Words to Inspire

Give thanks with grateful hearts.

Time for a Creative Break

As many of you know I'm a "mature student" - which means I've raised my children, got them through potty training, elementary school, the agonies of high school crushes, graduation, university degrees, two are married and all three are independent, relatively well adjusted considering who raised them, and wonderful people. And after all those years of being a mom, I'm back in school, studying to attain a French degree and a teaching certification. It's going well, another 18 -20 months should see it finished (at least the degree part). I'm working hard to complete three courses before Christmas - Anthropology, Psychology and Early French Literature.

I have to keep telling myself that getting through school is what's my priority for time. But sometimes, I just HAVE to make something! I try to confine my creative puttery endeavours to the weekends, but alas, I fell by the wayside this morning. After finishing the study questions for a chapter on Mesoamerican Civilizations, I did a little stitching and stuffing. I stamped some linen with botanical images, stuffed the squares with rose petals and lavender from my summer garden, and took a few photos. Took about 45 minutes and it feels wonderful!

I have a confession to make. I really don't like the scent of lavender. Everyone waxes poetic about it, but to me it's medicinal, too strong, and acrid. I much prefer citrus, or roses, or almost anything (except musk.) But I don't mind a tiny tiny teeny bit of lavender fragrance wafting from my linen closet - a hint that someone is caring about the little things in this household.

Oh, and the other night I started glittering some tree shapes for which I have great plans - they've been lying on a paper on my office/studio floor since the weekend - waiting in all their glitteriness while I turn my back to them and focus on the computer and my books. Patience, little trees, I'll get to you soon.

And now, moving on....to South American Chiefdoms and States....

Giveaway

I have always been attracted to colour themed collections. And what is prettier than this? I'm enthralled. Laces and buttons and ribbons, oh my!

There's a giveaway at Robin's Egg Blues that you don't want to miss.

Weekend Wrapup

Our weekend was filled with quiet delights - fires that crackled companionably, puttering around the house, a long walk in the dusky afternoon. Fireside companions on Friday night were our eldest daughter and her husband. We played a game of Trivial Pursuit - won by the ladies, but just barely.

Chocolate fondue in front of the fireplace - mmm good. Just good chocolate melted with a bit of butter and cream. Apples and bananas are the vehicle for getting the chocolate to the mouth. I could eat the chocolate by the spoonful!

And today we shared dinner with our youngest daughter and her boyfriend. Roast chicken, lemon spinach couscous, steamed broccoli and these wonderful Thyme Creamed Tomatoes, from Laura Calder's cookbook, French Taste. They were scrumptious - like candy, Ashley said. These are almost the last tomatoes from our garden. I have a small bowlful left and then, no more until next summer. But I think this recipe would improve even supermarket tomatoes.

I've posted the recipe on my recipe blog. I found French Taste in the library, and it's chockful of good recipes - I want to try them all!

An Autumn Road Trip

A beautiful rainbow greeted me when I opened the blinds yesterday morning. Sunlight glinted off the wings of the seagulls drifting on the wind. A perfect day for a road trip - and that's what we had planned!

Our first stop was at the Malahat view point overlooking Saanich Inlet. I never get tired of looking at sky, water and trees.

Neither does Tim. See how it was bright enough to make him shade his eyes? We love every bit of sunshine we can get at this time of year.

Nanaimo was our goal. We completed a little business then set out to walk along the waterfront. Interesting scupltures but I couldn't find any description. I didn't look too hard because rain was falling.

At the end of the fishing pier people were hauling in crabs.

This gull was looking for handouts.

We ate lunch at this bistro built on pilings out in the harbour. I had a BLT with yam fries, Tim had a jerk chicken jalapeno burger with regular fries.

The best part of the meal....

The view! On a damp, cloudy day, beauty is subdued but always present. I need to remember that in the cloudy days of life - to look for the beauty that is always there. To be intentional.

I Will Remember

Making Stuff

Every year I plan on what I'd like to make for Christmas. For me, handmade gifts are the best. I love receiving them and giving them. In about August or at the latest, September, I start thinking about what I'd like to make for gifts this Christmas.

This year there was too much drama going on in our household for me to think about Christmas as early as usual. But I still have lots of ideas swirling around in my mind and I have a few projects on the go. I've learned that it's no good to get all flustered about undone projects, but just to let them go until later. Gifts can be given all year round.

An alternative to making everything myself is to purchase gifts that are handmade by other artists and crafters. These gifts are much more personal, and often of better quality than mass-produced items from overseas.

If you click on the image to the right (the one on the left is just an image, no link), you'll find a directory of handmade items compiled by Michelle at Wee Folk Art. Maybe you'll find something you've been looking for there.

November Evening, Bavarian Apple Tart

We've had a lovely Sunday. Our son and his wife came over for lunch and after they left Tim and I went for a long walk around the bog. Today a bit of sun shone in spite of the dreary forecast. A heavy carpet of leaves underfoot gave the signal that soon all the leaves will be gone from the trees.

Yesterday we went to friends' for dinner and I took along this Bavarian Apple Tart. I don't know how authentically Bavarian it is, but it sure tasted good. Buttery, creamy, crunchy and full of fall apple flavour. You can find the recipe here on my recipe blog.

I added some Thanksgiving-themed flashcards to my Etsy shop. I had them made for Canadian Thanksgiving but didn't get my shop started on time. They can be made into a garland, used as placecards, or used as conversation starters. The schoolmarm in me just likes the idea of flashcards, words neatly printed on cardstock, themed and organized. I tied them up with vintage rayon binding and added a couple of felted wool leaves and a copper wire tendril. Pretty as can be.

Thinking Ahead

The trees are looking pretty sparse around here. Leaves scuttle along the street like crabs at the beach. They tumble and toss, clicking and scratching on the pavement. Wind howls around the corners of my house today, shaking the windows and the trees. Soon all the leaves, now hanging tenaciously to their branches, will be shaken loose. Ah, November.

November is also the month to think ahead to Christmas. I noticed in the newspaper flyer last night that baking supplies are on sale this week. All kinds of advertisements are beginning. I've started my Christmas crafting. Before the blogging world gets into the full swing of Christmas, I have a story to share about Christmas Shoeboxes. I'm in the process of filling mine right now and was thinking about the following story. It's longer than my normal posts, but very meaningful to me.

For years Samaritan's Purse has organized Operation Shoebox to help send a little Christmas love to children who might not have any other Christmas celebration. Filling the boxes is fun, and we do several every year. I was so privileged to be able to give out some of the shoeboxes one year in Ecuador, in a different way. Usually they are passed out at events planned in the neighbourhoods. One year, a double supply of shoeboxes arrived in Ecuador (a long story, has to do with customs and no boxes the previous year), and our church allowed individuals to take the boxes and pass them out. Along with the boxes we'd collected bags of groceries.

How to decide to whom to give the shoeboxes? We put four of the boxes and two bags of groceries in our trunk and headed home after church on Sunday morning. We lived out of town, in a neighbourhood that had huge houses with pools, tennis courts and triple garages hidden behind tall brick walls, side-by-side very humble two or three room wooden houses. The class difference in Ecuador is enormous. As we drove around, we noticed two young boys in a field. They were looking after a couple of cows pastured there. We had two boxes for boys about their age, so we stopped. Like any child should be with strangers, they were a little hesitant. I explained that these boxes were a Christmas gift for them and handed them over. A bit bewildered, they politely said, "gracias," and went back to their work.

We had two boxes left and the groceries. No one seemed to be out on the roads that day, which was unusual. Continuing our drive we noticed a woman walking along the road. We stopped the car and asked her if she had any children. She said, yes, she did, two girls. Their ages were the same ages on the boxes we had left! We gave her the boxes and the bags of groceries (her home was very close). She kept asking why we would do this - we explained that we just wanted to show her that God loved her. With tears in her eyes she told us that this would be the only Christmas the family would be able to celebrate - these boxes would be the only gifts her children would receive. We left her smiling.



Driving home we passed the two boys in the field. There was no hesitation when they saw us this time. They had opened their boxes and were examining everything. They had candy in their mouths and jumped up, waving and calling out "gracias, gracias," over and over.

These scenes are repeated over and over in the world because of Operation Shoebox. If you ever wonder if they make a difference, I'm here to tell you that they do. I just wish everyone who fills a shoebox could see the joy they bring.

Last Roses, Candlelight and Winners!

These three roses are the last on my bushes until next summer. They are a little beaten by the wind and rain, but beautiful. Now on these dark evenings I light candles - on the dinner table even if we're just eating soup and sandwiches, on my kitchen windowsill while I clean up or bake in the evening, on the coffee table while I sit in the living room and study or knit. The little light that a candle throws dispels a lot of darkness and draws a circle of coziness around itself.

Both the roses and the candles are symbols of what I'd like to be - beautiful in character in spite of difficulty, and a bit of warmth and light in a cold and dark world.

And now...the winners! After choosing random numbers with the help of the computer, Manuela is the winner of the pillow, and Brenda of the journal. Both of these ladies have lovely blogs and I encourage you to check them out. Thank you to all who entered. I only wish I could send something to each of you. I do treasure my readers and each comment is like a gift to me.

Birthday Celebrations

I do love getting together with my family. We had a very celebratory weekend - my parents came over from the mainland. On Friday they took Tim and me out for lunch. I had a very delicious roasted beet and bacon-wrapped scallop salad. On Sunday we went to our eldest daughter's home for a triple birthday celebration.

Cristal was born just two days after my birthday on a warm November morning in the Ecuadorian jungle. I was so happy to have this beautiful baby girl, and so terribly sad that no one in Canada knew about her. There was no telephone, and we had to wait until the next evening for a ham radio patch. Then we couldn't find anyone at home, my parents, Tim's parents, Tim's brother, until finally we got through to my sister. Then, just hearing her voice on the radio plus all the raging post-partum hormones rendered me incapable of speech. But at least Tim could talk and convey the happy news!

Oh my, that story just popped out of my fingertips onto the keyboard. Anyway, back to yesterday. From top to bottom, left to right you can see my parents, Cristal and her husband, our son Travis and his wife (who brought a wonderful cake), and Ashley with her boyfriend. Beloved people. (Tim was there too, but he's not in these photos)

And here are the birthday girls - Katie, Cristal and me. Big smiles, lots of laughter and fun. I am blessed with my family.

Handmade Holidays!

A wonderful month of ideas, tutorials and inspiration is beginning at Sew Mama Sew. This site is one of my favourites and if you haven't checked it out and love to sew - as a beginner or more experienced - be SURE to check it out.

There will be new posts every day of the month, with giveaways galore.

And don't forget to check out my giveaway which closes tomorrow night!

A Living Room Picnic

Last night our youngest daughter and her boyfriend came over for dinner. It was cold and rainy, and I thought a hot dog roast in the fireplace would be fun. A sand-coloured blanket on the floor stood in for the beach. I pulled up the coffee table and covered it with a warm red runner from Guatemala. Candlelight always makes a table look special.

Here's the gang roasting hot dogs. With them I served oven yam fries with a chipotle dip and a crudité plate. We love our hot dogs with guacamole, which I make with grated onion and finely chopped tomato, lemon juice and salt. Yum! Dessert was brownies topped with ice cream and black forest cherry sauce. Simple and fun!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway which is in the post below this one.

For a weekly dose of wonderful tablescape inspiration check out Susan's blog at Between Naps on the Porch.

Time to Celebrate

I think it's time for a giveaway. This seems to me like a great week to do it - I've just opened an Etsy shop and it's my birthday. And what's a birthday without presents? I love giving presents as well as getting them. There are two parts to this giveaway.

The first giveaway will be for those people who are already followers of my blog. It's one of my hand stitched journals. I have three of them here in my Etsy shop but I saved this one just for someone special. I'm amazed every time I look and see how many people have signed up to follow this blog. And I'm so grateful for comments and encouragement - this blogging community is just wonderful. But I don't really want people to sign up to be followers just to get in on the giveaway. So....

 I'm giving away one of my sweater pillows. This pillow is made from recycled wool sweaters - including the flowers. It has a stuffed cotton insert and is sweet and cozy. If you would like to enter this giveaway, please leave me a comment and make sure that I have some way of contacting you if you win. You don't have to have a blog to enter.

Want to increase your chances of winning? Follower or not, I'd be thrilled if you post about this giveaway on your own blog and will put in another entry for you.

I'll keep the poll open until Monday night, November 2.

In your comment, please tell me what you would use a blank journal for (they make great gifts for others, too) and what is your favourite hot drink.

On a Frosty Morning

Brrr! We had frost this morning. I heard the scraping of car windows and peeked outside in the dark. Sure enough, white frost covered the roofs and grass.

On Sunday afternoon we arrived home to find this beautiful arrangement on the front porch. No name, no note and I couldn't imagine where it came from. A message on the answering machine revealed the answer. Our talented daughter-in-law Katie took a flower arranging course on Saturday and shared one of her projects with us. It's so cheerful and colorful. I love fresh flowers and have been missing picking them from my garden. These sit in my kitchen where I can enjoy them while I cook.

The cooler weather always makes me want soup. I could eat soup everyday, I think. I came up with this recipe that combines ginger and a bit of red curry paste with lots of vegetables and some chicken. It fills and warms the tummy nicely. The recipe for Ginger Chicken Soup is found on my recipe blog. Just click the link!

A New Venture

Just a quick post here on a Sunday afternoon. The craft fair was a success in spite of the low turnout. It was a fairly new craft fair, and perhaps not as well advertised. It's also a bit out of the way. But I was pleased. I met a fellow blogger there - Pondside, who has a lovely blog full of optimism and creativity. She is the first of my blogging friends that I've met in person and our short chat was a highlight of the day.

Today, I opened an Etsy shop. I've thought about it for a long time and today, took the plunge. I've listed three of my journals there and hope to add more of whatever I'm inspired to create.

It's been a grey Sunday - time to head downstairs and enjoy warming soup for supper.

Frugal Luxuries Giveaway

I was recently introduced to Tracey McBride's books by another blogger - Clarice at Storybook Woods. Tracey has a blog (or two) and she's hosting a giveaway of her books. So click on over and see what's there. Frugal living has been a lifestyle for us for many years, and it's been a great thing especially in these months since my husband lost his job. Although we don't have the same income we used to, our lifestyle has changed very little because of practicing frugality.

Frugal living does not mean life is without beauty. Living a beautiful, rich, fulfilling life is part of living frugally. It's all about attitude. Living frugally is great for the planet and great for the bank account. And it helps me to focus on what's really important in my life - the love of family and friends, my faith, the beauty of creation, a sense of purpose throughout the day. These are the things that make my world go round. How about you?

The Perfect Art Form

I think I've found my perfect art form. Making blank books! I love to read and write and I collect words and quotations like dogs collect fleas. I also like to stitch and glue and make collages and assemblages. Making books combines all of these activities - AND on top of all that, they are useful!

A linen-covered blank book with a felt bird and French ribbon.

I love this quotation. I have a stack of journals that go back years which I've filled with the breathings (and cryings and joys and thankfulness of my heart.)

I've made these for the craft fair at Willis Point on Saturday. If you're in the Victoria area, be sure to stop by and introduce yourself.

It's Hot Chocolate Season Again!

Although this photo was taking with sunshine streaming through the window, there has been little of it around here lately. And on a dark, rainy morning what's better than a mug of hot chocolate? I'll drink it any time of day. But I really dislike the packaged mixes - they taste like chemicals and are waaay too sweet for me. Many of the homemade mixes include non-dairy creamer, which to me is a fake food - a conglomeration of chemicals and who knows what all?

I do like hot chocolate made from milk warmed in a pan over the stove, but having a mix on hand is faster. Years ago a friend gave me this recipe and it's been one of my staples ever since. I made a batch this week, and have a mug on hand beside my computer when I visit my blog friends. Setting a pretty tray with cocoa for two makes it special for my husband and me.

Hot Chocolate Mix Recipe
4 cups powdered milk (I like to whirl it in the blender for a finer texture)
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (like what you use for baking)
1/3 cup granulated sugar1 1/4 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar for those of you in the US)
1/2 tsp salt

That's it. Mix it all up. I like to sift it to make sure it's completely smooth and combined. Put it into a pretty container and use about 2 1/2 heaping tablespoons per cup of boiling water. There's nothing like it for a cool autumn morning, or evening. I can drink it all day long!

And once again, visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for a weekly dose of table setting inspiration.

Scrap Bag Doll Tutorial Part One

Meet Chantal and Annette. They're made from all kinds of scraps that I just can't bear to discard.Some have been around for a long time. Although it might seem like there are many steps to making this doll, just take them one by one and you'll have your own Scrap Bag Doll in no time. She's 20 inches tall and would make a perfect companion for a little girl.

Here's what you need to get started:

Fabric - naturally! You can use any size or shape of scraps for this project. Piecing the fabric in squares or rectangles will result in a different, but charming look than using strips as I did. I used strips because that's what I had most of in my scrap bag, and I supplemented them with larger rectangles.

When choosing fabrics, go bright or subdued. I collected pieces that went together, but a truly scrap doll could be made by just pulling fabrics without thinking.

Sewing machine
thread
handsewing needle
pins
scissors
measuring tape
scotch tape
fibrefill stuffing
acrylic paints for face
yarn for hair
hook and loop fastening, one (1/2 - 3/4 inch)

patterns - The patterns are in JPeg format and if you click on the patterns they will open and can be printed on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch sheet of paper. A 1/4 inch seam allowance is included on all pattern pieces. They are full sized. Make sure to follow the instructions for putting together the head/body pattern piece. It won't fit on one page, so you'll have to tape it together.

arm pattern

leg pattern

boot/top of head pattern

body/head pattern

Okay, let's get sewing!

Step 1 - Prepare your fabric for cutting.

You will construct separate pieces of fabric for each pattern piece as follows:

For the arm pattern, piece a rectangle 12 inches wide by 8 1/2 inches tall. The bottom 2 inches of the rectangle will be the doll's hands, so you choose whatever skin colour you want.

For the leg pattern, piece a rectangle 12 inches wide by 9 inches tall.

The boot can be solid or pieced. You need about a 9 inch square.

For the head/body construct a square 14 inches wide by 14 inches tall. The top 5 inches will be the head, so again, choose your fabric accordingly. I used wider strips for the body, but narrower ones would work here as well.

To piece your rectangles, place right sides together and stitch a 1/4 inch seam. Keep adding strips until you have the required size. After stitching, press the pieces flat, then fold them in half in preparation for cutting.

Step 2 - Cut the fabric pieces from the patterns.

Cut two of each pattern piece given. Align the hands on the arm piece, and the head on the head/body piece to fit where you want the skin colour to show.

Step 3 - Stitch the arms.

1.  Fold the arms in half, right sides together.

2.  Pin together and stitch, leaving the top of the arm open. Tack or backstitch the beginning and end of the seam.

3.  Clip the curves of the seam allowance in the hand section. Take care not to clip into the seam itself. Clipping allows for a smoother curve.

4.  Turn right side out.

Step 4 - Stuff the arms.

1.  Begin stuffing the arms, pushing the stuffing firmly into the hand section. Use a pencil or other long object to make sure the stuffing gets into all the curves. Stuff up to the line indicated on the pattern, about halfway up the arm.

2.  Stitch across the arm with the sewing machine, backstitching to fasten threads securely at beginning and end. This stitching will be visible. You will stitch from the seam to the opposite fold.

3.  Continue to stuff the arms, leaving about 1/2 inch unstuffed at the top.

4.  I like to take a small pleat at the top of the arm. It makes the arm rounder and less splayed at the shoulder. This is an optional step. I pleated the center about 3/8 inch. Pin and then stitch the arm closed.

Set the arms aside.
 

Step 5 - Stitch the boot to the leg.

Right sides together, stitch the boot to the leg rectangle.

Step 6 - Stitch the legs.

1.  Fold the leg and boot piece right sides together and pin.

2.  Stitch, leaving the top leg open. Backstitch to secure threads.

3.  Clip the curves around the boots, and then turn right side out.

Step 7 - Stuff the legs.

1. Stuff the leg as you did the arms, using a long tool to ensure that the boot portion is firmly stuffed. Stuff to the knee line indicated on the pattern.

2.  When you stitch across the knee-line, make sure that the boot toes are pointed upwards. The leg seam will be in the center front of the leg, unlike the arm, which has the seam on one side. This ensures that the doll's toes point forwards and not sideways. I've done it both ways and while the doll with outward pointing toes has her own charm, I prefer forward pointing toes. You can choose.

3.  Continue to stuff the legs as you did the arms, leaving about 1/2 inch unstuffed at the top. Form a small pleat and stitch the leg closed.

Set the legs aside.

Step 8 - Stitch the head and body.

1.  Pin the head/body pieces right sides together.

2.  Stitch, leaving open between Xs as indicated on the pattern. Clip the curves, particularly around the neck.

3.  Turn right side out.

Step 9 - Attach the arms to the doll body.

1.  Insert the arms into the openings. Pin carefully, making sure that the edges of the body openings are turned under.

2. Stitch closed. This stitching will be visible. I found it helpful to stitch once from each side of the doll. This ensures that all seams will be firmly stitched closed. Clip threads.

Step 10 - Stuff the head and body.

1.  Begin stuffing the head. Again, use a long tool to very firmly stuff the had, particularly in the neck area. This will make the neck firm and less wobbly.

2.  Stuff the body, leaving about 1/2 inch at the bottom unstuffed.

Step 11 - Attach the legs to the doll's body.

1. Insert the legs into the body openings. If you have chosen one side of the body to be the front, make certain that the legs point in the correct direction. Pin the legs to the body carefully, ensuring that the edges of the body openings are turned under.

2.  Stitch closed. This stitching will be visible. As with the arms, I find it helpful to stitch once from the front and once from the back side. Clip threads.

Voilà! You have a completed doll body.

Now to add the finishing touches. Instructions are found in this post for the hair, face and pinafore.

SewMamaSew has many great scrap buster projects being featured this month. Visit their site for a way to lower the piles of fabrics you have stashed away.