Wordless Wednesday - Jumping through hoops

Keeping winter at Bay

"The Bay leaves are of as necessary use as any other in the garden or orchard, for they serve both for pleasure and profit, both for ornament and for use, both for honest civil uses and for physic, yea, both for the sick and the sound, both for the living and the dead; . . . so that from the cradle to the grave we still have use of it, we still have need of it."

Parkinson, ‘Garden of Flowers’ (1629)

Happy New Year all! I hope that the first week of this brand new year has been good to you. It has been good to me and I am feeling the promise of more good days to come. 

Today is the first day back to school and work for our family, I have plenty of to-doing to put the house back together after all the holiday mayhem. The house seems so still and quiet. 

Yesterday, as I looked out at the sparse winter garden I saw that the Bay laurel was still flush with vibrant green leaves. So out I went to harvest some before we get another cold snap. Now as I walk through the kitchen I can smell the scent of Bay from the bunches I hung up for drying and preserving.

Bay Leaves have a long and noble history. The ancient Romans and Greeks used to make crowns out of true Bay Leaves (Laurus Nobilis, Lauraceae) to crown great and accomplished people. These great people usually included kings, war heroes and Olympians. The term ‘baccalaureate’ originates from this giving of bay leaf crowns to signify success, as does the term "poet laureate".

Medicinally, the leaves of the Laurus Nobilis tree, also known as Sweet Laurel, have been used since the ancient times to treat problems associated with the liver, stomach and kidney. They were also used for treating bee and wasp stings. Now, herbalists use bay leaves for treating various health complaints. Some of the reported uses by herbalists and Naturopaths are as follows:

Coughs & Colds: Placing a cloth soaked in water in which bay leaves have been boiled provides relief from cough, cold, bronchitis and chest infections.

Aches & Pains:Essential Oil of bay leaf is massaged on sprained areas and for relieving headaches. The oil also provides relief from swellings, rheumatic and arthritic pain.

Fever:Bay leaves infusion promotes sweating, breaking fever, and flu symptoms.

Digestion:Bay leaves are used for treatment of digestive disorders. 

*Always ask the advice of your doctor before using any remedies.

I will admit that I mostly use mine for cooking, but I have used it medicinally from time to time. I do love the look and scent of herbs hanging to dry. With the garden's herbs mostly died back, I am comforted by my harvest, brightening my kitchen with a bounty of Bay!

Stitched Journal Project - December

The Stitched Journal Project is: Makers from around the world creating one "page" or piece of work per month and sharing. It is a project to get the ideas flowing, to process the days in a creative way, to try new techniques and to push past fears that keep us from making something.  It isn't about perfection, or getting it "just right," it is about process and perspective.

December - Mixed Media on hand dyed fabric

Wow! What a year. What an amazing journey The Stitched Journal Project has been! This is the last in a year long series of monthly pieces of work. I am so grateful that this project took flight and that so many wonderful makers have joined in and shared their work. 

Thank you all for participating in my small idea that grew into more than I could have imagined. Those of you who pushed yourselves, who were brave, who had fun, who shared so much of yourselves. I have learned so much from you! I have been greatly inspired. If you should choose to continue this project on your own, please be sure to let everyone know. You are fantastic artists all!

As for myself, I gleaned so much from this project; I was so often surprised by how my pieces came about and turned out. I can honestly say that I pushed myself and found a new way to express myself through stitching and mixed media.  This project became a really important part of my work and has changed my perspective without a doubt.

Thank you  too readers, for coming along on this journey with us.

Next month I'll share a gallery post of all of the 12 pieces as a body of work.

Below you will find links to the wonderful makers and their Stitched Journal Project pieces for December. Please keep your eyes on this spot in the next couple of days as more add their links. Be sure to visit them and leave comments!

This is the last of The Stitched Journal Projects that I will be hosting. 2014 was quite a year. I look forward to what 2015 will bring.

All of you wonderful Stitched Journal Project participants please link up below! Remember to add your photos to The Stitched Journal Flickr Group! and be sure to share with Facebook, Twitter, etc!

A brief moment

It's the last week before school holiday and much to do to get ready for the baking festival that I have promised my girl. Much to-doing indeed!

There's also the annual contemplation of  turning another year older this week. I have some ideas about how I'd like to spend next year, oh yes I do.

So, I'm going a bit quiet this week.
Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Tis the season for felt

Seems an age since I got out my felt stash and stitched something up. Since this season lends itself so well to such adventures, I thought it high time for making little felt goodies.

Whipping up just a few baubles for Pony Girl's school chums. Having a jolly time of it too!

What are you up to?

And then there were none

...with the exception of the old man Buddha Cat, we are down quite a few of our animal friends. 

It is with sadness I must report that the last of our brood have passed on. Taken by varmints most foul.  Our sweet long time survivor and last original member of the first group of chooks, Chick Chick, aka Tweet Tweet, will be sorely missed by Pony Girl. They had a special bond those two, going way back to the beginning.

More sad news from over a month ago, Pony Girl's kitten, Angel, just didn't come home one day. We are inclined to believe she was adopted by Gypsies and is now travelling the country in a brightly decorated caravan and having many grand adventures.

You shall all be missed.

Snowflakes

I've been addicted to making these sweet little snowflakes.
See what happens when I get out the hook?
No really, just while I'm waiting for the clothes to dry, I promise.

After you get the hang of it, each one only takes about 15 minutes to make. 

You can find the pattern HERE

Also, in case you have been told otherwise, I'm here to tell you that you CAN block acrylic yarn!

Have a great weekend!

The Circle Game

It must be winter...
The yarn has come out and I have taken up the hook for the first time in an age. As I always do, I start a little practice bit, just to get the hands working, to remind my brain how to do this, and to get the rhythm right.

My go-to trick is a roundy thing. I do like to go 'round more than I like to go squareish when it comes to crochet. Fairly soon the Engineer will begin to worry over my going in circles, it has concerned him before. Still, round and round I go.

I had no plan, I just started to get started, and though it has a little bit of wonk, it isn't turning out half bad. There could very well be a granny cushion for my Granny's love seat in the near future.

What is your favorite winter craft?

This also happens to be an excellent way to avoid cleaning up my studio which is in such a state that when I went in with purpose - I ended closing the door and taking up the hook again.