All Done!

After many months, Aunt Bert's Daisy Garden is complete and off the frame. It is a large mat (26 x 50 inches) and I will be doing a whipped cord finish. Although I used Cara's inspiration, I did add some elements of my own.

It is a mixed media piece with wool yarns, roving, wool strips, and I used metallic ribbon around the dragonfly.

I really like Cara's (of The Grumpy Goat Gallery)whimsical approach to art and I hope I have done her original piece justice.

Before and After!

Maddy is a broken coated Jack Russell and if you have ever seen a box of small Milkbones, there is a little Jack Russell on it that looks like her twin. We still have some snow on the ground, but there is a change in the air and the birds are much more vocal, so it is time for our first spring time job, Maddy's haircut; and here is the big reveal....tah dah

Wowwww! Where did Maddy go???

My Weekend Fun

Maddy, here, telling you blogging pals of my mama of my great weekend. My friend, Dozer, visited for the weekend and although, he is 4 times my weight, I gave chase when he dared touch my binkie, Blue. I almost had him but by that time, we both needed a rest.

Chasing the Sun

No robins yet but sunny days and very cold nights are typical of our North Atlantic spring.

Signs of Spring?

Only in my dreams. It has been extremely cold these past few days but at least, no snow for the moment. The only signs of spring are the dragonflies on my mat. I used a metallic rope in a shimmering purple to outline the dragonfly and then, filled in with a lovely mixed yarn.

Dog Gone It!

Well, here is Alice's completed mat, Abby, her brother's Labrador. This picture doesn't do it justice and the shaping in the black coat is much more visible than what is showing. Unfortunately, blogger doesn't support my old browser and today, I had to update to Google Chrome and the new look in the blog. Here is hoping that it works better than it used to.

Adding Dimension!

I took a creative stitching course sometime ago and I learned a nice technique to add dimension to elements in rug hooking.

I decided to rehook the daisy and add a 3D effect.

First you outline the area using wool yarn and work the next row(loop) higher and each subsequent row, higher than the last.

Once you have finished filling it with loops, it should look something like this depending on the shape of your element.

Take a small, sharp pair of scissors and cut each loop. Yes, cut each loop apart and trust me, it doesn't fall apart.

Then, you can use fingers to fluff up the yarn. Once your wool yarn is fluffy, you can shape the element with scissors. And there you have it.

Next?!

Aunt Bertie's Daisy Garden has been on the Cheticamp frame for sometime. Now and then, I work on it but mostly, it just stares back at me, almost asking, when I am next?

It is a very large mat and with so many shades of green, I have struggled with it.

Maddy Complete!

Besides talking about the weather, my internet was down for two days, two very, very long days. I never realized how dependent I have become on it. I couldn't send emails, I couldn't listen to Coast to Coast on internet radio, I couldn't watch Netflix, I felt disconnected.

After two calls to Bell Aliant, I am re-connected and feeling better. In the meantime, I did complete Maddy's little mat. It looks just like she does before her spring haircut, little lion dog, mane and all.

Now, working on Aunt Bertie's Daisy Garden, while watching Netflix. How do you spell, relief?

Frozen!

Coast Guard Ship cutting a channel in the Bay of Islands February 3.

Snow Squall February 5


You know it's mid winter in Western Newfoundland when the ice covers the Bay of Islands and the Coast Guard is out, cutting a channel for the ships.

While the rest of Canada enjoyed reduced snowfall this year, we had ours early and it's already deep. But February can be our worse month and one year, I counted 26 days in a row where it snowed at least 5 cm every day.

The good news is 2012 seems different and although, we have had a couple of days of flurries, it has been calm. The light seems brighter and the air warmer, can it be that we are at the end?

Of course, you never know in Newfoundland as the weather can turn dirty in a blink of an eye.

Inspired!

After a lengthy debate with myself and much researching on the internet, I got myself an ereader. As you can see, it is a Sony PRS and I made the decision about Sony over Kindle and Kobo because of its versatility in downloading ebooks in various formats.

I must say, I am enjoying it and there are so many books available and I can even access public libraries. I used to read so much when I was young, using a flashlight under the covers but over the years, I have dropped off in my reading. My ereader sure beats balancing a flashlight on my shoulder in the middle of the night!

On the rug hooking front, I am almost finished Maddy's mat, and will post a picture upon its completion.

Inspiration is defined as "breathing in the spirit" and part of being inspired, is finding joy in new things!

Winter's Beauty!

I took the camera out with me today as I walked around the yard, looking at winter's beauty. It was still and quiet but for the cries of ravens in the snowy trees.

Cookie Monster!

Maddy is our little Cookie Monster, so it was very appropriate to surround her with cookies! I did the snow in two yarns at the same time; one is pure white and fluffy and the other, an icy blue, and less fluffy.

Maddy's name is done in a beautiful sari ribbon which I bought at Deanne's store last summer. There is sparkle in the ribbon and quite lovely sheen to it.

On the weather front, we are laden with snow at the moment and more coming tonight. But nothing better than the stillness and quiet which comes with snow and enjoying the comforts of home.

Happy New Year!

New is the year, new are the hopes and the aspirations,
New is the resolution, new are the spirits and..
Forever my warm wishes are for you
Have a promising and fulfilling New Year
Here is a wish that the coming year is a glorious
One that rewards all your future endeavors with success..
Wishing my heartfelt and prosperous blessings
To you and yours.

May your world
be filled with warmth,
joy and good cheer...


Happy New Year!!

If Only??

I finished Maddy and now, onto the snow surrounding her. I was reading Deanne's post this morning about ideas and it reminded me of an idea I had last night while hooking some of the snow background.

I thought that once I am finished Maddy's mat, I would design another one for each of the other dogs I have had; Babe and Bonnie, the Dobermans, Heidi and Pepper, the Schnauzers, and finally, Pee Wee along with Maddy for the Jack Russells.

Once finished, I could join the six mats into one large mat. Now, that seems to be a great idea!

If only??

Payback Time!

Well, maybe it's over. Now, that we have Christmas and Boxing Day sales out of the way, it's onto the "lifestyle resolutions" treadmill.

Now that we have stuffed overselves with food and drink, maxed out the Visa cards, it's on to the television ads berating us for our overindulgence and pity for the starving children around the world. It's payback time!

Merry Christmas to All

Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends. Thanks so much for visiting and also for sharing your own lives with me.

Blessings to everyone!

Happy Tipp's Eve!

In Newfoundland, the day before Christmas Eve is known by Tibb's Eve, Tipp's Eve or Tipsy Eve. No one is really certain of it's exact origin but I do know that it is only in Newfoundland that this term is used.

It is thought that Tipsy Eve originated by the old custom of the men in the outports going from house to house on the 23rd of December to taste each other's home brew. Thus, becoming 'tipsy' by the end of the 23rd.

Happy Tibb's Eve to all but please walk from house to house and leave the car at home!

Dog Gone It!

This is Alice's progress to date on our animal themed rug hooking project. I think her choice of her brother's Labrador Retriever, Abby, was a bold choice as there is a high degree of difficulty. After all, black is black but how to show the shine of Abby's coat and the play of light.

The progress on my project has not progressed as far but plodding along, when I can.

Seems All Too Soon!

The older I get, winter seems to come all too soon and buries my garden with her cold, white arms.