It's Fall and It's Baking Time

It's been almost a month that we have been away from home and loving every minute of it, but all good things must come to an end. Until next year - we'll be Island bound again. Yesterday I took a wonderful baking class at Annie's Table. On the menu was pie making - yummy. Now I can make cookies and squares but my pie crust has a lot to be desired. Well after this class - pies will now be baking in my oven. The most important thing I learnt was everything must be COLD. We made an apple pear rustic tart (pictured here) and a mock cherry pie. The latter is a pie made by Lucy Maud Montgomery using cranberries and raisins because cherries at that time were not available on the island and by the time they got here they were rotten so islanders made do. 

To be honest I am not fond of cherry pie but this one with the cranberries is delicious! The crust was so flaky - I had never tasted any pie like that. Along with that we made lemon lavender scones - delicious little three bite scones perfect with a cup of tea. Another use for my lavender growing in my garden. If you are on PEI , take the time to check out Annie's Table - Culinary Studio, well worth the visit and a class!!

Just a couple of pics from my deck... you can see the Cabot Provincial Park - I think that may be a rug in the works. When I am here I often just go down back roads and explore bits of the island I have not seen. I love old barns and this was one I saw just perched on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. A beautiful spot! Off to do some more exploring - have a great day! Joni

Hearts

Haven't had much time to post lately as I have been busy taking an on line rug hooking class with Deanne Fitzpatrick. She is offering it again in April - it is so worthwhile and fun. Has me going in different directions. I'll post some of the hookings I have done in the next couple of days.


In the meantime, since it is Valentine's Day - not such a big thing for me - but I do love hearts! so just some photos of pics I have across on the net and pinned.

Source: facebook.com via Emanuela on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Koren on Pinterest

Source: bailiwickdesigns.typepad.com via Helena on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Aunt on Pinterest

Source: attic24.typepad.com via Katie on Pinterest

Source: bing.com via Rose on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Ana on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Tatiana on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Sassa on Pinterest

Source: annies-eats.net via Brianna on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Karen on Pinterest

Source: littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com via Sherry on Pinterest

Source: gracieswainson.tumblr.com via Rita on Pinterest

The Snow Man

The Snow Man 

One must have a mind of winter

To regard the frost and the boughs

Of the pine-trees crusted with snow;

And have been cold a long time

To behold the junipers shagged with ice,

The spruces rough in the distant glitter

Of the January sun; and not to think 

Of any misery in the sound of the wind,

In the sound of a few leaves,

Which is the sound of the land

Full of the same wind

That is blowing in the same bare place

For the listener, who listens in the snow,

And, nothing himself, beholds

Nothing that is not there and the nothing that is. 

Wallace Stevens

Pictures courtesy of members of Pinterest

Winter Days

If you have read some of my blogs in the past you know that I am a fall/winter person. On that theme I came across this blog Island Sweet who recommended this book. She lives on The Rock (Newfoundland) and their winters are long and can be pretty severe. First off, the cover caught my eye - looks like it could be a rug! Then I went in search of the book on Amazon, downloaded the first few pages and was hooked. Now I don't usually read much non-fiction, (except art books and cookbooks) but I must say this one is thoroughly enjoyable. Makes me appreciate winter all the more! You can find the book by Adam Gopnik on Amazon. The book consists of five essays - romantic winter, radical winter, recuperative winter, recreational winter and remembering winter.

" A mind of winter, a mind for winter, not sensing the season as a loss of warmth and light, and with them hope of life and divinity, but ready to respond to it as a positive, and even purifying, presence of something else - the beautiful and the peaceful, yes, but also the mysterious, the strange , the sublime- is a modern taste."  Adam Gopnik - Winter 

 I am not a sporty outdoor person in the winter. I do like my walks and sitting outside in the sun on a beautiful afternoon but I prefer my creature comforts and I am all for hibernating. That means I cruise the internet more and hence my new found love - Pinterest. It is a great tool for cataloging ideas, inspirations or anything that has a photograph attached to it. I joined about a month ago and have boards dedicated to rug hooking, knitting, crochet, cupcakes, fur babies - let's just say there are 39 of them and they keep growing. All your followers, get to enjoy your photos and vice versa for those you follow. There is a wealth of information on this site. Here are examples of some of the photographs I have collected in my fur babies board. Too cute to pass up. Now these are snow babies!

If anyone is interested in joining PINTEREST I can send you an invite. Just e-mail me.

Winter beauty.....

and.... since it was snowing today - well a few snowflakes - I got the baking pans out and whipped up this yummy golden vanilla pound cake which is a King Arthur Flour recipe. I added a raspberry coulis. I like baking on a Sunday. Have a great evening ... Joni

Catch the Wind

In the chilly hours and minutes,

Of uncertainty, I want to be,
In the warm hold of your loving mind.

To feel you all around me,
And to take your hand, along the sand,
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

When sundown pales the sky,
I wanna hide a while, behind your smile,
And everywhere I'd look, your eyes I'd find.

For me to love you now,
Would be the sweetest thing, 'twould make me sing,
Ah, but I may as well, try and catch the wind.

When rain has hung the leaves with tears,
I want you near, to kill my fears
To help me to leave all my blues behind.

For standin' in your heart,
Is where I want to be, and I long to be,
Ah, but I may as well, try and catch the wind.

   ---------------------Donovan
Heard this song tonight and remembered what a great song it was and still is. So glad I am part of that generation!

Frost

Hoar frost, white frost or rime is the tiny solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air which occurs when the temperature of the surfaces is below freezing point. It occurs generally with clear skies.

Our first morning walk in this new chapter of our lives..... what a glorious morning it was. everything covered with this dainty white frost glistening in the sunlight against a deep blue sky. Have a great day!

Perfect Fall Weekend

Saturday was glorious. Crisp air, leaves filled with colour and the scent of wood smoke in the air. I just love this time of the year. I get all these creative urges that just have to be put to fabric and they drift through my mind at all times  - when I can be doing the most mundane things. Helps to carry a notepad in your purse and more recently an IPhone (yes, I of no cell phone for 4 years have caved in). I call it my security blanket for winter driving up here. It definitely came in handy when I was in PEI as I had no internet access and did you know that you can use it as a server for the internet. OK I am not the most computer adept person but hey that just boggled my mind! The biggest plus - the pictures I can take!

A perfect fall day

So Roby and I made our monthly trek to the vet along with some errands that had to be done and we then treated ourselves to a walk by the lake. It was so beautiful. We met some other furries and it was a big social gab. What is it about animals and kids - it brings out the best in people.




My furry beast!

 

This weekend was "Let's get this show on the road for the November Artisan Show". You always think you have enough time and you prepare a year in advance and yet it is always the last month that is a frenzy of activity with new ideas and do I have enough time to fit it in. I'll be posting some of my pieces over the next couple of weeks. Here is one of several clutch purses that I purchased from Nepal (fair trade) and did some doodling with wool over the weekend. I had so much fun with these. I call them my doodle purses. Have a great evening!

Wool Doodle Purse

Island Storm



Thunder Cove Beach

Hard to believe it is already the middle of October. Seems like it has been ages since we got back from our island holiday (and no that is not a tropical island) but the gentle island cradled in the ocean's embrace - Prince Edward Island. The weather was nothing to write home about but who cares with the awe inspiring view we had - mother nature at her full force. Best of all we are back on the island in the spring. Winter will breeze by :)

Thunder Cove Beach



Lots of changes, decisions and planning happening in this little life of  mine. All very good though! The focus this month is getting ready for the Artisan Craft show in Hudson, Quebec on November 13/14th. If you are in the area drop by as it is a great opportunity to see what the local artisan community is up to and most important show support for hand made items. 



Hudson Show 2009

I am busy creating and doing. I always plan on what I am going to have at my booth but inevitably I get really creative with new ideas and end up trying to do too much. Fall happens to be my favourite time of year and very inspiring. So I have learned to pace myself time wise and not be superwoman. Save some of those ideas for later on.  

I'll be posting some of the new creations on my blog and I did get two rugs finished while I was on holidays. Hmm the island is definitely an inspirational place for me.

Off to get ready for work.. have a great day ..........





Free Hugs

It's a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon. A really feel good day. I have been cruising You Tube all morning, watching political speeches, interviews and listening to some music. I am a late bloomer and discovered You Tube a couple of months ago, but to be fair to myself my old desktop computer was such a dinosaur that any attempts at viewing anything was next to impossible. With the new laptop things are moving along at high speed :).

I came across this video/idea which I thought was a simple thing to do and really makes you connect with someone. People should do it more. We live in very dire times and I think it is important that we remember that essentially we are all the same. I am not going on my soap box so I'll just say give someone a hug! Enjoy.

Please note it has 30 million hits so may take awhile to download. I tried early morning so I was able to see it. If you can't see it now - come back later. It's worth it. Thanks Joni

Lady of Shalott

I am totally engrossed in my latest read, "The Illuminator" by Brenda Rickman Vantrease. It's a wonderful tale that takes place during the late 14th century at the time of the feudal lords and on the eve of the Renaissance. Where books are a rarity and owned by the wealthy churches and are illustrated with such rich colours, symbols and gilt. Hence a glorious story of an illuminator and the love, faith and treachery he encounters.

And to make it even more interesting for me there are details of raising sheep, shearing the wool and going to market. Not really surprising though considering sheep played an important part in the livelihood of the manor. There is your wool connection (All About Wool). :)



I love the cover of the book - a painting by Giovanni Bellini, Woman at the Mirror. 1515.,
which brought to mind a painter that I really like -John William Waterhouse whose obsession with Tennyson led to a series of paintings he did of Alfred Lord Tennyson's (1809-1892) poem The Lady of Shalott. A Victorian poem loosely based on medieval sources.

I am halfsick of Shadows - 1888

Water Effect

This is a painting I used as an inspiration for an applique pictorial quilt that I drew up. I am afraid it will never be a quilt but there is hope that it will be a rug. It will be my challenge piece. I drew it up while listening to one of my favourite songs - The Lady of Shalott by Loreena McKennitt. She is a hauntingly powerful singer who never fails to amaze me with her vocal abilities. The music you heard when you came to visit me here is her Lady of Shalott. Her song inspires me to get that drawing out again and see if I can't make it into a hooked rug. It will be my Christmas holiday project where I spoil myself and do some of the things I never seem to have time to do.

G'night..J

PS Susan, I know you are not fond of music on blogs - but I think you will make an exception to Loreena :)

Pretty Things

Cavallini notebook and butterfly stamps

Nicely textured paper

I treated myself to a trip to the local art supply store and took a browse down the aisles and found the perfect paper to wrap my soap in - some beautifully textured banana fiber paper. I think it will complement the honey, soy and wheat germ soap that I plan on having for sale on Jan 10th on Pfatt Marketplace.


Also came across some wonderful products by Cavellini - a beautiful set of stamps - butterflies and a notebook which I hope will inspire some very creative thoughts. I do love all their pretty things! My cousin got me interested in their product. She writes a wonderful blog which you should check out 29 Black Street.

Have finally dug the car out and took it for a run today with Roby in the back - he so enjoys a good car ride - just sits and watches out the window. Heard on the radio that gas was going up to 1.194 a litre so hurried over to the station to fill up. That is up .08 a litre -where is it heading to. Someone is making money off of us and I would like to know who! Out of my control so I just plan my local trips better and try to use less travel time. Helped this week that I did not use the car for 4 days.

Finally finished my sheep rug yesterday - I just love it and have not decided whether to sell it or not. May use it for a door topper ( a hooked rug placed over a door in the shape of a semicircle. Us hookers have to find whatever space is available :). I can only show a picture after the 6th - it was a secret challenge. Now onto other things. I want to do something with the bird paper I bought - maybe cover a box with it and put some hand painted distressed eggs in it - I would like to try some wool felted eggs with perhaps some decorative stitches using some wool threads I just dyed. The problem being there never seems to be enough time for all these things. I have to keep a notebook or I tend to forget all the spur of the moment ideas.

I entered a new challenge and this is for a big rug so must give that some thought as to what I want in it. I have some ideas but they are not all there yet. Definitely primitive and I am not sure if I want to relate it to my life as it was or my life as I want it to be. That probably did not make sense - or maybe just be whimsical and have fun with it. I don't know what I would do if I did not have these decisions to make. It keeps me alive in spirit with a zest of anticipation and wonder as to how things will turn out. I tell Peter that I am never bored and cannot understand the concept of boredom. My problem is I don't know how to slow down :).

Roby is here curled on my feet reminding me that he needs some loving pats and attention - so off we go - to bind my rug while watching a movie or two.