You might remember a few months ago my first giant planter came out of the kiln. I planted petunias and snap dragons in it and how gorgeous does this look?


More flowers from the deck. It's become a real paradise when the temp isn't too hot.

We had a great week in Chaumont last week. Post buying the gazebo we had to make sure there was enough room for it to get down to the water. That meant two days of clearing. We had done the middle road last year so that wasn't too bad, but it was still a lot. My hands, my arms, my back - oy! I was so sore. We ended up coming back Saturday night which meant I had 2 days at home to do some pottery! I brought back ferns and lily pads. I focused on the ferns first since they get moldy quickly.


I made my own template for this tone. The edges of this are my handle cutter.




Pulling off the fern in action.




I also made a huge platter with one of my new De La Design cutters.




And with the fern removed.

Last year I decided we needed a gazebo in Chaumont. We went to the gazebo place and the guys said- you don't want a gazebo right now. They are currently twice the price with a half year wait time. But the time you get it prices will probably be down you should wait. So I waited. Yesterday we went back to the gazebo place and the same guy said I have an old one at 2019 prices that's sitting there want to see it? And so we did and I was all set to buy it, but it did not have screens or a screen floor. He said I have some bigger ones so we went and looked. We went inside it and I said to Craig it's huge! We should get it. It's bigger than I intended, but has anyone ever said - you know I wish we had less space in this gazebo.




The will come and do site prep in a week or two before delivering it. Today we spent widening the road so they can get it down here (also it needed it). Still have more to do, but my arms needed a rest. I am so excited for this gazebo. I already have plans for a fire pit and a pizza oven. Now we just need the house to go with it.




Willow is growing up this week. We don't have to keep her on the leash 100% of the time. She's figuring out that if she comes back when we call, she gets more freedom. If she doesn't listen, she gets leashed.




Craig finally got the window in. It's been sitting on the floor for nearly 2 years. It has immediate cooling effects. Making me rethink needing to replace the existing windows. I think one more window above the bed and we will get enough airflow.

It was so amazing being back in person for the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, but I did actually expand my yarn horizons during the pandemic. First, online yarn sales meant that I could peruse all the web sites (and yes I really did click on all of them). I discovered fiber artists and sellers I probably never would have otherwise.
The other thing that I learned about were special colorways specifically designed for an event. I'm positive I've seen signs, walked past yarn, maybe even been told by someone at checkout - but it never actually sunk in that this was a thing. Being back in person for the festival this year I was looking for it and bought several.
The yarn in this design is a special from the Sheep and Wool. It is by Dragonfly Fibers (who I did know about and love pre-pandemic) and is called Welcome Back. I love the name and love the yarn. This was worked up with their Pixie yarn which is a fingering weight superwash merino. This pattern is super simple with some nice edging. I did play yarn chicken and that's why there is only 1 pocket - if you have more yarn then certainly there could be 2. :)
Can you tell that we're up in Chaumont at the cabin? I was searching for the right place to take pictures and I'm really happy with how the dog pen fence looks. Just had to avoid the poison ivy - that's a different kind of project for another day.


I used a 4mm hook.
Stitches in this pattern:
ch - chain
sk st - skip stitch
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
v-stitch - dc, ch 3, dc
picot - ch 3, sc into the same stitch




Back Panel
Chain 80
Row 1: sc in the 4th ch from the loop, *sk st, dc, ch 3, sk st, sc, ch 3. Repeat from *. End the row on a dc
Row 2: ch 3, *dc in the sc, ch 3, sc in the dc, ch 3. Repeat from * to the end of the row. End the row on a dc
Repeat row 2 until you reach your desired length. This is 48 rows.

Side Panels (make 2)
Cast on 36. Follow the rest of the Back Panel instructions




Sew together the back and the sides. I left 15 rows for the arm holes and 3 rows at the bottom seem (just because I like the look).




For the arms I picked up the stitches around the edge and used the same pattern of sc, ch 3, dc, ch 3 for 6 rows.
Row 7 and 8: ch 1, sc all the way around in each stitch. Slip stitch to join
Row 9: ch 6, dc in the same stitch, sk stitch, v-stitch. Repeat the v-stitch all the way around. Slip stitch to join
Row 10: ch 1, sc, picot in the middle of the ch 3 of the v stitch, sc until the next middle, picot all the way around. Slip stitch to join

For the trim of the main body I started on the bottom left side with it still inside out. This is the same edging as the arms.
Row 1 and 2: ch 1, sc all the way around in each stitch.
Row 3: ch 6, dc in the same stitch, sk stitch, v-stitch. Repeat the v-stitch all the way around.
Row 4: ch 1, sc, picot in the middle of the ch 3 of the v stitch, sc until the next middle, picot all the way around.

Weave in and trim all ends and flip right side out.




I really wanted pockets, but wasn't sure if I had enough yarn. I had enough for one so that's what I made.

Chain 16
Row 1: sc in the 4th ch from the loop, *sk st, dc, ch 3, sk st, sc, ch 3. Repeat from *. End the row on a dc
Row 2: ch 3, *dc in the sc, ch 3, sc in the dc, ch 3. Repeat from * to the end of the row. End the row on a dc
Repeat row 2 until you reach your desired length. Mine is 48 rows.
Sew the pocket on the side for your dominant hand. I'm a left so the pocket went on the left. The right length for me was 3 rows from the bottom and 3 rows back from the sc of the edge.

Enjoy! Let me know if you make it, would love to see pictures!

As I start doing shows I thought that maybe I should have some more Maryland wares. When De La Designs put up this adrobable crab I knew I needed to have it. I got it in both sizes and alternated it around the mug. I think I'll make some bowls with it soon as well. I like that the Laguna 60 is going to make it a bit like the crab is walking in the sand. Oh! I'll make the liner look like the ocean. A plan coming together!

When we were in Chaumont over Memorial Day I collected a lot of leaves to press into clay. I keep them in my refrigerator. The delicate leaves from ferns still wilt and turn brown within a few days. The maple and oaks, however, are still as green as when I picked them. I'm finally getting around to making something with the maple leaves now that I've worked my way through the other leaves.


My thinking is that I'll wipe back something that will enhance the tecture like an underglaze then either do a clear coat or just leave it as bare clay on the outside.




I'm not sure that this print inside will end up coming through or if the liner glaze will obscure it too much, we'll see. On the other bowl I made I put it on the bottom like I normally do.