"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Monday, October 14, 2013

Creating and Collecting








The cocoon baby blanket that my youngest daughter took a picture of me working on yesterday is much further along.  It is in fact almost ready to pop a new little Grand in.  Most of it is made in a single-crochet-chain-one pattern which is slower going than I thought it would be, but I love the texture of the fabric.

My blogging friend, Meredith, published a post about making balls of fluff to hang outside for birds and squirrels to use as a source of nesting material.  As I read her post I immediately could imagine working with my Grands on such a project.  One morning when my oldest daughter and her husband went in for a pre-natal appointment, the Grands and I got busy and made some fluff balls.  We collected fluff from Shelby Dog, lint from the clothes dryer, and the two oldest Grands cut up pieces of leftover cotton yarn for the project.  I cut sections from  a roll of grapevine I bought from a craft store. We shaped the grapevine to hold the fluff together, and I made long cotton yarn loops around the fluff balls so that we could hang the fluff balls up outside on branches.

On Columbus Day the fluff balls were hung up outside.  I snapped photos of the gorgeous leaves around the house and a photo of the Grands collecting another dozen apples from our apple tree :)

Are you creating or collecting anything?

Gracie xx

23 comments:

  1. Gracie your pictures are so beautiful ... As are your grandchildren. What a lovely project to do together. I have never seen a baby pod so please pop a photo on when it is finished. The colours look lovely. Thank you for always being so supportive of life at Chalkys

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Gracie, I saw Meredith's post with the fluff balls; such a great idea and a fun thing to do with your gorgeous little Grandies! Your pics of your Grandies are lovely and they look so happy - you are a very busy lady. The colours of the leaves are stunning, and your little cocoon is already looking so pretty - I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished product.
    All the very best to your daughter on her up-and-coming big day!
    Hugs, Joy xo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like a fun Columbus Day. Autumn looks pretty where you are. We still have a lot of green. Fresh apples from your own trees, what a wonderful treat; and your project sounds like fun. I hope you have a terrific day. Heather

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Gracie, I see you and the grands had a very creative day with the balls of fluff.. I am sure the squirrels and birds will love them... your Autumn colors are wonderful bright and lovely... Now what are you creating.. I am creating Christmas pressies for family and friends.. My fingers are always very busy..Have a great week. Hugs Judy

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love this post. Such beautiful children, and beautiful pictures!! I also love the close up of you working on the cacoon. Fall is certainly in your area! The beautiful color and leaves!!!!
    Tis time to cozy up inside with the yarn, isn't it!!! Have a happy day Gracie.
    xo Kris

    ReplyDelete
  6. The cocoon baby blanket seems to be coming along nicely, but I don't know how you have the patient; the stitches look so tiny!!

    I'm still just crocheting squares but it's too dark to take photos in the evening so I don't have anything recent to share. Soooon :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Fluff balls? what a fantastic idea and a great way to entertain the grandchildren and learn new things too. Love your post Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  8. I saw those fluff balls of Meredith's and for a short time wished my Chloe dog shed fluffier fur. Then I remembered I would have to clean up all that fluffy fur and decided to leave the balls to others. :-) I LOVE how you were able to make them with your granddaughters. The memories you're making with them each and every day and especially with days like this. Your cocoon is beautiful and will be keeping that new little Grand cozy and warm very soon.
    Blessings my friend,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  9. The Grands looked as if they really enjoyed this project with you. I always love the happy family pictures you post.
    Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  10. Gracie, what a fun post full of wonderful things! Love the little girlies.. you're so lucky.. and the project turned out awesome.. and your gorgeous colorful tree! I hope to see you again soon. ((hugs)), Teresa :-) PS - we should meet up at Sherard Point for a photo shoot before it gets rainy again.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely photos and beautiful grandchildren Gracie. What a lovely project you did with them. DH and I 'collected' our granddaughters from nursery and school today. I am creating many things at the moment- but in particular today I created a sugar paste teddy - you ca see him on my blog. I'm not altogether happy with the 'little chap' and need to tweak him a little. :-) Hugs Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your cocoon is looking lovely and I really like the idea of these fluff balls. I'm sure your grandchildren enjoyed helping you with them. Everything is looking so fallish by you, really pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Gracie, I have almost the same picture of my MIL named Gracie knitting, it is just her hands and I love it so much. I am so excited you made nesting balls with your beautiful Granddaughters, I bet they had so much fun and helped out the birds and squirrels too. You trees are looking magnificent,
    Hugs to you ,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a great idea, I bet they loved doing it. You baby blanket is so very pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful, beautiful grandchildren Gracie! LOVE the autumn colors:)
    Blessings, Aimee

    ReplyDelete
  16. Your blanket is very colourful and lovely. The granddaughters look like they had a very fun time with you making fluff balls :-) The Fall foliage shots are beautiful.xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your Granddaughters are darling! We've been busy collecting apples too and watching the leaves collecting on the ground. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a brilliant, and crafty way, to help wildlife out at this time of the year! Will definitely be doing that too :)
    Loving the look of the blanket and the colours are lovely
    Your shots of the trees are lovely, and your grnads look like they are having fun!
    Hope the rest of your week is great, love and hugs, Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  19. We always seem to collect leaves around this time of year. What a great idea to make nest-fillers for birds and squirrels, I really like that. And your photos of the turning leaves on the trees are very beautiful. x

    ReplyDelete
  20. So sweet! Prayers for a quick and safe delivery! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Your cocoon looks so pretty and colourful, Gracie! I love the idea of the fluff balls and I'm sure the birds will too. What a great idea to make with the children .....how cute they look there! Your autumn leaves are very beautiful, the turning colours are amazing.
    Wishing you a happy week.
    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  22. What a great idea those fluff balls are! Your grandchildren are beautiful, as are your photos of the fall colors. It's always a pleasure to visit your blog and your world. Thank you! x

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hi thanks for adding me..love the crochet fab colours
    Hugs Sue x

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for visiting me today! I welcome your comments!