Simple apron

It's difficult to put into words how much my daughter is an amazing person. It's never about her; always about others. Checking - are you OK, is everything fine, what can I do to help... Last year she had a request ''when you have time, no rush mom, I would love to have a handmade apron from you''. Last month I made her this apron. Nothing fancy, plain and simple just like she would love it to be. After this picture was taken, I sewed a tiny little red heart button on the front pocket. She is my heart and soul that girl !

Knitted love, mail and frenchy finds

I always have a project on my needles. I just finished this shawl last week. It's not for me, I might give it to someone special. (It looks like someone is modeling the shawl but it's actually drapped over my sewing machine).

Look at what arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago. It's from here. It was immediately framed and hung in my craft room. If you don't already visit Heather's blog, well you should. She's amazing. She's the second blog I discovered almost three years ago. The way I found out about blogging (I was clueless about blogs) was with this blog. Her soaps are so delicious smelling you want to have a bit. And let me tell you, she has the cutest little boy.

And last but not least - some Frenchy treasures I found in one 10 minute visit last week. Look at all this bright colored fabrics.

And in the same stash, there were these 8 black and white samples. I'm thinking a simple quilt for a teenager maybe...


And a wooden spool holder. My 10 minute shopping spree at Frenchy's cost me $2.25.

I am teaching myself to knit socks, with the help of You Tube videos and very clear and simple instructions from so many inspirational blogs. I'm almost done with the first sock, I'll post pictures. Things are going well so far, fingers crossed please.

Craft room

Here are a few random pictures from my craft room. I put together this room late last Fall. I finally have a space where I can have everything crafty together in one room.






I often find myself late into the night working away at some simple knitting or sewing project in the quiet-ness of this space.

Swap news

I blogged about a swap that I took part in here. This was way in August. My swap buddy was (is) Rachel from New Zealand and at the end of August I got my parcel with my beautiful pin cushion and needlebook that Rachel so wonderfully handmade for me. We both shipped out our parcels on the same date - it took 10 weeks for mine to reach Rachel. I was getting worried. Below are pictures of the pin cushion and needlebook I made for Rachel.



I love participating in swaps. You get to meet so many wonderful friends (bloggers).

Swap happiness

A couple of months ago I registered to be part of a pin cushion and needlebook swap through this wonderful lady. Rachel from New Zealand was my swap buddy. I enjoyed this swap very much. I plan on registering for others in the future, they are such a nice way to meet wonderful bloggers that eventually become your friends. Please check Rachel's blog, she's an amazing mother and all around great homesteader.

Yesterday I got my pin cushion and needlebook from Rachel. I'm hoping Rachel will get her parcel from me sooner than later. Look at the fine work she did for me. Seeing that I've just recently started to sew, I did'nt own a pin cushion neither a needlebook. And a bonus was included in the parcel - a dishcloth made up like the New Zealand flag. What a beautiful souvenir of our new found friendship. I can't think of anyone around that has a dishcloth like mine :-)

I love everything Rachel, thank you so much !

Quilts : or Art ?... or both

Anyone that knows me now that I LOVE anything handmade. I am overjoyed when I receive a gift and it was handmade with love. My sister is visiting from Ontario and earlier this week we went with my mom and brother to a quilt exposition in a local church. All quilts were made by local ladies. I can't say they were all ''handmade'' - some were machine stitched (but still very beautiful; I love both hand and machine stitched). What you see in the picture below was only half of the quilts on display. It litteraly takes your breath away when you first walk in.

Below - my visiting sister. This was ''one'' of my favorites.

Two pictures below are the same quilt - made by my aunt. Amazing isn't it ! her hand stitching is finer than machine stitching.


But I have to tell you a story before you view the next picture. My husband's parents died exactly one month apart - July 10 and August 10, 20 years ago. A short while after the funeral Dave and I went to clear the house because we had sold it. I guess some boxes ended up in our attic because two weeks ago when we were cleaning our attic we found and opened one of the boxes and found 6 quilt tops that Dave's mom had hand sewn. One quilt in particular, Dave gasped when he saw it, he said that he remembers helping his mom cut those tiny little squares when he was ill in bed for an entire school year with rheumatic fever. He was 7 years old ! I could'nt hold back tears, I was so touched by the expression of joy on his face. Memories are so good for your soul... don't you think ?

So I could'nt put that quilt top back in the box, even though it smelled like the attic big time. I washed it, put it to air dry outside, found a huge piece of flannel at Frenchy's and some binding and presented Dave with his quilt (see below). I am not going to stitch it, I will tie it with red wool here and there in the quilt.

We've decided that this quilt is our official picnic blanket !


And while we're on the subject of quilts, I must post ''a second time'' a picture of a very special quilt that was handmade by a very special friend and offered to me. You can read more about it here.


Have a good weekend everyone and hope you make someone happy.

Starting vacation

Friday (July 18) I was officially on summer vacation. I go back to work on August 18. Yup, that's right - I am on vacation for a whole month. Do you think I'll run out of things to do...

So far this weekend there's been a whole lot of eating outside. Here is Friday's salmon burger with mayo and capers with BBQ roasted asparagus.


Saturday my brother, sister-in-law and Princess came over for a visit.

There has also been a lot of outdoor's embroidery work being done. I am part of a pin cushion and needlebook swap and my swap buddy is Rachel from New Zealand. I've completed the pin cushion and I am now working on the needlebook (sorry I can't post any pictures because Rachel checks my blog).

When it's too hot in the woods where we live we take a break and go to the ocean where there's always a nice breeze.

Last night Dave wasn't playing music with his band so we made a fire in our pit and just plain enjoyed ourselves. Check the white socks ! I needed those to ward-off the mosquitos from eating up most of my ankles.

Today we went to a local festival where we found yard sale items (and of course we just had to buy a bag full), loads of seafood to eat, live music and a lot of people we had'nt seen in a long time so it was a pleasant visit.

Tomorrow I am going on a road trip with my friend Clarisse (aka Clo) to Halifax in this :


Should be fun - too bad the forecast is for rain. But Clo and I still know how to have fun :

Om Tote

I am still an apprentice (and that's for sure) but I am loving sewing. I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth... me, the one that affirmed last year that I hated sewing but all those wonderful and talented bloggers out there have inspired me to get creative and have fun.

I made this tote tonight. I had cut all the pieces earlier this week so tonight I could concentrate on sewing.

It looks like the Om symbol is smeared but it's not (it's only the bad quality of the picture).