Little projects, a zippered bag, a small collage quilt, gardening, knitting

If I’m like most of you, the days tend to roll by in a blur. If it wasn’t that my husband is working from home, I’d rarely know the day. It’s a bit of a paradox; on the one hand, I can’t wait for this to be over and it seems far away. On the other, the days fly by. I guess it’s because I keep busy with projects. I pass hours here in my studio. I’ve been mildly surprised at all the unfinished projects I’ve found lurking in the drawers. I’m trying to hold myself to finishing up some things or at least using prints and painted fabrics that I’ve done.

This bag is made with some scrap bits form my Gelli prints box.

I chose a few more bits and cut out the pieces for another one. This time, I’m adding some at the top and bottom as well as the sides.

Today I started some of the free motion stitching on them. 

Sometimes they don’t look like much until I add the stitching, I’m using up my reject prints.

I finished stitching down all the parts of the 12” by 12” collage piece that I plan to donate to the SAQA auction in the fall. This was inspired by the collages I’ve been doing in my sketchbooks and done on a painted fabric pulled from drawer. There is some symbolism there. I discovered that I love  this vase shape right now. I always love flowers - they’re especially meaningful as we head toward summer and gardening. There’s some nostalgia in it represented by the paper copy of a postcard sent by my son and girlfriend from Paris after they graduated from university. I did not print it onto fabric, as my ink is empty. I used a paper copy from The scrap paper box and glued it down with matte medium. There are bits of lace from the lace drawer, pieces donated by friends clearing out theirs.

I’m auditioning fabric for the binding. Pretty sure it’ll be the one on the bottom left.

It’s a grey rainy day today which should help the snow melt.

Yesterday, we went for a little walk to gather some twigs along the trail. I’m attempting a small wattle fence for the back of my raised bed to hold some trailing plants, sweet peas or nasturtiums perhaps.

I have to gather about another 30 pieces to finish. When the raised bed completely thaws, I’ll be able to ouch the vertical parts further down.

I’ve got lots of little seedlings coming in my dining room by the sliding door. It’s still too cold at night to move them into my little portable greenhouse on the deck. Maybe another couple of weeks.

Ive been using scraps of sock yarns from my stash to make little socks for the boys. This is pair number three made with Knit Picks Stroll merino sock yarn.

And I’m still knitting the bunny although it’s nearly done. I’m almost up to the front paws. Can you make out the bunny? Made with sock yarn ends as well. Think of all the things I c Luke make without ever buying any more supplies of fabric or yarn!

Gussie is almost 5 weeks old and Ollie continues to want to spend time with him. Almost too much according to my daughter. Sometimes he doesn’t want to leave him alone to sleep. Ollie has said he misses his friends. I’m sure there must be some comfort in interacting with baby brother.

We were told last week that we could form a ‘bubble’ with a chosen family or person. As yet there is no travel out of province. It may happen eventually between New Brunswick And PEI where they live and we’re waiting for that. 

Things have eased a bit, our numbers are low here, no new cases in many days. We’ve gotten used to ordering our groceries for pick up and probably will for a while. Immune  compromised are encourage to continue to self isolate as much as possible and face masks are suggested too. I really need a haircut, lol but can’t see trusting to do that for a while. If I’m too warm in the summer I may resort to my husband clippers, lol.

My mother is doing quite well since my sister took her home. It’s a round the clock job with lots of lifting and personal care. We’re so lucky. With Alzheimer’s, she would have been lost in the home. My sister and her husband provide company and entertainment. She gets to sit in her wheelchair on the deck. She even enjoys some tv shows which she couldn’t at the home because she couldn’t operate the tv. She likes Funniest Hone Videos. My sister cooks lots and makes sure she eats even though her appetite is small. We can FaceTime some and maybe I’ll get to talk tether from a distance if we get to the island.