My latest challenge (knitting)

has taken a lot of my time lately. I decided to knit something for the girls in my family, after I finished the two sweaters for myself. I just finished a pretty blue pullover for my daughter. I put a moss stitch pattern (one of my favorite knitting designs) up the front and on the sleeves like I did for my pink sweater. It is finished now and I am starting one for my dil in a lovely

soft heavier yarn which gives the feeling of heather when it is knitted. I found

a wonderful knitting book which was published in l984 which allows you to use whatever yarn and needles you wish to design your own sweaters either in knitting or crochet. It has been sitting around my library for years as it looked rather difficult to understand how to knit a swatch and

figure how to get the proper size. I spent the afternoon a few weeks ago reading it thoroughly and it is great. the size works out perfectly. The only disadvantage is that it gives very

plain patterns and you have to design your own additions, stitches, collars, different types of sleeves etc. I enjoy doing that so it works out well for me.

it is called "Sweaters in every guage" by Barbara Goldstein and was published by Prentice Hall in l984.

I doubt I will ever use a pattern again unless it is something that can't be worked into the instructions in this book. I think if I really worked at it I could adjust written patterns to it - I always 'do my own thing' even when following a regular pattern but I love it that I can pick out a yarn - use whatever needles I wish and figure out the guage with a swatch, then go to the

charts and figure out the stitch number. there are

different necks, sleeves, collars etc. which can be incorporated. I did my pink sweater with different sized needles and yarn than the blue one I am showing today and both turned out nicely --

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I just started one for my dil a few minutes ago in a lovely yarn by Red Heart (collage) and it is knitting up beautifully. It is heavier yarn so I am using larger needles.

It is a cool foggy morning here in Calgary - we have had a very nice autumn but it is starting to get pretty chilly. I imagine most of the 'snow birds' are heading toward Arizona, every year I feel homesick for our park there but life is good even though we don't go down any more. We still keep in touch with our friend in the park we stayed at for l0 years.

Well, I guess I shall read my morning paper and go shopping. Shirley

Sunhine awards

I have been honored with TWO Sunshine awards from other bloggers who enjoy my blog.

Carol and Eileen have both sent me an award, and I do appreciate it. I hope you will visit both their blogs.

I am away for a couple of days and will post the blogs I will award the wonderful daisy to when I get home. It is an honor. There are lots of wonderful blogs out there and I will find it difficult to pick out my choices. thanks ladies. Shirley

KNITTED VEST

I started out knitting a sweater, using a Norwegian pattern which I found on the internet.

I saw one finished and really liked it. I had nothing but problems with it and finally got

the front and back finished -- When I started the sleeves the instructions were poorly

written and after trying 4 times and even taking it to a knitting store - found out that

the whole sleeve pattern was incorrect. I trie

d to design my own sleeves, but with the

pattern on the whole piece , I found it more trouble than it was worth. I therefore decided to make a vest

from the back and front and actually I am quite happy with it. I crochet a narrow design around

the neck and sleeve openings and bought myself a black long sleeved t shirt to wear with it.

I decided to start another plain pullover with a seed stitch strip 3" wide up the center front -- it is well under way and I am going to get lots of use out of it. It is still only Sept. and we have had

a bit of snow already -- We have had a terrible summer - it is very cold out and everyone is

fed up with the bad weather. Especially as winter seems to be arriving early! I bought a

pretty medium pink and will knit it on the round.

I am enjoying my break from landscapes and thread painting and once I finish the 2nd

sweater I will get back at it.

CHALLENGE REVEAL two

Today is the reveal for the second challenge of our group Challenging ourselves and once again there is lots of interesting pieces posted. Here is mine.

I painted the scenes with craft acrylics and then

did thread painting on top to highlight the pictures. I then did some beading .

I am enjoying the group so much and love looking at all the new work. I hope you will visit

the group see the side bar, and check out the

reveal today.

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I am working on a beautiful cardigan and it is slowly getting done. It has been a

long while since I knitted a pattern and found this one confusing. I saw the finished

cardigan in a wool shop here in Calgary, and tried it on and fell in love with it.

I decided to cut back on my art work for awhile and decided to do this sweater.

I find the pattern hard to understand but have struggled through it and have the

back and both fronts nearly done. I am so glad I stuck with it and I know it is

going to be nice when I finish it. I am not sure whether I am allowed to show

the pattern but here are the pieces I have finished. It is pattern l04 Garn Studio

September is here!!!!

Unbelievable that we are well into September after a very cool, stormy summer. Our

summers are so short anyway that one like this past one makes the winter seem much longer.

We did manage a few nice days -- had a picnic with the family at one of the parks (one I used to visit when I was very young) for my

birthday, which was lovely. Such a good time --

I have made a big decision and have decided to retire from the Learningfa group which I started in 2007 - it now has over 400 members and is a very active good group- I know I will miss running the group but I really am ready. Delia Holst from Australia will take over the

art quilt classes and she is a wonderful artist so the group will be in good hands.

It is such a successful group, with free traditional and art classes, that I really wanted to make sure it is in good hands -- Julie runs the traditional free classes and Delia the art free classes so it should be

a smooth transition. Check out Delia's Blog (right side bar)- her art work is outstanding and I am fortunate that both these girls were willing to keep the group going.

I will still be teaching on my blog and for the group so I am not 'leaving' the group --

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I have started knitting a cardigan and as it is years since I knitted by pattern, I am having quite a time. It is a Norwegian Pattern and difficult to understand even though I am using US

measurements. It is bright and pretty and I know I will love it when I get it finished.

I have done a bit of unravelling but am slowly getting there. I have always designed my own knitting patterns for sweaters but this one is so pretty I couldn't resist it.

Here is the link to the pattern (it is l04). I hope you can open it -- I tried a sample on a couple of years ago and it has been in my mind since then. I will be glad when it is finished. I wish I lived close to a really good knitter as I am sure it isn't as confusing for someone who follows patterns all the time! I will persevere though!

http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/drops_oppskrift_oversikt.php?drops=104

I have the back and 3/4 of one front done . The decrease for the neck should be simple but isn't and (I have done this type of neck before with no problems. It is just understanding

what they are saying ) I am seriously thinking of doing the neck my way rather than the pattern. grin.

Well, back to it. Shirley

Gifts for my nephew

My nephew got married on Saturday and I am posting pictures of the gifts I made for them.

They are divers and photographers and have some Wonderful photos of different fish, and underwater coral. I decided to do 3 of their pictures for their wedding present. I completely thread painted each photo after transferring it onto a fabric sheet, placing the background fabric on a piece of heavy timtex, and placing the photo in the center. I then thread painted the whole photo. I made a set of three of their photos and then made the underwater landscape I posted previously. (Here it is again). I just heard from him and they really liked them. It was one of the most fun projects I have ever done - Their photos taken during their dives are

wonderful. All over the world - so interesting.

.

Retreat, Sylvan Lake, Alberta

I want to show you some of the pictures from the Western Retreat at Sylvan Lake, in June.

I drove up with Verona (thanks Vee) and we had lots of fun. It was the l0th anniversary as Debbie and I started it in 2001 so we had a table set up with pictures and some of the gifts the girls received.

We have a large balcony in the gym and so it is great for show and tell. Some of the work done by these ladies is outstanding.- The one on the bottom right is a painted quilt I did in 2000 (my first quilt). The One Block wonder is Verona's isn't it a beauty? and the Beautiful black background flowers is Debbie's

I am home from

Both retreats and learned that two retreats,one immediately after another is just too much.

I am taking a few days before we leave on a week's holiday into BC to take it easy and just

do what I feel like doing.

While at the retreat dear Debbie taught me how to make bowls using clothesline cords. I am

visiting a friend in her new apartment tomorrow and will take her this set as a housewarming gift- a bowl, 3 hot pads and a knitted dish

cloth -- I hope to make a couple more dishcloths tonight for

the set.

I have also made a set for my dil as part of her birthday present.

Once I get back I am going have to get my brain working on my next challenge with the Challenging Ourselves group.

I was so glad to get home -- we had two great retreats though and it was great to reaquaint with a my friends. It was the l0th anniversary of the Western Retreat and the pillow cases

I made for the anniversary with landscapes on them went over very well.

I will be getting back to normal with my blog and the learning fa group once we come back from our little holiday.

Shirley

Here I am again

I have been working on some projects that I wanted to finish before I go to my two retreats next week. I am really ready for a break -- I missed one of them last year due to my son's illness and

I am looking forward to getting away. It has been a difficult year and it seems to have caught up with me a bit - so I will be happy to visit with my friends and get some 'fun ' work done too.

I am teaching a class of my miniatures (rough edged applique) and I am also ready to work on

another manipulated miniature - also have some binding to hand finish so I will have lots to do.

I doubt I will have a chance to post before I leave but will post some pictures of the show and tell and other retreat pictures when I get back. Shirley

I watched the ceremony

in Washington last night and it really was wonderful. I was so impressed with the tribute to the veterans, and especially the widows of men killed in the war.

We are in Afghanistan too, and a neighbor of mine just lost her son. I was an 'army wife' for

20 years and my husband was in the United Nations Peace Keeping force -Gaza, Germany, Korea, and other parts of the world. I was so touched with the beautiful singing, and the tribute to the wounded and the men who have lost their lives. I thought the way they presented the two stories

with actors, was done exceptionally well. It doesn't matter if I am a Canadian we have been in Afghanistan since the beginning-- we are all

in the same boat during this awful war. I feel so much for the people represented by the

ceremony So sad for the wounded and the families left behind.

It was very well done -

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"In flander's fields the poppies blow,between the crosses row on row,

Which mark our place,

While in the sky, the lark still bravely singing, flies. Scarce heard among the guns, below.

We are the dead - short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flander's fields.

Take up the quarrel with the foe -- to you with failing hands we throw,

the torch - Be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with those who die, we shall not sleep.

though poppies blow in Flander's fields."

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This was written by a Canadian soldier Lt. Colonel John McRea in the first World War who died shortly after

writing it. If you are interested in reading the story behind it there is lots of information if you google it.

I hear that

Ontario is having a heat wave -- I know how hot and humid it gets there. HOWEVER, we

are having lots of snow - can you believe it! We have such a short summer under normal

conditions that we don't need a week of rain and snow at the end of May!

I am so tired of it! We had a lovely month of March and since then it has been yucky!

Here in Alberta we get winds from the North as well as winds from the Pacific and if the two run into each other it means lots of bad weather.

Oh well, at least I am getting some work done. I am also getting ready to go to two retreats

starting June 17 I will be gone for a total of 9 days - I will be teaching my little humming bird

Challenge quilt (with the babies in the nest) as well as a little winter scene. They will learn to

do a l2 x 12 miniature which will be thread painted on fabric backed by heavy timtex-

One of the retreats (Western Retreat) I started l0 years ago and women came from all over.

We have made many lifelong friends from it., The other is another retreat which originated with the first one. Between the two we have over 60 people meet each year.

I am working on a series of fish studies from underwater deep diving. They are wonderful and will be given as gifts for an upcoming event. I am really enthusiastic about them and have the first one well under way. I really like doing the miniatures that are completely thread painted.

Well, off to the library and then back to thread painting.

Shirley

Jacket for my sister

I decorated a jean jacket 4 or 5 years ago for Marj - it was a forest scene with tipis etc. a lake . She just loves it and has worn it a lot . She mentioned how often she wore it so I decided to do another for her. Here it is. It is very much like one of my scenes with a coyote in it and I know she will like it. I am going to put a winter birch tree on the front.She is in Ottawa so we don't see each other often. Thank heavens for the internet!

She is much taller than me so the jacket will fit her better than it does me! Shirley

Hayley

We took Hayley out for lunch the other day, and we found some pillows shaped like a rainbrow trout - it was a foot taller than she was and she just loved it. I couldn't resist putting a photo

to show you.

She is growing so quickly, We look after her once a week and have since she was born so we have been lucky enough to be involved with her growing up. She changes so quickly.

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I have had more issues with my mac - although I think I have the problems solved - for how long I don't know.

Yesterday I opened my blogs and there were no pictures or back

ground color on the blog s. It happened before and the mac

support person helped me get it back. About 3 hours later it was blank again except for the text - so I called them again. This time she walked me through quite a few steps and voila! there was the color. I just had all my data removed and there seems to be a glitch in it. Hmm- might end up having to buy another computer if it keeps on acting up.

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Our Çhallenging ourselves group has chosen another challenge theme - 'FOUR ELEMENTS'

there should be some interesting reveals on this one. I have a few ideas perking around in my head. These challenges are REALLY a challenge.

I hope you will drop by our Challenging ourselves blog and see the results of the first challenge

"Hidden Treasures" Well, I have to head out for some errands. have a nice day! Shirley

Challenging ourselves reveal today

There are now l5 'Hidden Treasures' in the Challenging ourselves BLog and I hope you will drop by and check them out. This is our first challenge and therefore our first reveal. I am so pleased with the variety of subjects and the beautiful finished projects.

We would love it if you check them out and comments would be very welcome. The address is on the side bar - of my favorite blogs. Shirley

My challenge piece, HIDDEN TREASURES!

This is my challenge which was revealed today.

I decided it would work well, if I used baby Hummingbirds as the Hidden Treasures . It was fun to do.

I will be teaching this miniature, as well as two others at the Big Sky retreat in Olds, in June. I hope you will check out the rest of the challenges.

Challenging ourselves reveal today

I would love it if you would go to the side bar and click on Challenging Ourselves - today is the reveal of our first Challenge "Hidden Treasures" The girls in the group (20 of us) are posting

pictures of their challenge and telling us how they decided to do their challenge, and what they did to meet the Challenge.

It was a 'reach' for all of us and I am soo impressed -- We have about 9 challenges posted and the rest will like come in today. I think you will find it interesting. I am so glad we set up this Challenge group - it is amazing how different people work. Check them out! Shirley

UNDERWATER CORAL WALL HANGING 2010

I  have had a great two days.  I started this top yesterday and finished it a few minutes ago.

I will add a border (possibly 2) and then quilt it.  This will be a class , but it is also going to 

be a wedding gift -  I have decided to do some beading as well.   Isn't it a nice feeling 

when you start something and it just happens, with no problem and the work just flows?

It is the first time that has happened since we lost our son so I am feeling really good about it!

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Well! we have had the Mother of all spring storms.   Rain, 8 - l0 inches of snow  heavy wind, and really a mess.   We never left the house.   It is slowly passing.  The only good thing about it is that the farmers desperately needed moisture so that will help.  The roads

were blocked, accidents all over the place.  Our summer is so short that we really don't need a storm like this in May!  The whole Province from Edmonton to the Montana border was 

affected and roads impassible.   Now I hope summer will likely arrive.  We were in Banff last week and it was 22 deg.

C   (over 70 degrees F.) absolutely glorious.   One thing about our Alberta weather it can change in an hour.

I  have just about finished binding my winter Skating on the Pond, and have finished 3 

 fully thread painted manipulated miniatures so it has been a good time for me.

I am attending two retreats in June, as I do every year, so have started getting my 

secret sister gifts ready  and other things organized as well.  I am really looking forward to it

this year.  

Nothing much on tv tonight - but I feel good about finishing the wall hanging.  Shirley

My first quilt - ever

One day the quilt group in the park asked me to teach them how to paint on fabric.  They wanted something southwestern, so I agreed.  It was my first use of my 'little people' which I had designed for sets of cards etc.  While we were in the class I casually mentioned  what a great quilt they would make - one of the girls offered to help me make a quilt - all the rest agreed to help me. I had ABSOLUTELY no idea how to quilt, how to put a quilt together.  I drew l6" x 20" panels and we picked out the  sashing fabric.   Eighteen of my friends helped us.  Two close friends helped me  sandwich each  block with a portion of the sashing.  l6 of my friends hand quilted a block each and when we got them back my friends showed me how to put the quilted blocks together.  I then hand quilted the  quilt - I couldn't believe how beautiful it was.   That was the last year we were able to go to Arizona and when we got home I decided I wanted to make 

another quilt so that I wouldn't forget anything.  All of my hand painted quilts were 'quilt as you go' and all were hand quilted.    There was a lot of interest in the quilts and there are three of them in the US - hmm I wonder if they are still being used.   

I then put together a group of blocks given to me for running the first Western retreat - it was two sided and I learned then that traditional quilting for me was not nearly as much fun as using my own ideas for quilts or wall hangings.  I will put a picture of the second  and third quilt I made - one was given to my son Rob 9 years ago and he treasured it.  I have it in my 

collection -  Shirley

Student's Southwestern wall hanging

Last year I taught a class on learning fa - it was a southwestern scene and used some of my 

patterns for southwestern 'little people'.   Susan just posted a picture and as we are talking about some of the southwestern work - I decided it was fitting that I showed it.   T here were some 

wonderful wall hangings completed with this class.   

I am going to take some pictures of my Southwest painted quilts  and tell you how they evolved, tomorrow.  I hope you are enjoying my memories of Mesa!   Shirley

Pine needle baskets and clay

This is part 2  of my southwestern art pictures.   I learned to do some wonderful pine needle 

woven baskets  which I still have, while I was staying at Valle del Oro in Mesa --  In some cases I hand built some centers and

poked in holes all around the center circles -- Then I attached the raffia and started making the outsides.   The long one is 

a 'bun holder' - the larger is a hot mat -- the basket at the side 

is a bit different.  First of all I dyed my needles a brown -  and used sliced walnuts put together with silicone - which gives them strength and a nice looking finish.  I also incorporated some walnut slices in the ends of the basket.   

As mentioned in my previous post, I loved doing the southwestern arts - and these are 

treasures.  I made quite a few at  the time for gifts but made  sure I kept one of each for me!

I hope you enjoy looking back with me.   Shirley

Older work

I was talking to my dear friend Debbie on the phone and she has taken up pottery and doing a great job.  

I finally found some pictures of my clay and basket work to send to her and  thought I would 

put them in my blog.  I think I might have shown them 2  years ago but here they are again.

I took a class using Arizona red c

lay and we made navajo indians on a wall.  I did the two navajoh - but the third one ended up as Chief Chiniki an indian chief from the Morley band just outside of Calgary.  He used to ride in the stampede parade with his beautiful head dress and 

beaded outfit.  I grew up watching him at the parade and some how he ended up on my wall.

I have to admit  the wall means a lot to me.    I also did  a lot of other

 types of clay work. 

Two of the above are "southwest indian carving's  which was interesting to do.  You take a green ware vase  raw -and using undercoating thinned with water  you put l0 coats letting them dry in  between each coat.   Then you put  between 8 and l0 thin coats of another color , letting them dry thoroughly between each coat.  Then you put the last series of coats in a 3rd color.  You let them dry for at least four days - then you carefully draw your design on your vase and start 

scraping very carefully until you reach the color you want -- My first coat was black and turquoise and sand were my other colors.  I scraped the black  until I reached the next color and  then scraped that way until I reached the bottom color.  we then fired the piece and what you see with both the vases is what you get you can fire it to bisque and then either cover with a clear matt finish (not fired)  or you can  cover it with a matt or shiny glaze and fire it again.

I didn't use a glaze - I finished it off with a matt finish painted on.   I loved doing them.  I won a

ribbon at the Phoenix Art show which pleased me. 

I loved going down to Mesa every year - there were wonderful areas for so many new arts that I hadn't taken before - My eyes were opened to a lot of wonderful new techniques.   I wish I 

lived closer to Debbie as I would join her pottery group.  It was amazing the work that 

came out of that pottery room.  One girls made a 3 ft long crocodile made in 3 section which 

fitted together so that it was able to be placed in different ways.  It was really outstanding and 

she really reached out of the box.   So many memories of Valle Del Oro in Messa.  I got my start in quilting and fabric painting there. 

Our 55th anniversary

was yesterday, so Pat and I decided a couple of days ago to go to Banff and spend some time 

just soaking in the scenery.   The  picture here is Bow Falls right in Banff Town and although the ice has melted the falls are still covered with ice and snow.  It is a lovely spot.   We then went to the Vermilion lakes which is also in the Banff Townsite and took lots of pictures of Mt. Rundle with snow on the lake.   It is one of my favorite mountain scenes -- and each time you go it looks different. 

I am going to do another wall hanging ,Spring in the Rockies once I finish binding a couple of my newest wall hangings.   Check out the header on the blog and you will see how beautiful it is.

It was a wonderful little trip and the when we got home last night Kelly (son) and family took us for dinner.    

I really needed to get away and I could feel the stress leaving me on the trip.   It is my favorite place in the whole world.    Shirley

New BLog

I hope you will welcome my friend Val who just opened her blog.   Val and I are good friends.

She lives in Canmore and worked at the Sugar Pine quilt shoppe (anyone from Alberta or BC will know about the Sugar pine) and I met her at one of the retreats a few years ago.

I would love you to check out her blog and look at the quilt she made of her grand daughter. 

She should be very proud of it.   I have put her blog on my blog list. 

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It was a gorgeous day and we took a drive - however, I FORGOT  my camera and saw at least 

4 scenes which would make great landscapes.  oh well.  Talk to you all later.

Learningfa Class projects

We are having a very successful thread painting  on going series and Delia from Australia

did this beautiful parrot.   I taught how to do a robin and was so pleased that she took one of 

the beautiful parrots that live in her part of the world.   When we were in  Oz  about 5 years ago we  visited a place just outside of Melbourne that  had thousands of parrots.  They ate out of 

our hand.

  Delia is in the same  Challenge group that I belong to and an active member of our group.  She can do anything - traditional and art quilts.  She will be teaching the 'disappearing nine patch ' in May.

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The second picture is  a Seminole patchwork wall hanging which was taught by Verona -

her wall hanging is lovely.  It was a very successful class and I am showing you her

class sample.   Verona does such gorgeous work.  It was an extremely successful class.

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The bottom   picture is the next landscape class I will be teaching  in May- we just finished 'skating on the pond"  the girls are working on theirs right now.   This one is quite easy so I hope they enjoy it.

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these are just examples of what we do in learningfa (fiberarts).   So much fun.   Shirley

Thread painted daisies

were done by Teri  in the learningfa group.   She is taking my thread painting series and I was so pleased with what she did with these.   She is keeping it and hanging it in her house. 

She is one of our most active members and does very lovely work.  Good job Teri!