Idle Hours....

The start of the winter solstice seems to smack you in the face when you wake up one morning....yesterday we experienced a gorgeous Indian summer day and today I was pelted with rain and sudden gusts of cool wind and wet fall leaves....I love it, though....the fall colours here at the lane are beautiful, and create pause for what the winter months ahead will bring...many projects and simple pursuits to idle away the hours...

Needle arts have always been something that nurtured my nesting instinct...stitching, quilting, creating and general puttering during the winter, just seem to fit...last fall I took a stitching class given by Susan, the lovely and talented blog author of Ling Ling and Lulu, at the beautiful shop Stitch, just around the corner from my home...
She has created several of these lovely pear shaped pin keeps...

She encouraged us to make them very personal, by adding embellishments which would speak of the creator or the recipient they were intended for...
I made a little heart out of vintage velvet, for additional pins and added the tiny crown charm....

Here I found this little French pin and added the tiny heart charm....a future gift for a lover of all things French!

 

....another charm, personal to the giver and recipient....

I plan on attaching this pin keep to the clamp so it may be easier to use and always at hand, during sewing or stitching projects. It can be clamped to a sewing table or any small table by an arm chair or favorite spot for needleworking...

These two projects have been waiting in the wings to be finished, for sometime now....and I have stolen time from more pressing matters to indulge myself some quiet moments with a needle... 

It is always very satisfying and nurturing to see a simple creation from one's own hands...
 

At the same time, fall vegetables are at the ready to make wholesome and satisfying meals, roasted garlic and cauliflower soup...I neglected to take photos of the finished soup....my apologies...pureed into chunky goodness with the addition of organic chicken broth and a touch of cream...It was very good...and of course I sent containers off to both my sons to enjoy...always a Mom!!!
 

I quick glimpse of the new garden room off the opened up kitchen area....

Not sure if the ceiling will be white pine or not??

The floor will be a creamy white slate/stone, with radiant heat below...
 

Transitioning into winter is always a busy time, but this year even more so, with the renovation and all it entails...I still manage to find a few hours for my own pursuits...We are told we will be back in for Christmas!
It seems to be just around the corner!!

N.xo