Busy, busy, gotta stay busy!

 Hello!

It's been a while since I bought myself new stamps, as I am phasing out of that to do more Quilting.  But I very happily offered to help a friend out with providing some cards for her business.  She sells Epicure.  I have NO food stamps except chocolate.  So I went to another friend, Wanda, that sells Stampin' Up!  and placed an order for these yummy stamps that I will use for quite a while.  

Though I am phasing out stamping, I have too many supplies to not keep making cards when asked, and for our own purposes.  And I still enjoy it!  

So here is my latest batch of playing with colour and style, just for you Trixi! 

Hugs!
Cindy

Happy Valentines Day!

 Hi!

It is so hard to keep happy these days....
Cold, locked in, worry, you name it!

But it's Valentines Day...

So Friday I went out and dropped off a little care packages to some girlfriends I've been missing.  Just a couple cookies and a card.  Sent one to my mom and sister too.

I've been hording these chalk sprays for a while too.  So, primed them up with water and went outside for a few minutes to do some graffiti on the snow....

Try to keep doing things!

Hugs!

Cindy

Foxy Fun

 Hello!

Keeping busy?  I'm trying to....

I took out a kit I bought last year at Joanne's, before the the border locked down and I could go shopping in the US.  I had a coupon, Quiltologie had a few cute designs and this Fox Frolic came home with me!  This fox kit spoke to me and it's been waiting patiently for me to assemble since then.

The fabrics are fun, and the instructions were pretty straight forward.  I assembled the top in a couple hours.  The next day I quilted it.  And the next night I attached the binding while watching tv.  

A nice new, bright artwork for gloomy winter days...

The final size is 17x19"

Keep safe and happy!

Cindy

Happy Creative New Year!

 Hello!

A little late, but happy New Year!  I hope 2021 is more creative and fulfilling for you!
I plan it to be for me!

To start off, I'll share some more cards I just created.  It's winter and snowing outside, so of course I'm making water and fish cards!!!  I miss swimming and being in the water, so I guess this is where my thoughts are.

I keep all sorts of things to make into cards, including empty tissue boxes.  I had saved a few that were water themed and today we made them into 12 cards!

So start with some cards using as much of the box to show off the patterns....

Then use a hexi punch to use as much of the leftovers as possible....

The Hexi punch and greeting are from Stampin' Up!

All adding a stamped image that I coloured in.  The Koi is from the US company About Art Accents and the Octopus is unknown, I got him in an image swap.  Both ate coloured with Smooch paints that are in little nail polish type bottles with a built in brush.  I love the shimmery effect of these paints.

So now I've got 12 more cards to sell or use for notes to friends.  Because we NEED to keep in touch!

Hugs All!

Cindy

Stich Along

 Hello All!

When Covid hit, I was needing something to distract myself, and a cousin has posted some Blackwork she was doing each week.  I had done cross stitch before, but not Blackwork.  I checked out Peppermint Purple { Blackwork Patterns & Cross Stitch Patterns – Peppermint Purple  }and found I quite liked her designs.  So I started the 2020 Stitch along.  This is where she publishes a pattern each week, and we add to our growing piece.  Many followed exactly the colours, many did their own colour choices.  Some adapted for one reason or other. I miscounted my cloth needed and so I missed out on the last couple months of this one.  She did give me permission to publish this.  So here it is!

This was a free weekly stitch along, and we needed to join her Facebook page to get the updates. 

 {  (20+) Peppermint Purple | Facebook } And she's doing another one in 2021!  Also free!  Such a generous lady, who lives in the UK, I just figured out!  A lot of her patterns are downloadable after purchase, so you are good to go.  Lots of encouragement from the other members too!  It is quite peaceful focusing on this once a week.  A little "ME" time.  

If you are curious, check her out!  Beginner friendly!!

Hugs and Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

 Hello!

Now that most of my cards have arrived, I can post this year's card.  

This year was not as bad as previous year's in the motivation department.

I happily worked on these and looked forward to sending them out, compared to the last few years of just giving up, or forcing myself to do so.  Winter blues, or SADS is common, and it hits me usually in late October, early November.  I have a light box I use each morning and oddly, this year's Covid restrictions motivated me!  

I wanted to make a little tea kit to share with some members of our Quilt Guild who were really feeling isolated, so I made some large mats or Mug Rugs as some say.  Combined with a tea packet, a treat and my card I went around to their houses to leave a surprise.  Some I had to notify ahead of time as they lived in apartments, but most I just left and ran.  Brought Kara with me and I finished feeling quite up!

In each card, I also usually include a letter with our updates of the year.  

This year I decided to share a poem I found on the internet....

I've since discovered the author is Shawna Hickling from Calgary, AB, Canada

Hugs to all!

And I wish you a healthy and happy 2021!

Jewels Into Hearts

 Hi!

Since we live in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario we have an international bridge to the US at our disposal.  Since March 17 though, it has been closed due to Covid-19.  Scrolling Pinterest, I saw a fun quilt with hearts that were English Paper Pieced.  I can do that!   

So I ordered the 1" jewel paper pieces and once they finally arrived, I stared making hearts. I decided to keep them in blues and teal, 1 for each day the bridge is closed.  I thought that it would make a nice wall hanging....

I believe that this will now be a quilt...

And I have started to pester my friends and family for 5" square pieces of blue fabric.  I want to make each heart a different fabric, and so I need help!  We are at day 262 and still counting!

Here's what I have so far...