De - Kaffe - ing

Three years ago this month while at a Stitchtopia weekend in Wyboston, UK, I quilted with Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably. 

The workshop was packed and time was short. No opportunity to sew, just choose and cut the fabrics and decide on their placement.

 The fabric bits and the batting were rolled up and sent back home.

I guess I thought I was going to finish it.
Silly me.

 Untouched for three years this is the first reveal.

 I'll salvage the large squares . . .

and chuck the rest . . .

 but what I'm really after is the batting . . . 

 because storage pods are calling.

December Down Time?

Below is a list of my favourite Christmas movies.
Each proves the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit.
Each confirms that the potential for greatness lives within each of us.
I love them.

PRANCER
starring Sam Elliott, Rebecca Harrell, Cloris Leachman
1989

A CHILD'S CHRISTMAS IN WALES
starring Denholm Elliott, Mathonwy Reeves, Glynis Davies
1987

MIRACLE ON 34 TH STREET
starring Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, John Payne
1947






A CHRISTMAS CAROL
starring George C. Scott, Edward Woodward, David Warner
1984

KINGS COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE, CHRISTMAS

broadcast every Christmas Eve

(not a movie, but certainly full of power and greatness)

Then between Christmas and New Year's try . . . 

DEAN SPANLEY

2008

These movies are available on YouTube or through iTunes.

An Autumnal Garden

 Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bossom-friend of the maturing sun;

 Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With flowers the vines that round the urn's edge run.

And still appear more later flowers for the bees

 Until they think warm days will never cease.

 Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music, too,

 That chimes a fruitfulness of rosy hue

And in the garden with all the twined flowers

It holds its tune for hours by hours.

Conceived by Keats

Corrupted by Candy

Julie in Jordan

September 11 . . . a full day workshop in creature dressing with

 Julie Arkell at Stitch in Jordan, Ontario.

Stitch is a store of great atmosphere that

artfully displays its inventory.

Julie brought from the UK her postcards, pins,

crow creatures and even a fireplace mantle.

The creatures patiently awaited selection . . .

as their dressmakers gathered.

 I chose you.

 After five hours of slogging with needles and pins nine of the ten dolls 

were attractively attired from top to toe.

 Mine . . . not quite.

I'd like to think she's a little girl who stripped down to her panties

in order to play in the sprinkler.

I think there's a kids' book here.

Enough

Five weeks of seeing AT whenever I open my blog 

is enough . . . for now.

Back to reality.

Obsession Confession

 Maybe because it's summer and the mind relaxes to another level,

or . . . 

 maybe because the smile is so enchanting,

or . . . 

 maybe because . . . well . . . ahem . . .

or . . . 

maybe because the intensity can be so disarming,

but . . . 

has Aidan Turner set the world off its axis?

(check the horizon line!)

Just a July Evening

Heat and humidity have hounded southern Ontario.

 Outdoor activities are best left to the morning and evening hours.

However . . .

  roses still bloom . . .

  chocolate vines still climb . . . 

 insects still devour . . . 

until sated . . . 

and the dog still ponders.