Raising Monarchs: Update 3 - Cocooned!!

Our little fellow has been in his cocoon for a week and a few days and is showing signs of being ready to come  on out soon. Monarchs will usually hatch from their cocoon in the morning. I am expecting this butterfly to make it's appearance.

Colder weather = Knitting

When the leaves start changing colors around here I think there is a switch that goes off in my mind that tells me it's time to think knitting. I can only seem to knit in colder temperatures....luckily Maine abounds with them. :-) A fantastic bonus of becoming a knitter is going into a yarn shop. The textures and colors, the coziness and the friendliness are so welcoming. Now, if you don't have a local place to buy wool yarn you could try going to a wool shop online.

Wool and the Gang is a really fun online shop that features some gorgeous Peruvian wool. I would LOVE to work with this stuff!! Take a look at these gorgeous colors:

And, there are plenty more colors and sizes (from chunky to thin) where these came from. 

Just cause the weather is cold doesn't mean you have to make bland color choices in clothing!!

A fantastic feature of the Wool and The Gang site is a page dedicated entirely to tutorials. Love it!! Trust me, as a novice in the fiber arts, I can tell you that those little videos are SO handy. You'll find yourself going back there over and over again.

At Wool And The Gang you can get anything from a ball of yarn to clothing kits you create yourself to get you started.....and if you would rather leave the knitting to someone with more patience, you can find some fantastic knit clothing there as well.

This article was sponsored by the site Wool And The Gang. All the words and opinions in the post are entirely my own.

Fall Centerpieces and Bouquets

Though my Husband and I were married in the early Summer, I have always had a passion for fall. Cooler, drier temperatures and the gorgeous palette of the changing leaves in New England leave me breathless with wonder. There is no better season in my book. Recently I have seen a lot of centerpieces and bouquets for Fall occasions and I am just in love with the visuals. 

The use of gourds in these next few photo's are fantastic!!

http://www.design-decor-staging.com/blog/pumpkin-flower-centerpieces-fall-table-decorations/26571

And, these bouquets are gorgeous. Love the use of deep burgundy and the contrasting spicy oranges:

There are so many options for a gorgeous fall bouquet or centerpiece. I am just in love with the palette that we associate with Autumn. If you are looking for flowers, try local nursery....or even better for a better selection of flowers order online.

Another great thing to do in fall to get some color ideas is to visit a botanical garden. We've got a beautiful one in Maine called Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. It is fantastic....and they've got a whole section themed just for children. Here is a link to their site where they list what's blooming in each season!!

How to Make a Besom (Witch's Broom)

A Besom (Witch's Broom) is a great way to spice up your fall decor. And, it is super easy to make!!

What you'll need:

Birch Twigs

Grapevine

Thick wood for handle

Wire for wrapping

~Gather a bunch of birch twigs and trim them down to the same basic length. 

~Find a strong stout stick for the handle. Traditionally it is made out of ash or hazel wood....I found a very cool crab apple branch with some sort of strong vine wrapped around it:

Too cool.
~Next, take your bunch of birch twigs and start gathering them into a bundle (with the thick ends at the top to be attached to the handle):

~Once you've got a nice thick bundle, fit the handle into the bunch and tightly wrap some floral wire around it in two different spots: wrap once near the end of the handle inside the twigs and another time near the thick end of the twigs up the handle a bit.

~Take some grapevine and wrap it around the areas with the wire.....just tuck the ends into the twigs and they should stay.

And, you've done it:

I shared this post at the following linky parties:

Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Design
Thrifty Thursday