Noah's Ark

I have been having a lot of fun stitching up Lynette Anderson's free Noah's Ark designs. The cute little patterns appear once a month on her web site. There is a link on my sidebar where you can find her blog and wander through her pages of beautiful stitching and quilt designs. September brings a new month and another little critter to stitch, the blocks are adding up fast only six more to go.

Sleigh Ride

This is one of the very first pieces that I painted in 1993. It is a reproduction hat and mitten chest with a winter scene painted on top. These tiny chest of drawers were often found at the front door filled with handmade warm woolens. I have filled mine with my knitting and one drawer is my sewing basket. I still love this piece...although I would now soften the edges a bit more and add some extra shading and a bit more light if I was to do it over again.
I guess looking back at some of the first projects I painted reminds me of a new beginning in my life..... a path I chose to take inspired by my Dad and his love for art.

A New Day

"I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning"
J.B.Priestly, 1894 - 1984.



This quote boarders around a print by Donna Atkins that hangs in my kitchen. It always reminds me of the simple things in my life that means so much to me. Like this morning waking up early to hear the morning doves singing to each other. A beautiful sky as the sun was peeking up with a light fog that covered the ground, and a tiny voice whispering in my ear "morning Mom". So my day began with a morning snuggle, followed by a visit and a coffee with a friend. There was a little time to sew a couple of quilt blocks together then I made a pot of soup and baked some bread that sent the smell of hearty goodness all though the house for the afternoon. A long awaited parcel arrive in the mail and was shared with a good friend and her boys over a coffee on the deck steps. An afternoon country drive, some fresh corn on the cob, blueberries picked, some evening time sewing, and a little painting of a new project that makes me happy to feel the brush in my hand again.
I think I had quite a bit of "magic" in my day.....and tomorrow I get to start all over again.

A Spectacular Wonder

We had a chance to get away for a few days to celebrate an anniversary. A two hour drive from home and we found ourselves in the heart of Niagara Falls. Nothing can describe the view we witnessed and pictures never quite capture the beauty of this natural wonder of the world. I managed to get as close as I could for pictures but there is always a mist in the air that covers the camera lens. Only twenty-five percent of the lakes water travels over the falls the other seventy-five percent is channeled around the falls. Did you know that the first person that went over the falls in a barrel and survived was a 63 year old school teacher and her cat??
The last picture is my favourite from the top of the Skylon Tower just as the sun was going down, and I even managed to catch a rainbow in it as well. (click on the pictures to get a better view)

Count Your Blessings

I love this pattern, I could make 20 more. A little red fabric, some red thread and a little red paint is all she needs. As you can see... she travels well, stands tall, and reads "Count Your Blessings" with hand made stars that say "Family" "Friends" and "Love".
One can never have to many angels in their life I don't think.....at least red ones.