Christmas in June...continues!

Christmas in June continues!

 

So about 4 years ago or so, I found this amazing Christmas fabric in warm brown, reds, teals and blues. I loved it. It would go perfectly with our brown/warm tone beige/ red colour schemes.

BUT... I didn't buy it!

I know. Self control.

Lookit how pretty.

I really dig the vintage ornament print.

BUT later...a month or so later...all the Christmas fabric was ON SALE so SCORE!!!

Woot.!

It's the little things. 

So 2 years ago I made these cute little couch cushion covers.

(Mikie loved them; he's modelling for us.)

Then I found I had enough left over...so  I needed to make table runners & placemats.

Which...I NEVER DID...because I ran out of TIME.

And okay, so there's STILL not finished...
but um..they will be. 

Right? They will be... :)

Got any Christmas/Holiday Sewing in July planned?

Countdown to Christmas...Wait, what?!?!?

SIX months til Christmas!!

I'm doing a week of Christmas planning trying to, you know. Get ahead.

 Are you like me....all these AMAZING planned projects you'll handmake for Christmas? 

And then suddenly, it's.. DECEMBER 20th?!

And maybe 1 in 5 projects  finished? 

Yeah. Le sigh. Me, too. Every year.

Let's see....Cute Cross-Stitch Ornaments/Wall Art....Christmas Table Runner/Placemats ....Summer weight and Winter scarves....A few new Etsy shop designs....
Oh yeah. LOTS of time.
Ahem.

Okay. Designs Started.

Found super cute frames at Michaels!

So... I have started and continue to work on these itty bitty cross stitched ornaments...

Don't scroll any further if you don't like cuss words....
















I warned you....
















I also have cute little cuss words ... I gave these to my co-workers last year LOL
There are other ones too.."Whatever" "Hot Damn" etc etc. Custom orders available!!

Funny. This one is one of my top sellers. LOL

 

Grateful for.....Strawberries!!

To me, there is nothing more beautiful than a perfectly ripe strawberry.

 

Growing up in SW Ontario, fresh strawberries always meant the start of summer.

That bright tangy smell always takes me back.

Gratuitous Strawberry Shot.

 

I remember hulling fresh strawberries with my Mom before she'd freeze them.

Sitting at the kitchen table, fingers stained red from their juices.

I probably ate more than I hulled.

 

So thankful that it's summertime again! Fresh, local, Ontario strawberries abound!

 

Here is a link to my Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie post from last summer...try it, deeeelishus!

 

Brampton Farmer's Market - Saturdays 7am til 1pm until October!

See you there :)

New Series....Being Grateful

Each and every day, I've been trying to take a moment to just *be* in the moment.

To be mindful and thankful for the many blessings I enjoy.

To realize the little things that are actually big things.
And the big things that are actually just small things.

So weekly I'm going to post things that I'm so grateful for.
Feel free to chime in and we can maybe start a link party!

To start....in no particular order....

My Work

I love what I do. And I'm thankful to live in a city where I can have a flourishing career in the Arts.

Living in a region where we can enjoy nature & the outdoors

.The Ontario Nature Conservacncy had a booth at the Grand Bend  farmers' market. They sell paintings done by Turtles and Snakes!!!  I found joy in this painting; the artist is a Map Turtle named "Atlas".

My City

The city I live in....600 000 people but it feels like  small town

My Junk Food

Best snacks in the world.

My Cats

My cats. My garden. My beloved car.

My Husband

The most amazing man on the planet who agreed to be my husband. I do not know what I'd do without him!

 What are You grateful for?
Let's Link Up !!

"Road to Oklahoma" Quilt Finish!

So after nearly a YEAR of not quilting...this was my theme

Yep. Sigh. We've all been there.

You've assembled all your pieces and then...oh no. Half are upside down.

(or is that just me? note to self: no more quilting and margaritas)

Anyway. A very dear friend was getting married the first week of June. Ahhh a June Bride. :)

Her fav colours are Purple and Green. I struggled for awhile trying to find something that fit them both. Christa loves Cats. And Music. And Travelling. Dan loves Music. And Travelling. And Drums.

Hmm.

So I got out my quilting books & magazines, surfed some blogs.

I settled on the pattern "Road to Oklahoma"  as soon as I saw it; I was like...YAAAAASSSSS.

Want to have it broken down? Check out this great tutorial here... Quilts By Jen.

Vamp inspects to make sure I don't duplicate colours

Muffin and Vamp inspect final quilt top after assembly.

"Road to Oklahoma" looks complex.... 

 "Road to Oklahoma"  Quilt Finish
So pretty. So easy, once you stop sewing stars upside down.



What're you working on?

2016 Sucked.

Hey all. This is a Sad Post. Please skip if you're not in the mood.

No happy photos, no cute graphics.

The last year was probably one of the worst for lots of people. 

For my family, it was absolutely awful.

March 17th saw the passing of my wonderful, hilarious, crotchety and beautiful Mother.

So it's safe to say, I lost my creative mojo for awhile. 

I ate a lot of edible cookie dough.

I cried a lot.

I stared into space and talked to my cats a lot.

A whole year and a bit has passed.

One whole year.

I didn't go into my sewing room, I barely picked up my knitting needles. I couldn't bear to try to type out what was echoing in my head; I barely could sort it for myself. Trying to post happy things when I wasn't happy and couldn't find my happy....well...it was hard enough reorganizing my world without her in it.

Now.... life wasn't on hold....J and I travelled more than we've ever done. 

I threw myself into my work work and booked many more gigs than I've ever done.

I grew personally and have a different (darker?) view of the world than before, and won't ever be the same shade of light that I was before. But I think as a person, it's a milestone we achieve (doesn't seem like a good thing to acheive but there it is) and we grow despite ourselves.

And a bad injury during a show this year  to my neck and shoulder made sewing quite painful.

To celebrate my Mother's life - my brother and I made a trip to Disneyworld - a place she'd always wanted to take us ...and finally did, after her divorce in 2000. So Mike and I decided we'd go back to the places we went with her. And there were tears and there was laughter.

(And there was a LOT of alcohol at Epcot :) )

I am back now...cleared by Doc to resume using shoulder and neck....Mom's photos look down on me as I restart my journey of creativity.

I recently made a quilt for a good friend's wedding...and that reawakened my mojo.

So....hug your friends and tell them you love them. Hug your family and THANK THEM for everything they've done and do for you. 

Love to you all.