Beautiful Days in PEI!

Liam and I at our beach.. It was his first time at the ocean and he loved it. Couldn't wait to see what that rolling water was all about. Time to give mommy a dog lick of appreciation for this great walk in new territory - all those smells.. the tail was a wagging!

Vast blue skies, an ocean breeze and red sand...

There is a great rug hooking show taking place in Summerside at the Eptek art Center until October 19th. If you have not been yet, please do not miss this show. It is absolutely wonderful with so many gorgeous rugs. There are so many talented rug hookers on the island. Sorry no pictures! You have to go see for yourself.

As I was in town I made a trip to a couple more places, Homestead Antiques on Fitzroy Street. I have been meaning to go for a couple of years now and finally got there this time. It is a treasure trove of primitives and reproduction antiques. I walked out with a couple of storage boxes for my sewing room (on sale too) and a Colin's Sheep. I collect them so was happy to get one here and not have to pay shipping. You can see them here.. Colin's Creatures.. these are some of his seasonal sheep - a little whimsical. I have one as an elf from last year.

The next stop was the harbour to pick up some fresh lobster meat. I had a yearning for some lobster rolls. Really they are so easy to make and I paid $9.30 for enough meat to make two. So tonight I made a mixture of lobster, celery, sweet onion and Hellman 's mayonnaise. Seasoned it with salt, pepper and grated rind of lemon. Got my rolls (have to be the ones that can be toasted on each side), layered baby spinach and added the lobster. so yummy! As a side I made fresh island potatoes, boiled with skin on, mashed with skin on, milk, butter, summer savoury and some garlic scape.. oh heaven..

Just so you think I have not been thinking rug hooking - did a new design of a cardinal on dogwood (on the website here) and I also have one on pine cones (not yet on the website) and have lots more ideas to get my own designs out there. Have a great evening....Joni

Summerside Farmer's Market

Went to Summerside Farmer's Market early this morning and I was hoping to see the rug show at Eptek. Found out the exhibition is only open on weekdays and Sunday.. so put off for another day. We did go to the Farmer's Market in the old Holman building. It was down some stairs on the bottom floor and the walls were old stone.. so interesting. The building was built 1857. It was a small venue but had everything you would need. It was doing a bustling business. At least it was not the craziness of the Charlottetown market, which we have sworn off of. 

These were my goodies from the market....
Bluebarb Pie and Grandma's ginger cookies from Shipwright's.
Fresh yellow beans
Blueberry lemon tarts and a mini carrot cake
Fresh smoke cured bacon - highly recommended by Chef Norm.

Then off we went back to Kensington to check out Al Picketts' Eureka Garlic... oh heavenly smell. Such a nice fellow and I'll be visiting again for my black garlic and other garlic buds. Did pick up some powdered garlic green scapes (again highly recommended by Chef Norm) and some garlic sand. The scapes are the top of the immature garlic which are dried and ground.. sweet and fragrant..no bitterness with this product. Here is a great link to find out more about black garlic and Eureka.

Have a great day... more pics of Summerside harbour.

Island Baking

 Have not found a bakery that does cinnamon rolls really well. So decided to make my own. It happens that Michael Smith who is a great Island chef was coming out with his new cookbook "Back to Basics" and I had to get my hands on it. A trip to Charlottetown to the Indigo there and lo and behold there it was but to my surprise this was the only book they had of his? So no cinnamon roll recipe. I had watched his cooking show the other day where he made some and it got me hankering for a pan of them. Off to his website where he has some of his popular recipes and there it was. Yay!

So gathered all my supplies with a trip to Paderno's for a lovely ceramic pan which matches the round one my Mom gave me last year for Christmas, so I was pleased with that purchase. Off to bulk barn for some basics...no King Arthur flour my go to staple nor did I expect any :( I always travel with my own Vietnamese cinnamon but forgot the vanilla.Then to find a rolling pin, of course not to be found and none in the cottage that I could remember. Got back and realized I forgot the yeast, so no baking that day.

So having held off for a day - we were going to the eastern portion of the Island to visit a couple of spots and I thought - Brenda Watts - wonderful woodworker..She is bound to have a rolling pin for me. Called her to find out she was shut down for the season but was happy to have me come to her shop - Islanders are like that. She had the perfect rolling pin. A french one with tapered ends handcrafted by her. Fell in love with the colour and was happy - the last french one which is what I wanted. You can see it in the picture above. So back we went and I went to work the next day on these rolls.

This is the first time I have made cinnamon rolls. I loved making them. They don't need a lot of ingredients and you have to raise them twice but oh my they are glorious. The cinnamon makes the difference and I am sure you could add pecans or raisins if you wanted but I like them just plain old jane. 

The next time I make them I won't ice them right away. I'll just keep the icing in the fridge and warm them up in the oven when I want one and ice at that time. We are only two so we have been having them for breakfast all week.

 Here is the link for the Michael Smith recipe.. worth a try...Cinnamon Roll Recipe.

Have a great day... Joni

Culinary Studio in PEI

Annie's Culinary Studio in New London, PEI

This year I took two classes at Annie's. She bought this old church in New London two years ago and renovated the interior.It contains a professional kitchen with a long, large store counter that divides the space into two. The other part contains a long antique banquet table where we get to sample what we have cooked. There are antiques and memorabilia of the church spread around the walls along with some comfy chairs. It's a beautiful, relaxing place to learn some new cooking skills. Chef Norman is a fountain of knowledge and only too willing to share what he knows. I have had two wonderful lunches as a result of the classes and have enjoyed it so much. 

Last week I took a course on cooking with potatoes. So we made potato bannock (this is going to be my go to quick bread), potato latkes that were topped with Island smoked salmon, capers and a herbed sour cream, chocolate potato cake to die for and lastly potato gnocchi. I never knew it was so easy to make. 

I brought some of the gnocchi home and tonight I made a bechamel sauce with red onions, red peppers, yellow/green zucchini,some island summer savoury and garlic. It was fast - easy and delicious! Definitely will be making more gnocchi at home and freezing it in portions. So much tastier than the store bought kind!

My version of homemade potato gnocchi

Yesterday I took a course on soup making.. it was a potato bacon chowder with smoked island trout and the second one was a Middle Eastern soup called Harira - a traditional Ramadan Soup which was so exotic in flavours and so delicious. It had lentils, chickpeas, rice, tomato and onion with spices I would not normally put in soup - cinnamon, cumin, ginger and tumeric.
Along with that we had 15 minute bread which was a course I took last year and the only bread I make - so easy.

Taking a course at Annie's is always so exciting and can't wait to see what she has planned for next year!

On The Island

Looking out from the deck to Cabot provincial Park over the dunes....

We have been on the island for a week now and will be celebrating Thanksgiving here. Then off to Amherst, Nova Scotia for the fiber festival.

I'll be posting some pics of my own fiber trail I have been taking...Meeting new friends and old...

I have been flitting between knitting, hooking, reading and baking. I brought lots of stuff to do. I even managed to bring my yarn winder for all those new skeins I happen to find. It's good I did because I signed up for Stephen West's Mystery Shawl KAL and bought some Shibui yarn to knit it. Some out of the box colours for me! These will be short posts and hope to get one done every day. Got a back log right now. Off to get my cinnamon rolls to rise and in the oven. I'll post a pic later if they look presentable. LOL..Meanwhile two sock projects on the go....Talk soon. Enjoy your day. Joni

Some lovely hand dyed wool with sparklies in it - perfect for Hermione pattern from Harry Potter inspired knitting....

A nice solid bright colour called Dutch which will define the stitching oin this sock pattern...

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

Island Jaunts

Old Church down a country road in Breadalbane,PEI

Some pictures of our drives around the Island....

We headed into the hills one day - PEI is very hilly as opposed to the seacoast drives which can be along cliffs, dunes or very gentle shores. There is such a variety of landscape on this small province. A little bit of heaven for everyone.

I love this house! not far from the church and for sale too!!!

Sherman's Shore on Malpeque Bay outside of Summerside, PEI

Red Sands, Blue Waters and Fluffy Clouds



New Glasgow, PEI



Downtown Charlottetown with a small town feel where to be greeted with a hello on the street is not uncommon.

Our lunch spot - sole with hand cut PEI fries...heavenly and yummy...

Confederation House - where Kate and Will paid a visit earlier this summer.. the birth of Canada 1867

PS I am still tackling the steam and seam applique and not happy with it at all. This is just too tense an activity for me. I think I have sworn off using any adhesives! It is way too friggy! My one and only project using this method. Next week I will be able to hook again. Next vacation I am bringing my frame even if I have to have a roof rack installed on the car. I feel so much more relaxed with hook in hand and a rug on the frame. Rug Hooking here we come....

My Island View

This is my view as I work on my wool applique project. Dunes and the Atlantic ocean to one side and the bay to the other. A great panoramic view. How inspired can you be! It has certainly led to a number of sketches which I hope to put to canvas. The Island that holds my heart is where I find my peace and creativity.

The boats were already on the water harvesting the bounty from the sea on the bay this morning. We are located on a peninsula just jutting out to the ocean with the Atlantic on one side and Malpeque Bay on the other. It can make for some windy days. When the wind blows you can hear the ocean waves pounding on the shore. Yesterday we spent exploring parts of the Island and there is no place on PEI that is not beautiful.

So this is my latest project and I am using the interface method and not sure if I am liking it. This is a pattern called Prairie Rose available on my website and the designer uses an applique method of applying Steam a Seam to the wool. I am a traditionalist and I usually use a pin and baste method of appliqueing. I am not comfortable with the feel of the wool and the addition of the adhesive on the back. I'll persevere with it but I think that after this it will be back to the old method of pin and baste. I guess I don't like anything between me and my wool :) The last wool applique I did was my way and I loved doing it and it worked just fine. I guess the best thing is to use what works for you!

Off to explore more of the Island today. After coming here for so many years you would think I have seen it all but there is always your favourites you go back to and new places tucked away waiting to be discovered.

The Gentle Island

Seashore Scene Cousins Shore PEI

After a very stressful summer - September has proven to be a quiet relaxing time. A month for me to gather my strength and put my priorities in place and simply veg out. This summer was one that I never wish to repeat and a valuable lesson was learned. listen to your body - go with your instincts and don't be afraid to ask questions if something does not feel right. I learnt that I can't afford to be an ostrich with its head in the sand but need to raise my head. 10 days in Cardiac ICU will give you that! After 2 months of just not knowing what was going on - I feel better than ever and ready to wallow in the beauty of my favourite season  - Fall.

So that is the reason I have been lying low and there have been no postings to my blog or website. I am enjoying my days by the sea and loving every minute of  it. This is a gentle Island cradled by the sea and a place where I leave my heart every year. It is a place where I find a renewal of my creativity in the people I meet. It is their passion for their art which spurs mine whether it be in their rug hooking, quilting, painting or metalwork. The Island abounds with artists all so individual in their interpretation of their Island life. 

This year I met some lovely ladies who personify Island life in their rug hooking. If you are on Prince Edward Island have a drive by their studio - Pastimes PEI. I had a lovely chat and of course picked up one of their patterns all drawn up called the "Cavendish Mat". It is a geometric which I have never hooked before and there are traditional colours to be used to tie it back to the Island but essentially is a scrap rug. I can't wait to dive into my stash of scrap wool and dig out some treasures to hook this one.

This was Roby's first time by the seashore and I am not sure he knew what to make of it :) Working on a wool applique piece right now but I am itching to put hook in hand and start hooking some of them rugs! Have a new Deanne Fitzgerald rug to do  - gosh have to finish my other one too. Seems like I have to make up for lost time.

This will be my first Fall not working outside the home and I am going to love every minute of it! I have a new lease on life and for me Fall is a rebirth - always has been. Some people might say it is spring but for me it is Fall - the start of school - learning new things and cracking open those new copy books and putting the first word on a clean white page. It is trying new soup recipes and opening the window on a cool aftenoon to capture those special fall fragrances. Just love it!

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 ..........