Muffins & Stuff!

Yesterday on Facebook, I posted three photos about my blueberry muffins. Since then, there have been quite a number of people making comments about them, especially the small amount of sugar used.

I used parchment paper liners which don't stick to the baked muffins. 

The recipe came from The Treasury of Newfoundland Dishes. My mom has several of her favourite recipes printed in this book. This is my second copy as the original one that mom gave me decades ago, is literally in tatters!

 Here's the recipe:

These muffins use little sugar. If your sweet tooth isn't satisfied, cut one in half and spread some jam!

The cookbook is still available at Chapters and Amazon.

• Pinterest HERE has a few ideas for quilted muffins / cupcakes
• Cupcake applique HERE
• Template HERE
• Free Cupcake / Muffin Oven Mitt HERE 

Enjoy!

 

Squash Squad: Sue Spargo's Stitch Along on Instagram

Yesterday was the first day of Squash Squad, another of Sue Spargo's Stitch Alongs on Instagram. This is my progress so far. The metallic braid, by Kreinik, is couched on the squash with Valandi #8 perle cotton, colour 18. The chain stitch on the stem is Valandi O154.

Hopefully, I'll get the vine and leaf stitched tomorrow as well as playing catch-up!

• Free Projects for Fall
• Autumn Stitching     
• Fall Sewing Projects on Pinterest    
• Autumn Embroidery with Mary Corbet    
• Embroidery leaves on Pinterest (lots of inspiration for stitching)

Enjoy!!

 

 

 

The 'Square Exhibit" piece

The DesBrisay Museum, in Bridgewater, is having a Square Show! The museum will host a collection of work produced by artists from across Nova Scotia. This show will feature 8" x 8" artwork in a variety of mediums, including watercolour, textile art, oil . . . ! This show is from August 3 to September 7.

Here's my piece. It doesn't have a title yet but it will come to me later today (I hope)!!
I used hand painted fabric that was still packed away from our move to NS, waiting to be used.  A combination of free-motion stitching, hand embroidery, digital printing onto silk for the rocks and hand applique, were used on this piece.

Close-ups

Enjoy!

Birch Trees

I have another miniature piece finished. Needing a quick name, I've called it Birch Trees. Yes, very original, I know, but something else might pop into my head. I'm open to suggestions. In creating art, I find that coming up with an appropriate name,is  the hardest thing to do. I don't want something corny.

The trees and rocks are hand appliqued in place. Check HERE in a post from a few years ago (scroll down) to find out how I created the rocks for using in my pieces. The daisies were first hand stitched onto Aqua Magic water soluble fabric, spritzed with water and left to dry then stitched on the background fabric. The lupines were free motion stitched onto purple organza. French knots were used for the dandelions and tiny forget me knots.

Below is the piece before adding the extra flowers. 

Art and a Sunset

I haven't been blogging very much this summer. For one thing, it has been way too hot. However, a heat pump was installed about three weeks ago so it is now lovely and cool inside. We have had friends from Newfoundland visit as well as family from Tennessee and Ottawa so I've been busy with them.

This mini garden was completed last week. It is matted 5" x 5". The background is cotton with free-motion stitching. The old basket was stitched on a tan coloured fabric and appliqued by machine. The foliage is a combination of hand embroidery and machine stitching. The tiny French knots represent dandelion flowers. When I was a child I would often pick them in the back yard and bring them into my mother. Most of my landscapes have a dandelion or two embroidered on them.

 

Under the Sea was finished a few days ago. This one is matted 5" x 7". It is also a combination of machine and hand stitching. 

I had to add this sunset. I took this from the car as we were driving home from Halifax this evening. Love those colours!!

Sunset along the 103, on the way home from Halifax

• You can see a few previous Under the Sea pieces HERE
• Another mini garden is HERE  
• Find Textile Art Inspiration HERE on Pinterest. Lots for everyone!  
• Check out my blogging friend's blog at Magpie's Mumblings. You will be entertained for sure.

Enjoy!
I'll try to be a bit more regular with posts this fall.

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!

What's New?

I just came back from a walk. Thankfully there was a bit of a breeze at times because the temperature was hovering above 27C here at my brother-in-laws house, Brooklyn, NS (near Windsor as there are two Brooklyn's in NS). The view is amazing and the internet is perfect (not like at the RV park).

My creativity has taken a bit of a holiday the last two weeks although I did attempt a little stitching on an Embroidery Guild Stitching piece. It didn't get very far!

Enjoy these links:

• 40 + Applique Patterns    
• Summer Quilts HERE,  
• Applique - Spring / Summer HERE 
• Summer Beach Scene  
• Flower Applique 
• Beach Tote (cute one)        

Morning Walk

The weather is gorgeous! I had an early morning walk today before it got too hot. These wild roses were along the roadside.

Rose inspired work:

• Wild Rose Applique Quilt Block
• Vase of Roses 
• Roses in my Garden     

 Enjoy!
      

Strawberries = Jam

Today's post comes from my kitchen! Fresh strawberry jam! Mmmmmm . . .  Kitchen make-over is almost done (new counters, subway tile on the walls behind counters, new paint job, cabinets refinished - all that's left is the flooring). To celebrate, I made some jam! Actually, I found some nice strawberries at Costco this morning and had nothing to do with the kitchen. I was just glad to have a bit of free counter top space. Why is it that every surface gets used when working around the house! Nothing gets put away. My rant for the day.

• Pinterest HERE,  HERE, 
• Wild Strawberries Embroidered Quilt Block   
• Quilting Strawberries 
• Strawberry Mug Rug 
• Strawberry Applique   Another HERE & HERE 

  Enjoy!       

Spring Has Sprung - in my Garden!

The sun is shining!!! Yes, that's a wonder as St. John's has had its fair share of RDF (Rain, Drizzle, Fog) this spring. And it's been cold so it's a wonder that any spring flowers / shrubs have survived.

 This old fella has survived another winter too. No, I didn't bring him in out of the weather!

Maybe things will begin to look up this week (weather wise).

• Flower Quilts / Blocks on Pinterest HERE, HERE  
• Applique HERE, HERE,
• Fabric Flower Patterns HERE, 
• Hexagon Flower Mug Rug   
• More Mug Rugs HERE,  HERE, 

Enjoy!

Working

I have been working on getting my workshop materials ready for next Monday's deadline. The workshop in Espanola, Ontario, isn't until next October, but all the promotional materials have to be done well in advance. I will keep you posted on the festival.

Shimmers are on the embroidery machine. New orders came in today! Busy times . . .
Here are a few links to check:

• Your Whims Wednesday #302  (My Girlish Whims)
• Embroidery Tutorials (I love the french knots)
• Needle & Thread Network 
• Mini Crochet Easter Eggs Basket (borrowed from a friend's blog)
• Free Bunny Applique 
• Mini Tote Bag (Free PDF)         

 Enjoy!

Here's a applique quilted piece that was made in the late 90's. The light background is Sashiko. The thistles are dimensional.

Linking up with The Needle & Thread Network!

Stained Glass and Quilting!

The Pitcher Plant is the official plant of Newfoundland Labrador. 'As a carnivorous plant, it gets its nourishment from insects that are trapped and drown in a pool of water at the base of its tubular leaves. These plants, with their wine and green flowers, are found on bogs and marshes around the province.' Other interesting facts about this plant HERE.  

Don completed this beautiful stained glass Pitcher Plant yesterday. He's been posting his work on Face Book under CSE Glass.

























My friend, Judith, created these two beautiful quilted wall hangings of the Pitcher Plant. She enjoys working with fabrics: quilting, hand and machine embroidery, fabric dyeing . . . you name it, she has probably tried it. In fact, the light green fabric on the 1st photo, was dyed and rusted by Judy. The dark fabric is a commercial fabric by Carol Breyer Fallert. The fabric in the 2nd one is unknown.
Permission was given to show these photos.

• Red Work idea HERE 
• Alison Cole embroidery of Pitcher Plant (designed for a class at EAC 2017, Rock, Needle, Scissors, Newfoundland, Canada - scroll down)  
• Pitcher Plants on Pinterest HERE & HERE. 
• The Pitcher Plant Project HERE 

Enjoy!!

Eye Candy and More . . .

I just spend some time looking at a bunch of fabulous winning quilts from the Road to California 2017 Show Quilts. More images HERE and Applique Quilts HERE. This was posted by About Quilts.
    
I also found this fabric basket tutorial. This might be a nice way to showcase some of your decorative buttons.

The Row by Row Studio has some interesting quilts to use in a project.

For the embroiderers out there, go HERE. You will need to translate this site.

Enjoy!

Thinking SPRING!!!!

No Driving for a whole MONTH!!! Yikes . . .

Well, I can get back to doing a little stitching as long as I don't irritate the arm. No cast but a sling for the next month. I do have two fractures in the ball of the arm. The doctor was pleased with the amount of movement I have (not one to lie around but been careful, I did some exercises so arm wouldn't seize up and it has worked)!  YAH!!! Oh, did I say NO DRIVING for a month - not a happy camper but . . .

Thanks for all the well wishes from my blogging buddies - much appreciated.

Now for a few links to check:

• I like the shape of this Basket Tote from Sew Can She. Lots of great patterns on this site
• Are you familiar with Ginger Bread Girl (Kathryn Drummond) from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada? Kathryn was here last year and taught several workshops for the St. John's Embroidery Guild. Unfortunately, I couldn't take any but my friends did. Kathyrn has lovely patterns on her site. There is even a Blackwork Snowflake, called Winter Sparkle, to download.
• Pattern Pile has, just as the name implies, piles of free stuff. I got a bit sidetracked looking at all the free patterns!

Enjoy!

Here's one of my miniature embroidery pieces I did years ago. It's a combination of some free motion stitching, applique and hand stitching.

Found Stuff and a Fish!

I can now use my mouse and type with both hands! YAH!! Little steps . . . but I won't push it until I see the orthopedic surgeon.  It's difficult to curve my desire to get on with my art work.

Instead, I have to be content to finding things on the web, reading and watching Netflix.
Here's some things I found:

•  Patchwork Posse shares 20 + Sewing Studio Projects to Keep You Organized
•  Firecracker Flower Applique Design (free) from Sew Can She 
• 50 Best DIY Gifts in a Mason Jar
• Sewing Machine Applique
• Hanging Organizer Tutorial

Enjoy!

One of my experiments from several years ago

      

All About Cats!

This post is all about cats! Why? Because my granddaughter just got a new kitten which she named Holtzmann. That's the name of her favorite Ghostbuster's character.

We had a cat for 17 years. I don't miss the cat hairs but having a cat around was nice.



Cats to quilt and stitch:

• Mini Cat Cross Stitch Series at Happiness is Cross Stitching 
• Tiny Kitten in a Box 
• Calico Cat Ornament (crazy quilting)     
• Cat Applique Patterns 
• Free Cat Patterns 
• Love Me, Love My Cat Applique Pattern    
• Stained Glass Cat Pattern     
• Cat / Dog Quilts on Pinterest     

Enjoy! 

To The Moon

The moon was quite large this afternoon. I took several photos but they were not clear. However, this one was interesting. The larger circle is the moon and the other two are lights in the parking lot but it does look like three moons up there (GRIN)!  Could be an alien sky!!

Links:

• Free moon and stars quilt  
• Sun & Moon quilts on Pinterest 
• Moon Phases Quilt Tutorial 
• Moon & Stars Applique 
• Moonlight Star 

Enjoy!             

The Rooms

We took the family to The Rooms today for brunch. The food and the view of St. John's was awesome!
One of the galleries had an exhibit of Inuit art. Photographs were permitted. I did zero in on a couple of pieces with applique, beading and fine stitching.

The caribou are beautiful!

 Carved antler 

 Basket weaving

UFO - Snow Happens - IS FINISHED!!!!

Last night, I finished sewing on the binding of Snow Happens! Needless to say, I'm very glad to have it done.

Here's a few more links (snowman related)

• Snowman on Pinterest   
• Playful Snowman Ornament  
• Quilts - Snowmen 
• Applique Snowman  
• Paper Pieced Snowmen 

Enjoy!!             

Ideas!!

There is not much going on in the studio this week due to a nasty head cold. I've tried to do a few things but after having to ravel out a few rows in a knitting piece, I gave up. However, I did manage to surf the net and found a few things of interest.

• A cool Owl Hat Free Knitting Pattern and a Crochet Pattern
• Eye Candy from Jane Blair Quilts, click on gallery  
• Canvas Tote to make
• Applique Lessons - interesting
• Mouse Pincushion Tutorial 
• Mexican Waves Scarf (pattern on Revelry)   I think the colours caught my eye!

Enjoy!