Enter, But Beware!

This sign is going up soon on the Sewing Room door.  

Can you tell I'm expecting non-sewing visitors?

What to do in PEI when it's cool?

Well, our little week-long vacation with Aurora is over.    We prepared to visit with my sister and her family in PEI for a few days.   As you know, we made Aurora's Mermaid outfit before heading to PEI.  With the left over bits, we made a doll outfit.  She helped.   

Mermaids, posing..

These are some of the things we did in PEI
She loves a pool.   While the weather was cool, the pool was heated.
The trick is to stay under the water to stay warm!
She was soon joined by friends and had a great time.  

Of course, no trip to PEI is complete
without a trip to the Cows Store.

Uncle Terry brought kites.   In PEI, there
is wide open spaces to fly a kite.  That's her little
cousin in the green shirt.  Chasing the kite tail.. So fun for Kids.

At the Boardwalk, there's bouncy
It was 4 minutes of Awesomeness that
Aurora won't ever forget.  She loved it.
She said next time, She'll do flips.

Well, the weather was cool in PEI this year, but that doesn't stop kids from having fun.   

Beautiful PEI, we will be back.  

Are Mermaids Real?

"Are mermaids real Aurora? "  That's what I asked her since I had never seen one.  " Of course they are real Grammie.  I've seen one at the lake".     

The talk today was all about mermaids because we made Aurora a mermaid outfit.     She helped me by measuring and pinning.    

  

Now that's a big tail.   Aurora is helping
to put pins in both sides of the tail.
I will do the stitching.

After a couple of fittings, here she is.
Mermaid Aurora with her new tail and top.  

You know, mermaids have a unique set of problems.    This mermaid has to lift her tail to her knees, and then walk like a penguin to get anywhere.   That's why mermaids prefer to swim.   Way easier!!!    

Basketry 101

Yes, I made a basket.   You know, it's not just anywhere you can learn to make a basket.   I took an EdVentures class yesterday.  With permission of the instructor,  I took some pictures as we went along.

After marking measured marks on the reed, we started by
weaving to the right size.  

This is Lisa F.  She was the awesome instructor.

Next we added finer reeds to lock in our shape.

Now it's time to turn the sides up.  

It's getting exciting now that we see the shape.

Weaving 7 more rows give it some color.

A

This was the hardest part.  Turning in the ends.

Lisa had special tips tools to help turn in the darn ends in.
Worked great!!

Another of Lisa's tips to hold the rim.  Zipties.
Wonderful.

Voila, my beautiful basket.  It's small - maybe 5 inches by 8 inches.
Perfect for quilting notions.

With the beginner class behind me, I'm  up to do this
Market Basket class when there is enough for a class.
It's beautiful. 

Do you have a Feathered Friend?

When participants of my free-motion classes finish up, they always tell me what they really want to do next.   You won't be surprised when I say they want to do Feathers.   After giving it some thought, I've decided that as a follow-up class to my Quilting on a Grid free-motion class, I will be offering a Feathers, Swirls and More class.   

This morning, I stitched up a feather sample piece that will be used in the class.    I'm kind of excited. See, I'll be delivering my first class is this Thursday to a small group of friends who will help critique the class and offer constructive advice on timing etc.      

I'm anxious to call them my fine "Feathered Friends". 

Gardens and Flowers

The warm weather is really nice.   I've been getting out really early for my walks.    We have been up to our necks in home maintenance.  We stripped the deck both at home and at the cottage and applied water seal.   That sounds so easy, but it's a blistering job.   Sore hands and knees from all the scrubbing.   Today, we're painting our deck.  Coat 1 done.  Tomorrow it's coat number 2.     

Our little vegetable garden is doing well.  We have lots of the tender green lettuce. Mescalin Mix...  I have some to give away if you want some.  Just let me know and I'll pick you some or come for a visit and you can pick your own.   We are anxiously awaiting the yellow and green beans.    We have lots of tomatoes growing on our patio.    I have a secret garden of blackberries that are going to be ready to pick in a week or two.    Looks like a bumper crop coming.   

For our daughter's wedding last year, we did some new landscaping, and we our new cone flowers are budding and blooming like crazy.   Love them.  

AA toZzz Borders

I'm pleased with the progress of the borders.  (Once I set my mind to it.)  I've got a good start on them.  They're on my ironing board, waiting for me when I get home from our trip.

I just love the bottom border.   The Sheep are jut sweet.

Happy Canada Day!

While I'm in Iceland for Canada Day, I hope my sister is camping somewhere with her Canada Day Quilt.   Won't she be the popular one!   

Happy Canada Day!