The Beauty of Jasper...

Hi Everyone...
I have been here in Jasper, Alberta teaching for the past week and I am so looking forward to the second week. I have had so much fun with all of the guests and fellow presenters. It has truly been a wonderful experience. We have had beautiful weather especially for picture taking...light snow falling...the kind you want on Christmas Eve..but don't get until a week later!









































These are just a sampling of pics...don't you just love the Muskoka chairs out in the snow?!
The tree is "floor to ceiling" in the Great Hall...which is where we have our meals. It is a very large and beautiful room overlooking the lake. My cabin is lakeside and the first picture is a few feet down the lane. So pretty!

Will post again when I return next week.
Nancy

I'm Off To Jasper...

Hi Everyone...
Just a short note to let you know that I am off to teach in Jasper for two weeks...It is going to be so much fun and very busy. I am taking my laptop...and so I will be able to keep up with what's going on out there.
You may notice that I have made the decision to eliminate the comment section...I will post about all of that when I return.
In the meantime...please Email me if you wish...I am always up for a little chat!
Email: tistheseasondesignworks@shaw.ca

Have a wonderful two weeks...
Nancy

In Less Than A Week...

Hi Everyone...
It is almost here...my trip to Jasper is fast approaching! I have been a busy bee getting my door prizes ready. I still have a little more detail to finish...for now though, the pics below will give you an idea of what has been going on in my little studio.
I am hoping to change my blog to a more seasonal look before I go...if not, I will fix it when I get back. We are getting some nice weather right now...lots of sun. The warmth feel so good.

















This was the original idea..
but it was a little on the tall side and so I opted for a little less height. The final pics of this piece will be later in the week.


















































This poor little thing is turning out to be so cute! I will post a finished pic later this week...he is part of a door prize.


















































The "Santa??" on the left (and stocking-rt) are of paper clay. The background for the Santa is part of a napkin. The next pics are the finished pieces. You can't see this...but I have written Christmas sayings on the sides of each of the canvases.

Have a wonderful week!
Nancy

So Many Pumpkins...

Hi Everyone...
A post of pictures today...I was busy collecting a few pumpkins over the weekend..and a couple of gourds. Such a large variety in every size and shape imaginable...from the very cute to the "what is that?". I have always loved the tiny little pumpkins and gourds...but this year I have fallen in love with a new variety...at least to me...it is called The "Fairytale" Pumpkin. It is large and looks a little like Cinderella's coach...hence the name.













The Fairy Tale Pumpkin

Then we have the white Pumpkin & Vine...
not real, but a nice substitute.


















The little hand made pumpkins waiting for leaves and stems...













I grabbed the little orange gourd from the meat department...it was just sitting there on display...the little stem was a perfect little witch hat...I had to have it!

















Next we have a few more traditional pumpkin shapes...
small, but cute.













Mousey is guarding her pumpkin on the wagon...
she doesn't look too threatening...

















Which brings me to the final two pictures today...My latest little cottage..."The Pumpkin Barn" is ready. Details can be found in Nancy's Blog Shoppe.
I decided to take a pic of all three sitting on my new bedroom "fireplace".
The last three cottages in the series of 6 will have to wait until the new year...the bases are made and the cottages are almost ready for painting...But...I have to get ready for my trip to Jasper and move on to the 4 little Christmas cottages.






























Have a wonderful week.
Nancy

UpDate...

Hi Everyone...
I have just added another little cottage to Nancy's Blog Shoppe. Hatty's Cottage is #2 in the series.

















Have a great weekend!
Nancy

My Understudy...

Hi Everyone...
Hope all of my Canadian friends enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving. We had a great weekend...but it was cold and snowy. We had another 2 or 3 inches last night. They tell us that we should have a Chinook beginning tomorrow...up to 19 or 20C (68F). We have a few of these over the winter. They are warmer winds that blow in for a few days giving us much needed relief from the frosty winters here.
Matthew (my grandson) and I were having a little fun with a different kind of air dry clay...he liked it...I would only use it sparingly. He loves doing what "Nana" does and always wants to help whether I am cooking...[good idea if you want them to eat the end result!]...or creating. Gotta love the sheep slippers...


















He was being silly in the tub... Matt is very musical... and I couldn't help but think he looks a little Beethoven-ish here...































Don't you just love this napkin?! It is part of a door prize I am creating for my teaching trip to Jasper...I will post pics when the project is done.

Have a great day!
Nancy

New Issue...

Hi Everyone...
The newest issue of
"A Needle Pulling Thread" magazine will be in stores in the next week or so. It is a wonderful Canadian mag. with lots of lovely projects for the festive season. International buyers can purchase online and in selected stores.

I was honored to be asked to contribute to this issue. You can find my "Classy Christmas Stocking" beginning on Page 46. It is also shown on the website...click on the image and scroll down.
I finished the stocking last February...and so it has been awhile since I have seen it.
The picture below was taken before I sent it off. The inspiration for this stocking came from a piece of fabric I had purchased in the fall of 2008-bottom pic. I really didn't know what I was going to do with it...but when I decided on the project...I knew this piece had to be incorporated somehow...


































Have a wonderful week!
Nancy