New Books

I wasn't going to purchase any more books for awhile as I already have an excellent collection. But since Gale, my granddaughter, has shown an interest in needle felting, how could I pass up Sweet & Simple Needle Felted Animals by Sachiko Susa. Step by step instructions and photos show you how easy it is to make basic shapes, attach components, add details and attach findings to make accessories. This book is one that felters of all levels will enjoy.

My second purchase was Simply Stitched with Applique by Yumiko Higuchi. This book combines embroidery stitches with applique using felt, cotton and linen. You will learn to create beautifully layered designs full of texture and contrast, then embellish with just a handful of basic embroidery stitches. The colourful photos of over 30 motifs inspired by nature, are beautiful.

Enjoy!

I Won . . .!

Imagine my surprise a few days ago, to find out that I won the lovely crazy quilted postcard embroidered by Mary Anne at Magpie's Mumblings. The winner was asked to send in their favorite Christmas recipe. My Mom's Dark Fruitcake, posted HERE, is my favorite.

This cake was baked a couple of years ago. Mom always said to smooth out the uncooked batter with a knife dipped in hot water! It didn't help my cake as you can see. However, the cracks didn't affect the taste!

A Crafty Afternoon

Monday was a school holiday here, so we had Gale for most of the day. She wanted to do a craft. We looked through some books and found a Santa ornament. We didn't have any paper plates so a plate was traced onto red computer paper and cut out. The circle was folded in half for extra strength and glued into a cone. The directions were followed but with modifications. Children do come up with great alternatives when the suggested materials aren't available.

• No black construction paper for the boots so Gale drew a pair and coloured them in
• No cotton balls. Wool roving instead
• No arms in the book pattern but Gale made them anyway

We both had a good time. She was happy with her santa ornament!

•  Santa Plastic Ball Ornament 
•  Santa Face Pillows    
•  Santa Hat Ornament    
•  Cross Stitch Santa on Pinterest HERE  
•  Faces of Christmas Wall Hanging   
• Santa Quilt Block 
• Patchwork Santa Wall Hanging    
• Santa Quilt Blocks on Pinterest    

 Enjoy!!
   

Credit Card Holders

Today I finished making seven Credit Card Holders from my fantasy fabric, for my booth at the Bridgewater Elementary School Craft and Vendor Fair on Saturday.

 

Check out a few more HERE and HERE.  

Ta Da!!

Here's my newest Shimmer Ornament. The sea horse will debut this weekend at the Bridgewater Elementary School Craft and Vendor Fair. Credit for the design goes to my husband. The designs are created on the computer and converted to stitch for my embroidery machines.

Shimmers Showcase and more . . .

Today I decided to showcase some of my Shimmer Ornaments and a few other larger pieces. Since moving to Nova Scotia, people have been asking me what I do. The links below take you to past posts about my work - mostly shimmers at the moment with a few other things put in. If there are any questions, please comment on this post and I will get back to you.

• Music Shimmers 
• Christmas Shimmers More HERE
• Newfoundland Map & Flag 
• 2016 Booth at the NL Craft Council Christmas Craft Fair  
• Icebergs 
• On the Tree 
• 2015 Booth  
• Christmas 2015 and HERE 
• Sailboat  
• Halloween 
• Starfish 
• Maple Leaf  
• The Dory 
• Viking Ship
• Gingerbread House  
• Fantasy Fish 
• 2014 Christmas Craft Fair     
• Lighthouse and Anchor
• Cat  
• Tree and Star 
• Icicles  
• NL Trade Show (showcases most of my shimmer ornaments)
• Showcase of a few larger pieces (scroll down)   

          

Knitting is Finished

I finished another pair of mittens for granddaughter, Gale, last night. Hand delivered this afternoon. She was delighted.

The wool is 100% merino yarn, worsted weight superwash and is The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze. (No, I did not misspell his name).

• Yarn Basket Ornament 
• Knitted Snowman 
• Knitted Mug Cozy 
• Love Knitting, free patterns    
• All Free Knitting Patterns 

 Enjoy!
        

Winning Quilts from Recent Shows

It's time to check out the winning quilts at this year's International Quilt Festival, Houston. The subject was 'A World of Beauty'. Check them out HERE.

• Find the winners of the Pacific International Quilt Festival HERE.
• In Chicago, the Celebration of Color Judged Show is HERE.
• World Quilt Competition Winners from New England are HERE.
• Sauder Village 2017 Quilt Show Winners HERE. 
• The $10,000 winner of the Handi Quilter Best of Show Award, the International Quilt Festival-Houston. Harmony Within by Sue McCarty of Roy, Utah. 
• In January, I posted about the Tokyo Quilt Festival. See it HERE

Grab a cup of something and enjoy!!

We Remember . . .

A day to remember.
These poppies grew in my Newfoundland garden. They originally came from my mother's garden. Poppies and forget-me-nots were among the flowers she planted.

Her brother, Charlie Emberley, served in WWll and survived. These are for him and for all of those who fought to keep us free.

Kopanang Universe Canticle - Part Two

Here are the rest of the photos of this exquisite exhibit:

Kopanang Universe Canticle - Part One

The Kopanang Universe Canticle is a traveling exhibit created by women in the Kopanang Community in South Africa. I was fortunate to see this body of work during the Espanola Fibre Arts Festival last month.


This collection of 35 stunning hand embroidered wall hangings depicts the universe's story of evolution but also reveals and strengthens the spirit of the Kopanang community. The intricately embroidered panels tell the story of the universe as interpreted by 17 Kopanang women as a means to celebrate life and creation.

Here's part of the display. Click on photos to enlarge and see the details.

Wool Pets

Back in October, I blogged about my granddaughter needle felting two penguins during craft hour at the  Lunenberg County Lifestyle Centre. Well, two weeks ago, her cat got hold of the larger one and tore it to shreds! Gale was not a happy camper but realized she had to put her small stuffed toys out of reach. Lesson learned (until the next time).

Yesterday, Gale decided she wanted to make another small animal. We had borrowed Wool Pets from the library and still had it. This is an excellent book to use with children as it gives step by step photos and written directions for each pet.

Gale chose to make a bunny. Here's the book photo:

 Here is Gale's masterpiece:

I couldn't find my seed beads to use for eyes so French knots to the rescue. The mouth is black roving. I did this part for her. We measured the length of the roving and rolled it up. Both of us needle felted into the body. Gale made the head and we both did an ear. She did the legs and puff tail. The pattern called for two legs but she was determined to give it four. I told her she was on her own for that (under supervision of course)! Gale's bunny has a ribbon on its ear because it was to show that this is a girl bunny. She was very happy with her new felted pet. 

• Felt Ornaments with Decorative Machine Stitching 
• Ribbon Candy Felt Ornaments  (Hoping to do this one with Gale) 
• Needle Felting Tutorials on Pinterest HERE,   
• Felted Snowball Ornament 
• Felted Gnome Ornaments 

Enjoy!!
      

Happy Halloween!! - A few Days Late

I totally forgot that I had written this blog post!  Too many things to keep straight - oh dear . . .

Yesterday (that was 2 days before Halloween) was a trip to the farm to look at pumpkins and scarecrows.

Before

After

 

Check out a few of my past Halloween posts HERE, HERE, HERE & HERE

Enjoy!