End of the Season

 The end of the dahlia growing season has come again and boy am I bummed. My Mom got me into growing dahlias last year when she gave me many, many tubers to plant here at my house. I was hooked from the first bloom. 

I didn't dig up my tubers at the end of last season because I was tired. Cancer treatments are no joke and I had recently finished mine. Over the winter I ordered a few tubers and attended a cutting sale at our local greenhouse in the spring. Then Mom gave me a few mystery tubers that she had left over. 

This season started out slow with late planting due to wildfire smoke in the air and a vacation trip to visit family. I was really worried I wouldn't get many blooms at all, but then in July they started. They haven't quit since.

But that first killing frost is on its way. Maybe not this week, the forecast says it will be warm, but soon. Now I just have to cross my fingers and hope that my tubers are healthy enough to survive the winter in our basement. Because this year, come hell or high water, I am digging those babies up.

My Flock of Chicken......Potholders

One of my favorite things to make is these chicken potholders. When I make one, I make a bunch. A flock, if you will. They're so fun to make AND to use. I wish I knew how many I've made over the years. 

This is one of my most recent batches.

This set is the very first set I ever made. It doesn't look like it, but I've made them in almost every color possible. The most challenging was the one in black. Black yarn and I are not friends!

What other animals do you think I should try out? 

 

The Start of Spooky Season

 A couple of weeks ago I got an order for a Skull & Spine Scarf and I finished it the other day. It's gorgeous.  

I'm considering this the official start of my Spooky Season as this beauty is headed off to Salem, MA. Its new owner is going to wear it while she gives tours around the town this Autumn. I've always wanted to go to Salem in the Spooky Season but just haven't made it there yet.

I have BEEN to Salem though. It was cool but I was young. I need to go again now that I'm older so I can see it again through grown-up eyes.

For now, I'll just drink my pumpkin spice lattes and get ready for Halloween. 

(The pattern for this scarf is from DrgnSclsMermaidTails on Etsy)

 

Time For a Refresh

It's been ages. I had a kid. Had photos stolen from my Etsy shop and plastered all over the internet by scammers. Got breast cancer. Survived treatments for said cancer. Now, I'm getting my old self back again. One solid step at a time. I decided to throw out everything I had posted here and start fresh. For me. It's a new start!

I've been working, a lot! Started doing markets again. My most recent one was Wellsboro Comic Con. I've decided that nerdy conventions are my absolute favorite events. Here's my set-up from last month.

My next events are the 24th and 30th of this month, and then Twin Tiers Comic Con in November. I love getting out there and meeting people who enjoy my work.

The other thing I've gotten back into is gardening. Before Miss R was born, I was very into my houseplants and flower beds. The haze of parenting a young child destroyed that. In the last few years, though, I have gotten back into it in a big way. Tons of houseplants, huge veggie garden, and dahlias. So many dahlias. I'll do another post on those but for now, here are a couple of my favorites!

Labryinth

Castle Drive

A few of my favorites

All in all, things are great! I'll be posting more here about my life and what's going on. What about you? What have you been up to?