What I did with the pendant. I knew exactly what I wanted to put in there. Many years ago, I took a bunch of photos of my nephew Sam (you know, the light of my life). We were in England and his Dad took him to see a horse. As Sam was patting the horse, he turned around and looked at me and I took the photo. On the reverse of the pendant I inserted some French text (Jane Eyre).

What a difference a day makes.

I've been a bit listless, what with the rain storms and bizarre weather, but today, the air is clear and cool.

And the mail (which has been puny for the last week) brought some good stuff.

My darling sister sent me these charms; I especially love the locket on the right. They are sitting on a heart doily that my good friend Jocelyn brought me back from Colorado. And I got a letter from the Ontario Premier (hehe! me and the rest of the Ontario population) with a cheque to soften the blow of the new tax changes. Every little helps so I'm not about to get sarcastic about it.

I keep staring at this piece, wondering who made it and how it came about. It's a mystery. The only explanation I can come up with is that I was possessed, that I was in some kind of a trance, because to me, it doesn't look like anything I made. All I know is, I was playing around with a piece of plastercloth, then I started doodling on it. This is why I say, go with whatever it is that pushing you, see it through to the end. If you don't like the result, so what? Usually, though, you'll be surprised.

A new batch of hearts: damaged, mended and healed.

Friday's child

Antique Irish lace

...and some stitching

A thing of beauty

I was airing my tiny collection of antique lace which is made up of Belgian and Irish pieces. I inherited the Belgian piece. On one of my return trips to Ireland I met up with a former classmate who took me on an antique lace-finding tour. She herself was a lacemaker and knew all about Irish lace. I found a few pieces, collars, a jabot, beautifully made, substantial and intricate.

The Belgian piece in the photo is extraordinary too. It would have been a "collar" to adorn a dress (it actually looks like part of a national costume); today it would be stitched on the sides and called a shrug!

Repurposing

[Breaking news: It seems there was an earthquake in Ontario and Quebec, and in downtown Toronto. You could have fooled me. I'm in Midtown Toronto and I didn't feel a thing. Happily it was low on the Richter scale, but unusual nevertheless.]



One deadline met, another to go. My prep work is done in my head, and when my head gets too busy, I make things. I have these lovely antique collars. Here's what I did with one of them: I made a summery, ethereal cuff, reminiscent of afternoon tea and croquet on the lawn. Pass the clotted cream, please!

Paper

Small is beautiful.
I prefer photography on cards, rather than big prints.
So I made some here.

Native Toronto

Every year in June, I hear the drums and the chanting. I go out onto my balcony and this sight greets me, the familiar white tipi. It's a very good thing. The food is very good too, so off I go.

The egg and I

The things you can attach to a tag! This egg-shaped button is from my Sculpey phase. I don't have many words today because I'm writing to meet a couple of deadlines. So I'll let the picture speak for itself.

All in the family

The Hills are alive with the sound of soccer........

Coach Gordon Hill (an England football Great -- he was in a winning World Cup team in his day) and his talented son, Sam, my nephew and the apple of my eye.

Photo: Marie-Claire Hill

Red

Light red bordering on orange. Blue thread, yes, blue.

Don't be afraid of color. Experiment, mix, match.

One image I've always loved is of a rafter with bunches of herbs and flowers hanging from it. But -- as is with all those dreamy books of even dreamier interiors, which, let's face, it most of us cannot duplicate (I don't think I could live in a sea of white -- think of the cleaning!!!)-- I've never lived in a place with rafters. Still, these roses were so beautiful, I looked around to see if I could hang them to dry, and there was this curtain rod in the entrance between hall and living area, so I hung them there. They will be joined by bunches of herbs. When I get around to it....

It's called making do.

Growth

Getting there one stitch at a time, letting my imagination go where it will.
The background fabric, which is more of a muted gold colour, doesn't photograph well...

WIP

I'm taking it easy for a couple of days. This evening I'm stitching, something that relaxes me (while watching/listening to Last Comic Standing, the only "reality" show I like -- I love good stand-up comedy), and tomorrow I'm going to a movie matinee with my friend Carol (popcorn lunch!)

Work in progress. With thanks to Jude Hill for the inspiration.

The Big Reveal

The project I've been absorbed in for the last few days was handed over today to the friend who commissioned it: a 50th wedding anniversary memory book for her parents that I made from scratch. I knew it would be well received, but I wasn't prepared for the emotional response. And this is what makes it worthwhile for me. My friend gave me the gift of making it; I call it a gift because it gave me tremendous satisfaction.

I made the container from a piece of luscious fabric I bought in Ireland some years ago. I didn't know what I would do with it at the time, but I loved it so I bought a small piece.

I made the book entirely from scratch, slowly and carefully!

I had photos, and information which allowed me to create symbolically significant pages.

Happy 50th Anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. H.

There is a group of birds who alight onto my balcony and have long conversations -- they don't just twitter, they sing, and they make me happy.

And even though I've told certain friends that after making bird art for so long, and long before it became a popular trend, I was "birded out", I do pay homage to my feathered friends every so often. To thank them for being around!

This ATC was made with my own carved stamps. Chirp, tweet and hallelujah!

Friday's child

Two new hearts cut from antique French homespun linen.

Love, Colette

What I've been doing... mostly working on a commission that is turning out to be dear to my heart.

And this, a gift for someone who shall remain nameless for now. The photo doesn't do justice to the red and the luscious bronze paint. I used wire mesh stuffed with scrunched paper to give it a little shape, and plaster cloth.

Some of the most beautiful beads I've seen are Kazuri beads from Kenya, so I was very happy to meet the Canadian supplier at a bead fair here. I bought a few, something that required a lot of discipline because there was so much and it was all gorgeous. I made this for myself, simple, but perfect for me.

And I used this luscious green bead for a more elaborate necklace (available in my Etsy shop).

I've been keeping an eye out for her for years; I didn't search too hard, I knew I would recognize her when I found her. My inspiration, alter ego, call her what you will. Finally, there she was, calling out to me from an old photograph. She came to me from France, and she has settled in nicely. Her name is a mystery. I haven't named her because she already has a name, even though I don't know it, and I'm respecting that.

Another week....

Blogger has been down until now, so I couldn't post earlier. But I may have waited anyway because I was called in by my former employer, the Medical Post, to help out today. It's been a few years since my job was cut, but it was interesting how I slid right back into my former job. I do work for them once in a while, but it's translation work that I do from home. It was good to reconnect with old friends and colleagues. And to get all the latest medical news.

Meanwhile.................

Weekend update

Well, I thought it was Sunday. It felt like Sunday. Turns out it's Saturday. At times like these, all you can do is sit back and have some chocolate.

Anyway, thanks to a tutorial by Rebecca, I learned how to loop things like these antique buttons onto a plain crochet "chain." My crochet skills are elementary, so things like this have to be explained to me! You may know by now that I like to try new things -- if they attract me.

Tag stories

Dinner!! Enough said!

This tag and two others are available here.

Bon appétit.

Friday's child

At the Beach

Acrylic on canvas and collage

Dinner

I made the sauce with:

Purée'd tomatoes, chunk light tuna, pitted sundried black olives, garlic, herbs, capers, olive oil, salt and pepper

Put in saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes.

Now that's fast food!

More collage

Not much to say right now, except stay dry. It's raining here.

Two more hand-stitched collages. Both are available on eBay, but time is running out.

Phoenix Rising

Littlest Angel

Rosie

This adorable doglet turned me into a melted pool of mushy love.

She has moved in with my nephew and his wife.

One more reason to visit.

For those who think I never stop -- I didn't make anything today. I got other things done, like shredding pre-2003 documents (we only have to keep seven years' worth for tax purposes). My shredder is small, so I had to keep emptying it, and at one stage some paper got stuck, and that took 10 minutes and determination to dig it out without breaking the shredder. It took a long time, but I persisted. The next step is to take the huge bag down to the recycling bin.

Then I finally mailed my sister the red jade earrings I made for her. Not the original ones. Jc gave me some sterling silver wires and we made a new pair. Nothing but the best for my sis. Check out Jc's blog Zendoll. She's just begun blogging and posting her lovely work (both collage and jewelry). The tiny stamp on this collage is also Jc's. I fell in love with it and stamped just about everywhere.

I'm now going to retire with my book. I've just finished M.C. Scott's Rome: The Emperor's Spy, first of a trilogy, and I can't wait for the next one (she wrote the Boudica/Dreaming books, and she's one of my favourite authors) and starting another.

Irish art

I found Roisin while blog-hopping. She is an Irish artist who paints in oils, and what pulled me in were her bold, juicy brush strokes. And since I love landscapes, some of which I know so well, and coffee cups, I was a gonner.

 All photos (c) Roisin O'Farrell