Week 26 of 2026

This week I sewed a dress -

This is another Siena dress from Tailor Academy (the sew along I participated in last month). This time I made one for my Mom. It is made with loom line cotton from GK Fashion Fabrics in Ontario. I made this one a bit shorter, because my Mom is a bit shorter than I am, and no belt. The pattern is so well drafted, and it is a joy to sew the dress.

Photos from Around - 

Curious chicken.

Miss Maggie's steely gaze.

GingerSnap! helping me trim trees.

Molly playing with the cats - each one has different tolerances for the dog. GingerSnap! is right in there, and Miss Maggie likes to run out of reach.

All the best!♥︎

Week 25 of 2026

This week was all about working outside -

Cleaning and planting.

All the plants are now planted.

There is a bit more clean-up to do in the vegetable garden, then just maintenance.

Photos from Around - 

GingerSnap!

Miss Maggie

Molly

Waiting for rain.

All the best!♥︎

week 24 of 2026

This week I sewed another Lutterloh top -

This one is from a thin knit (it looks better on, than hanging on a hanger).

The pattern is #87 from Lutterloh supplement 341, Summer 2026.

I have never drafted a Lutterloh pattern with so many dots.

I trusted the pattern, had help from a friend, and it worked out.

I made a few changes - added a little sleeve cap to look more like the drawing, made the hem less sloped (added length on the short side, and shortened the long side). and scooped the front neck a bit lower (it is still quite high).

I finished knitting a sweater (I started in March!).

It is another Ranunculus by Midori Hirose (my third). This one is made from Optim Merino, a fibre I dyed, spun, knit another sweater with, and then took it apart years ago. This sweater should be more practical.

Photos from Around -

This year I tried the "snail method" of growing seedlings for my onions, and it worked great. The plants grew well, and they were easy to transplant in the garden.

The garden was all planted at the beginning of the week before we had more rain.

We had another day of tornado warnings this week. Luckily we just had hail, winds and rain. Rewarded with a rainbow.

My little shadow kept me company while I worked outside.

Molly had a dip in the pond on a very hot day at the beginning of the week.

All the best!♥︎

Week 23 of 2026

This week I have a blouse that I made -

I was trying out a new pattern to see how it would work (a wearable toile). It is made with a thin cotton, woven fabric. The pattern calls for a side zipper, but I saw online that lots of people didn't need it, I didn't either. The neck opening is too wide, so next time I make it I will make the centre panel narrower, and the side panels a bit wider (to keep the blouse the same width). Otherwise I am happy with it.

It is a Lutterloh pattern, #82 from supplement 328.

Photos from Around -

We had a couple of days with tornado warnings this week, we saw amazing clouds, but just had rain and wind. Ended with a beautiful rainbow.

GingerSnap!.

Miss Maggie.

I was trying to garden, while GingerSnap! was ready for a cuddle.

All the best!♥︎

Week 22 of 2026

This week was all about roofing!

My husband and I (with some help from a son), re-shingled the house roof (we did the garage a couple of years ago).

The week before temperatures were below normal, too cold for roofing, and then this week temperatures ended up above normal for this time of the year, but at least no rain. We worked in 30ºC (90ºF) temperatures, and some high winds, but we are proud that we got it done. I love DIY jobs, but I don't want to do roofing again any time soon! Although the air nailer was better than I expected.

Photos from Around -

GingerSnap! up in an apple tree.

The chickens cooling off on a hot day.

Greta is so friendly.

Beautiful sunset working late on the roof (cooler temperatures).

One of the apple trees is really blooming.

All the best!♥︎

 

Week 21 of 2026

This week I finished weaving a set of tea towels -

The pattern is the Cajun Inspired Tea Towels from Handwoven magazine, issue Jan/Feb 2015. This is the fourth time I have woven this pattern, but the first time I used the called for colours. Three of the towels are woven with thrums (short lengths of leftover cotton knotted together), these ones remind me of a handwoven rug my Mom had. The pattern is one of my favourites.

Photos from Around - 

One of these is not like the others.

Good times.

Summer weather has finally arrived!

If he could open the door where their food is stored, he would. Photo taken an hour before mealtime, so a long wait! Miss Maggie doesn't make a peep at mealtimes anymore, she knows that Ginger$nap will make enough noise for both of them.

All the best!♥︎

Week 20 of 2026

This week I sewed a pair of overalls -

I used Ikea fabric again, to try out the pattern. I had lots of fun sewing this, figuring out how to put them together (Lutterloh has no instructions). They came out really nice, and are incredibly comfortable.

The Lutterloh pattern is from supplement #340.

This apron was a quick sew. The pattern is the York Apron, from Helen's Closet. It is made from a linen/cotton blend I bought for this pattern, from a local fabric store that was closing a couple of years ago. The one I made in 2019 finally wore out, so it was time to make a new one.

This time I added the big, divided pocket (instead of two smaller ones) - they are handy for carrying canning jars.

Last week was an annual Making Zen workshop (a week of free classes - mainly slow stitching). I made a stitched vessel (it reminds me of a miniature birch bark canoe my brother had when we were kids).

It was fun to make - raw edges, raggedy scraps, different sized stitches, it's really all about working with needle and thread, and using what you have.

Photos from Around -

We had an incredible dust storm this week - it was like being sandblasted, winds to almost 100km/hr, I have never seen anything like it.

Miss Maggie rolling in the dirt.

Best friends with the chickens.

Northern lights last night.

All the best!♥︎