Beetle and Fern

Martinmas: Glimmer, Lantern, Glimmer

 

Glimmer, Lantern, Glimmer

Little light a-shimmer

Over rocks and sticks and stones

Wandering, tripping, Little Gnomes!

Pee-wit, pee-wit, tik-a-tik-a tik! Roo-coo! Roo-coo!

Dear Fern,

Every time we celebrate a festival at our school, I always say, "This one is my most favorite!" So it comes as no surprise that I just love Martinmas and the lantern walk that we hold at the school each fall. I adore every part of it: the lanterns that the children make at school to light and carry on the dark path through the woods, the beautiful songs we all sing together as we make our way (sometimes wandering and tripping), and the perfectly-warmed apple cider we all share at the end of the evening back in the safety of the familiar playground. The whole event just fills my spirit with warmth and light.

To celebrate at home, I made these little Lantern Children peg dolls for our nature table. I had knitted the little capes sometime last summer, and set them aside when they didn't work for the project I was working on at the time. So it was almost as if I had planned it when I absolutely, positively, had to make those lantern children right-this-instant! I love it when a craft comes together.

Now I had better get back to crafting for our table at the upcoming Holiday Faire!

Your Sister-In-Craft,

Beetle

Spring is coming! Spring is coming!

Dear Fern,

FINALLY! I thought this winter would never end. And, if next week's forecast is to be believed, perhaps it hasn't. But I'm choosing to ignore that. It seems the warmer days are starting to outnumber the colder days and little green sprouts are starting to pop up in even the brownest of patches. Every year we start some seeds inside just to have something green and growing to gaze upon, but with the hustle and bustle this year, we simply forgot. So the other day I made this little sprout peg doll. He is so fun to pull out of his little pot of wooly "soil." And plant again. And pluck, and plant! 

Um, Fern? Your Cloudberry Babies are outrageously adorable! I just want to squeeze them all, but especially that green one in the shop. He's extra-delicious. That face. . . So sweet! I can't wait to see what you make next.

Best,

Beetle

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Giveaway!

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Giveaway!

 

 Dear Friends,

Spring is coming and the Lenten roses are blooming bashfully in the garden. What better way to celebrate the launch of our Etsy shop and our one-hundred-and-eleventieth Like on Facebook than with a giveaway! The lucky winner will receive this sweet little peg doll inspired by the Lenten Rose. Won't she brighten up your mailbox? To enter, simply leave a comment at the end of this post. One entry per person. To get a second entry, subscribe to our blog! Comments close Friday, March 7 at midnight EST and the winner will be announced Saturday morning. Good Luck!

Yours Truly,

Beetle & Fern

 

And the winner is... Maren! Thanks for playing, everybody!

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Dear Beetle,

Your gnomes are gorgeous! I'm quite partial to their tall, woolie handknit hats. Those two look as if they are just about to bundle off on some woodland adventure. The Mister even has a little pouch for their snacks (because gnomes never leave home without a snack)!

Of course, you've inspired me to put down my current (and seeminly without end) knitting project to whip up these little garden sweeties. This Daffodil Girl and her Bulb Baby are my nod to the dozens of daffodils that are just beginning to bloom in the yard right now, with complete disregard to freezing temperatures and icy rains (which are enough to send me back to bed until April). Far from being a shy, dainty flower, this girl has a tall, dramatic cape and a smart little bob cut. Her Bulb Baby is wee and plump and ready to stretch up into the early Spring sun. I've listed them in our Etsy Shop, so hopefully they will brighten up someone's nature table very soon. Mine is still under the grip of King Winter and will probably remain that way until May Day.

Warmest Wishes,

Your Craft-Twin, Fern

Gnomes

Dear Fern,

After a much-too-long hiatus filled with daydreaming and the endless reorganization (erm, cleaning off) of my sewing table, I've finally been crafting again! A good friend is celebrating the Festival of Ayyám-i-Há this week and she asked me to create some small gifts for her three daughters. She handed me her copy of Gnomes by Wil Huygen and said, "Make some of your peg people." Gnomey pegs? Yes, please! And here is how they turned out. I made three pairs. My favorite detail is the gray braids on the girl gnome with just a bit of a blond streak left. I hope they are happy in their new home. There are lots of animals to tend to and of course three girls to play with!

Kindest Regards,

Your Sister-In-Craft, Beetle.

P.S. I also made some little mouse friends to send along with the gnomes. Here is one of them.