cotton bowls

It's been busy at the sewing machine. I think I will stretch it out to give you more blog posts.

Here is the latest obsession:

Cotton rope bowls

I've been wanting to do this for years. 

With the latest craze documented by some of my favourite bloggers,

 Soulemama and maya made 

and finding the actual rope at the local hardware store, 

I felt it was time to try it out.

Love love love.

Do you see the thin threads of colour?

Yea, it wasn't enough colour for me.

So I tired it again with bits of felt.

Yes, much better!

 I love the texture and pops of colour. It is therapeutic to sew around and around.

I have many more ideas for adding colour to the outside.

 The only thing stopping me is lack of materials. It is very expensive at the local hardware store. I think I may have to wait until I or someone else goes to the city.

Should I make these available to sell at the Spring Craft sale at the Fire Hall on May 2nd?

Whaddaya think?

have a good one,

Amanda

All in a Week

About a week and a half ago, I was excited about my new clothes line. Stick in the middle a la Newfoundland style.

 And after processing my dad's sudden passing and the joy of family around, I return home a week later to see that life does indeed carry on. 

The grass continues to grow.

 As do the potatoes. The front ones are in the eel grass. The soil spuds are doing better.

Beans

 Lily pads and flowers. The Spring peepers are gone! GONE! I can sleep in my own bed now. It's been since April. I couldn't sleep with their high pitched noise. But now, they're gawn. And have been replaced by the GUNG GUNG of the bull frogs. That's not so bad.

 Patches of Queen Anne's Lace

 Wild strawberries. It was one year ago that DH and I hopped on a plane to buy a house here. This house. The yard had wild strawberries in the back yard. I remembered how I would head to the cliffs of McDougal's Beach to pick the wild strawberries whenever I went home to Newfoundland in the summers. They're small, but warm and sweet.

 The hostas took over. I will certainly remember to split them up next year.

 And the first cord of 4 loads of wood arrived in preparation for next fall. Yes, with the unusually cold winter (for here), everyone was running out of wood. 

So now, everyone is piling up to dry out for next season.

I did manage to get a day and a bit of sewing in for the Shelburne Farmer's Market on Saturday.

 Market bags with longer handles as requested by customers.

 And a few little bags for the kiddies. I love this fabric. It's Tidny fabric from Ikea. 

I thought it would be quilting cotton weight, but it's more like duck and the print is huge. 

So much more than I was expecting. Perfect for the bags.

Tomorrow, I'll be making a rainbow of Monsty's.

And that's how I'm adjusting to being back to "normal". Only, it's not.

One day, one moment at a time.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the market though. ;] It's a nice place to be.

You should come.

Ciao,

Amanda

Summer has arrived

Yellow and purple finches have been feeding together lately. What's behind it? Anyone know?

 Last week, I planted potatoes. Some in eel grass in the bed in the front and some in the ground in rows behind the bed. A little experiment I will show at the end.

I got DH to make a little hut for his beans. He planted beans on the inside and outside. I can't wait until they grow up the line and make a little hideaway for the kids. I'm sure Rafael will be in heaven to just sit in there and eat the beans off the hut.

 We escaped the heat of the town (35+) at Louis Head's beach. What a lovely place and a treat to visit. I didn't test the water, but the kids didn't mind being in it.

I did make something this week! Another market bag for a friend. Didn't she buy a happy fabric! 

 I sewed something else up on Friday.

Another fabulous pattern from Abby. It's the Stella Owl.

I made one in non gendered fabric for a family that was expecting. They've since had the baby, a girl, so now I want to make a pinkalicious one. I'll take pictures tomorrow after I stuff it.

It was a wonderful weekend with Town wide yard sale, AGM for the Farmer's Market which starts June 15, visit to the beach, dinner at the beach, handbell choir at church, watched a play by the townsfolk and another nice dinner. Loving the summer weather. Finally!

Cheers,

Amanda

here and deer

2 more market bags. I'm still not tired of making these.

 Good thing... I still have a few pieces of great fabric in my stash!

 These two lovelies are available for sale at the Whirligig Book shop!

 The weather finally warmed up and it's been so glorious around here!

I've been enjoying these daffodils from my kitchen window, but noticed them from this angle on a walk. Notice the trees at the back from the other side of the house.

 The deer have returned. They must be quite new as there were only three a few days ago.

 The mother had twins last year. 

 Looks like she had twins again this year. There are 5 deer here. 2 new babies, 2 one year olds and the mama. Poor mama!

Did you spot Number 5? Tricky!!!!

The babies don't have the stripe down the back or the spots. Should look up why. Do they get them later? When we arrived last July, they had spots and stripes.

This coming Saturday, May 4, I'll be at the Mother's Day shopping spree at the Fire hall. 1-4

They are fund raising for an AED for Lockeport High School.

Mother's Day Shopping Party

Come support this great cause and buy something local! There will be over 30 vendors there!

Ciao,

Amanda

More market bags and around the grounds.

I'm at the Flying Fox Bake Shop!

Some colourful friends,

And the Market Bags.

 Oh, looky here....

 More market bags! From my stash of fabric I bought in Portugal a few years ago.

 Love this newsprint paired with the red denim. Yes, red denim! (Tammy, if you're reading here.. you going to the Fabric store on the Danforth soon? nudge, nudge, wink, wink.)

 Inside the bag.  A pocket on both sides and a twill ribbon with a key ring attached.

The weather is starting to warm up. Sometimes. My neighbour is looking after my gardening wishes and brought me some wood to make raised vegetable beds. I think I shall plant potatoes in these.

 He also came with his chain saw. Cut out 2 alder bushes to make room for a floating dock.

 Cleared up the path on the back of the pond. Should I keep this tree? Or cut it now? I can just imagine it getting too big to pass in a decade.

 I don't get to stop on this side of the pond much.

 He cleared a bunch more stuff and I made him and his kids dinner. Fair trade to me!

Now, what to do with all those branches. 

That will be another day.

For now, I'll go outside and enjoy the warmth and the sunshine. 

(sorry friends in Ontario. I hear you're having a Spring storm!)

Ciao,

Amanda

2 more Market bags and Spring shopping fling!

Hey, how goes? Just to let you know, I have a facebook page now for By Hook and Thread.

I just have to get it linked on my side bar. Go have a look and "like" me.

 Ok, Ok, just a few more....

 I found a box of my fabric perfect for this market bag. It's good for knitting too! gasp!!

 How's the spring weather where you are?

It's very windy here. That brings the cold. CCCCCCCoooold.

On Saturday, I'll be in Bridgewater at the Spring Shopping Fling with my wares.

Event for Home Base Businesses. There will be no entry fee for buyers, just a food/money donation for the Food Bank. 

We will be donating profits after the costs associated with the event are paid to the Food Bank. 

April 6, 2-4pm, 

Michelin Social Club  221 Logan Road, Bridgewater NS

Maybe I'll see you there? Come say hello. I'll be with a few other crafty ladies from Shelburne.

Ciao,

Amanda

market bag in orange. and teal. and yellow

Somebody stop me! I can't stop! Well, just a few more and I'll move on to something else.

 Little peek at the inside pockets and binding at the bottom.

 3 pretty bags, all in a row.

 While I was out on this shoot in the deceivingly cool day, I wandered in the woods to look for signs of Spring.

Instead, I found lots of this!

There are great questions around here on where the deer sleep and where the buck may be and will there be any fawn this year. We could google the life of deer I suppose to educate ourselves.

This path was across the property. I thought it was deer, but it goes into a tree,
 just behind where I was standing.

And instead of deer hoof prints, there were these. Anyone know what they are?

Do you think it's a racoon?

 And a shot of the yard from an angle you don't usually see. Just at the edge of the woods, from the previous picture with all the bags hanging, looking towards the pond. Those blue barrels were a floating dock. We're hoping to put one of those in the pond sometime too.

And one more look.

Cheers,

Amanda