September is National of should I say InterNational Sewing Month. I could not imagine my life without sewing or actually remember any time I was not sewing. Some of my earliest memories are of sewing next to my mother in the summer on our front porch. I had a tiny machine and I made doll clothes from the scraps she had. My mom like so many mothers at the time sewed most of all of our clothes. I remember the summer sewing because my mom also worked outside the home as a teacher so the summer was when she had freer time to sew.

I am taking part in a couple craft shows this fall, the first one this weekend Saturday and Sunday at the Capital Exhibit Center in Fredericton. I have had such fun just designing fabric items for the show. I have been working with soft wools and plaids making posie pillows and small pillow animals. I went back in my patterns to a Scottie Dog which appeared in my first book "Nursery Decor". Popped out a pig and of course added a black cat!

Come by if you are in the area, for the virtual world Monday October 3rd the DCC hops again with out October Pink Challenge sponsored by Westcott Brand scissors. We have been sent some fabulous Duck Brand tapes to work with (hot pink zebra print!) and Velcro Brand closures. Westcott non stick scissors make working with these products so easy! A new round of amazing designs from the Fresh Vintage Sizzix Blog Hop today. My talented designer friend Eileen Hull keeps coming out with beautiful die collections for Sizzix. Happy Creating Everyone! Debra

Today begins the reveal of the new line of Sizzix Fresh Vintage Dies by talented designer friend Eileen Hull. Sixty wonderful designers are involved in the hop for the next six weeks, every Tuesday and Thursday a group of about ten designers will be showcasing their designs. I join in on the fun in mid October.

This is one seriously, amazing creative and innovative international group of professional designers. Be inspired and hop along! Next Monday the DCC blog hop is live with the Westcott Brand Challenge!

Coming up this weekend is a local fall craft show at the Capital Exhibit Center, Fredericton, NB. I will be there promoting my local workshops, my work and some fun fall things.

Happy International Sewing Month! Keep creating & following the JOY! Debra

It was a beautiful day on Sunday, sunshine and warm. Summer lingers here and there while the trees turn glorious shades of auburn hues. I took part of the day to wander downtown, I appreciate the pretty town I live in more each day I adventure.

Fredericton has a long rich heritage and many of the buildings downtown have been lovingly cared for and/or restored. Around the corner from my place there are several homes over the past few months that have been rejuvenated. Watching the progress has been both interesting and enjoyable.

Today I met Amy who lives in one of these lovely homes, she was filling the window boxes with luscious bunches of autumn leaves and plump pumpkins. If ever a house was a perfect fall home, this is it with the bright orange door, striking black trim and window boxes. I love my town!

Yesterday I saw on Facebook a post of an event at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre which is just a few blocks a way. It sounded fun, a crash course in Silk Screening to create t-shirts to support their upcoming Emerging Musician series on Thursday evenings.

The Centre is an amazing place, "opens the door of creative expression to all." There are artists in residence, music and dance programs all held in a building with a rich vibrant history. Walking along the tree lined streets up to the Centre I was reminded again of the beauty and history of Fredericton. The Centre dates back to 1884. It was originally built as a school with six classrooms.

photos courtesy of Charlotte Street Arts Centre

Chalkboards were discovered from a Grade 1 classroom with a class list and are now on display at the Centre. Watching the little ones coming from Irish dance and reading the list of little ones from the past, we create and live history.

The silk screening crash class was taught by a talented young artist Angela Black. She explained the process of taking the drawing having it copied on the photo film, essentially like a photo negative. Placing this with the screen to transfer. Inking the screen and pulling the ink over the design to transfer it to a t-shirt. It was something I really knew very little about and now I understand the process. Plus I have a very cool shirt and supported a worthwhile program! The Centre run by two very passionate women who are bringing art t the community through the programs at the Centre and there many outreach programs.

October is going to be a very creative month, two blog hops, the Designer Crafts Connection and Sizzix Fresh Vintage with the talented designer friend Eileen Hull's new die collection. She is having a linky love party right now for all the participating designers. Check it out with the pretty hop button to the right!

I am revisiting one of my favorite designs from the last Sizzix hop, I combined my love of needle felting whimsical characters with the Sizzix Scoreboards TM Teacup Die. Combining what mediums we most often work in with new ones keeps one on creative toes! Be Inspired...Be Creative! Debra, CEO!

I am delighted to be taking part in the Blog County Fair, a fun brain child of Laura Bray & Vicki O'Dell. Just click on the button to hop along to see all the delightful entries in the County Fair!

I created an entry for the Quilting & Sewing Category. I posted earlier about my meeting Diane Gilleland at Clover's booth this summer. (See below) Since then I have been obsessed a little with creating Kanzashi flowers. With fall coming I have started creating the flowers in wool for brooches to wear on fall and winter coats. I have added extra petals in green for leaves and a stuffed yo yo for center!

"One of my favorite booths to visit at every trade show is Clover's to see what new tools and products they have. At the summer CHA show the most delightful young woman was demoing Clover's new Kanzashi flower templates. Diane Gilleland or Sister Diane as she is known online is the author of a beautiful book Kanzashi in Bloom and the popular online blog CraftyPod, "a blog and podcast about making stuff".

Clover developed the templates to create the flowers from Diane's book. The templates are easy to use. The folded petal flowers are an ideal embellishment and a great way to use up very small scraps. In her book Diane has twenty lovely projects from wearables to home decor. A stunning black and white check scarf is punctuated with vibrant red flowers."

Hi Peeps! It is our favorite day Fowl Friday, with Fran & Freda! So much is happening our heads are spinning! Freda almost fainted yesterday with Kate's news of spending time with the hunky Curtis Stone in the Holland College kitchen yesterday. She has been watching his shows since she was very young (as she is only 19 now!) It has been quite the summer for her first cooking for the Royals and now Curtis!

We are also so excited about the Blog County Fair happening, Debra is stitching up something for that tomorrow. There are Blue Ribbons and everything, we have been polishing up our eggs ready to enter! It is hosted by the very talented Laura Bray and Vicki O'Dell!

It is also that spooky time of year soon. Debra took a trip to the local dollar store for some fun stuff. Came home all a glitter literally. Got out her new favorite cutting tools and mat by Westcott , a STYROFOAM Brand foam sheet and Project Blocks from Floracraft's MakeitFun brand.

Glitzy Witchy Wreath! only an hour to make! See how easy peasy below! Happy Haunting Fran & the faint Freda!!!

Supplies: Make it Fun 12" Foam Sheet & Project Blocks
Westcott Brand Craft Knife, Scissors & Mat
Black glittery boa, glittered spiders, hat with netting, purple & teal ribbon
Black acrylic paint, Brush, Ruler & Glue

Mark 1 1/4" in around the four sides of sheet. Use the ruler width to do this, makes it very fast and easy. Repeat on both sides. Cut along lines with craft knife. Turn over and finish cutting on reverse side. Carefully push out center to use for another project.

Cut two project blocks in half. Paint blocks and wreath with black paint. Let dry.

Start gluing garland trim along front of wreath. Glue along outside edges as well. One garland is enough for both.

Then it is time for the fun! Glue project bricks together to make a mini wall alternating brick pieces. Glue in lower left corner. Glue hat in upper right corner. Stretch netting over entire wreath. Glue on bats, spiders what ever you like. Tie a 24" loop through top and hang! Boo to You!

The space I create in is bright, bold and fun with large windows that look out on the treetops. I believe our spaces have to inspire us, to be a place we love being in. There is a beautiful magazine "Where Women Create" that has inspired me to put together my own studio and home to really reflect my creative personality. Does your space inspire you!?

and did I mention my place came with a retro bubble gum pink tiled powder room with black and white accents. I went a little over the top with it but this loft in the tree tops is definitely a girly place!

Monday I posted some of the elements of the room I work in, here it is all put together. Not showing is the seven foot island I work at, still filling those shelves and adding fun containers! Follow the Joy of Creativity! Debra, CEO!

I am drawn to the color pink because it is pretty, warm, feminine, flirty and fun. It makes me smile and feel creative. Welcome to my pink world, where I live, love & create.

A boring beige chair I covered.

I made a table runner & centerpiece.

Fun little desk area! Love my shoes! Kind of a pink version of the ruby red slippers!

My favorite shelves filled with creative stuff!

The tour will continue this week. Our spaces speak to who we are and how we live. Follow your creative joy always! Debra, CEO!

It is Fowl Friday with Fran & Freda! Freda has fully recovered from her jump last week (the grass and pillows cushioned her fall from that very tall tree), a slight leg sprain was her only injury. She may have to forego dancing this weekend, just a little tapping while sitting will be allowed! Once she has a drink though it could be trouble. If you have been following us then you may remember the wild weekend with the rooster from Cape Breton she met on Hatch.com!

We were perusing some photos and came across one which made us chuckle. We are posing with our pal Oliver. Now occasionally he teases Freda, she does get somewhat annoyed. The photo we were posing for was to become artwork for fabric. Our illustrator friend Deborah Peyton was drawing us in the original pose. See below. Then Freda became very anooyed to the point of...well see below, below! and that is how art is sometimes made! (and a few feathers lost!) Follow the Fowl!

Fall is in air and crafting takes on the colors, the inspiration of the season, warm rich, vibrant. New on the Crafts 'n Coffee blog three beautiful fall wreaths.

My approach always seems to with a touch of whimsy. A Hobo Owl I designed is an online bonus project with the latest issue of Create & Decorate. The baby ghost was published last year in Creative Homearts. However you craft for fall let the crisp air and changing leaves inspire you!

The Designer Crafts Blog Connection hops today. This month's theme challenge was a design related to a celebration, birthday, holiday or any other special occasion. I chose a baby shower theme specifically "baby girl". I was inspired by some beautiful papers I was given at the summer CHA show from KaiserCraft, adorable Bazooples appliques and buttons and I must admit being the mother of two girls I love everything girly! I created a whimsical welcome sign for the door. Setting the mood for a celebration begins at the door!

Materials: 2 co-ordinated papers by KaiserCraft from the Miss Nellie Collection
               12" x 12" x 1" sheet of STYROFOAM TM brand foam
               4 Bazooples flower buttons by Buttons Galore
    Bazoople Alphabet letters & 2 pink check heart appliques by Expo International 
               1 yard each of green check and pink plaid ribbon
               2 yards blue sheer ribbon
               Punches, spiral, flower, large heart
               Cardstock scraps pink, blue and green
               9" x 12" piece of pink wool felt by National Nonwovens
               Embroidery floss, green and yellow
               2 fabric brads
               2 mini green clothespins
               Power Adhesive Tabs & Mono Aqua by Tombow
               Non Stick Scissors & Multi Purpose Trimmer by Westcott
               ruler, embroidery needle, paper cutter, knife, cutting mat, pencil. 

How to: As with every design the most fun in making it is making it your own. The tiny night gown could be created from paper, be a onesie or diaper. Size needs to be about 3". Choose colors to complement your special baby celebration!

1. Cut foam in half lengthwise. Cover one foam piece with floral paper. Cut two more pieces of paper 4" x 8" (green pindot) and 3" x 4" (blue dot). Adhere as shown to front of foam covered piece.
2. Add ribbons and glue in place. Add narrow ribbon for clothesline. Fasten at ends with brads. Make hole through foam and paper, glue brads in.
3. Punch out three spirals and circles for each flower, three for each one. Punch out two hearts for leaves. Assemble with popdots. Make stems from 3" piece of green check ribbon. Clip shank off flower buttons and adhere to flower centers. Glue flowers to left front.

4. Create or add premade baby outfit to clothesline with tiny clothespins. If making your own garment from felt cut a front and back 3" x 4". Cut 1" heart pocket. Blanket stitch pocket to front. Accent with yellow french knots. Blanket stitch pieces together. Add green french knots to sleeves. Tie tiny bow and glue to center front.

5. Tie bow from sheer ribbon with three loops. Add another small bow to center. Glue heart applique and button to center of bow. Adhere to lower right of front.
6. Cut a piece of sheer ribbon 24". Tie ends at 2" and glue to top corners. Glue two spirals with heart applique and button to center of ribbon. Glue BABY letters to top over clothesline.

Create other items to complement. Use other half of foam standing upright for a centerpiece, decorate both sides, add baby items like booties to bottom for stand. Make mini versions for place cards. Celebrations bring us together in the special moments life offers, a cherished wee one arriving is truly a time to celebrate with joy!

This month's give away is a DVD set of the new TV show, Scrapbook Soup, Series 100. As you hop around look for the Scrapbook Soup logo which appears in eight blogs in the ring. Post where you saw them in the comment section of Julie McGuffee's blog. You have until the 15th to enter. Happy Hopping!

It's Fowl Friday with Fran & Freda! So been a full week, Debra has been feline sitting for Amanda, thankfully the felines are not here! We do not miss the pitter patter of furry feet at all! Freda has finally after a full year stopped sleeping with one eye open. All her feathers have grown back in too, she is quite vain so missing feathers were an issue. She was always backing out of the room, caused some breakage of items apparently of value to Debra!

So Freda has been inspired lately by friends who are running marathons and doing all kinds of exciting and challenging events. She has decided to attempt one of her own by climbing and then flying down from a very tall tree near by. When I say tall well these trees are very tall! See picture below.

For the event she is going to borrow Amanda's roller derby helmet. It is a little big and the knee pads slide off her rather skinny, um thin oh slim legs (she is looking over my shoulder). Not sure how easy it will be climbing with all that gear on and weight wise not thinking her flying down with the gear works! Anyway she is determined so I will support her but only for the first five feet then she has to climb the rest on her own!

It is very soft grass under the trees and I am plopping a few pillows around too. So wish Freda luck, have a Happy long weekend peeps! Follow the fowl Fran & Freda!