GRANDDAUGHTERS GALORE!

BRITISH COLUMBIA WENT INTO LOCKDOWN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. KEITH AND I ELECTED TO FOLLOW BC HEALTH RULES AND NOT VISIT OUTSIDE OUR HEALTH REGION. DURING THE LOCKDOWN BOTH OF KEITH'S SONS AND THEIR PARTNERS GAVE BIRTH TO DAUGHTERS. AS SOON AS TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS EASED AND THE SONS BOTH HAD A WEEKEND OFF WE BOOKED A FERRY AND WENT TO MEET OUR NEW GRANDDAUGHTERS AND RENEW OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH 2 YEAR OLD CHLOE.

First stop is with Chrissy and Adam. Chloe was at her 2nd preschool day, just for the morning. This is Lila Violet, born February 6th 2021.

Adam and Lila

Keith and Lila checking out the book from my sis in law Pam.

She enjoyed listening to it and it also tasted good.

Chloe was tired after a morning at preschool, but never too tired to open a present.

Rosalie had recommended a series of books called Pete the Cat. Her grandkids love them! Chloe was already a fan so was happy to add to her collection.

Sweet Lila, ready to go for a walk.

Happy Grandma Deb

Chrissy and Adam made a delicious supper which we ate in their building's courtyard as it was a very hot day.

We stayed overnight at Justin and Cookie's place. In the morning we met Jersey Reign. While Lila is laidback and placid ... taking in the world ..... Jersey is a busy and curious soul with a big personality. She looks like her Mom but has the energy of her Dad.

She can dance in her Jolly Jumper for a long time and never seems to get tired.

Mom Cookie has Jersey's full attention to open a gift.

Yumm delicious, a book!

Dad Justin is setting Jersey up in her handy dandy table top high chair.

Avocado!

Well some of it got in her mouth.

Keith and I went for a walk to a nearby forest. A fellow walker advised us that she had just seen a bear ahead.

Adam, Chrissy, Chloe and Lila came for a barbeque.

Jersey is curious about her younger cousin.

Chloe wasn't so keen about having her photograph taken.

A raft got filled with very cold water for Chloe to play in.

She did get fully wet. She was shivering but never complained.

Thoughtful Chloe gets to know her cousin "baby Jersey".

 

Getting ready to leave.

The Next Morning

Chrissy put together a vegan pancake mix for a family breakfast.

Adam was in charge of cooking.

Justin made eggs & sausages to complete the feast.

Both brothers are such good partners and Dads, what a treat to see them in action. They were always ready to jump up and help where needed. Their kindness and dedication to family is heartwarming. 

Jersey was sleeping, Chloe and Lila amused themselves.

The 2 amazing Moms with all 3 of our beautiful and perfect granddaughters.

We are so thankful to have finally got to visit.

CoVid 19 has really shown us all just how important family is to us.

JANUARY 2021: A COUPLE OF QUILTS

                                                           So Much Fun Elephant Quilts

I had little hope of ever having a grandchild. One of my sons has always been clear that he did not wish to ever have children. The other was not big on the idea. But the man I married late in life, who also has 2 sons ... well both his sons have plunged into the world of fatherhood. I am loving seeing these 2 young men in their new roles. They have both taken to it in such a heartwarming manner and both with lovely partners. This has widened our world in such a beautiful way. So "Pops" and I (Grandma Deb) have gone from zero to THREE granddaughters in just over 2 years. I love seeing Pops interacting with his granddaughters, they bring a magical light to his eyes.

So the photo above shows granddaughter number 2 showing off her Grandma Deb quilt. I found the free Windham pattern on Pinterest. Printed it and then graphed it to size on a large sheet of plain newsprint. The elephant and all the droplet pieces were traced to freezer paper and hand appliqued. I love the happiness of the pattern, what a joy it was to hand quilt. Oh and good use for my leftover 30s reproduction prints. 

It was so much fun that I made a second similar quilt for granddaughter number 3, number 2's cousin.

                                                                 Backpack Quilt

This quilt was inspired by a beautiful day on my 2019 Via de la Plata Camino, I was walking with kindly pelegrina and now friend Lonny from the Nederlands. We had found a spot in a field to stop and have lunch. The pack and boots were not in the original photo so I took a separate photo of them and worked them in. I have been learning line and wash watercolour and enjoy mixing the 2 art forms by using black thread and black pen. 

I  have a large selection of fabrics that I have dyed and painted over the years which I wanted to use. Although the tree fabric, as you can see, is a commercial fabric, which I just could not resist using. I am happy with the result and feel that it works well in the piece. 

One rule of art is to not put anything in the centre which I have broken twice in this piece, the horizon is smack in the centre ... that is because my painted pieces were only so big, just worked out that way. The second rule breaker is that the tree trunk is close to centre, I have worked around that by the placement of the path, pack and boots which draw the eye downward and to the right.

I love the leaves, randomly cut out of treasured marbled fabric that I created about 20 years ago.

So the pack and boots, back to line and wash .... I cut them out and started drawing details and shading with a black micron pen. That was fun and rewarding as I think both came out quite well.

The piece is bound with black fabric, not really visible in this not great photo.

                                The piece is called Chica Feliz and represents my happy place. 

Looking For A Good Home ...

 One positive outcome of the CoVid-19 Pandemic is that crafters such as myself have more time to create. I am not sure why this is a strong compulsion but I do know that I am not alone. The result is a condo full of completed art and craft projects. 

Now that I am past the magic age of 65 and am collecting government pensions I find I no longer need extra dollars ... but I do know many agencies that are in great need of funds. So I have been thinking that I will list some of my pieces that are looking for a good home and ask that the recipient donates what they consider an appropriate amount of money to the charity of their choice. I am happy to mail or deliver the items(s) to you at my expense. 

I have no idea what will happen with this, I hope that I do get at least a few takers.

Below I will show my pieces, if any strike your fancy and you would like it for yourself or to give as a gift just send me an email at vicquilter@gmail.com.

HOLLYHOCKS

This 1 has found its new home ... no longer available.

measures 11.5 by 19 inches

is a fabric piece set in a wooden frame

entirely hand stitched

Little Lambs Not To The Slaughter

Measures 16 x 20 inches

made with my own hand dyed fabric inspired by my own photo.

entirely hand stitched (very heavily)

This is one of my favourite pieces.

Olde Stone Bridge

This 1 has found its new home....no longer available.

Do you recognize this scene?

From our very own Beacon Hill Park.

Measures 16 x 20"

Handpainted with Derwent watercolour pencils onto fabric then heavily machine stitched.

Inspired by my own photograph.

The piece is more vibrant than it shows in this photograph. 

Going Around In Circles #1

measures 11.5 x 19 inches

Hand stitched with unfinished edges and embellished with vintage buttons.

Going Around In Circles #2

Measures 13.5 x 17.5 inches

Handstitched, embellished with vintage buttons and stitched to a wool background.

Fish Out of Water

measures 12.5 x 17.5 inches

I was playing with shiny fabrics and had fun machine stitching to complete this piece.

Flowers and Pear

measures 16 x 18.5

machine quilted

Tea and a Muffin?

Measures 16 x 20 inches

machine quilted

Buttons By a Thread

measures 19 x 21.5

Vintage buttons on display

Sheep In Wolf's Clothing

measures 19 x 14.5 inches

Paintsticks and stitching on white fabric.

Inspired by my photo taken in Ireland. This sheep indeed has the shape and the tail of a wolf.

wooden frame.

Glorious Fall

This 1 has found its new home ... no longer available.

measures 29.5 x 40 inches

machine stitched using my own hand dyed and painted fabrics as well as commercial fabrics.

Dragonfly

measures 12.5 x 16 inches

stenciled with paintsticks

Crow

measures 7.5 x 9.5 inches

watercolour on a book page

inspired from my photo

wooden frame (and difficult to photograph as it is behind glass)

Arbutus

This 1 has found a new home, no longer available

measures 23 x 29 inches

hand painted fabric, machine quilted

That is all I have for now. More may be added later.

Thanks for checking it out!

Debbie

Vicquilter@gmail.com

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