Fascinator

This is my first fascinator.  I can't stop making flowers,  I am obsessed !

Made with a pheasant feather, netting, tweed , organza and velvet animal print ribbon. I used some glue, but most of this is hand stitched.  Each petal of the flower is hand formed twice over a candle. I loved every minute of making this.

Ottawa Market

The sun was shining so brightly today I wanted to go out on the town.  I love Ottawa so much, so I headed to the market and went to the store Funk Your Junk . http://www.funkyourjunk.com/ I learned of them at the Ottawa Bluesfest.  They were vendors there and I was delighted with their bags.   It's a great store with lots of cool and fun gift ideas.

This is one of the owners , she makes the coolest bags and skirts!

This is a light fixture!

In the store is a workshop where the owner is making a carving of Jesus 

Went into the change room to try on a skirt, and was delighted to find markers hanging on the wall  meant for scribbling on the wall

........and I couldn't resist!

I placed an order for a gift for a  special friend and walked away with some vintage buttons for my collection.  

Dreams of Spring

This is what it did outside today :

my backyard

my dog  in the backyard

While it was snowing out I dreamed of spring while I made a cherry blossom stem.  

Stem in progress

Completed cherry blossom stem. I can't wait to touch and smell  the real thing

Beer and Knitting

I always thought beer and knitting went well together.

notice the stash in the background....

I guess other people think that as well!
My parents got this for me for Christmas and I think it is the best present ever!   ( Although, they could have picked up a six pack ....haha!)
It's called Tante Tricotante and is made in a microbrewery in Lac St-Jean.  
Love the graphic image on it, such a 60's vibe to it.

~thanks mom and dad!

Chesterville Spin In

I was invited to be a vendor at the annual Spin In that took place in Chesterville. I was delighted to see all the different types of spinning wheels.  There were Ashfords, Louets, and even a mechanized spinner, made by Hansen ,that I have never seen before.  People got down to business with their spinning wheels.  Apparently the preferred way to spin is in sock feet !  Many women had aprons or silk cloths on their lap to keep the fleece from matting on them.

The real treat for me was to see an actual walking wheel or great wheel being demonstrated. I was amazed to see how much room you need to use this wheel.  You really have to move your body to spin with it.

So many wonderful people, such a great time.

Display for my shawl pins

A demonstration of Kumihimo, a Japanese braiding technique

A painted landscape on this lady's spinning wheel

This is what I bought , it should make my plying from my drop spindles easier

The coolest little Hansen spinner

A walking wheel or great wheel

More beautiful art work

I have been meaning to join the Ontario Handweavers & Spinners group.www.ohs.on.ca Take a look and consider joining , their magazine is worth the price of membership.

Blossoming

 I can't stop making these flowers. They are addictive.  Shaping each petal brings the blossom alive.  They can be found at Art & Soul at 1207 Wellington St. W. in Ottawa.

Congratulations to my good friend Yvonne on her new website. http://www.yvieknits.ca/ Yvieknits Yarns.  She is an indie dyer and I love her yarn bases.  She is combining a shawl pin, with a pattern from the fabulous Natalie Servant   http://natalieservant.ca/ along with some lace weight yarn dyed by Yvonne herself as a kit.

She sells her yarn and  teaches at Just Knitting in Carleton Place. http://www.justknitting.ca/  Best of luck Yvonne! The website is beautiful.

Organza Roses

My new obsession is making these organza roses.  First you cut circles out of the organza in three different sizes.  Next you heat the edges of each "petal" with a candle.  The heat curls the edges and makes it look like a real petal.  Once you have a lot of petals, pile them one on top of each other, sew them together, put a shiny do dad in the centre .  Put a hair clip on the back and voila a beautiful accessory for your hair.

The painting above the desk is a Norval Morrisseau inspired  painting  done by my daughter  when she was in grade 1

I did this work on my new desk.  It is made of oak , with one drawer.  On the underside of the drawer it says Property of United States Airforce.  I love it so much and it is the same era as the chair that I already had.  All this happiness for $9.99 at the Salvation Army .