Sunday, January 17, 2016

Must Go Here


Stitch Supply Co. kindly let us have a look around even thought they were still unpacking and not officially open yet. 


They have cleverly displayed


bright, contemporary fabrics


in a brand new, colorful, airy space.


A highlight for this sewist - designer fabric lines not previously available in local shops.


Beautiful yarn too!


Friendly (and tolerant) staff.


Temptations galore.


You have been informed and warned. Our job here is done.

Saturday, January 2, 2016

(Peach Pit) Loon Magic


There was a period of time when one could find in every discount retail store a kiosk with a motion activated device that would play clips of the CDs on offer from a certain easy-listening music/relaxation sounds genre label. We blame the regrettable '90s and George Winston in particular.

You would be walking down the aisle headed for the Rubbermaid bins, potting soil, or printer paper and all of a sudden you might hear waves rolling in and out of the ocean onto a beach, the rustling of aspen leaves in a gentle breeze, or frogs peeping in a pond at twilight. After realizing you were not crazy you would go way out of your way to avoid that aisle on all future trips, but if you forgot, as we usually did, and passed by it again you might be surprised by one of  those aforementioned sounds or, perhaps one of the many, varied, haunting calls of a loon. Our memory is that that particular CD was titled Loon Magic. 

Here at NDL studio we have created, with a little help and enabling, er, encouraging from a Canada-connected friend a little loon magic of our own.

 To do so we revived a craft first seen in Canadian Living magazine two decades ago to make a new flock, or as some sources call it, a raft, of peach pit loons. Yes indeed, these little cuties are at their core humble, naked, peach pits. 

Ta dah! Incredible, eh?


And, since the original instructions are lost somewhere in our archives of pages torn from magazines we have had a devil of a time finding any guidance for round two of peach pit loon making. So, to get this almost lost art on the Google radar (personified new technology meets old technology in this wording), in other words make it Googleable here is a visual of what is needed to turn a peach pit into a loon. And just to make sure a Google search can find it. Peach pit loon. Peachpit loon. Peachpitloon. (Google may appreciate this effort, but Spellcheck is having a fit.)
  

And why would one want to make peach pit loons? Well, can you think of even one reason why not?


Thank you to the relatives both American and Canadian for consuming a half bushel of peaches during Canadian American Friendship Days 2015. 

Loons are pretty magical. We never fail to be enchanted when we hear them.




Sunday, December 13, 2015

Merry Making and Taking


The 2015 Bachman's Holiday Ideas House closes today. Here are a few photos to show just how thoroughly the design team carried out the Make it Merry theme. 












































Have gnomes, will travel. 

We wish for you much merriment in your household, and suggest you take some "merry" with you wherever you may go this holiday season.

Monday, December 7, 2015

We don't do Cats

But there are exceptions to everything. This is a great commercial. Enjoy.


Be kind to your four-footed friends this holiday season and always!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

It's Christmas Cryin' Time Again



The annual John Lewis department store advert is guaranteed to be poignant and good for a sniffle. Enjoy.





Our wish for you... peace, tranquility, and time to savor the small pleasures and joys of the season right where you live with those you love.