Fertile Earth Continued

A Super Looking Pooch on Vacation!

I've been reading a very good book called 'The Dog Rules: Damn Near Everything!'It is very humorous and I can totally identify with the author's experiences with his dog, a border collie called Jake.

Fertile Earth Lesson 4

Ginkgo Leaves


Clams from Cedar Key
Inspiration for Lesson 5

Close up of Ginkgo Leaves

This is my favourite lesson so far.

Fertile Earth lesson 3

Layers of Stitch

I am continuing to work on my fertile Earth lessons. I am completing Lesson 2 at this time. My next project will be my entry to the Threadworks Show for April. The theme is Trees but I think I have a unique idea in mind displaying my style! Stay tuned!

A Tribute to Sweet Bailey

One of our beloved furry family members was sent to doggy heaven on Friday, February 5Th after a brief illness. Bailey had lived 15 years with my sister, Brenda and her family. Emily, my niece grew up with Bailey. She shared all her chocolate chip cookies with the Black Blaster, our nick name for Bailey. He is now in heaven with our dog, Oskar. We called them cousins since they came from the same breeder in Welland.

I took these photos of Bailey at Christmas time, 2008. He was a very energetic dog even in old age. He loved to run around the house with his stuffed moose in his mouth. We called it the Moosey dance!

Goodbye, sweet Bailey! We have such happy memories of you. We will miss you dearly! Love from Oatis!

Before and After

The last two weeks have been busy as usual. Here is a photo of Oatis before the BIG Operation!




Here he is after, no worse for wear and all duded out in a red kerchief! Today's check up went well . He is all set to go.




This is my first paper stitchery mounted on a painted canvas. I just need to stitch it in place. I used the same method, using paper,crayon, paint, stitch witchery, fusible pellon. I machine stitched then hand stitched with added beads. I am very pleased with the results.




This is my first piece with all the embellishments completed. I just need to paint a wrapped canvas for it.

Button Cloth Doodle for a Cloth Paper Studio swap.

Go Green Cloth Doodle

More paper pieces ready for stitch.

I started embroidering my flower pounding piece I made last year with Kim Maticiw.

A felted piece waiting for some hand stitching.

I discovered this really old machine embroidery book at our guild. It was published in 1961! The year my baby sister was born. The drawings are amazing! I am practising in my sketchbook using Enid's drawings for inspiration. I hope to add some of these to my crayoned papers as design or in stitch.

Finally, I found an Ikea frame for the felted art I bought from Aileen Clarke. It is hanging up in the living room.

I also displayed my ATC's from My Embellish and Enrich Group on a memory Board my sister gave me.

My first spot is complete with all books in the bookcase next to an easy chair. I still want to buy an occasional table and a free standing lamp.

Well, I am off to a retreat to my cottage with my friends, The Material Girls, for stitching and relaxation with a bit of food and wine! Hope you are having a warm and inspiring July!

All about Oatie

Calling all dog lovers. Now here is something to howl about! Oatis is about 14 weeks old and is having many firsts!



His first raincoat with detachable hood!



His first bath at his forever home!





His first home haircut! No more puppy cut for Oatis. He looks like a real mini Schnauzer now! Look at that tongue!





The new polished Oatie! I didn't realize his ears stuck out so much. He was getting so furry, he looked fat! Oatis had his last expensive shots this week as a puppy. Soon he will be neutered, so he can have a nice long life.
I have been busy stitching and teaching this past week. I have two deadlines to make for our Stitchery Guild Meeting, for next Monday. One, is our Guild project for the Ontario Network of Needleworker's annual meeting. I am putting together a kind of quilt! I got the idea from an old issue of Cloth Paper Scissors. I am really loving that magazine! I am also working on my Go Green Challenge for the Guild. We exchanged secret scrap and mixed media bags in October and our challenges are due next week. I started by making some paper fabric and studying Beryl Taylor's Mixed Media Explorations book. Most of my scrap bag contained leather and lace!!!! But I came up with some ideas and now the pressure is on to finish!! I will have photos for next week. I also signed up with Darren of Problogger for How to Improve your Blog in 31 days. I am already behind! I hope to get to it soon. Until next time.... keep stitching!