"Lakeside Buoys" copyright Michelle L. Palmer

17'' x 24'' wool hooked rug on primitive linen

We have a blanket of white this morning with gentle snow falling.

My heart is lakeside... longing for warmth & sunshine.

Ready to dip toes in the water~

These buoys were licensed for notecards and dinner napkins

years ago. A fishing camp I visited nearly 30 years ago.

I couldn't stop photographing buoys!

Wishing I had taken more photographs of the handsome

cabins and boathouses.

I dyed the background wool: ProChem straw with mouse grey and

a touch of periwinkle. Some of the darker areas worked nicely

for the rope shadows. Hooked with #6 and #7 cut wool strips.

Hope you're all staying strong and healthy!

Thank you for stopping by~

Veterans Day

 Thank you for your service, your strength, your commitment~

We are forever grateful!

 

April Welcome

Wishing you beautiful April days!

Our wrens will arrive in late April, early May~

Windows will be open a crack and their song will flow in.

Take good care, Friends

Praying you're staying strong and healthy.

Red Fox visit

Our blanket of white has almost completely melted.

Early Sunday morning I peeked out the window for a weather check and

something caught my attention!

Trotting through the back field~

Perhaps returning home from an overnight shift...

Mr. Red Fox

Red fox is so very beautiful and so very helpful.

He and his family will help keep a healthy, natural, balance~

Our ever-growing concern with Lyme disease often begins with

the (adorable and sweet) White-footed mouse.

Rodents have been sampling more vegetables from our garden

than we have! They're becoming a concern.

I strive to remain chemical free and organic.

Praying Mr. Fox meets a local Miss and begin a family

in our neighborhood.

A quick sketch on Sunday so that I would remember

how beautiful the morning was and our special visitor.

The sky was pale gray & light blue with a soft peach glow!

Took a few minutes this morning to add color while

waiting for a special order to completely dry...

The cookie butter needed to warm up to room temperature, too~

Hope your travels are safe and that your hearts are happy, Friends!

Wishing you a joy-filled season~

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~

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello, Friends!

Happy Thanksgiving~

I hope you have been surrounded by those you love.

With so many destructive storms, fires and illness~

Please know you're in our thoughts and prayers.

Has been a while since I posted... I had lost my password.

All reset and updated!

I have so much to share with you!

Will begin to catch up this week~

Thankful for you~

It is always so nice to meet each of you here.

Thank you for visiting, commenting... following along my creative journey!

Thank you for supporting my art.

My whole family appreciates you and your kindness~

Wishing you a creative Holiday Season!

Wishing your hearts peace, joy and love~

Snowmen Meadow quilting fabric

'Snowmen Meadow' copyright Michelle L. Palmer/ P&B Textiles

Snowmen in the meadow...

After a three hour drive to my moms house our children

were ready to run off some energy!

They didn't want a snack.

They didn't want to sit.

They didn't want television.

They were not interested in books.

The toys would wait...

They wanted outside!

Bundled up~ they would slide down Gramma's little hill.

Mom would pull the scooters out and the three of them would attempt to

ride them up & down her driveway. She told the kids they had snow tires!

Mom always had snow. (Except for the dash through summer & fall)

Her snow always seemed to be perfect for snowman making!

Our children will always have those treasured memories and

I will always be drawn to snowmen.

Squares for quilts, Christmas stockings, tote bags, table runners & place mats!

Stitched with simple trims around the border they would

make fun ornaments to hang on a cupboard knob...

Wouldn't they be fun around the bottom of a Christmas tree skirt?!

Unique pocket designs!

Small pillows stuffed with balsam! Mmmmmmm~

Stitched to the tops of pre-purchased pillows~

There must be more things we could make!

The collection is promised to arrive any day now!

I'm so happy with how the pen & ink illustrations translated to fabric~

Part of the panel and border design~ these are in full color!

The border would be fun as a Christmas tree skirt, too...

More of the panel images~

We're not rushing winter winds~

These warm August days are always my favorite!

Just had to share a peek of what's arriving in shops soon~

Please let me know if you see it in your favorite store!

Hope you have a nice week, Friends!

August Girls~

"The Girls" copyright 2018 Michelle L. Palmer

The Girls in August pastures~

Hills and meadows have become dry and golden from our warm summer days.

It's milking time for the ladies and they're gathering a quick

snack before crossing.

A slow August breeze passes over the grasses just out of their reach~

I hope August takes it time and stays awhile.

The Girls have been very patient... 

Work & projects keep popping up in front of them.

Sometimes that is the perfect pace for some pieces!

I get to look at them and ponder...

Look at them and get fresh perspective!

My punch needle design will be different from the original watercolor...

Propped up in my little studio~ they're telling a different story!

Hope your August days are filled with creative projects!

Thank you for stopping by, Friends~

Earth Day~

~Earth Day~

No matter the season

No matter the weather

There is beauty.

I am mindful of the bees...

I just love to hear them dancing about the gardens

while I'm tugging weeds!

Keeping our gardens organic help the bees to thrive.

We recycle every possible waste item & keep a compost pile.

Continue to make our home more energy efficient...

~Doing what we can to keep our planet beautiful & healthy~

Hope your day has been filled with sunny skies!

Happy Easter!

Wishing your heart Hope!

Wishing your heart Peace!

Wishing your heart Love!

Wishing you a blessed Easter, Friends!

Wishing you joy-filled Spring days, too~

Calendar pages & watercolor palettes~

My little mushroom brush is just as important as my paint brushes!

Keeps the wool dust, lint, strings... 

All that crazy stuff fling around my studio, off my palettes.

I leave my palettes open to air dry~

It may be a few days in between painting.

If I forget to put my palette covers on (always) they get dusty.

I brush out the wells, brush off the little dishes...

I rarely wash my palette...

With a touch of water those messy puddles are perfectly usable!

Calendar time~

As I finish each month, I tack them up. It gives me a little distance

from my paintings. Sometimes they need a little more work.

Sometimes I soften an area...

The wintry months are still to be painted.

I should paint January & February mid-summer, on hot days~

When the winter cold seems like a welcome thought!

Just a few more paintings to go and

Outside My Window for 2020 will be complete.

Each year is a little bit different.

Always filled with my favorite things & feathered friends who visit!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, Friends!

Thank you for stopping by~

Punch needle~ Chicks in the Tulip Patch

"Chicks in the Tulip Patch" copyright 2018 Michelle L. Palmer

Around the farm~

It is known when Momma Hen is spring cleaning!

Hen carefully tucks her baby chicks in tulip blossoms for safe keeping.

They enjoy the sway of the breeze and visit with passing bees!

Momma Hen will have new feathers tacked to the coop walls

when they return from their time in the garden~

Feathered friends stop by the coop throughout the winter to warm up.

They often lose feathers as they wriggle through the coop mesh...

It is always fun for them to identify bird friends & remember their visits.

Copyright Michelle L. Palmer 1998

A snippet from one of my stories inspired a sketch~

Sketch inspired a watercolor~ (Chicks in the Tulips have been painted several times)

I painted this watercolor in January & it inspired my punch needle piece.

Hope you're all staying strong and healthy & I hope some of your

winter days are sunny with blue skies~

Wishing you a creative weekend, Friends!

Watercolor paintings~

How I love to bring some of my little sketches to full color!

Watercolor over pencil sketches~

It was fun to dress some of them up in ornate frames~

Bee skep & daisies bordered by a beautiful rose motif~

 Bluebirds of happiness!

You just know they love Valentine's Day~

These busy little springtime chicks...

Their momma tucked them in the tulip row while she cleaned their nest!

All of these loves are punch needle patterns~ I just need to get them written!

I've been so happy this winter... no sign of field mice making their way indoors!

We patched their secret entry and they get to live on~

A colder than normal winter so I toss cracked corn around

the bottom of the feeders and near the hedgerows for them.

 Valentine perch~

Sweet friends sharing some love!

Hope you're having a great week, Friends~

December~

December has arrived in all its beauty~

Frosty mornings...

Sherbet colored sunrises & sunsets...

Songbirds dancing around the feeders...

Geese coming in from the lake...

Greens draped, lights strung & wreaths welcome.

The gardens are buttoned up for their winter rest~

Brilliant red cardinals peek through the pine branches!

Their songs even more crisp & clear~

Wishing your hearts a joy-filled December!

October 31st~

It's a blustery Autumn day here!

Hold onto your hats & treat bags~

Hope your day is filled with sweet-treats, Friends!

Independence Day~

History shares ups & downs, twists and turns~

Hearts willing to give all that they have in the name of freedom.

"Home is the nicest word there is."

Laura Ingalls Wilder

"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea, 
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free, 
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair, 
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. " 

"God Bless America, 
Land that I love. 
Stand beside her, and guide her 
Thru the night with a light from above. 
From the mountains, to the prairies, 
To the oceans, white with foam 
God bless America, My home sweet home."
Irving Berlin~ Kate Smith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEJo7x9y3D4

God Bless America

Thank you Veterans and all who are serving~

Happy Canada Day, Friends!

Happy Canada Day to all of my friends just a lil' north of us!

A grand celebration 150!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend~

Easter joy~

Wishing your heart joy~

Happy Easter!

Valentine's Day~

Wishing your heart happiness, always~

Happy Valentine's Day, Friends!