Last Week

My good friend Shirley came for a visit, and we had a wonderful 5 days of catching up, painting, stitching, and a wee bit of shopping while out for lunch. Thanks Shirl!  It was so much fun!

On StitchMap, we had a challenge tute for a card holder, and this is what I made:

 I found a cute package in the mailbox .

Thread and goodies from Fox!
Thank you!


I've been tatting with the perle, but can't show any pics just yet.





It was so hot this past week, even the blue heron was trying to chill!
I took this pic on Thursday when it reached 39C!!

This was a blog giveaway from Angela   .







 Lucky me to win these fibers and goodies.

Thank you, Angela! I have a few projects in mind, and these fibers will be perfect!






I treated myself to a few new books to help with my CQing and knitting, and they finally arrived.  I'll be doing lots of reading.

Some garden pics


  ground-covering rose

pink and purple clematis

These ferns grow on the edge of the forest. I love the effect of mottled sunlight flickering across their surface.












My thoughts and prayers are with those families affected by the recent violence in Norway.


Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Postal Delight

Now that the postal strike is over, it's been wonderful to find packages in the mailbox.
Connie  had a wonderful giveaway, and I won!
But I was blown away when this large box appeared:                                       

wonderful materials in a variety of colors and fabrics, just perfect for CQing! And lace, too!
a wooden cigar box, beads, sequins, holographic green thread, a painted tin, a little frame

2 'Jiffy Stitchery' kits and a 'Wee Girlfriends' pattern

Plus this wonderful book: 'An Encyclopedia of Crazy Quilt Stitches and Motifs'  by Linda Causee. It's a wonderful resource for CQing stitchery.

What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you so much, Connie!

I've already used the book on several projects, and thinking of those lush fabrics and where I'll use them. I have a mug rug swap coming up. Hmmmm



And a few garden shots:

Hope your mail has lovely surprises in it!


Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

A Pillow Swap

I was in a little pillow swap on StitchMap. Here's what I made for my swap partner Sarah.
The theme was summer, and I wanted to use fabrics in the same colors Sarah has in her home.


On side one, a dragonfly,  lace sunflowers with a beaded outline, button centers and tatting sewn onto a 'beach' fabric. This side has a beige backing.

side two was created with layers of lilac fabric, two pieces of flowery fabric on top, and covered with a pale blue organza embellished with stitched flowers. I added ribbon, laces, buttons, beads, hand embroidery and a dyed lace heart. It feels light and feminine.

There's a blue 'MOP' button that came from a sweater my mother knit me when I was 10.

This pillow side is backed with a patterned beige fabric.

Sarah's name is stitched onto the pillow in the upper right. I wanted to join the the blue beaded seam treatment to the upper lace row, and the threads seem to softly echo the two shades of blue.

I made a felt pocket for holding a packet of tissues, or a little sachet in the pillow








                                                                       

 ribbon straps for hanging


the two sides of the pillow are hand-stitched together.






I sure hope Sarah likes her pillow! I tucked  a few little goodies into her pillow package.
Sarah's pillow was caught in the backlog of mail due to the postal strike, so I hope it finds its way to her soon.

My swap partner Amber sent me this pillow:

A cute waterlily on a lily pad!
 Isn't the crocheting lovely and lacy?





Thank you, Amber!







I hope your day has smiles in it.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Tuesday Tats July 5

Is it me, or is it the pattern?

I was tatting some edgings from the booklet " Embellishing with Edgings" by Handy Hands.
I began with Edging #13 in a purple varigated thread: Lizbeth #129
I t was curving. Hmm, not good for what's supposed to be a straight edging.




It wanted to be a square, instead.

      






So, I finished it that way, but it looked really dinky.

 




I added a little border and it now measures 2 1/4 ", just perfect for a little motif.

I tried another edging, #14.
Hmmm, it's curving, too.
I think it must be me. :-0
I suppose I'll just have to loosen up a little!

I finished off this little tat with some beads. Now to sew the backing and send it off in the mail!

Another tat for the mail.
Is that a bumble bee?














Hope you are having a sunny day. Here, it's already 27C, and it's not even noon. I'm off after a quick lunch to play canasta.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz
        

Inspiration Sunday July 3

 Just a few pics of my garden. Now that the sun has come out, there are blooms everywhere!


I am feeling a little under the weather, so no painting this week. The painting experiments will be on hold for the rest of the summer, but will return this fall.






Hope everyone who celebrated had a wonderful Canada Day.


Wishing those who celebrate a Happy 4th of July!