Sylvia's Simple Shots

I met a friend at the St. Albert Botanic Park for a walk through nature and the blooming flowers. 

I love the peachy blushy rose and the shot came out nice.

After the walk, we headed to Timmy's for a tea and a visit.

It was a great afternoon after my dental cleaning in the morning.

The Detective's Secret by Lesley Thomson

The second book in a series.  I have not read the first one but I don't think it impacted the story much.  We get some history of some of the characters in the late 1980 when they were teenagers.  Then we move on to 2013 in the present day.

Jack Harmon drives trains for the metro, does detective work and sometimes pitches in at Stella's cleaning business.  Stella Darnell is a detective's daughter and her father has passed away.  Stella has a few employees in her business and all is going very well.

Palmyra Tower is almost a character in this story as well.  Formerly known as Chiswick Tower it is a water tower used for trains in the old days. It has history in relation the main characters. 

The past comes back to the fore when a man dies at an underground station on the metro.  The connections are not clear as names have changed over the years but grudges are still being held.  This was a great read.

I had an opportunity to try out a Sony RX10 camera for a couple of weeks.  I thought with this great zoom it should be wonderful!

It turned out not the be the easy peasy camera I thought it would be.  

It often did it's own thing when focusing, my photo editing software could not read it's RAW files so I had to delete 300 files an start over. I was met with the "function is not available" quite a few times and could not figure out what was preventing my changing the setting I wanted.

I am glad I did not invest in this camera as it was complicated for me to use.

One of the challenges this week was utility knives and blades.  The blue knife on the right lives in my sewing center and I use it disassembled second hand fabric.  It was on it's last point on the blade. No problem I have some in the cupboard which I use in the orange knife and it lives in the craft corner. No way the blades don't fit!

I headed to a big box store to buy a replacement and while there I invested in blades as well.  I tried the Olfa blades in the blue one and they fit so I will put the Olfa in the tools cupboard and I will have blades for a long time.  

Later, I was a ReStore and I could have saved myself some $ if I bought a utility knife there.  Ah well!

The prepping process is starting to move the furniture from the dining room and eventually the living room so that new vinyl floor can be installed.

I have made a selection so I will be ordering the flooring in the next few days and getting it delivered.

It will be a challenge to find hidey holes in the rest of the place for all that has to be moved.

On top of that most of it has to be emptied, moved then refilled.  Went the floor is done then the reverse process will take place.

I have put the IVAR cupboard ontop of the TROFAST in the front hall. I am filling the storage room where the STEN was taken away last week to be sold.  Thanks sister!

The sewing machine as been put away.

Sewing Project - Linen Napkins

I've decided to use cloth napkins instead of paper. I had bought flannel a few days ago for this.  

When I pulled the stuff out to make them I went What?  I am hoarding linen so why am I not using that. 

I pulled out the linen I dyed last year June 22,2023 with my sister.  It was meant to be a table runner but there is plenty.  I just ripped off a strip and started.  The gold is fabric I made a gift for my niece last year.

I made 6 napkins - three navy and three gold.

I made them small.  I started with a 13.75 inch square turned over a .5 inch hem.  I created mitered corners.  I followed this video.

I finally got the idea and the last few went really well.  

Here's the pile of paper napkins I am sending off to the ReUse Center.

I just had to rip the bandaid off because I thought - maybe I should save a few for photographing tablescapes and just said NO!

I have just way too much stuff and it has to go.

I do have a bit of a stash of cloth napkins which I am sure will accommodate any shots I will be taking in the future.

Cards - Christmas - Red and Green Holly

I took time to make a few more Christmas cards before the craft room gets packed up to replace the flooring.

This paper is from the Season of Cheer collection.

I chose a Cherry Cobbler A2 card base and wrapped a length of Always Artichoke wide grosgrain ribbon across the paper widthwise.  Taped the ends to the back.

Adhered the DSP to the card front in the portrait orientation then mounted an oval greeting punchie over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

A seasonal quarter sheet insert and white envelope.

My photo taking space was already put away so I had to improvise hence the lacy curtain.  Plants are usually on this space but they were temporarily displaced.

This is a DSP Split card with the same Cherry Cobbler card base.  I cut the DSP layer at 3.5 inches and flipped the bottom piece and taped them back together. I placed a red band of card stock over the join and taped it to the card front.

I added a scallop circle and color printed greeting over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

A season sentiment on a quarter sheet insert and a white envelope.

The green color in this collection is Mossy Meadow but since I don't have card stock in that color I substituted Always Artichoke which worked well.

I wrapped the dark green grosgrain ribbon across the designer paper and taped the ends to the back.  It was then adhered to the card front with double sided tape.

I created a poinsettia accent using the 5 Petal Punch with Real Red card stock, a non shed gold glitter punchie, a red sequin all held with a gold tiny brad.

It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.  Seasonal quarter sheet insert and an envelope.  Pressing over night and they are done!

Cards - Christmas - Night of Navy Snowflake

This designer paper is from the Season of Cheer collection by Stampin Up.

I cut the DSP to leave a small border. I strung these silver circles on navy crochet thread and tape the ends to the back. Then it was adhered to the card front with DS tape.

The ornaments were cut with the Gleaming Ornaments punch from silver paper and adhered behind the circles.

It makes them looks like light bulbs.

A seasonal insert and white envelope.

I was not fussy about the reverse print on this sheet of DSP so I chose the snowflake side for all these cards.

This A2 card base is Baja Breeze but it could have been Soft Sky as well.  I cut it to leave s small border all the way around.

I added an oval color printed greeting to the bottom left hand side to keep the warm blue corner visible.  It was mounted with 3 D tape.

A seasonal quarter sheet insert and white envelope completes it.

This is a similar colored layer as the previous one but on Night of Navy card base this time.


I added a Martha Stewart snowflake punchie made from 110lb card stock


I added a large blue sequin in the center. A tiny brad holds these to the DSP then that layer was adhered with DS tape to the blue card.


A seasonal quarter sheet insert and white envelope and these are done.


Glad to have a few more in the box.

Cards - Christmas - Snowflake

I need to make more Christmas cards.

I browse my designer paper and chose this 1 sheet from the Season of Cheer DSP set by Stampin Up. I believe this is mistletoe.

The color in this set is Mossy Meadow but I had Always Artichoke instead, also Soft Sky as card bases in the A2 size. 

 I added a length of Mellow Moss seam binding topped with Cool Caribbean narrow rick rack with all ends taped the the back of the designer paper. It was then adhered to the card front.

For the snowflake I punched a MS Snowflake and a Stampin Up one and layered them. I added a large white sequin in the center all held in place with a tiny blue brad.  This was adhered to the card front with a medium Zot.

I added 3 white sequins adhered with Bling Zots. A seasonal insert with a white envelope completes it.

The next card is a DSP Split where I cut the one piece at 3.5 inches and flipped the small piece over and tape them back together.  I taped it to the front of a Soft Sky card base.

I then punched a border with the Stampin Up Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch in the same Soft Sky card stock.  It was adhered over the join in the DSP.

I found a large oval greeting with a color to match and adhered it over the border punch with 3D tape.

For this card I adhered the designer paper cut to 4.00 x 5.25 inches to the front of an Always Artichoke card base.

I added a strip of light blue across the card and trimmed the ends.

I added a snowflake accent make with the Martha Stewart large snowflake punch in 2 colors - white and blue.  All held with a tiny silver star brad with a silver sequin.

I added a greeting with a Word Window greeting in a similar blue color and mounted to a Modern Label punch in a similar green color.

This card is the opposite coloring to number 2.

Always Artichoke card base with a DSP Split piece of designer paper from the Season of Cheer set.

I used a border punchie in green this time to match with the card base.

I again chose a large oval greeting held in place with 3D foam tape.

A seasonal sentiment on a white insert and a white envelope.

A mirror copy of number 3 card with the alternate combination of colors.

This is Soft Sky card base with the same snowflake accent.

The greeting again is the same with the colors swapped.

A seasonal insert and white envelope.

Press overnight to ensure the tape sticks well

Great to have a few more cards in the box.

Cards - All Occasion - Block Print Paper

I found this Indian Block Print Handmade Paper at the ReUse Center recently and loved it.  I knew that it would work with Stampin Up cardstock colors wonderfully.  The piece was about 9x12 inches so just a few cards.

I chose Baja Breeze and Ruby Red for the card bases in the A2 quarter sheet size.

I cut the decorative paper to leave just a small border.  

I chose a strip of matching card stock to go across the card and then a white scallop circle, with a grey coordinating smooth circle, a bird accent made with the Stampin Up Bird Builder Punch. I added a bit of black which helps to ground the design. A bit stitching around the circle with a fine black marker.

Quarter sheet insert and a white envelope and it is ready to go.

The next layout I used a daisy flower punch which I did one in each color. Then a smaller one in black.  A large white sequin and a coordinating mini brad to hold things together.

I added a strip of white card stock across the landscape card and glued it to the decorative paper leaving the ends hang over. 

I used a push pin to create a hole in each of the layers and mounted the flower accent through to the decorative paper.  Then adhered the whole layer to the card front.

I added black stitching to the white strip with a fine tip marker.

Added a quarter sheet insert and a white envelope.

This card has a Ruby Red card base with a layer of decorative paper adhered with double sided tape.

I created the bird accent with the above mentioned punch in the 3 colors.

With a marker I added the eye and lines to the beak and the stitching around the grey circle.

The accent was then adhered to the card front with double sided tape. 

A white quarter sheet insert and white envelope to finish things off.

Another flower accent card with the alternate color combo from the first one.

The daisy punch accent was assembled the same way with a coordinating warm red mini brad.

A fine black marker for the stitching and the flower adhered to the decorative paper.

This entire layer was then adhered to the landscape card front.

White insert and envelope.  These are now pressing under books overnight to allowing the glue to take a good hold.

I am almost ready to liquidate my designer paper as I very rarely use it and I could use the space for something else. 

Slow Stitching - No. 026 - Quilt as you Go (QAYG) Hexagons and Applique Dots

 Another week with Kathryn at K3N Cloth Tales and her slow stitch challenge.

Week 26 - half way point in the challenge and the year.  The prompt this week is inspired by the QAYG Hexagon at Marion's World and the Applique Dots by Jeri Bellini.

I made my hexagon almost 5 inches across at the widest because I am putting them on quilt squares.

I found the pink fabrics in my stash pretty fast but I had to dig for the dark grey cotton fabric to match the leaves in the printed fabric.

I chose the Fly Stitch with white embroidery floss to go around my circle.  I added a layer of natural batting.  I then placed this onto my dark grey hexagon and folded over the edge over once then onto the front of the printed one.  I pinned each side and but a blind stitch to attach the backer to the front.  I let it sit over night and this morning I decided to add French Knots on the polka dot circle in dark grey floss.   This came together very easily.    If I make another I may applique a flower in the center.

Art Show - AAC - Photography Show

I managed to get 2 pieces ready for the Allied Arts Council - Photography Show this year.

Delivered these on Saturday and they are in the gallery.

This photo was taken for one of my regular photo challenges on line at Flickr.  I love the bright colors and the abstract presentation. It challenges the brain to work out what it is.  I had several folks ask about it.

Title: Bright Edges

Size: 11.00 x 13.00 inches

Medium: Photography

Print: 08 x 10 inches

Mat: 11x13 Black mat

Frame: 11x13 Metal Champagne Satin Finish

This is the same photograph that I had prepared for the Value of Color Show in December which I glued to cradle board which had a blemish and it ruined the photo.  I has to paint over it.

I decided to print it again and frame it.

Title: The Maw

Size: 16.75 x 13.75 inches

Medium: Photography

Print: 08 x 10 inches

Mat: 11x14  White double mat with black edges

Frame: 14x16 Wood Black Low Profile 

I have named this because the plant is called Mother of Thousands and it looks like a monsters mouth.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

My sister and I were treated to lunch by her children along with celebrating Father's day for each of the 3 families.  My sister's birthday treat is sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream and mine was ice cream bars.  I used to get ice cream cake but that is just too much sugar these days.

I prepared lunch for my sister and brother-in-law was they were in town for shopping and helping me get the laundry room ready with a dryer vent connector.

I roasted chicken along with veggie salad and T&T Organic Mixed Thai Rice.

There was fresh strawberries and Greek yogurt for dessert.

Then the work began. The connector was installed and the room was ready to paint.

I was up early and put a coat of primer on the wood around the dryer vent connector.

A couple hours later I painted the second half of the laundry room now that the dryer and wood shelving unit had been removed.

The green tape is to make where the shelving unit ends so that laundry center is placed to ensure that the unit can go back into the closet.

I am grateful that there is still paint from when I bought 2 years ago so that went well.

I did paint the other half while the washer was out of the closet.

While shopping for improvements to the laundry closet I found a pair of black jeans to for a great price.

The picture on the left is the mending I did on the left knee to my regular pair of jeans. With my slow stitch experience I was more comfortable just getting it done.

There have been several repairs to these jeans so it was time for a better pair.

And all this preparation and waiting has finally resulted in the arrival of the new laundry center.  Yeah!

The other set was over 20 years old and it had not been happy about being moved in early May for building leak repair work.

It was moved out on May 6th and was finally returned to the laundry closet on a very temporary basis May 31st.

I am a believer in signs so I heeded the one I got and ordered a replacement.  It was 20 day wait for it to arrive and be delivered.

I spent a lot of time measuring, going to appliance stores, researching details on line. Plugs, drain hoses, drain stacks, and more.  Thank goodness for the amount information available on line these days as there was not a physical example in store for me to see, measure to help in the decision making process.

The laundry closet is back together but that will be a separate post.

Laundry Closet Update

Now that the Laundry Center was installed I was excited to get the shelving back in and get its stuff that has lived in the living room since May 4th.  This is the shelf that the old dryer sat on for a very long time. I added the 2 shelves I had removed from above the old washer into this unit.  I added the cross bar now that there was not another unit to support it. Now will it fit?  I only realized after I had the shelving unit in that I should run the washer and dryer to ensure there are no leaks.  Fortunately, no leaks!  So I carried on with the rest of the job.

I knew that the green tape on the floor indicated that the shelf was suppose to fit. The extension cord for the light had to be plug in before the shelf when in. It was a perfect fit!  I guess the time invested in planning paid off.  With the built in space at the back of the closet - the dryer vent, the electric plug 240V, and the extension cord in the 100V outlet all fit comfortably. The unit only uses the 240V plug.

The closet doors were hung back up on May 14th but had been sitting to one side because the old washing machine was sitting in the hall because of it leaking water.  The rails in which the closet doors slide had large headed screws which made it difficult to slide the doors back in place.  I purchased some lower profile head screws and replaced those to make life easier the next time the doors need to be moved.  I do need a stool to see to the bottom of the dryer so I will borrow the one from the kitchen.

Putting the pretty things back in! I put the Trofast organizer, the front hall mirror that my Mom made for me and art on the photo shelf above.   Now the front hall feels back to normal.

The dryer door just clears the closet doors.  It is close but it works!

The fact that the laundry center only uses the 240V outlet meant I could plug in a light for the closet.  Before I had to use the front hall closet to light the space.

I put in a bright pink extension cord in the 100V outlet before the shelves went in.  I zipped tied it to the shelf standard so it will keep the cord off the floor and easily accessible.

I purchased a light fixture at the thrift store which I could secure with screws to the shelf.  I replaced the light bulb with a small compact fluorescent which does not get hot.

With the short goose neck the light easily moves from the shelf side to the laundry center side.  Like it was made to sit the situation. Means I don't have to have the front hall light on as often. 

The pop crates were part of the storage solution in the previous laundry closet set up.  Now I had to reconfigure things to work with new set up.

I gained 2 shelves where the dryer sat before.  All the necessary contents were returned to the closet.

*Laundry Supplies - detergent & dryer balls

*Bathroom Supplies - TP, Kleenex, towels and facecloths, 

*Paint Supplies - brushes, rollers, trays, paint cans, drop cloths

*Planting supplies - gloves, small pots, plant food, etc.

*Electrical Supplies - light bulbs, extension cords 

*Plasticware - casserole carriers, popcorn bowls, Tupperware trays, etc.

*Soda water

The bathroom supplies are much closer at hand than before, the casserole carriers are up high because I don't use them often.

Hand towel hangs on dryer with suction cup hanger.

Slow Stitching - No. 025 - Bundle Book UnWrap and Stitching

 I unearthed my bundle book this week and added some stitching to the pieces.

The bottom right hand corner is the stitching I did before putting it in the ground.  I seperated the pages so I could make a square.  I added some golden fabric in the top right hand corner and a strip on the left.

The top left hand corner is a piece of the jute string I wrapped the bundle with. I added the word free in the circled created with the string.  

I chose to put a circle and heart in the right hand corner with stitching.

On the bottom left hand corner I chose to just leave the beautiful pattern created during its under earth experience with just a few French Knots on the corners.

See the unwrapping process below.

1) The first picture is the bundle just after it came out of the dirt. 

2) The jute string and the pine cone, wire and pine needles removed.

3) The bundle has been soaked in baking soda for 30 minutes then washed with soap made by my Mom.

4) The book which has now dried overnight.  Ready for stitching.

This was a very interesting process.  I ensured my bundle was watered regularly as it was not far from home.

The jute string was quite affected but there were no holes in the fabric.  Wonderful colors though.

Sewing Project - Creating Blocks from Slow Stitching Pieces

Today, I worked on getting the slow stitching pieces sewn to squares.

I wanted to get caught up before the renovations start.

I continued with the decorative stitch in navy thread on the navy seam binding folded in half.

I am mitering the corners and that is working well.

 I cut the rest of the grey squares from the grey cotton fabric to ensure that I have what I need to finish this project at the end of the year.

I have cut enough to have 55 squares which is more than I need for the slow stitching square I will create with the K3N challenge.

It is better to have too many because I really don't know what the end product will be.

This way the rest of the fabric can be put into the cotton pile.

Update: June 24 2024 - I did the QAYG Hexagon and put it in the plastic bag with the others.  I hope to be able to continue with the challenges but with everything put away for at least a couple of weeks who knows.

Cards - All Occasion

I wanted to finish a few more cards before cleaning up my space for company as well as use up the rest of this gold speckled paper. 

An Island Indigo card base with a piece of the gold decorative paper adhered with ds tape and glue stick.  

I added a gold fabric ribbon along the left hand edge knotted to the top of the card.

A flower element with leftover flowers from the earlier set. Cut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die.

Rust, golden yellow and blue to match the card all held in place with a copper mini brad.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

A masculine themed card with Not Quite Navy card base with a piece of the gold speckled decorative paper. 

A length of gold fabric ribbon tied along the top edge and knotted.

I cut a Tim Holtz mover and shaper Jalopy truck from same card stock as card and adhered with 3D tape.

A white quarter sheet insert with a white envelope.

For this card I used a SU Handsome Hunter A2 card base.

Adhered a piece of gold speckled decorative paper and trimmed the left hand side to the card edge with scissors.

Added a length of gold fabric ribbon along the fold edge of the card and knotted.

There was a star shaped hole where I had cut a shape earlier.  I cut a yellow star with the same cutter (SU Star Thinlits). It was adhered over the hold with 3D foam tape.

A white quarter sheet insert and white envelope and it is ready to give.

A bit of change of pace in color for this card.

The star was a leftover from earlier cardmaking so I mounted it to a piece of Tempting Turquoise card stock trimmed to leave a border.

I chose a bright green card base - Glorious Green I think.

I tacked the large star in Summer Sun then the small star in the same color as the blue layer. 

Made a hole in these layers and added a yellow star brad.

This layer was then adhered to the green card front.

White quarter sheet insert and envelope.

Slow Stitching - Kite Coaster

I made this coaster for my sister who is celebrating a birthday.  

She likes to fly kites so I decided to put one on this coaster.

I cut a 4x4 inch foundation fabric. I cut my blue sky piece and then my felt pieces for the hills in green.  I cut a cloud. These pieces were basted to the foundation layer. Then stitched with a running stitch and a coordinating embroidery floss.

I cut a piece of interfacing for the kite and then cut the 4 colored quadrants and stitched them onto it. Once complete I stitched it to the coaster and added the kite tail. 

I chose a white felt for the back, white embroidery floss and the blanket stitch to hold the front and back layers together. 

Card - HB - Floral Ribbon

I found this floral ribbon at the ReUse Center this week and I thought it would work for a card.

I chose to make an A7 card because it did not cut off any of the rose ovals.

I chose a SU Handsome Hunter green card base. Then I added a smaller layer of SU Rose Red card stock. Then a piece of Very Vanilla to highlight the rose ovals in the ribbon.

I painted the right hand side of the VV layer with some rose colored watercolor leaving a spot of a greeting. Once the watercolor was dry and pressed flat I adhered the pieces in the layers you see.

I stamped the greeting with SU Cherry Cobbler ink with a SU greeting stamp.

I then wrapped the ribbon along the left hand side and taped the ends to the inside of the card.   I added an insert and 5x7 inch envelope and the card is ready to go.  This is for my sister who celebrates a birthday soon.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

A visit to the St. Albert Botanic Park yielded some great shot. The is Jacob's Ladder and it will likely make the calendar at the end of the year.

Gorgeous color and wonderful delicate flower.

There were a few roses open, the peonies were on the verge of opening.

With a few more days of sun the gardens will be looking really good!

Attic Treasures by four authors who have written romances into each story.

This book was 4 short stories about Lydia Dunmore, a grandmother getting ready to sell her large home to move to a seniors residence.

She has invited her 4 granddaughters to visit her attic and pick the one item which was their favorite.

Sheila is looking for her grandmother's doll but it has been sold.  With the help of a local antique store owner she searches for the doll.  

Kimber chooses an old fishing tackle box and through the help of a local fisherman discovers that some of the lures therein are quite valuable.

Lauren cherishes a christening gown her great grandmother wore.  She has chosen career over motherhood.  Her husband buys a farm and they leave the city. She did survive the transition and the gown came in handy.

Jessica takes an antique dress from Grandma's attic. Inside she finds old papers and photographs.  There was an adoption and the identity of her father is in question. Lydia shares what she knows. It is all very mysterious and there's a photojournalist chasing a story. It all turns out well in the end.

There was a large stash of fabric yardage which appeared at one of the thrift stores. 

The price was unbelievable.

Did I need another piece of fabric? No but I could not help myself.  Will I have a chance to sew this summer with the renovations planned.  Unlikely. Still I brought home 5 pieces for less than $10.  Averaging about .75 of a meter. Some less some more.

Beautiful blue purple watercolor, a denim blue vintage geometric, rainbow with gold dots, a yellow blender and a turquoise batik.

Just the right size for a book cover, a placemat, or a wine bag.   We shall see.

I had lunch with a dear friend.  Vietnamese noodle bowl is always delicious and this was no exception.

Meeting at 1:00pm after the lunch time rush we had great conversation and caught up on our lives and what we have been up to.

She is headed on a big vacation.

I was invited to celebrate a birthday this week.

The birthday girl hosted lunch at her house.

It was very delicious and I was able to catch up with extended family.

Dessert was an upside down cake with blueberries with whipped cream on top.  A good cup of tea and good company.  It was a lovely afternoon.