Tree Day

"It's 100% OK to be a little cautious with your optimism, but not at the expense of feeling any at all! Hope is valid. Allow yourself hope." Adam K. Kurtz

Last year I worked my way through  the season of Advent with what I called Christmas Moments around my home. It was fun for me...and hopefully it was OK for you too. This year....because it's such a different sort of year for us....I'm going to focus on the liturgical themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy and love. So this week I'll continue with the theme of hope.  

Today is official Tree Day in the Shupe household. I did get the tree out of storage a few days ago because artificial trees need a lot of fluffing. And this year I pulled out the bigger tree that we've had for years. 

Over the years the lights that came with the tree slowly started to fail....and at the end of December in 2022 Paul and I painstakingly untwisted and cut out ALL the lights. It was a tedious project...but the dead lights on the tree were sad...but I just couldn't throw away a perfectly good tree.

I wrote a post about it...and ironically enough it was called Optimistically Hopeful! 

https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2022/12/optimistically-hopeful.html

Last year we used our smaller tree with white lights. And being optimistically hopeful....it was time for the big tree again. I really wasn't sure how it faired after our big project. But once it was fluffed....it looked pretty good. I strung up the lights the old fashioned way...and added my felt garland collection and light covers. I'll add the ornaments over the next several days. This old tree...is as good as new!

 Allow yourself hope! 

Baubles and Balls

Knowing when to stop is not my strong suit....and someone probably needs to hide my white Posca pen. But this is where I landed today with my Creative Circle project inspired by Esté MacLeod....a joyful abundance of baubles and balls.  I started with watercolor circles in the background....than added embellished gelli print circles on top.

I'll have to think of something fun to do with it....it was just the project I needed!

Thank you Esté! And...there was another lesson today I didn't get to.

It  reminded of this wreath I made back in 2020 which took on a "life of its own"....as I wrote about back in 2020.

I wrote about my process here: https://joyfulputtering.blogspot.com/2020/04/life-of-its-own.html

Back to baubles and balls....I made good progress today with the Christmas decorating.  And some of my favorite tree decorations continue to be my collection of felt garlands.....many of them balls. (Don't judge me for my storage method.)

I have the base layer on the tree....tomorrow I'll hang the rest of the ornaments.  And these little guys continue to have a spot in my heart....and they are perfect on the puzzle table. I can keep an eye on them....and they on me.

And also on the puzzle table...is my tower of Christmas boxes....

with all kind of fun little things I haven't unpacked yet.  But that will have to wait....tomorrow is another Joyful Puttering day with more baubles and balls!

We spent happy hour this evening with Dana and Anne at The Top of the East in Portland. We had a great view of the sunset....the Portland skyline....and Portland Harbour.  Good time...with great friends.

Fused Bound Binding

I absolutely laughed out loud at an email update from Anita.  She got the 4th of my repotted rain lilies and hers was the only one that went out without a bud in sight.  Linda had flaunted her blooms a bit...but Anita got the last laugh.  

This is the photo she sent to Linda today.....

...and this is the actual photo!  

She does have her first bloom and 2 more coming.

I love your sense of humor Anita!  I'm still smiling!

I did an experimental binding technique on my first stained glass pieces....and I think it worked pretty well.

I added a narrow row of fusible webbing to the edge of the binding strip and sewed it on the piece just like I would on any quilt with the mitered corners. I had already cut the piece so it just fit the front of the repurposed canvas....and I glued it down with thick gel medium and let it sit for a few hours.

Next I wrapped the black around the thin canvas and fused it to the back.  So it's a fused bound binding.....clean and crisp! Worked like a charm!

"Splashes of Color"

Anita and I took a field trip to Portland today....we went to a few craft shows, stopped in a few shops, and had a nice visit with Margie. A delightful and festive way to spend a day!

A highlight was a stop at Lauren Ostis' booth at "Art on the Hill"....The Society for East End Arts holiday sale. Several years ago I bought one of her felt garlands....and have been slowly adding to my collection ever since.  Today I came home with one in citrus colors. 

Lauren AND her booth just ooze joy! 

"The process of combining color, line, shape, pattern & texture in my work is of great significance.  Of even greater importance to me, though, is offering moments of simple joy for others by creating splashes of color in a sometimes gray world." Lauren's Facebook Page 

Mostly Works

As I was unpacking my Christmas stuff I had to chuckle at the ridiculous way I found my felt garland collection. I clearly grabbed anything that was within reach to roll them around and stored them in a plastic grocery bag inside one of the Christmas bins.  Not very festive or tidy...but it worked.

When I looked back...this is how I found them the year before...neat and tidy rolled onto paper tubes in their own special box.

It's probably a little insight into my state of mind when I was putting Christmas away both years...but it's also a window into contrast of chaos and order that can be found in many areas of my life and home.

It's just how I roll...and it mostly works.

Scrumptious Color

Today is December 2nd....and it's tree day in the Shupe household.

I was away for 1/2 of last December so didn't do much decorating for Christmas. We hosted a church staff party early in the month and I decorated all in blue in honor of Advent.  You can check it out in a post titled "Blue".

But color is back this year...and I smiled when I opened this box of scrumptious color.  I've been collecting and making felt garlands for a few years now...and they're the first thing going on the tree.

Don't you think the box looks pretty good sitting on my colorful living room rug.

This is my newest acquisition...a Fair Trade garland I picked up at a shop in Concord.  

Felt Garland

Happy New Year's Eve!

I am quite fond of felt garland...and have a nice little collection going.  I loved the way they looked on the tree...part whimsy...part homespun. I tried several times to photograph them....but none of the photos did them justice.  Now that they're off the tree....I have a chance to show them off before I tuck them away for another year.

I have made some and bought some. The colorful one on the far left and the all red one are "Free Trade" products.

Garland Update

I put spots on the white felt balls during the drive to Maine...and I made smaller colored balls on the way home. I think I need a few softer colors.

Tonight I cut out some flat felt squares....

...and started playing around with what I might do for the first garland. I'm still mulling it over...but once I decide it will be quick to string up.   

Spots of Color

For most of our drive up to Maine today I needle felted spots on some of the white wool balls from the garland...all while visiting with Paul.

A few of them could use another tiny spot or two...but it's a good start.

I start with a little tuft of wool roving...

...that I wad up between my fingers a bit. Then using a felting needle poke the wool fibers into the ball using the needle to guide it into a nice shape. It's like teasing the fibers together.  I work on a little foam block to keep from poking my lap because the needle is very sharp. 

A spot is born!

Christmas in July

Every other year my side of the family gathers for Christmas in July.  We exchange presents (usually white elephant) and sometimes sing carols. So the fact that I'm thinking about Christmas makes perfect sense.

I made
this one.

I have been making and collecting felt garlands for my
Christmas tree for several years.

I bought this one at a craft show in Maine.

I enjoy making felt balls like these....but I'm always looking for a bargain and anything that inspires or helps the process.

I found this felted wool garland on sale at a very reasonable cost. I am going to take it apart and use bits of felt, roving, buttons and beads to make several strings of garland for the next tree.

I may embellish the white balls 

with polka dots like this one:

It's going to be a good "take along" 

project for the car. We're driving up
to Maine tomorrow so maybe
I'll get started.

Merry Christmas in July!