Ludgera's life

Shopping Tote

2012-03-01T14:28:00.002-05:00

I was finally able to take Karyn's shopping tote class last night. I found the perfect vintage fabric from France and matched it with a very Gustav Klimt fabric lining. (buy here )

Karyn designed this clever pattern herself. I had to use a seam ripper once and that called for a break on my sewing machine.

This will be one of my favourite things I made so far and it feels good wearing it over the shoulder.

Flower shopping in style.

Dark Matters

2012-02-29T17:08:00.000-05:00

This is not a post about fabric or colours. It just happened that the month of February was the month to explore modern dance. Three different performances being so unique and thrilling in their choreography.
Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre
Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre group performed as a part of the Black History Month. ( on-stage)

Pina
Pina for Pina Bausch by Wim Wenders ( nominated as best foreign film Germany)
OMG!!!

Dark Matters
How lucky was I to get to this performance last night and getting prim seats. Award-winning choreographer Crystal Pite and his 6 dancers got a standing ovation .
Thrilling!

Values

2012-02-26T19:31:00.001-05:00

This was always a grey area for me how to place fabric with prints and colour in an eye- catching and pleasing combination. I arrange my choices with instinct. Making a " scrappy quilt" I never think about values. Some quilts struck a core in me and I always wondered why? It is the value and colour which enhances the pattern?
So I signed up for Judi Warren Blaydon's class hosted by YHQG.
In a few words Judi explained:
Colour gets the credit and value does the work.

First we sorted our fabrics into darks, middle values and lights.

We all got the same geometric block template and worked on diverse solutions to express our own style.

The beginning. Values refers to the lightness or darkness of a certain area.

Here I exchanged different prints to make it more interesting. They still read as lights and darks.

class samples

( the upper right sample is made by Ilona - never quilted in her life and nailed it 100% Beautiful!)

Extreme Macros from a fabric lover

2012-02-20T16:36:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I picked up a digital photography magazine and read an article about Thomas Shahan. As a student on a low budget he discovered by that by turning the camera lens the other way he achieved a macro image.

Use a fixed lens for example 50mm or 40mm , unscrew the lens and carefully place it in front of the camera. Lower the f-stop to get more light in. The focusing distance is reduced and the magnification increases.

So I took some objects from my sewing table like pins,snaps, spools and buttons and tried the technique.

Shopping trip to Buffalo

2012-02-19T15:18:00.000-05:00

You ask me Buffalo..... I love to go. Yes, coupons can stretch your budget for crafter and quilters.
Joann's had 50% off on almost all notions and an additional 10% for President's Day and I bought several Clover Water Soluble Markers ($3.20). There is a fairly new Hobby Lobby On Military Rd and I got this fabric to make some shopping totes. I got this pattern from Noodlehead here.

Pages ClothPaperScissors

I found the premiere issue at Barnes and Noble. A magazine dedicated to books and art journals.

Stopped at Target and found this:

The new Vaseline container in thumbnail size for travellers.

On my return to Toronto I detoured through Niagara -on-the Lake.

Bee Fabric

Love the tiny strawberry print from Japan.

I know that my friend Martha would love these little hedgehogs.

And the last stop was in the hamlet of Jordan at Stitch. This is a gem for wool and fabric lovers!!!

Her charming interior wanted to make me sit down and knit. I will be back.

We are so good together!

2012-02-13T21:33:00.000-05:00

Tea bags made from solid Kona fabric coral/snow.

Happy Valentine!

My favorite magazine arrived from Australia

2012-02-09T17:02:00.002-05:00

This is number #4 from Paper Runway. Last year I got an email from Cybele Young, a well-known exquisite paper sculpture from Toronto that she was featured in one of the first publications. The magazine a little bit pricey with the postage from Australia is every dollar worth. Every issue features new artists. Truly, I am tired of the same repeats in some craft magazines. You can open these magazines and see articles and I can tell by the style, that this person took a class with this teacher and the new creation has very same " finger prints" as the teacher.
I like Paper Runway's little details, paper goodies, a hello from one of the artists and the spine is lovingly Singer sewn.
PaperRunway paper goodies. This time: postcards illustrated by Grace Lee.

The next article is about TSA WORKS. Martin Boettger with his studio in Berlin installs huge paper structures.

Philip Sheffield

Read more about his stunning sculptural pieces here.

... and this is my farorite article it's about ART PARK. Why I like so much.... I think it's my dream. This is a story of Craig Rochfort and Paul McNeil setting up art spaces with the idea of exposing people to fresh ideas.

Lined String Bag

2012-02-07T19:06:00.002-05:00

This is another sewing project I learned at the workroom. Gathering around a big cutting table you always meet funny, kind and like-minded people. The bag is lined with batting and perfect to carry your camera in or use it as a sock- knitting bag.

So last night after my yoga class I went to work and picked these fabrics.

Fabric from Far Far Away and natural dyed checkered grey/white fabric from Japan. At midnight I finished that:

You can find also this on-line tutorial for a string bag here . Today I went to the post office and send the sleeping princess off to Germany.

Say: YOU CARE

2012-02-05T15:55:00.000-05:00

Yes, it is February the month of candies, flowers and sending cards. Here is a quick project, punch a mini envelope out of paper, cut a heart out of red felt and string it on a red/white ribbon.

I left the banner for my postie/ postman on the mail box. Who wouldn't smile seeing this mail?
( P.S. but I don't smile at Canada's postage fee, for example a small envelope to London/Ontario $8.)

i-Phone Project 365

2012-02-02T16:53:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to have uploaded photos of my first month in 2012. This fun app is like a memory lane for the past month. I had trouble getting it to my blog, taking photos and channeling through different photo apps to the project. This month new photo app I purchased is Scratch Cam. Not to get too lazy by pushing buttons back and forth on my i-phone I am taking Susan Tuttle's on-line class starting March.

Turning improv patchwork into this.....

2012-01-31T17:09:00.000-05:00

Remember my post from last week where we exchanged fabric bundles and I made this sample in a log cabin style.

I was given blues and reds in this fabric stash but this fresh spring look just needed a chair.( I am just cleaning and sorting my art room and noticed my most fav fabric collection colours : grey, orange, lime green and driftwood shades.)
The sample I stretched into the embroidery hoop and free hand embroidered a lounge chair mimicking a window view.

This was my favourite style of improv pieces.

Now it framed as a mimi quilt or placemat.

( It still needs a good press)

January 2012

2012-01-29T17:29:00.000-05:00

Improv Patchwork

2012-01-22T17:14:00.001-05:00

What to do with all the scraps from previous projects? The improv patchwork class at our local fabric store the workroom is the answer. It is more than sewing little bits and pieces together, it's about how
everyone in the group approaches each exercise differently. We brought a dozen of different fabric scraps ( some had bags) and made this......

next exercise: bring a prepared fabric bundle from home , pick a number at the class and exchange it. This is interesting, you might end up with a colour palette you normally wouldn't pick.

the busy fabric I toned down with solid fabric and it has the 50's look

next exercise: fuzzy cut the centre

This is my favourite piece. I chose a pale aquamarine palette with some charcoal solids.

Buying fabric

2012-01-20T22:23:00.000-05:00

Recently I was asked where I purchase my fabrics. The answer is everywhere where I travel. We are blessed in North America with a huge selection of excellent cotton . The cost per yard or metre is almost double in Europe, so quilting is a luxury. I shop on-line for Japanese fabrics and go to my local quilting store The workroom or Quilt a Bag . The best vintage prints I find at antiques fairs or in my mother's closet! The textile museum in Toronto hosts every year a yard sale. Fabric lovers are lining up an hour before the open. The nicest thing is to make a bundle of scrap fabrics and swap with a friend!

Westcott Scissors with Carmi Cimicata

2012-01-18T08:32:00.000-05:00

Last night my friend Carmi featured the Westcott 9-Piece Titanium Ultra Smooth Bent Scissors. If you missed her you have a chance to tune in today!

( photo taken from the TV screen)

She is a serious crafter and has tested many products for companies and when a product gets her approval you know it's good. I love fabric and when I saw the adjustable titanium ultra smooth scissors cutting through a pile of fabric I was impressed.
The kit also includes the Micropoint scissors. This is going to be my favorite scissor since I am doing
The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery which started with a " Desert of the Month Club". These are seriously cute patterns by Amanda and Ashleigh.

Last but not least my fabric bag was also as a prop on Carmi's Westcott table on TV.

Fabric bags for everything we make

2012-01-15T09:00:00.002-05:00

Last week I had several requests for my fabric bags. Here there are..........

For this bag I used the beautiful flower print by Lotta Jansdotter.

Lined with vintage ticking. ( Ticking is a heavy cotton or linen used for upholstery.)

This is a keeper

2012-01-13T19:04:00.001-05:00

....... this little fabric scrap didn't make it to the waste basket. He is too cute.

Fabric from LizzyHouse.

Books and magazines

2012-01-12T22:05:00.000-05:00

My coffee table has this reading material for the weekend ! You may see some coffee-cup rings on my table after I finish reading them all. I am so happy that I can still hold physical paper and print in my hands. Since my background was in printing I enjoy a good quality paper . Paperrunway, Uppercase and Selvedge are getting my vote for good pulp and design.

( this book I got from my sister for Christmas. It has a place on my table all year
around. Beautiful photos.)

Vintage Wednesday

2012-01-10T19:23:00.000-05:00

All photos taken with my iphone befunkyfx app. The last image has a grunge layer by Nancy Donaldson. Please check out her upcoming photoshop challenge.

The first dozen..................

2012-01-06T17:29:00.001-05:00

hurray !!!!! after breezing fresh air going skiing I went into my sewing mode and finished my first dozen of squares from the Farmer's Wife book.

The Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

2012-01-03T17:05:00.000-05:00

This is book about vintage stories and traditional quilt blocks. There are 111 block tutorials and I decided to join the over 1000 members to start with my very own quilted blocks. Amanda from hey porckchop and Angela from fussy cut started this quilt- along- project.

Here is square one.........

..... and 110 to go!

My new iPhone 4S

2012-01-02T15:50:00.000-05:00

What an amazing Christmas present I got from my husband. Instagram does it all. This is the Alessi citrus squeezer by Philippe Starck which I purchased in Germany. I believe everyone should treat themselves to something special.

Welcome 2012

2011-12-30T19:41:00.000-05:00

improve ourselves and the world around us

The night before Christmas

2011-12-24T07:36:00.000-05:00

........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

2011-12-23T19:15:00.001-05:00

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

2011-12-05T21:44:00.000-05:00

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

2011-12-04T13:30:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-26T16:16:00.000-05:00

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

2011-11-22T22:58:00.000-05:00

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
-

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

Every laundry room needs a hero

2011-11-15T18:08:00.001-05:00

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

2011-11-11T21:43:00.000-05:00

" finding places to land "

Rock Talk

2011-11-10T22:20:00.000-05:00

Mom's best biscotti's

2011-11-06T20:12:00.001-05:00

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.....

2011-11-02T22:04:00.000-04:00

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......

2011-10-26T21:35:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-22T21:26:00.001-04:00

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 "

2011-10-20T19:46:00.000-04:00

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

2011-10-18T08:47:00.000-04:00

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.

mail art from Mindy

2011-10-13T16:16:00.000-04:00

A few month ago Mindy Lacefield invited everyone to send her " art in the mail " and in return you received her signature painting. I am talking about the funny, quirky face painted in vibrant colours. I met Mindy last year at ArtFest and we both ended up in the same class making mail art with Orly Avineri.
Yesterday this happy envelope made the way to Canada.

thanks Mindy

Recess with photoshop

2011-10-12T16:27:00.003-04:00

Today my friend Nancy came over to help me with photoshop. My blog got a vibrant new banner, I added a flickr for my sewing projects and made a collage from the past warm days in the country.

a plentiful harvest

2011-10-10T23:03:00.001-04:00

picking apples

getting fresh farm eggs

and listening to the leaves

Still Life lesson3 " Artichoke and Red Hot Pepper"

2011-10-07T14:29:00.000-04:00

Artichoke and red hot pepper, it sounds like a title for an artist novel - easy to draw. So I thought this perennial thistle was an easy target for my night class. I had a problem to get the right angle and ratio down on paper. My teacher gave me a great advice. Take a plexiglass sheet and draw with a black marker your object. Compare the translucent drawing with your sketch on the canvas.

( hold the glass arm's length over your painting and make corrections)

( I am using Porfolio oil pastels ... very inexpensive)

etching into the layers with a knife

Where are my toys?

2011-10-05T18:57:00.002-04:00

This is a smaller design of my craft bag but this time for kids. I attached a sling so it's easy to hang up or to carry their favourite small toys.

The crafter's bag

2011-10-04T08:43:00.000-04:00

This is the perfect bag to practice all your quilting patterns. I am on a roll and can't stop. The size roughly measures 12 1/2 "by 14" so it fits a magazine, your knitting or sewing project.

For my next bag I chose the Churn Dash block. I used my all time favourite Woodgrain fabric from Free Spirit and and Farmyard by moda.

to select my stash of fabric is always a challenge

layout of my cut pieces

I am starting to love this little farm square.

make something

2011-10-02T13:11:00.001-04:00

I have accomplished several sewing projects and stayed for one week on a diet ( protein,fruit and green veggies). My energy level has increased at least 200 percent - just scary how carbs can slow you down. This muffin is not for me! A sweet surprise for a friend on a rainy day!

The Ball canning jar

2011-09-29T22:21:00.000-04:00

This was my second Still Life drawing session and I chose to continue to draw household items. Ball, Kerr and Mason jars - I love them all. At home they are filled with buttons, acorns, fabric snips and vintage metal numbers. I never painted a translucent object.......but as my yoga instructor tell us practice, practice and magic will happen! I am far away from magic but I like my painting.

Showing off her colours

2011-09-26T23:36:00.000-04:00

Dragonfly Sunday in my garden

The beginning of Still Life painting

2011-09-23T12:07:00.002-04:00

This was one of my goals I posted in the summer to join a painting class.I signed up with the city program and had my first class last night. When you hear Still Life the first thing which come to my mind are florals, kitchen life and the dead partridge draped over the pewter decanter. I want to explore which kind of style I like. There are so many.....

warm-up drawing

Some of my drawings I will do on heavy oversized card stock for mail art.

Purple Hills

2011-09-20T21:30:00.000-04:00

Another extended weekend with gardening and sewing projects.

The sky in Ontario is spectacular and our area is known as the "purple hills".

Early morning walks with my dog Skip is one of my favourite thing to start the day. The mist is rising, dew on the milkweed and the sun is coming up. How fortunate I am.

I made a wreath from my overgrown garden.

The next rainy day was perfect to go down to business. I have an upcoming winter craft show in Germany. A group of very talented women are getting together. Paper crafts, children's knitwear, fabric (yah that's me), whimsical teddy bears ( you want to buy them all) and jewellery is for sale.

This is a table runner number one, leaning against an old orchard ladder. I choose fabrics in orange, lime green, grey with a splash of brown. Both sides are done in a light grey tone. The colour doesn't do justice. I will post the finished runner this week. I have to find the right backing. Zipper bags are also in production.

This is no ordinary frog / no bull

2011-09-13T21:02:00.000-04:00

I know it sounds funny but country life has its moments. After both of my boys are off to university the house is empty and I decided to take an extended stay in the country to catch up with endless grass cutting and weeding. It seems like a race - you are done at one end cutting grass the front has grown again. The good thing is, I am all day outdoors and moving soil, plants and planting. The hope of loosing some pounds with garden work is a myth! My border collie Skip had her second vet check-up after she fell very ill. The news is good and she recovered quite well. On the way back to our log house I saw 2 little dogs wandering on the dirt road - no collar -no tags. There was no farm or house to be seen, so I packed them into my car . To make the story short it was truly a community effort to return these wonderful dogs to the owner. I feel happy about a good ending. I ran that night a bath to relax after this eventful day. Our bathroom is on the second floor right under the roof. I have to explain that we have a very steep pitch to avoid too much snow on the roof line. As I looked out of the window into the night sky there was a frog sitting on the window sill. Hard to believe, but how did the frog get up on the roof?

Lizzy's Champion Ribbons

2011-08-27T19:41:00.001-04:00

Thanks for stopping by at the workroom, Lizzy! We had the best afternoon making Champion Ribbons with a great bunch of women creating beautiful prize ribbons .

One of the women brought a scrumptious spicy cake, decorated with this adorable flag banner made out of Lizzy's fabric collection.

Here I am cutting my base out of felt.

The table was filled with fabric, jars of ribbon and buttons.

The ideas were endless.

....... and this is Lizzy's quilt Diamond Mountain.

Catching up with sleep

2011-08-23T11:05:00.000-04:00

Four days in Europe for family business and having many challenges on the way, I am back home and feeling like this pooch. Waking up after a 10 hour flight the next morning with a fresh ground pot of coffee and a little message stamped on the coffee filter really sweetened my return.

Pack and Go

2011-08-15T13:16:00.000-04:00

This is a very short post. There were no traveling plans this summer but I have get things fast to catch a plane tonight. This day marks also my blog anniversary . One year ago my friend Nancy helped me to set up my blog. I had for the first month my silent followers ( thank you) to get my feet wet. I connected with friends here and overseas. I overcame the fear of leaving comments on other blogs and making new friends and sharing what I like to do. It's a life line when there is less time to meet friends.

Bon voyage,

Ludgera

Brown wrapping paper never looked so good!

2011-08-12T22:00:00.000-04:00

Does it happen to you that you have to shop for a special occasion but can't find the right gift? Weeks later you come across the perfect gift but it's too late. So yesterday I found a thing and her name was written all over it. Instead of stuffing it in a mailing envelope, I decided to transform the brown paper into a large canvas. The end result was taken to the post office where to guy in line ask me to take a photo of the parcel.

some detail work

I found this ad in a 1973 Time magazine

I am inspired........

2011-08-11T23:44:00.001-04:00

I am inspired of by the lack of sales at our local artist show. Sounds strange? This year we had 600 less entries and the quality of true painters were missing. There are lots of collages of cut- out photo copies glued on a canvas, transfers or other clipart images integrated on a surface. I have done it and it's instant gratification to built up your surface. Buyers are reluctant to pay $225 plus tax and I do understand because we expect that art connoisseurs are coming to these exhibitions. So... I decided challenging myself and sign up for a life drawing class in the fall.
I am inspired by yesterdays walking class at the Running Room. We did hill training for 1 1/2 hr . The group of women a few years older than I, had a vigorous speed walk after the forth hill. They all signed up for the half marathon in Florida.
I am inspired by my neighbour who did a 2 week hiking tour in B.C. and prepares herself for the next endeavour to climb the Kilimanjaro in Africa.
I am inspired by the Iyengar yoga class I took this morning to get the kinks out of my joints from yesterday's hill training. I decided to take a yoga class a week .
I am inspired by my two sons. One has a talented eye for black and white photography. He captures the real mood of a setting. The other one has built amazing furniture for his new apartment and at his age (19) he feels the world is waiting to be explored. He is also off to Europe to join his brother in France.

and....I am inspired by ordinary brown wrapping paper........ I will post tomorrow what I did.

Pot holders made from a bounty of scraps

2011-08-07T20:46:00.000-04:00

This weekend I followed sewing instructions from fresh & quilting by Malka Dubrawsky to make some pot holders for my friend Ursula in Germany. She just re-designed her whole kitchen in a daring blue palette and got a new retro fridge in a pale blue tone. I am dying to see it. Gifts to send overseas always have to be light -weight and I thought these pot holders will be perfect in her new kitchen.

It's good to have a dog

2011-08-04T10:24:00.000-04:00

I am sipping my coffee this morning and my foot is up on a chair with a maybe broken toe. It all began around 2 A.M. when my dog Skip started barking. She loves to watch curious raccoons trying to open our garbage bins. This is when she gets into a frantic bark. Half asleep I walked to the window to check it out and I saw a guy coming with my bike out of our garage! I yelled something to my husband who is always in the deep sleep mode, ran downstairs, the kitchen door was flying open and I raced into the lane way. I was surprised about myself because I let a roar out and yelled at the guy to leave my bike. I think he was surprised that a woman caught him in his act and doesn't put up with theft! That woke up my son, I race back inside, that's when I tripped my toe on a stone latch, grabbed my car key and cell and jumped into the car.( I think my inner tiger mom came out of me.) The guy was such a pro, he had a second bike around the corner were he fled the scene. This all for a 20 year old bike? This is not new to me in our good neighborhood. It happened 5 years ago when Skip sensed that somebody broke in next door. I met the guy face to face in the lane way too. We both were surprised. My drive through the neighborhood was unsuccessful, which was a good thing. Why didn't I call the police ? Last time I had to wait over one hour that they showed up. I don't drive a flashy car , my bike is 20 years old but there is always an opportunity for theft. So... always lock your cars, bikes and doors.
Thanks to Skip, she deserves a big bone today! - good dog -

Flea market finds from Clarence

2011-08-01T23:33:00.001-04:00

( from right to left: vintage barb,15inch long scissor, wire,sugar sacks, cutlery, JFK transfer on canvas by Norman Rockwell
bone buttons from the Civil War area, 48 star flag 1912-1959, coat hanger, double size vintage Dresden Plate handmade!quilt, wooden letters, baby spring mattress)

Photography

2011-07-31T06:00:00.002-04:00

I am playing with my Nikon D90 and took a close-up shot of the inside of a tin case and got the perfect bokeh texture. I applied it to a barn photo recently taken on a trip and love the new image.

The second image is a nest with rusted nails. Simply I was holding a glass flower frog in front of my lens. I got the beautiful dreamy image.

Enjoy the long weekend and always take your camera with you.

Summer Quilt Camp in the city

2011-07-29T14:59:00.001-04:00

Having fun while staying in the city is a must. I signed up for the Amish Bar quilt class at the workroom
taught by Johanna last week. This is a pretty straight forward design. The traditional Amish Bar quilts were done in strong colours.

I met super nice people. We all helped each other to baste our quilt tops. I started a second one, made a back which I loved so much and kept it for a third one.

Artist Square Foot Show

2011-07-28T21:59:00.000-04:00

This is my third year that I am participating in this event. I don't know why I left it to the last minute but deadlines have this funny effect on me and I will make a strong hand filtered coffee and I work late into the evening hours. I am surrounded by the scent of wax for the encaustic, the sewing machine placed on the table, acrylic, oil paints and images are scattered everywhere. Thank you for the last article in the uppercase
" mess is more". It spoke from my heart. ( sorry I forgot to take a photo of my creative mess in progress that night)

Here is the invitation:

Here are my two pieces I submitted.

wash and keep me

Roger's Birthday Party

( Roger is hiding under the plisse skirt on the right side)

Both pieces are sewn from waxed tissue paper.

the not so common household items

2011-07-27T08:23:00.000-04:00

clips from my weekend trip....

This nifty condo-style mousetrap manufactured by the Lovell company in the mid 1800's. They manufactured mattress springs, mousetraps and old-fashioned clothes washers. He was known to have made the best mousetraps in the world.

look twice......

I am quite familiar with kitchen appliances but the electric potato masher masher made me think for a moment. How does that work?

A novelty party gift from the 50's.

Road Trip to Clarence day 1

2011-07-24T19:57:00.000-04:00

Baby, it's hot outside!

2011-07-21T23:08:00.000-04:00

You need a big hat and a bottle of water to beat 42c plus.

Daytripping

2011-07-15T19:19:00.002-04:00

I love our summer here in Ontario. The best recipe for day tripping is a great friend, a camera, lunch and enjoying the same things. So we planed our route to eastern Ontario with abandoned farms, barns and antique stores in mind.

Here comes Nancy to take some grunge photos from the rust and peeled ceiling paint.

...saying hello to some friends who have a horse farm nearby.

...... you can't stop this girl. Here she hauls the jolly old man away for a toonie!

Celebrate your day!

2011-07-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Down on my knees.....

2011-07-12T19:38:00.000-04:00

there is hardly time for me to do any art. During these long summer days you find me on my knees in our mini vineyard on the hill. Two years ago we planted a hybrid French red wine grape BACO NOIR and for our cool-climate in Ontario a FOCH grape. I weed by hand and there nothing more satisfying then getting my hands dirty and placing stones and slate pieces beside the grape vines to absorb the heat.

I can't be luckier to have a superb wine maker as my neighbour and celebrate our first harvest this fall.

Cheers!

Finds from the past

2011-07-06T17:59:00.000-04:00

The past long weekend was a perfect trip to stop at some garage sales. I will pass the beanie baby and G.I.Joe lawn sales and rather stop at the used farm equipment . First buy a hand lawn mower for $30 and it starts every time!

........... and a vintage garden chair.

..............a barn light.

...............starburst wall clock from the 50's

... a dozen of old mason jars and a milkman's wire crate

........... but here come my best find, an old handwritten historical farmer's journal .

....and read THIS

My BIG hexagon cushion

2011-07-05T20:49:00.000-04:00

This was one of my sewing projects I finished last weekend. Normally I whip up a cushion in no time and have mastered to sew in the perfect zipper. I decided to cut the hexagons to a larger shape of 4 1/2" to have it done in 2 days but it took way longer to prepare 36 of them. I chose some old-fahioned prints mixed with polka dots for cottage.

This cushioned quilter's mat I bought at Jo-Ann fabric and is the handiest tool I bought. Easy to take on a trip and you have enough space for pressing and sewing on your table.

Day 3 and I am ready for nap time!

Done.

July is here!

2011-07-04T21:52:00.000-04:00

three sunny days in the country and will post my new sewing project and a car full of barn sale trophies tomorrow.....

Happy Canada Day

2011-06-30T15:28:00.000-04:00

Poppy Monday

2011-06-27T14:54:00.000-04:00

It's playtime with my new camera. I used the 35mm/1.8F I love the blurry effects and downloaded the free image from Kim Klassen " love in layers".

This is Judy

2011-06-24T18:38:00.000-04:00

After my second stop in a very small antique store she was still there, tucked away in his basement. Judy came with a very tempting price tag, that I could't resist packing this antique dress form into my car. Built with a series of slides and tightened with wing nuts I can adjust the mannequin to get precise tailoring.

Ellanam Adjustable Form Company was based in Brooklyn, NY. Miss B size has a hole on her left bust side. I think the use over the years of adjusting the form damaged the compressed cardboard covered by cloth.

My "want-to-do-list" for the summer

2011-06-23T22:54:00.001-04:00

- make a quilt

- assemble a Muskoka chair

- learn glass etching

- have a journal to enter all ideas what I want to do and designs

- get a garden coach

- make a summer board where I pin my photos for each week

- read a book and put my feet up

- lay a mosaic floor at my entrance ( never done it before, this might be over my head)

- enter the " Artist Square Foot Show" in Toronto for the 3rd year Yepee!!

- go with my friend on a antique road trip show

- make mail art and hope the postal strike ends

- sew a simple dress

- finish my wire sculpture which I started at Artfest

- sew new cushion covers for my couch

- sew flags

- take photos of my daily life ( psst ..... I got a new camera)

- meet friends for coffee

- take a one day art class

- prepare for my x-mas gift show in Germany

- send a parcel to a friend with something handmade

- stand for one minute under a cold shower

- organize my giant stash of magazines

- hang out with my family and my dog Skip in the country
- take Pilates classes
- finish projects in progress
Inventory will be taken at the end of the summer and I will add some things to the list. I will cross my fingers that most of it will be done beginning of fall.

Weekend

2011-06-20T09:36:00.000-04:00

This weekend gave me time to chisel out my " want to do list for the summer" . I started to plant my two big urns with flowers and hanging antique lights in our on-going restoring farm house.

This honeycomb light I found several years ago on a trip to Prince Edward Island. It also came from a farmhouse and I noticed that somebody try to give it a good cleaning and rubbed off the patina.

... and you need a willing husband to do the electrical work.

Mo

2011-06-17T06:00:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I said good-bye to my cat Mo after 23 years. For the last two weeks I know the time was coming - it was hard. We both had this unspoken relationship that she would live forever, maybe because she used up her nine lives during these 23 years. I picked her up when she was a kitten at the Mohawk Racetrack . A stallion stepped on her leg and a jockey handed me her to have a good home. I called her Mo and that's how our life started together. She followed me through relationships and new homes. She was my sewing companion, watching me write letters and never missed a beat waking me up sharp at 6 A.M. on my bed site. I never needed an alarm clock. I remember taking her several years ago to a vet and she told me that she was such a divine cat. Two weeks ago we both spent time at the cottage where she was lying in the sun and I tried so many different cat dinners to entice her appetite. She is now at peace where her spirit is resting under a whispering pine forest at our cottage. I am so grateful that she came into my life.

Early Morning Thoughts

2011-06-14T21:43:00.000-04:00

............... be calm.

Sunday's book launch

2011-06-13T17:48:00.000-04:00

My friend Charm Darby launched yesterday her book " Joyful, Soulful Sex". There was a full house at Grano's to celebrate Charm's book which was 6 years in making. I hear already the " uuh" in the background reading the title and then seeing the front cover the sound of "ah".

In her foreword she asks us to have an open mind and a pursuit of inner growth and understanding. Only then can we share with each other on a more profound and intimate level the joy of loving each other without trepidation and guilt.

I never met a woman with so much zest for life. She left her secured job in the financial sector to follow her passion of writing and is well known in her community as a giver, runner and artist.

My Retro Quilt

2011-06-11T18:29:00.001-04:00

I signed up for a " Machine Foundation Paper Piecing" class at the workroom. Foundation Paper Piecing is a great exercise to train your brain with the reversed thinking process. I have to admit that I never would hang a traditional wall quilt in my house but Johanna, our instructor, always gives a fresh look to some traditional or outdated style. ( I hope you know what I mean).
How did I come up with the idea from the 50's? A few weeks ago a found a 1957 edition of the canadian magazine Liberty.

The inspiring retro ads where a perfect match from the novelty print from Michael Miller.

A three day sewing marathon left a kitchen table in mayhem.

I think my three guys could have not handled all these fabric bits and pieces . These are the days when you are by yourself and cooking is not required.

The little girl on the swing is from the lovely collection " Sherbert Pips".

Lots of fuzzy cutting to get everyone under the roof.

it's hot

2011-06-08T17:26:00.001-04:00

After a 4 day stay in the countryside I am back in Toronto. The barometer is climbing up to 30 degrees Celsius and I stopped at one of the best gelato stores in Toronto to treat my family with gelato from Il Gelatiere. This is a three minute drive back home, only to be stuck in one of our million road construction sides. That's Toronto in the summer - but the ice cream ( passing the melting point in my overheated car) was benissimo !

Lovers of Pink

2011-06-01T19:52:00.000-04:00

Today was showtime for my Chinese Tree Peony.

The Mixed Minded workshop weekend

2011-05-29T23:21:00.003-04:00

The Mixed Minded weekend workshop was hosted by Karen Ellis . Thanks Karen to make us all so welcome . The best thing was, it was only one and half hour travelling time to take amazing classes. It was like a homecoming to see Carmi, Nancy, Hope, Marissa, Sandy and Martha who was sitting next to me in the afternoon class.

I took my first calligraphy lesson with Lois Sander. I always admire beautiful handwriting and lettering . I knew that I wasn't leaving this class to master a page from the Gutenberg bible, rather making my own folded booklet with a short poem. Looking now at the letter T I had a hard time to make a straight stroke down. Practice, practice...... Don't expect to have my shopping list written in the Neuland font yet.

I got so hooked on lettering that a bought a second parallel pen with a bigger tip. From now on all my mail art cards are getting the extra attention for the mailing address .

The afternoon class was taught by Sandra Spagnuolo . The mixed media mini quilt. What I really liked was that the materials were unusual for a quilt but common kitchen stuff to make the base for our painting. Aluminum foil, wax paper, some paint and and fusible interfacing.
I should have taken a picture from the start because the end result didn't look like the beginning of my quilt. I am sure Martha can confirm this, sitting next to me. I started with an organic shape looking like a pea pod.
Layered endless paint and rubbing it away, made a transfer of a tree in the upper corner and embellished with silver and red thread.

Space for three

Voyage in a pea pod

Long weekend in Canada

2011-05-20T10:13:00.000-04:00

The Ontario campsites are open and most of us are flogging to our cottages to enjoy the first long weekend to celebrate Victoria Day.

be safe and relax

My " Oh Deer " bag

2011-05-15T20:29:00.000-04:00

It's finally finished, my new zipper bag. Here I incorporated the whole shabang. I downloaded a free deer image and cross stitched the image with the wording on linen.

This time I was going to show off some detailing. I made my own piping.

Patchwork for the front of the zipper bag.

A pull string with wording and french knots.

The inside is quilted with lining from the French General collection.

........... finished.

Home again

2011-05-13T16:39:00.000-04:00

Not what you think that I treated myself with a mini holiday - I wish. I had surgery and thanks to friends who said hello, brought flowers and food my recovery is quite speedy. I am known for never standing idle so I was prepped with my embroidery kit and some sewing projects to make my stay more fun, only to find my energy hit rock bottom.
Thank you Kimberly for your mail art. It made my day! Hooray for mail art.

I am happy to say I am back behind my sewing machine but decided to let the weeds grow in my garden.

Under Construction

2011-05-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

I will be returning in a week.

Make your own Union Jack

2011-04-28T22:26:00.000-04:00

I always adore vintage flags. They carry so much history and I wonder if they traveled through war times or were hanging in official buildings. Tomorrow's occasion , the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middelton inspired me to sew the Union Jack and age the flag.

First I printed out the flag, pulled the coordinating fabrics out ( the official colour are Pantone 280 and 186). I couldn't help it to get my swatch book out , a sentimental leftover from our printing business. I traced the lines on fabric and used the foundation piece method to do all for corners and sewed the white and red stripes in a log cabin style together.

The flag is dipped in English tea for colouring.

Then I cut small pieces of steel wool and let it soak with vinegar in a zip-lock bag. Best is, to let it sit in the sun for few hours . The oxidation will create small rust particles. A coarser grade creates bigger spots.

This my finished vintage looking flag. I rushed the rusting process a little bit, but I happy with the end result.

My big zipper pouch

2011-04-26T19:40:00.000-04:00

Last night I was itching to try out a new sewing project, the large zipper pouch. I got inspired by Johanna who keeps her embroidery work in one of these fabric bags. I made mine a little bit larger 12"x13.5" . This bag is a birthday present for a friend . She just started to learn how to knit socks. This bag keeps your needles, wool, scissors and some change if you meet your friend for a coffee.

The fabric is from Heather Ross Far Far Away

This makes a great gift for any crafter.

The beginning of embroidery

2011-04-25T18:35:00.000-04:00

I remember I was in grade 3 when we started our cross-stitch sampler. My mom was ironing and I was sitting with her in the laundry room counting my stitches following my own design. I am sure I missed here and there some. I wished I would still have my sampler which was done in primary colours.

To refresh my memory how to start cross- stitching I took a class at the workroom and finished over the weekend my little sampler. The workroom offers over 100 shades of embroidery floss from Cosmo. It's a beautiful thread from Japan with a smooth, silky finish.

My next project will be a zipper pouch with embroidery to carry my project in progress with me.

Window-shopping in Seattle

2011-04-19T20:31:00.000-04:00

The Art of Correspondence

2011-04-14T20:36:00.000-04:00

This was my last day at Artfest and I took a class with Orly Avineri to make mail art. I have done it for a long time and I am always excited to get mail with the extra touch of something. Every student in this class had amazing cards and we all were satisfied to have finished our cards.

to mail

Anyone interested to exchange mail art ?

Seattle 101

2011-04-13T22:18:00.002-04:00

What can you see in one and half day in Seattle?

A lot!

Seattle is a caffeine-driven city ( the first Starbucks at the Pike market), yet laid back. It is but buzzing with tourists at the Pike Market and it offers a bit of the great outdoors — you can still see the snow covered Mt. Rainer or you can take a ferry ride to one of the many pristine islands.

* pick up rental car, plug in the GPS ( what would I do without it )

* first stop vintage fabric stores in Queen Ann

* re-fuel with a solo expresso and a Tazo chai and off to the Pike Market

*watching the fishmongers noisily tossing salmon across the counter, stopping at Le Panier and the WorldSpice Merchants

* exploring the cobble stone streets nearby with the best graffiti and stores with vintage stuff I wanted to take home

* shopping on Pine Street

*Seattle Symphony - here you see the dramatic chandelier created by the world famous glass artist Dale Chihuly

* Seattle Art Museum - I saw one of the most amazing exhibition of Nick Cave " Meet me at the Center of the Earth"

* expresso refuel !

* off to UWAJIMAYA - an asian grocery store. You will find food packaging with cool graphics.

In the back corner is Kinokunya a Japanese book store which carries the best selection for craft books, pens and packing tape!!!

* last stop for the day was Maxine's - a flower and unusually gift store.

Artfest

2011-04-03T12:05:00.000-04:00

gone, gone ...gone. I am leaving tomorrow for Seattle and taking the ferry on Wednesday to Bainbridge Island to the one and only ArtFest hosted by Teesha Moore.

Eight days of fun and NO cooking.

Buzzing with Hexagons

2011-03-29T22:58:00.000-04:00

Finally I am ready to show my work in progress...... a hexagon quilt hand made using the English Paper Piecing method. As I promised, no sewing machine necessary . You can do it in the car, while watching tv and it travels in a small container. I took this class with Johanna at the workroom and she promised this will be addictive!
I chose to make a small pillow- no ambition to make 2000 pieces.( I have too many projects on the go)

I found this fabric on-line by Terrie Mangat ( Free Spirit). These hexagon images were perfect for the quilt. The matching fabric has a wing pattern which I might use for my back.

The freezer paper shapes are ironed on various fabric leftovers and the seam stitched in place.

Slowly the front is taking shape. My coffee mug is sitting to the right and honestly you can't put the needle down ....one more to add.

Bees in Grandma's garden quilt.

Bottled Beauty

2011-03-26T08:12:00.000-04:00

In 10 days I am off to Seattle to spend 4 days at Artfest hosted by Teesha Moore. My friend Kimberly gave me the idea of this time capsule for my trades. I haven't used shrinky dinks for years and I had so much fun watching the images curling up in my toaster oven. It's quite a interior work getting the girl in the 1.5" bottle.

Forty more to go!

For all of us, the key is to pay close attention to which activities make us feel most alive and in love with life. And then try to spend as much time as possible engaged in those activities.

-Nathaniel Branden-

P.S. on this note I took 3 different yoga classes this week and one of the exercise was to find out your happy thoughts - immediately fabric came to my mind and I will post about my next project which is so addictive and you can carry it everywhere. No sewing machine necessary.

Natural Dyeing

2011-03-20T19:27:00.000-04:00

I am taking a 3 week course at the workroom how to learn to dye my fabric with natural plant colours. It was always a mystery to me how to prepare my fibres and what a mordant does. We prepared our batches and divided them into cellulose and protein fibres.We used natural dyes from logwood ( grey colour), madder, a flower from the middle east (orange colour), osage (bark) yellow colour and cochineal, an insect which gives a pink to red shade.

Tomorrow is the last class and I am preparing shibori pieces to be dyed in indigo. This will be a surprise if it works. Last summer I bought some plastic shapes with a cut out hole which I found in vineyard supply store. I think it's a measuring tool for fruit trees. For the reversed shape I found some canning lids and I clamped my fabric pieces between. Tomorrow I will post my results.

Tuesday afternoon with Madeleines

2011-03-15T22:23:00.000-04:00

My feet were tired visiting universities and attending open houses with my son for the search of the right place. On the way home I stopped at the St.Lawrence market and bought a baking form for Madeleines.
My friend from Germany send me the Madeleine recipe from her patisserie.

The small sponge cakes came original from northeastern France and have a distinctive shell-like shape.

Merci Ursula!

time to act...

2011-03-11T20:27:00.000-05:00

(photo taken from a place close to my heart)

Japan was hit by the worst earthquake and tsunami today. My prayers and thoughts are with the people of Japan. As we go daily to our coffee shop for coffee, instead make a stop at your bank and make a donation to one of the organizations that will provide support.

Animal Kingdom in my kitchen

2011-03-06T21:27:00.002-05:00

The end of the ski season was drenched in rain and today I felt like getting my hands dirty and planting a spring arrangement. To spice up my flower jungle I placed small animals and quail eggs between the plants. This was my base to practice Susan Tuttle's " add a zoom blur".

A Friday with deadlines

2011-03-05T01:38:00.000-05:00

It's very late and I realized that the pressure of deadlines are working for me. I accomplished a lot today. It feels good! First I went to see "The Artist Project" which runs until March 6th. Fantastic show and very inspiring .

For our annual "Skiesta" I had to prepare several salads. I wonder how much snow is left after the rain the fun dress-up downhill run. The other option is to hang out under the umbrella near the barbecue.

The rest of the day until midnight I finished my fatbook pages. I found in an antique store an old cigar box filled with tiny glass bottle from the Ontario agriculture department. Local weeds were researched from the botanical department and each bottle was filled with seed samples. I made a transparence of this image for my " plant art" pages.

I painted my pages in a pale green and tan acrylic colour, stamped line images and sewed a transparence image with fabric taps.

.......... and while I was working away my cat Mo of 23 years was happily sleeping in the kitchen.