Done - the big reveal

Since these have now been seen by the recipient, I can show you what I was working on.

The cross stitch card got finished and I like the colour I used instead of pink.

 

My crochet project was a cocoon. My daughter chose the colours.

 

The pattern is from Red Heart but they had it in Christmas white with red pompom yarn. I changed the pattern since I thought the original was a tad too wide.

 

I added the vine and leaves because I thought it was a bit too plain.

 

So, now you know what the little sneak peak of crochet ended up being.

I'm linking up with the Needle and Thread Network. Pop on over to see some great projects being worked on.
 

Tuesday Treat

A double treat today.

 

 

Big brother in training - even sharing his goldfish. This scenario occurred a week before little brother was born.

So far, so good. This little guy sleeps 5 hours between feedings and when he's awake, he is content to just look around and take in his surroundings. 

Oh Happy Day!

I became a mummi for the second time this morning. Little Luc has a baby brother weighing 7 lbs. 1/2 oz. Mom and baby are doing fine. No photos yet and no name.
Stay tuned...

And because a post is always better with photos...

In the meantime, I guess I can try to change the colours of the ribbon/flag...

 

since I haven't stitched it yet. Maybe green - or perhaps turquoise.

Champagne Quilters update

It's been a while since I have shown you what we are working on week after week but I didn't think it was very interesting to show a pre-printed panel on the frame or completely hand quilted. However, in addition to making more doll quilts, we have started on a new full-sized quilt.

Crazy stars, wonky stars, call it whatever you want. We have started making these...

 

in two different sizes and in scraps that, from afar, read as solids.

 

Several years ago we made this one but we can't remember which charity got it. Not all of them send us thank you notes. Marg keeps a photo record of the quilts that we have done, along with any cards or notes that we receive afterward. This is a photo of her photo and as you can see, it's on the frame. I guess it was just the beginning of it being quilted. We don't generally repeat any of the quilts we make but Marg has always wanted to do this one again and so, when we were mulling over what quilt to do next (her church would like a quilt to raffle off) it was, at first, going to be a Grandmother's Fan but when we looked through the photo album, we decided to re-produce this one. Don't ask us how we came upon the setting because I honestly don't know and if memory serves correctly, the sashing strips were supposed to be a tad wider but when Ann and I were cutting, this was the end result. We just figure it was meant to be that size. We never worry about happy accidents. Scrappy stars.

Busy

Today has been a full day so far.

There has been a little bit of bread making. These are whole wheat loaves and the house smells really nice.

 

I made this yesterday using Pink Penguin's tutorial. This is the bigger sized one. It's too big for it's purpose. So, today...

 

I made the smaller version, which is the original size. However, I think it's too small.

 

I may need a medium sized basket but I'm not making one right now. These are the leftover pieces of fabric from a diaper bag I had made a couple of years ago. It's uphostery fabric weight and I'm so glad I got to use it up.

 

Yesterday, I also made a trivet and ...

 

 recently, I finished sewing up the pieces to this teeny tiny little sweater for Luc's sibling who is due in a week. I'm glad that the front colour changes worked out for both sides.

 

 

I'm linking up with a whole lot of other very creative people at the Needle and Thread Network.

 

Have a great week.

Tuesday Treat

My mom always made Sunday dinner. My children grew up with it. Some of my mom's dishes are well known in the family and there are some favourites. Since she hasn't made Sunday dinners for years (she is in a long term care facility also known as a nursing home) some of us in the family have tried to re-produce some dishes. One Christmas, unbeknownst to most of the family, my son made the zucchini with tomato sauce. Since he didn't let anyone know what he was doing, I had decided to do the same dish. It was a sort of 'who did it best' situation. Lemon snow, a dessert that my mom used to make, came into conversation not too long ago. Family dinner now occurs once a month and my youngest, Ayla, thought she would make it but wanted to try it out first, before offering it to the rest of the family.

So, this past Sunday, she came over for chicken dinner and brought over dessert - lemon snow. I'll just say that there were no leftovers.

Marimekko

A couple of weeks ago my daughter and I, along with two of her friends, went to the Textile Museum of Canada to see the Marimekko exhibit.

Just a little introduction for those of you who are not familiar with the Finnish textile company.

 

There was a lot to see.

 

Huge pieces of fabric.

 

Bright, vibrant colours, graphic.

 

Historic pieces.

 

This one was a reproduction.

 

Patterns and fabric samples.

 

 

Someone had a wonderful collection of garments (most of them were the same size.)

 

More garment patterns and a doll pattern.

 

Graphic floor cushions.

 

My daughter and her friends really liked the simplistic coat dresses. A 60s, Twiggy style for those of you who remember.

 

Lots of colour.

 

Lots of pattern.

 

 

Not all were simplistic. Some fabrics were quite busy with design.

 

At the end of the exhibit...

 

 

there was a great display...

 

of small...

 

samples of...

 

bright...

 

beautiful fabrics.

 

 

 

I have my own piece of Marimekko fabric.

 

This is a long strip (it's folded on my lovseat) that was given to me by my blogging friend, Ulla.

I will be using it in a special quilt that will hang in my home.

 

 

 

Just a little off topic: My family knows I always have questions and some of them are strange or 'off the wall.' Here's my question for today: it's about the Pope.

All the cardinals who could potentially have become Pope come in all different sizes. Tall, short, skinny and rotund. So, how many papal outfits do they have waiting for just the right person? The white garments that Pope Francis wore when he first appeared on the balcony looked like it fit like a glove - tailored just for him.

Tuesday Treat

Just a little photoshop work today. My middle daughter makes calendars for the family every year filled with wonderful photos. The photos are of the previous year and usually feature the different activities that the family members got up to.

This photo was taken in 2011 when little baby Luc was visiting with his mom. The whole family went bowling one day. Luc becomes such a prop for his aunts and uncles.

 

This is the photo that showed up in last year's calendar. A little World Peace in sepia tones. I know it's not the exact photo but I guess this one worked better (I don't have this one in my files) and you get the idea anyway.

 

It's amazing what the world of computers has done. Take my updated profile picture - taken this past Sunday. My daughter cropped the photo since her sister was in the other half of it and I needed a new profile pic.

Update

Well, I wasn't going to show you anymore doll quilts for a while but my friend Ann has completed these.

Seven little quilts with pillows.

 

My little Teddy has friends now - but since it's not finished nor delivered yet, I can't show you the whole thing.

 

And my favourite Peeps now come in turquoise! I know they all taste the same but turquoise is my favourite colour.

 

I broke down and bought some fabric. The remnants are all half off the lowest price. I didn't need them but they are nice to have.

 

I hope you're having a safe and productive weekend.

A Canadian Legend

Stompin' Tom Connors died yesterday. It's a sad time for Canadian music. Stompin' Tom's songs were totally original, patriotic and often, humourous. They were of this beautiful country of ours and of the people who live here. The following are a few of his songs with the first stanza.

Sudbury Saturday Night

The girls are out to Bingo and the boys are gettin' stinko,
And we think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night.
The glasses they will tinkle when our eyes begin to twinkle,
And we'll think no more of Inco on a Sudbury Saturday night. 

 

Tillsonburg (about tobacco farming)

Hey Tom, You ever been to Tillsonburg?
Tillsonburg? My back still aches when I hear that word
While, a way down Southern Ontario
I never had a nickle or a dime to show
A fella beeped up in an automobile
He said "You'll want to work in the Tobacco field's of

Tillsonburg (Tillsonburg) x2
My back still aches when I hear that word


 

The Good Old Hockey Game (The Hockey Song) 

Hello out there! We're on the air,
It's Hockey Night tonight;
Tension grows, the whistle blows,
And the puck goes down the ice.
The goalie jumps, and the players bump,
And the fans all go insane;
Someone roars, "Bobby scores!"
At the good old hockey game.

 

Oh! The good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name;
And the best game you can name,
Is the good old Hockey game

 

 

 

For more info: http://www.stompintom.com/index.htm

You will find a message that Stompin' Tom Connors left for all of his fans.

 

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2013/03/06/stompin_tom_connors_dies_at_age_77.html

 

 

Tuesday Treat

I don't always carry my camera with me but this past weekend, I did. A little drive in the country, snow, bare trees, yes, there is still stuff to interest me. (click on the photos to make them bigger)

 

Interesting stone and brick on one home. I particularly like the stonework on top of the windows.
 

 

I love this. Do you see it? Perhaps...
 

 

if I go closer, or...
 

 

closer still. How's this? Pretty nice, eh? I love the camouflage effect of the trim on the house and the fact that the windows fit right in between. Perfect.

 

Here's another angle. I'd love to see the inside this circular house.

 

 

Have a great, creative week.