Ready to tie the knot


Tying up the last things before I leave on my big adventure!


Its kinda nice to be ahead of the game than galloping behind it!


 The daffodils for the apricot forest  and the tiny blue bulbs for the blue island garden are all in the ground.  The saskatoon bush is the backdrop and my frost hardy monkshood is just starting to bloom.  The tubs will remind me to make two small water features and lime green plants/shrubs will compliment all the blue stuff. The well will get a small house for my old pump as a disguise.  Snow is falling as I type so I'm glad that is done.  It was a bonus that since we have gotten the bulk of the rain; the snow has inundated the city!



The 2 days of clement weather allowed for getting the plank for the kitchen sanded down and sealed.


Then the quilt was quilted and bound.
 
  I decided to not get cute with the back so it is just two chunks.  The more I thought about the age of this project the more nervous I came about cranberry red and light fabrics!  hmm  So on a trip to buy euros I stopped to inquire about colour catchers. NOT available in Canada.  good grief!  But the lovely shop owner gave me a sheet from her stash with instructions .  Good thing.

The first wash was pretty red and the second was still catching colour.  I hope the dryer set any leftovers.

And of course because she was so nice I bought some things.  A pattern:
I got a good start on my cross body messenger bag and then I remembered my grey leather purse I got for some style challenge and it meets all the safety requirements for thwarting pick pockets.  I continued to make it but when I attached the flap's metallic clasp on the wrong side I ran out of forward motion.  I have figured how to hide the boo boo but that really light handle is now bugging me.  Irritating because the strap needed 44 inches of fabric.  Should I cut my only yard or piece a couple of fat quarters?  Looks like I should have pieced the darker fat quarter.  vbsigh.  I shall think about that when I return!


My travel capsule is evolving as I check weather forecasts and luggage space.


Which brings me to my Paris journal.  Way too much fun as it has grown explosively.  But I am liking it.  When DD (dear daughter) arrived we discussed the tentative plan for the weeks events so I could do some kind of sequential order for the signatures..

 Then I sewed the signatures to a piece of fabric which I would glue to the covers.  Half way through I thought, ah, the signatures are supposed to be sewn then all are compressed and lined up and glued to that fabric.  Oh, well!  Creativity is all about problem solving.

 The covers fit pretty well so I made a cardboard spine and joined everything together.  A nice piece of fabric hides a multitude of messes.  But paging through I see some wide gaps between the individual signatures.  Another creative opportunity!

Some were restitched.  Some were disguised with ribbon.  One was joined to make a lovely pocket!  Its all good!

A few supplies to throw in a baggie and I'll be good to go.  I shall show of the journal in more detail when I return.

Until then, Ca, va tres bien, et toi!

Comments

Post a Comment

I am happy to reply to comments.

Popular posts from this blog

Whats done, is almost done!

Image
Sort of. Because February and looks like March are spring cleaning/house decor months, I wanted to wrap up all the Paris odds and ends. The blocks for the Paris lap quilt are finally done.   Then I waited for my design wall to arrive. Oh, I was so happy to set it up.  3 panels of notched styrofoam 2' x 8'.  Perfect!  Of course I had to make another 10 of the four patch blocks.  But I think it is looking good.  But I have loads of spare blocks.  I don't really want it bigger so maybe some for the backing and some for my traveling companion!  I hate when this happens but I really thought I had the math figured this time!  grrrr Same time the panels arrived hubby also came home with my box for my journal.  ooh, bright red and kinda big???  I can get creative and I do have stuff that didn't fit in the journal.  I gessoed, painted, and crackled. In between listening to my dear supervisor plan the spring cleaning, and YES, I am eternally thankful for
Read more

Harvesting the Last of Summer

Image
Summer is sending leaves drifting down to carpet the grass.  Dustings of frost now dull the colours.  All too soon  the coverings will be deeper and whiter as the drifts reshape the landscape. But I am getting ahead of myself.  Three cheers for the hope of a long and glorious fall!  I DO hope! The trees are changing colour and dropping their leaves.  This is the mixed trees at the back edge of the property which has only made it a future to-do list.  Interesting though as it has spruce, pines, lilacs, carraganas and some amur maples among  others in it.  We have been working on the poison ivy and clearing out deadfall in the woodlot at the front edge of the property.  Now doesn't that sound better than 'the bush'! The garden has been harvested except for some of the root crops and as the soup list fills then that too will be ready for tilling.  That grape is in a low spot and shall be moved.  My Man now 'gets' that relocating plants and shrubs is part of gardening. 
Read more

There is always something...

Image
                                                       I am happy with the layout of my playroom.  The traffic patterns work.  I have the supplies in their corresponding areas.   The new book confirms I am doing things right.   There is a section on keeping track of UFOs and Wips that I can try. But... I am incredibly cramped in my morning journal corner.  I don't mind working in a small area but not when I have to put my journal on top of my 'other' journal it is too cramped.   So.... I am happy to back to working on this desk which I had used before I changed everything.  I had to sacrifice a book case because of the depth but downsizing is good!  I also gained a second narrow shelf and a light.  I switched the small portable table with the desk. This makes more sense as it is my handwork corner and isn't usually busy.  It opens up the design wall more and if I need that portable table for a workshop/retreat it won't take half a day to clear the stuff off!  🙋
Read more