Tuesday 30 June 2009

Sweet Summer Nature

This time of year I always stop and just admire the nature surrounding me, like this great view of the marsh above
or one of the many blue jays visiting my backyard
neighbours cat lounging on my deck steps in late afternoon
a lonely duck cruising the marsh
a fluttering butterfly.

Take time to stop and watch, and enjoy!

Sylvie

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Treasures in the mail

I received today these gorgeous vintage buttons from Dione, as part of the Button Swap hosted by Wondermommy. I love them, each one is so special, and I think I have found among them the perfect button to match the little pouch I am working on right now. More about it later.

Sylvie

Monday 15 June 2009

These have summer written all over

Yes, it may take a long time for summer to really settle here in Quebec, but that's no reason not to be ready when it does come. I planned it ahead a few weeks ago and got myself the cutest handbag from CharmDesign. I fell in love with the japanese inspired fabric and its bright colours, and thought it would match perfectly with my brand new sandals.

There are more things that come to my mind when I think of summer, things that would not sound quite right at other times of the year. I am thinking about Life Savers Popsicles, pastel flowered skirts, walking barefoot in the grass, and reading The Love Letter by Cathleen Schine. I read this book for the first time during summer 1999. I know because I had written the date on the forepage. And I remember that summer quite well. I had a job of making photocopies and answering the phone in a lawyers office right off Parliament Hill in Ottawa. I used to spend most of my evenings browsing the novels section on the upper floor of Chapters. I came across this cute little romance that truly appealed to my 22-year-old girl's mind. I read it in my overheated dorm room and sitting on rocks by the Ottawa River, and on a bench on crowded Sparks Street at lunch time. I felt as stupid and out of place as Johnny back then. Since then, I have reread this book almost every summer and have loved it every single time, even though the ending is no mystery to me anymore, and I feel closer to Helen every year and farther from Johnny. But this is my ultimate summer reading. I have just started it over again this week, and the feeling is back. Yes, summer must finally be here...


Like these? Last weekend I've indulged myself with a fabric shopping spree. I bought just a meter of each of these prints and I love them all. They look so summery with all the flowers and bright colours. Some of these fabrics will soon be on their way to Trashalou and Nicole, my partners in the Sew into summer FQ swap. Which fabric is to go to whom? This will remain a mystery until they receive their parcels, hoping I have made good choices.

Sylvie

Tuesday 9 June 2009

Ma vie en rose... and orange!

I have stayed away from the computer lately and have neglected my writing here. May has been a very busy month around here with all the work outside, getting the yard and the pool cleaned up after the long winter, fixing the patio deck, redoing the roof that has been leaking during spring and has ruined my dining room wall (this is still to be repaired).

Last weekend I attacked the flower beds. That was quite a challenge for the novice gardener that I am. We bought the house last summer and I let the plants invade the beds to see what was growing in there and decide later what to keep. At the end of summer, I realised that most of what had grown in there was rubbish and I took pretty much everything out, keeping only the irises, one hosta, one spirrea and one other plant whose identity I ignore, but whose leaves I adore. That left about 100 square feet of bare beds to fill this summer. So I started some perennials from seeds in the house earlier this spring and bought a few varieties of annuals from the garden center last week. It's only after planting flowers in the beds last weekend that I realised I had subconsciously matched orange dahlias with pink snapdragons.


This colour combination seems to stick with me so far this year. It all started when I bought some gorgeous fabric woven in bright orange, fuschia and light pink. I fell in love with the sunny colours and the amazing texture of this fabric. I had it on my mind for a while, trying to figure out what to make of it, something that would be integrated in my decor and allow me to see and touch it everyday, without being an eyesore to my boyfriend who, although he likes orange, could not make do with such a big splash of pink. All the while, with the fabric on the back of my mind, I could not help but to collect supplies in those two colours, pink and orange, even though I normally am not a big fan of pink myself. The result of that frenzy is that I now have enough orange and pink trims and flosses to last me for the next ten years!

Fortunately for me -- and for my wallet! -- I finally found a use for the gorgeous fabric, thus bringing an end to my overgrowing collection of orange and pink supplies:

My sewing machine was in need of an attractive cover to replace the cheap standard one that came with it. I made it reversible, but I doubt I will ever use the other side, which is rather plain in comparison with the exterior.

Now, since my machine is proudly sitting on my work table, I can have my favorite fabric in view everytime I go work in my studio, and my boyfriend cannot be bothered by the girly colour as this is not his favorite place to hang out. You're more likely to find him in his wood shop, in case you wonder!

Will try to be back soon!

Sylvie

Monday 1 June 2009

More fun things

May Giveaway Day may be over, but there are still some fun events going on.

Ravenhill is having two giveaways on her blog this week. You could win some of the gorgeous fabrics she uses in her dolls. Yummy!

Two Hippos is organizing a Fat Quarter Fabric Swap. Oooh, I love that kind of swaps! Come and join in! Only two more days to register.

Sylvie

We have a winner!

What an awesome experience May Giveaway Day has been for me! I am very new to blogging and so this was my first time participating in a giveaway, and I've had a blast.
I am thrilled with all the visitors and the nice comments, and many of you have given me very useful sewing tips and great links toward tutorials.

This being said, it is time to announce the name of the winner. One comment has been randomly picked in a bowl by my boyfriend, under the supervision of our trusted Nounou, Daisie and Tofu -- our turtles!

CONGRATULATIONS TO SUSAN!

And thank you to all who have participated! I'll see you all again on the next Giveaway Day!

Sylvie