Monday, April 23, 2012

Spring adventures....

These are not really spring time flowers but are something different for our table. This was an orchid stem that has not thrived in our home. We weren't sure why but perhaps because it was too drafty or the stem got too much water. It was a pretty thing but did not have much fragrance. I am looking forward to having daffodils and tulips blooming in the flower beds before too long. They are among my favorite flowers of all. There is something about spring flowers after the drab of winter. We have had a couple of snowstorms earlier this month, but the snow has all melted away, and it is beginning to green up outside. This past weekend was beautiful and warm. It was a pleasant weekend- I went off with my dear friend Lou to visit some local quilt shops. We had a lovely time together and added a few more pieces to the stash. It is hard for me to resist batiks, and one of the shops had just added a number of them to their clearance area.
I have not done much beading lately but I was given a little project for some students at school. For the past 10 years our school has held an Aboriginal History Quiz. The Quiz is for our division II students(grades 3-6).The quiz is played in a Jeopardy game format, where the student has a buzzer to hit. The first student to answer the question correctly, gets the points. These beads were donated as a prize. I was able to create a number of bracelets with them, for prizes. The beads are paper beads that have been shellacked to prevent damage,should they get wet. The children came be fitted for their individual wrists,after they were awarded them. It was fun to work with some different kinds of beads besides glass or wood.
The knitting continues - the scarves knit up quickly and I have just one more to finish before I run out of this ribbon yarn. I have had difficulty finding the yarn locally but was able to find some on line for a much better price. I am trying to get some made up for Christmas gifts. I am not sure which one I like the best!
Recently I have received some wonderful gifts in the mail. I participated in a spring blog hop and won two sets of fat quarters and this beautiful handmade pincushion from Wanda of Needlewings blog. She made some cathedral window pincushions - Isn't it pretty! Kris of Lavendar Quilts sent me these fabulous autumn fat quarters, I think that would make a wonderful fall table runner, don't you? Kelli of Seriously.. I think it needs stitches and the fat quarter shop gave some very fun kid's fat quarters - it would make a great baby quilt or wrap..Some days I do wonder, how I got so lucky! All three of these ladies have very nice blogs- do go visit them by clicking on their names. They are doing some terrific things on their blogs... Thank you so much ladies for hosting some fabulous giveaways and sharing your talents. Blogland is a richer for the sharing of your talents...
I have not done much quilting lately ( first I was sick with a head cold, then I was busy knitting and beading LOL) I have got the four baby wraps quilted and their bindings completed. Now I just need to get them bound and they will be ready for the next new babies..
Speaking of babies- this orange baby ( well really Mars is a senior cat) went for a little adventure last week. She decided that she might like to check out the outside world( she is an indoor cat) one evening last week, when my husband went outside to check the night sky. When we could not find her the next morning and the following day, we were terrified at what might have happened to her. We searched all her favorite hiding spots and she still could not be found. We created posters and visited the local Humane Society to see if she had been turned in. The next evening came and still no sign of her. By then, we were beginning to lose hope of finding her safe. However, this story does have a happy ending- Our son suggested that we put her food out on the back deck and Bruce noticed that some of her Whiskas was gone. We called and no response. Just before I left for work the second morning, Mars appeared with her tail in the air at the back door. To say we were overjoyed and relieved is an understatement. It has been almost a week since her return and she seems her normal self. We found her asleep on these raggedy Ann and Andy dolls a couple of times. This evening we are watching the Alberta Provincial Election. There is the expectation of change this election something that has not happened in 40 + years. Hockey and politics have filled the TV screen the past couple of weeks. Until next time, be well dear friends, Warmest regards, Anna

4 comments:

A Garden of Threads said...

Hi Anna, I love the scarves, I would need a class on how to. It is always nice to add fabric to a stash and batiks are the best:)

Kelli Fannin Quilts said...

Mars looks so content to be back in the arms of Raggedy Ann and Andy. :o) I'm so glad your prize arrived safely and that you like it. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Sounds like you've been getting a lot done! That ribbon yarn looks very interesting.. pretty scarves and bracelets! So glad kitty came home safe. xoxo

Purple Pam said...

I vote for the purple ribbon scarf! Love the cathedral window pincushion you won. Lucky lady.

Teresa said...

So glad you kitty made it home safe and sound. Cats are such independent creatures