Princess Bubbles Creates

 I haven't posted about this piece for a while.  There are new stitches added and a riot of colour is increasing.  It is edging ever closer to being finished.  It will feel good to finish it but also a bit sad.  It has been a complete joy to stitch it.  I also don't know what the next project will be that is meant for using up the bits of thread from other projects.   I know for sure an idea will come.  They always do.  I suppose my floofy book pages can be used for that.  After all, they are created with bits of fabric I am wanting to use up.  So why not use up bits of thread as well?   Last week I neglected to actually post my link over at  Kathy's  blog.  I wondered why I had so few visitors!  I will use the excuse that I was busy looking after some dogs!

Thank you  LeeAnna  and the gang!  It is fun to be apart of this good group.   This week we were asked: do you make a special baked good for Easter? For example, Rugalach or hot cross buns?  Have a story about this or a recipe to share? I am not much of a baker.  The last time I made a cake from scratch it turned out as flat as a pancake.  Well, that was probably the second last time.  The last time I made a cake it turned out with a mushroom top.  The kind of top you want your muffins to have but I never do.   There are a few pies that I make that are good but I buy the ready-made crusts. I have a very simple banana bread recipe that my granddaughter and I make and it always turns out.  Everyone seems to like it.  I always have some overly ripe bananas in the freezer ready for that.   Our Easter meal is always at my MIL's house.  We usually celebrate my BIL's birthday at the same time.  So I don't...

  The San Fransisco School of Needlework challenge is Radical Botanical.  I signed up for the challenge and was still determining what I would do.  That is usually the case.  An idea always comes so I wasn't worried.  The botanical part is easy but how to make it radical?  That part has me dithering.  I went through my stash of experiments to see if there was any inspiration there.  I pulled out this felted piece.  I think it is interesting and it has potential.  But how could it be made radical?   What does radical stitching look like?  I would love to be considered a radical stitcher!  Maybe a hundred years ago I would have been considered radical with my messy backs and wonky stitches.

 Another mandala on a black background.  The sparkle colours really look good on it.  The camera actually captured it well.  I am wondering if I should have taken this one a bit further.  Probably.  I still can I suppose.  

 More floofy book pages.  These book pages serve no other purpose than to let me exercise my creativity.  They are so much fun for me.  I love using up the tiniest bits of beautiful fabric. Those tiny bits that I can't throw away.  Seemingly so small to be unusable.  And yet, there they are stitched into a collage of colour. These pages are still a work in progress.  More embroidery is needed.  I am eager to see all the pages stitched together into a book form though.  Just now I thought that possibly I will stitch them together into a scroll.  hmm, that could work.   I am linking to  https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/

The I Like group was asked  do you plant a vegetable garden or pots of herbs? What are your favorites to plant? Do you prepare seeds in advance or buy little plants? A raised bed, patio pots, or in ground? Any suggestions to what grows well? Varieties you enjoy? When we first moved to this house my Dad and I planted a large vegetable garden.  When my children came along their baby food was homegrown.  I was a hipster before the word had been invented! But as our huge maple tree got bigger and bigger the garden had less and less sun.  The garden got smaller and smaller until there was none.   Last summer I was noticing with our new deck that there was a small area that got a lot of sunshine.  It made me consider doing some small container gardening this year.  I will need to research what will grow well in a container.  I know for sure tomatoes and plan to have at least one plant.  Hopefully, I will learn from the great group that shares ...

 Just a couple more pages for my floofy book.  These pages are playful and fun.  Mostly these pages are filled with abstract shapes.  Obviously, the butterfly on the lower page doesn't fit that description and that's okay.  These pages are about using bits and pieces and stitching.  I have started adding beads and other dimensional items.  The beetle wing seems out of place below the butterfly.  I need to figure out how to make it feel more incorporated into the whole piece.  I will ponder what to add or possibly take it out.