Angel Feathers Designs

Back to you in 2017 Florida!

Hello old blog, I am back with many changes. I now live in Bradenton,Florida on the Gulf of Mexico with my husband Richard, living in an over 55 park near my sister in law. I am still into fiber arts, spinning, dying and knitting, but not as a business --- for now.
We have lived here for five years now ---time seems to fly. My dear mother passed away after living with us for six years, and she was a welcome member of my little family. All of my kids are still up in Massachusetts. Rich is in education, Tom is married, in a good business job and he has two
Little daughters. Bobby is engaged to a wonderful woman, and is still a massage therapist.
We had planned to sell our large empty nest in MA , downsize and become "snowbirds". Unfortunately we bought the Florida home, and put the other on the market just before the huge housing price drop. We couldn't maintain both, so we had to sell at a very low price---not enough profit to buy the smaller MA home that we had chosen. So we live in the South full time, only visiting up North when we can afford it.
It has taken me a while to get over the change, but it is what it is. My kids visit when they can, and we keep in touch by phone. I am trying to start to socialize with people in Florida, which was hard when Mom was with me. Dear Mom had dementia, and she was by my side all the time. Now I am trying to get back in the swing of things. I do miss my younger days, but everything changes for everyone, and a healthy acceptance of what IS is far better than looking back all the time.
So I am blogging to myself at least, and still artsy. I'll try to use this blog as a sort of diary to remind myself to embrace my new life. Bye for now, Angelfeathers.

Karen's Cape Cod Colors and Homespun Socks

On the way to a time share presentation on the Cape, I decided to bring some fleece that I had purchases from MacAusland's Woolen Mill on Prince Edward Island. I used my spindle and started to make a pair of socks by spinning a little and then knitting in the car. We were there in November 2005, and since that year was extra warm, the weather was more like early October. While exploring the beach I found shells, rocks and seaguls, sparkles on the water and the grey of weathered shingles and driftwood, the green of algae on the seashells which matched the color of the wool roving. We took it as a sign and ended up buying the timeshare. Later I found that I actually had these gemstone strands which also matched the color theme, some of which looked to me like sea glass. The socks are warm and cozy, and I am spinning to make a felted bag from more of the fiber. I hope to sew some shells and stones to it, and to make a closure toggle out of driftwood.