So, just who is this chick???

Chickens in a flock are somewhat hard to distinguish from one another.  This would be true of me.  I'm not particularly noteworthy but then a good keeper of the flock begins to know the individuals.  I would be the noisy, excitable one who is all about rearranging the straw in the nest and trying to landscape the chicken yard.  I'd be doing this at inappropriate times and with considerable dust and squawks!  But there is a pecking order in a flock and I'm learning to find my place and be productive.  I've lost a few feathers in the process but I'm a wiser hen who has learned that some things can't be rushed and brooding is not something to be disparaged.  The chicken/egg cycle just can't be rushed.

My creative endeavours took place in my home. I so badly needed to express myself.  Quilts covered beds, draped over the arms of chairs, hung on walls,  marked place settings on tables and even complimented the wardrobe.  I began traditionally and eventually learned that I am not traditional.  But I didn't understand that creative expression needs time to evolve and be perfected.  I wanted instant results.  Today, this ol' biddy, has begun to learn to enjoy the process and then the project will reflect that joy. 

My journey:

A dear friend introduced me to quilting with the scissor and template method.  This actually shows how badly I wanted to do this as I have rather a short attention span.  I over estimated the number of pieces and made rail fences for the crib, the 2 bunks, a queen for my sister, various pillows, etc. until I finally gave away the rest.  My math is terrible, The actual sewing was reasonably accurate but the quilts were a stretchy assortment of poly cottons and cotton.  Utility would be the way I'd describe them.

The Irish Chain introduced me to the modern tools of rotary cutters, rulers and mats.  This was better.

Our quilt group, Country Roads Quilters, was small and we tackled all kinds of things, some good, some not so good but we learned lots because for the most part we had no idea what we were getting into.  lol For this wall hanging we designed house blocks to represent our home and then made them in the colours each of us chose to work in.  This was my neutral period!

I began to identify what I liked. 

I prefer quilts without the traditional borders around them.  I wish I'd not lined up with my fellow quilters to buy yards and yards of lovely florals.  It was wonderfully freeing to donate a huge amount of it to charity recently.  I just kept the more whimsical and stylized designs. Backings, you know!

                                                            I had a country period.

                                                   I passed through a folk art period.

         
                                                                Even a crazy period!

                           

A Thirties period

A 'let's get them married' period.

                                                      A 'what if I did what I want' period.

                                                          Also a 'go with the flow' period.

                                                            I've made all sizes of quilts. 

When I began learning about quilts I thought their history was fascinating and I wanted to make examples of every kind.  I quickly realized that full size was impractical so I embraced miniature.  I then realized there was not enough time in my time line!  lol

Then I thought I'd make a quilt to give away and keep one for myself but on a smaller scale.  When our first son married I made a queen size from a wall hanging picture. Then I made the wall hanging for myself. 

I became part of a collaboration with some gals out west.  They sent me their leftovers and I had such a good time making this.  It is called Turn Right at the Leftovers.  It made me begin to think about art quilts.

                                
                                                 If its art, where do you put it?

I do have a goodly variety of quilts and I haven't even brought out the 3 sets of applique blocks that need finishing and to be set in a top.  I do like hand applique but they are pretty traditional and so not me anymore.  I have learned my lesson about finishing projects before I lose interest in them and find something much more exciting to start!    I also think that my days of full sized quilts is about over and I'll be sticking to lap size. 

                               Fibre will always be my first luv but I want to try so many other things. 

If all the various parts of a chicken's meal were set out individually, the chicken has the amazing ability to take the best balanced ration they can.  How smart is that?  I need to learn how to balance everything that I want to do.  It has dawned on me that I can NOT do it all, at least not well.  Now I just have to figure out what I want to do most and the best way to do it.

Chickens are raised for various reasons, egg layers, meat production or exotics.  I'm too old for egg production.  I'm more a soup bird than the fried chicken variety.  I figure that only leaves: cute!  I'm going to be going for old age as the cutest chick I can be!

Now The Needle and Thread Network  is a site for Canadian Blogs to link up and show their stuff.  There are regular WIP Wednesday posts and bi weekly Featured Friday Artists.  It is a pretty big thrill to be featured this week.  If you'd like a quick history of where I came from, where I am, and where I'm going please check here or by clicking directly on the Canadian flag feature button.   I quite enjoy seeing various parts of Canada and what my fellow Canadian artists are making.  I hope you'll enjoy it as well.  Thanks for visiting!

No place like home

If you came through the front door you step right into the heart of this home. 

 Welcome

This is what you would see.  Lots of dialogue on the picture placement.  I am surrounded by symmetrical people.  I'm okay with any changes that are made after I'm done and the almost empty paint cans are available for the odd touch ups.

The kitchen is very visible.  It is amazing what a coat of fresh paint and new door knobs will do.  It was while I was doing these cupboards that I smacked myself for taking on such an ambitious undertaking.  ;(

This hutch was placed last and I wish I'd more time to style it.  I'm not feeling the luv.  Painting is not an option as the home owners don't want painted furniture. Painting the window  trim was done because the window insets are white as are the baseboards and doors.   I'm also leaving the decision to mount it to the wall to my kids.

It was 10:00 PM and I was switching things around and thought enough already.  But this is a house with little people.  The 4 cupcake plates I bought a couple of years ago are for tea parties.  But I wanted to add some fun and casualness to a house that is taking on a bit of a formal touch.  The cloth covered stool by the sofa will indubitably be denuded and moved to under the window for the kids to monitor the school playground across the road.  Same with the table cloth as play dough rules here.

This bathroom saver cupboard was to add storage and as my Rooster was putting it together Sunday afternoon, I realized his pantry addition in the basement probably made this unnecessary but we/he was committed. lol

If you came through the back porch this would be what would greet you on a perfect day.  :)

Maintaining two places is exhausting.  Dear daughter's house may look great but mine has serious gaps from missing furniture and saggy piles leaning all over the place.  I'm happy to be home and restoring some order.  My Rooster is wanting something other than chicken scratch for supper tonight and clean socks for tomorrow.

Yikes, I see paint on that chair above!  Here's hoping that only the grand kiddies will be seeing things down low until I can get there, drop my spoon and surreptitiously scrub it off!  

So enjoy the tea I promised when you came for a visit. Sit, sip and sigh while I gear up for one last dance with my vacuum for this week.

You Are Welcome

First Impressions

When people come onto our property they need to know where to go and what to expect from the home owners. This doesn't happen accidentally. It is by design.

Before we had the fence and the grass was less than a lush green carpet, we had people drive right up to within 5 feet of the house. Building the fence, which is just a line and doesn't actually enclose the house yard, set a boundary that said "Please park your car here!". The next problem has been that people were confused as to where to enter.

There is no specialness that shows where the gate is. I've since dangled a basket and come summer I put a planter of flowers at the gate, but I knew I needed something more. Knowing that the fence needed some repairs, last fall we drove in large posts to inset the whole gate area. We'll add a bench and some plant pots but that should entice people in the right direction.

The next problem is the path. Grass allows two to walk together and is great for grass cutting. No trimming. But it does get a bit muddy and it is very hard to maintain a path come winter. So we need an acceptable alternative. I do know it will not be cement set in a straight line. It will curve slightly to encourage visitors to slow their pace, catch their breath, and anticipate their welcome. I luv the sound of gravel crunching as you walk. I have it at this gate and it is around the house. What a pain! It scatters all over and into the grass. Part of the reason for the insert is to get the gravel on the driveway side of the fence. So no gravel. Flat stones, even substantial ones, give fits to elderly feet as I've learned when they step anywhere but on them as they pass thru the flower bed to get to the front step. I replaced them with pavers but I'd need a lot for the whole path. For the moment, the well worn foot path leads the way and there is a mat to dry the shoes at the step.

There were 2 doors visible which sent mixed signals. The small basement entrance was too small so we began using the front door. It never had a proper step and when we did the house siding we covered over that unused door. The old wooden front step faced the road so we changed it for better traffic flow. The front entrance isn't in direct sight but all signs lead to it.

I luv my veranda. It is where strangers are met and given directions/assistance. It is where friends are welcomed and drawn in.

It is much harder to lay out the welcoming path here in blog land. If you have found the gate and are on the path to my front door, please come up the steps and into my veranda. You are very welcome!