Sylvia's Simple Shots

 

The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry

The book follows Towner Whitney (whose real name is Sophya), an unreliable narrator who returns to Salem, Massachusetts, after her eccentric Great-Aunt Eva goes missing. Towner must confront the tragic death of her twin sister and her family's dark history of using lace patterns to predict the future.

Towner struggles with memories of her late twin sister, Lyndley, while reconnecting with her estranged mother, May, who runs a shelter for abused women on a nearby island. 

As Detective John Rafferty investigates the disappearance of a local pregnant teen alongside Eva's case, he frequently butts heads with Towner’s subjective and contradictory account of events. Through flashbacks, dreams, and shifting perspectives, Towner uncovers dark family secrets, confronts the truth about her past, and ultimately works to protect herself and others from Cal's violent machinations.

Interesting book.

Watercolor Sympathy card

Today is the Celebration of Life for my brother-in-law who passed away July 20th. He struggled with health issues for the last few years and his body just gave up.

This card is for my sister on this difficult day.

The card base is SUSummer Starfruit in the A2 size with portrait orientation.

I trimmed the edge to leave a small border and ripped the bottom edge leaving the white edge showing.

I chose a blue strip of cardstock to coordinate.  

I cut a dove with my Sizzix Dove die from textured white cardstock. I painted it with pearl and the blue strip as well.  Adhered both to top part of the card.

I added a SU Modern Label punchie greeting in bottom right hand side.

Thank You Cards - Finally Set 2

The card base is SU Taken with Teal in the A2 size in portrait orientation.

Trimmed the rough edges off this piece and ripped the bottom edge.

I saw flowers in the salt marks in this piece so I took my fine black marker and drew them in.

Added stems and leaves reaching to the bottom of the paper with additional grassy strokes.

It pays to save bits of ephemera.  The green yarn came in really handy.

The A2 card base is SU Pumpkin Pie with a watecolor panel marked with saran wrap on wet color and left to dry.

I punched 4 holes with the 1/8 inch punch. Two on the right and 2 on the left.  I taped the end of the green yarn found in the stash and was able string it through the holes and knot both ends.

I added a SU Artisan Label punchie colored with pencils and held on the yarn with a orange clip.

With the yarn still on my table I used in this card.

I trimmed the waterolor to crisp straight edges.

I layed a strip of double sided tape to the back of the watercolor piece.  Layed my pieces of green yarn then added another piece of ds tape and adhered it to the SU Dusty Durango card base.

Once adhered, I picked apart the strands of the yarn to create this wavy row of goodness.

I added an 2 inch oval punchie greeting below the yarn frill.

The A2 card base is SU Island Indigo.

I added a piece of SU ribbon in So Saffron and flagged the bottom end.  Trimmed the top edge to the top of the card.

I mounted the piece of rough edge watercolor panel over the ribbon aligned along the top.

Each card has a white quarter sheet insert with a white envelope.

Thank You Cards - Finally!

I finally have most of my craft room set up so I could get some cards made. With seeing family tomorrow I pushed through to get quite a few done.

I created watercolor abstract art on a sheet of 12x18 inch Strathmore Cold Press 140lb paper.  I added salt in some areas.  I ripped my masking tape which held down my edges which gave wonderful irregular edges to my watercolor art.  Great idea. 

Left: SU Pear Pizazz green card stock in A2 size because I know where those envelopes are.

I ripped the bottom edge and added a sequin star in the top right hand corner with half of the one piece of 3D foam tape I could find.

Still stuff to unpack.

I chose blues - Prussian Blue, Ultramarine, and Turquoise along with some Sap Green and Cadmiium Yellow Hue.

Of course not all pieces have the same colors.

The card base is SU Night of Navy with a landscape orientation.  The right hand side ripped with an oval punchie greeting overlapping the ripped edge.

The A2 card base is SU Bermuda Bay.

I ripped the top edge of the watercolor and aligned the right hand edge to the card edge.

I chose to create a flower with watercolor and metallic watercolor around the dot of color left by a grain of coarse salt.

I added a line of pearl watercolor along the top and mounted a greeting over it.

Greeting is SU Modern Label punchie with a Word Window greeting.

Slow Stitching - August 2025 - Week 2

Comfort Coverlet 2025 - August - Week 2.  Project hosted by Kathryn at K3N Cloth Tales.

My theme for August is Friends. I die cut seven stars to represent some of my friends. I chose colors which I associate with them.

I continue to stitch down the stars to my foundation layer.  I have used running stitch, French Knots, blanket stitch and representations of stars designed by me.

I am thinking of what the stitching will be on the background.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 

The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields ( A Canadian Author)

I chose the book because it was Canadian.  I read the book which was hard to follow at times. 

The Stone Diaries follows the life of a fairly ordinary Canadian woman from birth through to her death as an octogenarian. The sections are called things like ‘childhood’, ‘marriage’, ‘motherhood’ and so on. Daisy falls in love (not necessarily with the man she marries); she has friends, acquaintances, colleagues. Her one brush with the something that threatens to be extraordinary is becoming a popular gardening columnist, but she doesn’t truly become a celebrity. She has children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It is an ordinary life, well-lived.

A fictional autobiography. Interesting idea. 

I remember googling about the pages in the middle of the book with photos, names and dates to find out that they are not accurate representations of the book. Pictures are family and some taken from museums.  A bit off putting I have to say.

The Healing Garden movie is a heartwarming, faith-based drama directed by Joseph Granda. 

It follows Eddie, a grieving former military chaplain, and Hope, a young girl from a broken home, who plant a miraculous, prayer-filled garden that ends up transforming their entire community.

Slow Stitching - August 2025 - Week 1

My theme for August is Friends.  I am following K3N Cloth Tales Comfort Covertlet project.  

I die cut a star for each friend in colors that I associate with each of them.

I used 2 strands of embroidery floss and the blanket stitch to attach the stars to my background fabric or foundation layer. I chose the threa according to the colors in the fabric.

Some fabrics have metallic accents

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 

The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve

In March 1873, two Norwegian-born women who lived on the desolate Smuttynose Island, one of the Isles of Shoals off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire, were brutally murdered. Maren Hontvedt, a sister of one of the victims, survived by hiding in a sea cave until dawn. The murdered women were her older sister Karen Christensen and Anethe Christensen, their sister-in-law. A man named Louis Wagner was tried and hanged for their murders, mostly on circumstantial evidence. His conviction has been argued about, as some people think he could not have done it.

More than a century later, Jean Janes, a magazine photographer working on a photo essay about the murders, returns to the Isles with her husband Thomas and five-year-old daughter. Thomas is an award-winning poet who has been struggling with alcoholism and not writing much. Hoping to have a small vacation, they travel on a boat skippered by Thomas' brother Rich, who has brought along his girlfriend Adaline.

Jean becomes immersed in the details of the 19th-century murders after discovering a purported memoir of Maren in the library. Gradually, tensions increase among the group on the sloop, with unspoken emotions surfacing. Jean begins to suspect an affair between Thomas and Adaline.

The novel is split into two parts: the present day, told from Jean's point of view and in the present tense; and 1873, told in first person from Maren's point of view, her "memoir".

My aunt and I attended the reception for this show at the Red Brick Common Art Gallery. 

The art was created by a variety of artists whom were in attendance.

Jani Galarneau is always a joy to talk to and view her art. Marcel Thibodeau as well was very interesting to talk with as a fellow up cycler.

Miss Potter movie with Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor.

I am a fan of the Beatrix Potter books and characters.

Watching this movie was a delightful time and distraction from settling into a new place.

Slow Stitching - July 2025 - Week 5

With most of my social groups represented and an extra week in July I decided to add seed stitching to the background of this piece.

I used white floss so it only adds texture with not much visual presence to this piece.

It was a lot of work but slow stitching is always so enjoyable.

I have done this month's piece in advance because of the move with took place recently.

It adds some substance to the piece as well.

Upon reflection there a Flickr photography community that I have forgotten to include in this piece.

It has been a valuable experience to remind myself of these wonderful communities.

World Embroidery Day - Fabric Collage

World Embroidery Day 2025 is July 29th.

Only found out yesterday when Sarah Homfray mentioned it.

I decided to make a piece slow stitch art.

I chose blue and green fabrics on a foundartion layer with a bit of batting/wadding.

I practiced a few stitches I have not done for a while.  I moved recently and unpacking has been the priority.

I am happy with the piece and I am not sure how I will use but that is not the point.

It was a nice slow day.

 

Slow Stitching - July 2025 - Week 4

I continue with my social group themed stitching piece as part of the Comfort Coverlet hosted by Kathryn at K3N Cloth Tales. 

I have added a few more groups. I belonged to a card making group on line for many years. There were challenges and exchange groups. I made cards and mailed them away every month for years.

I belong to a sewing group at church before the pandemic and has been reborn after. I belong to the slow stitching community through my participation with K3N's projects on You Tube.

I belong to an art group. I participate in art shows, regular meetings and social events.  Those have been curtailed due to moving but I look forward to getting back into it later this summer.

Slow Stitching - July 2025 - Week 3

I have belonged to bible study groups as a participant and a leader.

I was a leader in women's ministries at church for many years. This lead to organizing events, contributing at meetings, offering creative and practical help to create community for women.

I attended night school for many years and full time studies for a year where I met new people every year and made friends.

I organized a women's group which met in our homes to create community and support for women. It was called Welcome to my Kitchen.  It was a wonderful time. The pandemic put it on hold and it has not returned in that form.I loved it.

Slow Stitching - July 2025 - Week 2

I continued with my social groups on this piece.

This week I have added stitching the represent the neighbours I lived near over the years.  Some I have known well and others just enough to say Hi in passing.

I have taught many classes over the years - card making, paper making, and a few others. I have taken art classes.

I have belonged to several worshiping communities over the years. Some were places to connect on Sunday, others become places I made wonderful friends and I participated in activities at different levels. 

I remember many Tupperware parties, Stampin Up parties, and Pampered Chef parties and a few jewellery parties which all great fun. I just thought of these now so they are not represented in the stitching.

It has been fun to recall the group and then come up with an icon which will remind me of those folks I hung around with at that time.

Slow Stitching - July 2025 - Week 1

My theme for the slow stitching piece for July is Social Groups. It represents the groups to which I have belonged over the years that created community for me. I participated wholeheartedly, contributed to the vibe of the group, and enjoyed those folks who shared the journey with me. Following K3NCloth Tales.

I chose a piece of white on white printed fabric and dyed it with Rangers Distress stains in various colors. I let it dry then rinsed it out to leave the mottled pattern you see.

Being on the volleyball team in high school was a big deal for me. Going on the bus for away games, have my favorite snack (Coffee Crisp), and a uniform which meant I belonged.

I was also in the church choir and I remember practicing from September to be ready for the Christmas concert.

I belonged to calligraphy group for many years. Attending monthly meetings, sitting on committees, taking classes, giving classes, and having social events at Christmas and in the summer. 

Slow Stitching - June 2025 - Week 4

Homes is the theme for my June slow stitching project. Following Kathryn at K3NClothTales.  

I had to wrap up this piece week. I continued the mountains in the westerly province.

I have added the houses I have lived in the easterly province.

We lived with my grandfather for a while in a hamlet.  We had a house across from the church a block or so from grandpa. Then we moved to another hamlet several miles away within walking distance of the school.

In the big city with the river running through it, I have lived in 8 different homes. They have included a room in a house, a mobile home, a few walk up apartments to a high rise apartment. I have owned a couple and rented others.

I created shapes from felt which I appliqued in the circle. The shapes and colors are based on names that will remind of these places. 

I will add the new one later this summer.

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.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

 

I did not finish this book with the week that I am having with renovations at the new place.

Saving Fish from Drowning by Amy Tan.

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.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

This is the first time I found Foxglove in the neighborhood.

There were quite a few in a side flower bed.

I found this lovely light purple color and bright pink ones as well. 

I am so lucky to have neighbors who are flower growing.

The Cliff House by RaeAnne Thayne is a book I finished this week.

Daisy an Beatriz Davenport lived with their aunt Stella in Cape Sanctuary after their parents passed away.  She has provided a good home for them with all they needed.

Beatriz pushed the boundaries, got in trouble, married and had a baby way too young. Daisy was quiet, sensible, rational, and financially prudent.

They still live near each other.  Bea with her daughter Marisol. Daisy had married and her husband passed away after a few years and she was left his house overlooking the ocean.

The ex-husband returns with the man who saved his life and they each cause ripples in the these girls' loves.  Stella is surprise to find a man she gave up when the girls came to live with her has returned to Cape Sanctuary.   Most of the story lines were good. 

It was an exciting day on Wednesday June 4 2025 because I took possession of my new to me home.

I worked with a great agent who was with all the way through hoops and loops but we got there.

I have a lot to get done before I can move in.

Oh yeah, the Stanley Cup Final starts today as well.  

I know its going on but I don't have time for it. 

 

We will see what the final outcome is.

There were a few things I found left behind that were interesting.

Mirror tiles still stuck to the walls.  Many things were left on the walls when removed left a gluey mess.

A baseball, a guitar pick and even a 100 hundred dollar bill was found when the carpet was removed.

There was a lot in this place so I am not surprise not all of it left with the tenants.

There was not so great stuff left behind as well.

There was food in every corner of the kitchen.  

Most surfaces had oil, greasy spots, and evidence of cooking left behind.

The drip pans in the stove were just replaced rather than trying to clean them.  The clean up when I lifted the top of the stove was liquid, crusty, and totally disgusting.

Every inch of this place will need to be cleaned.

The possession date had been pushed back two days to allow for cleaning. I am not sure what was cleaned.

I am grateful the plumbing for the sinks was done.

I had the door rekeyed as well as the mail box key replaced.

Just a safety thing to ensure no one has keys laying around for my place.

I only received one FOB for the building so I had to purchase another.

Mark was nice enough to deliver one to me.

Great job.

This product was recommended by my sister to clean the not so clean tub.

Scrubbing Bubbles worked so well.

It is taking a lot of elbow grease and my right arm is very sore.

Lots of cleaning cloths, paper towels and cleaners.

The kitchen cupboards came out great after having a layer of oil and grease removed.

The laundry room had a layer of liquid laundry soap in the corner I scrapped off with a 9 in 1 tool.

I was very disappointed when I could not find a way to turn the shower on to rinse the tub after its first go round of cleaning.

After getting in touch with the inspector Colin he explained that it was a ring on the spout that diverted the water to the shower.

Who knew?  Certainly not me.

I tried it the next day after the second scrubbing session on the tub.

Success! Thanks Sarah and Colin.

I took all the baseboards off around that disgusting carpet.  

That was the preparations for the carpets to be gone.

The carpets are gone!

The adhesive and the gunk is also gone.

The crew of Joey and Mario did a great job.

On to painting before the crew comes back to install the vinyl floor.

The 2 man crew of Ben and Andre arrived early Saturday morning and we got to work.

I was just able to keep ahead of them to get all the glue off the walls where stuff had been stuck to the walls.  The grease stains on the walls from who knows what.

They will be back next week to finish up.

I am a hurting and exhausted person.  

Sunday is a day of rest so I can continue next week.

The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline was a book I finished before the insanity of this week started on Wednesday.

Vivian Daly, an Irish immigrant lived in New York in 1929.  Within less than a year of arriving there was a fire in their building and most of the family was lost. 

Vivian finds herself on a train heading west to find a new home.  She has several. Some where she is abused and some where the adoptive parents were loving and supportive.

Molly Ayer is 17 years old who has been in trouble with the law. She is assigned community service as a consequence.  She comes to help Vivian now and elderly widow go through the keepsakes and stuff in the attic.

They learn from each other and come to be family in a way. Great read!

Slow Stitching - June 2025 - Week 1

My Homes is the theme for my June slow stitching piece in the K3N Cloth Tales 2025 Comfort Coverlet project.

I have lived in a few homes in my life with a new on in the very near future.  Those have been in two provinces of Canada.

I drew the 2 provinces in outline on my 12x12 inch piece of cotton with a foundation layer of thin fabric. 

I invisible basted these layers together about 1 inch from the edge. This serves as a reminder to keep my art within that space.

I found a map online I could use for reference and drew the shapes by hand.

I chose two strands of a dark grey embroidery floss and the outline stitch. I went all the way around the provinces and added the islands on the west coast.

The big lakes are done in blue.

Looking forward to another month.