Pattern Testing

I can now show you what I’ve been working on.  Colleen Babcock asked me to test her new E-Pattern, Fathoms. Visit Colleens site to see her original doll and see just how wonderful she is.

Another fabulous project from Colleen. Yes it’s a Mermaid, but she’s gone the extra step to make her gently Goth and added embellishments that make her so unique. If you’re like me and like to have a challenge making dolls, this is another one of those. What I like about Colleen is that she is so versatile and makes all her creations with such character. Don’t you just wonder what goes on her mind… All her dolls to date have their own look and personality.

Here is my version of Fathoms. I just love her. She’s a wall doll, and I think as much as I enjoyed making her I enjoyed making her fish stole just as much. So much fun and something I’m not sure I would have even thought to do for a mermaid….Very clever….Good job Colleen, she’s a real charmer, as far as Goth Mermaid go of course.  ;o)))

Other Reno’s

The last of the windows is done. This is the one in the front door we decided to change after the rest were underway. I think it’s the right choice. The original window as you’ll see what an amber colour and single pane and tended to keep the entrance way quite dark.

Apparently at the time the house was built in ‘78, it was legal to have the single pane, or at least there was no rules around single pane. Since then the laws have changed and builders are not allowed to use this type of glass. The reason being is that a person with nafarious intentions could break out the glass and unlock your door and they’re in. It now has to be the double pane and laminated. The laminated part prevents the glass from shattering into a million pieces should it take a hit, like a car windshield.

I love the pattern in the glass, it’s like a frosty window in winter, the kind you get when your windows allow drafts in. Years ago an apt. I lived in, the frost was on the inside of the bedroom window, I could write in it…

And in keeping with front door renos, we did this part ourselves last fall. From a silly, no security screen door to one that at least gives some.

Two other things we did last year. We had the old gutters replaced. From bad to very much better. The old ones used to give us very nice icicles in winter though…tongue firmly planted in cheek ;o)

The last thing to get done last fall, was a new range hood for the stove. Never attempt to do this with your hubby unless you have a stable marriage. We are only very basic handy people and felt we could handle this. We did the front screen door together, so this couldn’t be to bad. HAH !!!!!

An all day project, many moments of holding the new one up, cutting more space away in the cupboard, holding it up again and hours later, KFC for supper because we were to tired and exhausted to cook, and we had a new range hood.

Like I said, don’t try this unless you have a stable marriage. Major pain to do the job, much teeth gnashing and glaring looks back and forth, but success after it was all done. And nobody has any scars to show, so it was okay….;o))))

A Snippet

Julie McCullough has the cutest pattern, I’m sure you’ve seen it. It’s called “Snippets”. They are the sweetest little dolls and you can make them anyway you like. The hair, the clothes and the shoes can all be swapped around to suit who the doll is for. This one is going back east to one of my painting buds, well at least when we have time to paint. The colours are based on my friends choices, and the best thing about “Snippets”, you can use all kinds of fun and funky fabrics together. What’s better than that. More pictures below.

 

She has blue suede slippers trimmed with little roses, you’ll also find them on her clothes front and back.

We can’t forget about her knickers. Every self respecting dolly must wear knickers and don’t forget the trims there to.

The nice thing about “Snippets” is that they are jointed so they can sit. Very versatile little kids don’t cha think.. Now I’m off to work on something from the deep blue sea. Watch this space for that.

New Windows

How can new windows be interesting…??? When you’ve looked at ugly windows since the dawn of time, you get excited about the prospect of new ones. One had a big crack in it for years because of one of our earthquakes. No plan to replace it because eventually they would all be done.

The only window left that didn’t have a broken seal was the bay window. Once it went, no choice left. I was actually happy to see that the seal was gone because it meant new windows were close at hand.  I couldn’t even clean the windows much anymore, there was so much ick between the panes that no amount of cleaning would matter, the dirt was between the layers of glass.

To say I’m excited is an understatement. We’re doing renos over time, not all at once. Pay for one thing, then plan for the next and so far the theory of deferred gratification is working. Yes I know, so many people once the house is paid off, or even before that, have all kinds of work crews converge on them at once dismantling everything in sight. Here, not so much.

One thing at a time, kind of like the turtle and the hare. Slow and steady, we’ll get things done. What’s the rush…. Here are before and after pics of the worst window. Is this not the worst thing to look at. Duct tape to keep the crack from going any further….in theory anyway….

To this…what’s not to get excited about…..We even had them install the side windows of the bay window that can be opened, so now I can air the house out with those windows or just have a nice breeze coming in and enjoy the fragrance of the flowers in the garden.

These guys were so quick and efficient. They had 11 windows in, screens on, cleaned, and cleaned up in 6 hours. Now that’s service. For locals, they are P n R Windows and Screens. We have one more small window to do in the front entrance way that we decided on after they were here. That will be done shortly and we’re finished. Am loving the ability to look out my windows without tape or dirt blocking the view…

Bamboo Oracle

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I posted. Wow, I have been more distracted than I realized. Our doll club has a big show coming up in September and I have been helping out with some of the things they need to get done to help keep things on track and organized. I have been working on dolls though. This is the latest one I finished. This is “Bamboo Oracle”, an online class with Colleen Babcock.

I just love Colleens dolls, they are always so different and challenging. I’m hoping she be able to continue her flow and I always wait to see what’s coming next. I’m not the most patient person when it comes to what someone is creating, so when she sends me teaser emails, it’s very distracting….

Thank you Colleen for another great class, your lesson plans are always so full to overflowing with information, it makes it such fun to work on the dolls.

So without further delay, here is my version of Bamboo Oracle.

Go Canada Go!

I received this email today and thought, now doesn’t this say it all, it’s going on my blog, and perhaps some of you have already had this show up in your inbox. Remember to keep your tongue firmly planted in your cheek as you read, it’s meant to be a fun read………keep your sense of humour…

We never claimed to be perfect
That means we've learned to be humble 
We say excuse me and I'm sorry as well as please and thank you.

Sure one arm of the torch didn't rise, 
But when the earthquake struck Haiti, Canadians raised their hands to say we'll help.

And yes, there is a fence around the torch
But you can walk right up and shake hands with our Prime Minister and other famous Canadians

We put Gretzky in the back of a pick up, in the rain, not surrounded by police and he was okay
And by the way... The great one is Canadian and he wasn't complaining.

We do have security at the games, of course, but most people don't even have a gun they have to leave at home!
The medals ARE under lock and key but our doors and our hearts are open to the world.

It has been pointed out that some buses broke down last week but let's not overlook the fact that our banking system didn't.
So big deal one out of four torch arms didn't rise.  Good
thing we had 3 more!  It's called contingency planning!

But remember the Canada-arm works every time in outer space and insulin turned out to be okay
We couldn't change the weather but maybe we help stop global warming.

We don't have the tax base of the US or the power of the Chinese but, per capita, we ponied up for some pretty kick-ass venues in the worst global recession ever.

Sure, some folks couldn't afford tickets but our health care is universal.
We have shown the world that we can raise our voices in celebration and song but moments later stand in silence to respect a tragic event together spontaneously and unrehearsed.

What's more,  we don't need permission from anyone to have a slam poet, fiddlers with piercings and a lesbian singer tell our story to the world, while our multilingual female Haitian- born, head of state shares a box with her First Nations equals.         

We've shown the world that it doesn't always rain in
Vancouver, that you can strive for excellence but not get hung up on perfection.

And we've learned what it feels like to be picked on by some no name newspaper guy and we don't have to take it lying down!

So the point is not the snow, or the hydraulics or a couple guys being 5 minutes late to a ceremony. 
We know we're lucky that these are the biggest problems we had to deal with in the last couple weeks.

So take your cheap shots Guardian newspaper and cynics of the world!!!

We're bigger and better than that.
What's more we're finally starting to believe it!
Do you believe?

GO Canada GO