On the slopes

I finally was feeling well enough to get away for a day of skiing yesterday. Today turned out to be the better day weather wise, but one can never be sure, and we were ready to go yesterday. There were snow squalls at Amqui for most of the day, so there was about 6 inches of fresh snow. This would be heavenly for some- my husband, for example- for me though, it's difficult. It was lovely to get out though. I was struck but the irony of this sign on one of the trails. It says Paradise in French.
Oh my aching joints! It kept me awake off and on in the night and I awoke early. I was too stubborn to take anything for my pain. The good side of it was that I had more time to relax and do some sewing.
Around noon I went to visit a quilting friend where I cut the pieces for a pillow I've wanted to make ever since i got the little charm pack that I ordered from Malka Dubrawsky before Christmas. then I was so excited that I came home and out one of the blocks together. They're about 5 inches square and I will do four for the pillow.

http://stitchindye.blogspot.com/


As if that wasn't enough- amazing what a little pain will do for you- I even went to my drawing table and made a piece of paper cloth following the directions of Kelly Perkins in her book Stitch Alchemy. I bought that before Christmas too and just haven't had the time to try it. It needs to dry now and later I will add some paint color to it. Supper is calling to me. I just took a pork tenderloin in a chutney sauce from the oven along with baked potatoes.

Postage stamps

I fell off the creative bandwagon to-night. Sometimes in the winter after work, I just feel the need for something mindless, and that's when I pull out something like my box of 1 1/2 inch squares. I save these from scraps left form each quilt that I have made. They will eventually be a quilt. I have several squares done with star borders which I will provide pics for another time.

Elephant got up

Yesterday was the turn around day for me. Finally after 1 month the elephant got up and left. At least that's what it felt like; I had forgotten what it was like to feel normal. Last night I went back to yoga and to-night we went for a walk on the woods trail behind the school with our headlamps. There is something so magical about a winter's night in the woods. After the walk, I had my soak, put on the soundtrack from the Hobbit which I haven't listened to in a long time, and I cut my sewing machine cover to size and sewed the top to the front. I still have to make it a little smaller, I think and quilt the back panel.
Also, I'm including a little sketchy watercolor I tried of the blue jay using the Inktense pencils that I just bought. I didn't take a very good picture I can see.

Blue skies and crispy air

What a beautiful winter day it is out there today, even though the temperature has dropped somewhat from earlier this week. Our outdoor thermostat says -8.5c right now, but the skies are blue for a change. I'm finally feeling like I'm starting to surface form my stupor; I got out for a short walk in the woods yesterday and a 40 min walk today. It was slow going, but oh so nice to get out!
This morning I got this picture of a blue jay at our heated birdbath which is right outside my kitchen window. I love the color.
Though I was home sick for a couple days this week, I didn't do much more than read and knit which really is what I was supposed to be doing after all. Yesterday, I put in a little time on the sewing machine cover that I started last weekend. I've quilted the front, and what you can see in the picture below also has the section that will run across the top and down the sides. It is the section at the top of the photo with the garland of folky flowers. It will probably take me another weekend or so to finish, especially if I get back enough energy to go downhill skiing some weekend. It's not a race though is it? I keep reminding myself to work at my own pace. It is the process I enjoy- that's why I do it. I may do a little more today but maybe not. I want to do some yoga, and I may take some time after dinner to-night to play some Wii with my husband.

Paint splotches

I barely got in 2 days of work this week and the doctor put me off for a couple days. I really was happy to be back, but I just can't seem to get this bug out of my system. Anyway I've spent the last couple of days really trying to rest, so what I did was to curl up on the sofa with some copies I had made on cheap copy paper of a 'paint splotch' for a challenge on the Art from the Heart ring that I belong to.
Here is what I came up with by drawing with a black pen and adding colored pencil.I used it as an opportunity to try some drawings from a book called How to Draw and Paint Fairyland by Linda Ravenscroft. I'm thinking it would be fun to do some and mono print them onto fabric. I could then using stitching and embellishing to bring out my 'found' picture. It's kind of like looking for shapes in the clouds.

Storm day

There's something I love about a stormy day. The house feels so cozy, and of course I can't go anywhere, so I have to spend the day playing inside! I often get the urge to make bread which I did as you can see below. It's an old recipe for porridge molasses bread that I changed just slightly by adding some mixed grains along with the oatmeal as well some whole wheat bread. We'll be having some for supper with molasses on it to go with stuffed sweet potatoes.
For some time now I've been wanting to make a quilted cover for my sewing machine; I woke up thinking about it at about 5 am this morning. I made tea, grabbed my pen and notebook (kept on my night table) and sketched out my idea. What you see here will be the front. It's just a start. I've written down the measurements, though, so I could do up a pattern.
Last night while lsitening to the music on my I Pod, I started hand stitching the snowflakes to my little scene. I still have a few more to add before i sandwich it to quilt.

Quiet day

I spent today relaxing and just being quiet. I made tea when I first woke up and read in bed for awhile. After a simple breakfast of fruit and yogurt salad and eggs, I put my little tree and my ornaments away.
I was anxious to get outside since we've been away and I also haven't felt up to much. My husband G. and I went snowshoeing at a slow pace for about an hour. It was just the right temperature; I always where a mask with mesh over my mouth for my breathing. It was so peaceful; I really needed it. Nature is my spiritual place.
This nest was near the trail.I love the stillness here.
This afternoon I finally spent some time in my studio to work on this wall hanging. I added the moon and the tree on the right. You can see the pins holding some Angelina fibers around the moon as I haven't decided if I'll add them or not.