2026 Slow Stitching Project - Page 6 - C2

I am following K3N Cloth Tales challenge for 2026.

My fabric is white linen backed with white cotton invisible basted together.  Measures 7"T x 8"W.

This week the prompt was Community. I created Circles to represent Cobalt blue for family, Crimson red for neighbours, yellow for On-Line Community and the small Cobalt blue Circle because I forgot them the first time around. 

I added a large Circle done in Chain stitch to represent my world which included flowers.

I added 3 borders with Cross stitch. 

I placed a running stitch along the binding edge in white thread. I am caught up before K3N publishes on Monday. 

Fairy Light Memento

After Mom's Funeral in April and the internment of both Mom and Dad I felt a need to have a memento to remind me of their love, commitment and my gratitude for having them in my life for over 60 years.

I love glass and have enjoyed looking at vintage, crystal and depression glass on several You Tube channels. 

I decided that I wanted a Fairy Light as my memento.  I could light it when I wanted comfort and a tangible reminder of them.  The vintage ones are hard to find and very expensive. Contemporary examples are more reasonably price.  One of them is by Fifth Avenue Crystal and those still were running about $100 on line which I was not prepared to do the online thing. I could not find anything in my area on Kijiji so I put out the word what I was looking for as most folks did not know.

About mid May I got a call from one of my sisters that she had found a Fifth Avenue one for $30.00 on Facebook. I said YES!  She was kind enough to pick it for me.  Towards the end of May I was able to collect it from her house but with the craziness going at my house it stayed in the box for a while longer.

I did start my plans for how I wanted to decorate it and light it.

This some pictures from on line because I did not take pics of mine before I started.

As you can see the base where the tealight would sit is not flat so I needed something to fill in that space and allow my tealight to sit nicely and safely.  I looked at several ideas for something small and clear like vase filler or seed beads.  Vase filler was going to be way more than I needed and clear sead beads with out silver lining were not available.  Durign the few days I spent with my sister in late June we visited a Dollarama and I found these.

These clear plastic diamonds were small enough to fill in the space, they were clear and the price was right.

Once I was home, I poured the bag of the smallest diamonds in the base and then set the clear plastic tealight holder on top.

It was perfect. They filled the cavity below the tealight exactly the way I needed.

The bottom right hand photo is seeing the candle wax completely melted in the clear plastic tealight holder and you can see the diamonds below.

There is the risk of spilling the diamonds out of the base as they are just sitting there but that is okay.

I knew I wanted green and blue glass beads so the light would go through them.  Dad's favorite shirts which Mom made for him were forest green and Mom's favorite color was blue.  Not cobalt but a true blue.

The Fairy Light offered 2 places to put some sort of decoration.  The indent on the shade and the one just above the base.

Here's my first attempt with EBeads on the base.  It's hard to tell in this photo but we received a small locket at the funeral.  We cleared Mom's stuff at Easter and we had slated her clothes to be donated. When the time came my sister could not send Mom's favorite dress to the thrift store and she decided to make it into mememtos for the kids and grandkids.  She put a small piece in the lockets for the boys and the girls received a scarf from the fabric.

The locket is still a memento from both Mom and Dad.

During this time my mind was working on what to buy for beads.  I did enjoy the Fairy Light a few times lit late at night.  

As you can see in the above photo only the shade is lit with the tealight at the top of the base.  I made the decision a few years ago to limit my use of real candles and switched to wax for scent.  I do have a few real tealight candles because sometimes in photography nothing but a real flame will do.

The thought crossed my mind that if I could find a light which the Fairy Light could be placed on then it would not be fire and the base would be lit as well.  

The brainstorming began.  I have an etched crystal block which has a LED light in the base which lights it up. Okay, that one has several colors of lights that rotate through - red, green, yellow and blue I think.  Well I knew I did not want colored lights. Now, I want a white LED light round base.  I put that into Google and stuff came up. They do sell LED light bases for crystal and glass figurines, etched glass items, and gemstones etc.  Again, none easily available in retail stores in my area. But I persisted!  Eventually, I found round puck light which can be placed under your upper cabinets.  They are battery operated and light when you press the center of the puck. I brought a tracing of the Fairy Light base with me to make sure that it would stand safely on this puck. I was a the big orange store which on line indicated there was 16 in stock.  After asking several customer service reps for assistance I received what I needed. A couple of guys checked the inventory and sure enough there was supposed to be some in stock.  A sharped eyed young man said there the right number on that box way up there! Up they went and brought down the box, I check the diameter against my tracing and walked out of there with 3 for less that $20 and the AAA batteries were included.

This is starting to fall into place.  Beads are next.

I decided that Michaels would by my starting place for beads.  The day I was there the shelves were mostly empty.  Supply chain issues? I don't know. I found some green faceted beads in the size that would work but no blue ones.  Another girl in the aisle said she was going to visit a Michaels in a city south of ours as there were fewer customers there and hoped the selection would be better.  After giving that some thought I decided to follow here lead.  Into the car and headed south on the big highway.

Sure enough, there was the same green ones in the the 4 different sizes and cobalt blue ones in the 8mm size which were on sale! One of the green strings was 8mm. Perfect.  They were faceted.

I used strong beading cord left over from my Christmas tree project. 

I placed the green and blue glass faceted beads alternating the colors until I had enough to go around the shoulder of the shade.  I tied my knot then added a few more for dangles.  I added an EBead and a silver crimp bead at the end to keep the beads in place.

 

I chose to use silver lined EBeads for the string of beads on the base of the Fairy Light. Again, I chose deep green and cobalt blue for color. I tied the cord tight with 3 knots.

I added the hinged locket on the string and let it sit over the knots.  That worked out really nice.

One of my sisters had the lockets in her stash of craft stuff and brought them with her.  It was great to be able to have something from that day.

As you can see it is hinged so I may put a bit of Mom's dress in it.

I

I am so happy with how this project turned out. It took almost 3 months for all the pieces to come together but it is so gorgeous.  I will enjoy it for years to come.

I love you Mom and Dad!

Recent Photos

These flowers were presented at church yesterday in memory of death of my friend Nelson who passed away 6 years ago on Feb 23rd.

He was on holiday in Hawaii with his wife and 2 grandsons.  It was a shock to all of us.


The Christmas Promise is written in alternating first and third person point of view. The first person narrator is Gloria aka Miss Glory. She is a retired widow whose adult son has been missing for seven years. He left home just before Gloria's husband, his father, died, and she hasn't seen or heard from him since. She somewhat recently moved to the unnamed small town that has been the setting for all the Christmas Hope books. In an effort to keep busy and to help others in lieu of helping her son, she collects and sorts donations of food, clothing, household items, and even the occasional car, which she them redistributes to the needy in the community.
She ends up host a few community members in her house - Miriam her neighbour is having renovations done in her house, Erin a young woman who is pregnant and estranged from her Mom, and Donovan who is a young boy whose mothers works evenings at Wilson Department Store and is in an abusive relationship.
Chaz a young man has recently come to town who has alcohol problems and works at Wilson's Department Store. He befriends Donovan's mother Carla and Mike who is a homeless man who sometimes sleeps on the steps of the Wilson Department Store.   Their lives are all entwined and come together around Christmas. It was a very good book.

I have been dealing with plumbing issues for quite a while.

It was confirmed that the isolation valves in the bathroom and kitchen will be replaced on Wednesday. 

Once those are done I can get the rest of my work done.









I had to replace my phone charger this week.  A few areas of my life are starting to right themselves but the weather continues to get down to -30C.

Another terrific book that takes place in two different generations.  The Kashmir Shawl by Rosie Thomas. When Mair Ellis clears out her father's house, she finds an exquisite antique shawl, woven from the finest yarns and embroidered in the shades of lake water and mountain skies. Wrapped within its folds is a lock of child's hair. Tracing her grandparents' roots back to Kashmir, Mair embarks on a quest that will change her life forever.

Before the war, Newlywed Nerys Watkins leaves rural Wales for the first time in her life, to accompany her husband on a missionary posting to India. Travelling from lonely Ladakh, high up in the Himalayas, Nerys discovers a new world in the lakeside city of Srinagar. Here, in the exquisite heart of Kashmir, the British live on carved wooden houseboats and dance, flirt and gossip as if there is no war. But the battles draw ever closer, and life in Srinagar becomes less frivolous when the men are sent away to fight. Nerys is caught up in a dangerous friendship, and by the time she is reunited with her husband, the innocent Welsh bride has become a different woman. Years later, when Mair Ellis clears out her father's house, she finds an exquisite antique shawl, woven from the finest yarns and embroidered in the shades of lake water and mountain skies. Wrapped within its folds is a lock of child's hair. Tracing her grandparents' roots back to Kashmir, Mair embarks on a quest that will change her life forever.

It is a great story of strong women doing what has to do for their loved ones.  Loved this one which was very similar style of Kate Morton.   

Sharing with Mosaic Monday #16 hosted by Angie at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf. 

Easter & Tea Today

I see that I have not set up tea in a long while. It is the pits to be sick and just have no energy for the extras.  I am feeling better just in time for Easter with extended family.

We have a tradition that plan a get together for Mom and her 6 girls on the Saturday of the Easter weekend.  Everyone brings their projects, we share, eat potluck lunch and supper, visit, and generally have a great time.  A few things had to change since Mom & Dad are in a new place but we had such a great time.  We had grand daughters and  great grand daughters drop by for a visit. A grandson and his family came for supper.  We were 30 for supper.  The men join us for the meals and I picked Dad up and made sure he was on time for eating.  Mom was thrilled.

One sister brought her Christmas Tree hanging, Mom had a baby quilt, another sister was working on a quilt for a grad gift, a grand daughter brought her abstract art which she will be in a craft sale in a few weeks.  One granddaughter was working on shadow boxes with hearts for care workers.  One of the new babies made an appearance which meant Dad got to see him which was great.

This teapot napkin holder was a find by my sister and she gifted it to me.  It's great because it can become my summer holder which is not breakable.  It can go out on the balcony with no concerns.  Love it.

We took a walk to the local thrift store in the afternoon.  I continue to add to my cobalt glass collection and this tea light holder was perfect at .50 cents.

It is a Tulip Tea Light Holder by Partylite. It needed a really good washing but as you can see it is shiny and sparkly now.

Mom found something she was looking for, my sister and her daughter chose tops with the kind of fabric she needed to make flowers.  I forgot to take a photo.

I found a couple of fleece items for more pot protectors.

This trivet fits right in.  It was a gift from a friend who made a trip to Hawaii in February.  I love the turtles!!!  My favorites in the sea.

The blue color of the letters worked really well with the blue in the napkin I used for a table cover.

The sunflower blue and yellow napkins were from the same sister as the napkin holder.  Works perfectly into my kitchen color scheme.

I was able to quick set up tea today with these wonderful gifts.

The tea is Earl Grey wit a bit of honey and cream in a yellow mug.  Yummy.

We had quite a few leftovers from our potluck on the weekend.

One of my contributions was drinks.  I brought my 12 cup coffee maker, my stainless steel tea pot ( no worries about that one breaking), honey, white sugar, brown sugar, a variety of tea, cream and milk.

There was juice for the kids.

Recent Photos

The pussy willows are out, it is later than March 22 which are 2 signs that it is spring but the temperature and snow are not cooperating.

There is plenty of snow left from last week and getting above 0C is still a challenge. 

When I was a kid - we wore our spring jackets, the water was running in the ditches, and the pussy willows were out. 

I guess patience is a virtue and it will come but not in my timing.

After my challenge of trying to grow tomatoes on my east facing balcony last year I have learned something about plants and light. 

My sister had given me a devil's ivy a while back and I had put it in the hallway thinking that it would be watered regularly because I was going regularly.   It had been suffering some and with my being sick for the last 6 weeks it suffered some more.  I decided that it needed to be closer to the window. 

What was I going to use for a place for it to live.  I had bought this maple shelving unit last summer.  It needed a good cleaning but it will serve that purpose very well.  There are 4 shelves so I decided to fill each one. 

After researching low light house plants I headed to the garden center. There was a section labeled low light house plants. Excellent. I replaced the Devil's Ivy with this healthy one.  I bought a Silver Nerve Plant, an African Violet, and Dwarf Mother's in Law Tongue.  

I had bought this small watering can at least a year ago because the large Tupperware pitcher I have used for years was too heavy when full of water.  The price of growing old. Sucks. I have decided to fill the big one and use that to feed the white one.  Now that I have 4 plants to feed I will more water per week.

I don't do nurture well.  Yes, you have to pay attention to them every week.  I did okay with the outside one last year.  Maybe I have learned  a bit.

Of course they need nice pots to live in.  I just put the new ivy in the one that housed the old one on the top shelf. 

The blue one on the second shelf I was given by a friend a couple of years ago.  The dwarf went into that one. 

I bought a cobalt blue one which needed a saucer.  As it was this plate had been set aside as it had been chipped recently.  Excellent for the violet. 

The last shelf is the silver plant but the pot was too tall.  I added a plastic container below the plant pot inside.  Don't know if the plant will grow into the pot. We'll see.

My mother and sister are much better at this than I am but I will give it my best effort. The fact that I will see them from the couch will help I think.

Sharing with
Maggie at Normandy Life who hosts Mosaic Monday #78
Mersad at Through my Lens

Cobalt Glass Photo Shoot

I have been thinking about my Blue and White calendar for 2019 which will feature my Blue Nordic dishes, decor items I have collected and the Cobalt Blue glass I have gathered in the last couple of years.  I was trying to figure out what to use for a background when I discovered some inspiration on my Flickr feed - Blue Dimples taken by Susanne.

I had this sheet of textured acrylic that would do the job.  Now I had to figure out how to help it stand vertically.  I have several wood blocks with perpendicular slots in them that I figured would do the job.  I have 6 of them and with a 2 tall supports behind at both ends it stood.  The sheet is 48 inches wide so plenty of space in the center to set up my display without them interfering with my photo.

I am super pleased to have solved that problem so now I can move forward with my actual 12 layouts.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday #70 hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.
Through My Lens #130 hosted by Mersad

Share Your Cup - Recent Pics

When I bought my cute glass lemon a while back, my aunt the other two that were being offered.  I lent me her two so I could take some interesting photos. 

I placed them onto a navy blue blue plate.  I was not fussy of the shiny navy empty space on the corners so I sprinkled some cornmeal to reduce the glare.

I added some direct light onto the front one with a small flashlight.

I'm happy with this photo.





I hosted Welcome to my Kitchen this morning.  This is our fellowship group where we take turns hosting. 

With my new kitchen I was excited to host but with 16 expected I was concerned about having space for everyone to be comfortable.  I am very happy with the layout created with my dining room table and my craft table.  I chose yellow table cloths as it was the only color I have one big enough to cover the large table.

With 10 able to sit at the tables I set up TV tables along the sofa.  There was a table in the far corner with a stool.  The large chair in the foreground had a space of plate and cup on the trunk next to it.  I also had a small stool to serve as a table along with cushions on my wooden bench. 

As it turned out we were 12 and it was very comfortable.  As you can see the sun was shining!

Isn't Tupperware the best!  Tupperware parties were the rage when I graduated from high school. I have attended 100s of parties and spent a good dollar in my 20s stocking my kitchen. Money back guarantee!  I think the younger generation is not appreciating this product. Many pieces are between 30-40 years old. No,  I am not a demonstrator or have any vested interest.  I just love their product.

I put together a cheese and cracker tray which was served on a large yellow platter.  I served Camembert, mozzarella and marble sheet with great whole grain crackers.

I prepared a veggie tray with dill dip served in the Tupperware Large Serving Center.  I put in carrot sticks, pepper slices, cauliflower, and cherry tomatoes.

A fruit tray served in the Tupperware Red Six Section Snack Tray.  Green grapes, oranges slices, and strawberries.

I made some Carrot Bran Muffins which features pineapple.  The other baking was Scottish Oat Scones.  Served on my plate stand with French Cobalt blue glass plates.

Here's my plate on a TV tray.

A friend helped me with the coffee making in a coffee maker I won as a prize at one of those famous Tupperware parties years ago. It gets used 1-2 times a year. I bought Nabob 1896 Tradition grounds which was a good choice I am told.   As most of you know, tea is my drink of choice.  I used my IKEA Cobalt Blue tea pot and made Red Rose black tea.  Both was well enjoyed.

I am working on my cobalt blue pieces in hopes of putting together a still life photo sometime next year.



The tall glass bottle is a recent purchase.  There was a different style at the same store so I going to get that one as well.

My inspiration is this painting by Mickie Acierno. 

During the update to my place mostly in the kitchen I put new art for the bathroom on the shop list. Ihave not found anything so far.  As you may remember I lightened the bathroom with a white shower curtain. This wee,  I combined 2 items I have owned for years.  I had an empty white wooden frame in 16x20 and the print in my bathroom was the same size.  I thought these should work.  They do!

Sharing with

Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson who hosts  Share Your Cup #268.

Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #116 every week.

Recent Snapshots

I am working on images for Christmas cards already.  I thought this one would make a nice photo card with a greeting in the top left hand corner.

This one is Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus) – The cute little (non-edible) white berries on this bush are a delicacy to birds. During the winter when the leaves are gone, the berries look like little white ornaments hung on delicate branches.

I thought this plant was pretty in its pink finery.  This one is growing wild in the river valley.

I have no idea what it is called and with some research I was not able to find a name. I'll keep trying.

This was the sun the other morning.

Absolutely red due to the forest fires raging in the western provinces.  I waited until a few clouds drifted by to take this shot.

It makes for an eerie type morning walk when there is this tint to the world.







I found a bed of cosmos flowers the other morning.  I have included three of them in my mosaic this morning.

Changes are taking place in the kitchen.   I will post when they are all done.

I have been looking for a blue cut glass bowl for a long while since I saw one in a friend's blue and yellow kitchen.  I found the glass lemons in the last six months or so and then this bowl showed up last week.

It will sit in my kitchen on this yellow star doily a top a new white microwave.  Having had to clean out cupboards I am motivated not to return all the "stuff".   I want to simplify my decor as well.

I was gifted this set of Johnson Brothers Blue Nordic dishes by my aunt.  She did give a lot away before she moved but she did not keep any saucers for the tea cups.

It been a slow process to get what I needed.  I found one at a thrift store in June, a couple showed up at a garage sale 2 weeks ago.  And I purchased a  couple of tea cups and saucers at a thrift store the other day.  It gives me 6 cups and 5 saucers.

I have a full set of dishes for 4 now.  With a few extra pieces for good measure. My thrift store shopping list has been adjusted.




This was breakfast this morning.   Chocolate bran muffins, banana on plain yogurt and a good cup of Earl Grey tea.  A bit of cranberry syrup to add a bit of sweet.

We are getting ready to pick this year's crop so this current supply has to be eaten.



Sharing with

Through Your Lens#111 hosted by Mersad

Stainless Set - Jasmine Tea

After seeing my sister's stainless steel teapot I was inspired to consider something similar. 


I saw this one at the thrift shop and thought I would give it a try.  It has a built in infuser which makes things easier.  I put Jasmine Green in it this morning and placed it on my sunflower hot spot.

The quality of the teapot is not great and the challenges of photography are considerable with all the reflections.

I am using my IKEA 353+ Cobalt Blue dishes for breakfast.

Still eating raspberries from the freezer to make room for a new crop.  A dollop of yogurt and a bit of cream will top of the healthy dish.

I added a banana and a bran muffin.

Here's the whole set I have collected over the last few weeks. 


Sharing with Bernideen's Tea Time
Ruth at  Tuesday Cuppa Tea hosted by Ruth

I would have love to get right into National Afternoon Tea Week but there are too many pressing matters with my parent's upcoming move.

Tea with a Friend - Yellow and Blue

I had tea with another friend today.  It's been a couple of months since we talked.  We had a lovely visit and caught up on our lives.

I set the table with the navy tablecloth topped with the white lace one.  I chose my sunshine yellow Libbey Tableware plates.  These were one of the first plates I bought just because I loved them. 
I chose some simple clear glass water glasses and 365+ Cobalt Blue porcelain mugs. 

I coordinated the place settings with the matching 365+ Cobalt Blue teapot by IKEA. 

We had Bengal Spice by Celestial Seasonings which is quickly becoming a favorite for non caffeinated tea. 

I added my vase of sunflowers to the table in hopes of cheering up the space a little despite the snow outside. 

The glass fruit as still working for me so this dish may last a while.

We had apple crisp for a snack.

I am sharing with the following:

Ruth at Tuesday Cuppa Tea
 

Tea with a Friend - Blue, White and Color Pop

I placed my navy blue table cloth covered with the white lace one.  I like it.  I added blue quilted place mats.

This was the place setting for my friend. I chose the Chelsea Garden pattern by Myott Straffordshire in blue and white with the dessert plate, and the teacup and saucer.  A fork and spoon in heavy flatware by Splendide.

I am really loving this white round porcelain tea pot.  I used my one Blue Willow dessert plate as a hot spot for the table.

I had water on the table served in my glass pitcher with the cobalt handles.  I chose the cobalt blue juice glasses to coordinate.

Yellow napkins to coordinate with my pop of color in the fruit bowl.

This is my latest try at finding a dish for my new collection of glass fruit and veggies.  It is a potpourri dish by Claire Burke.  I thought the rectangular shape would lessen the space required on the table.  It is very plain so does not compete with the glass shapes inside.  I added a few glass marbles to fill in the spaces in between.

I'm not sure this the final dish but it is working okay.

I made apple and rhubarb crisp for afternoon tea.  I baked it in my birthday gift from last year - yellow and white Kitchen Aid Ceramic Bakeware.  The pot holders were a gift from my Mom this Christmas.  She always honors my wish to have navy and yellow for my kitchen.  Love them.

I set my place with Wedgewood Countryside with the same 3 pieces I mentioned earlier. 

We had a good visit as we had not seen each other since our pre Christmas visit in early December.

Sharing with:
Bernideen's Tea Time.