The one that got away

On a recent alone-time thrifting session, I came across this cross-stitched captain.  I took a photo of it, and continued to look around the store. Lovely and enormously heavy, I didn't want to lug it around while looking for other stuff.

When I finished looking around the store, I came back to get it...and it was GONE!  Farewell my Captain, I hope we meet again.

Monster Plant Mystery

I've been neglecting my garden this year.  It's gotten a little wild.  Ok, a LOT wild - almost unruly.

A twenty or more meter-long vine has spread across my deck, 

up my umbrella stand...

across the back of the fence and up and over my neighbour's gate...

and down the side of my house in my neighbour's driveway!

Very prickly and bossy, with tiny twirling, whirling tentacles (that seem to grow before your very eyes) grab onto anything that is not moving.

Large, beautiful orange blossoms, that wither and die. While forming turn intothis yellowy-green vegetable.

Is it a zucchini?  squash?  gourd?

How did it get here?

How wonderful!

Parking Problems - SOLVED!

We had a problem at our house with people parking in front of our driveway, blocking is out and sometimes blocking us in.

We don't have a traditional "black" driveway, and I think that this was the problem.  People just didn't think that it was a driveway.  The driveway clearly had a dip in the sidewalk to allow a car to drive up, but this was not enough to keep people moving on to find a proper parking spot.

Over the years we have heard many many excuses and reasons why people parked there.

"there isn't a sign"

"I was only parking for a few minutes"

"you could have pushed my car out of the way"

Last week, my husband bought some upside down "parking yellow" spray paint.  We taped and papered off a stencil at the end of the driveway, and got spraying.

When we removed the paper, and saw our professional looking yellow warning line, we knew our problem was solved.  Later in the evening, the neighbours remarked that the city acted quickly in painting the line for us, and we nodded our heads and said yes. (he he he)

Cars driving slowly down the street looking for a place to park, see the bright yellow line and keep on moving.  It works!  Why didn't we do this years ago?

Little Stool Makeover

My Nana and Gramps gave me their bedroom furniture that they received for a wedding gift, many, many years ago.  There is a gentleman's chest and a ladies dressing table. I love the set, but I am really in love with the dressing table.  Ever since, I have been searching for the perfect seat to tuck under the table.

A couple of years ago, I found a stool sitting at the side of the road, just waiting for the garbage truck to come.  I couldn't resist, and although I did not take a photo, it was a little reminiscent of this lovely 70's - style cap, only in vinyl, and extremely ragged.  I grabbed  it up, and immediately stripped it of it's outer shell and stuffing and stored it in my basement  - a naked wooden box with legs.

A feather pillow that was very uncomfortable to lay my head on, was refashioned into a new cushion for the stool, and a "branded" fleece blanket that was found at the back of my linen cupboard was attached to make it soft and comfy.  Now it just needed a cover.

I was helping a friend clear out her sewing room, and was paid in fabric!!  Inspired by the beautiful blue shades, and mixing in a few of my own fabrics, I was able to piece together the scraps to make a slipcover.

Life gets in the way, and there the unfinished slipcover sat in my sewing room, waiting to be completed.
Every time that the inspiration struck me to complete it, I found my kitty curled up as comfy as could be on my stool.  The third time that this happened I gave her a nudge, and sent her on her way.

Here it is complete!  A slipcover that can be removed and washed when needed. 

 I made it a "fooler" type slipcover to look like it has a cushion.

Lovely Lupins

Three years ago, I planted a couple of lupin seeds in my garden.  Every year since, I have had a lovely plant with enormous green star-shaped leaves, but no flowers.

This was the year that the flowers arrived!

So beautiful.  Pinky-peachy with pale yellow new flowers. 

We had two weeks of beautiful sunny days, with everyday a promise of rain, that never came.

Until last Friday.  A P.A. Day (of course) the rain did not stop the entire day.  It was miserable.

My beautiful lupins.  Squashed, faded, bent over and mushed into the soil.

Easter Basket

Last year, just before Easter, I found this pattern in my old pattern stash.  It belonged to my Aunty Lynn, who made it for her daughter (my cousin) Sarah.  When was the last time you saw a pattern for $3.50?  1981, that's when.

 I cut out the pieces, and started creating this little basket, but my sewing machine was acting up, and refused to sew through all the layers.  Annoyed, and frustrated, I put all the pieces in a zip-lock bag and stored it away.  Flash forward one year, and I now have a new Japanese sewing machine that can sew through anything.  I decided to give it a try again.

I am so pleased with the results!  It was finished AFTER this year's egg hunt, but at least it DID get finished on the Easter weekend - right?

It went together so nicely, and the majority was done on the machine, with only finishing touches done by hand.  It took quite some time, but it was worth it.

Now, I think about the other things that can be made by using this weaving and quilting technique. Place mats, coasters, mats and rugs.  Nah...I've got too many other projects that are on the go.  Keep those ideas on the back-burner! (for now)

Sewing Room Organization

I inherited my Nana's sewing supplies, and although Nana is an organized, no-nonsense type of lady, this tub of needles drove me crazy, and I needed to get it sorted.

I had no idea just how many types of needles there are!

There are tons of tutorials out there in blogville for little needle holders. So I found my favourite, and I raided the fabric and button stash, and made these little cuties.

Now all the needles are organized, and I no longer get pricked every time I search for the perfect one. An added bonus, is I now have an empty container that I can fill up with something else.

 I made a fourth holder using my "current" favourite fabric.  This one is a little different, as it has a ribbon closure, and a little pocket inside for my needle guide.  This one I have an assortment of needles and pins for everyday use.

It feels so nice to be organized. (well, my needles at least!)

The Big 40!

My husband's 40th birthday was last weekend.  He didn't want a party, he didn't want any fuss, he didn't want any mention of it.  He's a bit like Don Draper was on his 40th.

I decided to make a birthday boy banner/bunting, and hang it in the dining room.

The theme: The old West

I dragged out my stash, decided on the right fabrics, and got to work.

CUTTING

UNTANGLING

IRONING

ADMIRING

Of course I got a little carried away, and made entirely too much bias.  I do love making it though.  It blows my mind that a 22" by 22" piece of fabric will produce nearly 19 feet of bias. 
I'll keep it in my cupboard for another project. 


I blew up a cowboy font on my printer, and made a pattern for the letters, and sewed all the triangles together with the bias.

In the real old west, the sunshine and dust and dirt would have weathered the birthday banner.  In real life the banner needed a little help from Exacto-knives, sandpaper, teabags and a lighter.

 This part was fun!

I made a badge that my husband was asked to wear when we went out for his birthday brunch.

He was a little embarrassed, but I think you've got to do some things out of your comfort zone in order to enjoy life.

Bed for Dudley

This is Dudley.  He is my mother-in-law's dog, and he is very much loved. Here he is, sitting poolside in Florida, sporting a kerchief that he got on his last visit to the groomers.

I have been collecting the kerchiefs for over one year, waiting for their chance to be refashioned.  After I had collected about 14 of them, they were washed and pressed, and cut up into 2 1/2 " squares.

I found a lovely green pillowcase from Value Village for $1.00 and made some bias tape.  I joined all the little squares together, quilted and attached it to the back of the pillowcase, and finished the edges with the bias tape.

Here you have it, a washable, up-cycled, colourful doggie bed.  

Doggie bed may not be the best description.  It is a pillowcase, that the dog's pillow fits into.  It can be washed whenever it is needed, and the pillow fits perfectly into his crate.

I had some squares remaining from this project, so I made Dudley a toy with a bell in it.  I used EVERY SINGLE square up, not one square remains!

It is waiting for him when he comes back from his holiday.