Village Life

Hello friends. Welcome to Village Life. 

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to share any work but I have been busy. There is absolutely nothing better than the creative process, the decisions, ideas and dreams to get through tough times. Last year was breast cancer, surgery, chemo and radiation. Many days and weeks I didn’t feel like doing anything but instead of dwelling on that I spent countless hours dreaming about what I would do next in my Village Life project if my energy allowed it.

Now I’m feeling better (cancer free and in remission!) and ready to share my Village with you. Think of Village Life as a magazine coming to your mailbox, physical or digital, with stories about the people and places here.

One of the photos is the editorial office for this endeavor with yours truly hard at work. The other images I will be explaining in future posts. Some areas might look vaguely familiar but many are new. I hope you will stay tuned.

MarkersCan Solve Anything

 I found a bag of embroideries that I think will make Great Wall hangings in my cardboard castle. But I didn’t like the colors. Markers fixed that.

The photos show the new colors first and the pinky before colors in the later photos.

Amy Wilson, Thread in Hand

 Amy Wilson, my dear friend and a great travel companion has died. Many of you will know her blog Thread in Hand. She had something new to share everyday! She made friends wherever she went and she had a sweet tooth like no one else I’ve ever known. Here are just a couple pictures from the “Casket Tour” in 2015(?). Amy you will be missed.

Cardboard Castle Update

 Just like the rest of the world my building project is behind schedule. The main dining hall has little bits of this and that sitting on my table but nothing ready to install. So the kids will be delighted when they see their new bedding for the dormitory. Cardboard, of course, clothes pins and wood beads make up the bed frames with mattresses, pillows and blankets.

Kitchen Progress in the Cardboard Castle

 I have been working now and then on the kitchen in my Cardboard Castle. Most of the time has been spent stitching a happy plump cook to take care of feeding everyone. I also stitched tarts and pies, just a small plateful so far.

Kitchen, Spinning Room, Attic Bedroom

This was a productive week. The kitchen, spinning room and one attic bedroom are blocked out and on their way. Furniture will come and go and details will be added as well. I’ve included a picture of the bits and pieces I used to create the kitchen fireplace. 

I’m never sure what order the photos are going to end up in. I used to be able to arrange them but now what you see is what you get.

Hope it makes sense.

Silk Chenille and Cardboard Boxes

 I have rearranged the buildings of The Village. The theater stage has been relocated to another part of my studio, the forest is gone and a castle is slowly taking shape in that space. The boxes in the photo are the heavy weight boxes that my wood boxes/caskets arrived in over the years. They are arranged over a cellar area. 

I have also decided to put some embroidered hangings on some of the exterior building walls. The little flower embroidery is stitched in silk chenille and I hope is visible in one of pictures.

Merry Christmas

 

The Guests Have Arrived!

 

The Stage Is Set

 The stage is set, the table is set, the food is ready. Ruthie is making one final check! The guests will be here any moment……

 

Keeping Children Busy at Christmas Time

 Aesop and the Princely Dragon took the children on a field trip. They got to watch trains at a village nearby. Guess what they picked for lunch?

New Dishes

 Mama Bear offered to help make new dishes for the big party.