Vintage books, Felted Bookcover and Wisdom from Martin Luther

Vintage books, Felted Bookcover and Wisdom from Martin Luther

My dear Friends! How are you doing? 

I have been using the time at home during this virus epidemic to paint and organize but I’m hoping towards the end of the week to begin looking through some of my vintage books.

I love everything about an old book especially biographical and historical in nature. 

Aren't they just like old friends. When you find the time to spend with them you find a part of yourself you had long forgotten.

And how about the hidden treasures - an old photo, bookmark or torn advertising that once held a spot.

Often when I find a very special book at an estate sale - I’ll make a felted cover to match the story and offer it for sale on my Etsy Shop. 

Here is one I listed recently “ We Took To The Woods’ by Louise Dickinson Rich 

Here is a description of the book taken from Goodreads - 

“In her early thirties, Louise Dickinson Rich took to the woods of Maine with her husband. They found their livelihood and raised a family in the remote backcountry settlement of Middle Dam, in the Rangeley area. Rich made time after morning chores to write about their lives. We Took to the Woods is an adventure story, written with humor, but it also portrays a cherished dream awakened into full life. 

First published 1942

I used a vintage print on silk that matched the cottage in the story and felted the cover using my hand dyed silk ribbon, beads and vintage lace.

Printed felt is on the inside cover for a soft cozy fit.

Wrapped and ready for gift giving to a friend or yourself for $27.99.

Here's a link to my etsy shop.

As much as you can find the beauty and lessons in this unbelievable time. We just can't let this time be wasted.

I was fascinated by this 500 year old advice from none other than Martin Luther during 

The Black Death Plague -

“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash no foolhardy and does not tempt God.”

Until next time Feel Loved and Be Blessed.

Dyeing Silk Ribbon to Match the Flowers in My Garden

As a gardener and lover of flowers, 

the thought of dyeing a piece of silk ribbon and then working it into a piece of crazy quilt is truly heaven on earth. 

It gives me a tiny hint of how my Father in Heaven felt as

He spoke each and every flower into existence.

I usually start with 100 yards of 7mm silk along with a tray of 12 or so different cups of dye.

I cut the silk in pieces of 2 yard hanks, then as I overlook my garden, I dip each one in the dye,

Mixing and matching colors and length of time in the dye to achieve different saturations of color.

My best pal Pat Winter taught me how to "speckle" the silk by sprinkling dry dye 

onto the wet hanks.

This creates one of a kind ribbon that will go on to create a one of a kind silk flower.

When the ribbons are dyed, rinsed several times then dried outdoors in the sun 

                                                         
                                             they are ready to be carded for my beautiful customers.

I run each piece under a hot iron then divide them by color. 

                                              Then they are carefully placed on card stock.

If I have pretty glass flowers that happen to match the ribbon I will sew them to the cardstock.

Sometimes I will dye some lace to match the ribbon and sell then together as a set.

                      I still have a good selection available on  My Etsy Shop if you'd like to stop by!

All the pictures on this post are from my garden in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

The next three photos are cigar boxes I covered in crazy quilt for my customers.

The next two photos are felted book covers that were for sale on my Etsy Shop

This one is still available. I include a vintage book  ~ it's a sweet little gift for someone special.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Feel free to ask any question in the comments.

Feel Loved, Be Blessed ;)