Thursday 18 April 2019

Dining Out, Applique, Geraniums, Sweet Pea Crochet

Driving rain and high winds and we can now see all the fir branches swaying without ice.  Ice will be the mark of this past winter and it made me think of my years on Baffin Island where ice played a role there too.  I don't think I've mentioned that while there I got to walk on a glacier, part of the Penny Ice Cap just inside the Arctic Circle.
The most surprising thing was that it was a noisy experience...the cracks and creaking sounds were surprisingly loud, echoing in the cold, quiet air.  I found it unnerving. My two little girls were there with me and I worried a crevasse would open up and swallow one of us (which I'm sure has happened sometime somewhere) so it was a relief to step off it.

And while thinking of swaying branches, I thought this very beautiful. The Sydney Opera House illuminated with Glimt's The Tree of Life images (credit Ken Butti). I had a brief Glimt phase in university when I drew many of his curvy branches, all badly.
Unique and meaning laden, the tree of life idea has been rendered numerous times in many art media by many real artists.
Image result for sydney opera house illuminated with tree of life
And coincidentally while looking through one of my favourite magazines, Quiltmania Simply Vintage No.22 checking out spring ideas,
I spied this project, another Tree of Life version, by Darlene Sabo for Olympic Wool Works.
 And of course, there are both vintage and classic versions of Tree of Life quilt blocks.
Recently I got to eat at a wonderful restaurant and it was so special.  We seldom do this and always say we should be doing it more.
It was Italian so I had the lasagna; we shared something new to me -polenta fries and loved it all.  I admired the swirls on the cutlery handles.
As well as the view from the window. Spring melting and the river is high.
My geraniums have rewarded me with a little bloom.  These are from the laneway pot last summer and I can't wait to get them back out there.
The cool overnight temperatures are making it hard for icy patches to melt. The forest holds onto its snow and ice; I can vouch for that.  But the deck is free at last. Woo Hoo!
While making a mess in the sewing room, I prepped the applique pieces for my next four Spring Strings blocks.  I used all scraps for the darker leaves which pleased me.

My Sweet Pea crochet project benefitted from some attention this week. I'm not sure about this trellis stitch; I think there are others that I've enjoyed working more though this is very easy to crochet while listening to tv or whatever.  I have extra wool so I'm making three rows with each colour.

Especially nice to have a sleeping dog at your feet.  
I'm sorry these photos did not capture the true colours.
I hope you have had a good week and thank you for the kind comments on previous posts. SO appreciated!
Linking this post to Not Afraid of ColorMy Quilt InfatuationIt's A Small Town Life, Esther's Quilt Blog and Brian's Home Blog.



17 comments :

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! Oh my goodness, the Sydney Opera House is just beautiful and doesn't that look just like someone quilted it? Not me, of course, because my swirls would not be that perfect . . . but someone like Angela Walters. Happy Thursday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

Brian's Home Blog said...

Oh I agree, that opera house is amazing, it sure would be something to see. I don't like the high rivers though, they can be pretty scary. Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

Ice? Very scary. That is just stunning art on the Sydney Opera House. How brave you are to step on an iceberg! I really like that silverware at the restaurant- very unique. Geraniums indoors? This was such an interesting post. Thanks. mary

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

the trellis stitch was a little tricky there were times I noticed I would do two instead of three in the same hole and not notice until I was on the next row and I rarely unraveled to fix it lol.
Bet you are glad winter is on it's last legs - here it is spring for sure but with that comes the rains and storms and we have water all over the yard again and might be more rain before the day is done and 1.5 inches since midnight. That art on the Opera House is beautiful!

Suzanne said...

I love the Tree of Life, especially the Opera House one. Your projects are amazing

Michelle said...

Ice is not for me. When it appears here in Kentucky it causes huge problems. I love see the opera house with the tree of life images. Just gorgeous. Thanks for linking up today.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

The opera house really is a work of art! And look at those snazzy glasses you're wearing! How cute it that! Enjoy your weekend!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, the meal sounds delicious and What a lovely view from the restaurant. The Opera House is beautiful. I like your scrap collection, they will look pretty. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day. Have a great Easter Weekend!

Nancy J said...

I looked at Baffin Island, Wow!!! Cold all year round, but so beautiful. The Tree of Life, that in some of your lovely threads might be the next project? Getting cool down here, 1 Celsius predicted for tonight.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I loved the photo of the Opera House with the design on it, and the Tree of Life pattern is lovely! I think I'd enjoy making something like that. Your Spring Strings project looks like such a sweet stitching project - I always love a picture of applique pieces ready to be sewn down.

PaintedThread said...

Your photo changed! You're rocking those glasses! :-) You have great likes this week. I especially your pile of applique leaves.

Nancy said...

Your new profile photos brings a smile to my face. What fun! I'm looking forward to further progress on your Spring String blocks. Love the leaves in this post.

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

The opera house is amazing.

Shannon said...

Your crochet is so pretty, and I love your snuggling pup!!! Thanks for sharing the opera house pic, it's really cool and I've never seen it lit up like that. And I love the pretty table lamp next to your geranium! It reminds me of one my grandmother had, I'm not sure what happened to it....

Magpie's Mumblings said...

The Opera House looks incredible! It's something I would love to see in real life. Your Donatella glasses are so chic!!! Lucky grandson to have you as a model.

Chopin - A Passionate Quilter said...

What a picture! Beautiful!

Jenn Jilks said...

I admire people who can crochet. I love the quilting projects, from here! just couldn't imagine.
I love the geranium. I didn't plant any, I just let them go. I didn't have the energy.
You go, girl, though!