My talented daughter ( in law)

This is the Christmas gift made for me by Vanessa. She made almost all of her Christmas presents this year, and this scarf is (I think) her best work. The pattern is called "Leaf and Acorn", and if you look just under the scalloped edge, you can see the leafs and acorns alternating in the fine-knit lace. Breathtaking!





It is mohair, and soft and light beyond belief. It feels as light as a cobweb, and the lace-work is just as fine. The scarf took just one ball of wool, which means it weighs in at just 40 grams!

I copied her gift card that she included with the scarf, as it gives some details, and a description of the origin of the pattern.



I love this scarf! I love that Vanessa took the time to make something of heirloom quality for me. She said that Mohair is tricky to work with, and as she was knitting it she discovered she was allergic to the wool and her legs broke out in hives. (She knit it in the summer and was wearing shorts at the time).
Did she abandon the project? No! She continued, working at a snails pace with the difficult work, completed it, and then made another for her Great Aunt.

Now I just need a Grand daughter to pass it down to in due time. Vanessa is expecting, so I may have one on the way. If not, maybe the next one? (No pressure Ness!)

Yee Haw!

to quote Deb Trotter...

So today, for the 11th day of Christmas, I had a delivery (by Pony Express of course) from Deb. I LOVE this Cowgirl's art, and was excited to see what treasure the package would hold.

The book inside is a hoot! It's circle pages fan open, and the 12 artists in this swap each have a page and poem dedicated to them. Deb is TOO clever! The poems are hilarious, and the artwork individualized on the back of each page is beautiful and brilliant.


Here is my page, not a copy either, but the original collage piece.
Can you read the quote? It says, "Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark." I love it!
And look inside the nest...instead of eggs...it's marbles! How great is that!
The poem on the back of my page cracks me up...it's as though Deb completely gets me!

"Arlene is a woman who loves glass that shines
And surely she saves every piece that she finds.
Stacks of old paper, unusual fonts,
And marbles and nests are the things that she wants.
She will not like presents all perfectly new-
Instead, give her something old, vintage, and blue.
Give Arlene a poem, that's what I have planned-
One that is made from the heart and the hand."

Deb, have you been spying on me, or rummaging through my piles in my studio? Ha! It's too accurate...I think you have an in with Santa, who "sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good..." (Or messy and cluttered?)

I am really tempted to undo the post binding and get a little Christmas tree to hang these pages individually, to honor the spirit of this swap. They would make such wonderful ornaments, along with some of the gifts I have received. Yes!

Thanks Deb, you're a true cowgirl artist!

Yee Haw!

So much to show and tell!

Wow. The last three days have been crazy busy, as we are celebrating Christmas today with Nialle and Ness and Liam, before our trip up North. We have been shopping, wrapping, cooking decorating and taking care of all the last minute details we needed to wrap up before sitting back and enjoying the fruits of our labour.

However, the high point of each day has been opening up my little treasures from the worlds most gifted (pun intended, thank you very much) friends and artists.

Day 8 was my day to open the much anticipated gift from the hostess of our wonderful swap, Lelainia Lloyd, (see her here and here. ) I just knew it would be something special; something inspiring and pretty. It is,....but I can't show you yet! I can tell you it is something I love, that I will turn to often for encouragement, and a reminder of the spirit of this amazing exchange. And I promise I will show all in a few days, when Christmas is over and done, and I can really focus on what has been and what is yet to be in the coming year. Stay tuned!

Day 9...oh my! I can show you, but you really can't imagine the lovely experience of opening up this little package from Trudy McLauchlan.




The adorable embroidery, perfect and precise! So cute! The feel of the soft linen and cotton, soft and well washed perhaps?




And the SMELL! Heavenly! A Lavender filled pillow, wafting my favorite scent in the whole world (I can't believe I didn't put Lavender in the database as one of my favorite things!) It is so calming and spirit lifting.
Oh, I do love this Trudy! Thank you So very much! Shall I sleep with it under my pillow? I've been reading with it near by; as it wafts it's marvelous scent up I am relaxed, centered and happy. Ah...bliss.

Day 10 today, and in addition to the stocking stuffers from my family, I had the pleasure and anticipation of the lovely red package from England.
Oh Liz! You read my list, (and my heart)! This little book, fat and full of promise, it is perfect in every way!



Each page is a joy. There are envelopes with treasures I adore....beach glass; worn and smooth and blue as the sea. (I'm drooling!)

Little vintage ephemra bound in or fastened with interesting little paper clips. Each page is more delightful. And in the back, a diminutive pencil to write my secret thoughts and dreams. It is so lovely.




Thank you, thank you!! I will carry this with me and use it and love it and treasure it.

My gifts, Day 8.

Here is the pile of little fabric and paper collage books before I wrapped them up. I used all kinds of treasure and junque to embellish them.

They are kind of shabby around the edges, and imperfect, and feel so nice in my hand with the textures of the fabric and buttons and things.






After sewing a little bag for them, I wrapped them in tissue, tucked them in, and wrapped a torn scrap of red around to hold the day 8 tag. Then I put them in their mailing envelopes.
In my haste to get them out, just as Nialle was being admitted to the hospital, I forgot to include my tags with my name on them.

That's it! They are all in the hands of the artists I made them for, and I hope they enjoy them, and find some special little bits and pieces to tuck into the pages.

Still more Liam moves...

Indulge me a little. Who could fault this Grandma for being smitten with this?.....

Day Seven...such a treat.

Fiona Mortimer was the artist responsible for getting me up bright and early with this pretty and cheerful polka-dot package. It came all the way from Queensland, Australia.



It's red cotton wrap was waiting when my eyes popped open, and rather than snuggling back in for a few more winks I just popped out of bed and hustled to turn on the Christmas tree lights, get a pot of tea on, and wake up the boys, (who did not want to miss the show).


And what a reward awaited me! Inside the package was a real work of art. The workmanship is so precise, and the subject is delightful. I'm in love with this little quilt!



The back has a tag printed on fabric with all the information of the swap (which I totally neglected to add to my piece before I sent it out) and the fabric is just unbelievable. I am wondering if Fiona hand painted/dyed it herself...it's really unique, and gorgeous.



I'm so happy to be included in this swap with such creative and talented artists. It makes these days before Christmas so very special.
Tomorrow is the day my gift is opened. I may be just a wee bit nervous about that. The caliber of art so far is way up there. I know I love what I made, and would be totally happy with it because it is something that is just "me". I will just hope everyone else feels the same.
So, no worries, surprises are always terrific when they are given in a spirit of friendship, right?

Lost cat?

So, I know a lot of people hate that cats are allowed outdoors, but Zoot was a stray from the pound when we got him about 11 years ago, and had lived his life previous to coming to our house roaming around outside. Now, since he is half Siamese, he has a really nasty yowl when he doesn't get his way. (The rest of the time he is very sweet tempered; likely the tabby side of him). So to keep my sanity when we brought him home, I finally let him out side. He always comes home, and is usually only out a few minutes before he is making a racket at the door to come back in.

Yesterday, as I was happily crafting in my basement, Levi came tearing downstairs asking if I had let Zoot out. I said "yes" and was about to add "but that was over an hour ago", but Levi was gone, bolting up the stairs in a panic and flinging himself out the door with no coat, smashing his elbow and slamming the door in his haste.
I followed, and leaned out to ask him what was going on. Was their a fire?
He was gone.
Five minutes later he was back, and in obvious distress. He said he's heard Zoot "screaming" out in the driveway, but could not find him anywhere. I tried to convince him that Zoot was probably fine, but he needed his coat to go for a good look before it got dark.

On went the coat, and off he went, running across my pristine front lawn, tracking up my beautiful smooth snow, instead of walking down the driveway. (OK. That sounds really anal, but this is the FIRST year since the boys have been able to don snow boots that I have not looked out my front window to see the snow packed to a flat, dull, battleground with sticks, boards and every shovel in the neighbourhood littering the ground. I was enjoying the unblemished beauty of it all. Sue me.)

But he was on a mission. He didn't come back when the light began to fade. He didn't come back when the street lights came on.

This was highly unusual. Zoot never stays out longer than it takes to chill a whisker. Josh, who had gone looking for the two of them, came back without spotting either the cat or the brother.

Hmmmmm. I thought of hopping in the van for a further ranging search. But wait, I just stopped, and said a simple little prayer. For Zoot. And for Levi, who loves that silly cat as much as any boy loves his first pet. He's grown up with the kitty and can't remember life without his sidekick.
After a word to the Father (of course he cares about troubles like these), I had a lightbulb moment. I looked up and called into the slowly darkening house....."Zoooooot. Here kitty, kitty".

I waited a moment and heard a puzzled "vvvvrrrrrr?" and Zoot came sauntering out of Levi's bedroom, where he is want to sleep the afternoon away. He stopped at my feet, looked up and yaaaaaawwned, a big one that makes my jaws ache just typing it right now. He gave a little tiny meow, as if to say "Wha-da-ya-want? I'm trying to sleep."

I just shook my head and thought of the panics my dear mother in law flies into at the drop of a hat.
Literally.
If you drop your hat, it causes my mother in law to panic. Because, well, "The hat! The hat is now dirty! And unwearable! And how, oh how, will we prevent our ears from freezing??" Not an exaggeration.
Once, when we unexpectedly met her while we were out shopping at a location 5 minutes from her house, and 20 minutes from ours, she narrowly escaped a heart attack from the surprise and shock of meeting. Us! There!
She staggered around the parking lot, clutching her chest and her head in turn, and saying, over and over in her thick Eastern European accent, "Oh my God! It's really you! I think you are a ghost!"
Can you spell Oscar?

But I digress.

So, Levi finally comes home, and a more dejected looking child I have yet to behold. He slumped against the wall in the back entry.

I say, "Levi? Do you know the first thing you should remember when you are faced with an emergency situation? Have you heard of W.W J. D.? Do you know what it means?"

He looked up at me, his red cheeks smudged with something. Not saying it was tears. But I wouldn't blame him. If they were. Which I am not saying.
He says remorsefully, "You mean, What Would Jesus Do."

I say, "Ya that. But I was also thinking, " What Would (grandma) Jeanette Do", and then DON'T DO IT!"

Zoot regally descended to the landing and rubbed up against Levi's legs, before meowing at the door to get outside.

6th day already!

Pillar's gift was the first to arrive in the mail, and I've been admiring the hand painted packaging for the longest time, anxious to see what was inside. Finally today was the day, it's the 6th Day of Christmas for our group. I was so careful not to tear the package...it's a treasure in itself!


Ooooooww! It's a doll! Look at her, she's jointed and so amazing. Pillar makes such unique and wonderful art, and I am thrilled to have something of my very own.

Thank you Pillar! She's marvelous.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas

Kristen gave to me...

No, it's not 5 golden rings, it's something much nicer...look!

Is this not beautiful?? It's a felted bag, with a lining and a zipper closure. Notice the little "snowball" zipper pull! (How the bag has no seams is a mystery to me.)
The front of the bag has three layers of fabric...a toile, a bit of old ticking, and a sweet, bird illustrated vintage shoe ad, printed on cotton. They are stacked and zig zagged onto the bag. I wish you could feel it. It's so touchable.

I LOVE it! I'm going to stow all my artsy bling in it for the trip to Slave Lake. Lucky me!

Kristen, you are a talented girl, and you have made me very happy. Thank you!

This is the sound of Christmas

Of course he has rhythm!




Yes...Bony M claims another generation.
Mmhmm. Nialle grew up listening to the cassette of Bony M's Christmas album, which has been played consistently (from early December through January), in our home for..oh...the last 25 years at least. Vanessa grew up with the LP, played in her parents home on a little record player.

They just discovered that the album has been remastered and re-released. They snapped it up.

Of course I had to go out and buy a new copy...brilliant!

The Fourth Day of Christmas...

was very merry indeed. Kathy Strittmater sent an intriguing little package whose blue snow flake fabric disguised it's curious lumps and bumps...what could it be?




Aaaaah. Look! SO brilliant!

This aged looking ATC has an embossed wax heart ** with a sweet little definition of sisterhood on it.
This exchange is a coming together of a group of new and old friends which does feel like a sisterhood of artsy souls, brought together to share the spirit of creating and giving that is a fine reflection of the season.



It sits on this clever, and very beautiful little easel made from an old silver fork. Look at how the tongs form a perfect little heart. (Note: This is much easier to do in theory than in reality...one of those "simple, but difficult" tasks I've been frustrated at more than once!)

I love this gift. Thank you Kathy!

**  Correction:  It is actually a polymer clay heart, not wax.

On the Third Day of Christmas...

I guess you could say this gift is from "Santa" Barbara....HoHoHo!

Yes, these precious paper goods came not from the North Pole, but from Barbara Atwell.

The box was full of goodies, and they are divine....wonderful vintage paper note cards with stitched envelopes, a great little post-it note booklet in retro papers, bookmarks and tags...all so touchable and fun! There is a little envelope with a "Noddy" on the front. Do you remember him?


And then there are the E.S. Nesbit-ish prints on a couple of others...they take me back to my childhood, and to the time of reading her stories, like my favorite "Five Children and It", to my own boys.






It was a great way to start my day. Thanks so much Barbara!

Day 2 and a gift from Cece

Cece Grimes sent this wonderful little tin as a holder for my special gift on the Second Day of Christmas. Mmmmm. Who doesn't love Tootsie Rolls?
But inside...oh my! Look at the pendant. I love it!

This exchange is such a great way to start these busy, busy days as we approach Christmas with lightening speed. Everyone in the exchange has entered into this with such a spirit of giving.

Thanks Cece!

All set with many blessings.

.

Look at the beautiful gifts I am going to be opening over the next 12 days! Are you not overwhelmed by Christmas Spirit just looking at them? Wooohooo!





Even Zoot was full of Christmas-ness, and wanted badly to help us get things ready. Josh was digging in the suitcases full of special Christmas ornaments, looking for the nativity set, and the silly cat just had to help. He insisted on licking the whole manger scene clean! (Apparently he thought Mary and Joseph needed a little help, being first time parents and all.)

When they were cleaned to his satisfaction and Josh had set them up, (eeeghuuu! cat slobber!) he climbed into the suitcase for a little nap. Curled right up on top of all the Christmas cheer.



And when the nativity was placed on the shelf in the living room, he decided it needed guarding, and, (though he's never done this before), he climbed in behind the books on the shelf below, to watch over them and reach out and swat at anyone who came too close!



I don't know who he thinks he needs to guard baby Jesus from! It's a mystery to me!

Christmas Coundown...it's official!

Today Lelainia, and all the participants of her 12 Days of Christmas Gift Exchange began the countdown. We're each opening a handmade gift each morning from now to Christmas Eve. It's so exciting! My gifts arrived in the nick of time, with present #1 just making it's arrival the day before yesterday. Whew!



Debra Cooper made each of the artists in group Two a beautiful clutch, of soft and lovely vintage re-purposed fabric, with a chunky button clasp and gorgeous hand stitched detail on the front. I love it!

Random thoughts on passion and curiosity

"I think curious people are like magnets," he said

That's a quote I recently read in a blog post somewhere, attributed to a young German man who caught a ride with the blogger on a trip across the US. It explained why they felt so comfortable traveling together.

Curiosity is one of my favorite character traits, along with passion. There is so much energy in both.
When I meet someone new, and I see them passionately pursuing their great love of whatever, I feel drawn to engage them in conversation, find out what it is that draws them to their particular endeavor. People are passionate about an amazing variety of things.
I have met people in the last couple of months who are passionate in an astonishingly wide range of interests and expertise.
Like moss. Who knew there are so many kinds of moss in Canada, or the world, and that the study of moss could be a life mission of this biologist, the husband and father of a family we know and love? I think that is wonderful, and the fact that I had never imagined this as a subject of depth surprised me. And made me strangely happy, because once again I am reminded that there is SO MUCH OUT THERE that I have yet to discover! There is so much to be curious about!

Another family we know are astounding in their passion for the environment in general, and the southern Alberta area in particular. Paul and Sherri and their family stepped in to be the change they wish to see in the natural world they love so much. Their mission is to bring together all the diverse groups and individuals who share their love and concern, to concentrate the impact of many people passionate about the same thing, working together to bring about change.

In the journey of guitar that Levi has recently embarked upon, the teacher he has connected with is passionate about guitar to a degree I have never encountered. Here is a direct quote from lessons on Monday. (yes, I carry a notebook to write down things like this. I just don't tell people what I am doing. Until now. The secret is out. Oops.)

"I believe a guitar has a spirit just like I do. And I can pick up a guitar and feel it. I have picked up guitars and know instantly that they hate my guts! If they've been played for years by someone who really loved them, they don't want me anywhere near them, and I can feel that, and I just have to set them down and walk away".

Ev Norris

Now, I'm not saying I agree with his theology, but I admire the passion.

Curiosity draws me too.
Why do things work? Why do you feel so drawn to that particular thing? What is the nature of your passion? How can I share in it?
Curiosity leads us to many new discoveries, where we may find our true passions.

quality of light

....sometimes it makes up for the lack of quantity of daylight.

But in 11 more days, we turn the corner! It may be getting dark by 5pm now, but on the 21st, the days will start getting longer again!

Where I agree with a mega church...sort of.

Wow.   

This video's content was not surprising to me, but the source was.  Willow Creek is one of the biggest mega churches in the U.S.  That they would come right out and share, in a sincere desire to (hopefully) do things better, is admirable.  Do they really get that the programs of the institution (of any kind, not just the religious kind) can never equal the power of real relationship? 

 My own experiences in the institutional church have taught me a few things.   

 

-Small is better-for me.

-Pastors who depend on congregational giving to feed their families eventually decide to choose big over small.  

 

-Bigger is not neccessarily more effective at encouraging real disciples; those who love God and other people, and act accordingly, without compulsion. (What I see as faith with works). 

-A lot of "relationships" formed in institutional settings are very shallow; based a lot more on the fact that we are in the same physical space than that we are connected in any deep, meaningful way.  (School friends, whom I knew for years but after graduation have lost contact with as we have nothing in common, fall into this category.)

 

-I need relationships, not for accountability, but for love, my deepest need, which is a reflection of the God who has called me His own. 

-Eventually people become dissatisfied with that which does not work (more programs; which take more time and cost more money), and they go looking for it somewhere else. Often at the new mega church down the road.

-Those who can build the new mega church can attract all these dissatisfied people to their institution...at the expense of the smaller churches in the community. 

-I hesitate to add..."and the cycle continues", but as this is just my opinion, I can say whatever I want and you can just call me cynical if you disagree.  

Am I cynical?  Am I reactive?  Am I part of the problem, rather than part of the solution?  Honestly, I don't know.  But I do know that my faith is becoming more and more to be attributed to the person of God, and not to a desired outcome of my choosing.  He, not me, is the author, and finisher of the whole thing.  

Another new project completed

It was too cold to go out today, so I stayed in and made a bag. I didn't use a pattern, just decided how big I wanted it, cut some pieces to roughly that size, and had fun.

It's a collage of fabric, paper and lace...I call it "Shabby Cheep". (There are a couple little birds on it, and all the materials came from the re-use center. harhar) None of the edges are finished, so it's frayed and tattery and rough around the edges. I love that look.

Maykala and the boys came over. Suresh is returning from India today, and rather than drive all the way back to the city after church, she picked up some KFC and came for lunch while she waited for his flight. It is always great spending time with her, and the boys were very happy to see Malfy.

My (not so) Hollywood debut

I forgot to mention that yesterday after our family outing to get flue shots, we went to West Edmonton Mall to do some Christmas shopping, and see this movie. Now ordinarily, I'd much rather have a flue shot, or dental work, than set foot in that place.

But we had a motive. Mr Wonderful, Josh and a few friends and I spent a very long day last summer as extras in a movie that was being shot at the mall. (it would have saved us a lot of misery if the *shooting* had been fatal!) It opened there yesterday, and we decided to go see it.

I was surprised to see it opening on the big screen. I was expecting it to go direct to video. My friend Linda assures me it's opening here on the big screen at Silver City, but that's because the promoters of the mall want to showcase it...it's basically a travelogue of the mall. The local news did a piece and admitted it's not being shown in theaters anywhere else. It's that (yawn) good.

The one big scene, which my hubby and I were supposed to be casual bench-sitters as Patrick Swayze walks by in the last scene, was cut. I am shocked!

I am sure that was the best scene in the movie, and the back of my head would have been featured prominently, as I gazed lovingly into my sweethearts eyes, completely ignoring the big time star moving down the mall toward us, passing within a couple of feet of where we sat. (after the first ten takes, my eyes were glazed over, so it's lucky the camera was at my back). He even talked to us, and told us his feet, in his high heeled boots (he's pretty short) were killing him. But I digress.
In this scene, he walks, with his family, toward the big Christmas tree which stayed up all summer on Europa Boulevard. Everything works out fine, blah, blah, blah. But this pivotal scene, (with my spectacular hair-do) ended up on the cutting room floor! I am not amused. Nor is my husband. Who. paid. fifty. bucks. to take us to see our big debut.

But as a consolation, I am in another scene, behind the action taking place as Patrick tries to purchase a snowblower for his wife for Christmas.(hahaha...even in Edmonton that's not going over buddy!)
If you look over the cashier's shoulder at the line of shoppers going through the other till, I'm the blurry blue blob moving from right to left. That's me! Followed closely by Josh, Mikayla, and Dawn as various coloured blobs, with or without hats.

As for my husband, I told him fifty bucks is a small price to pay. From now on, he gets to sleep with a Hollywood star.

Things I love right now:

Health by Chocolate by Victoria Laine
A local nutritionist who, besides being a yoga teacher and a lovely person, is passionate about chocolate, and it's health and wellness benefits. Mmmmmmmmm. Check out the link for sample recipes. (I attended a tasting last night and the results are delicious!)

Exploring this blog: Wonderful and sometimes strange, but never boring. What a warren of rabbit trails to follow.

This recipe; on oats, with a side of yogurt, for breakfast. Don't laugh! In fact, I love Molly and Brandon and get simple pleasure from following their gastronomically romantic life. So sue me. But do try some of her recipes first. You will thank me.

Maker Faire. The magazine, the videos, the concept, the possibilities, the danger...("every thing's funny till somebody looses an eye!") I love the thought of a trip to San Fransisco in May to attend the real deal!

The fact that Nialle is recovering well, (and writing about the whole thing). The weightless feeling of knowing the worst is over. Do you ever stop and just consider the wonderful feeling of literally experiencing answered prayer? I do.

The Canadian medical system. Wow.

The Lyceum. A community building project in action, with all the headaches and growing pains and joy that entails. It's inviting and inspiring and challenging. No links, but here are a couple of photos of the physical space: