Vesta Victoria

Well hellooooo,

I had a great time last weekend, singing at the Osprey Arts Centre for British Music Hall night.
Can you believe that I scooped this beauty of a dress off the rack of the local thrift store just a day before the show? It was hung there in all seriousness. Perfect costume for the evening.

 Thanks to Harbourtone Productions Recording Studio you can have a listen too!
Go here. I'm about 4 minutes in.


And check out other podcasts from Alex as well. Such a treasure to have this in our town.

IT'S FRIDAY!

And this little chicky didn't like the brambles. 

She stayed there until I picked her up to join her other friends.

Happy Friday!

updates

Gloomy day out there for January.

I thought I'd give a little update on a few things happing around here.

But first, I must show you this stocking I made as a custom order.

I love it. It's made from boiled wool, aka, wool coat.

As you may have read, this is a tourist town that has many societies to promote this. 

The United Empire Loyalist flag is very prevalent around here.

There may be a few more of these in the future.

And my darling new slippers!

Lovely and thick. Custom made for me. Ordered by my husband. Even better!

You may remember my first pair of felted slippers from here. 

They've met a dreadful fate. I've worn holes in the heels. I tried to needle fet them, but it needs a bit more. My plan is to buy a suede skirt and make soles for them to patch it up. Well worth it I'm sure.

 This one I actually requested and followed up on weekly to ensure it's arrival.

 Looking forward to sitting and making a few of these.

 Maybe after finishing these. (But I do have a blue pair I want to knit up)

This happened this week! 10!! TEN!!

I had planned our first ever house party with a few friends. Got snowshoes from the Rec. and Parks dept, planned snow games and then it rained! The whole day! 7 degrees C.

But they had fun playing hide and seek and some other games. 

Rafael was so thankful and happy that there was nothing planned. 

Sometimes, we over schedule our kids. It's nice to let things happen naturally.

And looking at the colour of that wall above, I'm gearing up to paint the main floor.

Better to do something. I've been procrastinating in the making department.

I have this pile to contend with before I can make anything!

There is a pair of leather gloves for DH in there. Lost since Christmas.

There may also be a small child! :}

Help!

Have a good one!

Amanda

Happy New Year!

Howdy!

Did you have a good Christmas? We sure did. A visit to the city to spend a few days with my family after the mad rush of Christmas making. Eating, laughing, loving. Yep, 'twas good.

We had our annual New Year's raclette tonight. So good. 

I got some things for Christmas that I'd like to share, but I haven't been in a picture taking mood. Maybe once the kids get back to school and some routine and focused thinking time are available.

I plan on doing a deep house cleaning in January. And maybe even finally repainting this place. Neve keeps calling January the "magical month" because I say I'll find all the lost things when I clean the place. There are a few iPods, sunglasses and other treasures missing. I sure hope they are indeed here to be found. 

See, no pictures to show you. I think my husband may have taken a few. I'll check another time.

Well, that's it for now. Couldn't let this occasion to go by without thanking you for visiting.

Blessings for 2014!!

Amanda

1st Snow Day of the school year.

Unbeknownst to this household and maybe many more in this area.. this happened overnight.

 They are predicting a big snow dump on Sunday. 

 So this, Day 3 of snow in a row, was a surprise.

 A no school day surprise.

A "Guess I won't be driving to the city today", surprise.

But the best part..

 Oh, and this...

Chicken in the crock pot with homemade BBQ sauce, and chicken in the soup pot for lunch. 

Going to try this lemony chicken recipe.

Have a good one.

Amanda

Happenings

G'day.

How is it where you are?

This is what we woke up to.

Nice isn't it?

This kind of snow is what I call "movie snow".

It means it's warm enough to play in.

This year, the spirit of Christmas is being sponsored by my 7 year old daughter, Neve.

 She created this little display. Cute.

The kids are wearing their fuzzy Santa hats everywhere. She is singing Christmas carols constantly and is learning a few on the piano.

 Secrets are being whispered to the elves. The kids were disappointed one day when the elves were suspended from a disco ball in the living room. They couldn't touch them and the elves were too high to talk to.

 I got some socks made to donate to the kids' school for a raffle.

 

Sadly, there weren't enough ugly Christmas sweaters in my travels this year. 

Guess they've caught on for all those "Ugly Christmas Sweater" parties.

If you're local or in town, pop over to the Gallery 138 shop on Water street, next to the Bistro 138.

Some nice stuff there for someone on your shopping list.

And one of my favourite small town moments..

 Mail for the kids without any address on it. 

It was a thank you for them playing the bells, tictoc blocks and whip in the Hand bell Choir selections at a concert. I don't think I have a picture. hmm, just a video. It was our 2nd year participating and it was lovely.

Today, there is no school, Parent-teacher interviews. 

There is fresh snow, sunshine, kids who are self entertained- at the moment- and a sewing list that has to be addressed. 

Looking forward to a slower paced day.

Cheers,

Amanda

of things burlap-ed

I'm in a decorating mood. A Christmas decorating mood.

But in orange. No reds or greens here. 

I'm decorating the brewery in burlap, doilies, silver and orange. Lots of orange.

These jars will hold tea lights.

 Stairs wrapped in burlap, silver ribbon and glitter balls. 

The stockings are made from grain sacks. 

That's only a little example of other plans I have for grain sacks. Can't wait to have time to do them.

 And on the tree..

Burlap wrapped balls... white Linen wrapped balls and orange too.

 Snowflake wool hearts... burlap and orange ones too.

 Burlap and doily stars

Oh, I forgot to show the burlap bunting. 

But more pics will follow. With a proper camera, in proper light. When it's all done. 

A few more touches and it will be good.

I also made this little canvas for an art auction at the art centre.

It's a great, fun fundraiser.

How it works: 

You buy 2 canvasses for $10.

Decorate them as you wish.

Once they are displayed, they are for sale for $25 each. the artist gets $10 back and the centre gets $15.

Ones unsold are returned to the owner.

It was a lot of fun to do and to see all the canvasses, trying to guess who painted what.

Various levels of talent and various mediums.

That's it for now,

Cheers,

Amanda