Monday 18 January 2010

The Wanderer's Rest.



A while back I wrote about this little piece~in~the~making. And so, it is finished. It was a slow creation, in part because I did practically nothing over the summer. Yes, that's how long it took. I actually started it last May! (Shame!)

But, yes, now it is finished. And it is now hanging on the wall of my friend Joan's house, just up the Sea Road.


'And there in the quiet valley they spied the little house,
lights all atwinkle in the dusk...'


There is a story somewhere in all this. I'm just having to figure it all out as I go. But I have never done anything so satisfying before. I think it's the smallness. And the simplicity. And I am ready to start the next one.



So, an idea has been brewing in my busy head.

A give~away is overdue, methinks. I never did one for Milkmoon's second birthday last October, though I had intended to. And now, this little blog of mine has hit 1000 followers! Something which I am endlessly incredulous and awed and so, so humbled by.

And grateful.

So. I propose the next piece will be for one of you lovely people. It will be small. Otherwise I may be old and grey before I finish it! I estimate 12cm x 8cm. And as I have a notebook of idea's ready to go it will be started tomorrow, and a regular update will be posted, I promise.



All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below. Most of you know the drill. And on Friday we'll pull a name out of the hat.

And meanwhile I'm finishing up a little something that's been forlornly waiting to be finished for a while now so I can donate it to CraftHope for Haiti., which is an Etsy shop which is sending all it's proceeds to Doctors Without Borders.

Do check it out if you are looking for a way to donate towards Haiti.

Edit: Okaaay! So we dropped a couple of followers, but the giveaway still stands lol! :-)

48 comments:

J9 said...

thanks to the link to CraftHope!

Katherine Krige said...

What a cute little wall hanging. I admire crafty bits, but just never quite have them pouring out of me. So, I admire! Thank you

Anonymous said...

absolutely stunning, Ciara. you do amazing work! i can't wait to see the next one.

Emma said...

Sooooo cute! We have ours hanging in a very special place by the door. IT makes me smile every time I look at it. I do look forward to reading the entire story some day!

Chris said...

I really like that! I wish I was more crafty. I've tried just about everything but don't really seem to be good at one.

Unknown said...

I thought that was a drawing! Until I looked close (literally zooming my face to the screen of my tiny netbook) to see that was actually stitched. Kudos! That is super awesome. I agree, sometimes those lil things speak volumes more than something way more elaborate could have.

Gigi Thibodeau said...

This is magical, Ciara, and I remember back when you posted about this before. It's great to see it completed and hanging. I feel like I have started a million little projects that I haven't yet finished this past year, so I am impressed.

And what a cool giveaway. Congratulations on hitting 1000 followers! You rock, my friend.

xoxo Gigi

Lately Lisa said...

Love it !! Beautiful work...

Katelin & Shaun said...

Absolutely adorable:) Your Redwork inspired me to try it out - Thanks.

chris said...

o what darling needlework! the details are amazing, especially the sweet little garden. thanks for the close-up shots! i cannot imagine the time that must have gone into this piece!

Lynn said...

So glad you took a picture of the detail so I could get a really good look at that adorable little cow! Where is the quote from? It's lovely, and reminds me of coming home to my mom's place after my evening walk.

Pandorah's Box said...

Oh, I would just LOVE one of your creations! I love, love, love them!

And thank you for the link. What a wonderful day to get involved and donate. Thanks Ciara!

0rangey said...

I would love to be in the drawing! I love your little needle works.

Anonymous said...

This is one of those times when I feel the smallness of the world. I'm in the US. I have been a wanderer for 30 years.

I am at this moment surrounded by boxes, some full, some empty, because I am going to be making one more move in 6 weeks, away from this ridiculously large & difficult city to a place north & east. The place I'm going? It's in a valley. By a river.

This is lovely, truly lovely.

Therese said...

I have a perfect wall here in Sweden that I would love to have a amazing creation of you:) Love t ♥

Annah said...

Oh Ciara, how sweet. And isn't it an amazing feeling to get a project 'finished'. I love the idea of your little notebook full of ideas bursting to get out. 1,000followers. Amazing. I remember when you started this incredible blog. How it has grown...
I'll check out the other link for Hiati too thanks.

A Daft Scots Lass said...

that is so special and so unique!

Elaine Prunty said...

it's fantastic ciara, and amazing how much like print it is...you've a very dainty hand...and i love the image....adorable....i'd have been hard pressed to give it away....your friend is very lucky.

X said...

I love your banner!

Paddy said...

Why not make prints of the proposed one for Haiti? I'm sure people would like to donate in that way too.
It would be a nice way to donate, say, a fiver each to that worthy cause, as well as being in with a chance to buy the original.

Unknown said...

I love these pieces you make and admire the poetry in your soul.


A small thing it's not. I watch with bated breath to see the story unfolding....

It inspires me to find the poetry in my own soul. I'm still looking.

Deirdre said...

Ciara that is just gorgeous, I love it.
I'm sure Joan loves it too. I hope I'm in there somewhere on your long list.....

Mise said...

That's a very charming hanging, and I especially like the hens; they look so dainty and ladylike. It's odd how it's possible to read a lot into their simplicity.

Beck said...

Lucky Joan! I love your sweet embroidery and also your blog which is always interesting to read. Congratulations on having so many friend/followers, it shows that what you have to say is meaningful to others. A friend just told me that Craft Hope has put a hold on donations for now, what a wonderful job they are doing. Bye for now x

Mimi said...

It's a lovely piece of work.I wondered now and again how it was coming along.
You're so creative and artistic! My notebook just has recipes for different oils; can only draw stick people, and even those are laughed at here!
I would so, so love to win something like that (fidngers croessed so plesa excusa tipoes).

Anonymous said...

I remember years ago my little brother decided that he was going to build one of those wooden model toy planes ...painstakingly glueing and fiddling, gradually reaching a pinnacle of frustration. Then one day he got the whole thing after months of stagnation and smashed it to pieces before he could finish it. He is still on a quest to finish a model plane....some day maybe! I'm sure you know how he feels.....looks like you won the battle though!!

Jo said...

So lovely! The little house makes me think of the Moomins, a fond memory always :)

CAM said...

I love that creation....what a cosy picture it creates...how I wish I were made of stitches and could live there.

nancy said...

this piece is exquisite, Ciara. it kinda makes me weep because of what i just wrote last night, about leaving my little house, lights all atwinkle at dusk ('specially with the farm animals all around). but i know i will love my next home (all atwinkle). what a beautiful gift to give a friend! handmade things are always the best and it must have been so utterly satisfying to create this by the dance of your fingers. i'm crossing mine that my name gets chosen HA! :)

taylorgirl6 said...

There are times when the internet becomes a smaller place, bringing friends and strangers together in simple ways. That's probably why so many follow here.

Mallory said...

The hanging is so simple, yet so interesting at the same time. It reminds me to think of the simplier, happier parts of life. Thanks for sharing. :) I really enjoy reading your blog.

Unknown said...

These are really beautiful. I've been enjoying your blog since you were the blog of note. I must say this is an enchanting plact to visit!

Be well.
~Andrea~

Kerry O'Gorman said...

Sometimes good things take time...I can imagine all the little adventures that could come out of those few lines you have sewn! Oh to find the little house in the woods! Beautiful work...cheers.

Stephanie said...

The simplicity of the lines are lovely. I particularly like the cow!

Acornmoon said...

I love your needlework, you have stitched a little bit of yourself in each piece. Craft Hope has now raised over $10.000 !

Anonymous said...

There is something so lovely and strong in redwork - I'm glad it is soothing for you too - its so nice to have something that takes you into the "zone" - I would so love the chance to own one of your little artworks!

Mel said...

I always love your needlework... and the stories they tell!

Glad to have you back... after your lovely trip :)

xo

Rebecca S. said...

I remember commenting with delight on a photo of this piece of needlework on one of the first posts I ever saw of yours! Very sweet and simple.

Aldo said...

Ya-hoo! What a beautiful piece, and such an exciting giveaway! I hope I win :)
Crystal
http://crystalsongtoanisland.blogspot.com

A. E. Hendricks said...

This is so sweet and beautiful!

affectioknit said...

That embroidery is awesome!

Sondra said...

But then you may have picked up a- coupl-a new ones. I'm so intriqued by the sewing. I'm assuming you do it all free hand no pencil drawings to follow?
It touches something very deep in me. Maybe my childhood making doll clothes?
I don't know but it's lovely.

Pandorah's Box said...

Ciara,

I am not sure how you are with awards and things like that, but I gave you one over at my blog.

Go on over and pick it up, and thank you for being so wonderful!

Joshua said...

I found you via Kato's award and so glad that I did. I am now in love with the few pictures I've seen posted here. Consider me following.

Alison said...

Lovely! The details are fantastic.

gz said...

Beautiful!

Have you seen the work of Jessie Chorley and Primmie Chorley?

Eliane Zimmermann said...

lovely, so simple nd nice!

Kathryn said...

Ciara,
I love this small, simple work. Today, as I left my latest post in my own blog about how my "little" career is not making a difference, I read your crafty little pieces text about about the little house with "lights all atwinkle" in the dusk, and it made me cry, because it occured to me that I could be that little house, and my own little lights atwinkle might be a beacon for someone. Blessings to you.