Green Man Forest Legend

That ubiquitous symbol of the Green Man is prevalent in European countries.  He is found on doorways and pub walls, in hotel entrances and outdoor venues, and of course, in the forest.  He comes in many forms and looks quite different each time you spot him.

(pinterest)

The Green Man

...is that spirit, energy, presence, inherent in every cell of the vegetative realm, and transmitted to the animal/human realms through the foods we eat, the flowers we smell, the trees we hug. He is Pan.

The Green Man I found online is cast iron and is weathering nicely on our back yard gate where he has kept company with the outdoor creatures for just over a year.  Here is our green man, guardian of the gate,  ready for a bit of artificial ivy to be twined around his head when the weather turns a bit warmer.

Yesterday I laid in a supply of green acrylics and will paint our garden shed door with a green man face so that he can keep the dogs company while they play outdoors.  This is a rough picture of the green man I'll paint on the shed bi-fold doors, starting today, hopefully:

Look for an update next week on the Green Man permanently residing on the outdoor shed.  Those acrylic paints last a long time.

Poppies on the Wall and Piper's Journey Shawl

First it was Sheep on the Wall, now it is poppies directly underneath the sheep:

Width: 40"; Depth 36" (acrylics on wall)

And a finished Piper's Journey Shawl:

Now to just frame the poppies with that last rough firring strip of wood.

The Little Box of Socks

Schurch and Parott's The Little Box of Socks was one of the first knitting books I purchased several years ago.

The box is literally a cardboard box that snaps open (and shut).  Included are twenty different sock projects; each of the sock patterns are laminated on heavy stock paper for easy portability.

A favorite pattern in the little box is the "Lace Rib Sock", constructed in such a way that knitterly skills are shown off to good advantage.  It is a tightly woven sock and designed for a solid color yarn project.  The yarn is from Blue Moon Fibers, a popular supplier for specialty dyed yarns.  I subscribed to the 2012 Rockin' Sock Club where...

Each Kit that is delivered to your door every other month includes: 

400 yd skeins of Socks that Rock® lightweight or mediumweight yarn in a unique club colourway. (Working from shaded solids all the way through the spectrum to multicolourways.)  

2 (that’s right, two) patterns developed by two different designers for color, form and function. We promise one will be a sock, the other—who knows? Both the patterns and colourways will not be available to the general public for a full year after you receive it. Tina’s Dyer’s Notes explaining each shipment’s inspiration(s). 

Notorious Sock Knitter gear like mini skeins, buttons, stickers and a swag surprise or two. 

A blog and forum for sharing and support. A 15% off coupon good until December 1, 2012. A community of Notorious Sock knitters just like your self. (Priceless!) Each package leaves the Blue Moon barn and heads your way during the last week of January, March, May, July, September and November. Let’s rock the rainbow together!

The first shipment arrived in a beautiful colorway called "HRH Crown Princess of Purple, Violetta."  I got busy on the Lace Rib pattern and completed these:

close up of heel:

 The second of six shipments should be mailed out in two weeks.  It is always fun to anticipate a UPS package from Blue Moon Fibers and to guess the clues on what color and new patterns will arrive.