First, I want to say Thank You for the encouragement and the well-wishes for my wrist (it's so much better now), and the general merriment that you guys bring to this blog. It makes me happy and content knowing you're all out there somewhere in your own cozy corners, keeping those home fires burning.
Such glorious weather here again. The rain dried up and the sun peeked out and it turned into another perfect autumn day. With night-time temperatures dropping, the trees are changing colors quickly now. I'm hoping, (and keeping my fingers crossed) for a nice long fall season. It just never seems to last long enough, does it?
After such a busy week I stayed home most of the day and got caught up on a little housework; then managed to finish the wool pumpkins I'd started. I'm really happy with how these turned out too and I think a huge part of it is due to the wonderful earthy colors. ALL credit for that goes to this talented lady who hand-dyed this very wool using natural materials from her kitchen and yard. Things like onion skins, marigold flowers, cherry bark, silver birch leaves and goldenrod...just to name a few.
In fact, Simmy spent most of the summer experimenting with various combinations and techniques and achieved some really amazing results. If you want to try this yourself, she also put together a wonderful and quite comprehensive tutorial here. Anyway, I can't even tell you how tickled I was, when several months ago I received some of these wool pieces from Simmy all the way from the UK. I've had my eye on them ever since, just waiting for the right project to come along. I only hope these pumpkin gourds are worthy of all the work that went into dying the wool!
The pattern for my mini pumpkins can be found in my book BLANKET STATEMENT: page 26 for 'Woolly Pumpkins' or you can download the PDF for WOOLLY PUMPKINS here directly.
It can also be found on my website under FREE STUFF.
I think your little pumkins are great! I wish I was that talented. Thank you for sharing the link for shop that sells the chicken pincushion! I have a thing for chickens. I got all excited when I saw it was in California, but shoot, it's a little drive from my house. I'll have to order it online.
Posted by: Beth | October 21, 2006 at 05:09 AM
So cute...all of it, so very very cute!
Posted by: judy | October 21, 2006 at 05:27 AM
Your pumpkins are too adorable! I love Sb calanders & books they are so setimental!
Posted by: Angie | October 21, 2006 at 08:09 AM
The store is darling, as you might surmise! I can't wait to see her fabric. John from RJR and I talked about Susan and also Mary Engelbreit years ago, so I 'm glad to see he was able to get Susan. Her last line of fabric was wonderful and sold out quickly. Love all your pumpkins! Love your little slice of heaven there!
Posted by: Pam | October 21, 2006 at 08:31 AM
Oh, I've been meaning to order that little chicken from Susan Branch....now I better run do it, before they're all gone!
Them pumpkins are truly wonderful and you are right about the wool. You just can't find those colors at the fabric store.
Glad to hear that your wrist is so much better.
Posted by: | October 21, 2006 at 09:52 AM
Love those pumpkins.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | October 21, 2006 at 10:53 AM
Vicki, those pumpkins are so lovely - what a great thing to make with the felt and the colours are perfect aren't they. Thanks for the wonderful praise you've heaped on me. It's Divail today (more on my blog) so Happy Divali to you and your family.
Posted by: Simmy | October 21, 2006 at 12:53 PM
Your pumpkins are adorable! I am amazed by Simmy's dyeing too. I drool over that woman's felt! :)
And thanks for the SB link. Such cuteness!
Posted by: Dannielle | October 21, 2006 at 01:25 PM
What an absoulutely gorgeous page you have!!! Thanks for posting about Susan have always loved her!! Have a lovely weekend.
Posted by: Michelle | October 21, 2006 at 08:48 PM
I love those felt pumpkins! Might you share how you made them?
Posted by: Heidi | October 22, 2006 at 08:04 AM
Adorable!
Posted by: carolyn | October 22, 2006 at 08:18 AM
This is so very cute, Vicki :)
Posted by: Isabelle | October 22, 2006 at 09:49 AM
I love that chicken!!!! And I want to BE Susan Branch-wish I could tag along with you to her new store-don't you just love the kitchen area pictures???
Posted by: Amber | October 22, 2006 at 12:21 PM
Thanks for the link to the Simmy's blog. I hadn't seen that one before and I love finding other Waldorfy bloggers. Your pumpkins turned out so beautiful. I especially love the stems.
Posted by: Selena | October 22, 2006 at 09:30 PM
LOVE those pumpkins! They are so pretty and make wonderful (and longer lasting!) fall decorations. You are so clever! Cute chicken pin cushion. I've not looked at the SB site in while, so thanks for the tip. I'm going to see what she's been doing too. So glad your wrist is feeling better! Happy Days! :o)
Posted by: Tracy | October 23, 2006 at 01:12 AM
Your wool pumpkins are so cute and the chicken too. I enjoy every visit to your blog.
Posted by: Rona | October 23, 2006 at 10:26 AM
is there a pattern for the pumpkins??
Posted by: | October 24, 2006 at 06:46 PM
I just love these wool pumpkins
Posted by: weirdbunny | October 26, 2006 at 03:28 PM
I'm totally interested in a copy of the pattern for the crocheted hen you have a picture of here. Where might I find that? And what is it's function other than looking adorable? Thanks!
Posted by: Annie | October 28, 2006 at 01:08 AM
I love these pumpkins so much. They are just the cutest things I've ever seen! A friend and I made a bunch of fabric pumpkins this year too, you can see a couple of pictures on our blogs, but I think I like yours even better! I love your blog in general but esp. the sewing projects. I get great ideas from them. I recently was given several wool and tweedish old coats that I would like to make into some stuff, so I love your pictures of the wool blanket projects. I'm trying to decide exactly what to do with them. Anyway, your blog really is one of my favorites that I read faithfully, so thanks for keeping it!
E
http://ellenpatton.blogspot.com/2006/10/pumpkin-patch.html
http://lambie-pie.blogspot.com/2006/10/pumpkin-patch.html
Posted by: Elisabeth | November 04, 2006 at 05:20 AM