Black and white....of sorts

Today I can show you little bits that I've done on my needle roll and also on the purses.  The seams on the black are  designs from Pam Kellogg. 

 Remember me showing you the 'Secret Garden' book?

Well, I used one of the flower in it already
(the middle flower below).

The flowers on the left are snipped from a

piece of lace, with some french knots added.

Not sure what the lace is on the right
but I suspect it is handmade. 

Today's quote, attributed to Anais Nin:  "Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."

Just a seamin' away

Here's the progress over the past

couple of days on the three purses...

As usual, you can click to embiggen,
but if you do you'll see the 'fluff' I 

overlooked in the third picture.

oops.

These three seam treatments (with a litte
addition here and there) came from
the designs of my friend
Pam Kellogg.

Here's your quote of the day...

"You will find, as you look back upon your life,

that the moments when you really lived

are the moment when you have done

things in the spirit of love."

- Henry Drummond

A bookish treasure....and bum, bum, de-bum

Yesterday the mail yielded up a book I've had on my wish list ever since I knew it was available and I wasn't the least disappointed with it...

The book is absolutely crammed with charming illustrations

with areas left blank for you to add your own 

drawings (or whatever you like).

I plan to use some of the illustrations as 

stitching patterns.

 

Here's an example of just one of the charming pages...

Specs:  'Secret Garden - An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book' by Johanna Basford.  Published by Laurence King Publishing Ltd.
ISBN 13:978-1-78067-106-2

Today was our monthly CQTeers meeting,

and we made these....

 

The most interesting pincushion I've ever owned!!

Today's quote:  "The healthy, the strong individual, is the one who asks for help when he needs it.  Whether he has an abscess on his knee or in his soul."  - Rona Barrett

Outside of needle roll

Today's post is somewhat filled with pictures.

I finished the outside part of my 

needle roll last night and here it is

(in sections, because the roll measures
4" x 34" and thus impossible to

get into one photo).

Feel free to click to embiggin!

And...a quote for today...

"The game was to just find something to be
glad about, no matter what t'was....

You see, when you're hunting for the good 

things, you sort of forget the other kind."
- Pollyanna

Interesting day....

Ever have one of THOSE days where you spin your wheels and end up accomplishing nada?  Today was one of those days.  First of all, I DID spin my wheels and took the car out to do errands.  Coming home I heard a rather ominous noise issuing forth from beneath.  Not to worry...it's the accumulation of snow/ice around the wheel well, thought I.    Rather wondered why a young guy wielding a shovel in his driveway looked rather aghast as I drove by.  Oh well.  Turned into our parking lot and heard a VERY loud crashing noise.  Hmm.    Oh well, that was just the ice falling off.  Or was it?  Nope.  A rather large piece of our car was lying in the road behind me.  Oops.  Backed up, retrieved said piece and proceeded the rest of the way home to inform hubby.

Made the dreaded trip to the car doctor to see

how much damage had been done.

Apparently ice had built up behind the covering that goes the entire width of the car between the wheels and the engine which made it come into contact with the tires and it snapped off, leaving some of the engine wiring open to the elements.  Of course it's plastic (isn't everything?).  New part has been ordered and car goes to the spa on Wednesday morning. 

* * * * * * * * *

They say that the Lord giveth and He taketh away (or in today's case he tooketh before he gaveth) but the mail that came after the car issue yielded the dreaded application for the Canada Pension for moi (yes I reach one of THOSE birthdays this year!!) and, wonder of wonders, they're going to give me a little bit of money every month if I can manage to figure out how to fill out the silly forms!  Who knew?

***********

And, just to prove that my entire weekend

wasn't spent being idle...

These three ladies are on the purses I'm 

currently working on (one on each purse).

EDITED TO ADD THE QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

 "Why are women wearing perfumes that smell
like flowers?  Men don't like flowers.
I've been wearing a great scent.
It's called New Car Interior:
- Rita Rudner

(and a fitting quote for today, don't you think?)

I really wasn't idle!

These pictures are just to show you that I really wasn't sitting around eating bon bons and leafing through fashion magazines whilst my computer was at the spa...

I worked on my crazy quilted needle roll,

which I am going to have to show you in three

sections because it's actually 34 inches long...

You'll have to use your imagination to

see that these three sections actually join.  

As always, they're clickable so you can 

see more detail.

I also pieced these background which will

ultimately become three purses I have been 

asked to create.  Of course they have

all requested black, which necessitated a 

fabric purchasing/thrifting expedition.

There's no way I will pay fabric shop prices for

the fancy fabrics I like to use when there's perfectly good

yardage to be found in blouses and shirts!

Here's the pile...

These should keep me out of mischief for a few weeks!

And, here's a quote for today...

"Do your little bit of good where you are;
it's those little bits of good put together that

overwhelm the world."

- Archbishop DesmondTutu

I'm b-a-c-kkkkk!

.....just need a little time to

do some catching up!

A project....and going....

My computer is going to be headed for the doctor for a few days so I will be offline til it's fixed and updated and otherwise monkeyed about with.  I feel withdrawal pains already and it's not even gone!  Whatever will you people get up to while I'm gone? 

In the meantime, I will leave you with a couple

of pictures of what I'll be working on...

It will be a needle roll of sorts when it gets finished and currently measures approx. 4 x 34".  The picture on the left shows the two ends.

This is the middle area.  I have already embroidered 'needles' onto it and will be

adding more embellishments as I go along.  

This will (hopefully) be one of the pieces that will be going along when I do the trunk show, provided I get it done in time.

Today's quote (from Carl Sandburg)

"The past is a bucket of ashes, so live not

in your yesterdays, nor just for tomorrow, but in the here

and now."

More white, and mystery project?

Above is the latest bit I've done on my white wrapping cloth project. 

To the right is the beginning of another project.  Hmmmm......I wonder why it might be going to turn into?  Any guesses??

It seems that I've been asked to do a trunk show for the new quilting guild here so I had better get a couple of things done so I have something available to 'trunk' with!!  Not quite sure what they think they're going to be getting with me, but they seem to be interested in what I do anyway.,

A quote for the day...  This one is attributed to Virginia Satir....  "Life is not the way it's supposed to be.  It's the way it is.  The way you cope with it is what makes the difference." 

More white

This is a completed section of my second wrapping cloth, a section of

which you saw yesterday.

AND....

The quote for today...

"A grandfather was walking through  his yard when he heard

his granddaughter repeating the alphabet in a tone of voice

that sounded like a prayer.  He asked her what she was doing.

The little girl explained:  "I'm praying, but I can't think

of exactly the right words, so I'm just saying all the letters,

and God will put them together for me, because He 

knows what I'm thinking."

- Charles B. Vaughan

Knitting and....dare I say it?.....white

I just finished knitting this set the other night.  The cowl is the 'Austin Cowl' pattern, the fingerless mittens are from the 'Mom's Cabled Mitts' pattern, and the hat is the 'Cathedral Hat' - all found on Ravelry.  The yarn is Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable in the Echo colourway.  Two balls were plenty to make all three items.

The mittens look VERY skinny in the photo, but they

stretch to fit the hands beautifully.

AND,

(probably should be a drumroll right about now,

maybe even some thunder and lightning!)

Lookee.....

The thrill of the hunt!

Yesterday DH and I did one of what we fondly call a 'sanity day'.  We have done those since the kids were in school and just get out of town and do something different than the usual daily 'stuff.  Yesterday was one of our favourite excursions and we toured five different thrift stores that we particularly like.  One of the stores is really well stocked with books and it's often where I manage to find needlework ones to add to my ever-growing collection.  This time I found these....

This one is 'The Harmony Guide to Knitting Stitches' , c1983, published by Lyric Books Limited.  There are hundreds of different pattern stitches in this book, all of which are illustrated in colour.  

This one is my favourite of the two:  'Encylopedia of Needlework'by Donna Kooler;  c. 2000, published by Leisure Arts.  This book covered in very good detail needlepoint, embroidery and counted thread work.  There are over 400 different stitches shown in the book, along with fifteen projects.  This was definitely a great addition to my collection/library.

On a slightly different topic, this is a photo

of one of the gifts I made for Christmas giving.

It's a hand knitted washcloth and soap, done up

to look rather spa-ish.  At least that was the plan

anyway!

The quote for today... "  Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up - 'cause they're looking for ideas".   Paula Poundstone. 

Today....

Today was our monthly CQTeers meeting (actually held over from the last week in December).  We had a grand time catching up and doing our Christmas exchange.  We were accompanied by a band of Merry men...

....all dressed up in their knitted toques and scarves, complete with black top coats!  These adorable, and most handsome, fellows were created by Irene and we each got to have one for our very own.

We did our usual exchange of atc's...

The theme this month was 'Artist Choice', so Sue

and I decided that we really needed to create something 

using the poinsetta-themed facial tissue that Irene gave

us last month.  Sue's is in the top left and mine is middle left.

Irene did the cranes, which are a good luck

symbol in Japan; along with the shoe one on the 

middle right.  I (with a little help from Hallmark) did the

Winnie & Piglet.

We always have a little 'program' where we make something or

learn some technique.  It was my turn to play hostess (who was 

VERY bad at it because I forgot the traditional chocolate we 

love to munch on...oops!!) and therefore up to me to choose what we did.

So we created these little felt chickadees...

Thanks Irene and Sue for a fun day!

Here's the quote for today....attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson...  "To the dull mind all nature is leaden.  To the illumined mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light".  

another short mumble

Still no creative mojo going on here, beyond doing

my atc 'homework' for the CQTeers meeting
tomorrow.

Today's quote is attributed to Martha Mason..."The richest man in the world is not the one who still has the first dollar he ever earned.  It's the man who still has his best friend".

Poor shivering birdies...

Do birds shiver?  I wonder.  The past few days we've had a lot of mourning doves huddled down on our balcony, trying to survive the bitter cold temperatures.  We've been putting lots of food out for them, including some on the table top so that more birds can access it.  They are very skittish and it's impossible to get any pictures, other than through the window (which has a permanent screen), so these aren't the best quality...

I think, for a little added 'interest' to my blog that I will start sharing some of my favourite quotes.  Today I will give you one that was once said by Mary Pickford...

"If you have made mistakes...there is always another chance for you....you may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down". 

Yep....nada.....

Perhaps one or two of my faithful readership (!) might have noticed my absence from blogging for awhile.  My creative muse has gotten up and left the building and, with it being so darned cold here, I think it froze up and isn't willing to come back.  On top of that, my computer is suffering from hiccups and really needs to go to the computer doctor for a checkup and some medication. 

I haven't picked up a sewing needle since before Christmas which is absolutely unheard of for me.  I have managed to do a little knitting but that is minimal too.  Mindless staring at the tv seems to be about all I'm capable of at the moment, which is definitely NOT me either (normally I hate tv).  It seems my normal February blahs have hit early this year.

On another note, at least I've received a few things in the mail in the past couple of weeks that are rather interesting.  You might remember that I got a new bookcase just before Christmas after the demise of my old, well worn, Ikea model.  Now I have more space I really need to get more books in order to fill it....right??   So....

This book caught my eye for two reasons...it's about crazy quilting AND I love the hexagon quilt that is shown throughout the book.   I would love to do one at some point.

Specs:  'Foolproof Crazy Quilting' by Jennifer Clouston,  published by C&T Publishing,  c.2013;  ISBN 978-1-60705-717-8

I have coveted this book ever since I first saw it reviewed on the internet.  All the instructions (and very detailed ones too) are in the book for not only making this lovely little house workbox, but also for a matching needlebook and eight other charming sewing accessories.  I don't think I have ever seen a book with such detailed instructions for every step along the way.  Love it!

Specs:  'Home Sweet Home.  An Embroidered Workbox' by Carolyn Pearce, published by Country Bumpkin Publications, c2011; ISBN 978-0980876703

A treasure

This is one of my Christmas gifts - and is something I will treasure....

It's a lovely vintage hankie case - made from, I think, fine linen.  I don't know if you can tell from the photo (click to embiggen it) but the flowers and the green leaves are appliqued and then additional stitching has been added.  The blue area has been satin-stitched.  The green edging is hand stitched onto the case.

Here it is open - and inside were a number of lovely hankies, including the pretty one with the red crocheted edging.


This belonged to my friends mother and she decided I would treasure it more than she would.  She was right!  Thank you Jan!!!!

A story for a Saturday

I found this in my files and thought you might

enjoy reading it too.  Unfortunately I can't credit

the original author because I don't know who

wrote it.  If you know, please comment so I

can give proper credit!

EDITED TO ADD:  Written by Paul Harvey!
(Thank you Rosalie)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings.  Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work.  Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.

A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other.  What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.  Let me tell you about it.

I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show.  I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice.  You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself.

He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom".  I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job.  I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much.  Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet.  Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."

He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."

And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic.  The average person lives about seventy-five years.  I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.  Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part."

"It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail,"  he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays.  I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy."

"So, I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had.  I ended up having to visit three toy stores to roundup 1000 marbles.  I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio.  Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away."

"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life.  There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast.  This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container.  I figure if I make it until next Saturday then God has blessed me with a little extra time to be with my loved ones...:

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday.  Have a good morning."

You could have heard a pin drop when he finished.  Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments.  I guess he gave us all a lot to think about.  I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym.  Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.  "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."

"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.  "Oh, nothing special,"  I said. "It has just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids.  Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out?  I need to buy some marbles."

This sure gives lots of food for thought doesn't it?

Enjoy your Saturdays,

and maybe go buy some marbles.

Yummy dessert

I thought you might like to see a picture of

our Christmas dessert...

And, just in case you'd like to make your own,

here's the recipe...

ORANGE DESSERT

1 - 3 oz. pkg. orange jello
2/3 c. boiling water

1/2 c. cold water

1 - 16 oz. carton Cool Whip, divided
1 - 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. milk

1/2 c. chocolate crumbs

2 pkg. ladyfingers

1 can mandarin oranges, well drained

Dissolve jello in boiling water.  Add cold water and mix well.  Refrigerate until syrupy (30-45 mins).  Fold in 3 cups of the Cool Whip and set aside. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth and gradually beat in milk.  Fold in remaining Cool Whip.  Grease bottom of 9" springform pan and sprinkle with chocolate crumbs.  Trim ladyfingers to fit the height of the pan and arrange around sides.  Spoon half the orange jello mixture into pan.  Cover with cream cheese mixture, and then remaining jello mixture.  Sprinkle with more chocolate crumbs.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Garnish with orange slices. 

Merry Christmas to all!

This is a picture of our Nativity scene that I originally purchased from Avon when I

was a rep several years ago.I don't have all the pieces that were in the 

collection at the time and, in hindsight, wish I did.

I came across this poem and thought I would

share it with you.  It was written by 

Wilfred A. Peterson.

SLOW ME DOWN LORD
Slow me down, Lord!

Ease the pounding of my heart

By the quieting of my mind.

Steady my harried pace

With a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me,

Amidst the confusions of my day,

The calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves

With the soothing music of the sighing streams

That live in my memory.

Help me to know

The magical restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art 

Of taking minute vacations of slowing down to look at a flower;
To chat with an old friend or to make a new one;

To pat a stray dog;

To watch a spider build a web;

To smile at a child;

Or to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me each day

That the race is not always to the swift;

That there is more to life than increasing its speed.

Let me look upward

Into the branches of the towering oak

And know that it grew slowly and well.

Slow me down, Lord,

And inspire me to send my roots deep

Into the soil of life's enduring values

That I may grow toward the stars

Of my greater destiny.

May your Christmas be safe, healthy and above all happy.  From our house, to yours and to those you love, a very blessed Christmas.