Potholder

I am taken the on-line class with Rachel from stitchedincolor and I finished a potholder. A fresh look with Anna-Marie Horner's fabrics ( I love her rich colours) and a great exercise to add some
D.P. ( Drunkard"s Path) curves. Rachel comes up with so many ideas mixing modern fabrics with traditional patterns. I don't know if she ever leaves her sewing machine - she has so many projects on the go. Just check out her blog. Of course these small curves are waiting for something bigger soon.

sun, snow and a little bit of sewing

I discovered the panorama option on my i-phone only now.  You will find the option button under the camera app.

Just step out and go for snowshoeing.

and

a little bit of sewing

farmer's wife quilt block  many more to go!

Cozy hot water bottle cover

I was early on the road this morning when I was reminded that ( finally) the temperature dropped to
-18 C. My outdoor walks are more in a rush to my dog's disappointment. But to my surprise a package arrived from Germany. My friend Ursula, who knits the most fabulous things made me this:

.... a cozy hot water bottle cover and a beautiful scarf in variegated colours.

How sweet is that!

The book ( can't wait to read!!) is maybe my life story ( except the lotto win). 

La liste de mes envies or all my wishes written by Gregoire Delacourt . The book writes about a woman who owns a haberdashery  and spends her spare time blogging about knitting, sewing and embroidery until a huge lotto sweepstake changes everything.

Lucky Stars

This is my my first Lucky Star BOM paper piecing for January. 

Join Elizabeth Dackson " don't call me Betsy" here. 

Curves in my window

Let me explain, I am taking the on-line curves class with the very sweet and so talented Rachel from stitchedincolor. Check out here blog here. Last year I signed up for the  Handstitched class and it was a jammed packed class with projects. Rachel suggested not to take both classes at the same time because you can't keep up.

Here is my scallop bunting decorating an salvaged window pane.

Easy Peasy!

Ink it up!

Today is actually my Fabric Friday but this morning I spent time with my friend Daniela and artist Pam Lobb from Graven Feather to learn how to typeset and print. Since we owned a printing company a few years ago I was feeling so much at home, seeing cups of inks, mixing colour and browsing through type fonts and having fun. My friend Daniela was visiting Toronto and is leaving tomorrow for Vancouver and we decided to do something special together. Graven Feather, located on Queen Street West, offers different print workshops or you can rent by the hour.

Once we got the hang of it setting the word reversed we were inking the images and printing!!!

This old image mounted on wood from 1940 I purchased in a thrift store. You hardly could recognize the stamp image, but once I rolled the ink with a brayer on it came to life.

Pam, Daniela and me

SO Happy.........we printed lots of these little cards.

Fabric Friday

Linen is like having creme brulee for desert.

The shades of ivory, tan or grey make any colour stand out. I now appreciate to let my hand touch a piece of old linen. My mother gave me this piece of linen last time I went home. A great aunt had woven it herself.

I wish I could show you( at the cottage) the wedding ring quilt I made few years ago.  The spaces between the rings I used linen. I was a challenge to work with the linen but the finish result I loved. A traditional pattern with a modern approach.

Visualising the Anthropologie Look

The first time I stepped into the Anthropolgie store in Seattle I was blown away by the interior decoration, vintage and new between fantastic colourful and tactile fabrics for women's clothing. A collection of oil portraits were displayed unframed on a wall and staircase. I just loved the idea, but it takes time to find portraits you like and which fits the budget. I often visualize things or events I desire to happen.

The wall was one of the them.......

Last weekend driving through a small village I notice the antique shop sign. The burning wood stove kept the place warm and I was making my way through pile of furniture and this &that nobody wants.....until I saw this painting on top of a cupboard.

We agreed on a very reasonable price and then he mentioned that there is another box of paintings.

For a couple of dollars I picked these paintings dated  from 1950.

Create your own vision board!

* Just to answer Leslie's thoughts - a box of these paintings were dropped off by the son's painter who had them for years in his garage. The shop keeper told me that the younger generation does want the "old" stuff anymore, but somehow they will find a new home.

Somethings to celebrate.....

In the mist of a snowing Sunday I finished the binding on my quilt which I started in August last year!

It was the first time that I had it professional quilted and Linda did an amazing job. 

Quilt pattern On a Whim by Thimble Blossom

The  back of my quilt: fabric by Tula Pink Birds& Bees

Binding Tula Pink SaltWater

Fabric Friday

Looking at the calendar it's already January 4th! Wow, time does go fast and next week things are getting back to normal and my 2 boys are back to university.

My fabric picks for this week are some of my vintage finds - a heavier cotton or broadcloth .

This fabric with lots of circus images read like a children's book. My friend Nancy

found it in a vintage store. ( I should frame it!)

Fabric from the vinyl days!

A curtain with lots of wildlife images. The red fox on the turquoise background inspired me to try the machine paper foundation technique I learned at the workroom.

New Year's walk at the Beaches

It was a quiet ringing in the new year - but that's the way I like it. After grinding some fresh roasted Kenya beans and enjoying that first cup of coffee I drove to the Beaches for a long walk with my dog Skip.

Recovery and rescue of a frozen tennis ball.