An oak leaf hydrangea gives inspiration for all kinds of creations.

Today is a grey day and I am recuperating from a weekend with my daughters.  We met in Victoria and spent the weekend, walking, shopping, dining out and visiting, laughing and even crying.  I feel a little drained today but started the day with a gym workout at 6:30am  so I am ready to get back to a state of calm and creativity.

In the last few weeks and months I have been gathering and foraging along with cleaning up the yard and gardens.  I have a big blister on my hand from all the raking.  There are still a few mushrooms out in the forest but they are waning and although I am tempted by the challenge I have enough mushrooms for the winter so no need to take more than I need. I picked the apples two weeks ago, the hazelnuts have dried and I have a load of moose meat that my daughter and her boyfriend generously gave me when I saw them this past weekend.  I am also working on making Christmas gifts and items for the house.  Last week it was rag rugs and a knitted headband and now I am starting the second of a set of oven mitts.  I pulled out the November and December British Country LIving Magazines to provide me with comfort and inspiration so this week I shall try to inspire you with my epicurean creations and utilitarian crafts.

RAG WEAVING

 What do you do with old clothes and scrap material piling up in boxes?  Why weave rugs of course.

These are the one inch strips of torn material that will provide the weft.

 The warp uses a linen/cotton blend.  Turned out to be too stretchy but I got creative and fixed that after I completed the weaving.

The weft is strips of torn material.  Here I used an old blouse, ticking and the lining of an old coat.

 This one is for the bathroom.

The larger of the two made with funky vintage cotton, old curtains and ticking. Great for in front of the sink.