Part way

 

Happy Canada Day to my Canadian friends
and Happy Independence Day to my friends in the US

I'm part way finished with the embroidery on the landscape.  I'm still building on what's there now but you can see it starting to take shape.

- THIS looks like it would be great fun to try.

- The same blogger has THIS tutorial that looks like it would make great gifts (not that I think about THAT day in December all year round!)

- There's some ideas HERE for recycling denim.

- Have a peek through the art by THIS amazing creator.

Today's quote is from Thomas Sowell..."It is usually futile to try to talk facts to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance"

More mumblings

 A warning about the eyeglass cleaner I talked about in my previous post - please heed the warnings from Becki in the comments on that post regarding glasses with an anti-glare coating.

I would love to be able to show you progress on the landscape and rest assured there HAS been some, however it's at a point where I really can't show you without revealing the whole thing.  I want to prolong the suspense (or something).  The embroidery is happening but it's taken several days already and is likely to take several more before I'm calling it done.  Hopefully I can show you something on Friday.

- HERE are some eye-catching ideas for yarn storage.

- Have a look through the work of THIS amazing artist!

- I came across THIS really good article concerning different online selling platforms.  Lots of food for thought there.

- Have a look at THIS!  And oh wow - THIS, too!

Today, instead of a quote....

Car progress and a question for you

I've mostly completed the work on the VW 'Beetle' as you can see from this photo....

I'm currently working on the embroidery in the foreground and I'll save that to show you later on (mainly because right now it doesn't look like much! 

Now, for the question....do any of you use 'Square' for online transactions?  I'm searching for a better alternative to Paypal who seem to be causing nothing but grief.  I 'did a google' and it's suggesting 'Square' as a good alternative but I want to know from those who are users if you are happy with it before I attempt to sign on.  What say you?

- Just to prove (hah!) that you just never know what you might find on this blog, how about a 'recipe' for eyeglass cleaner you can make yourself?  I was getting tired of buying little teeny containers of it in the drug store so did some research and made my own.  3 parts rubbing alcohol, 1 part water and 2 or 3 drops of liquid dish soap (Blue Dawn, preferably).  Shake before using.  And you're welcome.  PLEASE NOTE:  SEE BECKI's COMMENTS BELOW RE GLASSES WITH ANTI-REFLECTIVE COATING

- Have a peek through the gallery of THIS artist!

- And THIS artist too.

- I thought THIS was an interesting process (and you can find part two HERE)

- And seeing THESE brought a smile to my face!

Today your quote is from Madalyn Beck..."Don't forget to love the way you want to be loved, listen the way you want to be heard, give the way you hope others give, care the way you want others to care, because change doesn't start with them, it starts right here"

More progression

 The eagle-eyed among you might notice that I changed the roofline of the building in the foreground somewhat and that there's more stitching been added to the boards.  I also added the border.

- Here's a tip if you happen to live in an area that's prone to power outages....keep a few plastic jugs filled with water in your freezer.  The ice will help keep the freezer cold longer should the power go out.

- I love the look of THIS but oh....the ends!!!!!

- Have a peek through the sweet creations of THIS artist.

- THIS looks like a fun process.

- THIS post popped up in my blogging feed and first it made me smile and then I scrolled down and laughed (guffawed actually!).

- There's a free online class available HERE if you're interested in dyeing with natural products.  Time sensitive though - only available til the 29th I believe.

- I know THIS is a paid pattern but I love it.  I've been looking for a little sweater for summer use and this one just might go on my list.

Today's quote..."Remember as you slide down the great bannister of life, there are gonna be people who are splinters in your butt.  Pick 'em out and slide on!"

A little progress - that takes hours

Over the weekend I worked on the latest landscape and thought I'd show you a closeup of part of it.  

I think you can see from the photo the area that I've worked on.  I use fabric that's preprinted with the barnboard design but then I machine stitch on top of it to add dimension.  It's a slow process but I think it brings it to life.  At least I hope so!

- Did you play with paper dolls when you were young?  Perhaps you'd like to play with them again from HERE.  

- There's a nice quilt pattern HERE for using jelly rolls.

- If you're feeling the urge to make a teddy bear, perhaps one of the pattern links HERE might be the one.

Today the quote is from Harvey MacKay..."Time is free but it's priceless.  You can't own it, but you can use it.  You can't keep it, but you can spend it.  Once you've lost it you can never get it back"

Evening doings

 Over the past few nights I've created an outfit for our wee little lady.  I made them in the next size up so they won't fit her until fall.  

Hat is THIS one and the sweater is THIS one (only I chose to make it sleeveless).  Yarn is SO cushy - Bernat Baby Velvet.

- THESE are fun!

- And have a peek through THESE too.

- I came across THIS and think it's an intriguing way to make a jacket (you'll have to scroll down to follow all the steps).

Today's quote is from Lori Deschene..."No one changes unless they want to.  Not if you beg them.  Not if you shame them.  Not if you use reason, emotion or tough love.  There's only one thing that makes someone change:  their own realization that they need to do it.  And there's only one time it will happen:  when they decide they're ready"

Under seige!

 Squirrels are attacking - on more than one front!  Wish I could get a photo of the attack squirrel who has managed to figure out how to climb four stories up a painted brick wall and then poise himself above us and then leap from there onto my poor suffering fuschia hanging pot and from there to industriously dig up our lettuce.  Opening the door leads to him making a flying leap to the ground (three stories below) and take off running.  Resident Chef is NOT happy about having to keep replanting his lettuce!

And, on the sewing front, it seems there's been yet another squirrel at work because I bailed (momentarily) on the latest landscape and instead turned to making sleep pants for #1 son out of this fabric...

Pattern is this one...

McCall's # 4244

Both of our sons are quite tall (6'4" and 6'8") so getting lounge pants long enough is practically impossible.  So....Mom, to the rescue.  

- If you're interested in eco-printing, perhaps you might find THIS of value. And if you'd like to explore further, go HERE.

- There's another method HERE you might like to try.  I really like the idea of adding dye to the water.

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS fibre artist.

- THIS falls under the fact (or fallacy?) that this blog is full-service (and you never know what you're going to find!)

Today's quote is from F. Scott Fitzgerald..."It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living"