Sunday, March 1, 2009

A Little Progress and Some Set Backs

I made some progress on my Winter Solstice project last week. I'm pleased with the hand dyed fabric I chose for the background. It really highlights the stars and makes them shine.

I have been working on a new idea for marketing my hand dyed fabric. I came up with a catchy name, which made me think I should rename or open a new ETSY store of the same name. Has anyone done something similar? Any thoughts? I'm really undecided.

I had planned to have my newly dyed fabrics added to my store this weekend but I had a few commission requests that have changed my focus for a few days. I am glad for the change. I have long been putting off adding some crazy quilt purses to my store. I'm working on one in particular that may be hard to part with. Oh well, I have learned to let go because I can always make another.


We have had a lot of wildlife sightings near the house lately. A few weeks ago I started smelling a skunk like odor and figured the skunks were coming out of hibernation. I turns out we have a red fox living very near our home. Our dog Jack has found remnants of meals just outside my studio window. The musk of a fox smells very much like skunk but MUCH more pleasants. Take it from one who knows. Our Alaskan Malamute was one to chase skunks. Never, NEVER, let your dog in the house if it has been sprayed by a skunk. :)

The deer have been coming in mass to the orchard and this morning I discovered why. We have seen a pileated woodpecker feeding on the remaining apples from last years crop. The apples no longer stay in the tree as the woodpecker pecks. Instead they fall to the ground to feed the deer.

Winter is slowly coming to an end. The morning sun is finally reaching our home early in the day. In a few weeks the quiet of winter will be replaced by the song of red wing blackbirds as they nest in the fields and raise their young.

12 comments:

Millie said...

Chris, the yellow handdyed fabric defnitely highlight the star blocks. Is that your own dyed fabric? Love to see your new handdyed fabric.

Faith said...

i do love the winter solstice Quilts the colours are gorgeous, I might have a go at doing star blocks one day as I have never done this block yet, they do look fun. Im just glad no skunks happen round here in UK as I know both Scratch and Alice would love the smell.... the worst the smell the better for them they say.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I didn't know a fox and a skunk have similar smells. We have both in our area but when I smell a skunk I always have thought skunk - I wonder if some of those times it has been the fox instead.
Love your fabric.
Karen
http://karensquilting.com/blog/

Lynn Cohen said...

Chris, your choice of fabric designs and colors against your hand dyed fabic make a more traditional looking quilt into an art quilt! Very very pretty!

Good luck with all the wild creatures in your domain. My wild cat, Henry, is as wild as we get here...although mountian lions have been sighted in our town's outskirts. My daughter has deer in her backyard and she's in the Bay Area near SF.
Your fox photo is beautiful.

Jo Hopwood said...

Your work is so lovely Chris, and I just looked at your Etsy shop and I LOVE the block pins you make - I have to persuade DH that etsy is a good place to look for gifts!

JennaLouiseCreates said...

Very lovely. Such beautiful colors in your fabrics. I'm starting to feel better, was ill last week. Thanks for stopping at my blog, I always enjoy yours. I also love to make crazy quilted purses, I know what you mean about parting with them! Jenna Louise

Sydney said...

It's so wonderful to read your posts about nature and daily life. It's very peaceful and calming.

And I love the background fabric. Wish I could contribute something to your question about the name of your etsy store. I know nothing about that :-(

Sydney said...

PS: That's a sharp looking woodpecker!

Jackie's Stitches said...

Your hand dyed fabrics set off the stars perfectly!

The fox is beautiful...but I had no idea they stunk!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi Chris.. your Little red Fox seems quite at home... and I love those Woody Woodpecker Birds and their crazy call...

Your quilt blocks really show off with your hand-dyed gold in the background.. Lovely and Cheery!!

John saw the fox that hangs out in our area a few evenings ago.. we have so much thick crusty snow still that I wonder what they are eating...

Greenmare said...

it's gorgeous and so is the fox! we had some when we first moved to our place, but they have moved on. too bad, I loved seeing them.

bindu said...

What a beautiful place you live in .. with the animals and so close to nature. The colors of your quilt are gorgeous!