Sewing is a Family Affair

Just as the machine says…. Here is my simple drawing of my daughter’s sewing machine.  I love that we had fun together doing this!  I told them a story of how my old Birnina sewing machine blew up with smoke coming out of the motor.  It was a teaching moment too.  What do you do when than happens?  Pull the plug! Of course!  My grand-daughter just laughed, she loves it when I tell my stories. 

Christmas Day

This is what we did …. Not much really except getting the dinner ready.  Our daughters friends from university came over and joined us for dinner.  It was so nice to spend time with them.  They are Jewish and usually celebrate with us until the pandemic hit.  Normal “scheduling” resumed this year.   

I really like the new fireplace feature that my daughter found.  This one is my new fave. 

I can also recommend the Alaska Cabin Adventures on U-tube. The videos of the landscape are truly beautiful.  I can’t believe the amount of snow they have had!  Of course, I love anyone who names his dog Norman.  

Franken paper

When I first joined up on Utube I watched a video by an artist who was gluing paper scraps together to make new sheets of paper.  I don’t recall her name or the name of her channel though.  She called the end result “Franken” paper (yes, for Frankenstein).   Then it dawned on me that I should give it a go myself.  So, I used up my leftover bits to make enough paper to wrap a present for our daughter.  When she was young and wanted something special she always called me “MOM’ETH!  I knew right away that a big ask would follow.  

I don’t know what she will think of this.  Regardless, it makes me smile. 

Orange flavoured chocolate

I was querying my granddaughter as to her chocolate preferences- nuts or soft centres.  She indicated that chocolate and orange flavour wasn’t tops with her buds.  She appeared to warm up to the idea when she listened to my husband rave about them.  Oh well, it’s wrapped with her name on it.

It’s funny how I’ve been buying these for years and never realized that they are a French import. 

Shopping at the mall

I have to admit that I like to physically shop for my Christmas gifts.  I’m so glad that shopping has once again become a pleasure especially on those hard mall floors. 

No pencil used here, it’s direct with pen, so the clothing isn’t sized properly.   It is what it is and I’m not bothered.  

Let the Christmas Wrapping begin

Let the Christmas wrapping begin!!!  Does anyone else wrap up stuff you already own as a gift!  Hope so.  Inside these two packages are the 3 books that make up the Hinger Games trilogy.  Our granddaughter is 12 and my daughter was concerned that the books were too dark.  Hmmm.  I read them before the movie came out out so I don’t think so but maybe my imagination isn’t dark or maybe not that well developed.  Anyway, she will decide as she reads them.  Our granddaughter is in a split Grade 7 & 8 class and her older friends have read them already.  She wants to read what they have so she will decide on her own. 

Yogurt

This container is now empty.  Yes, it was that good.  Of course, it could be due to the fact it is 9% milk fat! That does tend to smooth the flavours out.  I’ll have to see how much it has gone up since the last time I bought it.  We keep getting told on the news that grocery prices will come down but I have seen it myself. 

A new pair of jeans

I forgot to post this last month but think it is worth noting because wearing something new is always uplifting.  

New mini sketchbook

No time for art today.  I bound this little sketchbook that I made yesterday.  I used some paper from a spiral ringed sketchbook  (Bee paper) that I have never used.  I don’t like spiral binding so I’m happy to use the mixed media paper that is in it.  I used duct tape for the spine and heavy duty brown gift wrapping paper on a Cheerios cardboard box for the book.  I’ve never used it as gift wrap.  The cute sticker is from Redbubble. 

I’m posting this to show my bookbinding kit.  I just want to say that you don’t have to buy expensive bookbinding supplies.  I used a tailors awl from the fabric store, and waxed thread from Michael’s that I found in the bead isle (yes, I used my coupon).  I don’t know what kind of needle that is but it could be a large sized chenille (because the eye has to fit the chunky thread).  The elastic band is used to pull the needle through the sticky duct tape. 

Yeah, I should have made two signatures but I was lazy and in a rush to finish.  That meant I had to use my exacto knife to cut the ends off the pages to make them even.  It doesn’t close properly either but that’s okay; it will live in my purse and it does lay flat when open. 

Instagram reference

New phone

My old phone was already on its deathbed but I knew it was time when it couldn’t update recently.  

I’m glad our daughter got the day off and was able to take us up to the Yorkdale Mall in the big city of Toronto.  We could have taken the bus but car was way quicker.  

I got my usual boring vanilla latte at Starbucks but it made me happy. 

After dinner, we had birthday cake to celebrate our granddaughter’s 12th birthday! Yum! 

4 new blooms

Super stoked by my Christmas cactus to say the least, it last bloomed in October! Love the clean white blanket to cover up the boring brown landscape.  Hopefully the snow squalls forecasted don’t materialize. 

A handy paper clip

When a paper clip is an integral part of hanging Christmas lights!!!  I saw my husband struggling with a mess of lights and I could see his lips moving and knew full well what he was muttering; I offered to help.  I usually don’t get involved and manage to be away during this portion of the “festive” season.   Anyway, I found that I was in fact useful since one of the paper clips have disappeared over the summer.  It was especially important as it was the portion over the door.  

I’m not sure whose feathers were on the ground but I expect that it will be my beloved mourning doves.  

I sketched at Tim Hortons

Yesterday I went with my husband to town because he wanted the company.  He went to his appointment and I sketched at the Timmy’s across the street.  In case your not aware, Timmy’s is a Canadian coffee shop chain started by Tim Horton a famous Canadian hockey star (from back in the day).  My husband joined me afterwards and bought these “Timbits”.  He is a sucker for sweets! I’m not a fan.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve eaten loads of Tim’s donuts in my time but they don’t call to me anymore.  It was really nice to sketch people from life. 

I still go to physio

I thought I would depict some of the exercises that I do at physio so I can remember them in the future.  These are only some of them, there is no more room on the page for the others.  Each session is a different set of nine exercises (3 rounds each). 

I’m usually tired by the end but since I’m in town I end up doing stuff afterwards.   Frequently, there seems to be something I need to do: grocery store, bank, hardware store and the like.  

Hopefully my little drawings are clear enough to be understood.  The RDL’s is a modified version of the Romanian Dead Lift, two dumbbells 15 lbs each. The suitcase carry dumbbell is 8kg the same weight as the birdseed bags I buy.   I’ll have to update my page with that information.  I couldn’t recall all the names of the exercises so I just put down what I could remember.  

More edibles maple things

Yesterday I went to physio in town.  Afterwards, I did a bit of shopping in the plaza. I went to purchase a new lampshade and these two products jumped into my cart! 

I hmmmmed and hawwwwed over the boring brown packaging and in the end I just couldn’t do it.  Way too much brown so I jazzed things up a bit with purple and painted in the background for added colour. 

Roman Szmal watercolours 

Atomic Art

Thanks Corinne for her #SketchbookPlay class on mid-century atomic art!  This is what I was able to do during your class.

In 1958 my parents and I visited the Worlds Fair in Brussels (Belgium).  It is home to The Atomium, the flagship architectural structure and emblem!  Do have look at it on line! Very cool!

I tried to mimic the pattern I saw on Pixabay on the left.  I made my own design on the right side of the page. 

Toast and Jam Tea

I’m the kind of person who doesn’t often think about composition when I start a drawing.  Then, I have to “figure it out”!  Ugh!  I looked at the box of tea and thought it needs something so I added a table, no that isn’t the answer so I added the tablecloth.  Still not satisfied,so I painted a wall in behind.  Still didn’t look right and I realised it needed the cup with tea in it.  If the cup looks suspiciously like a coffee mug, it is the smallest one I have.  It’s my favourite mug for tea, not too big, not too small; just right for me.  I drew it in with Neocolor II and didn’t like it so I got my gouache back out. 

I bought a box of Red Rose tea at the Sally Ann (60 bags) for $3.00CDN.  This box was 4X that!!   Clearly this was another impulse buy at the British store. But wow, how fun it is to have a cup when the smell and taste match up!  Toast and Jam! Yum! 

Jaffa Cakes

I took the plunge and bought the last package of Jaffa Cakes the British store had.  The $$$ wasn’t for the faint of heart.  Regardless, I was pretty thrilled to bring them home!

Waiting room

I had to drive my hubby in to town for a test. I had time to get a drawing in my hand made sketchbook.  Then we went to the Golden Arches for a midday breakfast.  I really really needed the coffee!  Their coffee is pretty good. 

I thought the art on the wall was a bit out of place for a waiting room.  However, I don’t think anyone really noticed because everyone was on their phones. 

Orange and Chocolate

I haven’t been documenting much of my life lately but I had to make this spread about my new purchase. 

If you like orange and chocolate flavours, you will love this gin.  The LCBO stands for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and this particular store is in the same plaza as the grocery store we frequent.  But be warned, this beverage from England wasn’t cheap.  

Hazy Grey purse

We drove to town yesterday to get our flu shots.  My hubby had to get a load of gravel so he took his pickup truck.  I’m happy that he didn’t want me to keep him company. Ugh!  So I got an opportunity to do a bit of personal shopping.  

The Roman Szmal shadow violet is a perfect match for the hazy grey colour that is marked on the tag.  I’m leaving the silly gorilla keychain on (for now) but I’ll be attaching my own to it. 

UPPERCASE and silk

I only subscribe to one magazine that is published 4 times a year for the Creative and the Curious!! (I love that!). It is called UPPERCASE and issue 59 that I received this month has a segment of a paper pieced quilt on the front and back covers.  This inspiring magazine ships worldwide from Canada.  I can highly recommend!! 

I’m glad I thought of including this magazine here so that I document my fibre treasure that I found at the second hand shop.   I couldn’t believe that I would find Dupioni silk remnants in two baggies.  I hymned and hawed because I thought my old eyes were deceiving me.  I just love all the different colours.  Happy I bit the bullet and brought them home.  I love this material so much, back in the day I sewed a Nepalese-styled blouse with it.  Now to dream up a sewing project! 

Dear dear, I can see that my grammar and sentence structure is lacking on my page.  Oh well, I know what I mean. 

Christmas Cactus

We have been spending time with the family for the Canadian Thanksgiving long weekend, when we left my Christmas cactus had a lovely bud on it.  I’m sure when we get home today it will be in full bloom. 

SASHIKO mending

It is our Thanksgiving long weekend here in Canada so we are spending time with the family.  My mother-in-law gave my daughter and I two summer quilts made with the women in her church group.  She has been gone now for 35 years.  The quilt is falling apart so my daughter is afraid to wash it in order to avoid further damage.  In the last few years I’ve learned about the Japanese art of SASHIKO mending.  It is a visible mending technique whereby patterns are stitched on fabric being mended.  I’m doing my own version of this visible mending technique and using the few simple embroidery stitches that I know.  I think the quilt pattern would be called a “six patch” but I’m not sure.  I’ve made a start on this square and have added 3 small patches of  unbleached cotton.  I’m re-enforcing the rest with my stitches as the fabric appears stable to my eye.  Some of the threads have fallen apart on the white fabric so I’m adding stitches there too.  This will be a very long project that I will work on when we visit.  I’ll be interested to see how my stitching morphs over time.  Let me know if my project inspires you to try it for yourself. 

Golden Owl

My thanks to Dawn Vander Stoep for the fun tutorial in Life Book taster session.  I totally enjoyed spending time today on this page.

I drew the owl freehand from the printable reference.  I used what I had available for my owl: my Blackwing Pearl pencil, couldn’t find a blending stomp but I was able to dig out a tortillion, and the ever versatile kneadable eraser. I used craft gold paint and black gesso.  Oopsie, I forgot to leave space for the stars so I used my trusty white Gelly roll pen. 

I think this would have been easier to work on if I had used a larger sheet of paper.  I used my Royal Talens Art Creation sketchbook. 

My Advisor

We are in the big city with the family, I hadn’t anticipated that we would be here this early so I had made a date with my bank lady.  I decided I liked the meeting to be over the internet so I kept the meeting date yesterday.

When I showed her my drawing she was surprised as she thought I was taking notes.  Well, I did that too but wanted to capture her in my book.  I know that had I seen her “in person” I would never have done this!!  I finished my page this morning. 

Root canal and Perle Cotton

I drove into town yesterday to have a consult with the “root canal” specialist at my dentist office.  Little did I know that he would have an opening later in the day.  In many ways, I’m glad to have it over with.  I took 2 extra strength Tylenol half an hour before dinner (my hubby was kind enough to make soup and a sandwich for dinner).  I had a good sleep and although my mouth is still sore, it isn’t too bad. 2 more Tylenol’s with lunch before physio. 

I’m glad I filled Bertha’s gas tank the other day at $164.9 CDN a ltr because now it’s &170.9!! Yikes! Clearly winter is coming so they alway raise the price in time to gouge us once again.  

Really happy with my find at the used “this and that” store since the Perle cotton is brand new! Yippee for me! 

Stubby colourful stripes

Sometimes I don’t feel like journaling in my sketchbook.  I really enjoy seeing all the colours I mixed from my 3 chosen primary paint colours.  They were, Aquarius Yellow, Quinn Red, Phthalo blue (GS), all Roman Szmal paints. This shows me that these 3 paint colours didn’t produce fabulous purples but I really like the golden ochre colour and of course the greens.  Still, I like the way all these stubby stripes look together on the page. 

Vintage thread

I started a stitching project awhile back and thought I would pick it up again this morning.  I wanted to use this muted blue colour of thread so I had attempted to unravel the skein.  An exercise in patience that I apparently lack.  No matter, I will use the thread somehow some way regardless.  But I’ve had to put this knotted mess aside for now.  I wish I knew the secret to opening one of these twirly skeins so it won’t knot.  The worst thing is I’ve lost the end in that maze and I finally had to just give up.  I’ll try again another day.

Spruce Hummingbird

This just happened and I was so excited I forgot to draw in some leaves.  I went out to draw my Dad’s Rose of Sharon, so happy to see that it has survived and is blooming once again.  They are small blooms this year.  

I got quite a thrill when a little spruce hummingbird was feeding from one of the flowers.  Her beak was actually well into the centre but I was do stunned to be so close I just started moving my pink pencil where I was.  Then along came a mean old hummingbird and swooped down several times to stop her/him from feeding.  I expect they’ll be heading south very soon as our night time temperatures drop. 

This page isn’t anything fantastic, I just wanted to record my delight! 

Anjulie reading

When we were visiting our family last week, I tried yet again to draw my granddaughter.   We were sitting together on the front porch; silly me, I thought that since she was reading she might remain still. Nope, never going to happen it seems.  I managed to get her top and bottom halves stitched together but it wasn’t easy.  I had to laugh when I realised that she has what we call the Maloney bump in her nose; I have it, my daughter has it and so does my granddaughter!  She is really happy at how long her hair has grown over the summer.

Visit to the Junction

Last week we drove south to Canada’s largest city to stay with our granddaughter.  She is 11 years old so she is too old to “babysit”.   Our son-in-law had the day off on the Friday so we took city transit to a neighbourrhood called “The Junction”.   It was my first time using a streetcar and a bus since my operation.  Nothing bad happened but I must admit I didn’t enjoy the jerky moments of getting on and off. 

However, I enjoyed my first beer since February (I’m not really a beer drinker) and making an entry in my mini “away” sketchbook.  The red coloured beer is the one my husband had. 

Holy moley Batman! It’s 29C here today and more of the same for tomorrow.  We don’t have A/C so all our windows are closed and curtains drawn to keep out the sun!   Time for a popsicle!! 

Mundane moment

Many may know that I usually draw and paint the little mundane moments in my everyday life.  I don’t think there is anything more mundane than kleenex.  

I still can’t believe that the word will soon be removed from the Canadian  lexicon and be replaced by “facial tissue”.  Ugh! 

Christmas in August

If it’s Friday then it is have a treat day in the form of a liquid libation!  We stopped at the Moose Lodge to pick up our turkey dinners - Christmas in August!  What a treat to have someone else do the cooking!  It is good simple food.  The Moose Lodge is a service club that was founded in the States in 1888. Money from the dinners go to boys and girls clubs. 

Yellowknife evacuation

Autumn leaves

I drove to town yesterday by way of a country road instead of a busy highway.  It was a pleasant drive until I saw something that I didn’t want to see - not yet! It’s too early for me.  

Can you see the source of my anguish!?

I think I’m going to have put some blinders on until fall actually arrives. 

Tornado warning

Environment Canada fanned out a mobile warning on my husband’s phone (what a racket!!!) warning of a potential tornado in our area.  It took 10 whole minutes for me to get the announcement.  I’ll be getting a new phone very soon because my battery keeps heating up!  

A couple of minutes later the rain started, then the deluge began.  It lasted for 45 minutes.  I’ve never seen sheets of water coming off our metal roof before.  This has been our wettest summer ever!!!

Then it occurred to me that there are 40,000 phones at the music festival north of us.  They would all have received the same alert with the same annoying ringing!  From what I understand, the fans were satisfied because Keith Urban ended up playing later.  Still, I can’t imagine sleeping in a tent after all that rain! 

There is something on the left I didn’t like so I put a piece of tracing paper over it.  Then I added watercolour overtop and that made it buckle. It doesn’t look great in the photo but I’m not bothered.  I probably should have left well enough alone. 

Just if you’re wondering it’s been raining off and on all morning.  The sun is trying to break free from the dirty grey clouds but so far without success. 

Goodbye Cough Syrup

I should preface my comments with this is just my own opinion based on my taste buds.  Your taste buds are likely very different.  I’ve decided to get rid of a few part bottles that I’m not interested in finishing.  I had originally thought I might change my mind about this “beverage” but no, it still tastes like cough syrup so it has to go!   I really wish that we could get a taste test of beverages at the LCBO (liquor Control board of Ontario) so I could have saved myself some money.  

Sorry Vicky, I like your other products but not this one. 

Turnip Pickles

I finally broke down and decided to document this bit of nonsense.  My husband made some pickles last week. It still makes me laugh when I think about it.  He asked me if I wanted to try some!  Nope, that is a “NO” thank you very much.  He knows that is my answer when he gets my no uncertain terms reply “Are you married to me??!”  Yes, he has heard that response before to some other silly questions. 

So these do look pretty in their red brine but I’m not fooled, we have been married 44 years and I know he would love to convince me these are edible.  Any guesses out there on the type of pickle this is????!!

Landscape

Sometimes I too just run out of steam and I find that once I stop posting my work it just gets easier to not post at all.  Yesterday I wasn’t “feeling it” but I recall a video put out by Tammy Garcia of Daisy Yellow Art.  I decided I wanted this particular colour palette (don’t know why).  Anyway I threw some paint on my page and added more with an old hotel key card.  I’m just glad I did something in my book.  Turning the page moving on. 

A new beverage

I love all things maple (ugh! That is a lie, I don’t like maple walnut ice cream because I detest walnuts) so when I saw this beverage I had to try it.  What a wonderful mid-afternoon thirst quencher!  There will be others going into my cart in the future. 

In my past life, I use to travel to conferences around the province; it’s been a long time since I have driven through the village of Arthur. 

Knee replacement update

Here is a little update on my knee replacement; yesterday I had this electric current therapy.  I’ve seen some home use gizmo’s for sale on television and thought it was a bunch of malarkey.  Well, here I am spending 15 minutes at physio enjoying the tingly sensation produced.  It is supposed to help arthritis sufferers and post surgery but I’m still skeptical.  It doesn’t hurt and my knee doesn’t seem to have any negative effects so I’ll do it.  My numbness has not been reduced nor has my super sensitive area but apparently that it to be expected.  My physiotherapist has been clear to point out that I haven’t been doing enough “icing” my knee.  Yup, when I do, I can tell the difference.  Always happy to get two ice packs in the knee wrap each session!  As your body gets use to the tingling sensation, you can press the buttons to increase the current.  

Page two is a way for me to get rid of pens I will never ever use again.  I prefer a much lighter pen in my hand. I do like my Lamy’s with the plastic or aluminum body! 

Pelee Island ferry

Yesterday we took the ferry to Pelee Island and ate some fish tacos at the Dog and Goat Bar just before the rains came.  Then we had wine tasting at the Pelee Island Winery. It was very delicious and I hadn’t realized that I have tried many of their wines already.  The only one I haven’t was the ice wine (because I’m just too cheap to buy it). 

Here we are on our way home waiting for the ferry.  It was a beautiful evening and this woman had the right idea!  I think she has definitely done this before! 

There are 300 inhabitants on the island, it balloons to 1500 come summer.  We saw the tiny elementary school that has 3 teachers.  The school bus was parked next door where I assumed the driver lives. I wonder how people live here especially in the winter when the ferry stops operation in December.  I don’t think island life would be easy. 

Leamington holiday

We are vacationing on Lake Erie with the family so here is a page I did combining a bit of this and a bit of that. 

The pattern above my granddaughters head is from the bathroom tiles!  We are staying in a AirBnB just outside Leamington Ontario. 

Acetate stencil

I was watching a tutorial and the artist had a large circle stencil and I had a thought!!! I have a hot plate trivet that I already use on my gel plate.  Hmmmm…I wonder if I can make a stencil with it and with a piece of acetate?  I have a box of acetate that I bought many years ago at a charity shop.  So I did.

The trivet has the pink paint circles on it,  the acetate stencil is in gold.  I used the circle cut outs as masks and then laid them out on the paper above the sketchbook now that they have had paint on them from the gel plate (makes them easier to see!). The black circles under the gold are on a piece of acetate prior to cutting with an exacto blade. 

It made for a messy page in my sketchbook but I just wanted to document that I made my first full size stencil. 

Final Day at Sauble Beach

Way behind on posting.  Here is my last page from our holiday at Sauble Beach.  I had originally thought I might pre plan the composition of my spread by making some specific areas to hold drawings. Best laid plans and all that!!! It was very cold and my husband didn’t last long. Once he had his swim, he was done for the day.  I had the opportunity to draw the woman with the hat but that was it.  The other drawings were done later

Soft pastels in my sketchbook

It rained cats and dogs all night then this afternoon it rained dinosaurs!! Good grief, I thought I lived in the great white north and not the tropics! 

Anyway… I like to check this sheep farm a few roads over from us to see if they have put the mamas out with the new lambs.  Instead, I was visited by 5 donkeys, the sheep amwere still in the back 40.  I dug out my sketchbook and my Derwent drawing pencils and got to work.  Today, I thought I would use a little used art supply to build up the colour.  I left the donkeys as is even though the one on the right could use some help!  I’ve decided that I will be taking my soft pastels with me for plein air painting.  I smooshed the pigment with water on my brush. I think it looks much better.  I wish I would have taken a before picture. 

Corrugated Cardboard

10/61 -  Its all about texture.  I used corrugated cardboard, music, book paper, tissue and magazine paper on the ended card.  Painted with black acrylic and Quin Gold and splattered with white gesso.  I made a white eraser stamp earlier this spring so I stamped around the edge to give the appearance of a frame.  Final touch was the stitching.  

Fence Post Friday

It has been a long time since I have posted a Fence Post Friday photo so here it is!  I never get tired of seeing these cute donkeys. Hopefully the weather will comply.  Enjoy your weekend come what may!