Happy Halloween

Fall Retreat 2013

I went, with a group of friends, to the Nav Centre in Cornwall, ON, to spend 2 days of uninterrupted quilting and sewing.

We had a lovely time. It is wonderful not to have to worry about the cooking or even make your bed. We just sew and eat!

I got a few Christmas gifts finished (and one about 2/3 finished.) If you are on my Christmas list and read this, try to look surprised when you open the gift!

First I made some pillowcases.

I think they will suit the recipients. (See the kitty peeking over the hem of the red on?)

Then I made a couple of tabletoppers.

I love how different they look, even though they are made from the same fabric.  Although it doesn't look like it from a distance, this is Christmas fabric. It is Holiday Flourish by Kaufman. I love these tabletoppers, perfect for a round table.

I started another project, but I ran out of time (and needed a zipper).

QR Codes Kill Kittens

As you may be aware, the people at Arts and Socks are really quite fond of kittens. We have fostered 120 of them so far.

April

Juno

Here are my current babies.

So last week, when Chapters / Indigo was featuring this book, I figured I had to buy it.

This book is a delightful picture book about people using technology poorly. Like a QR code on a banana, which takes you to a site that can't be viewed on a mobile device. Or people who use QR codes when a link or a phone number would work just as well.

I must make the disclaimer that I don't even own a Smartphone, so QR codes are lost on me any way, but this book is laugh out loud funny in the examples that the author has found to illustrate his premise. A technology should not be used, just because you can.

If you get a chance, read this book. You can also watch a presentation by the author, on YouTube.

And, in case you are wondering, I bought the book, and the review is my own opinion.

An Oriental Tinner

As our year of tinners nears completion, it is getting harder to make a block. Either somebody else already had the same idea as you did, or the pieces of fabric left in the "tin" won't work with your idea.
However, I think I pulled this one off.

I have no idea what this block is called. I saw it in a magazine I was looking at, while visiting a friend. I drew a picture of it in my book, and forgot to copy the name. However, it was a perfect match for the fabric, and I had the co-ordinating fabric in my stash.

Order from Chaos

I was given a lovely yarn that had had a terrible accident . It had turned into a snarled mess.

I forgot to take a picture before I started, but I think you get the general idea. I couldn't find the end, so I bravely picked through the worst of the snarled, pulled a thread, and cut it loose. It turned out pretty well, because when I was done, I ended up with this.

Ta Da!

Meanwhile, I finished another pair of socks (because I just can't stop knitting them).

I love the colour and the yarn is Bamboo and Nylon, lovely and soft.

Because I finished my socks, I cast on a new shawl.

This one is in a silk yarn from my stash. I think it followed me home one day. Although it is hard to tell in the picture, it has beads every 4th row. Lots of lovely silvery beads.

If you follow this blog, you will know that we foster cats for the local shelter. My buddy Finnegan came to stay in March, and has spent the summer enjoying the yard.

Finnegan moved to his new forever home, last Monday. He is now someone's special senior gentleman.

So Arts and Socks is pleased to welcome two new fosters.

Meet Jade.

And her sister, Jazz.