dark blue laughter......

Whoohoo!! A front page treasury two days in a row!!

I am so excited! I hope some of these gorgeous pieces sell for these very talented artisans!

Gorgeous dark blue, gorgeous work, gorgeous photos!!

Pretty Sunset

Last night the sunset was dramatic, gorgeous blues and vivid pinks!

I thought we were going to get a thunder storm but it passed us by, leaving this glorious sky!

washed blue...pale....

This morning we made an emergency trip to the vet, in the city, with our cat, Littlebit. He was not feeling grand, he hurt his eye, took a chunk out of his cornea, but it was not too deep. He did not need surgery, just ointment and antibiotics.

While we were gone this treasury of mine  was on the front page of Etsy.

A few pieces sold while it was up, whoohoo!!

Blueberries & Russian Olives

I haven't posted for a few days, we have been busy in our secret blueberry patch. The season is coming to an end, there are many many berries left out there, but they are getting too soft and squishy to pick. My sister was here yesterday, and we went out and picked 52 litres of berries. Picking is the easy part, I am not really fond of the cleaning part. Hurts my neck and shoulders.

Our freezers are getting full, I have made four batches of various blueberry jams, and my dehydrator has been working overtime. I like to use dried blueberries instead of raisins.

I have also been cutting denim, getting ready to start weaving again, it has been a while. I have almost enough denim cut up, I am hoping to weave a large rug. We will see once I start warping the loom if it will be possible. It will be my first denim rug on this loom.

I have also been making a little bit of jewelry. Still playing with copper. I made this pair of earrings with some of Gillianbeads, beautiful lampwork beads.  Very pretty with the copper leverbacks. I am also still liking the look of the copper jewelry on this copper box, photography backdrop.

"Russian Olives"

Red Recycled Wool Rag Rug on the Front Page!!

Much to my delight one of my recycled felted wool sweaters rugs was featured in a treasury on Etsy that made it to the front page yesterday. Etsy seller, Zygopsyche was the creator of this lovely collection!

Always a thrill to see your work on the front page, getting maximum exposure!

Thank you Kellie!

Copper and Ice

I just listed this pretty pair of earrings in my Etsy shop.

Another earthy elegant...

Gorgeous faceted aquamarine ovals, paired with the earthiness of copper.

Pegg's Pesto Recipe

At this time of year I have an abundance of basil growing in our greenhouse. We grow a lot of it, for the purpose of making and freezing pesto, to supply us for the long winter months. It is a treat to have a taste of summer in the dreary cold month of January. 

Fresh basil picked and waiting to be made into pesto.

Freshly made pesto, ready for the freezer! Yum!

Pesto Recipe

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves

1/3 cup pine nuts

1 large clove garlic, chopped

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup Parmesan cheese

Finely chop the basil, pine nuts, garlic and salt in a food processor. With the processor running, add the oil in a slow steady stream through the feed tube until the mixture is thoroughly blended. Add the cheese; blend until mixed through.

Serve with freshly cooked hot pasta. Makes enough for about 1 pound of pasta. Can also be frozen, and thawed just before using. A good way to use a bounty of fresh basil.

Drops of Copper

I have been working with the chunky copper chain, and been making earrings with it. I had made my sister a very simple pair, copper leverbacks, with two links of chain, she said they are her favourite!  So I made these a little different but still simple, earthy elegant. I took the photo on a funky little copper box a friend gave me, copper on copper, I love it!

9mm chunky copper chain, 10 mm etched copper bead...

My Tzatziki Recipe

Very simple, very easy.... just have to start the day before you want it.

2 - 750 gram containers of plain yogurt

I large English cucumber, grated

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

salt to taste

Strain yogurt in a tea towel lined colander in a bowl overnight, up to 24 hours. It should be think like a soft cheese, not runny.

Squeeze as much liquid out of the cucumber as you can. Add it to a bowl with the strained yogurt with the minced garlic and salt to taste. i do like mine a little salty.

Mix thoroughly, and it is ready to eat. You can also let it sit in the fridge for the flavours to mingle. Yum.

Please feel free to add mint, vinegar, or what ever flavours you like in your tzatziki. Make it your own!

Grilled Chicken on Greens With Blueberries....

Wild Blueberries

Another summer favourite, yummy salad with grilled chicken and the fruit of this season ..... blueberries. 

2 tsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. olive oil

2 tsp. dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 cups torn salad greens

2 tbsp. pine nuts

1/2 cup fresh blueberries

Dressing:

4 tsp. olive oil

4 tsp. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. dijon mustard

1/2 tsp. salt

2 pinches  of pepper

Whisk together lemon juice, oil, mustard and garlic. Brush over chicken, and let stand for at least 15 minutes. Grill chicken until cooked through.

Dressing:

In a bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper.

Add to sliced chicken and salad greens in a large bowl. Divide between two plates. Sprinkle with the nuts and berries.

Turkish Gozleme ( Sauteed Zucchini Cakes)

This is an old favourite recipe, I am not sure where I originally found it. They are quite yummy, and a good way to use up some excess zucchini.

2 cups zucchini, trimmed and grated

salt

1 tsp. chopped canned jalepeno peppers

1 small onion, minced

1 large clove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. curry powder

2 tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. baking powder

2/3 cup whole wheat flour

3 tbsp. oil

1. Place zucchini in a colander and lightly sprinkle with salt. Let stand 20 minutes. Gently press the zucchini with your hands to remove excess liquid.

2. Place the zucchini in a large bowl; add the peppers, onion, garlic, curry and salt to taste. Mix well. Stir in the baking powder and flour.

3. With floured hands form the zucchini mixture into 16 small rounds, Flatten slightly.

4. Heat oil in a  skillet over medium heat. Add the zucchini cakes and saute until golden on bottom. Turn over - saute 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium low, and cook, covered for about 15 minutes, turning once.

You can use chopped fresh jalapeno's, pickled........ it is your own personal choice...

Needle Felting.. Megan's Creature!!

I gave Megan some roving and some felting needles in the winter.  I was very surprised and excited to see what she has been creating with them when I recently visited her.

It is a work in progress, she has run out of some colours, so I will package up what I have here and send them off to her. She is much more creative with it then I am. I am impressed!!

Wild Bluberries

This morning, mom and I went picking blueberries, while Mark went running. It was much too hot for picking berries. The berries them selves are just starting to ripen, there are still a lot of green berries. 

We picked about 16 litres while Mark was gone. It is not easy picking, as you have to pick around the green berries. It will be much better next week, there is a great crop this year, all that rain we had...

Pretty Pink Posies....

I have been loving working with copper, I have paired it here with some pretty faceted rose quartz beads I bought when I was in London. Gillian brought me to the bead shop. These beads were a little pricey but they are gorgeous. I have paired them with pretty pale olive green freshwater pearls. I love pink and green together.

 I took this photo on a piece of fossil studded limestone we found on Manitoulin Island. I love the pink on the beige of the stone. 

two small cherry luna apples with...two birds...

Yesterday evening Mark and I went uptown to meet the greyhound bus, my mom was coming home. While we were gone, the bus was quite late, this treasury was on the front page, I missed it...

It will always be a thrill when one of my Etsy treasuries graces the front page!!

Handwoven Felted Recycled Wool Sweater Rug

I just finished weaving the last of my stash of wool sweaters. I will not order more sweater bales until I can work my way through the 200 pounds of denim and corduroy I have stored throughout the house. I love the denim and corduroy rugs, but they are so much harder to work with. In a sense I am dreading it.. wool is so much softer to work with.

I also have boxes and boxes of plastic in Thomas' room, and he may be coming home next week. I  wove a little sampler last night, too thin for a rug, I have more experimenting to do. I also tried to sew this piece of woven plastic, and my sewing machine refused to do the job... It just jammed up, the plastic must be too sticky to  move through.

Love all the colours, shades and tones in this soft, cozy comfy rug!

Wood Jasper and Copper

I am still working with the copper chain. In this piece I have combined it with large 15 mm x 20 mm rectangular wood jasper beads. these beads look so much like wood!

It took me many many tries to photograph this necklace, and to be happy with the results. I took this photo outside on a piece of an old copper water heater. It has started to patina, and looks wonderful with the necklace.

Red Eared Turtles

When my nephews were young, their parents bought them two tiny little red eared turtles. Twenty some years later, my brother and sister in law still  have one of these turtles. A pet that just keeps going..... something to consider when buying your child a pet...

Needless to say, he is no longer tiny, and needs lots of loving care!

Woven Paper

I have been saving old lotto tickets for some time, to experiment with. At first I just sewed two tickets together end to end, then cut them into strips and wove them. It worked but it made a flimsy woven sheet. I then sewed some tickets together end to end, then cut them in half lengthwise.

I folded these strips in thirds and sewed them. They gave me something with substance to work with. I like the weight of the woven sheet, and like the look of the sewn stitches on the paper.

Chunky Copper Chain

Last week my friend Kathy sent me some copper chain to try out. I have never worked with chain before, so it is a bit of a challenge for me, and this chain is large and chunky!

I have combined the chain with vintage yellow and white swirled glass beads. Very simple design. I have just listed this necklace in my Etsy shop.