Tulip Time

 It's Victoria Day weekend in Canada. In Ottawa, it is Tulip Festival time. Since the end of WWII we have covered the place with tulips. This week, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands was here again, to enjoy our tulips. If you didn't know, Princess Margriet was born in Ottawa in 1943. 

Here are some of my tulips.

Not much sewing done this week.

We had two of our big trees removed. They were diseased and we felt that they were unsafe. We were sad to see them go.

As you can see, the replacement was planted about 5 years ago, knowing this was going to happen. It is a native Basswood and will start to spread, now that it has more sun.

The machine that took the trees down is amazing. The operator stands on the ground, and a crane arm with a large clamp and circular blade can grab the tree, and cut off the piece it is holding. Then the cut piece is lowered gently to the ground. This seems so much safer than older methods.

I went shopping for new shoes. This is what I wanted.

They didn't have them in my size, so this is what I got.

Why are grownup shoes so boring? I want shoes that sparkle when I walk.

I finished my April socks.

And started my May ones.

They have a different heel, I'm waiting to see how they fit.

The pattern pieces for my new bag have all been altered, and I need to get the fabric cut out and sewn.

They are threatening weather in the high 20's this week. I have long felt like spring is just about 3 weeks, here, at the beginning of May. Then, poof, it is summer. Hopefully we will have a day to clean up the sunroom, before it gets too hot.

Try Not To Make The Same Mistake Twice

 I finally decided on the fabric for my new bag.

That feels right. I haven't had a cat bag for awhile, so it seemed time. In my sorting, I found two pieces of the paw print fabric, so I thought I'd use the smaller piece for the lining of this bag. The cats have been in my stash for about 6 years, I think. It was recently re-released, in darker shades. I like mine better.

I'm going to make the Sunshine Crossbody Bag.  Its a free pattern from Bagstock Designs. 

https://www.bagstockdesigns.com/collections/pdf-sewing-patterns/products/sunshine-crossbody-pouch

As I was preparing the pattern pieces, I had a couple of memories, of bags past, that I need to consider for this bag.  This bag has a front pocket, and I like that for my phone. I made a bag and then got my current phone, and the phone didn't fit in the front pocket. So I checked the zipper size, measured my phone, and thought there wouldn't be a problem.

Then I remembered a passport wallet I made for a friend, where after careful measuring, I discovered that I couldn't fit the passport in, because the zipper pull shortens the opening. So I marked the seam lines, and then marked the length of the zipper pull and slide.

Then I laid my phone on the seamline, with the bottom at the mark for the sipper pull.

I think that needs a little  more fabric.

i added 2 1/2" to the front piece. Now it looks like the phone will fit. Now I just need to find all the pattern pieces that I need to 2 1/2 inches. I'm so glad a remembered that before I cut anything.  And, yes, I decided to go with the bright colored zipper instead of the pastel.

Daisy had a puppy party this week. She invited her litter mate, Luigi, and his family for a playdate. It was a beautiful spring day, and everyone had so much fun.

The children had fun, and can't wait to do it again. I think there will be more puppy playdates, soon.

Where Did You Get That Bag?

 I have carried bags I made for myself for a very long time. I like that they have the pockets that I need, the bag is a suitable size for me, and the fabrics I use are a reflection of my personality. 

However, out in the wild, I get the most interesting response. The conversation goes something like this:

"Where did you get that bag?"

"I made it."

"You're kidding!"

Very weird. Why wouldn't I make it? Where do they think bags come from? Magical elves?

Oh, well. I recently looked at my everyday clutch and decided that it was looking a little worn. Apparently I made it 3 years ago. So it is time for a new bag. Something bright for the spring that is still playing hide and seek.

I was playing in my stash. I recently sorted my fabrics again, to put themes together. At the same time, I pulled some fabric to give to a friend for her latest charity project.

In this box are cats, EMS, animals, Laurel Burch, and crafting themed fabric. I have another 2 boxes this size, though the second one isn't full.

I started putting fabrics together, that I liked.

Take 1:

 It has potential, but that isn;t quite it.

Take 2:

Maybe, but I think I want something a bit brighter. I have some cork that might work. I think I'll keep playing.

I finished some knitting this week.

Baby socks and one adult sock. The second adult sock is approaching the heel.

The flowers are trying to appear.

Snowdrops and crocus on a damp and  grey day. The forsythia is starting to get a yellow tinge.

Daisy is growing, too.

Her days as a lap dog are numbered. 

This is the dining room conservatory.

Six Hibiscus flowers opened this morning. They are obviously ready for it to be spring. 

Begonia

 Sometimes, an idea comes together quickly and easily.

A friend wanted a small backpack with a drawstring top for her spring walks. She asked if  I knew of a pattern. I went looking in my usual sources and found exactly what she was looking for at Blue Calla Patterns, the Begonia Backpack.

I realized that I had most everything I needed in my stash, so I decided a quick little project would take my mind off the snow.

The bag is finished, mailed and received, so let me show you.

I was really pleased with how it turned out.

The zipper pulls line up in the centre, and the fabric is matched across the zipper.

I remembered to add my label. The bottom of the bag is cork fabric.

I added a cork overlay to the interior pocket.

There is a carabiner for her keys. I didn't take a picture but there is Daisy fabric lining the interior pocket.

All of the fabric was in my stash, along with the zippers. 

I also started a new sock, this week.

A plain vanilla sock in some pretty yarn from Area 51 Fibres. 

Not much sign of spring outside, although most of the snow has disappeared. However, my dining room plants think we need some bright flowers.

The weather for this week is forecast to be grey and rainy. A good week to sew.

Is It Spring Yet?

 Spring has been teasing us. One day, we are enjoying the sunshine, the next it is snowing again. It is hard to plan anything. 

I cut some forsythia branches, to bring some spring inside. I seem to have forgotten to take a picture when they were in full bloom. I'll catch the tree in a few more weeks, when it is in bloom.

I had a 9 yo helper to make cupcakes for our Sunday lunch.

The verdict from the guests: They taste better than the cupcakes from a high end bakery. Taste for the win!

We took Daisy for her first visit to the Chip Truck. In Eastern Ontario, chip trucks are everywhere people are, from spring through fall. Fresh, hot, and delicious treat on the go.

The socks I started in November, are finally finished. Turns out that the nine yo has feet almost as big as mine.

So, he has warm socks for his boots.

I also made some baby socks, for another grandma.

I've been sewing, but that is a story for another post. Today, the sun is out for a few minutes, and I am going to enjoy my coffee in the sunshine.

How Quickly They Grow

 When we were told that our puppies adoption was approved, we did a quick trip to the pet store to get a few things. One of the things we bought was a harness, to tether her in the car.  She was tiny, so it was tiny. Mudd seems to be checking out the whole thing.

It was the same size as my tea mug, so I decided she was a Teacup Husky.

That was nearly 2 months ago, and she outgrew that one in about 6 weeks, so I figured I could make her a new one from my stash. 

It turned out that the only thing I was missing was a side release buckle. So I ordered some online, and started to make the harness.

The buckles arrived this morning, so the harness is finished. Yes, there are Daisies on the fabric. 

It seems the hardest part was putting the buckle on.

It took me about 6 tries to get everything the correct way around. I realized the when I do these on purse straps they don't have an up or down. These ones are curved. so  I kept putting it on the wrong way round. I'll save the picture for the next time.

I tried it on Daisy, and she did her version of the fashion runway strut.

Adorable, though not quite what I was going for.

The good news is that it does fit. It will do for a new car harness.

I am going to try to figure out a larger version of the first one she had. It will make a better harness for walks.

After the sock that didn't work, last week, I am back to a trusted pattern.

Kate Atherley's Baby Sock pattern, at the baby bird stage.

Catching Up

 Between puppies and finishing Polaris, I have a bit of catching up on other things.

After I finished Polaris, I did a tidy of my space, cleaned my machine, changed the needle, wound some bobbins, dusted. Now I'm ready to start something new. However, I was running out of my usual Dove Grey thread. It is the colour I use the most of. 

I ordered some more Aurifil thread from Karen Neary. My thread arrived in two days, and you can see that Karen cares about her product.

Look at how pretty it comes wrapped.

It is so nice to see the care taken.

Some grey, fuchsia, and purple, now what will I do with that?

BTW, this isn't a paid product endorsement, I just love the way the packages come.

I finished my first weird sock.

As I suspected, it is the wrong shape for my foot.

See the wrinkles at the ankle, too much fabric for my foot. So I have frogged it. It was an interesting learning experiment, so the effort wasn't wasted. Back to the heel flap and gusset.

Daisy's favourite person went out without her this morning, for a whole hour. Here she is guarding his shoes and awaiting his return. An hour is a long time when you are little.