I have just finished my first week back at work, so I have done very little creative work. Last night after errands and a walk, I was musing about what project I might like to work on next. I was wandering around the house and thought it might be interesting to include some photos of some of my favorite things.
The first picture is of a corner of my living room- there is an antique chair form an aunt who passed away, an outdated lamp that was a wedding gift form my parents, a flip top table handcrafted by a neighbor of my grandmothers, and a painting that was given to me by my mother after my father died.
The 2nd is of a wicker shelf in my bathroom; it is my ode to white, I love the look, but I couldn't have it through the whole house; color just keeps creeping in!
The last picture is of a $3 flea market jewelery box that I painted and added knobs of beach glass.On top of that is a small collection of vintage brooches, and behind that is a poster done by my friend Nicole Boudreau.
This morning I was reminded that it is not good to get too attached to these material things when my husband plunked himself down on an antique fiddleback chair that is designated as 'look only' ( he had stubbed his toe so is forgiven), leaned back and snapped off the back. I've been trying to simplify by cleaning out and give things away, but some things are harder to let go of. I think it can be glued, but it did come at a funny time - right when I was musing about all these things!

Doodling around

Sometimes when I am too tired or too short on time, I will sit with my sketchbook and just doodle. Facing the blank white page is always difficult, but for some reason when I follow the advice from the zentangle website and draw a frame first , it is easier. I started with a 3 1/2 inch frame and the funny thing is that I actually drew this the other way round. I like it flipped the way it shows in the photo.
I will think about it for a while as I'm wondering if I could incorporate it somehow into a quilted hanging.

Summer over

Summer feels officially over for me now that i started back to work today. It was a busy day but a good day. I spent most of the day calling about 30 students to find out who is still attending. i will have 11 full time students start next Mon and another dozen or so on the waiting list. we are working on more space and another teacher as soon as possible.
It was an lovely warm day though which I appreciated when I went outside. I just got back from a 50 minute bike ride out Saint Anne way. I've also been considering what I feel like working on next quilting wise. On Sunday I put narrow borders around my fishing huts when it occurred to me that it might make a nice pillow, so before I cut the next border I might check out the rectangular forms fro the sizes. It's not the best picture- a little faded looking, but you can get the idea. What do you think?

Beautiful day!

It has been a perfect day! My husband vacuumed and cleaned the tent trailer this morning to get it ready to put away while I vacuumed in the house and hung out a load of clothes.
after lunch he went to play golf and I went for a walk on the NB trail where I took a few pictures and gathered a few wild flowers for my front porch. Even as summer breathes it's last breaths the flowers are still beautiful. I love some of the dried seed pods that are left behind.
My tomato plants are loaded this year; I must watch the weather for frost and get them covered at night.
I put a small chicken in the oven, and then I went outside to paint a couple of small leaves of Swiss Chard.
Tommorrow i go back to work. It is a short week and I have lots to do so I will be very busy.

Getting ready for work

I've been doing a few odd little jobs and groceries today. Also, we took my 98 Neon to Canadian Tire to get a new muffler. As it turns out, it passed the safety inspection and only needed a muffler, and since it had a lifetime warranty, it only cost the labor. I have decided to keep driving it until something major happens.
From the health food store, Patchouli, I picked up some orzo and I found the rice paper sheets to make the vegetable rolls that my friend Anne told me about. I have forgotten what she called them. They are very easy to make and delicious; I will be making them often for lunches. You soak the rice paper sheet for a few seconds, lay it flat anf=d fill with any fresh slivered vegetable. I made my own dip. Delicious!
We also went for a bike ride for just over an hour and it was a real workout due to the wind.
I am posting a picture of the leaf that I thread painted for the president's block at out guild. They would have all been passed in last week, so I think it's OK to post my picture even though the past president hasn't gotten it yet.

scrappy diamond pieced runner

As promised I am posting a photo of the hand pieced runner that I was working on while at the cottage. My friends will certainly recognize it as the one I started several years ago with the intention to use up small leftovers. I didn't think I was being too grandiose in thinking it might become a small lap quilt; however, it sat in the closet on the shelf while I completed other faster projects by machine. Now it's at least well on its way to becoming a table runner.

Away and home again

I thought I was done all my summer traveling before I start back to work next week, but I had an invite from a friend to come spend a couple of days and a night at her lovely camp on the river. It was very peaceful and relaxing. We did a little kayaking, some walking and even went for a bike ride, but it was all very leisurely; even our meals were easy, but good. The bed was comfy, and I slept with a cool breeze drifting through the window screens.
As for quilting, well there were no sewing machines to be heard, but we did do some handwork on the deck. I will post a picture of an old project that I worked on tomorrow. It has inspired me to get it finished.