It appears "Spring has Sprung" at long last and we are through another cold and harsh winter ( it is May after all). Our azalea (see pic) blooms early and improves each year which is usually our personal goal. In many ways I appreciate this time for renewal and growth, what better way to celebrate spring than to return to "the" blog

I have missed blogging and sharing. Facebook took over from some of that but just seems so cold, automated and impersonal.So here I am revisiting and enjoying reading through past blogs. I have just realized that I have been on a journey and achieved a lot of my goals.  I am now an accomplished Real Estate Agent, Interior Decorator and I teach Interior Decorating ( Floor Plans, Space Planning and Presentations) at the local college - all of that since 2013. My love for cross stitch, knitting, water colours, etc., etc., remains and I am now putting all my "eggs" in one basket to create the "whole" package. My real estate work intertwined with my interior decorating is a no brainier. It allows me to include staging and interior decorating (colour and furniture placement ) for my Sellers and Buyers. I have also designed a cross stitch to gift for my clients with their house, address and move in date included ( I will post pic of the next one). I would like to knit up some amazing blankets in intricate patterns so this is a W.I.P. and I am looking to perfect something that is gift worthy and special to the specific client. These take much longer and more thought - so it is not a quick sale/buy. I was thinking several addresses that the client has occupied over the years - more like a genealogy of abodes in a lifetime, childhood home, first home and whatever else - cottage maybe. As I said a W.I.P.

I have also completed some amazing sections of my family tree during this time and connected with a 2nd cousin - flesh and blood. How great is that!

Today I am off to show two houses to some very special young clients. Yes, it is Mothers Day, but as you know the world doesn't stop and I love my job! A great start with breakfast and some amazing offspring (there is that word again) was special with some home made Scottish square sausage and beautiful roses ( not for eating lol) and dinner with out with my special family - I do feel celebrated and special.

My posts will include Interior Decorating and Real Estate information, tips, how to's and what is trending  as well as spontaneous information that makes the world go around. Life is beautiful!

Class has started and almost finished!

Wonder where I have been? Well I am into week 7 of my two ID courses.  It seems like a long time ago since I signed up and wondered if I could actually pull this off.  How time flies. It is exciting and scary at the same time but an amazing amount of work and hard work at that.  I am trying not to mix the two courses up, almost like three course as one is kinda split in two, but it is hard when I am thinking about a design and how it will all come together.  Mondays class is Fabrics and Window Treatments.  I love fabrics so I am into it. 

The first week we learned all about the natural and synthetic nature of fabrics and that exercise continued into the second week. We also got an assignment due week five where we had to pick up enough fabric samples (each person received two types to gather) and then provide the information on same and a 3x3 sample to be distributed to the whole class. There are about 16-17 people in the class so we should have a  nice book of 32-34 fabric types when we are all finished.  My assignment was Brocade and Tweed. Now I am quite confident with these two fabrics as they have been in my life for a very, very long time.  But what do I really know specifically about what they are made of, the weight of them, the weave of them, characteristics and the pros and cons?  I know brocade is used for upholstery and drapery and tweed is a wool based cloth used for clothing and upholstery.  Mainly men's jackets, suits an hats. I had a lovely tweed suit with a rust velvet collar and the skirt had three pleats in the back that kind of kicked up when I walked and I loved it...in my Mod days. Upholstery, well I have heard Glasgow's Blytheswood Square Hotel used a lot of finger weight tweed in their renovations and new look.  About 9000 metres. I will go look this up and be better informed. This is off the top of my head so let's see what I learn from this assignment.

For my first assignment I contacted the Harris Tweed Shop on the Isle of Harris.  How could I have a tweed assignment and not produce a piece of Harris Tweed from my homeland in that lovely lovat herringbone weave.  I must say they were the most friendly and helpful folks and in the end although late for the assignment they sent approximately 20 pieces about 4x4.  I delivered them in any event and I am so happy that I have this piece in my sample book.  I also bought the book on Marion Campbell's Life on Harris and it is very interesting as it is all about how she raised her own sheep to get the best fibres/ yarn and in the end produce a very special Harris tweed fabric.  She also dyed the fabric using the local lichen etc., for colour. She won all sorts of awards from the age of 16 years old throughout her weaving life. Thanks to the folks at The Harris Tweed Shop for their kindness and generosity.  The fabric is exquisite - now my old school pals would be laughing their heads off at that comment. Who would have thought it!

I have added a part at the end on tweed so far.


For the fabrics class the final project is on taking a floor plan that was given to us and coming up with a style for the windows in same. Then cover the windows throughout the house in either drapery (soft) or blinds & shutters ( hard).


I have since picked up my fabrics and they are gorgeous...but do they fit with the style and overall plan. I have chosen a French Country style and in so doing I believe my fabrics will be very upscale.  I have a self coloured cotton brocade for the living room area that is topped with an Indienne type fabric. It looks like brocade or embroidered cloth, heavy and highly patterned in floral type design.  This will make for a yellow mustard coloured side drapery and a very colourful valance that has coordinating colours as well as the French blues on an off white background.  I will post the sample boards when finished.

The Lighting and Accessories class is on Thursdays.  When I think on fabrics I think on accessories and can be off on a tangent in a second or even less.  I need to keep those two separate. To make it more complicated the lighting class has been broken into two sections and the fist one is Accessories.  The final project for the accessories class was on week 6 and I was not too pleased with my effort.  I did work hard  but I had some problems. The project included three pieces of furniture (well you need something to put the stuff on) all in a style you pick and have not done before.  So Art Deco it was.  Then you need to draw all three pieces and accessorize them.  Drawing them on velum was okay but lots of graphite when I was done and trying to blend the colours.  I get the results tonight and will post the sample boards- all three. Crossing my fingers and toes.

So here is what I learned about Tweed.

The most famous ( that I know of ) is Harris Tweed made of  Scottish wool.  It is Scottish in origin and handwoven on the Scottish islands (Isle of Harris).  Well that is a good start and not foreign to me at all.
What is foreign is that it started as a "twill/ tweels" which defines the pattern.  A London merchant misinterpreted the writing and assumed it was Tweed which was familiar in the textile industry as the the river Tweed flowed through the textile areas of Scotland ( a wee story there for a the cold night by the fire). 


Crustose Lichen- Wikipedia

Harris tweed has some flecks of colour that were achieved through the use of "lichen" dyes.  Lichen being the plant that grows wild in some of the most  rugged parts of the world.  It does contain a pigment that was extracted in purple and red colour for dyeing fabrics.  Now it makes sense that they would use this for dyeing in the islands as the place has some beautiful lichen specimens on the mountains or as ground cover.
The "tweed" has been protected by an act of parliament limiting the use of the Orb's trade mark to the Outer Hebrides (Isle of Lewis etc)

From wikipedia I found that "Twill" is a type of  weave that has a pattern of diagonal parallel ribs by passing the weft thread over one or more warp threads and then under two or more warp threads and so on, with a "step" or offset between rows to create the characteristic diagonal pattern. Because of this structure, twills generally drape well.

So you can see the twill runs in a diagonal pattern and when reversed creates a herringbone pattern...which is fabulous in the Harris lovat green.

Life is beautiful when working with fabrics and their colours and textures and anything that brings me back to my beloved Scotland if only for a moment or two.

Hallelujah

Hallelujah, the ID final project has been submitted for marking.  As it was slipping from my hand onto the table in class I remembered something I forgot...how is that.  It is not perfect but it is pretty good. It conveys a warm yet  moody scene.  My accompanying essay has 1724 words to describe the colour scheme, style and mood...and if nothing else I should get a literary award for that LOL!! 

It is great to be a mature student.  You kick yourself in the back side for the mistakes you have made or less than full effort, no-one else has to do that for/ to you.  You do your utmost best and you know it so whatever mark you get you know you deserve.  If it is generous you are appreciative and if it is slightly less than you think it should be you roll with it and make it up somewhere else...unless there is a genuine mistake in the marking ( which I have seen) and you can point that out without being whiny and recover your mark.  I love it.

It is a beautiful life when we have random acts of kindness and now random acts of culture, hooray!! Click on the link below!

The Philadelphia Opera group showed up dressed as shoppers at Macy's department store where they have this magnificent organ. The organ starts playing the opening to Handel's Hallelujah Chorus and the choir breaks into song...WOW!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=player_embedded

Tartan and Colour

  

Final Project Colour & Theory



I am diligently working on my Interior Decorating Project that is due on Wednesday for Colour and Theory.  I have posted the colours above that I am working with and have chosen a Scottish theme without getting gaudy (well I think I am not getting gaudy).  When I am working with the fabrics and especially all the colours it is not that much different than knitting or cross stitching...and I find during this course that I am noticing colours and their tints, tones and shades more so ( that may be the teaching). Yesterday I saw a sky blue pick-up truck and gasped (what is wrong with me) it was the most beautiful blue I have ever seen.  It wasn't a big truck just the pick up two seater cab type.  I oohed and ahhed over the new marketing colours on the packaging in the grocery store as they are obviously going with the trends. I used to hate when they changed the packaging as I couldn't find my favourite items. Now I find am looking forward to it.

Once I get this over with I will study for the exam and find things I did "wrong" or not quite right on the project and quiver until the results come in on December 1st. 



It is always a learning experience and makes life beautiful whatever the grade!



What to do?

Here I am working on my I.D. homework this afternoon and thinking blogging and needlework and knitting and pumpkins. 

On the weekend we headed out to our favourite pumpkin patch in perfect 17 degree dry weather.  When we got there we found the folks that owned and operated it have retired ( yes, there was notice that said " We've retired".  Not knowing us and their other customers personally they didn't notify anyone and only those people who drive by that remote country road would have received notice had they drove slowly and read the little notice. So a half hour trip there with two cars and kids was quite the journey to find out "they had retired".  Very disappointing. We tried to recoup and went to the Terra nursery, but their supply of pumpkins were limited and quite expensive ($5.00 more than the local grocery store).  We also wanted the corn stalks and the retired folks had them decorated just ready to scoop up and decorate with.  Also they had the dog dressed up as a cowboy and that always made me laugh. Change...how will this work? Another thing now is that the weather is turning and we are hoping to get out to another venue that is open ( I checked) and has a corn maze...but we need some dry weather before the weekend.  The kids took it extremely well knowing they will be looked after...but I am worried. Pumpkins to pick up, corn mazes to walk through and get lost and found again (all takes time).  The pumpkins need to be carved and set up and candles to be checked or those wee lights with the batteries worked out okay last year.  Just recalling that Euan lost his tooth in the corn maze last year...and lo and behold didn't he find it...don't know how he managed that...amazing how money drives you ( tooth fairy).

Anyway, the ID homework is coming along as I have added some details and today I need to give the walls another coat of the beautiful red colour with the blue undertone ( hope I can mix this again) to get rid of the streaking.  I know it will work (well , I can only hope) but doubt it is in the "A" category.  It has a green contrast in the chairs and accessories which makes it a complimentary colour scheme.  I would say the style is modern Victorian...certainly the colours are Victorian but the furnishings are more of today's look....very traditional.  Pink is not one of my favourites but to brighten things up it made it into the scene and is within the chosen colour scheme. A little light is good.  Okay I will work with it.

This also needs to be accompanied by the paint chips (stuck nicely onto Bristol board) and an essay of 200 words, yikes it is due tomorrow night!  What have I been doing?

It's a beautiful life in warm colours that can increase your appetite, make you want to linger longer in a warm and cosy room...gotta luv it.

So much to do - So little time!

Check "GIFTING" label under CONTENTS on side bar for giveaway information

No I didn't sleep in this morning.  In fact I was up early and had a lovely breakfast...that is because someone else made it!  My DH whisked me off to one of Ontario's Finest Inns yesterday.  Well, maybe not exactly whisked me away...we had talked about it and planned to go maybe Friday, but then when we thought it through Thursday was ideal in the timing of things and I packed (warm sweater, socks... knitting) and headed out after yoga class. It rained a little on the way up...but on the way back we saw the "snow" ( yes, it was that white stuff) lying on the rooftops as we passed through a few small towns.  We hit the beach this morning too but it was so cold and windy that we didn't hang about.

I just had to stop at the Spinrite Factory Outlet store in Listowel which meant a slight detour...there was not much there that held my interest.  They had the "Click" yarn on for $3.99 and a decent variety of bamboo yarn (baby, mohair etc).  The place was rather empty when we arrived but by the time we left you couldn't swing a cat in there...that may have put my concentration level off a bit and I was not prepared either...no list.  I do have a stash that I am supposed to be working on. 

I took a new start with me (Christmas gift) to cast on and I just couldn't get that thing right ( must be the drugs or the whiskey or the gin, LOL).  Finally I had the right amount of stitches and completed the very short rib.  I will post when more to see.  The blue sweater "Iggy" I have been working on has given me no end of trouble.  The yarn, which is Berroco Weekender, is splitting terribly, so when I have done a few inches I take a look and there are pieces that look like "pulls"  So out it comes and now the yarn is weaker and off we go again.  I am not producing this sweater with "pulls" on it.  I am irritated with it...but will get back to it.

Now my lovely Floral Gift cross stitch is coming along .  My first time working with linen (thanks Irene for your much needed support) but not as fast as I would like....I am persevering and singing "Perfect" by "Fairground Attraction" as I stitch..."not settling for anything less " (as the words go). 

This weekend is the big push for the Interior Decorating Class assignments for warm colours and then another one for cooler colours.  I need to catch up with my homework also in preparation for upcoming exam and final project.  I  just found out that Kimberly Seldon ( famous Designer) has several events coming to the area up to Christmas that I can probably attend and I am trying to get tickets for one of those events.  How exciting is MY life!

There is so much going on in our family life that I want to do all that too, but realize I will have to be careful with my time and ensure I am not doing my assignments or my cross stitch when tired and can't see any longer.  I can knit in that condition though, I can knit with my eyes shut...well, maybe not shut!

Leave a comment- win a prize! Mention it on your blog and I will add a "secret prize" if you win.

Tomorrow I draw for the prize with only three contestants ( Hazel, Cheryl and Chris).  How can that be?  The JCS Christmas Ornament book is awesome....someone must be giving away free copies on every street corner and I missed it, or like Starry Eyed Stitcher ordered way ahead of time. I am not that much in the know or organized for that matter.

It is a beautiful life with great people in it, great seasons and fall is my favourite.

Blog a day until giveaway!!

October 23rd, 2010

My Life is in threads right now!

Check "GIFTING" label under CONTENTS on side bar for giveaway information

Blog a day until giveaway!!

October 23rd, 2010

Thank you Irene for pointing me in the right direction through yesterday's post comments.  Your guidance is much appreciated and I do hope you have amazing patience. I did read the "Cross Stitch with Linen" bit that I picked up on-line but it was gobbly de goop to me. I read it and said it three times and then I tried it three times whilst I said it - I shone a light through the back of the fabric so that I could see the make up and direction of the cloth...the magnifying glass did help tons and off I went in a straight line. I do miss the ring to hold onto and need to figure out the "hold" you suggested.

 Soooo, I have tried it again with some sort of sensibility and I think it looks more uniform...I have measured it and it appears I am on the right track ( finished measurements should be 3 7/8 x 3 1/3) but please let me know if you think something is off here...that would be my preference rather than carry on...

This picture is of the Interior Decorating  "homework" I have been doing whilst trying to work out the cross stitch on linen...I looked at my projects lying there and realized they were all in similar colours.  I am thinking the cross stitch has influenced my dining room colours.  This was another fiasco as I am to use a cheap watercolour paper and add the colours with acrylic folk paint using three primary colours and black and white...start mixing. When you apply the mix to the cheap paper the colour goes on streaky and I am going over it several times to make it even...then it starts to lift off...so I thought I would be smart (always costly and a bad sign) and got the 40lb Arches paper out.  Now step one is to copy the drawing from regular letter size paper onto the water colour paper...first disaster.  I cut it to size with my wee blade (works like a charm), put it into the printer and it got caught in the printer and I was 15 minutes clearing a paper jam without damaging my newish ( I love it)  printer. So that idea was binned.  I got a lighter weight, much smoother, Strathmore watercolour paper, did the same thing and it worked beautifully.  I took the paints, mixed the colours and applied it and it was even more streaky than the cheap paper.  Sooo, I won't be beaten...I tried the water colour paints and better brushes and proceeded once more through the process...my findings- the watercolour paints were better on the cheap paper for this project as it was  more even, but still not great.  So back I went to the cheap paper, folk art acrylic paints and the better brushes and it looked "not too bad".  I messed around with it to get a better feel and I think I can do a good job on it.  So back to basics and sticking with it. I will post the finished assignment that is due next Wednesday. I do think the colours were influenced by the threads even though I had picked the red in my head and thought green for accessories as a complimetary colour...or maybe the other way around  -  I picked Blackbird's Floral Gift cross stitch design because I had the interior colours in my head.  Who knew? Be careful out there!

Leave a comment- win a prize! Mention it on your blog and I will add a "secret prize" if you win.

It's a beatiful life in colour and especially the fall colours that are warm reds and oranges.  How influenced are we by nature and the everyday colour schemes out there that are invisible to us in our busy, busy lives? Never mind the ad "What's in your wallet" - when picking threads or yarn " What's in your head". I hope you are seeing very pretty colours out there and stitching or knitting accordingly.

Needles, Paper, Granite, Rock & Cake.

Despite all the things that are going on in my life right now I don't think I have ever been happier.  It is a funny thing as the stress levels are through the roof...or should be...but I am so grateful for all I have and each day that is given to me to enjoy it all.

NEEDLES
Now I have always said " I love change" and I know there are a lot of people out there that hate change or scared of it.  If things are not changing I get scared, believe me.  Life is not happening without some change. Take my knitting...I start out calm and content and a little excited about getting the garment started...then I get really excited about finishing it, so the heat is on and I can do nothing else...and as things start to turn out alright, I am on to something else, I need the change as far as that goes,  and some don't even get made up ( nudge, nudge, wink, wink).  When I finish a successful project ( and I have had many)  I am ready to move on...without any compliment or fuss.  So I am now aware of this and need to think this through so that I am managing what I start through to the finish (or maybe not) and also need to stand back and compliment myself on the finished project...or scold myself for not finishing or doing as well as I could.  I think this thought process will help me finish up the knitting items.  With that said I am now looking at all the yarn I have bought over the years...because I loved the colour, the texture or just the price ( what a bargain sitting in the box). It is all a work in progress.

In saying that, it has been a wee bit frustrating. I have taken the little blue Guernsey sweater and am sorting out the second sleeve.  This was completed and I ripped it out as I thought it was too small looking for the garment and maybe I had made a mistake in the size.  It is coming along and once I get back into the swing of it (counting rows and getting the rhythm of the pattern, then I will be OK).  I told you I was a multi tasker didn't I , well that is a problem as I also try to read/ or watch T.V. when I am doing this and then I have to drag it out a few times before I learn that I need full concentration on the subject at hand.  I met with my
knitting instructor on  last week...we speak the same "knit" language and it is always good to have a friend that has similar/ same interests.  I took finishing lessons from Margaret ( yes, same first name, how cool is that- Hi Margaret, Hi Margaret) some years ago and I was so impressed with her knowledge on the subject and most of all her patience and good nature with her students.  When I ran into a bit of trouble with the little "brambling" jacket and the set-in sleeve I finally gave in and sought out some help with it this past winter...well I called the store where she was the instructor and low and behold when I showed up for the session there she was. The store was closing down in March or thereabouts so even though we are some distance apart we agreed to meet and carry on from there.  Where will this take us?  Maybe all my knitting projects will be completed in good time with Margaret's encouragement and interest. She doesn't have to say a word...you just want to do good.  she has taken it upon herself to search for the yarn I ran out of and know good yarn stores in and around the Toronto area...I feel like I have been cloned somewhat...though Margaret is a fabulous cook as well and a photographer...she is working on how to get her pics from the old slides to  CD's...or find a projector that works would be fine too.  I will look forward to seeing what she sees when she looks through a lens.

PAPER

I am also working on some garden design projects and plans which I now need to get off the ground (pardon the pun).  I have completed two designs on paper, one that the client took on themselves ( not always a good things as you don't want your name linked to something that is not perfect...I will stay on it and keep offering free advice until completion).  The other one needs to be quoted and implemented in phases...this is exciting as in three years we will see quite a difference and it will be a work in progress for some time and keep on changing (did I say I liked change)!  Hoping we can give this plan some life ( see rough copy).

GRANITE

For my final project in Interior Decorating Interior Materials and Surfaces I need to gather samples...(paint chips, tiles, flooring, crown moulding, baseboard, cabinets etc, etc.).  It is hard to deliver completed projects that reflect your creative side in this subject or may even blow folks away, as it is not your ideas but your creativity with what you can gather and actually deliver something great from the meagre collection...whether you like it or not.

I seem to be getting dis-illusioned, it is not moving fast enough for me...so you would think I would have all the boxes ticked...but I don't, I need to wait for the adrenalin to kick in and stress me out (or vice versa) to get me moving. We visited a granite studio which was very interesting and the young women that owns the place knew her stuff...so much to know about rocks and things. I will stick with it ( I really wanted to take the colour class but it was cancelled) and I do have some nice things to deliver as I am getting better at the "gathering" process, I will make it great. I have included pics of my sample boards (or what I managed to gather) from the other two classes to give you an idea of what is involved. I do have an "in" at the fabric showroom now and I hope to share that experience with you some day. It was wonderful.

ROCK ('N ROLL)

James Taylor and Carole King were superb at the ACC.  It was an amazing concert and I wouldn't have missed it.  The buzz of T.O. brings back many exciting memories of the high life...no regrets but I don't think I could multi task like that today.  We stayed over and had breakfast with my son and his friend on Saturday. it was so nice to do things the Toronto way and have breakfast on a patio...the weather was warm but a little windy.  Still all very pleasant and civilized.  I couldn't believe how tired I was on Sunday...I need to get out more!

CAKE
It is my grand daughters birthday today and my son's birthday on Sunday (or you could say Son day) so lots of cake this weekend and celebrating.  It is just delightful to celebrate a life that is as unique as my two Geminis.  They are both creative, intelligent, know their own minds, change their minds ( well they are in the twins zone) and can be two different people at times...both fantastic and intriguing...that gives me double to love. What a wonderful life...was that a movie?  My grand daughter was in a horse show at the stables this weekend and she was third.  She was moved up to the novice class and did very well , she just turns 8 years old today. All of the kids did well and it is great to see them all out there trying their best.  She rode "Sunny" and she put a lot of energy into to making him move...and succeeded a few times, hence the third place.  She loves the horses and riding class

I will go and attempt some more work on the project that needs to be delivered for the I.D. class on June 23rd, and I will post the pics of my boards.  I am behind in my work so if I don't blog until after that you will know I am working hard and stressing out...all good.

Don't hesitate to leave me a comment or critique my blog...this is all new to me.