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!