Slow Stitching - Door Decor - Prairie Landscape

I am tired of seeing a snowman on my door so I made a new one.  I was thinking seasonal which nothing fell into that category so I decide not seasonal but just a bit of stitched art.

It is a prairie landscape with a canola field in the foreground with rolling hills in the background.  There is an agricultural building on the horizon with a big old sun shining.  A cloud and a few birds in the sky. 

Again, the art is 6x8 inches with a foundation layer of flannel. I did not invisible stitch because I did not want to change color of thread. I pinned it with applique pins and I put running stitch lines along all the top edges of the hills, the sun, and the small building.

I then started filling in the shapes with running stitch with same color embroidery floss to just create texture. A variety of green fabrics were used and cut with the rotary cutter. The yellow was placed in the front to which I added French Knots and Seed Stitches in yellow thread.  

I added a bit of bling to the sun with small metallic yellow E-Beads in a circle. I added a cloud and some birds in the sky.  

I cut the backer 8x10 inches from dark green cotton poly fabric.  Ironed the fabric to the front and folded it over to the inside to create the frame. Top stitched in dark green thread.  I hand stitched a hanger on the back.

Fire and Ice Show - Entries

The Fire and Ice Show is a member show in which the brief was contrast.  We could do Fire or Ice or both or another theme that dealt with contrast. 

Life is Better with Friends is a embellished fabric collage art piece. 

I chose five different birds which I cut out by hand from colorful fabrics. The birds are hand appliqued to a navy cotton background.  I used a variety of stitches to capture the raw edges, add tails and eyes and wings. A bit of cheesecloth creates a cloud. We need a sun as well.

The pink bird faces her friends and is grateful to have them near.

It is wrapped over a 9x12" stretched canvas with a deep edge. I hand stitched a backer of the same navy fabric.  Update: SOLD

Make a Wish is a needlework piece framed in a black wood frame.

There are three dandelions and as the seeds are blowing away. 

Folklore suggests that when you blow on a dandelion puff, your dreams and wishes will be carried on the wind, eventually coming true. This enchanting belief has made dandelions a symbol of hope and the power to manifest our deepest desires. 

The contrast of white stitches on a black background worked with theme for the show.

It was framed in a white shadow box frame.

Update: SOLD

End of Day is a 12x12 inch photograph mounted to board.

This was taken one day in August when I decided to take sunset pictures.  As it happens, I was a little late to the game and had to chase the sunset across rural roads trying to find a good composition.

I would have to find a composition, find a safe place to park, grab the camera, head across the ditch and take a few shots all the while the sun is just disappearing.

I was miles from home when the sun completely disappeared and I had to drive home in the dark in unfamiliar area west of where I live.

It was a good couple of hours of photography time.

These will be hanging on the wall at the Spruce Grove Art Gallery until the beginning of January 2026. 

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I was down south to see my neice recently.  One morning the backyard was suddenly filled with birds.  All kinds.

These are Northern Flickers but check out the orange tail feathers. When they fly one sees the splash of color right away.  So glad to see these birds must be migration time. 

This is one of the casualities of the move.  This is a set of heart shaped dishes I received from my Mom and Dad for high school graduation I think. That is over 50 years.

At least I still have one instact dish.  I am so grateful.  I packed the boxes so it is one me.  They are beautiful dishes and they did not have lots of money so to get something was very special.

I had my regular eye exam this week and have ordered a pair of glasses despite my prescription not changing much.  This will give me spare pair of spectacles in case there is a mishap with the pair I am wearing.

Those who have been wearing glasses for a long time have been recommending this move forward but as you know I have been pretty busy.

I am loving that beautiful morning sun in my east facing windows.

Love the sunshine yellow color.

The curtains are sheer enough to let the light in and give me my privacy.  The back of the building does not have a lot of movement but some neighbours wander the back area.

A Week at the Shore by Barbara Delinsky.  Mallory gets a call which calls her back to where she grew up.  A small shore town on Rhode Island. Her father is not doing well.  

She and her 13 year old daughter arrive to the house on the bluff with some many good and bad memories.  Annie her sister who lives in the house with the father feels threatened with the older sister arrives unannouced.

Mallory's old boyfriend Jack is now a veterinarian in the town so she runs into him pretty quickly. They ended their relationship 20 years ago when his mom passed away under mysterious circumstances involvin a boat and her father the judge.

The book started a little slow and the end was a bit predictable.  To think in 7 days a relationship can become physical, emotional, and supportive seems a little over the top.  In my experience forgiveness with several people does not happen that easily.  Enjoyed the book.

I stopped at my sisters in central part of the province for 2 days.  During my visit the skies darkened and rain drops came down.  Only about 1/8 of inch which was not enough to soak the garden.

It was so nice to be out and about visiting family again after being tied to the old place with the the threat of floods.  And then having to unpack here which took much longer than I anticipated.

Feels really good to be free to travel a bit these days.

Starting to rebuild my plant collection. 

Some did not survive the trip to the hotel and then back home weeks later in the middle of winter.

The African Violet needs to be replaced yet but this spider plant in a 2" pot came home with me this week.

There were 2 plants so I have given them each a pot and hopefully one will be hanging in the bedroom soon.

My niece gave me a macrame plant hanger that will work in the bedroom.

Sympathy Watercolor

I did this watercolor as a sympathy card for a cousin who loss her Dad recently.  He passed away fairly quickly so it will be an adjustment to life without him.

I reused some watercolor paper that had art on the other side.

A simple landscape with a river, trees, hills and birds in the sky.

I used a small Winsor and Newton set I picked up at the ReUse Center recently.

I added definition with a Micron black marker.

Mounted on SU True Thyme A2 card base.

Headed out of town for the funeral today.

Cards - Charity - Glitter Butterflies

I made a quick watercolor of a fisherman for a guy that is celebrating a big birthday - 80.  It was a surprise party with about 30 people.  

He was out fishing that morning so that the preparations could take place without him knowing.

They caught no fish but arrived back on time on a story his friend created as to why they needed to be back.

I recycled a piece of watercolor paper with boring color and painted this little scene.

In this case the fisherman had no fish.

I adhered it to a Bravo Burgundy A2 card base and placed a white insert on the inside.

The party was a wonderful success. The work was shared by many so it was light and manageable.

Inktober - 21 Sunrise

Inktober 2024 Challenge

21 Sunset

I penciled my rough sketch.

I finished it with my dip pen and the black acrylic ink on the mixed media paper.

I used colored pencils for my color today.  The good old Laurentian pencils I used in school (some may be from that time but many are not).

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Batik Phoenix

Another wine bag today. 

This is batik fabric from a shirt. I used one of the sleeves which featured a phoenix bird motif so I cut the fabric to ensure the birds were on the front.

I was short on the length so I added a strip of black on the bottom. I also added a twill tape accent at the top edge.

It was quilted to the flannel with the same wavy stitch as before.

The lining is beautifully soft yellow cotton fabric.

The handle is double sided with black on top and yellow lining fabric on the underside.

I had decided to place the "My Bag" tag along the top of these wine bags just left of the handle.

This is my current model of tag and stitching them with white thread is working well.

Looking forward to making a few more of these bags. I am finally able to sew them with out mistakes but designing accents is taking time out of the sewing process.

For information on "My Bag" line:

Sticky Note Holders - 3 Sets

I made 3 sets of Sticky Note Holders with my photos on the front.  You can check out the process in this blog post.

Here is the green set.  I chose the red poppy, a yellow warbler, a beetle and a red wing black bird for this set.

The designer card stock has very little pattern.

I did have enough leftovers to punch my tabs from the same card stock.

The folds did produce white places because it is white core card stock.  Nothing I could do about that.

I could have used solid card stock but that is not the look I wanted.

Here's the pink set.

The pink cosmos, the dahlia, rose and poppy in the bottom right hand corner.

It would have been best if I photographed these before I put the celloband and tag but that is the way it goes.  Too late do it otherwise.

The cellophane band ensures that the sticky note pad stays in the holder until it heads home with a customer. 

It also provided a great place to tuck the tag with information and credits to the back.

The blue set features a dandelion (Salisfy), alium, a tree swallow chick, and mooks hood.

The info tag was printed and cut to 2.75 so it fit nicely in the back of the holder.  I strung it through the tab so that it would stay with the not e holder until it headed some with the customer.

By tucking it between the cello band and the holder it stays nicely out of the way.

 

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 

It was a good week for birds.  I finally found American White Pelicans at Heritage Hills Wetlands in Sherwood Park. The Junco and the Waxwing were on my morning walks.

When I have to walk and exercise inside I found walking meditations which combine 2 things I want to start my day with.

Gratitude is always a good thing.  

I heard this a couple of days ago.  What if you only had today what you thanked God for yesterday?  That is a sobering thought.

I really appreciate being to view these on my TV so I can appreciate all the beautiful scenery that is included in the videos.

Another Angel of Love - Henry K. Ripplinger

Henry continues to get support from Mr. Engelman at the grocery store.  He is still holding out hope that Jenny will be in touch but so far not a word.

Life goes on as it must.  Things are getting better at the store as renovations take place.

Henry meet Julean Carter who comes from a different background than him.  Her family heritage is the Mormon faith.  This will play a role in the future of this young couple.

Henry and Julean marry, buy a house, have children, and still Jenny is part of Henry's thoughts and dreams.

Good clean reading in another great book in this series.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 I headed to Beaumaris Lake again this week in hopes of finding Pelicans but no such luck.  I just don't know where they are.

There was not lack of other birds at the lake.

A Wigeon, Red Wing Blackbird, Mallard Duck and a female Red Wing Black bird.  Grackles, Canada Geese and sparrows too!

It was a very nice walk around the lake.  I headed out earlier that the last visit so a bit fewer people at least earlier.  I was there quite a while.

I have photographed pelicans on May 5th in year's past so I will have to keep looking.

The wildfire situation in our province continues to be dire with many people displaced and living in evacuation centers with only the wish to go home.

Rain is badly needed of which we have had very little.

Air quality is very poor.

I say thank you to all those fighting the fires.  The ones who have been injured. Those who have come to provide relief to those on the front lines.

To those who are providing support to evacuees and fire fighters a like with water, food, and a place to rest.

I think of those who have lost their homes and in some cases their livelihoods to these fires.

I had the final white filling on my root canal this week. 

Fortunately, it was not needing freezing and not a really long job.  The hard part is I have run out of dental benefits. Ouch!

The Friends We Keep by Jane Green was a book I finished this week.

Three people met in college.  They lived together for 4 years, hung out, got to know each other very well. After graduation, careers took them to different parts of the country and the world.  There were phone calls and emails, weddings, and funerals over the next 30 years.  Much life experience some good, some great and some not so great.

They had made a pact that if they were single when they turned 50 they would live together. They attend a school reunion and reconnect. Maggie, now a widow,  lives in a large house in Somerset England, Topher's mother is living in England and he in New York, Evvie's son has left home and so a move would be possible for her.  So they move in together, come clean about their secrets and start new adventures. 

It was a good read.

This American Coot couple was very busy making a nest from last year's dried bulrushes.

The male I assume was tugging and pulling to dislodge them one at a time and bringing them back to the nest.  Once the reed arrives she busied herself with the perfect placement of it.

Then the process repeated itself.  I watched for quite a while and it was still process when I moved on.

I guess are a least a few days away so young ones still later than that.

I have seen baby Coots in early June but with taking 21-25 days to hatch I expect it will be later than that this year.

The neighborhood gardens are starting to show off their blooms.

There are Clematis growing the wall in a beautiful light lavender color.

There is a yard full of colorful tulips. 

I found a yellow poppy in another front yard.

The purple Alium is just starting to open.

I have been spending time a thrift shops looking for the perfect tealight candle holder. I would like to have a Fairly Light candle holder but they are quite costly.  Not going to happen soon.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 

Thanks to my sister who has a bird feeder outside her living room window I got the woodpecker and the chickadee.  The house finch was found on my walk outside in the river valley.  

I am so happy to be walking outside again.  The legs are strong and spring is here.

I finished this book a early this week - The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce.  It is a companion and followup to her other book. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.  Queenie is in a hospice facing the end of her life on earth and Harold's letters and postcards start arriving.  Once the cat is out of the bag, everyone in the building is taking an interest.

She has support from her fellow residents and the staff also take in interest.

It's been 3 years since I read the Harold book so some of the details are a little fuzzy.  Would have been nice to have it to refer to but these days I read books and pass them onto the little library.  I don't hold onto them anymore.  It's okay.

Would recommend both of these books.  The author has a few more so I will keep an eye out for those.

The sutures from my tooth extraction came out on Thursday! I was so happy.  They were very loose and long and sometimes I felt I was going to swallow them.

With turkey on the menu for Easter it was a true blessing to eat normal.

The wound has healed wonderfully.

I am back to taking the stairs.  I started taking the elevator during the pandemic so I would not have to touch handrails. 

The stairs at my sisters' houses, the stairs here at home, the stairs in the river valley are all giving me the workout I need to key my legs and knees in good shape.

Wonderful feeling

Sophie's World by Joosten Gaarder was originally written in Norwegian and then translated to English.

I should have paid more attention to the tag line - A novel about the history of philosophy.  I would have been better prepared to read about ancient history.  It was very interesting.

I did not read all of this book.  When I got more than halfway and the philosophy continued I just went to the last 2 chapters and read those.

Sophie and Hilde are in different realms and share the same birth date. They try to figure out who is the other.  Teachers come along to help with the understanding of the philosophies and the history.

A different kind of book but very informative about ways of looking at things, religion in our world, art, and much more.

We celebrated Easter with as many of us that could attend.  My sister hosted.  It was the first celebration without Mom or Dad in attendance. We all brought sometime to share with the others.

We went through Mom's stuff which was all brought to my sister's place when Mom passed in January. There was clothes, jewelery, CDs and DVD's, and a bit more.

We each took what we wanted, then some was donated to second hand stores, some was garbaged, and some will be passed down to the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

We had to go through ALL the pockets.  We found little pouches of money, combs, and her name and address on little pieces of paper.

It brings closure. The funeral and interment was discussed 

Have a great week!

2023 Photo Calendar - Nature

Here's the Nature 4x6 Photo Calendar for 2023. It's always so much fun to go through all my photos for the year, collect the best then choose 12 which will make it into this calendar.

I had some good bird photos this year and not so many insect pictures.  Not sure why that is. I had several first time birds like the Gray Partridges.

The calendar has 13 4x6 pages with 12 month ones and the index/title one.

January - Cormorant at Beaumaris                    July -  Grey Partridges at Patricia Lake

February - Honey Bee on Salvia                       August - Early Morning Sunrise

March - Yellow Warbler in river valley             September - European Skipper

April - House Finch in a Evergreen                   October - Barn Swallow at Big Lake

May - Common Conecap Mushrooms               November - Rocky Mountains from Calgary

June - Lady Bug on Crown Vetch                      December - Red Maple Leaf at St. Albert Botanic Park

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I don't do much with Halloween.  

I found this pumpkin when I was out of town to see Mom.

I have added the greeting.

I hope that you had a good day if you celebrate this day.

The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley.  This is a time travel story by this Canadian author.

In present day, Eva returns to her childhood summer place in England following the death of her dear sister Katrina.  There, she is invited to stay with her childhood friends the Halletts at Trelowarth House. Susan and Mark are siblings the Claire is the stepmom. 

Trelowarth House is known for its roses.  They provide rose stock to many gardeners across the world.  

In the past, Eva returns to Trelowarth House who is inhabited by 3 men in the eighteenth century. Daniel Butler, his brother Jack and Fergal O'Cleary a friend.  The cove below the house features strongly in the past as the brothers run a ship name the Sally which transports goods of dubious ownership.

Eva puts Katrina's ashes to rest and decides to stay the summer with the Halletts and does promotional work for the tea house Susan is wanting to open. Research into those who lived here before becomes relevant as Eva spends time with these characters. 

There are several love stories in the present and the past.  I really enjoyed how the stories were entwined and the end of the story was very fitting.  Enjoyed it a lot.

I attended an art show on Friday afternoon when I hoped the number of people attending would not be too high.  

There were many artists represented, with a variety of mediums and skills levels.  I was surprised by the volume of pieces in the show.

I did not take a photo but there was a geode which looked so real I did not even question it.  Later, upon discussion with my sister, the color was gold which likely was not realistic, the size was 24-30 inches tall which if it was real would have weighed many pounds, and a real geode would not be in an art show. Later, I found out it was made of styrofoam but it was beautifully done.  Captured my imagination completely.

While I was downtown I decided I may as well take a walk along the river since it was such a beautiful day.

I walked up to the Children's Bridge and this is the view looking back from where I had come.

The river was moving quite fast, the breeze was touching the water surface, and the water is quite low.  

The fall colors are dropping from the trees and the leaves are mostly on the ground.

I had a wonderful walk in nature and it restored my soul some.

These days are numbered and we have been blessed with an extended fall and it Halloween was a great day with out the need for snow jackets under or over costumes for the little ones.

I did go to the Lois Hole Provincial Park after my visit down town.  

Someone before me had put seeds out several places along the walk so the birds were in numbers feeding. This gave me a wonderful opportunity for photos. Thanks!

I captured Black-capped Chickadees and Chipping Sparrows. It was a good afternoon.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

A nice walk in nature on a Saturday morning with my aunt. We walked along the Sturgeon River.  The wildlife was mostly missing from this day.  A few ducks on the river, no insects to photograph and a few flowers along the path.

I did get a wicked bite on my hand when we walked through a couple hundred feet of bush to get from one parking lot to the other. 

We stopped at the Farmer's Market for fruit.  I picked up some freestone peaches and her some blueberries.

Of course, the main event was the Rock'n August car show.  I wanted to go before the festivities started so I could be gone before the crowds got too large and the noise was at a fever's pitch.

Car show participants were setting up early so we saw a lot of beautiful vehicles.

]This one reminds me of a car my Dad had in the early 70s.  Ours was white and we piled 8 kids and Mom and Dad into it.  No seat belts in those days.

There were hundreds of vehicles on display, a lot of loud music, fundraising and generally a good time being had by most.

We walked out at about 10:30 am which was half hour after it opened.  We only saw about 1/4 of the cars on display.

My sister and I were joined by my cousin this year on our annual Saskatoon picking adventure.

The price was very good as it was nearing the end of the season.  It must be a different variety than we have picked at other farms. 

I picked 2 ice cream pails which gave me 4 bags of frozen berries for this winter.

I have purchased cultured blueberries at the grocery store.  They were 2 lbs for just under $4 which was a great price.  I have 3 bags of those in the freezer.  I did manage to defrost the freezer so that is all in hand.

I read this book this week - The story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.  The story is of a mute book growing up in Wisconsin on a farm where his parents Gar and Trudy, raise "Sawtelle Dogs". 

They use signing to communicate which is a hybrid of the traditional and a bit of their own unique way of doing things. 

Things are going very well until the Dad's brother Claude comes to stay a while after being released from prison. The brothers still don't see life in any way the same so discord rules the day.

The day comes when Gar is killed, Edgar knows more than he is aware and when the work load is too much for the two of them the brother Claude comes in to fill in the gap in more ways than one.

Later, another death occurs at the farm when Edgar is about 14 years old. Trudy sends Edgar away to keep him safe.  He takes some of his litter with him.

He roams the Chequamegon National Forest with the dogs.  Scavenging food from summer cabins along the lakes, eating berries that grow wild, and making do with very little some days.  He decides to head for Canada. When one of the dogs get hurt he receives help from a man Larry who lives in one of the cottages.  He exchanges labour for food and a place to lay his head.

The story has a very sad ending.  There are mystical aspects to the story which are intriguing.  

The story does leave some questions though for me.  

Edgar goes to school but I don't know how he manages communication there.  There are several times in the story where he is unable to communicate with those outside the family which causes problems.  There is a lot of written about raising dogs in the book. Processes, procedures, documentation, etc which at times becomes a bit long. 

Forte is a mystery dog in the story - Edgar has seen him, there is a connection with Claude. He plays a vital part but we don't know much about him.  Was he a Sawtelle dog? 

Again, Claude is clouded in mystery.  He has been in the navy.  Is that related to the bottle with oriental writing on it? 

For me the time Edgar spending in the forest and with Larry was the best part of the story.  The early part of the book was good as well. Edgar's relationship with the dogs is so good.

There were birds at the car show.  A lady brought her exotic birds to interact with the public.  I don't believe they were restrained in any way.  They sat on their perches, walked around on the ground and returned to perches as they wanted to.

She had African Grey Parrots, Cockatoos and Blue and Yellow Macaws.

On the left, are African Grey parrots who live from 40-60 years in captivity.  Often a succession plan is needed to ensure their care beyond the life of their owners.  Love the red tails.

The Macaws are huge birds.  

I have seen them at zoos before but to see them sitting outside along the river was wonderful.

It's been a good week with a bit of very hot weather but not overwhelming.