Goofy Valentines!

 Over the past many years, I've created what I hope are fun and surprising 

Valentine's Day cards. I love sending them to family and friends. 

Here are a few samples:

This one said, "Hey Valentine, I'm hooked on you!"

In this one I printed, "Hogs and kisses to you on Valentine's Day!"

"I'd SNAP at the chance to be your Valentine!"

"WHALE you please be mine?"

"I SHELL always love you."

I wonder what this year's Valentine card will look like?

xo

Judy Ann

Pillow case fun!

Over the years, I've enjoyed choosing perfect fabrics to make pillowcases for gifts. 

I decided this past Christmas that it was time to make 

personalized pillow cases for the littles in my life!

I spent a delightful hour at stache fabrics in downtown London 

choosing just the right fabric combos.

One of our littles really likes cats and regularly pretends to be a playful kitty.

Another thinks he may want to be a sea captain someday.

Another is very good at identifying many different birds, just by their calls.

And, really, they all love frogs and lily pads and anything else around a pond, 

but this seemed perfect for the youngest.

I hope they sleep well on their playful pillowcases!

xo

Judy Ann

A first look!

It's been almost four years since I had a new book out in the world! 

That makes it extra delightful to have TWO picture books coming out in 2022! 

Here is a look at the cover of 

While We Wait 

which will make its grand entrance this March. I'm so excited to get my hands on a copy!

 (Are you wondering what these two are waiting for?!)

Élodie Duhameau has done an amazing job with the art. 

She manages to express so much emotion and love in so few facial lines.

I cannot wait for everyone to read and see this book!

Enjoy your day,

Judy Ann

Toques!

 Knitting toques for my grandkids is one of life's little pleasures. 

Recently I made a couple of extra-fun toques!

Stay cozy and warm,

Judy Ann

Dinosaur cake!

The littles in our family have recently become quite enchanted with dinosaurs. So, when one of them decided they needed a dinosaur cake for their birthday, I wasn't sure what to do. 

I love baking cakes, but I'm not particularly good at making shaped cakes. 

Here's how I solved the problem.

I baked a three-layer chocolate buttermilk cake with rich, buttery, chocolate icing.

And bought a fierce-looking dinosaur for on top. Ta-da! 

A dinosaur cake to eat and a toy to keep!

Have a sweet day,

Judy Ann

Paper pumpkins

Here's a fun paper-pumpkin craft that I've done at the library and with my grandkids.

Fold a sheet of card stock or construction paper in half, 

then fold each half to the centre.

Draw a pumpkin shape on a piece of cardboard or heavy paper. 

Trace it onto the folded paper so that the pumpkin 

goes off the paper on both sides. 

Cut out the pumpkin shape...

...and unfold your pumpkin string.

Draw on faces or decorate as you wish.

Hang up or stand up your pumpkin strings wherever you like!

Enjoy,

Judy Ann

Pumpkin Time!

 In late Spring we had rhubarb time...

...in the heart of summer we had blueberry time...

...and now it is pumpkin time!

The plants were started by our son and grandsons at their place, 

then planted at our place.

It wasn't long before the pumpkins took over our backyard!

We loved their bright orange colour.

It was soon time to harvest the pumpkin crop, load them up...

...and take a fun photo!

Happy pumpkin time!

Judy Ann