Sylvia's Simple Shots

The weather is warm and the magpies have been hanging around in the back alley.

I just love how the sun is highlighting the beautiful colors in their feathers.

Just enjoying the sun!

The Sea Gate by Jane Johnson was the book I finished this week.

Set in Cornwall, England and a WWII story comes to life.  Rebecca's mother has passed and as she cleans her flat she finds a letter. 

Olivia is her mother's elderly cousin who needs help to save her beloved home. As Olivia sits in hospital Rebecca starts to clean and unearths secrets.

There is tunnel in the basement which leads to the sea. Could it be that "goods" have been secreted in the basement?  In recent times there is an illegal cigarette operation. 

A historic corpse is found in the tunnel. Who is it?  When did he die?  Why did he die? How was the gate used during the war?  

Wonderful story and real page turner

The kitchen plumbing stacks were steamed this week.

The process is required to prevent sink back ups due to a build up of gunk in the drains.

It is frightening to see black water backing up in your sink and you wonder will it overflow and cause a mess and possible damage.

After the renovation I have just gone through I can tell you that was not in the least appealing.

It means having to be home and having a contractor in your kitchen for several hours.

A sparrow at Telford Lake. They were many and flitting around as they do.  They were singing and chatting among themselves.

I was checking out a condo building in the area for orientation and location.  It is so difficult sometimes to determine these things from a few photos on a MLS listing.

The magpies were enjoying the pool of water which accumulated at the corner of the loading dock.

After a long winter, it time for a bit of cleaning. They were dipping, swooning, and shaking off the drops and doing it again and again.

The sun was warm and it was lovely to watch them frolic for about 20 minutes.

 

Tree Scent Ornaments - Silver Plated Frames

 My tree scent ornaments sold well at the Christmas Store in the Allied Arts Council Gallery this year so I am starting to make more for next year.

I found 3 very cute silver plated cat frames while shopping at the thrift store with my niece this weekend.  The price was right so I took them home.

I decided to embroider small felties to put in them as the diffusers. I enjoy my slow stitching.

This one features a cat sitting in the sun with flowers growing in the garden.  The flowers mirror the potted flowers on the windowsill and the sun is warm and wonderful

A variety of greens for the garden in the beyond the window.

I mostly kept the pieces intact except the easel back which would not work for ornaments.

I added some fusible pelon to the back of the stitched work to hide the stitching and add some depth. I added a piece of white card stock to which I affixed the silver plated sticker.

I added a color coordinated 1/8" satin ribbon as a hanger which has been hand stitched to the embroidery piece itstelf.

I returned the glass for a spacer and allows the frame to be returned to that purpose if so desired.

The screws on the tabs needed to be tightened and I was done.

I created the night time scene with the full moon in the sky accompanied with silver stars stitched with silver metallic thread onto navy felt.

The moon is grey thread and the outline stitch.

I created a span of water below showing the reflection of the moon in it.  A few ripples in the water were added with a few grey stitches.

The cat is gazing out from its windowsill into the night.

I added a navy satin ribbon hanger and reassembled the layers into the frame and it was done.

I added a distant landscape outside the window with a beautiful warm sun.

The sky features a white cloud and a black bird.

The landscape is created with a variety of green threads with the outline stitch.  The are very closely stitched side by side to hide the blue felt sky.

The cat sits on the sill while enjoying the scene outside.

Slow Stitching 2025 - March - Week 1

K3N Cloth Tales Comfort Coverlet 2025 Slow Stitching project - March - Week 1.

This month I have chosen as my theme - "My Favorite Colors". Pink, Navy, Yellow and Turquoise. Pink for flowers, Turquoise for our blue skies, Yellow for Sunshine and Navy for jeans.

I picked some fabric from my stash and placed bands of these colors diagonally on my foundation piece. I sewed them on in a Quilt as You Go fashion. Starting in the center and moving out.

I left a 1" margin around the edge unattached. 

I invisible basted the colors layer to the cotton foundation piece along the outside border at about 1 inch.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

My niece was visiting for a couple of days.  

She it the ReUse Center before she arrived at my house.

We grabbed a bit of lunch then hit the thrift stores.

On the second day we took a walk at the St. Albert Botanic Park. I was expecting the paths to be cleared but they were not. It was very icy and not much fun. We took the street to come back to the car.

Then headed to Goodwill.

I decided that I wanted new mats for the front door.  This time maybe grey instead of navy considering the new grey floors.

I headed to IKEA and found some that would work.  I bought 3 which put 2 at the door and 1 cut in half for the shoes across next to the small bench.  Always great value.

We headed for my favorite Vietnamese restaurant Dang Good and we enjoyed our meal while we combed through some of our thrift haul.

Headed home to check out the rest of our goodies.

The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley was the book I finished this week.  

Nicola Marter has a gift. When she touches an object, she sometimes sees images, glimpses of those who have owned it before. She works for London dealer in Russian Art. 

Margaret Ross, the owner of a small wooden carving of a bird called the Firebird comes to have it appraised. It has been in her family for 300 years and claims that it was given to her ancestor by Empress Catherine of Russia.  She cannot prove it but Nicola sees its past.

Nicola meets up with Rob McMorran in Scotland who she has known for a while and loves. He has a similar gift so they decide to collaborate on the search for origin of this small wooden bird carving. They travel to Russia and by touching many things including walls they trace the object. Will it work out?

Another great read from this author.

We do love our Asian food.

We met my other sister in Sherwood Park to have Korean food for supper before my niece headed south.

We sorted out Tupperware orders and had a great visit.

Slow Stitching 2025 - Feb - Week 4

K3N Cloth Tales Comfort Coverlet 2025 Slow Stitching project - Week 4.

I visit several wetlands with my camera during the summer.  It seem appropriate to add this element to this piece.

I have birds, clouds and a sun in the sky. I have trees and water ripples in the center.

In the foreground I put a duck and cattails with water ripples.

Since this was the last week on this piece I added a fall leave and a winter snowflake on the right hand side.

I think I will be assembling my 12 piece together at the end with a backer fabric to hide all my stitching.

Next week we move on to March's piece.

Cards - Charity

Three more cards for IWin.

The designer paper is Stampin Up Painted Blooms. Nice watercolor design.

I chose SU Lucky Limeade A2 card base for this card.  I added a piece of DSP trimmed to leave a small border.

I adhered the glitter butterfly to 100lb card stock then cut the oval with the Creative Memories cutter.  I added a border of Thalo Blue watercolor pencil then brushed it with water brush.

I created a greeting accent with a Modern Label in blue and taped a Word Window greeting to it.  

I adhered the oval accent to the card front then added the greeting with 3D foam tape.

This card base is SU Summer Sun in the A2 size.

A layer of floral designer paper adhered to the card front.

I adhered the silver glitter butterfly sticker to a piece of vellum trimmed to leave a large border.

I added a Not Quite Navy card stock strip along the top attached with 3 silver brads. 

I added the round greeting in the top right hand corner with 3D foam tape.

On this card the A2 card base is Always Artichoke.

Trimmed another piece of designer paper to leave a small border.

I adhered the butterfly sticker to a piece of Regal Rose card stock then trimmed it with the CM oval cutter.

I added an Always Artichoke mini brad to the head of the butterfly.

The greeting is a combination of a Modern Label Punchie and a Wordl Window greeting.

Cards - Charity - Glitter Butterflies

I came across glitter butterfly stickers at the thrift store and decided that they would make great cards for IWin.

There was a variety to sizes so the smaller ones would be just right for A2 cards.

I chose Stampin Up Painted Blooms designer paper. I chose 4 colors of card base - Wild Wasabi, Regal Rose, Island Indigo and Blackberry Bliss.

For this card I pressed my butterfly onto a piece of Not Quite Navy card stock then cut the oval with my Creative Memories cutters.

I added an innie outie bow in Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, and a Modern Label punchie greeting in pink.

This card features a large butterfly stuck to a white 110lb card stock. 

I chose a Regal Rose A2 card base and I added squiggles around the outer edge of the card and the oval. 

The butterfly was cut the same process as described above.

A Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon in an innie outie bow with a tiny white brad in the center.

A SU Word Window punchie greeting mounted with 3D foam tape. 

The A2 card base for this card is Stampin Up Blackberry Bliss.  

I cut a piece of the same designer paper paying attention to the color of the flowers so I had some purple ones showing.

I cut the butterfly the same way on Not Quite Navy card stock.  I added stitching around the edge with a white pigment marker.

I added a purple mini brad on the head of the butterfly to repeat the color.

The oval was mounted with 3D tape and the SU Small Oval punchie greeting as well.

It's hard to say if I like the white or colored bases for the butterflies best.

Here it was white based again cut the same way. The CM cutters are wonderful because you can see your layer and then choose from 3 different widths of borders.

Another layer of Painted Blooms DSP.

A stitched border created with a pencil crayon was a great match.

I added a piece Island Indigo satin ribbon on the butterfly oval and a layered Modern Label punchie with a Word Window for the greeting.

Each card has a white quarter sheet insert.

Cards - Charity - Glitter Butterflies

I made a quick watercolor of a fisherman for a guy that is celebrating a big birthday - 80.  It was a surprise party with about 30 people.  

He was out fishing that morning so that the preparations could take place without him knowing.

They caught no fish but arrived back on time on a story his friend created as to why they needed to be back.

I recycled a piece of watercolor paper with boring color and painted this little scene.

In this case the fisherman had no fish.

I adhered it to a Bravo Burgundy A2 card base and placed a white insert on the inside.

The party was a wonderful success. The work was shared by many so it was light and manageable.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 

Q is for Quarry by Sue Grafton.

Kinsey is moving into her new office.

Kinsey is approached by Lt. Con Dolan to work to clear an old case where he and Detective Stacey Oliphant found a young girl in a quarry outside Lompoc. It would give Stacey some peace in his last days.

Stacey helps out where and when his health permits.  

Turns out it was a love triangle where a woman killed another to ensure stability with the man.  Twenty years later she kills again to keep her secret.

It is always to spend time with Kinsey.

Cards - Charity Set 2

I chose a SU Cherry Cobbler card base in A2 size.  I trimmed a piece of designer paper in kraft with white polka dots and adhered to the card front.

I added a couple pieces of SU designer paper in chevron pattern in red to the the card front.  

I stuck the wood butterfly to the SU Artisan Label Punchie with a Zot and then it to the card front with 3D foam tape. 

I adhered the SU Small Oval punchie greeting to the horizontal piece of designer paper.

The chevron paper is from a Stampin Up designer paper pack.

I wrapped a piece of red and copper metallic ribbon around the top and then taped the layer to the A2 card front.

I created an accent with a red SU Decorative Label punchie topped with a SU Small Oval greeting punchie and the wood butterfly.

A Zot holds the butterfly and double sided tape for the rest.

Each card has a quarter sheet white insert.

The dark brown card base is topped with a gold polka dot on kraft card stock.

I added a kraft and gold ribbon along the left hand side. The brown SU Artisan Label punchie is topped with a wood butterfly held in place with a Zot.

The SU Small oval punche greeting is placed in the bottom right hand corner.

This brown card base again topped with the gold polka dot card stock.

This time I used the SU Decorative Label punch and topped it with the SU Small Oval punchie greeting.

The wood butterfly in the top left hand corner stuck with a Zot.

These will get to my sister who has the contact for this card donation.

Cards - Charity

I set out this morning to make cards for IWin which is a charity which helps vulnerable women.  When they finish their program they get a card in their backpack to remind them that someone is thinking of them.

Each card needs a Thinking of you greeting and a butterfly.

I found a bag of wooden butterflies at the thrift shop the other day and brought them home.

I have been at a disadvantage to making cards for this project because of my home situation.  Back home and feeling like crafting again.  Not all is unpacked but I move forward.

I chose this designer paper with flowers printed in green. I trimmed it to leave a small border and adhered it to the front of a A2 card in SU Summer Sun.

I punched a Stampin Up Artisan punchie in Always Artichoke and adhered the butterfly with a Zot. I placed the short length of SU chevron ribbon under it and followed the pattern to trim it.  I added the greeting in the bottom right hand with a shadow of a green oval punchie.

For this yellow card base I trimmed a piece of floral designer paper to leave a small border. Wrapped the red ribbon along the bottom edge and taped the ends to the back.  It was adhered to the card front with DS tape. 

I added the yellow SU Decorative Label punchie, topped with the SU Small Oval greeting then topped with the wood butterfly accent held in place with a Zot.

Love the bright colors in this card.

Carrying on with the green floral designer paper I added it to an SU Always Artichoke card base.

I added a card stock strip on the left hand side and adhered with double sided tape.

I made the wood butterfly and the SU Small Oval greeting punchie touch and attached with a Zot and tape.

This card features a water colored piece of the green floral designer paper.  It was not very thick so I had to be really careful with the amount of water. I adhered it to the card front.

I combined the wood butterfly and the greeting in the bottom right hand corner.  

A Zot for the butterfly and DS tape for the SU Small Oval greeting punchie.

Slow Stitching 2025 - Feb - Week 3

Slow stitching with K3N Cloth Tales Comfort Coverlet 2025.  February week 3. 

I continued my composition of subjects that I photograph.  

The top curlicue got some spring blossoms with tiny leaves, a song bird in blue ( I don't often see blue birds but the color made me happy) and a woodland mushroom.  Again, the ones I photograph are generally in the brown tones.

The shapes I just mostly hand draw to get them into the spaces that they need to occupy.

I am happy with my progress. 

Slow Stitching 2025 - Feb - Week 2

 K3N Cloth Tales - Slow Stitching 2025 - Comfort Coverlet. February 2025 - Week 2

I added curlicues around the edge in several colors. 

Then, I added the flowers and insects - bee, butterfly and ladybug to the left hand side.

I created a flower with long stitches then added some weaving at the center of the petals.  Several yellow French Knots for the center of the flower.  I used the end of the curliecue for the flower stem and added a large leaf at the top for the ladybug to sit on. 

There will be 3 more compositions to come to fill in the space on this square.

Puzzle Board - A good thing

This is the way my dining room table looks like most of the time.

I always have a tablecloth.

Here I have yellow placemats and the flowers my friend gave me 2 weeks ago is still looking good.  The lilies faded in a week but the mums are still bright.

There lurks a secret under there.

I bought a piece of hardboard which I had cut to the size of the top of the table.

I sanded the edges smooth.

Now it sits on top of a the secret lying under there.

Of course, when the table cloth is on one is the wiser.

There's a puzzle under the hardboard!

I just don't have enough space to dedicate a horizontal surface to just puzzle making.

I started puzzle making while I was away from home in temporary accommodation with little of my other crafting things at hand.

I understand it is good activity for my brain so I had to find a solution.

The hardboard was less than $20 so a project that did not break the bank.

The hardboard sits near the table while it is off the puzzle. This works great.

The box of extra pieces will be stored under the end table near my chair when the puzzle is covered.

I am really happy with this idea. 

Thank You Cards and Gifts - Renovation

I managed to get my small gifts and thank you cards for folks who were involved with the renovation project at my house that started back in September and finished up a couple of weeks ago.

I am still unpacking and will be for the next few weeks.  

I had some great people working and helping during this stressful time of my life and I wanted to let them know how much I appreciated it.

I was up early this morning in my kitchen and I made some caramel popcorn.  I did not get the opportunity to do that this Christmas as I was living in temporary accommodations.  

I check off the things I needed.

1. Recipe
2. Margarine
3. Nuts
4. Popcorn
5. Corn Syrup
6. Brown Sugar
7. Stainless Steel sauce pan
8. Large yellow bowls
9. Popcorn maker and Ultra21
10. Measuring Cups
11. Stirring spoon
12. Brown Sugar

Where's the brown sugar.  After checking my packing list most of my food Tupperware had not been unpacked.  After unloading 3 boxes I found the brown sugar.  I am good to go.

I made 3 bags of caramel popcorn and 6 cards.

It was great to be back in my kitchen doing what I have done for years at Christmas time.  Well, this year there was a 6 week delay but I enjoyed do it.  I expect the recipients will enjoy the popcorn.

Next the thank you cards. 

I decided to use watercolor paper I made a long while ago with a clear embossed black greetings.

The greeting is printed on vellum then heat embossed with clear powder.

I downloaded some free graphics from online.

The card stock is coordinated with the piece of watercolor paper then the vellum is trimmed and held in place with brads

The card stock is Pear Pizzaz in the A2 size.

The card stock is Brilliant Blue with the watercolor paper trimmed to leave a small border.

The greeting is cut to 3.5 inches square and aligned along the right hand side.  Held in place with pink mini brads.

The cards are for the tradesmen that worked on the project, the managers that were involved, the staff at the temporary accommodation, and my insurance agent.

The gifts were delivered and were graciously received.

The card stock is Stampin Up Island Indigo.

The greeting is placed along the bottom edge to soften the pink in the watercolor paper.

Held in place with silver tiny brads.

The card stock is SU Soft Suede.

The greeting was just designed with fonts on my computer.

Ripped the top and bottom edge of the vellum.

Held in place with brown mini brads.

The card stock is SU True Thyme.

The greeting was aligned with the bottom edge and held in place with tiny black brads.

The card stock is SU Elegant Eggplant.

The greeting was aligned with the top edge and held in place with deep purple mini brads. 

Slow Stitching 2025 - Feb - Week 1

This is my February piece for K3N Cloth Tales - Slow Stitching Comfort Coverlet 2025.

I chose my photography as the subject for this piece.

I have 2 layers - a top layer of light grey 100% cotton on a foundation of 50-50 cotton poly.

I placed a frame of running stitch about 1 inch from the edge. Using light grey 2 strands of floss. 

I drew a top down view of a camera in the top right hand corner stitched in black with accents of grey and champagne.

I will be adding subjects I photograph throughout the year.

Sylvia' s Simple Shots

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss was read this week. My brother-in-law lent me this book as he thought I would enjoy it. 

This is the second book in the The Kingkiller Chronicle Trilogy.

The story is set in a fictional continent Temerant. The hero is the renowned Kvothe: an unequaled sword fighter, magician, and musician, rumored to have killed a king—earning the title Kingkiller. We learn about his early childhood where is loved, nurtured and educated by his parents and wise ones. When he is eleven he returns from the woods to find his parents and the full troupe killed by the evil Chandrian.  He survives on the streets. He is inspired to join the University to gain access to historical texts which may lead him to the Chandrian. He hones his magical skills, explores the subterranean areas below, makes friends and enemies.

During his time at the University he earns money playing his lute at the inn the town. He earns financial support based on his achievements. Denna, a musician, attracts his attention but she moves around a lot so a pursuit commences.  An excellent read.

I am so glad to be home! I have been away for 8 weeks while the asbestos was abated, the kitchen cupboards were rebuilt, the bathroom vanity was replaced and a bunch of painting and floor laying has been accomplished.

Things regular use and maintenance to operate properly. 

I got home to find the shower spewing water where it should not be.   I had to have a bath the first day, not my favorite.

I headed to the Home Depot where the fellows have gotten to know me pretty well.  This time I found the right washer and some Teflon tape to seal the connection.

Added the washer, wrapped tape on the threads and screwed the shower head back on to supply pipe.

Ah! The shower is back in operation.

I take showers all the time.  

A bath for me is when I have sore muscles and they need a soak to feel better.  I likely have 1-3 baths a year.

After making puzzles in my temporary accommodations I asked my self where I would have space to keep an unfinished puzzle.

My sister suggested a puzzle board on the dining room table.  A good idea.

I headed back to my favorite DIY - Home Depot and bought a piece of hard board cut at the store to be the exact size of the table top.

Generally, I keep a table cloth on the table so the board and puzzle can hide under there with no problem.

We had a party!

One of my sister's celebrate a big 0 birthday and invited family and friends to celebrate with her.

It was a great time to visit with extended family.

The food was great and company wonderful.  I was fortunate that one sister brought me and another sister brought me home.

I am grateful for the supper as I face getting my place back to a place where I can live again.

Things which were hastily packed will need to be unpacked and reorganized.