Remembrance Day

I am grateful for the service of our men and women of the Canadian Forces and those around the world who aim to keep us free.  I have a couple of men in my close family who served as well as uncles who served in years gone by.

I pray for freedom and safety for all. For unity and peace in all countries.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

This week was a time to remember those who served, fought and paid a price for the freedoms I enjoy.

I have uncles and those closer than that who served to protect our country.

I am so blessed and appreciated what I have.

I have been looking for a container to hold my unPaperTowels.  These are pieces of fabric that I can use around the house that will clean up messes that I would have used a disposable paper towel.  These then can be laundered and returned to be used many other times.  Saves trees.

A Dollarama purchase with is exactly 10 inches wide and 5 inches across which is what a unPaperTowel measures folded in half.  

Perfect!

I had this book on my night stand for a while.

I bought at the Thrift Store because it was J R R Tolkien.  I read the basic story which was good but there is lots of background stuff.

This is a edit by Christopher of his fathers writings and I just did not want to read about when the stuff was written, how much was kept, how much was rewritten and changed.

I will put it with the other J R R Tolkien books and lit it sit.

I repaired some of my reusable bags this week.  These are not made to last in some cases.  This one is very good but the inside seams needed to be finished so they would stop unravelling and leaving tiny red threads every time I used

it.

The manufacturer put a seam at the top of the handles where the most strain is placed.  Of course, that is silly.

The hems were keeping the handles from falling apart completely so I wrapped a piece of poly/cotton fabric around the top of each handle and sewed them securely.

This will be in service for a few more years.

This bag was one I collected at the ReUse center to bring my goodies home this week.  

The handles hand become disconnected even before I got home.  I thought I will just sew them back on.  Upon further examination the handles just disintegrated as I tug on them to test the strength.

Fortunately, a few weeks back I found some webbing for $1 so I was able to give this bag new handles for a song.

This bag is made of much light material because it is meant to fold up in a small pouch.

I was fortunate to bring home some poly/cotton scraps from the ReUse Center this week and they match perfectly.

I added a bottom to the bag which had 1 hole worn into it from dragging.  The handles are a little long. 

The seams had to be reinforced on the inside to ensure they did not unravel.

I added a strip of fabric around the top edge as well where the handles are attached to the bag.  At least the handles are one piece unlike the other. 

I am so glad the fabric matched so well.  Back into the grocery bag collection.

I found this very cute ceramic tree at the arts and crafts store last week. You can see that it is meant to be an ornament but is is way too heavy for that purpose.

I thought it would work well with my small Nativity Sets.  It is a bit small for this set but will work well for the smaller one.

I have a few bottle brush trees as well that fit this purpose.

It is super cute and it was on sale 50% so I could not leave it behind.

This is a glass ornament which opens and you can put something inside.

I used to have one but it broke a couple of years ago.  I am glad I was able to replace it.

It's that time of year.

A few people I know put up their Christmas Tree the Remembrance Day weekend.

My wall Christmas Tree will not go up until after December 1st.  My crafting projects are caught up and I have Christmas cards to do so I should be ready in plenty of time.

Art Show - Open Art Competition

I submitted two pieces to the AAC Open Art Competition - photography.

Title: Red Poppy

Size: 14.00 x 17.00 inches

Medium: Photography

Print 8.5 x 11 inches

Mat: Double Archival white with black core

Frame: Black wood wide profile

This is a gorgeous Red Poppy facing the morning sun head on and looking so gorgeous. Managed some bokeh in the background from the water drops on foliage.

Title: Red Dot

Size: 12.00 x 14.00 inches

Medium: Photography/Digital

Print 8 x 10 inches

Mat: Archival off white with black

Frame: Silver Metal

This started out as a photograph which was altered a lot with filters then turned into a black and white image. I rotated it which gave it an oriental feel so I placed a red dot on it.

Reception is Saturday, September 8 at 7 pm.  - I placed Second in the Photography Category!!

From the judges: Good colour choice for composition. Interesting composition, love the simplicity and execution. 

Exchange Cards

I got my Exchange cards made for May.

I have decided to use my 4x4 photos from my past calendars.

This is a beautiful Red Poppy I think taken at the community garden.

I chose Tangerine Tango card base with a small piece of green card stock that I taped together on the back.

I stamped the green with Border Builder stamp set - script in Basic Black ink to just to knock down the plainness.

I wrapped a piece of Daffodil Delight ribbon around the element over the join and taped the ends to the back.

I then adhered the full layer to the card front with double sided tape.

This card features a warm rich orange rose taken at the Botanic Park.

I chose the same Tangerine Tango card base.

I added some complimentary strips of card stock behind the photo. Cameo Coral, Groove Guava and Peach Parfait.

I adhered the strips and trim the right hand end with scissors cutting at an angle.

Adhered photo with double sided tape.

Remembrance Day

The poppy reminds me of the sacrifices made for my freedom during times of war and peace.

Some gave their lives, many give time away from their families, their service may be far or near,  some stand in the gap for those who are vulnerable and in need but all do it for our sake.

I am grateful for the freedoms I enjoy in Canada.  

I give thanks for a warm and dry place to lay my head, the food on my table and my ability to move around my city in relative safety.

God keep our land glorious and free!

Sylvia's Simple Shots

A walk to the community garden is always inspiring.  Plants are blooming, producing edibles and folks are harvesting at this time of year.

I just capture the wonderfulness with my camera.

Found this beautiful red poppy this week.

Speaking of harvesting.

I spent some time with my niece on the weekend and she helped me pick chokecherries.  In the end, I had 4 cups of berries to make pancake syrup.  This is the Chokecherry Syrup recipe I used.

With another camping trip under my belt I have honed my supplies and equipment.

I bought a larger tote to hold the kitchen stuff.  I added a stainless steel kettle, a 4L water jug, a second cooler and a mat. 

I am happy with my progress and hopefully I will get a trip in after school starts and things quiet in the travel business.

Maybe campsites will close after the September long weekend. I will have to check that out.

I received and paid for my first set of prescription glasses this week!  I have been making do with readers for years.  Not having sunglasses for driving was getting to me so I finally bit the bullet.

They are black frames with checkerboard pattern on the sides. I got progressive lenses which I was quite unsure about but it is working out well.

The lenses darken in the light and even in the car behind the windshield.  They have a scratch resistance coating and anti glare coating for night driving.

A lovely microfiber cloth to clean them with a special spray, along with a sturdy case to store but most of the time they will be on my face.

I had to make a few adjustments at home as well so the computer monitor had to be lowered so that it aligned with the bar on the progressive lens for that distance.  

It took a bit of fiddling and something that was adjustable so it is a stack of old Somerset Studio magazines which came to the rescue. 

It was nice to spend time with family.  We celebrated my grandniece's birthday which is in April but was postponed due to COVID restrictions.  With all of us vaccinated, we were free to enjoy time together.

I visited the wetlands near my niece's house during my visit on the weekend. What a lovely area with wide open spaces but still within the city limits!

A female Redwing Blackbird, the bulrushes are tall, and the ducks are swimming around after raising their young.  

I expect the red berries are not edible but very pretty.  Update - Red Baneberry - poisonous.

The theme for Flickr Macro Monday this week was "foil".  With foil used as packaging for all kinds of things there was a good variety of pics.  You can check my Flickr Photostream (SMDPics) to see my entry. 

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #142 and

Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #300. 

Have a great week and be safe!

Photo Cards

Using some of my photographs, I created a few all occasion cards for my card box so I can quickly add a greeting and put them in the mail.

 This is a gorgeous red poppy taken at the community garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pink on the right is Summer Wine Nine Bark.

 

 

This is Orange Million Belles in a tiny ceramic pitcher taken on the fence along the trail in the river valley.

These are A2 (4.25x5.5 inch) heavy 110lb card stock.

Photo Coasters - Singles

I have some photo coasters done for this year.  They are 4x4 and have one of my photos on the front which has been protected with modge podge and spray sealer.  They have fleece on the bottom to protect your furniture.

Poster Calendars 2020

I have created a large calendar this year where it is very easy to read the numbers.

It is poster sized at 11x17 inches.  
It will work great on a fridge or file cabinet with magnets.
It can be added to a notice board or bulletin board with push pins. 
It can be taped to almost any surface making it readily available where you need it. 
I decided to provide subject matter that would appeal to almost anyone in the population.  You will find them on my Calendar Page. They are wrapped in seasonal cellophane with a ribbon and tag.

I chose this beautiful Red Poppy with a blurred back ground.  The focal element is just off center.































I took this photo at Elk Island National Park in October.  I love how the leaves are yellow and the trees are nicely blurred.

This is the Silver Roadster I took at the Antique Mall earlier this year.  The image won a prize at the Member Show at the Spruce Grove Art Gallery in the spring.

AAC Gallery - Photo Cards

These are the 5x7 A7 cards I took to the gallery today.

I have no idea what will sell so it was a guessing game.

Photo Cards - Frameable Art - Craft Sale

I love the leaves on this bush with their rounded ends and beautiful coloring of green transitioning to red as fall arrives.

My best guess is this is the Barberry - Crimson Pygmy bush.  I love the shadows captured along with small and medium leaf sizes.

With that coloring it could almost do a Christmas card if you did not expect it to have snow.

Love it.













Here I have captured a group of maple leaf tree seeds back lit by the morning sun.

I love how as your eye goes up the photo the seeds become darker and but still outlined by the light providing texture to the overall image.









A red poppy converted to the 4x6 format for this card.

It was taken at the Community Garden this summer.

These all make wonderful all occasion cards.

A note to the friend, a birthday greeting, the maple seeds could be a sympathy card.

You may recognize this image which I submitted to a photo competition this summer.

Resized into a 4x6 for photo cards.

Love the calm water and the water drops on the leaf.









These cards are easily framed in the 5x7 frame.  Arranged singly or in a trio would quickly perk up a room, front hall or office area. Great value too.  I`ve selected a small profile frame in basic black with makes the most of the Nine Bark flower in the photo.

Remembrance Day

We owe those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy, respect.

I am blessed to live in my country.

Thank you for all who served and are currently serving to maintain the freedoms I enjoy.

Silent Auction Donation

I am participating in our Mission Possible Sale this weekend and they requested a donation for the silent auction.

I am donating this photograph of a red poppy.  It was taken in July at the Community Garden in my neighborhood on my morning walk.  I generally don't leave the house with out the camera.

It is framed in a 12x12 inch black metal frame with a white mat with black insert.  The photograph was printed at 8x8 inches.

There is some great stuff up for auction.