Black Rose Bunny Finish

I finally managed to take some photos of my newest Pin-keep, "Black Rose Bunny." Last year I created this same piece with light Blue embroidery thread & a creamy white cross stitch Linen. This year I decided to try my hand at creating a fall version in darker colors.

I am quite happy with how it turned out...it has a more Primitive rustic feel to it. I used three strand Valdani variegated embroidery thread and Notforgotten Farm 28 Count Farmhouse Cross Stitch linen...Lori hand stains her linen and it has given my pin-keeps a lovely aged look.

I am also working on a series of Cross Stitched pieces that are

 going to be part of my Bittersweet Bunny series.

This grouping will include(if all goes well) a Running Bunny Pincushion, Needle-book & Scissors Fob...all to be put up for adoption as a set. I haven't offered a set in ages and I am having a lot of fun putting it together...stay tuned for more photos and a date for my Fall blog sale.

I got something special in the mail today...three wonderful bundles of antique fabric from France...sigh...I have wanted to do this for so long...so I decided to treat myself and I have to say that I am just tickled with everything I received.

An old grain sack with red cross stitched monograms, nubby hemp and linen, well worn striped cottons, and a floral fabric with raised pale designs as well as a lovely floral design. Lots of hand sewn mends and seams...perfect! I am thinking that I want to sew up a quilt for my bedroom or some curtains for my studio...maybe some of it will end up in a pinkeep.

I also found some time to dig out my old Fir cabinet...it looks almost as bad as the day I rescued it out of a mud puddle sitting in an abandoned lot...that was years ago and I still harbor a sweet spot for it...even though hubby said we should dump it..."NO WAY" was my reply! I made him  re-nail and tighten up a few spots...I cleaned up all the wood working dust and it is good to go...already have it sitting in my bedroom full of vintage rugs. It is so nice to be done all of our renovations...two years of hard work...now all the fun stuff can happen...like decorating. I hope to take some home decor photos to share with you in the coming months.

As for Little Jasper...he has fully recovered from his cold...as you can see he has been living in the lap of luxury...a pampered pooch for sure. Thank-you everyone  for your kind words and well wishes...Little Jasper is all better now!

Stitching up a Storm

Susan

Black Rose

I am supposed to be in Montreal right now enjoying a mini vacation with my husband. Not to be...Little Jasper had other plans and as always, he seems to have impeccable timing...just one month away from his Kennel cough booster shot he somehow managed to get sick with just that...Kennel cough.

Poor wee mite...I have been keeping him inside, wiping his wee nose every few minutes and making him soft food with lots of warm water...that plus a long acting antibiotic shot from the vet. I couldn't believe it...all I managed to pack was my dang underwear...We do love Jasper and we were very much relived that we noticed he was sick (((before))) we left to go on our trip. It would have been terrible for him to be sick and to stay in a kennel plus we would have exposed all those other pets to this illness. Our vet said this is the third case he has seen in the last few days...not good! So beware if you live on our Sunshine Coast...make sure your pets Kennel Cough shots are up to date.

Well...Dino is in Montreal attending his conference and I am in my studio working...I actually managed to get something made. I have been trying to complete a fall version of my "Rabbit in the Rose Garden" which I designed last year...picture below. I loved how it turned out and I just didn't have the heart to sell it. So this year I was determined to create ths same piece in fall colors...I just love the variations in this three strand Valdani floss...sepia, indigo and midnight black.

 

I hope to have this fall version of "Rabbit in the Rose Garden" finished soon as well as a few other pieces that will be fall themed ...maybe a few Halloween critters to. 

 

Last year I bought a huge sketch book to use for my patterns and design notes...now I can easily go back and look up each piece so that I can recreate them. I print out photos, attach little fabric swatches, cross stitch patterns etc etc...this plus lots of notes. I hope that it will become a real keep-sake which I can turn to years down the line...something to remind me off the things I have created.

And that wonderful husband of mine...look what he sent me...an absolutely beautiful bouquet that smells as heavenly as it looks...he felt so bad that I had to cancel my mini vacation to Montreal with him...you are a real sweetie honey and I loves you!!!

P.S. Jasper is feeling better...miss you!

Hugs Susan

Dog Days of Summer

Howdee strangers...been a good while since I've written a post...thought I had better high tail it in here and compose something before you's all furget about me.

Little Jasper says hello...he's been spending his days hiking and romping on the beach...roasting his wee body on my studio deck...and basically enjoying the dog days of summer.

 

As for me...I am in good spirits especially since we have finally finished renovating my studio. I moved my favorite chair to a cozy corner and have been spending some blissful hours working on my "Amherst Floral" Hooked Rug as well as completing some cross stitch projects that I have had on the go for months and months. I feel I can finally breath and relax as I slip into my old routine of creating and dreaming up new projects. I have made some preliminary sketches of some pieces that I hope to bring to fruition in the next while...so if all goes well you can expect a blog sale to take place early this fall.

The original "Amhearst Floral" hooked rug by John Filker above...

my rendition below. I am making good progress but still a long way to go...this is one large rug to hook! If you would like to order this pattern you can go to Blacksheepwooldesigns.com she has a huge selection of beautiful patterns to choose from. Lots of antique reproductions...

 

Little jasper seems to like the rug...he also wants to eat the rug...hence none of my rugs will be floor rugs LOL!

Yes...I AM cute...and a bit of a poser!

Cheerios

Susan

Follow me on Bloglovin

Just one last friendly reminder that if you want to keep following my blog and art updates that you can go and sign up for Bloglovin or some other blog reader as 

Google Reader is shutting down tomorrow July 1st

I have installed my Follow me on Bloglovin button on the upper left of this screen...click it and you will be directed to their site. It is super easy to sign up just follow their instructions then you can import all your favorite blogs to their reader.

 My blog is not just about my artwork, nor is it always going to be about the good stuff, the cute little puppy stuff, the wee fuzzy stuff...it's about all the things that make up my life...the good, the bad, the ugly and the funny...I appreciate everyone of you, your opinions, your comments, your presence in my life! 

Be happy and have a great summer...

On another note My hubby and myself are almost finished laying the wood floors in my studio...today I am painting moldings and I am soooo excited to get in there and start working again.

Cheerios

Susan

 

 

 

A note in reply to my previous post.

It really sickened me as well that they had to kill this cougar...they are amazing creatures...but before you pass judgement on the our local wildlife people you have to be made aware of the whole picture. (((I did more research this morning and found out that this particular cougar was quite young and in poor condition))) We live in a place that is literally teeming with wildlife and we have a huge local deer population that roams around our residential areas...our homes are their homes and because of this we also get a large influx of predators who find these deer easy pickings. So these predators make a habit of coming back to our residential areas even if they have been relocated...they also make a habit of preying on our pets as well...I hear horror stories every other month about pets being taken by eagles, bears, coyotes and cougars. So our wildlife people felt that this cougar was habituated to people and was a real and dangerous threat...it was making its home in our residential area so rather then wait till it attacked a human they thought it best to euthanize it.

As for our bear encounter...I grew up around bears and am very bear aware and I never take chances around them...I know what to do when I see one and how to behave...I know where to draw the line and so does my brother...we made sure that we played it safe and we withdrew from our encounter in good time leaving the momma bear and her cub feeling comfortable in regards to our presence.

Bear Hugs, Susan

Bears, Cougers & Critters...Oh My!

 

I went to go visit my brother in Vancouver a while back...we decided to go hiking in Minnekada Park, the park where my husband got down on his knee and proposed to me. The proposal took place on a rocky bluff overlooking the beautiful marshy lake pictured above.

Many years ago I lived in Vancouver and I use to go hiking in this park every other day...I felt so at home there and not once in all those years did I have a direct bear encounter...never say never!

We got to the park and I had to wait (as usual) for my Brother Jeff to unload his Camera gear...(My brother can't go anywhere without his Camera and his very large and heavy pack full of multiple lens etc. etc. We start down the trail and as soon as we round the corner we run into a mother Black Bear and her cub...she turned around when she spied us and started walking the other way..."Oh good" we say...we can keep going"...so we did. Then she turned around again and started heading back our way..."Oh poo" we said...we turned around and started going back the way we came. This went on for a few minutes...meanwhile my brother is sweating buckets from wildlife photo fever...he is soooo excited to get a chance to take some pics of these two (He's a city slicker and not used to seeing these critters).

I am unwittingly relegated to camera assistant, being told to hand him this and that lens for this and that type of shot. Meanwhile mama bear is getting closer and closer and I am starting to pee my pants. Jefferson I say...it is time to high tail it outta here..."one more shot", he says...I looked at him and then back at the bears and I promptly turned around and ran down the trail...calling Jeff's name plus a few other colorful words I can't repeat here. Finally my big brother comes huffing and puffing down the trail sweating buckets and saying that was freaking awesome...that was freaking awesome!

 So we decide to go down another trail when we run into some folks who say there is a big black bear down that there as well. This pretty much puts an end to my plan of visiting the bluff where my husband proposed to me...we are now to spooked to carry on so we head back to the car and out of the park.

 

 We are just driving out of the park entrance when we see some park wardens blocking the road...just beyond we see a bird on the roadway playing the part of an injured bird. It is limping and acting like it has been injured. We can't go any further and I look over at Jeff who again has that glazed look of wildlife photo fever. I relent so we step out of the car to see what the commotion is. Lucky for us we get an up close and personal glimpse of a couple of rare Sandhill Cranes. The bird on the roadway was acting injured as a way to draw our attention away from it's nest. These are birds most folks will may never get to see in their lifetime so we felt quite privileged to witness their interesting behavior, bird calls and nesting activities. Even though we couldn't get that close Jeff was in his glory and still managed to get a few shots.

We both had a great week-end together and I know Jeff will treasure these wildlife encounter's.

Meanwhile within a few days of getting back home to Gibsons  we got a knock on our door from a neighbor who says that a cougar has just killed a deer in the yard adjacent to ours. Oh Joy...NOT! I look at little Jasper and say to him...your grounded for awhile. Our yard is fenced but that is definitely not a barrier to a cougar. We then heard that the police were called to come see what could be done...remove the deer, relocate the cougar?

Within a few minutes of getting to the site of the deer kill the police got a call about a bear that had entered the kitchen of a women who lives down the road from us...mercy me...what is going on in these here parts! We never did hear what happened to that bear but I do know that the next day the cougar killed another deer and so it was deemed dangerous and had to be humanely euthanized. I hate sad endings like this...human safety was put first as this big cat seemed to have no fear of humans and was deemed to dangerous to let live.

http://youtu.be/s-SmYcFEJcU

I truly love living here on such a wild coast...being surrounded by rain forest and wildlife is truly a privilege...but with this privilege comes responsibility to respect this land and its inhabitants...drama is never far away and sometimes it can land right on your doorstep!

P.S. My brother took the first five photos in this post and the rest were gleaned from Google images.

 Bear Hugs 

Susan

HaPpY BiRtHdAy JaSpeR

 

You make us smile and laugh.You remind us to stay young at heart. You have shown us how to play again and to not take life so seriously. 

Happy Birthday Little Jasper!

Love mom and Pops

XOXO

Rug Hooking Retriever

I have been doing a bit of rug hooking while waiting for coats of paint to dry on our newly constructed wooden closets (((thanks for all your hard work husband)))...Little Jasper has taken it upon himself to retrieve my rug hooking strips which have fallen to the floor...

Have you Hugged your Furbaby today...

Cheerio, Susan

My Garden in May

You may recall a post I did a short while ago titled, "April Showers Bring May Flowers". Well...the month of May did indeed bring a second flush of flowers to our garden.

I took these photographs at about 4:30 in the afternoon with my trusty and well used Cannon Rebel SLR. I love this time of day when the shadows are deep and the light is soft and golden...colors are crisp and the stained glass effect of the sun shining through the leaves just takes my breath away.

Truly a beautiful day with turquoise skies, Bees buzzing...baby Birds calling...being surrounded by all this lush growth and smelling the sweet scent of spring...its like living in an arboretum...my own little patch of paradise. 

 

 I am still amazed every time I walk around our half acre property...the folks who lived here previous to us did a wonderful job of planting a wide diversity of different plants, trees, shrubs and perennial flowers. Come July and August will be able to harvest Blackberries, Currents, Blueberries, 
Thimble-berries, Figs and Cherries. You can see the unripe cherries below...I find the bark covered with lichens to be an interesting study of color and texture.

 

And the Tree Peonies...spectacular dinner plate sized specimens that are truly stunning to behold.

 The tree peonies in our yard our huge and at least 10 years old...a rare plant that you don't get to see very often. I truly treasure them and believe that I am one lucky gal to have not one variety but two.

My red Tree Peony surrounded by yellow and orange Poppies

 Below is the highly fragrant Yellow Tree Peony...lots of blooms but again...I wish they could stay around longer.

Vivid Poppies and Poppy pods...

 Little perennial Pansy's.

 

 

Giant Poppy pods ready to burst with big red blooms...interesting shapes, so strange and alien looking.

I couldn't resist purchasing some of these Chartreuse colored Primula flowers...they look lovely in amongst my other shade loving plants.

 

 Columbines with complicated lacy petals...I love this color combination.

A bee is busy collecting pollen on a wildflower..

Wild west coast Roses that smell just heavenly...below a Honeysuckle is ready to bloom.

Purple & white Columbines

Lacey and delicate white blooms...

 

Our big back yard Cedar tree is festooned with Clematis Vines in full flower.

 

Lily of the Valley...fragrant and sweet.

Soloman's Seal...a Native American woodland plant that loves dappled shady areas.

Currants slowly ripening in our spring sun...

My all time favorite...the Lilac...its scent brings back many a childhood memory.

And last but not least...our Little Jasper behind our garden gate.

A little note of Gratitude
I wrote a pretty intense post a short while ago lamenting the fact that I was in the middle of dealing with a flare up of an auto immune skin condition...it was bad and I won't downplay that...but things have improved considerably since then and I am now on new medication which has worked wonders for me so far...thank goodness!!! I can breath a sigh of relief and get on with my life...one of which is taking care of my garden. I also want to mention how overwhelmed I was with notes from all of you...notes that brought tears to my eyes and made me feel so good inside...I want to say thank you to all of you who reached out to me...you made what I was going through endurable, you made me feel like I wasn't alone and that there are others out there struggling with issues of their own...you are all good people with big kind hearts...

Warmly, Susan