A Bumper Crop!

Our last batch of Shiitake Mushrooms was fantastic! It took me over an hour to harvest them all, but it was worth every minute. There is no way we can eat them all though! I think we have had omelette's every morning and fried mushrooms every night! We even had deep fat fried mushrooms one night! Delicious! Does anybody have any other recipes I should try?

Almost There....

This is the first of the Trio of Neckwarmers. I've named this one Cloverfield, the second one is Fields of Buckwheat and the third one is Buckleford (see the pattern?). Unfortunately, I have to make another Buckleford in a lighter colour because the dark colour just won't photograph well. Oh well, it gives me another chance to proof the patterns AND I will have another Neckwarmer for the long cold winter. This means the new patterns won't be ready for another few days, but have a little patience, they will be here before the cold months set in!

Oh No!

Oh dear, my trio of Neckwarmers now has a 4th option! I just couldn't stop myself! It's still three different edgings/looks, but now it has a fourth strap option....and I'm not done yet!

Another Sneak Peak at the Trio

Okay, another sneak peak of the trio of neckwarmers. This is the third one in the series and I'm in love with the colour of it! I actually designed this one around these vintage buttons I've had since, well, since as long as I can remember!

A Trio of Neckwarmers

I just get too many ideas in my head to decide on just one design, therefore, my next pattern will be a neckwarmer with three different edgings, and fasteners for you to choose from. Make all three the way I did, or interchange the base model with different straps, buttons and edgings. I'm still at the creating phase, but here is a little sneak peak!

Images from a Local Cemetery

One of my favorite things to do is to go to old cemeteries and document the older stones. These are some images from a local cemetery for a "Cemetery Memorial Service" handout.

An Overview of my Etsy Shop

Just thought I would share with you some of my shop items, while I learn some more "computer stuff"!

Some Fantastic Treasuries

Look how lucky I've been! These wonderful Etsian have chosen to include me in their beautiful treasuries! Thanks to http://www.naidascrochet.etsy.com/, http://www.smudgekitty.etsy.com/, http://www.crochetbouquet.etsy.com/ and http://www.bagsandmorebypam.etsy.com/!

Now Introducing...Brunswick Bootwarmers

There! It feels great, but intimidating to list a new pattern! Will anybody like it? Will anybody buy it? Time will tell. I've decided to name these "spats", Brunswick Bootwarmers. Spats were once worn by the military all over the world, but the word Spat isn't as well know in today's vocabulary. Therefore, Bootwarmers. Why Brunswick? I'm from New Brunswick, Canada, and Brunswick has strong ties to the English Royal Navy..... and why not!

New Pattern Almost Done

I'm almost there! Sometime tomorrow I should have my new Spats/Bootwarmers/Legwarmers Pattern ready to go. Obviously I still need a name and a real kick a** picture for them, but they are ready and willing to come to a boot near you! Stay tuned!

The Baby is Growing

I would like to report that Wicket is doing much better now. He has ventured far beyond his bathroom realm and loves to have his big fat belly rubbed! He is still very skittish, but who could blame the poor little guy, he was out on his own in the wilds for at least two weeks, and he is only about 8 weeks old! His belly wound is almost completely healed, and he has gained a considerable amount of weight. When I took him in to the vet's he only weighed 0.6 kg!

Perfect Birthday!

I had just a perfect day yesterday for my Birthday! I had the day off, got some wonderful gifts from my family, some very warm Birthday wishes from email friends and customers, and....I made it to 100 sales on my Etsy site! Yay! I didn't think I would ever reach that goal! Thanks so much to all my customers, I certainly couldn't have done it without your kind words and comments!

BIRTHDAY SALE, SALE, SALE!!!

August 18th (Monday) is my birthday and to celebrate I'm offering a free gift with every purchase of a Made Item (see "Made Items" in sections of shop) for the entire week! This will include my crocheted Hats, Neckwarmers, Purses and Pincushions! I'm not sure what the free gift will be for everything, but I know the Hats will receive a matching purse, and the rest will also be something good! I'm feeling generous, it's my birthday! These are some of the examples of my free gift offerings! Hurry, I only have one item of most things and the sale ends August 24th or until supplies last!

The Tale of One Kitty

This poor little guy was abandoned and left on his own for weeks and finally came to my front door crying one rainy day. That night after work I came home to see how he was and noticed his underside was still wet. When I examined him more closely I noticed a 2-3 inch gash on his underbelly and then, oh the horror, when I looked closer, the hole was full of maggots!!!! Small and big ones so I knew it had been like that for awhile. I called the emergency off hours vet and they said he wouldn't make it through the night if I didn't bring him in. So finally, after two days and two very expensive nights at the vets, I have a new baby hiding away in my bathroom! He is very scarred and shy, but he is coming out of it. Poor little guy! I've named him Wicket.

First Night Home

There is a long "tail" about this poor little kitten, but for now these pictures will have to do!

Pot of Gold?

This year in New Brunswick, since June 1st, it has rained 51 days out of 73. At least we have gotten some very nice Rainbows!

Silent Saturday.....

Simplicity At It's Finest.

Well, this is the final sneak peak of my new Wristwarmers series! One last pattern to go and then it's on to something else. What shall it be.... I'm certainly not short of ideas, I just need to narrow it down! Meanwhile, here is the coverpage for my new Simplicity Wristwarmers. I still need a few more pictures and then I will list the pattern for sale.

Vroom, Vroom!

I've got my sunglasses on and I'm all set to go driving in my old car with my new Classic Driving Gloves! Do you like my picture? I took it myself with my camera perched on a book, that was perched on a lawn chair, that was perched on a table! What was it that Plato said? Necessity is the mother of invention?

Just in case you are interested, I'm going to list the pattern for these tomorrow on my Etsy site!

New Patterns

I finally found a good hand model, thanks to my niece, and can now introduce two of my new patterns: Victorian Cuff Wristwarmers and Double Elegance Wristwarmers. I just need to do a final proof reading and they will be up on my Etsy site later today. In case I haven't mentioned it, it's: http://www.bellamcbride.etsy.com/!

What's This?

Hmmm, guess what this is!? It's all my prototypes and practice pieces for my new patterns. I now only need a good hand model and I can launch Simplicity Wristwarmers, Double Elegance Wristwarmers, Victorian Cuff/Wristwarmers and Driving Gloves (I know, the last name needs some more work!).

Nature's Gifts

When I'm at work, this little doe comes out the same time each day to have a feed of little green apples. She's getting bolder and bolder and quite often people walk right by her and she doesn't move! Sometimes they don't even see her! We also have as regulars: a little lame four point buck, a ground hog, a family of nine ducks, a red/black fox and various fawns and mothers who pass through. It's hard to have a bad day at work when nature presents you with such special gifts!

Happy New Brunswick Day!!!

This weekend we celebrate New Brunswick Day! It always falls on the first Monday of the month of August, thereby always giving us a long weekend. Our provincial flag consists of two parts. The top third of the flag is a gold lion on a red field, which represents the province's links with the Braunschweig (Brunswick) region in central Germany and the monarch of the United Kingdom. The lower part of the flag consists of a Spanish galley and represents shipbuilding, which was an important industry in the province. The golf ball I have pictured here is a tourist representation of the ship mentioned on our flag.

Other symbols of New Brunswick are; the purple violet; the black-capped chickadee; the balsam fir; and the New Brunswick tartan. Can you tell what I'll be doing this New Brunswick Day Weekend? I'll bet you don't!!