Tah Dah!!!!!

Well, here it is.  Finished.  Done.  Ready to be delivered.

SOLD!

I think you can click on it to embiggen to show more details (if you so desire, of course!).  And below is the original photo I worked from...

I chose not to attempt fate by adding all the shadows that appear in the original - just a tad outside my current abilities I think!

Now it's on to working on another barn!  I think it will be this one...

It might be a little slow moving for a day or two - managed to do a number on my back last night so I'm moving slower than usual!

Today is another anonymous quote..."When you feel like quitting, think about why you started"

Nearly finished....maybe

Yesterday I had some time to put a few more finishing touches on the house project, as you can see from this picture...

I've added the tree top on the left and changed the shrub on the right from what it was.  

For those of you interested in how I might have made the tree top...it originated with making some confetti fabric....

I chose about six different tones of green fabric, layered them, and then pretty much shredded them with my rotary cutter.  Once that was done I placed them between two pieces of melt-away stabilizer and then heavily stitched through all the layers.  I rinsed away the stabilizer (if you do this, be sure not to throw the rinse water down the drain because there's a lot of teeny fabric bits that escape, along with the glue....probably not good for your drain).  After it dried, I (for lack of a better description) stuck my fingers in some of the holes to embiggen them to give it a more 'airy' look.  Hmmm.  Not such a good result because a lot of the fabric bits ended up being 'wrong side up' and it was too white.  So....I watered down some different green shades of folk art paint and 'blobbed' some on here and there to camouflage where the fabric was wrong side up....plus it gave an added dimension to the colouring overall.  Once that dried, I simply cut the tree shapes from it and stitched them onto my quilt.  Then I applied a layer of fine tulle over top to be sure to corral any stray little bits of fabric.  

Another anonymous quote for you today...."One smile can start a friendship.  One word can end a fight.  One look can save a relationship.  One individual can change your life."

More progress

It's a dull rainy day here (not snow...hooray!) and so this photo isn't the best, but I think you can see some of the work I've added...

After stitching all those lazy daisies onto the planter vines on the fence my fingers weren't overly happy!  In some places there was six layers of fabric to stitch through.  

Another anonymous quote for you today..."Behind you, all your memories.  Before you, all your dreams.  Around you, all who love you.  Within you, all you need"

Hodge Podge of Mumblings

Although I did get some work done over the weekend on the house project, it's not really noticeable enough to show you just yet.  

In the interest of having at least one picture in this post, I thought I'd share this little funny (hopefully no one is offended!).  

One step forward - (you know the rest)

Sometimes even I am astounded at my ability to do something stupid.  You're think, after all these years, I wouldn't be surprised at myself.  Anyhoo....a couple of progress pictures on the house...

I know, from this, that you can't probably see what I've done.  It wasn't until I started adding the embroidery details that I realized.  Perhaps this will show what I did?...

No?  You mean you can't see it?  Well, I guess that means that maybe my 'fix' worked.  (if you can't figure it out, count how many grey 'blobs' there are under the verandah roof in the first picture....and then how many there are in the second picture.  I thought (ahem) that artistic license meant that I could simply add a window where there isn't one.  Worse....I added that window in the corner of the wall where anyone with half a brain would know that a window wouldn't fit.  Sigh.  Ah well, hopefully I've camouflaged it and no one will notice.

There now, never let it be said that I'm afraid to show you everything, warts and all!!

Today I don't have a quote per se, but thought I'd share this little 'funny' instead...(author unknown)....

A small change

Woke up to lots of snow yesterday - and didn't get the heavy rain they predicted.  Right now there's more snow piled up in the parking lots than there's been all winter.  Where, oh where, is spring?

At least the conditions outside meant that I could be working on the house project, as you can see from this...

Another anonymous quote..."God gave us mouths that close and ears that don't, that must tell us something"

A start - and a stop

We have had a most interesting weekend (and it's still ongoing)....freezing rain, ice pellets, snow, rain, heavy wind.....you name it, we've had it.  This morning we awoke to what some would call a winter wonderland with all the trees covered in ice.  It may be pretty, but it's downright dangerous.  Fortunately the power, at least here, has stayed on, but that's not the case for many other areas in southern Ontario.  The weather people are now saying we're in for very heavy rain in the next day or so - which is going to create a whole 'nother sort of havoc.  People are being strongly advised to stay home and off the roads, which is precisely what we're doing.  It's better to stop and stay put, rather than risking our lives (and that of others).  

So....being housebound means I can get some work done on the house project.  Over the weekend I laid down the basic pieces of fabric and came up with this...

At this stage I always wonder why I'm even attempting to do this.  It looks awful.  I know it will get better (at least I hope it will!).

And....if anyone is interested....the piece (below) is for sale.  Drop me a message and we'll talk.

Instead of a quote today, I found this interesting tip....

My question is....

how am I supposed to remember

to clench my fist??

Committed!

And yes, I already know what thoughts are going through your mind!  Some would say it would serve me right...ahem.  Anyhoo.....

The person who purchased the barn (from my previous post) has commissioned me to recreate their house in fabric!  My first commission since I embarked on this landscape caper.  They live in an amazing old farmhouse that is a perfect place to visit (actually our #2 son and daughter-in-love were married there).  I really hope I can manage to do this house justice!

From an anonymous source..."When my arms can't reach people who are close to my heart I always hug them with my prayers"

Finished - and Sold!!!!

The latest barn is finished - and, wonder of wonders, it promptly sold!  And....even more amazing....it could have sold twice over.  Still reeling from that one!  

SOLD!

Now, if I could only sell the crazy quilted one I'd be definitely over the moon!  

Today's quote is from Eleanor Brownn..."Clutter is not just physical stuff.  It's old ideas, toxic relationships and bad habits.  Clutter is anything that does not support your better half"

A little more done

I've been able to spend a couple of days at home so got a bit more done on the latest barn....

And here's a close up so you can see some of the details
(you can click to embiggen if you'd like)

Another anonymous quote..."Words are like keys.  If you choose them right, they can open any heart and shut any mouth"

A finished project!

Over the weekend I finished the crazy quilt barn landscape quilt.  Overall I'm pleased with it, but had I a chance to do it over I would choose to use a darker thread to do the machine embroidered seams.  Initially I didn't want the seams to be the focal point and take away from the barns....however, now I look at it I think it would have been okay to use a darker thread.  Next time I'll know!

FOR SALE

I think you should be able to click to

embiggen these so you can see the

details a bit better

And, just to remind you of what the original photo looked like...

Today's quote comes from two favourite characters..."How do you spell 'Love'?" (Piglet).  "You don't spell it, you feel it" (Pooh).

A little something

Over the weekend I stash dived and came up with enough yarn to make this...

He measures about 6" tall and the pattern is the 'Little Bigfoot Monkey' by Sharon Ojala and can be found HERE.  

Another anonymous quote..."Beautiful has nothing to do with looks.  It's how you are as a person and how you make others feel about themselves"