Sylvia's Simple Shots

The Canada Geese are back.  

I found this couple at the 127 Street pond.  There is still ice but at least some open water.

The sun was shining and I walked the whole track around the pond this time.

May as well get my steps in while out with my camera.

Still at the pond I found this creature sitting on a branch in the water.

I could not see the tail but I think this is a muskrat rather than a beaver.  Not sure.

Love the gold color on its fur in the later afternoon sun.

I had a visit with my aunt this afternoon.

Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess by Amanda Owen. 

The life in the very rural areas of England are challenging at best to downright dangerous at worse.

Amanda shows deep commitment to her family and her animals in the book.  One needs to be a problem solver and adaptive in this kind of environment.

Some of the situations stressed me out and I was not living them out.

A family of 9 children provides a rich life with the interactions between parents and kids.  The children are learning, becoming adults and finding their strengths in this family.  

Interesting book.

The bugs are back.

I captured this flying insect while trying to capture the pussy willows at the Heritage Hills Wetlands in Sherwood Park.

I'm not sure what it is, and of course I only found out it was there when I got home and downloaded the pics.

A dreamy shot of the pussy willow without bugs in the way.

I have been working hard to have the place ready for listing.

It has been a lot of work to move things back into their place from being stored in the living room and dining room during  the renovations.

It was suggested that I make the room look bigger and I moved the table to under the window and now I can dance in the space.

I can see the TV from this room and so sometimes I do my exercise videos here so I am not in full view to the parking lot.

Lately there have been a lot of vehicles back there.

Cards - A2 - Scraps on my desk

The card base is dark brown textured cardstock.  

I cut a piece from a scrap of this gold and kraft polka dot card stock to leave a small border and adhered it to the card front.

I glued a strip of the card base card stock across the front aligned to the top.

I cut a bird on a branch with the Tim Holtz die and adhered it on with Scotch Quick Glue.

I used a gold sharpie marker to add an eye to the bird and some marks on the cardstock strip and branch.

A white insert and an off white envelope.  Yeah!

I chose a Stampin Up Kiwi Kiss card base for this card.

I cut a piece of SU designer paper which was just begging to be colored.  I used some Prismacolor pencils to color the main flower and the surrounding leaves.  I left the lilies white.

This layer was adhered to the card front with double sided tape.

Really simple but effective.

A white insert and envelope and another hits the stash.

Another Kiwi Kiss card base with a totally different card front.

The designer paper is a leftover.  I cut the layer leaving a small border then I cut it again and turned over the small piece to show the script back side.  I taped these together with clear tape.  It was adhered to the card front.

I added a narrow strip of dark brown cardstock over the join.  

I cut a bird on the branch again this time in Baja Breeze and used quick dry glue attached him along the strip.

A white quarter sheet insert and a matching envelope.

A cute baby card.  I painted this little bear a few weeks ago for my Macro Monday challenge on Flickr. 

I turned it into a card.  I trimmed it to the 3x3 size which is the limit for MM.

I layered it onto dark brown cardstock leaving a nice border.

I mounted it onto a Baja Breeze card base.

Dug into my stash of greetings and added this 2" oval punchie mounted with 3D foam tape.

Added a quarter sheet insert and an envelope.

 

Cards - A2 - Serendipity Paper

I created a 8.5 x 11 sheet of serendipity paper when I created cards with the origami paper this week.   

I cut it into 4 pieces to make the best use of it.  That means A2 cards.

I started with So Saffron card base to measure 4.25 x 5.5 folded.

I adhered my collage paper to the front leaving a small border. 

I cut a strip of the same card stock and added a length of Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon.

I added Spellbinder charm die cut hung with ivory crochet cotton.

A white quarter sheet insert and an ivory envelope.

For this card I chose the same yellow card base and adhered the piece of collage paper to the front leaving a small border.

I added a length of Early Espresso card stock across the landscape (wide) card in the top half

I cut a Sizzix Primitive Star with the yellow medium die. It was mounted onto the brown strip with 3D foam tape.

A white quarter sheet insert and ivory envelope.

I was lucky to get 50 of these envelopes at the thrift store this week for $2.00.

Another wide card.

The card base is Early Espresso and the collage paper was trimmed to leave a small border.

I added a card stock strip of brown and topped with a narrower strip of So Saffron card stock.

I punched a pine tree from dark brown card stock and adhered it with Scotch Quick Dry adhesive on the left hand side.

A white quarter sheet insert and an ivory envelope to complete the card.

The fourth card in this series made with serendipity paper.  I used origami papers 3x3 collaged to card stock.  

I chose a ginger colored card stock and adhered the trimmed collage paper to the front.

I added a strip of the same card stock to the front once I had added a length of dark brown grosgrain ribbon across it.

I hung a square charm cut with Spellbinder die set.

I added a white insert and an ivory envelope.

Not my normal color scheme but they worked out well.

Slow Stitching - April 2025 - Week 1

I chose tea for the subject of my April slow stitching square.

I chose a mottle blue piece of cotton fabric which I invisible basted to a thin cotton foundation layer.

I chose to create a tea bag and tag which adds a border around my square.

The tea bag has been running stitch around the edge of it with seed stitches towards the bottom to represent the tea.  

The green tag is at the other end onto which I added TEA lettered in turquoise.

The string was embroidery with stem stitch in a grey floss. 

Cards - A7 - Bands and Ribbon

Another set of A7 cards.

I started this one with a pack of origami paper 3x3 inches with travel and writing theme.

I just selected a few and glued them down to the front of my ivory card base.

I chose a light green card stock strip to overlay on the front and embossed it with a Stampin Up Script folder.  I then used SU Tea Stain ink to highlight the writing.  I added a length of Always Artichoke seam binding which I touched with the same ink to help it fit in.  I knotted onto the strip. I adhered it to the card front with double sided tape. 

Added a white insert and an off white envelope from my stash of free ones from years ago.

This designer paper is leftover from a previous card making session.

I love the colors.  I chose a Lost Lagoon card base and adhered the designer paper cut to leave a small border.

I chose a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock and embossed it with a Cuttlebug folder.  I knotted a length of Baja Breeze seam binding around it and trimmed the ends.

The strip was adhered to the card front in the landscape (wide) orientation.  This seems to have a bit of a Christmas vibe.

Added a white insert and off white envelope.

I started with a designer paper leftover.

I added a Stampin Up Island Indigo card base.  I trimmed the patterned paper to leave a small border and adhered it to the front.

I added a card stock strip in Pumpkin Pie and embossed it with the D'vine Swirl folder.  I rubbed the swirls with a More Mustard ink pad. 

I added a coordinating knot of satin ribbon and adhered the strip to the card front.

I finished the card with a white insert and an off white envelope.

 

Cards - A7 - Die Cuts

Another few cards today.  Again, A7 (5.25x7.25 inch) envelopes.

I started with an ivory card base.  I cut a piece of textured turquoise card stock to leave a small border.  

I cut a Tim Holtz Cameo Frame die cut from left over Stampin Up More Mustard card stock from yesterday's session. Trimmed a piece of watercolor designer paper to fit the middle of the die cut. 

The floral accent is a large daisy punchie in turquoise, topped with a small More Mustard one held in place with a turquoise mini brad. 

The cabinet die cut was then adhered to the turquoise layer with 2 more blue mini brads top and bottom.

I added the finishing border with a warm grey colored pencil and also added lines on the large daisy die cut.  A white insert and an ivory envelope to finish it off.

For this card the base is SU Tempting Turquoise card stock in 12x12. 

I used the negative piece from the Cameo Frame die cut to layer onto the card front leaving a tiny border. 

I placed a piece of the watercolor designer paper behind the More Mustard layer. 

I cut a Sizzix Leaf Stem die cut from warm green card stock then embellished it would pencil crayons. I cut a couple more leaves and added them below the opening.

I added a pencil crayon line along the inside of the die cut in a warm grey.

A white insert and an ivory envelope were added.

For this card, I chose a warm green card base. 

I ripped left over card stock in the More Mustard and the Tempting Turquoise and layered them with a piece of the watercolor designer paper.

I cut a flower with the Sizzix Flower Daisy #4 die from turquoise card stock.  I glued it to the front of the card with Scotch Quick Dry adhesive.

I added some texture to the flower with colored pencils. 

I mounted a tiny button in the center of the flower with a Bling Zot.

A white insert and an ivory envelope completes the card.

Cards - A7 - Florals

I needed a distraction today so I put my hands to making some cards for my stash.

I found some A7 (5.25 x 7.25 inches) envelopes which were free when received so nice to destash.

The floral designer paper I chose is by Anna Griffin in this grey brown color cut to about 4 inches. 

The dark layer is some Early Espresso in Co-ordinations style which means it has a colored core and folding the card stock reveals that color so I used it for the layer and band instead.

The script paper at the bottom designed by Blue Fern Studios - Paisley & Vine - Bohemian. 

The card base is Stampin Up Sahara Sand.  A white sheet insert and ivory envelope.

This card has the same components.

I cut the floral paper to leave a large board all the way around then cut a Early Espresso layer leaving a narrower border.

SU Sahara Sand is the A7 card base used in the landscape orientation.

I cut a band of the dark brown card stock and flagged the end. Using 3 ivory mini brads I adhered it to the 2 other layers.

This full layer was then adhered to the card base with double sided tape.

A white insert and an ivory envelope.

For this card I chose a Stampin Up More Mustard card base to fit in an A7 envelope.

I cut the floral designer paper by Anna Griffin in the mustard color to leave a wide border all the way around.

I layered a piece of Early Espresso card stock behind leave a narrow strip on the left and right sides. These were adhered to each other with double sided tape.

I cut a strip of the dark brown card stock and then added 2 Stampin Up Five Petal punchies in the dark brown and the More Mustard colors with a tiny flower punch in the center all adhered to the layers with a More Mustard mini brad. 

A white insert with an ivory envelope.

A Stampin Up More Mustard base to fit in an A7 envelope.

The Early Espresso but to leave a small border all the way around and the mustard floral by Anna Griffin cut a bit smaller to provide an even brown border on all sides.

I added a band running top to bottom on the left hand side of the floral piece.

I punched a Martha Stewart butterfly punchie in More Mustard and adhered it to the 2 previous layers with a yellow mini brad.

This was all adhered to the card front in the landscape orientation.  White insert and an ivory envelope. 

Sylvia's Simple Shots

It's been snowing and this day the snow was gently falling as I walked around my neighbourhood.

I found this crow in a tree just chilling.

I love how I captured the falling snow and it's large beak.  Unfortunately, the eye is not as sharp as I would have liked.

Nice dreamy shot.

These are the improvements I made to my Tumi Bag while I was at my sisters last week.

The bag is quite floppy and needed some structure.

It has enough pockets for the essentials that I carry.  

In my last purse I had a collection of things like my lip balm, my allergy eye drops, cough drops, and other things that just fell to the bottom of the center pocket.

With wanting to add structure to the bag we headed to the dollar store to see what we could find for organizers. We found these pencil cases. We built a case for them from mat board and duck tape. We added jump rings to the top so I can pull the pocket out easily. 

Now the contents are organized and the bag a solid core.

A sister and her husband came to visit this week.  They are the one who helped with carpet removal in the summer.  They wanted to see the new floor and have a visit.  Their kids were coming back from a ski trip.

I served roast chicken from the grocery store, salad, and fruit and muffins for dessert.

It's been great to have company.

I was gifted these beautiful Jianzhan tea tasting cups from China.  My nephew brought them back for me after I admired one he gave his Mom and Dad at Christmas.

Tea is my thing. Blue and yellow are my colors.  I look forward to using them when I settle in my new place as for now they are packed safely in a box for moving.

A watercolor card I made for my nephew and his wife who gave me the beautiful tea cups.

I chose watercolor paper and painted an abstract with bright yellow at the top running into ultramarine blue at the bottom.  

Once dry and pressed flat I trimmed the piece to leave a medium border and adhered it to the front of a SU Brilliant Blue card base.

I stamped the greeting with dark blue ink.

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn one of my favorite authors.

Another WWII story about a woman, Mila Pavlichenko, who transforms herself from a bookish Mom of one to a sharp shooter. Based on a true story of a mother who became a soldier, found her place in the world and changed history.

When she reaches her 300th kill she is pulled from the Eastern front and is invited to the United States on a goodwill tour. She is hosted by Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. 

Danger lurks in every corner both on the battlefield and away from the fight. 

Another wonderful book.

Slow Stitching 2025 - March - Week 4

K3N Cloth Tales Comfort Coverlet 2025 Slow Stitching project - March - Week 4. "My Favorite Colors"

I am still working with my favorite colors. I felt the middle of the circle needed something else.

I decided to add 2 squares of white stitching to the center.  They were supposed to be less regular than they turned out to be. 

I then added a star of white stitching in the middle of the squares.  I have a really hard time making thing irregular.  

You can see that I decided to finish the seams along the 1 inch border.  I think I will be assembling these pieces with stashing with a backing fabric to hind all the stitching when all the pieces are done.  

Sylvia's Simple Shots

Captured a Northern Flicker poking in the ground for worms in the park as evidenced by the dirt on his bill.  They are mostly ground feeders so that is where I have found them in the past.

I was visiting my sister and her husband for a fish fry on Friday for supper.  A tradition for all the Fridays in Lent.  It was delicious as always.

We headed to a local shop which sells ice cream and we in luck to have Maple Walnut flavor.  Hers and my favorite.  We ate them in the car so it would not result in a mess before we got home.

I was in Camrose for a funeral.  

With about 45 minutes on my hands and not being able to find the thrift store I headed to the Candler Gallery.

Found some wonderful art.  I recognized at least one artist who had art on display.  One of my aunt has had art in the gallery in the past which was why I knew where it was.

There was some nice pottery as well.

There is a gift shop in the front of the main level along with an art supply store.

Nice to enjoy a few minutes before meeting my sister and husband for lunch at A&W then headed to the funeral of my cousin's father.

While having a conversation with the gallery owner she let me know about the paints they carry which are made in Canada.  With the tariff situation good to know there is a Canadian option.

Tri-Art produces watercolor, acrylic and oil paint and is located in Kingston, Ontario.

I only picked up the watercolor brochure as that is what I would purchase.

The gallery ships Canada wide but a trip would be a nice break.

My good leather purse has a worn strap and the holding loop let go in the last couple days.  I don't have time to fix it right now so I packed it but I needed a replacement.

I found this bag at Goodwill for just over $10.  Inside is a tag that asks you to register your bag and it will be returned to you from anywhere in the world.

I was thinking this must be worth something if it has that kind of policy. There is a store in WEM which would explain it being here. 

I expect it is very good quality so I gave it a good wash in and out.  It is a bit floppy so I will have to do something to give it a bit of structure.

The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss is a book I finished recently.

A small book written by the same author as books I have recently read which I borrowed from my brother in law.

This is the story of Auri who leaves deep below the University.  A young lady that chooses to live a solitary life with animals rather than people.

She explores the vast spaces below ground and has named them all and has created paths and ways to travel from each. 

Some spaces house her special things, one is where she sleeps and all are very interesting. 

Very interesting character.

Slow Stitching 2025 - March - Week 3

K3N Cloth Tales Comfort Coverlet 2025 Slow Stitching project - March - Week 3.

I continued to add stitching to the remaining bands of color. I stayed with my four colors and added yellow circles to the turquoise band.  

Then tight waves in navy on the yellow band.  Then wider waves in turquoise on the pink band. I used a scrapbook tool to mark out the waves onto the fabric. 

I then added a circle of tiny white rick rack couched down with pink thread. 

It is looking pretty good.
 

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 - Watercolor Abstract

I wanted to add some cards to my stash so I chose to reuse the bright watercolors I created in this post.

I cut the watercolor art into pieces.  In this card 4x5.25 inches.  I then used a Micron fine black marker and outlined the shapes in the watercolor.

I followed the idea of neurographic art and rounded the intersections of the black lines.  I added a border all the way around. Added circles to some of the white dots.

I used a black marker to darken the edge of the watercolor paper.

Mounted on Stampin Up Island Indigo card stock with a quarter sheet insert on the inside paired with a white envelopee.

For this card I cut the watercolor art to 3.5 inches square.

Again, added black marker lines around the shapes in the watercolor.  Soften the intersections and circled some of the dots in the art.

Added a black border all the way around.

I mounted it leaving even edges around 2 side onto a SU Gumball Green A2 card base.

Added a white insert and envelope.

This one had a good variety of colors so there was a good choice of colors for card base.

In this card, I chose SU Pacific Point in the A2 size.  These I did mount all in the portrait orientation but they could be landscape (wide) as well.

I love the bright spot of pink in this piece of watercolor. 

Again, black marker to outline the shapes in the watercolor with a border all the way around.

A white quarter sheet insert and envelope.

The card base on this card is an A2 in the SU Kiwi Kiss color.

The watercolor was cut to 3.5 inches square.

Mounted to the card front with double sided tape.  I added white quarter sheet insert and an envelope.

Pressed under books over night and is now sitting in the box.

These were fun to do and allowed my art to shine again.

 

Tree Scent Ornaments - A few more

Colonial Candle Co. Angel Candle Hugger Vintage Made in Taiwan in the 1950s. Made of porcelain and measures 2.5" tall.

It holds an ivory felt candle which I fashion myself with a yellow flame at the top. It hangs from a warm toned ribbon gathered around her wings.

She is an oil diffuser where pure essential oil is placed on the felt and the scent is dispersed into the space.

Can be used with tree scented oils to provide a Christmas Tree scent to your artificial tree. She also stands so can be used in other spaces.

Use in any personal space to disperse a calming scent as you drink your favorite beverage and relax.

A wonderful clear glass heart ornament that features a frosted cupid playing its flute.

The felt diffuser is a small pink heart whose edge has been blanket stitched all the way around.  

A small E bead has been added to the front where it has been stitched to the pink satin ribbon hanger.

I can be given to a loved one as a token of affection and is practical.  It allows one to diffuse scent in a personal space and on the Christmas tree during the holiday season.

It measures 3.5 inches tall

The diffuser features a wooden kitty cat.  It has eyes and black whiskers.

Its tummy holds a black felt ball which is the diffuser.

Place a few drops of  pure essential oil of your choice onto the felt ball and the scent will fill your personal space.

It makes your morning tea or your afternoon snack break a time to relax.

It can be hung but it also stands on it own making it move with you as needed.

Another small frame turned into a tree scent ornament.

I chose a seasonal theme for this diffuser by stitching a bright green Christmas tree on green felt. I added a yellow star at the top and brown trunk at the bottom.

I used French Knots for the red ornaments along the branches.

I crocheted a hanger from cotton floss in the same red as the ornaments.  It was stitched directly to the felt oval to ensure it is secure.

The gold frame features enameled green decoration around the edge.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

Spring is around the corner. 

The pussy willows are out in their white fluffy coats.

The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs is a book I finished this week.

Tess Delaney restores stolen treasures to their owners. Annelise Winther has her mother's necklace returned worth a good sum will help in her old age. 

Dominic Rossi is the messenger who has travelled a ways to tell Tess she is to inherited half an apple orchard.  Her half sister Isabel Johansen owns the other half - a sister she did not know she had.  

Coming to know the family own business and how differently this group sees life, where family comes first and the roots of history run deep.

The end brings a surprise and the connections comes full circle for Tess. 

Another great book!

I had lunch at this great restaurant this week.    The food was good and the conversation and time spent wonderful.

The restaurant was quiet so we had time to sit and visit and not feel like we should move on till we were ready.

Every Secret Thing by Susanna Kearsley (Canadian author) was a great read.

Kate Murray is a Canadian journalist in England covering a trial of a serial killer. On a break waiting for a verdict, she sits on a bench near the Old Bailey court house.  She meets a man sitting next to her who says "I have story I could tell you an it has a murder in it as well. An old murder but deserving of justice". Andrew Deacon inquires after her grandmother, leaves her a card then walks away.  Minutes later he is dead, hit by a car.

Kate decides to stay in England after the trial and see if she can unravel the mystery which as presented itself.  After a bit, it seems this is related to her grandmother's mysterious war-time past and she tries to retrace Andrew's footsteps.

It is dangerous and the people involved are hard to find.  Her questions brings attention to issues buried deep and folks are not happy.