Toast

 I will be off the computer for a while....my computer fried after several power disruptions yesterday.  It appears the router is toast too.  Not only that but my tablet and my cell phone aren't working either...both are refusing to turn on.  They say things happen in 3's and seems it's my lot right now.  Call is in to a computer repair guru but of course he's on holidays.  I will return when I can 

Some progress

 There's been some progress on the landscape.  You might notice that the bottom edge has changed because I decided to add some 'sand' and that there's been a tent and what I thought was a canoe but now I'm thinking it's more like  a rowboat.  Not sure if it will be staying because I really had been planning on a canoe.      The Resident Chef informs me that the 'canoe' is actually a dory and therefore would not be transportable into this sort of setting.  So...the dory is gone and it's been replaced with something much more the shape of a canoe.  Phew, disaster averted!

Question - is anyone else having difficulties either making comments, or responding to them, on blogs?  I periodically have issues it seems and am wondering if it's just me or if it's a universal issue.

- THESE would make cute therapy chickens!

- THIS looks like it would be a fun process albeit a bit messy!  (scroll down for the how-to)

- I found THIS article quite interesting and something we all should beware of when buying patterns.

- Have a peek at the varied creations of THIS artist!  I love her use of colour and raw materials.

Today's quote is from Martin Luther King Jr....."We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers"

You knew it, didn't you

 Yes, a new landscape is underway and this is where it stands now...

- Joy has announced a fun new quilt-a-long and you can find her introductory post HERE.

- Although I don't have the necessary 'base' to make any of THESE I must admit I am intrigued.

- Although there are no instructions for THIS I think it's so pretty!!

- Sometimes it IS the little things as you can see from THESE.

And - I would like to wish all my friends in the US a very happy July 4th!

Today's quote..."A narcissist wants the authority of a king while having the accountability of a toddler"

Happy Canada Day!

 I am going off schedule with this post but I wanted to wish all my Canadian friends a very happy Canada Day.  

This short You-Tube video says what I feel about my country 

A wee finish

 Here is the little knitted project I was telling you about last time....

My friend is expecting a new grand baby so I want to make a couple things to welcome the new addition.  This is the toy I often make for babies and the pattern can be found HERE.  I used sock yarn for this one but I have made it in other weights of yarn as well.  It measures about 12" from the tip of the hat to his/her toes.

- THIS is a cute project for summer use.

- Depending on the colourway you choose, THIS would be a nice addition to your decor (and would use up scraps too).

- You could use THIS pattern to make all sorts of things.

- THIS would be a fun project and wouldn't it make nice gifts too?

Today's quote..."If Plan 'A' didn't work, the alphabet has 25 more letters"

Almost, but not quite

 I'm working on a small knitting project that I had hoped would be done in time to show you today, but it's not quite done.
So, just for fun, I had to show you this.  There was a call for help from the RC and I arrived on the scene to discover this...

The Great Exploding Kefir Bottle

We make our own kefir and sometimes you risk an explosive escape from the bottle when you take the lid off.  Such was the case and the RC needed me to get him a bowl to collect the overflow.  Good stuff, obviously!

- The quilters among you might find THIS tool invaluable.

- Be sure to have a look at what THIS amazing artist does (and what he uses for raw materials)

- THIS looks like a fun project that would result in something really pretty.

- Never let it be said that there's not an eclectic element to this blog - go HERE to see what I mean!

- Sometimes it's the little simple things that are the best (see HERE)

Today's quote..."The oldest computer was owned by Adam and Eve.  It was an Apple with very limited memory.  Just 1 byte and everything crashed"

An experiment in upcycling

 I've been wanting a 'new' summer-weight housecoat but they are extremely rare at the thrift stores and I refuse to pay full price.  So....enter a thrifted bed sheet.  I really liked this one when I saw it and the price was right (under $10) and I thought there might be enough fabric to make a housecoat using a pattern I've used to make them for our boys years ago (McCall's 9638 - no doubt no longer available).  I felt confident tackling it because it doesn't have to be a thing of beauty - just functional.

Well then, THAT was a Debacle of The Grande Scale!!!  Talk about a disaster of the first order.  I don't know why I keep thinking I can sew clothing and make it fit...or even come remotely close.  All I can say is good thing that bed sheet cost less than $10 or I'd really be upset.  Needless to say, my efforts landed in the receptacle-that-one-keeps-next-to-the-sewing-machine and there will NOT be a picture to show you today.  Obviously I don't need a summer-weight housecoat.  Sigh.

- I think THESE are awww-worthy.

- THIS is a simple little project that even kids might like to do.

- I doubt I'll try THIS but I'm definitely curious to know if it actually would work.

- Although THIS is just a picture with no instructions, I think it's a great idea (good use perhaps for old knitting needles?)

- Have a peek through the galleries of THIS artist!

Today's quote...

The rest of the jacket debacle

 I turned the balance of the jacket pieces into postcards that look something similar to this.  They still need their backs but at least you can get the general idea.

- If you have a bunch of silver teaspoons, perhaps the ideas found HERE would give you a use for them.

- THIS guy simply made me smile.

- Have a peek at the amazing creations of THIS artist!

- THIS guy made me laugh!  Remember when ceramic classes were all the rage?  I remember making something similar to this to use in the kitchen to hold a sponge or scrubby.  

Today's quote...."Every sunrise is a reminder that you have another chance to be better"

Three times - a charm??

Never let it be said that I don't share the good, the bad, and the ugly! You will remember that I've been working on a denim jacket and had it to the point of needing buttons and snaps.  A trip to the fabric shop yielded what I needed.  BUT.  And there's a big BUT involved in this whole debacle.  

I asked the RC to take a picture of it on my body and...yuck.  It's too short in the body (hits my hips at just the wrong spot....a little too short in the sleeves...and is shaped like a tent.  At the risk of crashing your computer, see what I mean?....

So...first it was a quilt flimsy....then it became a jacket....and now it's this....

Pattern I used is the 'Catch All Caddy'
from Patterns By Annie
As a nod to the thickness of the quilted denim, I left out the inner dividers.

The rest might be has been cut up and became bases for postcards.

- THIS is a project you might like to add to your arsenal.  I'm sure there are many organizations (think in terms of fire departments, police, etc) that would welcome them.

- THIS is a sweet little project that would work all year 'round.

- THIS is really pretty and could work in a number of applications.

- HERE is another fun little project.

- And HERE is another fun little weaving project.

Today's quote...

Introducing.....

 HIM AND ME V
(FOOTPRINTS TOGETHER)

measures approx. 19x21"

FOR SALE!

- THESE are the kinds of bugs I like!

- Many of us seem to accumulate an over-abundance of shopping bags, so THIS is a good idea to make something useful out of them.

- THIS is quite pretty and would be fun to make.

- I'm sure you've heard of emotional support chickens and THIS cute little design caught my eye.

- HERE is something you might have fun making.

- Have a peek at the incredible creations of THIS artist!

Today's quote....

High hopes

 Yes, I had high hopes the latest landscape would be ready to unveil today but we decided to run the roads yesterday afternoon so I didn't have time to stitch.  So...I will show you a small section and hopefully will have the whole thing ready for showing you on Friday.

- THIS looks like a fun project.

- And so does THIS!

- Those who are interested in weaving might like to see the projects found HERE.

- Although this isn't the right season for THIS, perhaps you might like to consider the possibilities.

Today's quote..."Truth does not mind being questioned.  A lie does not like being challenged"

Perching

 I've added another element to the latest landscape.  There's still work to be done on this section but thought I'd show you the beginning stages...

- The weavers among you might like to have a perusal of the wonderful works by THIS artist!

- THESE would be fun to make, but I'd want to add something rubbery on the bottom for traction.

-THIS is a rather nice bag that could serve all sorts of purposes.

- HERE is something you might like to try!

Today's quote..."Life is the most difficult exam.  Many people fail because they try to copy others, not realizing that everyone has a different question paper"

Hmmmm

 This week I was given this quilt flimsy and I will be taking it to the local quilt guild meeting in September to see if anyone wants to complete it.  Someone has spent a lot of hours doing all those embroidered flowers so it would be a shame not to complete the project.  It's not something I want to tackle so I'll be happy to pass it along.

Sorry about the picture quality.  My quilt holder upper (aka The RC) couldn't hold it all.  I think it's at least a double bed size, possibly queen.

This is a closer photo of one of the embroidered medallions.  

- THIS is a rather nice little tote bag that could serve a myriad of uses.  And THIS is an interesting one too.

- I must admit I was gobsmacked when I saw the prices on THESE!!  Obviously I work really cheap!

- THIS is an interesting technique using embroidery to weave.  And you can read more about the technique HERE.

- The weavers among you might find THIS of interest.

Today's quote is from Margaret Atwood..."In the end, we'll all become stories"

knit, knit, knittery, knit

 I'm really having fun creating this blanket using sock yarn.  It's going to take me awhile but it's mindless knitting and perfect for sitting in front of the tv in the evenings. 

 

- Please check out this redwork block of the month that is starting HERE!  Block One is available HERE.

- If you like to dabble in watercolours, perhaps some of the ideas HERE might be of interest.

- THIS is a great use for a flannel shirt.

- Just look at what creative people can do with teabags (HERE)

Today's quote..."Every night we go to sleep without a guarantee of living tomorrow, yet we still set an alarm to wake up.  That is hope"

So you know what's happening now, don't you

 Yes, I've started another landscape (nothing new about that, is there).  It's #5 in the 'Him and Me' series I've been working on.  I don't know for sure, but at this moment I think it might be the last in the series.  

- Have a look at what THIS artist does - using clothespins!

- THIS looks like something that would be fun to experiment with.

- Amazing that someone thought to come up with THIS!

- And aren't THESE cute?  

Today's quote..."Kindness is loaning someone your strength instead of reminding them of their weakness"

Close enough

 Close counts, right?  The jacket is as done as I can get it for now because my stash let me down.  I know - horrors!!  I need four big dome fasteners (only have 2) and I was sure, in all the buttons I have, there would be four big red buttons.  Sadly no.  So, I'm calling the jacket done - until I can get to Fabricland to get what I need to totally finish it.  You'll have to use your imagination and pretend to see four large red buttons on the front where the pins are.

And....wonder of wonders!  It fits!!
(well, the sleeves and the body could have been
a wee bit longer, but it's okay)

- If you've discovered the many uses for beeswax wraps, perhaps you'd like to try making your own from the tutorial HERE.

- If we still had a garden I'd like THESE.

- Aren't THESE pretty?  I can think of lots of uses for them.

- Ummmmmm - WHY???

- Some of THESE are incredible!  

Today's quote..."Be nice to crafters.  We have enough creativity to make your death look like an accident and due to a lifetime of hot glue gun burns, we leave no fingerprints"