Slow Stitching - June 2025 - Week 3

I continue with my Homes theme for June in this slow stitching project hosted my K3N Cloth Tales. 

I used the running stitch in blue thread along the western coast line to represent the Pacific Ocean. It would have been nice to have waves represented for the water but I found that was too complicated for me.

I added more trees in the north of the westerly province.

I added the log cabin in which I lived the first 4 years of my life. Dad worked in a sawmill and my Mom chose to be with him. Several kids were born during that time.

I am enjoying this piece.

Slow Stitching - June 2025 - Week 2

I added the green triangle stitches for the forest in the north.  

I used the sheaf stitch with a dark yellow floss for the wheat fields my current province is known for. Lower down I used a brighter yellow floss and the button hole stitch layered very close together to represent canola fields in our province.

In the central city of this province I have lived in several homes. I created a zoom in circle in the base of the province to the west where I can add representations for these homes. This was done in blue thread.

I added purple peaks to represent the Rocky Mountains which span both provinces.

Card - Thinking of You - Watercolor

A card for a friend who received a tough diagnosis recently.

It is important to know that people care and are thinking of you.

I just painted a quick watercolor of water, earth and trees.

The flowers in the water don't jive with the pine tree in the dirt but I wanted a bit of color and pretty.

This was painted with my Winston Newton travel palette.

Trimmed to fit on a 5x7 ish sized card in the portrait orientation on a True Thyme base.

A white quarter sheet insert and an ivory envelope.  A bit of a write and a stamp an it will be on it's way.

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.

Slow Stitching - Extra Squares

Another Extra Square for my slow stitching project.

I decided on a landscape composition.  I invisilbe stitched my white layer to my foundation layer.

I added a couple of pieces of blue for the sky with a yellow sun.

Two grey mountains and a green layer of trees.

A deeper blue layer at the bottom of lake and a brown piece for land.

Mostly running stitches on these pieces. A bit of seed stitching. 

I did triangles on the green for trees but it is not very visible.

Slow Stitching - No. 037 - Home - Village

This is week 37 of K3N Cloth Tales Slow Stitching challenge.  This week was the prompt was HOME.  

I not thrilled about the location I live now - downtown in a large city. I love my apartment.

So, I decided to create my ideal home.  A small village. Starting on the north end there are railroad tracks because I love to hear the train but not too close. On the right is a paddock where horses live.  Next, south of the horses is a field of wheat. Across the road is the start of the row of houses which live along the lake. They have dark roofs. There has to be water so I can photograph birds. 

At the cross roads is a small park with a tree and flowers. East of the park is a bit of woodland. My place faces the park with a fence, flowers, a tree and a vegetable garden behind the building. East of there is a field of sunflowers. That will bring birds and pollinators.  South of my place is my neighbor with a fenced yard with a few fruit trees along the fence. 

To the west across the lane is the commercial district with a church, a library and a grocery store with a gas station. There is a large parking lot. Everything is within walking distance.  My car is parked in front of my house.  Writing about it now I realize that my house would face north west so maybe the house needs to be rotated a bit. We'll see when the plans are drawn up. 

This project was a lot of stitching but I loved creating it.  I used liquid acrylic ink to paint my roofs then stitched around them.  Trees with French Knots, parking lot with grey running stitches,bit of satin stitch for the cars in the parked there, seeds stitches in blue for the lake, green seed stitch for lawn, and on it goes. 

Cards - Christmas Cards - Trees

I have done these colorful trees on a smaller scale before.

This is an A2 card in landscape orientation.

The bottom of the card is wet with clear water and then you paint your trees above wet on dry until at the bottom you reach the puddle of water you laid earlier.

I did work out how to print the greeting on the bottom of the watercolor panel.

This is Taken with Teal with a seasonal insert and white envelope.

I think these trees are a bit too far apart but at least they are green.

The black greeting printed on the panel with the printer before mounting to card front.

Mounted on a Kiwi Kiss card base with a seasonal insert and white envelope.

Not sure how well this color works but there it is!

Black printed greeting on the watercolor panel.

Card base is Island Indigo with a seasonal insert and white envelope.

Cards - Christmas Trees - Watercolor

I am going to need a lot more Christmas Cards so I decided today to start.

I found a tutorial video on line for these 5 trees last week.

Masked the bottom of the trees then drew 5 triangles with pencil. Painted them with watercolor, drew designs on them, and added metallic accents.  Then spattered the watercolor piece by loading brush with color and tapping it against another brush to produce the blue spots.

I traced the greeting.

Trimmed the watercolor paper to fit on an A2 card. Mounted it onto a SU Baja Breeze card base.

Add a seasonal insert and white envelope.

This one is in non-tradional colors.

Purples and warm tones of yellow / orange.

On the last 2 I worked out how to print a greeting on the printer.  Took quite a bit of time but now I can repeat it when I want.

I did add a black line to ground the trees.

The card base is SU Pumpkin Pie with a seasonal insert and white envelope.

This card is all in blue tones with silver metallic accents.

Mounted on a SU Taken with Teal card base in the A2 set in portrait orientation.

Seasonal insert and white envelope.

 

Card - Trees

This card is for my brother who celebrates a birthday soon.

I chose an Always Artichoke card base. 

The designer paper is from the Adventure Bound set in the 4x6 pack. I trimmed it a little to fit on the A2 card.

I made a slot in the fold with the SU slot punch and pulled a length of wide white grosgrain ribbon through and taped one end and placed a black brad on the other end.

I created a greeting with a Always Artichoke Modern Label punchie layered with a Word Window punchie.  It is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape on the grosgrain ribbon.

I added a quarter sheet insert.

It is off to make sure it gets to him on time.

Card - Retirement and Moving

 

I made a card for my friend who is moving away to be close to her daughter. She has had health challenges in the last few years.  Her husband has now retired and they are looking forward to a new life in this new chapter.  

I found a landscape graphic on line and a drew this composition from it.  I wanted to have a road into the distance with a prairie landscape as they move one province to the east.  They will be close to grandchildren and family. 

I drafted the composition with pencil and I used my Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  I started with a light wash of light blue all over the piece of paper. I then painted the horizon line of trees. I laid a light layer of Always Artichoke. Of course, I needed it to have a yellow field which can be wheat, canola, barley, etc. I created a brown color for the road and painted it.  I had to be patient and used my heat gun to dry the layers before I moved to add dark elements to the sky, trees, road and yellow field. I love the pink flowers along the edge of the field.  Here in Alberta they would be roses but they don't bloom when the fields are yellow but it's my picture so I put them in.  It needed to have a gorgeous sun and a blue sky. 

Once I had my painting I scored a sheet of Baja Breeze card stock into a half sheet card.  I trimmed the edges to make sure it fit into my envelope.  It needed an anchor so I chose a length of Taken with Teal velvet ribbon and a wrapped on the inside of the card and brought the ends to the card front and taped them down.  I adhered the painting with 3D foam tape to allow space for the ribbon.  I pressed the card under heavy books for a few hours.  I added a white half sheet insert onto which I wished them both a happy new chapter in their lives.

Sympathy Card - Serene WC

I made a sympathy card for friend's who lost their son unexpectedly a few weeks ago due medical issues.

He was in his 50's and passed way too young.

It has to be a hard thing to deal with - the loss of a child.

I used one of the backgrounds I made ages ago and added a river, trees, and rocks.

I mounted the watercolor onto black card stock then adhered it with 3D foam tape to a Soft Suede A2 card base.

I added a black sentiment punchie in the bottom right hand corner.

Christmas Card Challenge - Watercolor

Worked on Christmas cards again.   

Using 140lb rough watercolor paper trimmed to approximately 4.00 x 5.25 inches.

I wet the triangle and just dropped color inside and let it blend together.  Added a trunk and let dry.

The red dots were added after the tree was dry.

I used a Micron Fine Permanent black marker to add the lines, the star and outlines around the dots.  Spattered the background by covering the tree with scrap paper.   This was mounted onto dark green card base with a seasonal insert.

The colors are different on this one and I chose another pattern for my lines.  This are quite not traditional colors and I am okay with that.

Stars replaced the cots.

This one was mounted on a medium olive green card base with a seasonal insert and white envelopes.

A few more cards for the box! 

Photo Blogging - Color Makes the World Go Round

I love this painting that is called Yellow Trees. It has very bright colors which are my favorite. 

I have not found its home yet in my house.

I purchased this painting at a Gallery Show in March.  It was on this display for that month. 

I met my aunt Maria the artist this week and she delivered the painting.

She produced a set of cards with the 2 designs in this series.

This is the flower of the Tamarack Larch Pine Tree. 

It is a great bright pink color and appears early when there is no other color on the tree as the green has not yet appeared.

It is a sure sign of spring but we have snow again this morning!

This was taken at the park down from my house along the river valley.


This yellow glass cat was at the gift shop at the Muttart Conservatory when I visited this month. 

I love it because it is glass and yellow and since the theme this month was color I took it's picture as it posed for me.

The ear is not broken it is like that.  Love the black button nose.

 Spring sure has some great colors coming in.

These bright orange leaves are on this Japanese spirea bush. 

I took the photo on a visit to the Heritage Hill Wetlands earlier this month.

As you can see the ground is still very bare and dull but the leaves provide a nice contrast.



 






Orchids are wonderful flowers.  I was not able to find the name of this one with an internet search.

I took the photo when I visited the Muttart Conservatory earlier this month.

This one was quite small at about 2 inches tall.   Very spring and Easter colors.

Sharing with P.J. host at A Lil Hoohaa for the Photo Blogging Challenge - Color makes the world go round.

This Week in photos!

I had an Easter Bunny at my place at the breakfast table Sunday morning.

Milk chocolate my favorite and in such a cute shape.

The bell around his neck actually jingles. Way too cool.

I shared it around the table and had  the left overs with my supper last night.

I always bring flowers to Mom for Easter so those are the pink tulips.  They will open later this week. There was a basket of mums on the table and see the blue bunny hiding amongst the blooms.

There was a little boy celebrating his 2nd birthday on Saturday.

His Mom had made this beautiful cake.  The train actually ran around the cake on the track.  Very cool!

The fondant decorations was very well done.  Hills, mountains, gulls, flowers, a big sun were all around the cake.  Chocolate cake was great.

I stopped to take a photo of these stands of trees along the highway.  They soon will lose their silhouettes and but leaf covered.  It was early evening and the sky was starting to be multicolored.


The theme for Macro Monday this week was "bottle cap". We could photograph anything which would seal a bottle.

This is a glass stopper for a glass perfume bottle.

I added some bokeh in the background.  You can check Flickr here.  My photos here.

Sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday and Mersad who hosts Through my Lens.

Trio of Prism Trees

Shopping at the dollar store can be ineffective.  I was attracted by these shiny reflection pieces several years ago and have struggled on how to use them.

I was inspired yesterday to create this composition.  I am happy with the star tops and the black stems. 

I added silver sequins with Bling Zots. 

I ripped a snow bank and added an extra from my class on Tuesday that I have not blogged yet.

 Here's my first sample.  The snowflakes don't really work for toppers for size or color. 

The iridescent sequins are OK but not the best.

The snowbank and greeting works really well.

R2Go Christmas Kit - Peace On Earth

I chose a pea green card of textured card stock.

I selected a 12x12 designer paper by Imaginisce - Cottage Christmas - Winter Woodlands.  The piece is cut 3.5 inches tall x 4 inches wide. 

The greeting strip is printed in brown on celery card stock.  I printed 7 onto a quarter sheet of card stock which makes it .75" T x 4.25" W.

I chose a warm blue card stock for the die cut.  I cut the large greeting word with the Sizzix Originals Die Peace Phrase #2.

The DSP is adhered to the bottom half of the card. The strip is adhered to the top of the designer paper piece.  I placed 3 pieces of narrow 3D foam tape to the back of the die cut.  It was then adhered above the greeting strip.