More Pouches

I've been doing paperwork--(not even taxes, they're yet to come), but other paperwork that seems to follow our every step in living. Since I have to have something to create, these pouches are easy to pick up on the side, weave a few rows and put down. With taxes to contend with, you'll probably be seeing more pouches...

Bathing Suit Lining Man

My family pulled names the winter I traveled across the country--I was to be my grandmother's secret Santa. Mike and I were in our early twenties. We traveled south, keeping close to the water. Mike surfed, I fished, swam and collected shells...

We had a small tent, a sleeping roll, a few belongings, a dog and a thousand dollars each, that we had saved from our summer jobs. I had to send a gift back home to my grandmother--I was her only gift giver and here I was, on the road...

This little guy is made from the lining of Michael's worn out bathing suit, a few shells, a feather and a needle and thread. I mailed him back for Christmas. I was so glad to hear that she really liked the gift. When my grandmother passed on, she must have given the little guy to my mom, who then took him with her to her assisted living place, her room in the Alzheimers wing and then to her final room at a nursing home. When mom passed on, her remaining belongings were laid out on my brother's table--(from a house just full of everything to a few possessions lovingly arranged on a table)--and there sat the bathing suit lining man. I took him home with me.

Funny Valentines

My daughter sent these--fun with a large hole punch and some pictures of Dad!

Some Time Alone on a Rainy Evening

Dusk


I often work at this spot--cut, measure, think...thinking this time of shutting off the light to take a walk.

A wet evening in the campground.

Tending a Foot

I finished a collaboration I had put away for the longest time. My granddaughter laid the paint down, then after about a year? I came up with this.
I felt a need to start painting collaborations again--painting the images that I see in the blended washes on the paper.
Kind of like pulling out little scenes that want to be told.
My feet do need tending to!

Beginning and End

With one freshly finished, I'm starting another pouch.

An Evening Walk in the Dunes

My granddaughter packed this basket for a picnic in the dunes. I carried this while she and her grampa played hide and seek. We never did stop for the picnic she wanted--we were only there for a short time.

These soft dolls were made by me and my sister a very long time ago--before either one of us had children. I made the white doll about 35 years ago! I did a watercolor painting of it here. I believe my sister Amy made the doll with the yellow hair maybe about the same time?
I must have been about 20--she was about 13, and here, on the opposite coast of their creation, both dolls are being played with by my granddaughter--I'm amazed at this!

Here's grampa hiding in the dunes.
Back home while putting things away, tucked under the dolls were a few pieces of bread and a stick of butter! That's what she packed for the picnic and what I had unknowingly carried all along the dunes that evening.

Birthday Planning Notebook

My granddaughter's notebook on birthday party themes. I did help her color this, but the drawings are hers--I love this cover!

A New House!

My daughter and her husband bought a new house...

I took some pictures in and around the house, knowing it will look very different some day...



A green house out back...










A rare sunny day drying off the roof. My daughter and son in law are working hard to make this house their home--I can't wait to see what's in store for all the changes! Congratulations to you both!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

In the morning--A fuzzy valentine--a new dress for Princess Emily the paper doll and some sweet little toys. The table runner is from my sister's Etsy shop.

Here's a look at a Valentine's celebration in the classroom--much more candy, a candy with each card! That's 22 sweets!

Sweets on and in the mouth!

Breakfast...

Of course we sweetened up the heart pancakes! Hope you have a good Valentine's Day!
Word for the day--sweeet!

Valentines for the Classroom

We did it! My granddaughter and I made all 22 valentines last night--I loved how we worked together--she stuck with it and wrote every single message on the pink hearts and wrote her name on the backs. She helped fold the doilies, stuffed them with the pink heart and a candy. Then we both sewed them closed with a length of red yarn.


While making these, she said how much she liked them, but then later said she's going to be embarrassed by these, because all the other kids will have the great little store bought ones with sparkles and colors.

I think homemade things are special, but that might not be the way of it for most people?--I forget that, and then I think I'm causing my granddaughter more embarrassment!--but she's right there beside me, making these and having fun--I don't think these homemade valentines will traumatize her too much?--geez!

Direction for Weaving the Seamless Pouch

I must have written out these instructions after having a successful lesson with one class, because my memory of teaching this lesson, (making a very small tiny little pouch), was one of frustration and a realization that this project was not meant to be taught in a large class room.


The many ends that need to be worked in...


I decided to braid strands of the off-white hemp fibers for the pull ties--here they're woven into the bag, and all the tail ends are worked in...

I've slipped the loops off the spikes at the top edge on either side, now for the best part...to shimmy the bag off the board and turn it right side out!


I've already started a new one.

The Seamless Woven Pouch

I'd like to know if anyone is interested in making a seamless pouch--I do have illustrated instructions that I could easily scan and post--if so, just leave me a comment.

This one holds my granddaughter's special dollar coins. I made this little one to try out an art lesson. I even measured the length of the weft yarn (yellow), to weave the pouch with one continuous strand of yarn--(no extra ends to end off) This lesson proved to be a bit tough--every student needed one on one--I canned the lesson, but I still love the pouch and how it's made with just a piece of cardboard or mat board.

One of my children made this one years ago--it holds all sorts of little game pieces.
I found the instructions for the pouch in a craft book long ago--I couldn't even tell you the book it was in. I love how it's seamless and the pull ties or ribbons are woven right in with the rest of the pouch. All the ends are worked back in while still on the board. The very best part of making these bags is the final sliding of the pouch off the mat board! Turn it right side out and it's finished!

If you have extra small lengths of yarn--you can make a pouch!

Here's some little ones my granddaughter and I made. We used hemp yarn for the warp (the yarn that goes up and down on the mat board loom) for strength. I like using all natural fibers, but I do have lots of cheap craft yarn left over from my teaching days.