Sylvia's Simple Shots

 I took this at the St. Albert Botanic Park.  I just adjusted the contrast on this shot but I think it looks painterly.

The dahlias were in fine form with many, many blooms to photograph.

I took a visit to the Little Blue Fiber Studio that I learned about from my niece who heard about it from my sister.

I understand my sister took a needle felting class at the studio some time back.

It has yarn, roving, classes, knitting needles, felting needles, Sashiko thread, and books as well.

I did restrain myself and walked away with no purchase but I will return for roving when I solidify my idea for a future project.

My neice brought the matching chair for the yellow one I've had for quite a while.

I am happy to have a conversation corner in my living room with comfortable chairs.

A bit of light to read by if I choose and a table to hold my cup tea.

Thanks for bring the chair!

I have enjoyed African Violets all summer long.

Being in the east window has agreed with this plant.  I should get another one - just thought of that.

It also gets a grow light for a few hours in the morning.

This is the fountain pen I found at the ReUse Center last week.  It is by Creeks n Creeks and has "Les feminnins de Creeks" written on it's side. 

My research on line seems to indicate it is a  a small French school fountain pen from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

It averages about $50 on line so I am very happy with this find. It is a cartridge pen so I will have to check out where to find those.

I checked on line and found out it takes an international standard fountain pen ink cartridge.

Staples only sells these on line so I could order through the store have some brought in.  I checked with Delta Arts - they had no stock and have been working to get some in from Shaeffer but not been successful yet.  I will check back. 38mm or about 1.5 inches long.

I discovered that I could refill the empty cartridge so that is what I did.  I cleaned the cartridge and the nib thoroughly.  I had a bottle of ink I bought last year for my dip pens so I used that.  The syringe is leftover from dental surgery.  It all worked very well.

Love it!

I needed to put my metallic watercolors into a water proof container.  I found this chocolate box in my stash so I repurposed it.  I discovered that they live in full watercolor pans which is great.

They fit nicely in this box.  The domed lid makes it a bit bulky but for the time being it will do.

I used some large glue dots in the bottom of the box to keep the pans in place.

I have documented the colors here since I will recycle the cardboard box.

I don't think I will ever concern myself with the actual color names.

Seven Blessings by Ruchama King

Story of romantic relationships in the Jewish culture.  Follows several couples and their matchmakers.

Beth is the central character who is 39 years old and really wants to marry but is not finding a mate.

She is recommended several men and dating taking place but there are problems.

I confess that I don't know much about the Jewish culture.  I found the culture was very complicated and there are many rules.

Not a great read.  In the end there is still no marriage. Disappointing.

Cards - Self Closing Card - No need for envelopes

I'm working on a new card design. 

It is a self closing card where the card closes onto itself and seals for mailing all in one go.

For this one I used a 1/2 sheet of 12x12 designer paper and cut it in half.  I chose to put the plain side out and the patterned inside.  I added a TH Cameo Frame die in red to coordinate then adhered one of my 4x4 photos from past calendars in the center trimmed to fit.  Then came the bling of gold star sequins on the top and bottom held in place with red tiny brads.

An ivory insert on the right hand side with a stamped sentiment.  These cards provide a good amount of room to include a few lines of greetings to the recipient. 

Once it is ready to go the card is closed and the double sided tape on the small flap seals the card.  Turn it over and address it, add a stamp and a return address and you are ready to mail.

I will cello them so the card front and sentiment are visible.  This allows the one to choose the one that fits the occasion the best.

Each will be an original and unique design.

I used the TH Caged Bird die for this card.

My background is a piece of marbled paper. I chose my colors based on it, so grey for the cage and branch and dusty purple for the bird. I then watercolored some handmade paper flowers to coordinate and place them at the top and bottom of the cage. They are held in place with tiny lavender brads. 

I added a strip of the card base card stock along the left hand side of the layout. Taped the ends to the back.  Adhere the element to the card with double sided tape. 

A white insert on the right hand side.

I thought I would try a landscape orientation and watercolor.  

The wide does not work so well because you can't see the art and the sentiment at the same time.  

A quick watercolor which worked out pretty well.

I spent most of the day making these cards then trying to decide if they are a viable product for the Christmas Store.

I go through this every year and I will just do what I like and not worry about who else might like it.

I need quite a few more Christmas cards so that works.

I love Bethlehem cards and I have not included a palm tree before.

The stamp is from a Stampin Up set in royal blue ink.

Art Show - AAC - Redux Show 2024 - Slow Stitch Scroll

The Form Redux Show at the Spruce Grove Gallery opens today.  I have submitted 2 pieces to this show.  I started my pieces after discussions with a couple of people at the December reception for the Christmas Store. At the time it was being referred to as the 3D show.  When the official call came out in mid March it had morphed a little and offered a wider range of options. 

It is meant to reuse materials from one state into a new one.  

The fabric used for the scroll is a white tie dyed cotton sheet which I dyed again with green acrylic ink. All the elements are created with bits of leftover scraps of fabric, felt, thrifted embroidery thread and lace, even the flower on the tie is recycled from old earrings. The beads come from my stash.  The spool was originally purchased with decorative ribbon and saved for 10 years until its time came to shine. 

Title: Summer

Size: 4.00 T x 58.00 W inches

Medium: Slow Stitch Fabric Scroll with embellishments

Support: Wooden Spool

It is a slow stitch fabric scroll titled "Summer".  I chose to stitch the new green leaves of May in early summer to the rain and tulips blooming moving along to the insects coming to life represented by the ladybug, the robin represents the birds and their song then we move to the ponds being full of life represented by the dragonfly in the cattails, then we move to the flowers which start to bloom in the beautiful days of middle summer, there are mushrooms and snails and butterflies, the chickadee has been here and will stay all year as summer winds down and finally we have the beautiful sunflowers of late September. 

The elements are all original designs I made up as I went along.  The stitching alone took all of January 2024 then I had to back the piece, prepared the wood spool with several coats of Tung Oil. I braided the string used for the tie and the hanger on the spool.  I chose a large shell button for the closure and a silver flower for the end of the tie.  There is a clear bead at the bottom of the spool which keeps the hanger in place. 

It is on display at the gallery and is for sale.  The reception is Saturday April 27th at 1-3pm.

Sewing Project - Recycled Fabric - Everyday Carry Bag

I made a bag from all recycled materials.  The fabrics came from the box from Michelle at ReImagined Fabrics.

The bag is beige cotton duck fabric. 

A beautiful leaf pattern cotton fabric was used for the zipper insert, the tab on the front pocket and the tab on ginger pocket.  

I added a piece of ginger cotton denim to the bottom of the back to improve wear ability and keep it cleaner. 

I chose a small piece of red for the trim on the zipper insert, the loop on the front pocket and the key hook on the inside.

The bag features 3 pockets - the front leaf patterned one, the back ginger denim one, and the space between the ginger pocket and the bag.

It has a teal zipper at the top in the normal for me completed finished zipper insert. 

I used taupe cotton poly blend for the handles and made them as long as I could. They are placed on either side of the pockets.  They are well reinforced in the stress areas.

The the seams are finished which looks smart and there are no raw edges in sight.

I added a tab on the ginger pocket so that it provide better leverage to open the velcro closure. It is center which the velcro was not.

This button is from my stash of recycled materials as well as the teal zipper.

It was the perfect color to match the teal color in the patterned fabric.

I included a keys hook on the inside so they will always be at hand and easy to find in the bag.

The bag measures 12x12 square so it is not a big bag.  I guess, you would call it purse sized.  

For information on the "My Bag" Line

UnPaper Towels - Improved

Here's the second set of UnPaper Towels I've made.  

It was great to use the serger to finish the edges very professionally. 

I paired the 100% cotton grey flannel with this winter pattern which also included some grey along with teal and cranberry.

I included 10 towels in the set - 5 of each fabric.

They measure 10x10 inches square.

There are many ways to store and use these.

They can be rolled onto the roll from your paper towels.  They cling to each other nicely and would roll off just like the paper towels used to.

Whether you have a paper towel holder that sits on the counter or one that hangs under the cupboard this roll should work the same as before.

Once used, they can be handled just the way wet towels would.  A container under the sink until they head to the laundry should be just fine.

I thought I would try recycling a tissue paper box to hold them and I think that works quite well.  This box was too shallow to hold all of them but there are deeper ones.

If they were folded in such a way that one would pull the next one out  that would be cool but maybe more hassle than its worth.

A basket, a box, a bag would all be options.

This set is 100% cotton fabric and in bright primary colors.

I paired a deep turquoise color and red.  Beautifully soft.

Again, 10 in the set with 5 in each color.  

I have tied the set with a large twill tape and added a tag to explain what they are and how to use them.

These rolls will be donated to the fundraiser to be held later this year.

Seniors Week - June 7-13 2021 - Card Donations

I worked on more cards for the Seniors Week Project.

I started with the yellow and blue layer which I made last summer.  It involves making a marking tool with old toilet paper rolls to create dandelion flowers.  

That layer was trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 inches. 

I placed a piece of blue rick rack across the bottom third and taped the ends to the back. This layer was then adhered to the front of a medium blue card base.

I added a color printed greeting punched with the Stampin Up Decorative Label adhered with 3D foam tape.

This card was created with a 4x4 photo reused from one of my photography calendars. 

I trimmed the 4x4 down a bit to leave a bit more of a border. 

I added the vellum sentiment which I adhered to the photograph with gold flower sequins held in place with orange tiny brads.  This full layer was then adhered to the front of a yellow card base.

These cards are reusing a small card I made for a Stampin up party I held years ago.  I had leftovers and they just sat. 

The accent layer has a Tango Tangerine base with Tempting Turquoise designer paper.  I added an accent strip in orange punched with the Stampin Up Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch. 

The tag was stamped with the Too Terrific Tags set in Tempting Turquoise on Whisper White. Layer onto Tango Tangerine with a Tempting Turquoise grosgrian ribbon held in place with an orange tiny brad. 

The Whisper White layer was embossed with the Swiss Dots folder and trimmed to leave a small border. It was adhered to the turquoise card base.

The stack is growing!

A Little Love for Mom

I made a book mark from some of the denim I cut off my jeans the other day.

I zigzagged about 1/4 in from the edge around the full rectangle with a tight stitch.  This will limit the unravelling that can take place.

I included a bit of lace at the top and a navy gros grain ribbon which can be used as a place marker as I stitched around.

I had to look up some embroidery stitches and find a needle and thread but eventually found all three.

I put 3 hearts in red along the length of the bookmark.   My stitching is not the greatest but it is the sentiment that I love her which is important.

Say I love you to those precious to you today.

It is ready to be mailed today.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

A new bird for me this week!  It' a  Say's Phoebe which is quite a small bird as the cable she is sitting on would suggest!

Beautiful bird! I did not hear it sing.  I checked on line and it is a quite subdued singer.

Love the coloring and the shine in the eye!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been looking for a container to hold some Extra Virgin Olive Oil need the stove.  The one I was using required that I tip it over a lot to get liquid out of it.

During my visit with my sister she said "Would this work?"  It is a bottle of coconut oil she purchased for her salad dressing.

"Yes!" I said. That would work very well. It has a nice pour spout, hold about 1 cup which is a great size, and it's easy to clean. 

 It works really well.  Glad to see manufactures adapting their bottles to what works for the consumer.

Love it.

The friend who celebrates her birthday this week shared her cake with me.  Her sister purchased the cake.

This is a Black Forest Cake created by one of the best bakeries in the city - Bon Ton Bakery.

It was delicious.  I cut the large piece in two pieces and enjoyed it twice with a cup of green tea.

I chose a few bugs for my mosaic this week.  The Spotted Tussock Moth Caterpillar comes out in August.  I remember being scared of these as a kid, still not that crazy about them.  I mentioned Dragonflies last week as predators.  The Yellowjacket Wasp was getting some moisture from this spot on the the wood. 

The challenge this week at Flickr Macro Monday is Push/Pull.  What a great choice. The variety of objects for this challenge is unending. Buttons of all sorts, zippers, rubber bands, tools, and so much more.  

You can check out my Photostream SMDPics to see which image I submitted.

Sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #93

and Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #253

Have a great week!

Christmas Thank Yous

I got my Christmas thank you cards made.  I used gift wrap used on one of Mom & Dad's gifts.  Beautiful green background with white boughs and vanilla pine cones. I chose vanilla cards.

I cut the gift wrap paper to 4.00 x 5.25 inches and taped it to the front of the card.

I then cut a ribbon slider with Spellbinder slider set.  I printed thank you greetings and punched them with the 2 inch oval punch.  I adhered them to the front of the green sliders.

I added red cotton ribbon and trimmed the ends.  I taped them to the back of the slider so they would not move.  I added 3D foam tape to the slide and adhered it to the card front. 
On the wide ones I put plaid ribbon instead.

I am very blessed and it was good to have company instead of gifts in some cases.  I just need to spread out it a little more.  

Jumbled HB - Teal and Silver

I am working on options for card layouts done with the Memory Box Jumbled Happy Birthday thin die.  I have used flowers, a punch and now I added ribbon. 
The designer card stock layer in a damask pattern has been punched with the Stampin Up Slot punch from both the left and right hand sides.  This creates a half inch slot into which I can pull a length of ribbon. 
I die cut some foil card stock from a chocolate box with the greeting die.  I adhered the dies to the bottom of the background layer. 
I pulled some half inch silver metallic and narrower teal organza ribbon through the slots and knotted them both together.  Trimmed the ends with scissors.  The layer was adhered to the teal card.