Retry - The Perfect Medium

I'm doing another post to see if I can get the pictures from the previous post to show up. They did when I first put them up and have since disappeared into thin air.

 

the watercolour quilt

 

the pillow featuring buttons

 

the table square quilt

The Perfect Medium

 

I like creating in a variety of mediums, but my favourite is fabric. Paper runs a close second. I took a look around my home trying to take photos of the fabric items I've made. I couldn't find very many. A lot of what I stitch is for gifts. And I sew clothes for myself, which don't look very good photographed in the closet. I'm not about to model them for photos, either.
This is a watercolour lap quilt that hangs off the railing in our front entry hall. I made it about 12 years ago and still love the way the colours blend.

 

Pillows are easy and fun. This was a quick project for our bed. I wanted to do something with buttons. This is what resulted!

 

Another quilt. This is a table square, made about 15 years ago. My plan was to make a table quilt for each season. This is the only one that's finished, although two others are in the works. It takes me a long time to finish them. I love the choosing of fabric and the piecing - but not the finishing and quilting.

If you love fabric as I do, run on over to Paris Bebe for some inspiration. Lovely fabrics and a giveaway. Such lovely packages.

It's Coming Together

 

This weekend I hope to complete the project for the Deck the Halls Swap. Here are a few hints, but I can't show you the entire project because (1) it's not done yet and (2) my partner Andi might see it here. But I'm excited about it.

Thinking Ahead

 

I love to make lists. Lists keep me organized and on track. If I don't write things down they quickly disappear from my radar screen of things to do. Making lists at this time of year is especially important - there's lots going on. I've started my Christmas shopping and have begun making a few items. I thought that this year, since I'm teaching school temporarily, I would cut back on the handmade articles. But you know what? One of my classes is extremely challenging (read stressful) and I find such relaxation in sitting down creating something with my hands. All the disruptive behaviour, phone calls and emails to parents and detentions fade away. I NEED to create.

 

I made 5 of these little planning books. They are just 5 x 7 inch spiral notebooks. I covered the front with printed scrapbooking paper, added a stamped label on a torn sheet of contrasting paper and then made cardstock tabs stamped with Gifts, Food, Projects and Inspire. The tags are the width of the book so they won't tear easily. I glued them to individual pages.

It's a Wrap

 

Saturday was a lovely day - we celebrated 2 birthdays. Mine and my eldest daughter's. I just love being together with my family. We relaxed, ate, laughed, watched a movie, ate some more.

I found some red mugs for my daughter, to match her newly renovated kitchen. The box was so pretty that it didn't need wrapping. For this gift I covered the top of the box with scrapbooking paper, glued ribbon around the band and tied it all up with a polkadotted box and a tag made from scraps.

I've decided that this Christmas I'm not buying wrapping paper. While I love making gifts look special, I hate the waste of wrapping just to throw it out. I made some fabric sacks a couple of years ago and I reuse them every year. And there are gift bags, but I like to wrap boxes, too. I've got some ideas up my sleeve and I'll be sharing them with you.

Puttering

 

This morning I filled a sink full of hot soapy water and let my crystal candleholders and vases soak for a bit before rinsing them and drying them to bring out their shine. While the crystal soaked I donned a pair of gloves, spread some paper over the kitchen counter and polished a few bits of silver. Silver candlesticks, a graceful bud vase and a tiny mug engraved with my husband's name. It was a gift from his grandparents when he was born. The inside needs refinishing and it's just used as a decoration although all three of our children did take a few sips from it.

I cleared away the harvest decor from the mantel, china buffet and tables and dusted everything well. Then to the rearranging - my favourite part! I added, subtracted, adjusted and squinted to see that everything would be just right. There's still some tweaking to be done, but in the meantime I'll enjoy the pairing of soft silver and brilliant crystal combined with delicate lace on my mantel.

All Grown Up

 

She's married now, has a responsible job teaching English to high schoolers and is one of my dearest friends, but 26 years ago, in a small mission hospital on the edge of the Amazon jungle, she was my firstborn child. She was tiny and perfect. Her father and I gazed in wonder at her scrunched-up face and thought of her as our princess. We couldn't imagine what her life would bring, how she and her siblings would colour our lives with joy.

Happy birthday, princess.

Victorian Pastels

 

When I was younger (teens through thirties) I thought of myself as one of those "gentle, pastel-clad, always elegant" Victorian women. I dressed in pastel colors, had longish hair and dreamed of alabaster skin. Well, I discovered that wasn't me.
While I continue to strive for elegance and grace, I've learned that I can do that while still being myself - crazy as a loon at times, ready for adventure, with short hair.

My youngest daughter feels much the same as I do. We laugh over our idealization of the wispy floaty pale dresses that continue to appeal to us although we dress in definite colors. But monochromatic palettes still appeal. This morning I came downstairs to find this oh, so lovely paper rose in a silver vase on the breakfast table. Made by my daughter, the card accompanying it said, "soft, victorian pastels - sigh. Have a Happy Birthday, Mom." And we laughed together.

It's my birthday today and I'm blessed with a wonderful family. My official party will be on Saturday, together with my eldest daughter who also celebrates this week. But today is THE day. My husband is taking me out for a casual dinner this evening. My mother called (we don't live in the same town) and I opened her gift to me - a lovely crystal cream and sugar set.

I have a few hours to myself today, before heading off to teach. What will I do? I can't decide between sewing something fun or wandering through a used bookstore. I may just head down and see if I can find the new Victoria magazine on the newsstand. It's supposed to be out today. I signed up for a subscription, but was informed that I won't be getting the first issue.

A day filled with potential!

One of the best days

 

On Friday night my husband and youngest daughter and I watched "A Good Year." It's not a great movie but the scenery took me back to June. My husband and I had a wonderful time visiting Paris, Provence and Spain. In Provence, we stayed in Avignon. One day we rented a motor-scooter. I was VERY nervous at first, envisioning my skin scraping along the pavement if we fell. With only the most rudimentary map, we zoomed our way to the Pont du Gard. I was in awe. As a lover of history, I wondered if perhaps some of the Roman soldiers who were in Palestine during the time of Christ and the early church might have tramped along the bridge.

The day was hot and sunny. Tim and I had brought along our swimming suits. Changing in the bushes was a prickly experience and the rocky river bottom hard on my feet. But how cool and refreshing the water felt. As I floated on my back and gazed at the bridge I was sure the men who had built with stones had done the very same thing.

Later that day we drove along small country roads. Warm air scented with olive trees, vineyards, sunflowers and rosemary rushed against my face, filling my senses with the sights, smells and sounds of this small part of the world.

Now, with winter descending in grey skies and cooling air, I know that summer is gone but the memories will remain.

Corners of my Home

 

I love the main bathroom. My daughter found some prints of elegant ladies and we took our cue from them to create a "French-themed" bathroom. The shower curtain is like a page from a French newspaper, in black and various beiges. I found the silver tray at a Salvation Army store and like the look it creates - corraling all the bits and pieces of the bathroom counter.

 

I accented the room with red towels, candles and a few other accessories.

Christmas time's a'coming

 

My partner for the Christmas swap, Andi wants to see more of my home. I realized that I haven't taken many pictures that feature my home or decorating efforts. I'm trying to do more of that, inspired by the lovely photos I see in so many blogs. I love decorating and creating vignettes throughout my home. I just never thought to take photos!
On the doorknobs of our rooms I hang these crazy quilted hearts that I made years ago. I don't really decorate the bedrooms, but like to have a small touch of Christmas upstairs to complement the downstairs.

 

This was last year's tree. I'm hoping to add more white to it this year. I like simplicity, but not minimalism, if that makes any sense. I don't like clutter. I love seeing the branches of the tree. To me, the tree is a large part of the atmosphere and I don't want to use it just as an ornament stand. We always have a "real" tree. The scent wafts through the house.

 

I do something different every year for the dinner table. Last year I went with a red and white theme (obviously). I cut paper snowflakes from vellum and laid them over a red table runner. I wish I had added some greenery to the candle tray in the middle of the table. I haven't really thought about what I'll do this year.

Hope this helps a little, Andi. I'll post more photos of my home in the next few days.

Signposts

 

I sometimes wish there were more signposts like this in life. It would make things so much easier if I knew that if I chose one direction, I'd end up at exactly the right destination. But choosing just one path means I'll miss the others. And how do I know which one I should choose?

I pray and trust God to guide me in my decisions, and I know that he does. But sometimes the confirmation that what I've chosen is the right path comes long after the decision - when I'm well down the trail. And I trudge on...

Christmas Swap

I've joined a swap over at Home Is Where Your Heart Is. And my swap partner is Andi at Andi's Everyday Adventures. It's going to be so much fun!

Beautiful Scandinavia

I wish I could read Danish (I was wrong, it's Swedish). At least, I think that's the language of this blog. The photos are luscious. Here's a link to Min Lilla Veranda Do you think it might mean My Little Porch(or Veranda). I'm just guessing here.

I love the serenity of Scandinavian design and all the white used. I have a Finnish friend whose home is filled with light - she says it's because of the long dark winters.

So Many Ideas

I found this book in our library. It has great ideas for adding personality to a home. I can only read a little bit at a time because I want to jump up and rearrange something.

An Afternoon Stroll

 

First to the bog near our home to watch the ducks barely disturb the surface of the pond,

 

then along the trail where roses once bloomed. Now fat rose hips recline along the fence.

From the bog to the library, then home again for a cup of peppermint tea, haunting music, candles flickering, and more papers to grade.

Moments of Calm

 

My days have been full to exhaustion. I took on a short term teaching position - two classes of grade 8 French - for a teacher who is out on surgery leave. I'll be teaching until the end of January. I love it, but adding another job to my already busy life has proven, uh, challenging. I'm learning that there are some things that can be let go. That's hard for my tendency is to perfection. And I'm learning to savour small moments of calm - like taking a few minutes to sit in my peaceful living room watching a flickering candle.

In the midst of busy days, I'm learning more about David's reminder in the Psalms, "Be still and know that I am God."

So Thankful

 

This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. We had our turkey dinner yesterday. I love having my family all together. A university student whose home is on an island at the other end of the country joined us. It was a mellow evening, full of interesting conversation, comforting food and a small bit of drama.

While cleaning off the turkey carcass, before dessert, the knife slipped and I gashed my finger badly. Ooh, it hurt. I ran it under the water while my husband and daughters scrambled for towels and bandaids. Husband decided that it just might need stitches, so off to the family clinic we went. As it turned out stitches were not needed, but I had a tetanus shot. And came home to a clean kitchen and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

Wide Open Spaces

 

My husband and I were in Alberta last weekend. Red Deer, to be specific. I loved the broad expanses of sky and land, the dry, crisp air and the golden trees.

I attended a writer's conference and then we spent time with family. Walks through falling leaves, watching ducks swim, eating a yummy Alberta beef dinner. It was all good.

Birthday Season

 

September begins what we call "birthday season." Our three children were born in the autumn, along with me. And our daughter-in-law and son-in-law were also born during this time. My husband has his birthday off in the spring.

The last birthday celebration was a couple of weeks ago. We had planned a hot dog roast on the beach, but blustery wet weather forced a change of plans. Instead we roasted hot dogs in our fireplace in the living room. A quilt spread on the floor acted as sand and I had a pile of driftwood on the hearth for effect.

I was inspired to give these small bags as take-home treats (even though everyone is an adult, don't we all love take-home party bags?) A few tea bags, some chocolate and a pretty tag.

Before and After

 

Our entry way looked kind of blah to me. I love the light airiness of it, but I think it needed a little more punch. So...

 

I spent three days painting this. Tedious work, but I like the effect. Maybe a plant in the corner of the landing would add a little more.

One Little Thing

 

So I did finish one thing yesterday - a pin cushion. I've been needing a new one for a long time and had a paper pieced star just floating around. I added a border, backing and batting and voila, a new pin cushion. I worked on other projects as well, but didn't finish anything else. Maybe today.

A Resolution

I read about this over here. And it's such.a.good.idea. I'd be embarrassed to haul out all of my unfinished projects. And I have even more in my head that I'd love to start. So...by the end of today I hope to post at least one finished project.

Summer Days, Summer Days

 

Long shadows fall across the grass. Summer is over and it hardly came. Nights are cooler and the dark falls earlier. Time for fall pursuits. Last night I cut out some fabric on the dining room table - a black skirt, knit top, and gray printed shirt.