Stitches from the past

This is a project that has been in the making for many years, involving several sets of hands. Long before I was even really trying out quilting, my grandmother was embroidering quilt blocks to give me. She bought (or was given) kits of pre-printed blocks in kind of kitschy, antiquated patterns, but it was something…

Maple Leaf Pillows

Well Christmas has passed and the New Year is right around the corner. Almost all the presents have been given and received (Adria, I’ve still got yours waiting under the tree for you!). And, as usual for me post-Christmas gift-giving, my mind is conjuring up ideas for next year! While I tuck away those secret…

Patriotic pillows

As we geared up for our trip to Norway for both our official honeymoon and to finally visit an old friend that I made in high school twenty (ahem! …TWENTY!!) years ago (I am so old), I was trying to think of a compact gift I could make that would travel well. My friend Guro…

Play farm

After Christmas 2010, my mom told me about a potential sewing/craft project she thought I might like to take up for my niece and nephew, as a future Christmas gift. I endeavour whenever possible to make Christmas presents — I loath the commercialism of the holidays — and I truly believe people appreciate something more…

Glorious glass

Whenever I’m looking for a gift to mark an important occasion in someone’s life, like a wedding for example, I head over to The Guild Shop in Yorkville. Besides the odd trip to Whole Foods, its pretty much the only place I shop at in Yorkville. The Guild Shop carries work by hundreds of Canadian…

Spreading the good green clean word

Friends of ours recently bought a house, and their parents threw them a send off party where everyone was invited to bring their favourite cleaning products to give the new home owner. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to spread the good green word, I got a bucket and filled it with a jug of…