Saturday, December 20, 2008


Wow! Where does the time go to??!



Hi again,

Well, it is December and the snow is piling up outside, plus the fact that it is
-23 degrees here this morning, so I guess it's best to stay warm inside and work on my blog which has been sorely neglected of late!

November was busy as I went to Boston to surprise my youngest son on his 30th birthday, spent a couple of days with him, and then flew to Fort Lauderdale, FLorida to be with my eldest son for Thanksgiving. My former in-laws, to whom I am still very, very close live in FLorida as well so we all had Thanksgiving together, it was wonderful! My Dad is quite ill and failing so it was a treasure to spend this time with him.

Since my return, I have been busy...I had been invited to give a talk on dollhouse miniatures and antiques to a local University Women's group here in Sudbury, so that was a treat! I dug out some of my more special miniature pieces, those whose full size counterparts are in museums all over the US and the world. The ladies were stunned with the detail and as many of them are well travelled, some had even seen the full size pieces in museums when they travelled, so it was fun for them to see the mini versions!

Then a local craft store which has started up here in town, called "Mimi & Lulu's" ( FABULOUS STORE!!) invited me to teach a felting workshop, so that was great fun...I will post the photos of the prototype we made. A lovely felted cuff style bracelet, using roving and beads and buttons from Mimi's store...most of the gals made two of them and they are amazing! I so wish I had remembered to take photos of them so I could have posted them here as well, oh well, next time. Then I found these great little tams/berets at our local grocery store, and my mind was twirling with ideas to make them into something special, so those photos are posted there as well. (Please forgive the one with me without make-up!-yikes, it was early in the morning,lol!)

So now I am on a roll making berets! My daughter-in-law to be wants a black one with white glittery snowflakes and I am just excited about making and wearing these fun,warm little works of art..great,easy gifts.

But I have saved the best for last!! My dear friend Nancy, made this STUNNING neckpiece for me for my Christmas gift!!! Isn't it amazing? I had so admired the first one she made, it was in all the bright,vibrant colours that are truly "Nancy" and seeing as she knows me well and my penchant for black and white, she made this one for me...I love it and will wear it often-thanks Nancy!

So that is about it for now, as we are heading off to Toronto tomorrow to look at a couple of houses and then to go to my sisters for Christmas week! We are going to stay in our jammies all week, although I did concede that perhaps, in honour of Christmas Day and dinner, that I might change my jammie top,lol! I need a 'down' week and we are really looking forward to this one...Warm holidays to you all, stay warm,stay safe and we will chat in the New Year...
Hugs,Debbe

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Well, I guess part of being a 'blogger' is updating it, so here goes! I thought I would occasionally post some of my favourite hooked pieces, and hope that you will send some of your own to attach here.

The first one is a selection of the mini rugs I used to make for my dollhouses, the second is my "Melodie" basket lid, based on a pattern from Melodie Fairburn called "Lollipop Flowers" and the lastter is one of my favourite rugs...I hooked it when I came back to Canada in '02..I just love the colours, plus there is a teeny one of it as well!

So I hope you enjoy these, and when I get home from hooking tonight, I thought I would compile a list of some interesting hooking and felting sites which I have come across, hopefully there will be some new ones in there which you haven't come across!

Warm regards,
Debbe

Favourite Hookings







Saturday, November 1, 2008

An Amazing Weekend With Friends!

It all started when my sister called and said that a friend of hers was talking about hosting a hooking retreat at her lovely farm get-away north of Toronto. But, she wasn't sure if enough people would be available to come( silly girl!), so my sis said, "well, I'll ask Debbe."(that would be me.)

So, fast forward a few weeks and lo and behold, 6 of us descend on Jane's Farm and begin unloading tons of food, bottles of wine, hooking frames, books, magazines, hiking boots and various baskets of wool for knitting, rug hooking, needle felting, you name it, we had it!

Anyway, we had the most fabulous three days, doing everything from the aforementioned handwork, to antiquing in Shelburne, hiking in the acres behind Jane's gorgeous spot, watching the deer and the bunnies and the birds, watching DVD's, drinking wine, making incredible art trading cards...all this while staying(largely) in our pj's!

So thanks to Jane, Elaine, Wanda, Karen, Bonnie, & Marion for a retreat to remember..pictures to follow...