Fjorlief
@fjorlief.bsky.social
Artisan - handcrafting treasures, trinkets, and toys... enameling, metalwork, fibercraft, sewing, blockprinting, 1:12 scale miniatures, scribal and book arts.
"... time is a dressmaker, specialising in alterations"
- Faith Baldwin
"... time is a dressmaker, specialising in alterations"
- Faith Baldwin
Mended center front of my beloved "Chopshop" cardigan (made by my pal Karen) with folded twill tape triangles appliqued over worn spots, raw edges covered with striped grosgrain ribbon and couched handspun yarn. Triangles are embroidered with DMC floss in contrast color fern leaf motifs...
November 4, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Mended center front of my beloved "Chopshop" cardigan (made by my pal Karen) with folded twill tape triangles appliqued over worn spots, raw edges covered with striped grosgrain ribbon and couched handspun yarn. Triangles are embroidered with DMC floss in contrast color fern leaf motifs...
today I finished the "lucky penny" group of 18 Advent Swap treats. I'd wanted to stamp the back of the origami pinwheel envelopes with a four leaf clover. So I had to carve the stamp, using an old eraser, first! Then I had to make a stamp pad from a saucer and some felt and some acrylic craft paint.
October 21, 2025 at 5:15 AM
today I finished the "lucky penny" group of 18 Advent Swap treats. I'd wanted to stamp the back of the origami pinwheel envelopes with a four leaf clover. So I had to carve the stamp, using an old eraser, first! Then I had to make a stamp pad from a saucer and some felt and some acrylic craft paint.
Pretty pleased with what can be done with a cotton swab, a small acorn cap, glue and craft paint... These little amanitas were partly finished last week before my eye damage escapade started, and today I managed to attach the string ties. {1" tall}
October 16, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Pretty pleased with what can be done with a cotton swab, a small acorn cap, glue and craft paint... These little amanitas were partly finished last week before my eye damage escapade started, and today I managed to attach the string ties. {1" tall}
Started some smaller lunaria ornaments for the Advent Swap for a Better Year in 2026, painted with canal rose style flowers. The pods are 1" across, on white wool felt. Will have a silver hanging cord and be backed with light blue wool felt. Less than 4 weeks left to prepare all the swap treats.
October 8, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Started some smaller lunaria ornaments for the Advent Swap for a Better Year in 2026, painted with canal rose style flowers. The pods are 1" across, on white wool felt. Will have a silver hanging cord and be backed with light blue wool felt. Less than 4 weeks left to prepare all the swap treats.
Painted decorations on lunaria pods. Next a coat of nail polish on both sides, a backing of bright purple felt, then each one was embroidered with a border of beads, and another layer of lighter purple felt attached, with a ribbon loop for hanging. Treats for the Daily December Dopamine swap...
September 30, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Painted decorations on lunaria pods. Next a coat of nail polish on both sides, a backing of bright purple felt, then each one was embroidered with a border of beads, and another layer of lighter purple felt attached, with a ribbon loop for hanging. Treats for the Daily December Dopamine swap...
In the last week or so, ever since it rained, there have been bees again this year at the hydration station. I don't know if they need more water in autumn, or if it took them that long to find it again.. On days when despair dogs my footsteps, the life of the natural world lifts my heart.
September 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
In the last week or so, ever since it rained, there have been bees again this year at the hydration station. I don't know if they need more water in autumn, or if it took them that long to find it again.. On days when despair dogs my footsteps, the life of the natural world lifts my heart.
The "Acorn Hill Pony" pattern on Ravelry turns out a very shapely knitted pony, and will make a good gift. The mostly flat "skin" is meant to fold and be stitched up in a clever way. I decided this pony also needed some little felt ears.
September 15, 2025 at 3:11 AM
The "Acorn Hill Pony" pattern on Ravelry turns out a very shapely knitted pony, and will make a good gift. The mostly flat "skin" is meant to fold and be stitched up in a clever way. I decided this pony also needed some little felt ears.
I live in the city, and today I went to two different farmer's markets. I came home with 15# organic roma tomatoes, some heads of garlic, and a punnet of beautiful ripe hot peppers. Preserving season has begun, and it is time to start making a years supply of Awesome Sauce
August 31, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I live in the city, and today I went to two different farmer's markets. I came home with 15# organic roma tomatoes, some heads of garlic, and a punnet of beautiful ripe hot peppers. Preserving season has begun, and it is time to start making a years supply of Awesome Sauce
This is why we thin tree fruit...
August 21, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This is why we thin tree fruit...
Began harvesting elderberries today, and removing them from the stems. The berries, once washed and dried will be stored in the freezer until time to process them... This year my plan is to make an alcohol based tincture, as that is the most shelf stable option.
August 14, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Began harvesting elderberries today, and removing them from the stems. The berries, once washed and dried will be stored in the freezer until time to process them... This year my plan is to make an alcohol based tincture, as that is the most shelf stable option.
The tiger patches have cured long enough for stitching together and attaching to the hemline of the indigo tiger popover dress. 13 create a great carousel, but don't quite span the hemline, so need to fill that gap with either part of the final tiger patch, or some plain black fabric...
August 10, 2025 at 4:05 AM
The tiger patches have cured long enough for stitching together and attaching to the hemline of the indigo tiger popover dress. 13 create a great carousel, but don't quite span the hemline, so need to fill that gap with either part of the final tiger patch, or some plain black fabric...
14 turquoise tiger trapezoids have been blockprinted, and are on the drying rack curing* before becoming a hemline border for my indigotiger summer popover dress. Really pleased with the design!
*oil based fabric ink needs to oxidise (rather than be heat set) for the color to be washfast
*oil based fabric ink needs to oxidise (rather than be heat set) for the color to be washfast
August 4, 2025 at 1:59 AM
14 turquoise tiger trapezoids have been blockprinted, and are on the drying rack curing* before becoming a hemline border for my indigotiger summer popover dress. Really pleased with the design!
*oil based fabric ink needs to oxidise (rather than be heat set) for the color to be washfast
*oil based fabric ink needs to oxidise (rather than be heat set) for the color to be washfast
This tiny (1½" x ¾") plant stand echoes the shapes of Arts and Crafts Bungalow style furniture. It was the second thing I made at the Intro to 3D Printing class at the library today. I like the shape and details, and will try some layered paint colors to add subtlety to the bright green plastic.
July 24, 2025 at 11:43 PM
This tiny (1½" x ¾") plant stand echoes the shapes of Arts and Crafts Bungalow style furniture. It was the second thing I made at the Intro to 3D Printing class at the library today. I like the shape and details, and will try some layered paint colors to add subtlety to the bright green plastic.
This 6" x 8" lino block is almost exponentially larger than my miniature book blocks. Still, I think that the print will be fun, both to decorate the extended hemline on my indigo tiger popover dress, and it is just the right size to be a "patch" on a future pinafore pocket
July 24, 2025 at 5:27 AM
This 6" x 8" lino block is almost exponentially larger than my miniature book blocks. Still, I think that the print will be fun, both to decorate the extended hemline on my indigo tiger popover dress, and it is just the right size to be a "patch" on a future pinafore pocket
The (20+years at least old) roof here at Acorn Cottage is being replaced this week. The lightest color of shingles available from my roofing contractors. Given that shingles are made from asphalt, they can't be solid white. Given my budget and expected life span, this was the best option...
July 16, 2025 at 5:12 AM
The (20+years at least old) roof here at Acorn Cottage is being replaced this week. The lightest color of shingles available from my roofing contractors. Given that shingles are made from asphalt, they can't be solid white. Given my budget and expected life span, this was the best option...
Jambe scroll for my friend Raven Qara Ton. Started in 2023, finished 7/1/25. There were gaps in when I worked on it, for various reasons. Art is inspired by Scythian artifacts circa 400 BCE, the background from felted intarsia, and the metal motif from a repousse gold ornament
![a painted and calligraphed SCA scroll, done to commemorate the Jambe de Lion award for my friend Raven Qara Ton. Artwork is inspired by two different Scythian artifacts, the background by a felted wool intarsia saddle blanket, and the central metallic motif by a gold repousse ornament.
Artwork is meant to evoke the trompe l'œil effect of the ornament lying on the surface of the textile. The artwork is done in gouache painting, and it took So Many Hours to add the dotted texture to the multicolor design! The calligraphy is based on ancient Roman Rustic style lettering, as that is theoretically close in time period; we have no examples at all of Scythian writing.
The text, here framing the artwork on three sides says " To Raven Qara Ton for diverse artistry of renown do We Tjorkill Kanne and Hlutwige Wolfkiller, King and Queen An Tir, do honor you with a Jambe de Lion this XX [20th] day of September, ASXXIV [Anno Societatus 24] being 1989 in the common reckoning"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mzfocmtpvszm5b2wkvmu42jx/bafkreielp7xhfvwrde4e3utnjmftvzelhupjjkjl63zcjfuqx6fpttbxv4@jpeg)
July 4, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Jambe scroll for my friend Raven Qara Ton. Started in 2023, finished 7/1/25. There were gaps in when I worked on it, for various reasons. Art is inspired by Scythian artifacts circa 400 BCE, the background from felted intarsia, and the metal motif from a repousse gold ornament
Today was the "Makin' Kraut With Moriarty & Sharon" zoom, so combined the small savoy cabbage from the fridge plus one of the purple carrots. My fingertips are now a peculiar blue, the brine in the jar is a murky purple, but with luck, there will be some tasty tangy condiment in a week or two...
June 23, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Today was the "Makin' Kraut With Moriarty & Sharon" zoom, so combined the small savoy cabbage from the fridge plus one of the purple carrots. My fingertips are now a peculiar blue, the brine in the jar is a murky purple, but with luck, there will be some tasty tangy condiment in a week or two...
Slow knitting is what I do and enjoy... by the time this cowl is completed, the weather will be cool enough that wearing it will be a welcome treat. (pattern is "Murano Squares Bandana" on Ravelry)
June 18, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Slow knitting is what I do and enjoy... by the time this cowl is completed, the weather will be cool enough that wearing it will be a welcome treat. (pattern is "Murano Squares Bandana" on Ravelry)
I finished making the setting for the Laurel medallion last night... a complex setting two-sided that required much cogitation to fabricate. This is what I do.
June 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I finished making the setting for the Laurel medallion last night... a complex setting two-sided that required much cogitation to fabricate. This is what I do.
The heraldic enamel Laurel cloisonné work is done, (after grinding away four tiny air bubbles not visible last night, and re-firing this morning). Everything always takes longer than estimated. Now to build the complex hexafoil setting, with luck will have that finished tonight...
June 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
The heraldic enamel Laurel cloisonné work is done, (after grinding away four tiny air bubbles not visible last night, and re-firing this morning). Everything always takes longer than estimated. Now to build the complex hexafoil setting, with luck will have that finished tonight...
No Kings Day - porch flag
June 14, 2025 at 4:34 PM
No Kings Day - porch flag
werk werk werk...Custom SCA Laurel regalia project. This is about 6+ hours into it so far (not including design prep time. Hoping to get the cloisonné enameling finished tonight (that may be a bit optimistic) so I can start building the complex setting tomorrow.
June 13, 2025 at 11:58 PM
werk werk werk...Custom SCA Laurel regalia project. This is about 6+ hours into it so far (not including design prep time. Hoping to get the cloisonné enameling finished tonight (that may be a bit optimistic) so I can start building the complex setting tomorrow.
The first harvest of very tasty Sugar Magnolia snap peas from the garden. I was surprised twice when cooking them for lunch: first that the purple color only faded very slightly (was expecting them to turn green); second that the cooking water turned turquoise... (dissolved anthocyanins??)
June 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
The first harvest of very tasty Sugar Magnolia snap peas from the garden. I was surprised twice when cooking them for lunch: first that the purple color only faded very slightly (was expecting them to turn green); second that the cooking water turned turquoise... (dissolved anthocyanins??)
a good sized domestic honeybee swarm up in the plum thicket this afternoon... not sure how long they were resting there (a neighbor let me know about them), and a while later they all flew off to continue their journey to find a new home..
June 6, 2025 at 1:25 AM
a good sized domestic honeybee swarm up in the plum thicket this afternoon... not sure how long they were resting there (a neighbor let me know about them), and a while later they all flew off to continue their journey to find a new home..
In which our plucky heroine has fun with acid dyeing silk/wool/mohair yarn using paste food coloring. Grey yarn on left is the original colorway, chocolate brown yarn on right is after overdyeing...
June 5, 2025 at 6:46 AM
In which our plucky heroine has fun with acid dyeing silk/wool/mohair yarn using paste food coloring. Grey yarn on left is the original colorway, chocolate brown yarn on right is after overdyeing...