My Irish Afghan….

A wonderful friend of mine had planned a trip to Ireland, and like she always does, she asked what she could bring back from her travels. I paused for a moment and thought, Ireland…and the answer felt obvious. Wool yarn. Theres something about wool from a place so deeply rooted in tradition and handcraft that feels especially meaningful to me.

She returned with two generous balls of magenta wool yarn, rich and vibrant, and I knew immediately what I wanted to make. I began crocheting granny squares, pairing the magenta with complementary wool yarns in soft neutrals and gradient purples, letting the colours guide me as I worked. Each square came together slowly, stitch by stitch, in the familiar, comfortable rhythm.

To finish the piece, I kept the Ireland theme by crocheting a border of green shamrocks all the way around. The textured shamrocks form a soft fringe along the edge, grounding the blanket and giving it a quiet nod to Irish tradition. My Grandmother was Irish, and those small green shamrocks remind me of her and the gentle ways heritage shows up in the things we make. 💖

Why I Go to Floyd Va For Fabric…

“A mountain drive, an old schoolhouse, and the quiet joy of choosing cloth…”

I go to Floyd, Virginia for fabric because something in me settles the moment I arrive. The drive there is full of hills and switchbacks, the kind that make you pay attention and strengthen your core without asking permission. By the time I reach town, the mountains are layered all around me, steady and familiar. Floyd is a small mountain town that feels tucked in and held. You can see the hills from almost everywhere, and they remind me to slow down.

Schoolhouse fabrics sits inside an old three story schoolhouse, 1880s, originally, rebuilt early 1900s. The wooden floors creak when you walk, the smell takes me straight back to my own childhood—my elementary school on the outskirts of town, the same one my Grandfather once went to before I did.

While I shop, soft Gospel music plays through the building. Kind, soft-spoken women measure and cut fabric for me, carefully and patiently. There’s no rush. It feels respectful, like everyone knows this cloth will become something meaningful.

The main floor is filled with neatly organized quilt fabric, calm and clean, with finished quilts hanging quietly in the background. One quilt with a chicken design, made by a local woman, always makes me smile.

Highway 221 runs nearby, ready to carry me toward Fancy Gap and whatever comes next. But Floyd always stays with me. It isn’t just where I buy fabric. It’s where memory, making, and mountains meet-and where I remember why I love creating in the first place.

Skirts, Like Mountains🌻🧵 🏔🏞

I keep asking myself the same question: why skirts ? Every time I make one, I’m amazed at how it turns out—not from surprise, but recognition. I don’t over plan them or force a design. I begin, I listen, and the skirt becomes what it wants to be. My hands seem to know before my mind does, and when its finished, it feels inevitable, like it always existed and I simply helped it arrive.

Skirts move the way I move and work the way I create—intuitively, responsively, with room to adjust. They carry history in them. For generations, women made skirts because they were practical, modest, and adaptable to real life. Appalachian women, church women, farm women, mothers and grandmothers shaped them from what was available. When I make a skirt, I don’t feel like I’m inventing something new. I feel like I’m stepping into a long, unbroken line.

Skirts also echo the landscape I’m drawn to. Mountains don’t have straight lines—they fold, gather, rise, and fall. Skirts do the same. They don’t demand a certain body or a fixed shape. They offer dignity without armour, strength without stiffness. That’s why I return to them. Skirts are the form that lets me be fully myself, without resistance.

“On My Hook”….A Forest-Hued Work in Progress 🦉🌲🌱🧶

Hey Sunshine Souls!

I’ve been tucked away lately with yarn in my lap and a colour unfolding in my hands—Deep greens, cool blues, and a stitch pattern that flows like water through trees, This shawl isn’t finished yet, and it hasn’t made its way to the shop, but I couldn’t help sharing a little preview.

Its light, airy, and full of movement—the kind of piece that feels good to wear whether you’re wandering outside, curled up with a book, or heading off to some everyday adventure. Ive been calling it Owls of the Rainforest for now—-because that’s the vibe: peaceful, wild, and quietly powerful.

More soon Mamas, she’s almost ready to fly !

With Love and yarn,

Diana

Peace, Love, & Chickpeas: My Groovy Hummus

Hey sunshine souls !💗

It's hummus time Mamas !!! 😋

I know there's 47,000 hummus recipes out there, probably more if you count the ones scribbled on napkins during drum circles, but this one’s mine..

Lets blend some bliss ! 💖

I don't really measure, so use as much or little as you like for your tastes.

Ingredients are: Chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic, olive oil, and soy sauce…add paprika or cumin if you'd like..

Roasted veggies with Feta

A staple in my home is delicious roasted veggies !! My home smells sooooo good while it is cooking…I use whatever veggies I have on hand, but always use cherry tomatoes, greek feta, olive oil, and italian herb spice as a base. Before and after pics below,,,

Mediterranean Potato Topper

I love potatoes, Love potatoes! Here’s an interesting tater topper that is not only delicious but, heathy and nutritious !

Ingredients:

Chopped parsley . olive oil . scallions . red onion . bell peppers, any colour . fresh lemon juice . chopped tomatoes . salt and pepper .

Toss everything together and spoon onto baked potato !! Yummy to the tummy !!! Enjoy !

Behind the fabric

Welcome, beautiful souls, to the grooviest corner of the digital universe---my cosmic blog, " Behind the Fabric! "

Grab your tie-dye aprons, put on your flower crowns, and get ready to embark on a journey through the kaleidoscope of flavours, wanderlust, and stitchery that defines my enchanted existence.

Here in this swirling vortex of positivity, I’ll be serving up a bubbling cauldron of culinary adventures from every nook and cranny of the globe.

Join me as I whisk you away on a whimsical gastronomic expedition, exploring the vibrant tapestry of healthy eats that will have your taste buds doing the hula to colourful salads that scream "Eat me, I’m delicious !"

We'll weave a harmonious symphony of flavours that will make your taste buds boogie.

But it doesn’t stop there, my fellow dreamers!

As a free-spirited wanderer, I’ve embarked on countless escapades across my home and distant lands, collecting snippets of wisdom and unforgettable memories along the way.

Together, we'll unravel the secrets of hidden gems of local and uncharted territories.

Oh the wanderlust!

Its like an itch that can only be scratched by a one-way ticket to adventure!

Now dear kindred souls, let’s dive into my realm of stitches, threads, and all things bohemien.

In my sanctuary of hippie coulture, we'll dance along the colourful thread of creativity, embracing the magic of handmade garments.

With each crocheted masterpiece and every home-sewn ensemble, we'll fashion a boho chic symphony that is uniquely ours.

Feel the liberation as you slip into your own customized creations, imbued with the essence of love, freedom, and a touch of groovy rebellion!

So come one, come all!

Immerse yourself in the vibrant palette of my imagination, where food dances on tongues, travel whispers tales, and fabric comes alive with every stitch.

Together, we'll ignite our passions, honour diversity, and create a world where the only boundaries are the ones we crochet.

Are you ready to embark on this wild ride?

Fasten your seatbelts, my fellow cosmic adventurers------Behind The Fabric awaits !!

Cheers to love, happiness, and healthy hippies!! ❤