Christmas Open House at the Glanworth Library

Last Saturday morning we had a lovely, celebratory Christmas Open House at the Glanworth Library. Jeff played seasonal songs on the portable piano, the kids made small beaded-wreath ornaments,  and I served warm mulled cider and baked goodies. Here are a few photo highlights:

It was so nice to see friends and neighbours socializing during the party.

A baby always becomes the centre of attention!

Jeff kept everyone entertained with his cheery music (and smile).

Even with so much activity in the little library, it was possible to find a quiet corner...

...or get totally engrossed in making a craft.

It was a special morning and I'm grateful to the community for making it so enjoyable!

All the best,

Judy Ann

Tiny Stitches, Lovely Memories

In our family, it is unusual to put up our (real) Christmas tree two weeks before the big day. We like having it up early, but never seem to get around to it. Well, this year we did it! The tree is up and decorated and, as usual, it is the best tree ever. While I was unwrapping tissue from around our many treasured ornaments, I took a trip down memory lane. I love seeing the funny little egg-carton bell, beaded candy canes and decorated baubles that our kids made when they were little; the hand-carved and painted Santas made by my father-in-law; and the many precious gift ornament from my sisters. I came across a small framed Teddy Bear that I cross-stitched for Carly for her first Christmas. As I read the loving message on the back, I realized it was high time I gave it to her so that she and Klaus could put it on their own tree. Jeff took a photo so I could post it here, then I wrapped it up and gave it to her.

I wish I could say that I stitched one for Denby and Emily too, and I'm sure I meant to, but just ran out of time in the busyness of raising three little kids. I'll have to figure out a way to make it up to them.

Enjoy your day,

Judy Ann

Some Things Just Go Together

I recently had fun putting together a gift for a fundraiser. If you've read this blog before, you'll know that I'm addicted to knitting baby caps. So, naturally, I included one in the gift. I combined this supper-soft ivory merino wool

with this super-fine pale pink cashmere/silk blend

to knit this wee cap.

Then I added this sweet baby book (no bias at all involved here;-)

which made for a lovely gift.

All the best,

Judy Ann

More Crafty Fun

We've had enthusiastic crafters these past couple of weeks at the little Glanworth library. I like it when I prepare a craft, and the kids have fun putting their own creative spin on my ideas. Isn't this a cute little snail? Almost as cute as the little crafter!

Even though it is mid-November, we were able to take a photo on the front porch!

One week earlier, I prepared an owl craft. Once again, my creative kids made the craft their own.

And sometimes, they want to make something completely different!

All the best,

Judy Ann

Funny Little Caterpillars

Sometimes when I just can't think of a fun craft to do at the Glanworth Library, I turn to one of my favourite crafty items, buttons. I took a pipe cleaner and bent it in half, and threaded a colourful wooden bead onto the bent end. I added a bit of white glue to hold the bead in place, leaving a little bit of pipe cleaner  sticking out of the bead to look like a nose. (Hm-m, does a caterpillar have a nose??) Then I threaded on buttons, in a pattern or not, for the body. I twisted the pipe-cleaner ends together to make a short tail. For antennae, I took a small piece of pipe cleaner, wound it behind the head bead and curved up the ends. I love googly eyes so I glued them in place, then used a permanent marker to add a small smile. The kids who made button caterpillars loved them!

Aren't they adorable?

All the best,

Judy Ann

The Story of a Baby Quilt

This past summer I started working on a quilt for a very special baby. I've liked the pinwheel block for a long time and decided to use it to design a playful quilt. I went to one of my favourite quilting shops, Hyggeligt, to look at fabrics. I fell in love with Oakshott cottons in soft colours, so I bought a bundle and a few half-yard pieces.

I really like how soft and natural the colours look with different warp and weft threads. I cut and stitched the pinwheel blocks and laid them out to see how they all worked together. Other than the wrinkles, I was liking the overall design.

We spent a week at my sister's cottage so I had a chance to stitch the blocks together. I hung the quilt top over the ironing board to take this photo and that's why it looks a little see-through with background lighting from the windows.

 I was pleased with how it was turning out. I wish I could say that I quickly sandwiched and stitched the quilt, but it took me a couple of months to get it finished. 

In the meantime, perfect Baby Taylor Jean was born, so that gave me the opportunity to stitch her name into the quilt.

I also stitched it full of love!

 I enjoyed doodling all over Taylor's quilt, but tried to be consistent in outlining each green pinwheel blade.

On the back of the quilt you can see just how much doodling I did!

I love making quilts, but the very best part is the giving. A quilt never looks better than when it is wrapped around a baby. And what a beautiful baby, just like her mom.

 All the best,

Judy Ann

Going Batty!

With Halloween just a few days away, I figured it was high time we made a suitable craft. I don't like creepy crafts, so I thought it would be fun to make a playful one. The construction-paper bat went over very well at both the Glanworth library and the Byron library for the annual family Halloween party. As far as I'm concerned, anytime you can use googly eyes, the craft will be fun to make!

Each bat has its own personality.

Taylor could make her batty craft fly!

It's a good day for being crafty indoors with strong winds making it rain sideways outdoors!

All the best,

Judy Ann

The Latest News from Glanworth

I think I've figured out my technical difficulties, so I'm back!

The teeny Glanworth Library continues to be a hub of activity. I love it when some of our patrons gather to chat and craft at the table that takes up most of the library floor space!

 

 Someone kindly and mysteriously dropped off a few small pumpkins to decorate the verandah, so when one of our local black cats wandered over to investigate, I couldn't resist taking a photo. Or two. Or nine! (How do you get a cat to hold still??)

  Perfect for Halloween!

The other wonderful thing that happened is that the library was painted. Look at how the lettering for "LIBRARY" is a little uneven and perfectly charming, a replica of how it was painted so many years ago, likely in 1923. Lovely! 

Enjoy your day,

Judy Ann

Technical Difficulties!

It's been a while since I've been able to add a new post to this blog. I'm not sure what the trouble is, but I'm going to keep trying to figure it out! Please check back very soon. There's lots of show and tell coming up!

All the best,

Judy Ann

Update on Glanworth's newest resident!

Every time I'm at the tiny Glanworth library, I have the great pleasure of having a visit with the village's youngest member. He's sweet-natured and content, just happy to be with his sister and mom and dad, and of course, around shelves of interesting books. I love that his family has made it part of their twice-weekly routine to hang out for a while at the library. What a pleasure it is for me and other library patrons to watch him grow up. Before we know it, he'll be choosing books on his own!

All the best,

Judy Ann

Growing!

Remember a couple of weeks ago I posted a photo of my friend's tiny grandbaby  wearing a small hat that I had knitted? It's difficult to believe that one month later, this is the same sweet baby!

What a doll!

Enjoy your day,

Judy Ann

A Rare Day

We've had a busy summer here, filled with family time, road trips, cottage stays, adventures, some sewing and knitting, celebrations and, of course, chores and work too. I've been away a lot, starting even before the beginning of summer with my book tour of Saskatchewan  and sisters trip to Alberta. So, today is a rare day for me: A whole day at home, trying to catch-up on correspondence, tidying and lots of odds and ends. It also gives me a chance to write a long-overdue blog entry! Here are a few catch-up photos:

In July, Jeff and I had the great pleasure of staying at a cottage near Huntsville that belongs to friends of ours. It was a charmed week at a very special place.

The scenery was perfect!

We shared the cottage with a funny little chipmunk. Every time we were on the deck, he scampered over to see if we had peanuts for him. 

We usually did!

The cottage was beautiful, day and night. 

When city lights are far away, it's awe-inspiring to see how brightly the stars shine.

A week or so after our cottage holiday, one of my double-first cousins, Ans, arrived from The Netherlands. Our first adventure with her was a walk across a series of suspended bridges in the forest canopy tour at the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve . 

We were well-harnessed before climbing onto the first bridge.

It was a little more unnerving than I thought it would be!

Jeff looked pretty relaxed, though.

It was a really cool experience!

At the reserve, there were also wolves. We viewed them through one-way glass so we could see them but they couldn't see us. Hm-m, not sure about that!!

More summer adventures to come!

All the best,

Judy Ann