Welcome 2012

improve ourselves and the world around us

                    

The night before Christmas

........I remember  Christmas Eve . My grandmother came over and we gathered around the kitchen table dipping our fingers in the most scrumptious cookies. Soon it was time to recite a poem in front of the manger. There was grandma in her later 80s presenting this poem to us:

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Twas the Night before Christmas Poem
 

An outdoor Christmas fair in Germany

I was lucky to spend time with family and friends in Germany and we celebrated my mom's 85th birthday.
There was no snow and the temperature was above normal and it seemed that the spirit of Christmas had a delay. No big shoppers and many of us discussing the uncertainty of Europe's economy.
My sister organized one weekend an artisan booth where we sold our handmade crafts. The setting was a lovely courtyard from an old blacksmith house which was converted into a restaurant.

To be honest selling crafts is not easy. I think the first day we spend more money on Gluehwein to keep us warm. During the long hours chatting with customers my girlfriend taught me how to knit socks.

Yes, knitting and crocheting has a big comeback. The yarn selection in Germany is huge. Today a parcel stuffed with yarn arrived and I will be knitting during the holidays.

The big crowd attraction was on a Sunday when Santa was sliding down the roof and jumping into the courtyard giving out presents. 

Add sparkle for Christmas

Christmas is already just around the corner and the hunt is on to find the perfect gift, but that's what it should be all about........................

Tomorrow I leaving for two weeks to Germany. There is no internet at granny's place and I will post on my return again. I will enjoy the Christkindel market with a glass of Gluehwein!

Vintage zipper bags

In a few days I am leaving for 2 weeks to Germany and as usual I have so many things I want to finish. I would like to share my latest sewing projects, they are truly a "one of a kind"!

These bags are made out of "Canada Post" letter bags,  old bank bags, vintage curtains, flour & sugar sacks and laundry labels from a european monastery.

make something - bigger and smaller gifts

What's your favourite colour? Knowing your friends taste and their fav colours I decided to make a small throw cushion. I gathered some fabrics from my stash for this cushion.

I used linen with a script print and fuzzy cut AIR MAil for my centre piece.

Mismatched with Kokka prints.

The luggage tag

This is a beautiful little gift done in no time.

Choose a heavier canvas fabric and you need clear or frosted mylar for the sleeve. A clear cover from a binder will do too. I used again the fabric with the travel images. 

Here are my cut pieces. They measure 6 1/4" x 4 1/2" and a 1 1/4"wide and 13" long strip for the handle.

travelling in style.......

Northern Star, Ohio Star and Wacky Star

I spend four days in the country. My basket was packed with all kinds of fabric from my stash and my sewing machine was ready to work with the wood stove on. Feeling the warmth in my back from the heat is a sign that winter is coming soon. The early mornings are greeting me with hue of white frost.

I am so fascinated by this object which is basic and useful - clothes pegs

( Thanks for all the wonderful comments on the last post)

I decided to make some traditional star patterns with modern quilting cottons.

This will be the front for a doll mini quilt.
Northern Star
-

Ohio Star
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These are the front and back wacky stars of a big zipper pouch.

Every laundry room needs a hero

bubble texture from Nancy's photoshop texture challenge

things from the past..... I remember the fresh scent coming from my mother's laundry room. Every house wife had her favourite and trusting laundry detergent to tackle soiled socks and shirts. My mom's is Persil and every time when I am in Germany I buy a pack and after my return to Canada my laundry days are sweetened with the scent from my childhood when the white, gleaming wet sheets were carried out into the garden and the wind did the rest.

My sister and I had to straighten out the large cotton bedsheets before carrying the basket to a local laundromat. One of the boys in the neighbourhood returned a few days later the pristine pressed sheets on a black heavy european bicycle which had a special stand for the laundry baskets.

Doing laundry the old fashion way without a dryer is not for the weak arms for a family of 6.

Even now I still love ironed bedsheets.

.... and there are the laundry heros which have their pockets full of twenty five cents and spent the time in a laundromat.

Encaustic work with resin

" finding places to land "

Mom's best biscotti's

To be correct the plural of these yummy cookies is biscotto (italian) . I can't keep up baking biscotti before my two sons  head back to their universities. One likes the dough with ginger the other prefers semi chocolate chips and with a cup of coffee.

Here is the recipe:
Chocolate or Ginger Hazelnut Biscotti
1 1/2 cups of hazelnuts ( the secret is to buy dry roasted for best flavour)
2 cups of cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cups of sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, cloves and allspice
2/3 cup finely chopped crystalized ginger or 1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips the small kind
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla


preheat the oven to 350F. Chop the hazelnuts and mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a small bowl mix the eggs and vanilla, stir the wet mixture to the dry one. Knead the dough until smooth and divide into 3 small logs 1" high and 4'' wide.

Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar and bake for 30 minutes.

Let the biscotti cool for couple of minutes and cut with a serrated knife crosswise and return for an additional 20 minutes into the oven. 

This will make around 20 biscotti or not depending if your kids & husband are home.

            Buon Appetito!

I have a confession to make.....

I love cooking risotto by candle light ( with a glass of red wine) and listen to Etta James.

I am in love with yoga. Honestly it took me a while to last 1 1/2hr and challenge my body to stretch. I do it now 3x a week and listen... breath in and be calm, breath out and smile at the world.

I  love my camera Nikon D90 and took a class at Henry's (a local camera) to get more knowledge how to use it.
I love to sew and create .

something cute......

I can't stop making these little pouches using Japanese fabric and mix & match lining. For me picking colour, fabric and zipper is the best part for each tiny bag - nothing looks the same.

(sorry for the bad lighting, it's late at night)

( this is a keeper )

Friday afternoon with Betty van Nordstrand

Betty, the Queen of Sugar Artistry and Cake Decorating drove all the way from NYC to teach at the Creativfestival in Toronto. To step back for a moment, I do not need a new hobby but I always believe to  leave my comfort zone and try something new. Since the dream to be on the TLC show Cake Boss with Buddy Valastro will stay a dream my friend Nancy and I opted for the sugar rose class. Betty, leading innovator in couture wedding cakes taught many famous cake designers the art of making flowers. Now it was our turn.

   Betty van Nordstrand

conditioning the gum paper thin

preparing the edges for the pedals

Nancy is getting the hang of it and is preparing her upcoming birthday in 2012 with sugar roses.

Still Life lesson4 " Canadian Call "

The simplicity of simple objects are giving me satisfaction. I chose an old rusted Ingraham alarm clock and had in mind to draw the dial with the numerals. I am still painting with oil pastels and found out that a dark dial with reversed numbers are impossible to draw with chunky pastels. So I decided to go sgraffito (scratched into the top layer) and the glare of light gives a hint of the hour.

Foodstock

This past Sunday my husband and I drove to the township of Melancthon, Ontario to join 28.000 people to show solidarity with the movement to Stop the Mega Quarry. For people who are not so familiar with this project here are the facts what's happening in the country.The Highland Companies backed by a multi million dollar Boston hedge fund purchased 700 acres of farmland used for centuries to  supply potatoes . They approached aging farmers to sell their land for an over the market value price to continue farming, only to see their farm dozed and drill holes made to transform the land into one of the largest lime quarry in the country.

The absolutely scary fact is to extract lime you need 6 million litres of water daily!!!! 

Michael Stadtlander, a chef and environmentalist was joined with 100 canadian chefs to fight against the proposed quarry and cooked up a storm . 

This is how the traffic looked when I left. I am glad that so many people care what's happening with our land.