Monet's Garden pillow

Monet's Garden pillow
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

So you know when you have energy for a new project that's just bubbling over? That's what happened with this pillow. I was obsessed with it and kept pondering the layout in the pictures. The funny thing is that I ignored the results of the poll (and the pictures)... both my sweetie and I preferred the border layout and I think it has something to do with seeing it in person. It's just not so photogenic when gloomy weather forces me to use a flash. I think it makes the contrast of the light squares with the border seem more pronounced than it actually is.

In any case, my enthusiasm for this cushion continued unabated. First I sewed the front together and thought I'd stop there and maybe take it fabric shopping for the backing. But then I started thinking about using fabric I already had, so I draped a couple options on it. A little later I picked the purple flower vintage sheet (used to back another cushion already).

I wondered whether I might buy a zipper and wait to finish it. But my mind couldn't let it go, so I planned a button-envelope style back. Quick as you please, and I'd cut it out and sewed it together. The needle-position dial on my sewing machine is broken, so I thought I'd figure out button-holes another day. But a little pause, and I was at my machine with a scrap of fabric, figuring out how to fudge a button hole. The button holes turned out a little homely, but they're mostly covered by the pearly buttons I picked out of my button jar anyway. So with several pauses, I finished the whole cushion today and I feel ever so pleased with the result.

You may notice another vintage-sheet-based cushion cover behind it... I didn't make that one. Anyone looking at my flickr stream will have guessed that I recently visited Amsterdam, and this pillow cover was a find in a vintage clothing/goods shop there. I'll post about Amsterdam eventually, but I took a monumental number of photographs and I'm still working on uploading them all.


Rijksmusuem Garden Lion
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Which layout is nicer?

Monet's Garden patchwork layout #1
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I've washed, ironed, and cut squares out of my chosen fabrics and now I just need to choose a layout. I'm calling it my Monet's Garden patchwork pillow because the palette reminds me of Water Lilies (The Clouds) by Monet. The first layout is random, the second one has the darker squares forming a border. So which do you think is better (see poll in sidebar)? I'm totally torn at the moment.


Monet's Garden patchwork layout #2
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Patchwork projects

Monet's Garden patchwork
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Naturally, as progress is made on my picnic quilt (half done the quilting!), the more new ideas and projects occur to me. Right now, I'm really wanting to make a large patchwork cushion cover to replace the boring navy-blue IKEA one that I've had since university days. I recently ordered the "very blueberry" bundle of fabrics from the oh-so-craftily-talented rosehip, so I pulled a bunch of those new-to-me fabrics out along with a few things from my stash, and thus was born my plan for the Monet's Garden patchwork pillow.


very blueberry bundle
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

And since I was already digging through fabric, I couldn't resist putting together a little set I call "Strawberry Surprise". I'm not sure what (if anything) I'll do with the latter, but it was fun to just play.


strawberry surprise
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Yogourt-fruit parfaits

yogourt parfaits
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I've been sort of obsessed with making these little parfaits for dessert lately. They are delicious and quite healthy, so a guilt-free treat to indulge in. The basic idea is to layer fruit and yogourt and fruit syrup in a glass (use a wine glass to look extra fancy). I've been using mango, banana, and some of my homemade raspberry syrup, some cassis syrup, or a bit of juice. They look awfully pretty for something so simple. No reason you couldn't add nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, or anything else that took your fancy.

Restaurant Reviews

young garlic
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I've noticed a number of google queries landing on this blog looking for my Montreal Restaurant Reviews, so I thought I'd provide a direct link. There's also a list of favourite restaurants in other cities.
Update: We've added a page for Amsterdam Restaurant Reviews.

what I did on my summer holiday

heart by the water
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
On my summer holiday, I left behind some hearts and towers made of stones.


tower of stones
Originally uploaded by allisongryski


stacked stones
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I saw pretty wildflowers in purple ...


wildflowers
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
and white ...


wildflowers
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
and pink.


wildflowers
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I watched misty sunsets across the bay.


misty sunset
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I saw an abandoned house ...


abandoned house
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
and an old graveyard.


old graveyard
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
And now it is very decidedly Autumn, with a bit of a chill in the air and brisk breezes.