Our Wee Vacation

I thought I would share with you all some photos from our wee vacation up to the Mackinac Bridge which connects the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. This area has fond memories to me because my parents had a rustic cabin in the UP on 40 acres with a river running through it. We visited each summer from the time I was a very small child. In the beginning we took a ferry across the Strait of Mackinac until this grand bridge was completed in 1957.

Here I took a photo of the Mackinac Bridge from the lovely park area in Mackinaw City. This grand bridge is 5 miles long and connects Mackinaw City and St. Ignace in the UP. This is where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan comes together and is called the Strait of Mackinac.

This is the entrance to the visitor center which is built under the bridge area. A bit of history about this area and the bridge. The Algonquin Native Americans called the straits "Michilimackinac" which means jumping off place. The Mackinac Bridge took 3 1/2 years to build, which included 4 summers and NO winter. It was open to traffic on November 1st 1957. Oh, it is a grand site while crossing at night with all its glowing lights that reflect on the shining waters below. I never get tired looking at this awesome bridge

This is the area in Mackinaw City where you can still get on a ferry and cross over to Mackinac Island another wonderful place in Michigan. In the Spring they are noted for their wonderful blooms of Lilacs in many array of colors.

While walking the white sandy shores of Lake Superior I came upon a birch tree with the most unusual fungus growing on it. Hmmmmmmmmm, I said, I must have a photo of it so I can use the idea in a piece of art one day. vbg Isn't it awesome looking? vbg

It had been way to many years since I had visited the UP of Michigan. My Sweetie thought we should take this trip where he could see the places I kept telling him about that I loved so much when I was a kid. "Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore" was another place I remembered well. They get the name "Pictured Rocks" from the streaks of mineral stains that decorates the face of the sculpted cliffs. This photo is of "Miners Castle". My brothers and I climbed these rock and was so amazed by the wonderful sites we could see from them. You can not longer climb on them.

This is a photo of my "Sweetie". He is such a kind and wonderful man. Here he is with his vest of many pockets that I bought him sometime ago. He wears it all the time when we go on trips because he has all those pockets full of goodies that we may need. LOL

Take care all, Hugs Judy in Western Michigan where we are experiencing a glorious Autumn weather.

Wool Felted: Anne Of Green Gable Bookmark

I am participating in a bookmark swap with a group of ladies that belong to, Tricia Textile Challenge yahoo group. You can reach this group through Tricia blog, called "Lets Create"!! The rules were to create any kind of bookmark using your favorite book as a theme. I have several favorite kinds of book I enjoy reading but "Anne of Green Gable" is one of my very favorite. So I got out my supplies of 100 % wool roving, yarn and 100% wool fabric to punch on shown above and started to felt away.

I decided to do a sorta rose bud and bow look. I know Marilla loved roses amongst her many flowers in her garden and so do I. vbg

For the backing of the bookmark I used hand dyed shades of green fabric with timtex place in between the layers to give it stiffness. I also added one of my favorite quotes that Anne stated when she arrived at Green Gables. Anne said, "This Island is the bloomiest place. I just love it already, and I'm so glad I'm going to live here. I've always heard that Prince Edward Island was the prettiest place in the world..." I have not been to PEI but hopefully one day I will be able to travel to PEI and see this bloomiest place. I am sure I will love it too.

One could not have a Anne of Green Gable Bookmark without the words "Kindred Spirit" on it. So I printed off some "Green Words" and stitched them onto the center of the bookmark.

Here is the finished "Anne of Green Gable Bookmark" I used the 100% wool dyed yarn and stitched it around the edges with the button hole stitch and made a wee rose bud in the bottom left corner. I enjoyed making this quick and easy bookmark so much I may create a couple more for gifts. VBG

I just have to tell you all about the new book out called, "The Prequel to Anne of Green Gables, "Before Green Gables" by a sweet lady named Budge Wilson. You can see this book at Penguin Group. I am enjoying this book immensely. I can not say enough great things about this lovely book. I hope anyone that is a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables like I am will have the opportunity to read this book.

Hugs to all, Judy

Friendship Tapestry Post Card: Iceland

For the last several weeks I have been pondering what theme I want to create for a Post Card to add to the wonderful Project called "Friendship Tapestry" that I happen upon on Rag's blog in Iceland. The theme came to me while I was setting in my comfy chair in my sun room day dreaming while the soft sunlight was streaming in making me feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful DH and place to live. The theme that came to me was angels holding a heart while floating in a sparkling universe. Above is the supplies I choose for this wool felted post card.

I chose light blue wool roving and included some light blue Angelina fibers to make the universe sparkle. The base I used was a hand dyed 100% wool fabric.

I felted the wool roving and Angelina in a circular motion trying to make it look like a spinning universe.

Then I added two angels holding a heart. I used variegated pinks wool for the angels dresses and white wool yarn for their wings.

Then I added the words "Friendship Tapestry" that I created on my computer and printed off on Printed Treasure cotton sheets. The above photo is of the beginning of trying to create faces for my angels. The idea for the angel faces came from Sara Lechnes in Austria website. I have never drew a face ever. Usually, I recruit my DH for art work but he was working and so I decided to give them a try myself. I used watercolor pencils on "Printed Treasures" cotton fabric sheets. I used the edges of the fabric sheet which I used to created the words "Friendship Tapestry". The photo on the far left was my first attempt. The second and thirds ones I decided to use. Where the water color pencils would not smudge I sprayed them with Blair Very Low Odor Matte spray fix and let them dry.

Then I button hole stitched them on with Kreinik Metallic very fine braid. If I was to do them over I would of wool felted some hair and then added the faces. I will try that next time.

Because this wool felted post card will be part of the Friendship Tapestry I added the above information requested by Rags in Iceland and this is Rag's English Blog. This is Rags Icelandic Blog.

I finished the edges of the post card with 100% wool yarn by Bernat called Iris Nouveau and stitched it down with DMC Pearlescent Effects made in France. This gave the edges some sparkle too. According to the Friendship Tapestry Project there has been 263 post cards from 24 different countries that have been added to this "World of Friendship" Tapestry. To read more about this wonderful project please go to "Friendship Tapestry" website. I am very please to be able to add my Wool Felted "Angels and Heart Friendship Post Card" to this lovely International Friendship Tapestry. There is detailed photos of all 263 4 X 6 inches post cards under "The Pieces" on the website. Rags my angels will be winging their way to you soon.

Hugs Judy In rainy Michigan

Poppies from Hoorn, Spiderweb Felt

I received this lovely wool felted post card called "Poppies from Hoorn" from my dear friend Inge from Hoorn, Holland. This is Inge very first wool felted post card. Isn't it truly lovely? Note the wee mouse peeking out of the curly grass. The poppies are made from Silk Rod unwrapped with beads added in the middle. Inge added wee beads and embroidery flowers all over the post card. Inge told me that there is "Wild Poppies" growing along the sides of the roads from Hoorn to Amsterdam and she thinks they are so beautiful to look at and is amazed that they survive all the fumes from the cars that travel theses roads. Thank you Inge for this lovely post card.
I also order two lovely stash bags from Helen Suzanne Alexander who lives in the Isle of Lewis, Hebart UK. Helen is a Mix Media Artist who creates truly beautiful "Spiderweb Felt", oil paintings and other pieces of art. When I saw Helen's spiderweb felt on her website, I knew I needed to have some to be able to see it up close. Helen created spiderweb felt in many shades of colors especially for me. Thank You Helen.
Helen stash bags also included lovely beads, wool roving and all kinds of fibers to use in creating my own spiderweb felt one day. Thank you Helen for your generous Stash Bags.

Next week DH and I are off for a wee drive around Michigan. I am scheduled for a wool felting class at Kim's "The Flower Lady's Farm and Woolery" in Levering, Michigan. I am so looking forward to seeing Kim again and taking her class. So I will have lots of photos to share with you all when I get home.

Take care all, Hugs Judy