Spring and summer 2014 have been a time of extremes. Emotions have run the gambit – from high to low. Happy times mingled with sad, joy with sadness. It was a time of renewal and of letting go. Since April I have said goodbye to a much loved younger brother who left us suddenly without warning. A warm and caring man, highly regarded by family, friends and neighbours; his death has left a hole in many lives. The shock and sadness left me...

Finally finished!  A quilt for a special little three year old!  This is the second quilt I have finished in the last month, both single bed size.  I’m temporarily quilted out and looking forward to a visit from my son later in the week so it’s clean-up time but I’m sure I’ll be back at it shortly! Once again I’m ‘stash busting’.  This time I worked with a family of colours in the pinks, mauves and...

  OK!  I’m still here! I really meant to get back to my blog/web site sooner!  Is it really two  months since the last post? It’s been mostly good stuff and creative time.  Thinking back, it was the re-occurrence of a back problem that forced me to take a break in the beginning.  Long hours at the computer entering data for this web site and winter inactivity probably were factors.  Then, I had some really intense creative...

  I’ve carried on a tradition that my Mother began with her first grandchild, my oldest son.  Each year at Christmas she would search for or make a Christmas tree ornament for each grandchild. If I remember correctly, McKenzie’s first ornament was an ‘Arizona Cactus’ purchased while preparing for Christmas in Phoenix AZ that year.  In 2011, while in Osoyoos, BC prior to Christmas 2011, I spotted this tiny bear who...

  Somewhere on my art journey, I acquired a large plastic bin of tartan and wool skirts.  A few were added from my personal collection over the years and I was/am challenged to figure out what to do with them – all that beautiful woolen fabric! I think that the bin probably dates back to my rug hooking days – they make beautiful variegated fabric when over dyed!  Although I still have one mat/rug in the UFO bin, designed to...

This was a series of machine embroidery picture mats that I used along with a collection of small  recycled picture frames for quick family Christmas exchange items. Many, but not all, have Christmas themes and therefore, I’m sure, get packed away each year.  It gave me a great opportunity to use my sewing machine’s embroidery capacity – a feature that I don’t use enough!   A quick check through family photos provided me...

  This was a really fun project!  I’ve always thought I would do some more of these 3-D fabric sculptures – but make my own patterns. This one was based on a pattern in a Quilting Arts magazine, possibly their Christmas special I think.  I have a friend who is very fond of her cuppa tea and so it was made especially for her.  The funny thing is, after giving it to her, I never saw it again!  In spite of many shared afternoon...