Finished rug size is 24" wide by 22" tall (actual hooked area)

3.5" to 4" border around the entire design

allowing ample room for your frame.

I take care to keep the lines straight of the grain.

Linen edges are taped to prevent fraying. I use green Frog Brand tape.

It is available through my Etsy shop:

"Robin Red Breasts" Fraktur theme wool rug pattern

Hope your week is off to a great start, Friends!

Thanks so much for stopping by~

Easter Blessings

Praying that your hearts will always be filled with

His promise~

Peace, Hope and Love.

The gardens are beginning to wake!

I haven't been in a hurry to remove their protective blanket~

the winds have been crazy wild with every weather fluctuation.

Up until this past week snow was constantly teasing!

Tiny perennials are breaking through the soil and leaf covering

and I'm able to gently clear the leaves and dead stalks away without

disturbing sprouting beauties. I tend to forget what I plant from

year to year and just how wide some of the perennials reach~

The lawns are greening up...

Birds are nesting...

Chipmunks have started perching on the banister to warm in the sun...

and the peas are planted!

Primrose are open... the bees will be delighted!

Wishing you a joy-filled Easter and

Beautiful spring days~

Joyful Spring~

Sweet Friends~

I hope your Spring days are filled with joy!

Pussy willows follow their own calendar~

They're not waiting for the snow to stop falling!

Went for a nice long walk along the Erie Canal trail with my neighbor today.

The sky was so blue!

Sun on our shoulders...

Canada geese filled areas of the canal waters. They were so chatty!

They are here with us throughout the winter months but

many traveling flocks stop here with the snow geese.

Came home and noticed that the pussy willow buds were completely open!

Lopped off some of the tallest branches for bouquets to share &

left some to open for the bees that will be seeking nourishment soon~

Hope you have a wonderful week, Friends!

Thanks so much for stopping by~

"Rabbit & Chickadee Go Gathering" copyright 2019 Michelle L. Palmer

Chickadee has found the perfect assistant! 

Rabbit will deliver her sweet treat to the base of the tree

where her nestlings await dessert!

Perhaps Mr. Chickadee will bring home a dollop of whipped cream.

Rabbit will rest in the shade and enjoy his snack before heading home

with a pussy willow bouquet for his family.

Our pussy willows have started to open!

Little fuzzy buds trying to break through their winter shells...

Nice to see hints of Springtime.

We have a few sprigs tucked in a jar with water.

They will be fully open by the end of the week~

Hope your March days have been a little more sunny...

A touch warmer and filled with happiness, Friends~

Winter Watering Cans Hooked Rug

 'Winter Watering Cans' copyright Michelle L. Palmer

Pup and I enjoyed a salmon-peachy-hot pink sunrise.

Hello, February!

Lake gray is being pushed back~

So nice to see the sunshine two days in a row!

My watering cans are coming along.

Hope to have this rug finished over the weekend... what to do next!?

I do think I will choose a warmer season (giggle)

Cardinals at the feeder have been all fluffed up to stay warm~

Glad the frigid windchills are moving out.

Sharing progress pictures from weekend to weekend~

This is our Ash tree. Sad to say we have to take it down in the Spring.

The Emerald Ash Borer that is killing so many is the cause.

The tree is dark at the base~

Lighter, lighter and lightest as it touches the sky.

Little pop of color to add a touch of warmth to winter days~

I love old watering cans!

These oldies have weathered many seasons.

The bottoms push out a little when ice builds inside... 

Doesn't bother us~ adds to their charm!

Never stops us from bringing them home from a sale~

Bittersweet foreground~

It's always exciting to begin a new rug project~

Very different from a new painting...

Wool hooking takes a fair amount of time to get a feeling of progress.

As small sections come together interest and excitement builds!

Then it becomes hard to put down the project! 

Hope you're all staying healthy, warm and happy!

December Hoar Frost

Every blade of grass~

Every gently twisted tendril~

Blanketed with frosted crystals.

December shared one more beautiful and peaceful dawn~

The field dances with dried plants~

Still plenty of seeds available for our feathered friends.

Still standing after coatings of ice, feet of snow and blustery winds!

Wishing you a safe, happy and joyful New Years Eve!

Praying your New Year is filled with peace, love and great health~

Thank you for sharing your year with me!

I hope you will join me here again throughout 2019!