a different grey
dark purple hollyhock flowers- collected last summer and kept in the freezer
160 grams of frozen flowers and 60 grams of wool – felt and handspun
alum mordant
I’ve taken a dozen pictures and this is the best colour – it is much greener, difficult to describe
every year it gives a slightly different shade, they are lovely to grow along the back fence
as the days get longer and brighter – here is day 20
and my little, old car
oh no! I forgot to stitch door handles, it will only take a minute
blue sky
it’s February — the rain stopped, a break in the clouds and the sun shone brightly
Ebisu – one of the seven lucky Gods of Japan – God of prosperity. commerce and fishing (and sunshine?)
and in the Celtic calendar it is Imbolc – a time of beginnings
a robin flew in to say hello
hopefully Spring is on the way
fiber-y things
a skein of the mohair, spun last summer, went into the cochineal exhaust dye bath
pale pink similar to the dyed felt shibori
what is surprising is the cotton thread, used to tie the shibori, is much darker – generally cotton dyes much lighter than wool
all the natural dyes look so good together
Abby and Bella wanted to use the felt scraps
we stitched and stuffed two very tiny teddies for the girls and added felt hearts
meanwhile, day number 15 is finished
and the wedge weave tapestry is progressing
a wool sun on a wet, grey January day
happily, I’m getting better at tapestry weaving circles
5 more days and a new project
the scroll is slowly inching along
in the neighbourhood – day 15
I’m trying a line of chain stitch to separate each five day group (may take it out) – and have added a new background fabric
while looking for ideas I’m rereading The Great Tapestry of Scotland
I saw the exhibition four times when it was in Victoria in 2016 – I couldn’t absorb it all in one viewing – absolutely marvelous
meanwhile, grandson Iain is working on a project – he is very enthusiastic and learning some new skills
we have started by shibori dyeing felt squares with cochineal
the felt was tied tightly on PVC plumbing pipe, twisted and pushed tightly together
then simmered in the dye pot for an hour and left overnight
I got to remove it from the pipe in the morning – Iain works
and here it is
two very different pieces depending on which one of us did the tying – (mine on the left, Iain’s right)
an extra bonus is the heavy cotton thread – pretty pink
I haven’t done any “making” with a grandchild for several years and we are both having fun – more to come
getting started
the first five days are finished
rather than cutting pages to get started I need a piece 3.75″ (9.5cm.) wide to fit the spool
for the background fabric I’m using old napkins, first used for dyeing experiments
they have a finished edge which will be positioned along the bottom of the long scroll – and the colours will change
as the work progresses the size (length) of each five day piece may be different
I’m trying to decide if I will mark that length in some way?
will I be able to keep this going for another 95 days?
more questions than answers – onward!
the challenge – 2026
a new year, a new beginning
did I start the 100 day book?
not exactly…
no – I had “a bee in my bonnet” – can you see the bee?
(from the little book Clotheslines – the language of clothing and textiles)
I decided to stitch the 100 day challenge in the form of a scroll, using, as inspiration, a similar scroll stitched in May – September 2022
you never know what bits and pieces are just waiting in boxes, bags, drawers and hiding places
and I found a lovely old wooden spool to wind it around – that will determine the width
and now day 1 and 2 – 15 minutes a day
– 98 days to go
Scrap Happy January 2026
the scrappy work started before Christmas
the new Happy Gang members needed stockings to hang – and something to fill them
the red flannel is from the Christmas tree “skirt” that my Mother used for years
the fish are from an Ann Wood pattern https://www.annwoodhandmade.com/blog/ – they would make great tree ornaments
then a gift from son and granddaughter – blogged about here
the reason I have included it is because it is a commercial product that uses recycled/scrap fabrics- wouldn’t it be nice if more companies did that?
and last but not least – ta dah!
the scrappy squares blanket/throw – started Sept. 24 2025 and finished today
it measures approx. 38″X38″ (96cm. X 96cm.) and weighs 3.5 lbs. or 56 oz.
the crocheted border is two rows worked with the scrappy, handspun yarn and then finished with a row of handspun Icelandic wool and silk dyed with cochineal and Brazilwood
scrappy dog, Charlie is happy to have joined the Happy Gang
Happy New Year – best wishes for a year filled with peace, creativity and good health
and, if you are interested in Ann Wood’s 100 day book stitching project – it starts on January 16th
these are the books I stitched in 2022 – 23 – 24 and 25
am I going to do it again?
oops! here are the links to other scrap happy folks
Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv, Karrin, Alissa, Tierney,
Hannah and Maggie
sewing a new friend
and the last gift – from son and grand daughter
a dog loving family – they keep trying to convince me that a dog would keep the deer out of the garden
so…..
a quick little project that wasn’t so quick after all
it suggests you make it with a child, it only takes a few hours and is o.k. for beginners
there is a total of 22 separate pieces
the fabrics are all recycled wool knits – many pieces have tiny darts to give it shape – the maker chooses which fabrics go where
it only took me a couple hours a day for 5 or 6 days, a significant amount of frustration and a wee bit of swearing
some good points — the materials are recycled, it’s a Canadian Co. http://www.cateandlevi.com and they suggest you turn the box into a dog house
kids would love it – grandmothers too (once it is stitched!)
if anyone decides to make one I am happy to give tips on how to avoid the mistakes I made
my sewing machine really didn’t like the knit fabrics and I ended up taking the machine apart, cleaning the shuttle parts and giving it a good oiling
so – welcome Charlie
the Happy Gang are delighted – he is big enough to protect them all from wandering deer
and he has already found a permanent home
Minnie Moose was delighted to see the first signs of Spring
looking forward
a very merry family Christmas was had by all
I’ve never been one to make new year’s resolutions…
I want to leave the year open to the unexpected, the unknown, surprises (good ones) and exploring new things
the Happy Gang are helping to pack everything up – they wanted to leave it but I convinced them that Easter is coming
generally I have a project in mind, ready to go – this year I’ve drawn a blank
so…getting started and my favorite book for inspiration – Ikigai – “a reason for living” or purpose
but first there are a couple projects from last year that have to be finished
the squares! – yes, I’m still working on them
5 are needed – 2 are finished and the third is started
and so, we start this bright, shiny new year with Hope for a Happy, Healthy and Creative New Year
Love and Best Wishes to All
p.s. I do have one resolution — stop procrastinating (at least a little bit)
a little bit of Canadian history
a little bit of history
the spoons were my Mother’s – as a child, I was allowed to choose which one to eat my ice cream with
I was always intrigued with how each of the girls was posed differently
they are silver plate not sterling
born in 1934, Annette the last of the Dionne quintuplets – she died on Christmas eve age 91
R.I.P Annette
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