It's so nice to be able to see out of the windows again. Cleaning them is always a big job but rewarding in that they look so good after. The spring cleaning event is nearly done ... at least there's light at the end of the tunnel now, with only one room left to do, then a spruce up in the kitchen.
Busy day ahead today. The bank accounts are topped up and sorted out so it's off grocery shopping and I have to buy a whole big bunch of cigarettes to send to His Nibs up north. He says he's busy, but he's still going through them pretty quick, so rather than have him buy them up there at Yukon prices, I'll send a care package up. He wants some t-shirts and some cord to do rope work. He makes mats and trivets out of it in his spare time. I have to go get a tin of Tim's coffee too. He's missing his Timmy's. I'm not convinced there's a difference and it all depends on how you make it ...
Don enjoys his coffee strong enough to float a horseshoe in it, so Tim's will do the trick.
So, I'm off to run errands, and this afternoon will do more cleaning in the studio. By the end of the week I hope to be back at my artwork, taking photos of some made items in my new photo space and beginning a wool mask project. Hopefully, I'll be putting the vacuum and mop away for awhile and my dry, chapped hands will return to normal.
The bone colored mask had much less damage and only one small hole. This was easily covered with wool ropes.
The spring cleaning is still going on schedule. I'm almost up to the studio, which I'm leaving to last. If any of it is going to run over time, it's going to be the studio. So, I realize, now I'm procrastinating. Off I go with my cleaning supplies .......
The mystery gift finally arrived. It's a gorgeous zip up, lined fleece jacket with removable sleeves. It took just under two and a half weeks to come from up there by Canada Post! However, it was worth the wait and it fits and feels wonderful .. if a bit warm, since our weather here has been just phenomenal. I had it on while running a couple of errands yesterday and found it comfortable as it was a windy day. I'm not so into the sleeveless look so will be keeping the sleeves on. Also included in the parcel were some nice prints of a grizzly bear, taken close to the hotel where Don is working, by another employee.
I'm still slaving away at spring cleaning. My muscles are sore and my knees hurt, but the old place is starting to look so much better, so that keeps me going. I just returned from the store with a bag full of batteries of all different sizes. I'll soon have the smoke detectors, doorbell and a few remotes working top notch. Today, I'm tackling the dining room. It's actually an easy room to clean so I chose that one for today to give some body parts a rest. I'll likely be doing the laundry room as well. Such boring and uninspiring work ... I'd much rather be working with wool.
Sometimes I just have to stop and change direction for awhile. I spent almost a whole day taking apart beaded creations that just didn't work out, or had mistakes, etc and sorting and storing the beads for reuse. I'm still not finished as I've since found three more which need to be dismantled. I have some ideas spinning in my head for more beaded creations, but I'm missing the texture of the wool so I have to get back to that. The masks are almost done .. will have to be done before the middle of next week. There is a project I need to do very soon, for a dear friend who invites me to her wonderful cottage on a beach a couple of times every year to spend a weekend. It's such fun and always a great gathering of old female friends. The cottage owner collects masks and has them displayed on the vaulted ceiling of the cottage. They're great and there's lots of room for more, so I'm going to make her one from wool and dyed sand dollars. I need to sit down and do some sketches before I start, but I have a pretty complete concept in my head now. That will only refine more this week, as I stay far from the studio and concentrate on housework. Yes, it's that dreaded time again so I'm getting busy.
The weather has been fabulous here for the first time in who knows when? We're really having a spring this year and it's sooooo nice! It's been surprisingly warm and sunny for the last week. (Showing all the dirt on the windows so need to get them done too.) The dog is loving it as well and has been lounging outside on the grass. She's a pretty good girl as I haven't put her in her kennel and she's been staying on the property, as she's supposed to. We've had quite a few ball games together lately.
Don is still doing well up in the Yukon. I'm still waiting for the parcel he sent me two weeks ago. It wasn't in the mail again this morning. I'm sure it's coming by dog sled. Or tortoise.
It's unlikely I'll be doing much blogging over the next week or so, unless that mystery gift arrives. I might have to comment on that. Housework is much too boring a subject to be writing about. Having said that, break is over and I must get back to scrubbing the tubs.
I can't get over the weather! Other than yesterday's cold bitter wind, it's been wonderful for this early in the year. I was just outside playing with the dog, and I've decided it's warm enough to go back out and do more cleaning up in the yard.
I've spoken to Don a couple of times in the past week. Things are still a bit quiet up north ... however a few European tourists filter through all times of the year. They had one big snowstorm which closed the road, so they had a busy night as it's the only place in town ... so to speak. ( What town?) He told me he sent me a gift in the mail and I'm so excited as this doesn't happen often. He won't tell me what it is, so it's driving me crazy. It should arrive by the end of this week or the first of next.
I've been busy repairing a pair of masks for a friend of mine. They met with misfortune and were badly smashed so I was asked to do what I could with them, as they have strong sentimental value to the owner. I managed to glue what pieces I had, back together but the cracks are horrible and there are holes where pieces are missing. I'm covering the damage with needle felted wool element to hide the damage. I'm quite pleased with the work so far. I've also been busy creating a new beaded bracelet pattern for spring. It's a little different, very feminine, sparkled and delicate. These will debut here later in the week. I still need to take some pics.
Well, the sunshine is calling so I'm off to do a bit of light yard work and play with Daisy.
I'm running around here today trying to get a few things organized. A friend sent me the pattern for this pretty cocktail ring so I played with it last night for awhile. I came up with a couple of different looks for it. You'll have to excuse the old, dry wrinkled hand in this picture. It's the ring you're supposed to be looking at. The bands on these are beaded with 11/0 seed beads so they feel very nice on the finger.
I just finished bathing the dog. She'll be going into the city with me this afternoon for a nice visit with my friend, Lu. I wanted to make sure she smelled pretty for the visit. She was due for a bath anyway. My next move is to have a shower myself and try to do something with my hair. Then I'm off to the big city to spend the rest of the day.
This brooch was snapped up yesterday on Facebook buy a return customer. He loves my wool creations and this is the second piece he's purchased. I managed to get the rest of the completed ones uploaded to Etsy so they're waiting for new homes. www.SponalgeKarney.etsy.com
While doing some blog browsing, I came across a nice recipe for Scottish oatcakes. There was a lovely photo of the ingredients, so it was easy to figure out the consistency of the oatmeal required, as I wasn't familiar with the local names. They turned out great and they're party worthy, easy and delicious, so will likely be sharing these with my friends at our next gathering.
