Happy New Year's Eve!

What a difference a year makes! Last December was a mild one with very little snow. In fact, we had a green Christmas. This year, winter started very early with piles of snow and very cold temperatures. The thermometer below shows one of the very few days that was above freezing.

I am looking forward to 2014 and all that it will bring.  Last March, I decided to go wholesale with some of my small production art work (Shimmer Ornaments, Wearable Art Pins, Art Cards, Felted Ornaments and Greeting Cards). It was a big step for me to take as I had been resisting it for many years. However, it has opened up other opportunities. I was invited to the Atlantic Trade Show (ACTS) in Halifax so I will be going there the end of January. Then, the local wholesale show is in March.

Production work is taking up much of my time at the moment but I'm hoping to set aside some time to experiment with more surface embellishments. I have some copper wire that I want to play with as well as a small gel printing plate for fabric printing. My yarn stash is overflowing and my wool roving needs attention. I have a few new toys to play with in my studio! Who knows where all that will lead.

Thank you for following my blog posts and to those who leave comments. I may not respond to all of them but they are read and appreciated. Happy New Year! I wish you health, happiness, time with family, and lots of fun in 2014!!!

Enjoy!

December 2012

December 2013

Dollar Shop Finds

I just got a chuckle from the latest newsletter from the Eastern Edge Quilt Guild. The editor usually highlights a web site or two that she found interesting. This time, the focus was on organizing ideas for quilting. Why did I get a chuckle? Well, for a couple of years, I looked after the organizing of the monthly programs, which included Ideas and Tips to Share. I would usually have one or two fantastic finds that I purchased at the local Dollar Shop. It got to be a regular part of the evening - Judy & her $ Shop finds!

Here's some of the things I found:

• small plastic containers with lids to organize beads, buttons, bobbins,seam binding . . .
• embellishments (beads, ribbon, yarns, glitter glue, glitter, buttons , , ,)
• cheap scissors for cutting wire
• folders with zippers for organizing patterns, applique pieces, small sewing projects . . .
• jumbo plastic bags
• nylon laundry bags for transporting quilts
• hooks
• office supply containers
• heavy clear glass vases

The site recommended (with me in mind) is Organize Your Whole House.

Have a look at some of my great finds!

Portable doggie water cup holds threads

Glass vases

Magnetic Memo Board

Command Hooks

Pencil case and sharpener

Office Supply Baskets

Handmade Gifts for Quilters / Sewers

I decided to compile a list of handmade gifts for quilters and sewers. Sometimes you just want to be able to put your hands on something quick to make for a special friend, relative or as a donation to a sale / auction. Here's a few projects to get you started:

Enjoy!

• Divided Baskets from Noodlehead
• Magnetic Pin Dish from Diary of a Quilter
• Needle Book by Nana Company
• Idea Pouch  and  Sewing Machine Apron at Craftsy  
• Fabric Baskets from Pink Penguin
• Quilted Pendant from Crafty Pod
• Fabric Beads by Linda Matthews
• Fabric Beads by Alma Stoller
• Fabric Beads by Delia's Place
• Microwave Bowl Cozies from Aunt Judy's Attic
• 30 + Makeup Bags & Rolls to Make from Tipnut

 

Ornament Exchange

Our embroidery guild has a bunch of very talented ladies as you will see by the ornaments below. By the time I thought to get my camera, many of the ornaments were put away. Here are the ones that were still on the tables:
Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas to everyone! Thanks for stopping by. We are having a white Christmas this year. It was snowing gently until an hour ago. However, the snow blower will still have to be called into action. St. John's is suppose to get another dump of snow over night and into Christmas day. I do hope it doesn't stop families from getting together tomorrow.
Enjoy the season!

Goldwork Poinsetta Kit

On November 8, I posted about winning a prize from Australia on Arlene's Blog. Well, I received it earlier in December. You can find this Goldwork Poinsetta  pattern / kit in her etsy store. I have a year to complete this project if I want it for next Christmas. Thanks again, Arlene!

The Stockings Were Hung . . .

Ever wonder where the tradition of hanging stockings at Christmas originated? A little story about a nobleman and his three daughters is one such theory. Wikipedia also writes about this same story as well as other tid bits of information. Another theory comes from Holland.

Regardless of its origin, children around the world hang stockings on Christmas Eve. Here are a few stockings (some with patterns) that you might like to make over the winter for next Christmas! There is always someone in need of a new stocking.
Enjoy!

• Sew an Easy Stocking project from McCall's - free!
• Sleigh Bells Stockings  (cute)
• Merry & Bright Christmas Stockings
• Four Christmas Stocking Projects
• Christmas in July - Free Stocking PDF 
• Christmas Stockings

Here's a crazy quilted stocking I made ages ago. It's all small pieces stitched with machine satin stitch.

Frustration

For some reason Blogger is causing a few frustrations. I like to have a continuous scrolling of my posts but for some reason (I have gone to the correct page for configurations but to no avail) this isn't happening.. To continue reading my older posts, you have to click 'older posts' at the bottom of the latest one. What a bummer! Let's see what happens when this one is uploaded to the blog.

 

It seems it is only happening to my previous post - strange!!!

Christmas Count Down

I was listening to the radio today and the announcer said there were just 15 shopping days left until Christmas! Where did the time go? My tree and decorations are still in boxes downstairs. My Charlie Brown Christmas Tree (I call it that as it is a skinny one just right for a corner in my kitchen) stands undecorated in my kitchen. I still have a few gifts to purchase and some to stitch. A light Christmas Fruitcake was just put into the oven. Our family loves fruitcake.

My advent wall hanging will not get finished for this Christmas. I still have lots of work to do on it. Hopefully it will go to Chicago this summer - finished!

I did find a few interesting Advent Calendars to quilt or stitch. Maybe there is one you would like to try and make for next year. Have a look.

Enjoy!

• AdventCalendar Quilt 
• Advent Tree 
• Advent Calendar (some embroidery) 
• Stocking Advent Calendar
• Advent Calendar
• Tutorial Advent Calendar
• Advent Angels Wall Quilt
• Advent Calendar Wall Hanging
• Santa Claus