Marching Out

March is ending, and, hopefully, taking the last of the snow with it!
I'm ready for spring.

 Mr. Cardinal was sitting in the magnolia tree in the front yard.

I think he's looking for spring, too.

a sure sign that spring is on the way is this little chipmunk, out looking for seeds

These goldfinch are starting to turn yellow

Still, it was really cold last week, so I brought home a wee bit of colour to cheer up the house

Mr. Milkers came to visit for a week. The snow was still pretty deep then.

look at that chin spot and those tear-drop eyes! What a cutie!

















A wee bit of stitching was done on the Wedding Piece this week, with a few additions:

2 woven picot leaves, a cast-on stitch rose, and a bud.......more to add.......



On the wrapping cloth piece #12, I added a beaded center to a fancy picot flower. The base is a wrapped ring with rows of buttonhole lace 

 

bullions bridge the design of this lace

this giant bullion is 185 wraps!
Soon it will have a few more friends......

the progress so far

I need to create more wrapping cloth pieces

It was time to actually use my Kumihimo kit.

The large braid on the left was made with the kit material using 8 strands.


The braid on the right used 8 strands of size 20 crochet cotton. I've been playing with patterns.

 Tatted bunnies and cabbage edging is a seasonal tat with Easter next Monday. I used size 20 crochet cotton, so this feels quite bulky. Bunny 1 on the left has a major error with the neck join.

Next I'll tat the bunnies, with a longer chain between them, using a finer thread.

Two more gelli painted fabrics join the queue awaiting some hand stitching.

My art room has been re-organized. It's a small bedroom. (~9x11) Here's how it looks now..........( well, before I did the painting!)

north wall

east wall

This work table is a very old one with a porcelain top- once probably used for rolling out pastry, but now it's great for cleaning up spilled paint!

west wall

The center unit was fastened to the dining room wall when we bought the house, but didn't work with our furniture. Now it's a great unit for storing some of my supplies.

south wall

There's a bedroom closet to the left of the computer, and there I keep my fabrics in plastic storage tubs.

Here's how the work table looks now!
Neat and tidy didn't last long, did it? lol

 Treasure hunting this past week led me to a second-hand shop where I found these blingy buttons, ( up north near the lake house)

(aren't they pretty?!)

two packages of lace,

( rolls of lace!)

4 cut-lace napkins, and 2 lace doilies.

The total came to $5.00! Wow!

I love shopping there! (too bad it's so far away)




Well, that was my week with needle, thread, paint and fabric. Hope you've had a fun and creative week.

Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

My Package Arrived

I was so lucky to win a giveaway from  Diane, a wonderful book, "The Artist's Quest for Inspiration" by Peggy Hadden! You can check out Diane's blog as she is one very talented and creative lady.  My package arrived!
I opened up the large manilla envelope to find:

 something wrapped in pattern paper topped with a lovely tag, with ribbons and laces, and silk flowers.

 Oh, wait! There's a second tag--one I can use for a special gift. Aren't they fabulous? The blank one reads "Seek Joy", but I think Joy has already found me!

 But there was more! Two packages of pretty tags, and a set of Diane's recipe cards!


What's that underneath?

 Ooooh, look! A set of Diane's Christmas cards! I do love snowpeople, so this design is a perfect one.

 All these extra goodies were packed along with the book I won in Diane's giveaway. Talk about generous!

I know I was just beaming while I did the 'happy dance' all around the kitchen.

As an artist, I am often inspired by the everyday. Sometimes, though, inspiration is sought, but not found.                                                   I have been flipping through this book by Peggy Hadden, and I'm sure to find some inspiration in these pages on those days of need.

Thank you so much Diane for all the wonderful gifts! I am blessed.

I hope your day brings you blessings.

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs from Suz

I Bought it at The Second-Hand Store

I keep going back to search for treasures. And I found some more!
a lace tablecloth for $2

 a meter of fine, white cotton for $1



12 feet of lace for $1







a package of yarn for 25 cents





seam binding for 25 cents and a package of curly hair for 25 cents









See what was in the package of yarn?









           And more laces in a package for $1


Treasure hunting is addictive!
Everything I found  is already earmarked for projects I'm planning.













I hope you find some treasure today.
Thanks for visiting.
Hugs from Suz

Found Treasures

I went back to the second-hand shop to search for more treasures, and found these:

crocheted lace

an oval doily

and a third lace! I think this one is machine-made. I'm gathering laces for my CQing stash. At 50 cents each, it's a steal! I can't help thinking of the many hours someone invested in creating the hand-made laces, and how under valued they are!

Then I found these handles from a purse, and a tie clip, each for only $1, so I scooped them up. The tie clip goes into my CQ stash, but I have an idea brewing for the plastic (lucite?) handles. It just might involve some or all of the following: dark brown corduroy, animal print cotton, rusty bits, laces, embroidery, ribbon, and tatting. Hmmmm, I wonder,.....

Wishing a Happy Columbus Day to all in the USA

I'll be celebrating a Happy Thanksgiving  and hope you are too.

Thanks for visiting.

Hugs from Suz