coloring books and postcards

Finally we got a little respite from the heat with some rain last night and mist off and on today. It is cooler, although somewhat muggy. So yeah, I get to do some creating inside today!
Last post, I mentioned making journals/coloring books for kids to sell at the local craft shop. They are a little hand written book for children with half finished pictures, prompts and a little crafting thrown in. The pictures and bits of info have a summertime theme along with a few tidbits about the local area. hey would be good for tourists or local children. I've put some in clear plastic bags and added colored pencils and crafting bits to work with.

 Once I finished that little project, I got back to some textile work today, doing some black thread sketching on two fabric postcards. Then I touched up the color with Neocolor II crayons and Inktense pencils. I will let them cure overnight, iron them to heat set them and add borders. Before adding borders to the daisy one, I will do some French knots. And, I will add some iridescent paint stick to the hummingbird. The borders will all the difference; they come alive when you add the right one.

 Oh darn, I can see the sun is trying to come out. I almost wish for another rainy day so I can stay inside. I know it doesn't sound good wishing for rain. We really did need it though and it's been too warm for me to get anything done. If it's sunny tomorrow, we'll probably golf, but not until later afternoon at least.

making a children's journal/coloring book

I did my lengths this morning at the spa salt water pool. The sunshine and blue skies made a sparkly  reflection into the pool through the two walls of windows.
I've been working on another little creative endeavor the last couple of days. I sketched out pages for a children's journal that I am making for the craft shop. Today, I set up a make shift light table made from the plexiglass sewing machine surround. I've been tracing over my writing and designs with a black pen, so that I can copy them. I will use a brightly colored card stock for the cover.

While I was out watering some of my plants (it is so hot and dry), I took a picture of this tea cup plant stake that my husband helped me make on the weekend. It is put together with bamboo, a large nut, and some outdoor clear caulking, very simple. I've only had the picture on my frig for a year! Now I want to make a couple more. I'll have to be more careful with the background next time; it is almost lost against the fence.

 Don't you love nasturtiums?

 And the colors in Swiss chard and beet leaves?

They are so common that we forget to really look sometimes. If I didn't like beet greens so much to eat, I might be tempted to add one to my bouquet of flowers.

quilts quilted, some painted daisies

This morning my machine quilter, Nicole, delivered my quilts to me all quilted. I chose to have a simple all over meandering design as it would save me half the price on the two quilts. I am very happy with them. I've had the top finished for this one for some time.

 The allover meandering gives it a nice puffy warm feel and I love the colors as it lays here on my bed. I've already chosen a binding fabric, so I may get to it sometime this week.

 Yesterday, I took my paints and brushes to the shop craft where I worked on painting the rest of the daisies and a hummingbird that I had printed a few weeks ago. After I touch up a few spots, the next step will be to sandwich and add stitching. There are three that measure 8" by 8" and one, a postcard size. I never do two exactly the same though.

 You can see in this detail that I have painted the back of leaves with fabric paint and pressed them onto the  gel printed piece. I like the textural design in the background green as well.

This hummingbird will be postcard size.

I'm linking to the Needle and Thread Network..

a chickadee playing in my fountain

I don't have much to show even though my quilts have been sent off to the quilter. The weather was too nice on the weekend to justify staying in to sew. Well, I would clarify that. It was quite lovely on Saturday, but much too hot and muggy for me. We visited a new market in Beresford on Saturday morning and walked at the beach. By afternoon, it was too hot and sticky for me to do anything really.
Yesterday proved to be a much nicer day with fresh air and a cooling breeze. My husband helped me get a little housework done and then we golfed later in the afternoon. While making lunch, this little fellow/lady (I don't know how to tell the sex of chickadees) arrived at my fountain. One comes everyday; I'm assuming it's the same one. Often, he bathes in the little bowls when the fountain is not running. This time as you may notice it was.

 He contemplated it for a while and finally jumped in.

As for sewing, I did manage to grab a few minutes to sew up the second pillowcase. Another, UFO done!

Now, i must pack up to go to Chal Baie to do my few volunteer hours. Have a great Monday!

A pillowcase

I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has projects tucked away in their closet for a few years. Right?
Well, after getting two quilts off to the machine quilter this morning, I asked myself what next. While looking for a suitable bag for my quilt tops, I noticed a kit for two pillowcases that I purchased some time ago. I'd even cut all the pieces to size! There it was, ready to go. And with our first camping trip in a couple of years coming up soon, it was good inspiration.
As usual, I didn't understand the directions until I actually was doing it, but it proved to be so easy! I'd seen friends putting them together before and thought they'd make a lovely gift. I hadn't paid attention though and didn't realize how neat a procedure it is. I'll finish the second one and then I'll be thinking about making some gifts.
Have a great weekend!

The World of Fairy

I've finally just finished putting the borders on my gift quilt. What a good feeling! Now I just need to give the seams a final press and it'll be ready to go out to the machine quilter and I can get back to some more creative endeavors.
Today, my mailman brought me this book sent to me by artist and writer, Ty Hulse, who must have found me on line. She asked if I would be interested in reading and doing a critique of the book. I couldn't say no.
Stay tuned for my thoughts on it once I've read it.

more daisies

You may have noticed I haven't been posting as often as I usually do. I have been working on a quilt which I'm almost finished. Yeah! But, I can't show to you, darn!
Also, it has been very hot and humid here which hinders me somewhat. My son and his girlfriend were home on the long weekend, so it was busy. I can show you the second slightly larger daisy piece that I finished. The black and white border makes me happy although I think the white with black on the smaller daisy postcard is really the prettiest. I'm quite excited to have sold the Daisy Postcard to a fellow blogger. Everything I do is for the love of creating; selling is a bonus. When it goes to someone you know will appreciate that's even better!

Rain is coming our way sometime to-night, so I went out this morning and picked some flowers and cut some rhubarb for freezing as well. Just that bit of movement had me in a sweat! The pink lily was given to me by a friend. I think it makes the arrangement. And just look at those unopened blooms!

While I was out there, I took a picture of my apple tree garden and the clematis that is just beginning to bloom.

I'm linking to the Needle and Thread Network.