Happy Hallowe'en

Too busy today carving pumpkins! We had such a dry summer there were no BIG ones so I had to make do with little ones
LOL
Enjoy!

Time For Something New

So I'm committing to this illustration. I was so impressed with the simplicity of the last piece I have to do it again.

But FIRST... I need more bark material, a full metre.

This was done in 3 phases. First it was spatter-painted in black and a touch of orange, then dried and heat set to fix the paint.
Second step was to wet most of the surface with a spray bottle of water and them throw more, slightly diluted black. It was set deliberately on an angle so the paint would run.
After that dried and was heat set, I re-wet areas and dribbled on walnut water, just enough to stain it again.
So how to use this?...Slices

These pieces will portray a more mature tree trunk.

A Quilt....At Last

These past weeks have been filled with this and that. I haven't started another Art Piece but I have a variation of the yellow Autumn Birch in my head.
I'm still debating size, primarily. I've been letting my roll of canvas dictate my size limit. Using canvas as a stabilizer has prevented me from doing very much on the Long Arm. The Juki doesn't like stitching through canvas and 3 or more other layers of cloth. I listen to that machine and choose accordingly.

But the trips and company are almost finished for a while. The last is my son's birthday this weekend, ( I'm presently cooking granola and then Cheesecake) plus Halloween. The yard is put to bed, for the most part. I did a massive cleaning in time to catch the city pickup. The rest can go into the green bin for weekly disposal.

But I did quilt a queen this week for the sister of one of our guild members.
This was her first quilt and with all beginners it comes with problems and oversites. I quilted it and did manage to improve its lay (I think). She did a stellar job of the blocks, "Pickup Sticks" is the name. With practise and experience she'll learn to trim the blocks and not just attach the sashing  "any old way". LOL

It's for her son at Christmas. He'll be pleased.....he's a boy.....Mom is perfect.
( I can only go by MY sons.)

Fruit Cake Day

Now the weather has changed and we're in the "tween" time of no AC and no Heat, the last few weeks of "wonderful to be alive" weather.....time to think of Christmas...and cake.

I gathered the candied fruit over the last few visits to the store and after hubby brought home the RUM we were good to go. Though I mixed the fruit and rum a few days ago, it didn't hurt it to sit. In fact as it did absorb all the rum........I added a little more.
I remember disliking this as a child and my children gave it a pass also, but now that everyone is grown I have trouble keeping any past New Years.

This is 8 cups of candied, RUM soaked fruit plus the leftovers from Granola fruit. (I thought I might like dried papaya on my cereal, but no. Using it up this way is a natural.)

I bought a new Spring form pan, one slightly smaller than the one I used last year. This gives me two cakes that fit nicely into cookie tins for storage. I did try cooking in the pan a few years ago, but after slicing it in the pan we noticed the pan finish was lifting. So back to cake pans.

Buttered, lined and buttered again......

Baby just had its first drink of rum....

Momma is happy, seasoned and ready for storage.

So I'll leave them till December and then give them another drink.......They should be ready for Christmas celebrations.

This is the recipe I used this year. Very straight forward and easy. Enjoy!



www.epicurious.com/.../mrs-mackinnons-christmas-fruitcake-233422

Row 5 For Jane

Once the weather broke this summer I was able to think about the hand quilting on the frame in my living room.
As I advance the whole piece.... I can see the centre. This looks doable! Hahahaha!