Can't blog....moving

I suppose this is an appropriate photo for what's happening in my life at the moment. No, not a vacation (not that this would be my vacation luggage). I've been moving and it's been hell. I am excruciatingly exhausted and I want it to be over. So if any one wants to send me well wishes, they would be appreciated. I won't have computer access for a few days, and after that, all my spare time(ha!) will be setting up the new digs. Until then, blessings to all!

Gifts from Amanda

As I'm ripping open this colourful paper with anticipation, I'm thinking about how the seemingly cold hard computer has brought me together with someone in a very tangible way. There is nothing that can replace a package in the mail! Amanda sent me a whole wack of fun things:

Paper, candles, potpourri ball, a necklace, a beaded purse, stickers, chocolates... A very vintage recipe book, full of 70's images, called The New Joys of Jell-O. ( I love it, and I will use it!) But most importantly of all, she sent me a bag that she made by her own hand. I'm trying to conjure up images in my head of her at the sewing machine, or sitting on the couch with her little ones near and sewing on the buttons. (thus my close up) Thank you Amanda! And thank you Elizabeth for setting up the Vintage vixen Swap.

Mail!

I received my very first package from my very first gift exchange. How exciting is that? Pictures will have to wait, since I have a full day of work ahead of me. I hope it's a sunny weekend!

The Power of Edna

To continue with the red theme a little. This looks like old fabric, but it was a 'new' thrift store shirt. If it had been in my size, I would have been really happy. So, this is Edna's apron for Tie on One, but I want a picture, that shows the actual apron a little better. After my last post with Edna, I remembered the power of toys, and play. I remember as a child and I remember my own children at play. A stuffed animal is real, you become an author, you are free to explore and to discover things you may never have, if you did not play.

Treasure Hunting

I got these craft magazines the other day for 49 cents each, which was amazing, since this particular thrift store usually overprice most things. I still go on a regular basis, because it's a five minute walk from my place, which is pretty irresistible. The booklets range from 1953 to 1960 and they're full of funny advertisements, and articles titled 'Women Who Make Cents' and the 'Flower Forum'. I'm wondering if it would be wrong to, ahem, cut a few up to do collage, booklets etc. What do you think?

Edna

This is Edna. She has three sisters called Odelia, Marie and Cecilia, and all of them can wiggle their ears. Edna's lived with us a long time. She has a sketchy past, and spent a brief stint in a thrift store. I made this scarf for her the other morning, but she doesn't really like it. She doesn't think the colours are bold enough for her, even though I tried to convince her it would be a lovely Easter scarf. She was kind enough to sit for this photo, somewhat begrudgingly though. She's heard about the latest Tie on one theme and has convinced me to make her an apron, but wants to be able to pick out the fabric herself. She's really excited about this and says she wants to become a big part of my blog. I don't know what that means! She can't knit, she's never used a sewing machine in her life! As far as I know she just sits there looking pretty.

Birthday Presents

This beautiful green and blue mohair and the multi coloured yarn below, were birthday gifts from my daughter. There's more too, but I'll save that for another day. I like photographs of yarn for pure esthetic value, but if anyone wants, I will give the specifics.




This yarn has a little sparkle to it, but it didn't really show up in the photo.

A very good friend gave me this very large piece of vintage fabric. It feels so familiar and so totally me. I have enough to make curtains, which is probably what I will do, since I don't think I could bear to take a pair of scissors to it.


And this is from me. . . sock yarn of course.

A Road Trip to. . .

Finn Slough is one of the last tidal communities on the West Coast and is described as "a sleepy little backwater on the mighty Fraser river". The community is in the process of creating a living museum by restoring and maintaining various heritage features, preserving the natural habitat and protecting the Slough from urban encroachment.
In the 1880's the immigrant fishers from Finland were the first people to establish these homes. There were up to 70 households in the 1940's and 50's . Today 18 households remain.

Looking into the Slough. . .


and out towards the Fraser River.

A few of the homes. . .


It was a drizzly, overcast day when I got to see this community and the homes for the first time and I fell in love with it. Just a short walk to the north side of the Dyke, you can find huge, modern houses lacking in character and to me, soul.


In some cases, nature reclaiming. . .


I've wanted my blog to primarily focus on crafts, but because I find Finn Slough so unique I want to share my photographs as well. I hope those that see the beauty and creativity of Gee's Bend, it's inhabitants and their art, will relate to this. If you would like to learn more, I encourage you to visit their site.

I look forward to my next visit here.

For Vicci

Here's a little teaser, for my swap partner, Vicci. She likes red!

Alafoss Lopi Button Bag

Ah, to bring a little colour back to the blog. . . you see I really am a green person. This photo does the button bag justice because you can't see how I totally messed up the bottom of the bag where I increased. I don't know how many times I re-did it too! That's supposed to tell you something! If you have to re-knit, and it doesn't seem to be working, then you're reading the instructions incorrectly. Somehow I thought by going through the wash it would magically repair itself! But I do love this colour. . .

In The Archives

I recently found some funny little drawings I did oh, twenty some years ago. These are a few that I particularly like. My mom, (who is an artist) told me, if you're not sure about a drawing, put it away for a little while and once you have some distance you can re-evaluate it. I don't think she meant twenty years!

Anyway, I'm pleasantly surprised with myself, and I'm excited about getting back into it! Now I want to draw tea cups and sock monkeys, balls of yarn and little vintage toys. . .

Let me know what you think.

Real men don't knit, they crochet!

I've stalled on these socks. I'm not really thrilled with them, they're a little thick, (I don't think this was proper sock yarn) a little too bright, oh, just not quite right. I'll finish them up though, because I recently bought yarn for two more pair. . . And! . . . It was my birthday recently and boy, did I get spoiled! Yarn, more yarn and fabric! Pictures on the way soon!
Oh, by the way, see the bit of cream crochet blanket in there? Well, my sweet heart keeps asking if I've put any pictures of his crochet projects on the blog. We call this blanket the sleepy blanket (anyone who puts it on immediately falls asleep). It's huge, it took two kilos of Red Heart. That yarn comes from the endangered, wild acrilacks, which is why I think some people look down upon those who use it.

Girlfriends

I love this quilt I found in the March issue of Country Living magazine, which, by the way, focuses on woman entrepreneurs. The fabric is from Sis Boom, which I ran across a while back, but had forgotton about. Has any one else come across this fabric line, called Girlfriends? I think Amy Butler fans would like it.

Favorite Thrift Score

If you've read my previous post you'll know that I'm a participant in a swap.
One of the questions Elizabeth asked us, was, "What was your most favorite thrift score?" (and to add a picture, if we wanted to make her jealous) I thought this was a great question and should make the rounds in blog world. This was my answer.
Favorite thrift score? It wasn't a thrift score, but I found, in an alley, a beautiful, curvey, antique, wrought iron bed, all pieces included! I never thought of taking a picture of it, but now I will. Also, at the same place, got a steamer trunk, tin, wooden slats, good condition, original paper inside! I RAN home, got a dolly, prayed they would still be there. This was before cell phone days, well, for me anyway. The bed is in my daughters room.
When I was a teenager I used to go to thrift stores before anyone did. This one particular place, I would leave with a green garbage bag full, pure wool, cashmere, satin ball gowns, beaded sweaters, you name it, rhinestone jewelry coming out my ears. When you asked how much something was, some sweet little old lady would say, "Is 25 cents too much dear?" Yah, so you youngsters talk about thrift stores now-a-days, sheesh, I still have dreams, actual dreams of that place called Second Hand Rose.

Vintage

I've joined the vintage vixen swap hosted by Elizabeth at My own lil Space. I get a kick out of things like this.

I got the little tin recipe box the other day, alas, no recipes included. The tin pail was from my neighbor, and my daughter brought home the basket which is lined in lovely red gingham.

"Salty and Peppy" have been living on my stove for eons. I would never get tired of them, or the little love birds.

A little set up in front of a childs painting . . .

Gifted and thrifted materials

This is a little purse I made a little while ago, inspired by some of the Japanese, mixed fabric creations. I bought a tiny, turtle neck, knit vest, strictly for the colour, thinking I might make a little pillow or something. I was given the pink and brown fabric, and had enough of it to make a skirt (almost complete) and had a bit of scrap for this project. The closure is conveniently taken from a shirt with snaps. It's lined in that same fabric too. Cute.

My Cat

I've been so busy with work, I haven't really had creative time, oh, and temporarily losing my camera put a damper on things too. So I've barely had time to do my own thing, let alone find time to vacuum my cat! Seriously, he just sat there. That's his happy look.

Downsizing The Magazines

I've made it a habit to go through my old magazines and tear out pages that have something I like, to save on space. Since I'm moving into a smaller apartment in about a month this especially makes sense. Anyway, when I saw how great the Inspiration Collages that Cassi did over at belladia, she inspired me to dig into my stash. I will definitely do more of these . . . .




Thanks Cassi

Little Quilt

I pieced most of this little quilt, a long time ago, when my daughter was small. It may have been intended for her. The fabric was scrounged here and there, mostly from clothing. I was finally encouraged to finish this quilt because of my new found blogging hobby, so a big thank you goes out to all of you knitty, crafty bloggers.


The border fabric was purchased recently ( for apron fabric stash enhancement) and made it into the finished piece, and looks at home, I think. I really like this simple pattern, and I think I'll do a full sized version, in different colours, for my self. Despite it's obvious flaws, I'm happy with it, and it has taught me to be more patient when cutting and piecing.

Pink

We've had 27 consecutive days of rain, and guess what? We missed breaking the record by one measly day, and to top it off, we're back to a rainy forecast!

Well, to cheer me on, and any one else in the Pacific North West, here is a little ray of pink happiness. This is the third pair of socks I've knit. My second pair are in their new home, with out having been photographed first. These were also done for a very good friend of mine. They're Fleece Artist, and as you can see, I use four needles. I'm perfectly content (for now) with this method, in fact, I love it.

Since this is a pink post, I thought I would add a picture of this house that I stumbled upon the other day. (our one and only sunny day) Someone's not afraid of colour!