Harrisville Looms in NH

One of the most spectacular towns in New Hampshire is Harrisville. The old mill buildings made from brick have gorgeous old warehouse style windows and wide plank flooring. The waterfall and river actually pass under the mill buildings. The Harrisville Looms are one of my favorite places to sneak away to. Walls and bins of Roving and yarn, not a synthetic anything in sight! You walk in the little retail shop and your hit with the warm scent of wool.

My favorite thing is to go to the bin where you can mix your own bag of roving by color. I pull and stuff and think of ideas. I love it!!

I rushed home and made some flowers...

Bohemian Chic, Charm and Feather Necklaces

Fashion is at a fun place right now. I really relate to bohemian Chic. I love natural materials and gifts from nature. I am trying to think of ways to incorporate the amazing chunks of mica I find around the woods here. I am on a feather kick at the moment. These necklaces are fun to wear because the feathers catch the breeze as you move and since tethered will flutter. The feather makes a nice background for other handmade charms and recycled beads.

More my style...

Second bead project. I am working in my colors. Pearls and white bone. A big clear glass heart bead made from recycled glass. Linen in a tattered and fringed way. I always come back to nature. Soft and romantic. The shape of the dress is yet to come. The chiffon is only gathered and pinned. I know for sure the dress will be backless. working out the other details.

I am enjoying beading! Who knew? It is a lot like mosaic work and evolves as you go.

Summer Experiments, new skills

When I was little my Irish mother used summer as a time to teach us creative skills. Alternative learning. The arts were an every day part of life in our house. Someone was always making a dress or new summer top. I remember making kid suede rose barrettes. They would be perfect with romantic bohemian chic looks. My dad made me a bead loom and drove me to a bead supply house in Boston to purchase giant bags of glass seed beads. I still have those big coffee cans full of beads. I remember trips to Natick Mall to an incredible old school button shop called 'Windsor Button'. Learning new skills was a way of life.

I still view summer as the lazy days of experimentation. The pace of life changes... (not slowing down, just different) I find myself on road trips to towns and cities I don't usually get to during the busy school year. I find evenings filled with more down time, and no check lists of school work or projects that must be completed. I cherish those evenings and view them as my time. I am using my free time this week to try my hand at beadwork. I am working on turquoise suede and using my spare glass bead collection.

Any critiques, advice or helpful tips are welcome! I hope to finish this cuff bracelet by the weekend.

I found an ancient Butterfly Book!

The pages were falling out. Someone loved it dearly. Pencil and pen marks point to species that have been found and identified. I love a well worn and loved book. I found the owners own attempt at drawing the butterflies tucked inside the book. I think I will frame it even though it is torn and water stained. I also found a 'golden' butterfly and moth book from 1942, a 'field guide'.

I made this pendant from the field guide. The other antique book may be a potential for restoration.

Found Objects...Jodi French=Nature Girl

My entire life...I have been a nature girl. I'm still like a little kid. Rescuing the little orange newts off the road. Waiting at the top of a chipmunk hole for him to think it's safe. I just love the outdoors. Wherever I go I am always picking up 'things'. A piece of metal, run over by cars. Feathers or bones I find in the woods. Sea shells and glass at the beach. River rocks or mica... it all comes home.

I have started pulling out my boxes of treasures. I am loving the Bohemian Chic movement. These necklaces represent a little part of what I am working on...

Time=Spirit

Beetles and Feathers