National Flag Day

Happy Flag Day Canada! 

It was 60 years ago today that Canada adopted it's very own flag. 

We are all proud Canadians no matter where we live.

A few hearts for Valentine's Day

Years ago when my own children were small, I made felt heart pins for them to wear to school on Valentine's Day. Then I made a few for my grandchildren a couple of years ago. This year, I made them for all of the grandchildren who live in Toronto.

The colours are really a lot brighter than this photo shows. I think I made 14 altogether which gave me 3 extras. One grandchild has already misplaced hers so she got to choose another one. My youngest granddaughter is only 2 months old so she didn't need one. Two were orange, two were red, two were mauve and two were pinky/purple. I had some darker purple and some paler pink felt that I used too. They all have safety pins on the back so that they could be pinned on. Tomorrow is the school Valentine celebration because Friday is a PA Day. Monday is Family Day so it gives the teachers a four day weekend. I picked up some chocolate hearts today for all the little ones too.

My Current Project

This is just the latest project I'm quilting. I have a few other things like another hat to knit and a cross stitch project.

Here's a corner of the baby quilt I'm trying to finish. I love the way the stitching/quilting shows up. The scallop looking quilting is from a template that my late friend had made.

Day after Christmas

I do hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday celebrating with family and/or friends. I had the whole family over (except the four in B.C.) and this year we had one additional little one. Little Axis was born on the 5th so she is my 14th grandchild. It was a busy, noisy day but all the children got along with each other and played with their favourite toy (or book.) 

It's been a very busy time lately but I did manage to finish a few things. In the fall, I went to a workshop hosted by one of the quilt guilds I belong to and we were making paper pieced trees. I didn't finish many trees during the day but once I got home, I was determined to get at least a top done so I continued on making a total of nine trees. I simplified the outer border since it too was supposed to be strip pieced but I thought it might look better if the border were just one piece of fabric. 

I do have more finished projects to show (maybe not all quilt related) but now, I will have to get a bit of cleaning up done.

Have a wonderful Boxing Day and stay safe. I am not planning on going out shopping.

The next-next generation

Since my children would be the next generation, I have titled this post as the 'next-next' generation. I see my grandchildren often and am lucky enough to babysit them. At times I have tried to show them different crafts that they could do. There is always paper, crayons and markers available. I have even started some of them on needlework. My own children used to do plastic canvas needlepoint and I still have some the pieces they have made. My eldest son actually made a model of his high school in plastic canvas years ago. One of my grandchildren, Esme, has taken to needlework at a very young age. This past summer, when I visited them in Nelson, British Columbia, where they were staying at the time, I brought a small plastic canvas kit. It was actually shown as a cross stitch kit. Esme started it while I was there and when assistance was needed (mainly to thread the needle), I helped out. 

It didn't take long for Esme to figure out how to cross stitch. Here's a photo of the finished piece. The family is now in France. 

Before arriving in France, they were in Barcelona and while there, a small kit was purchased. To remember the family's time in Spain, Esme chose this piece and is hard at work. It's almost finished and I am one happy grandmother (or Mummi.)I was on facetime with Esme and her mom this morning and before hanging up, Esme had to finish the rose. Now, all that's left are cross stitching the leaves. Determination. There are so many other things for Esme to learn - needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, wool felting and on and on...