the challenge – 2026
a new year, a new beginning
did I start the 100 day book?
not exactly…
no – I had “a bee in my bonnet” – can you see the bee?
(from the little book Clotheslines – the language of clothing and textiles)
I decided to stitch the 100 day challenge in the form of a scroll, using, as inspiration, a similar scroll stitched in May – September 2022
you never know what bits and pieces are just waiting in boxes, bags, drawers and hiding places
and I found a lovely old wooden spool to wind it around – that will determine the width
and now day 1 and 2 – 15 minutes a day
– 98 days to go
Scrap Happy January 2026
the scrappy work started before Christmas
the new Happy Gang members needed stockings to hang – and something to fill them
the red flannel is from the Christmas tree “skirt” that my Mother used for years
the fish are from an Ann Wood pattern https://www.annwoodhandmade.com/blog/ – they would make great tree ornaments
then a gift from son and granddaughter – blogged about here
the reason I have included it is because it is a commercial product that uses recycled/scrap fabrics- wouldn’t it be nice if more companies did that?
and last but not least – ta dah!
the scrappy squares blanket/throw – started Sept. 24 2025 and finished today
it measures approx. 38″X38″ (96cm. X 96cm.) and weighs 3.5 lbs. or 56 oz.
the crocheted border is two rows worked with the scrappy, handspun yarn and then finished with a row of handspun Icelandic wool and silk dyed with cochineal and Brazilwood
scrappy dog, Charlie is happy to have joined the Happy Gang
Happy New Year – best wishes for a year filled with peace, creativity and good health
and, if you are interested in Ann Wood’s 100 day book stitching project – it starts on January 16th
these are the books I stitched in 2022 – 23 – 24 and 25
am I going to do it again?
oops! here are the links to other scrap happy folks
Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv, Karrin, Alissa, Tierney,
Hannah and Maggie
sewing a new friend
and the last gift – from son and grand daughter
a dog loving family – they keep trying to convince me that a dog would keep the deer out of the garden
so…..
a quick little project that wasn’t so quick after all
it suggests you make it with a child, it only takes a few hours and is o.k. for beginners
there is a total of 22 separate pieces
the fabrics are all recycled wool knits – many pieces have tiny darts to give it shape – the maker chooses which fabrics go where
it only took me a couple hours a day for 5 or 6 days, a significant amount of frustration and a wee bit of swearing
some good points — the materials are recycled, it’s a Canadian Co. http://www.cateandlevi.com and they suggest you turn the box into a dog house
kids would love it – grandmothers too (once it is stitched!)
if anyone decides to make one I am happy to give tips on how to avoid the mistakes I made
my sewing machine really didn’t like the knit fabrics and I ended up taking the machine apart, cleaning the shuttle parts and giving it a good oiling
so – welcome Charlie
the Happy Gang are delighted – he is big enough to protect them all from wandering deer
and he has already found a permanent home
Minnie Moose was delighted to see the first signs of Spring
looking forward
a very merry family Christmas was had by all
I’ve never been one to make new year’s resolutions…
I want to leave the year open to the unexpected, the unknown, surprises (good ones) and exploring new things
the Happy Gang are helping to pack everything up – they wanted to leave it but I convinced them that Easter is coming
generally I have a project in mind, ready to go – this year I’ve drawn a blank
so…getting started and my favorite book for inspiration – Ikigai – “a reason for living” or purpose
but first there are a couple projects from last year that have to be finished
the squares! – yes, I’m still working on them
5 are needed – 2 are finished and the third is started
and so, we start this bright, shiny new year with Hope for a Happy, Healthy and Creative New Year
Love and Best Wishes to All
p.s. I do have one resolution — stop procrastinating (at least a little bit)
a little bit of Canadian history
a little bit of history
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/annette-dionne-obit-9.7028478
the spoons were my Mother’s – as a child, I was allowed to choose which one to eat my ice cream with
I was always intrigued with how each of the girls was posed differently
they are silver plate not sterling
born in 1934, Annette the last of the Dionne quintuplets – she died on Christmas eve age 91
R.I.P Annette
’tis the night before Christmas
this is it – the final count down – Christmas Eve
the Happy Gang are excited, sorting out their stockings, ready to hang tonight
and introducing Alfie to more fun
then son arrived with Stollen fresh out of the oven
Merry Christmas, Peace and Goodwill to All
delightful surprises
the tea for today is Caramel Shortbread
Scottish shortbread is in the Advent pkg. – it melts in my mouth
then – the biggest surprise so far – Red River breakfast cereal
I’ve been eating it since I was a child – my grocery story said they couldn’t get it any more
wrong! – they just want to sell their own brand which isn’t even nearly the same
it’s a very savvy daughter-in-law that knows what breakfast cereal her mother-in-law likes !
Alpaca wool socks – warm and cozy
when we were unpacking the decorations Betsy discovered the Santa socks, bought at a Guild sale several years ago – they just fit
two zipper bags with a Christmas-y pattern – perfect for a Turkish spindle and some fibre
bought at a craft faire from a local maker
and then – a surprise at the front door – the Hittys had dropped by and I missed them!
a wonderful assortment of Hitty sized delights
Alfie the alien is learning about Christmas on planet Earth
fruit cake from the Hitty human’s great grandmother’s recipe
and tiny gingerbears from grandmother’s recipe – look at the tiny plate with teddy bears
then the ingredients for Abby and Bells to make a kumquat pomander
and finally, the piece de resistance
Pride and Prejudice be Jane Austen – printed and bound by the Hitty’s human
it is the size of a looney
Abby is reading it to the Happy Gang
can you see it on her lap? – I had to use a magnifying glass to read it
and now we are all going to have tea and cookies by the fire
a great big thank you to those responsible for all the gifts – you know who you are
only five more days
the Happy Gang are enjoying the Advent gifts – another beer?
Arthur and Gilbert think a Hoyne “Dark Matter” beer and Cadbury’s chocolate fingers are perfect together
the string of 100 lights that flash and twinkle and a Christmas candle light up the evenings
along with the neighbour’s display across the road
more knitting in the evenings – another row of four knitted squares with a final row of five remaining to finish it all
with a need to find more scrappy, leftover balls of yarn a rather abundant supply from the stash was explored
spinning tea bags was a success so coffee filters came next
first I tried folding them like a small sheet of paper but when cutting with a blade they tore and shredded
carefully holding three filters together and cutting round and round I got some very good strips to spin
the weather is very wet, dark and gloomy so we are happy to sit by the fire and make things
time and the weather
the weather outside is frightful
I don’t know who was more surprised?
me or the deer
and one of them was hiding so there are 3 looking to move in for the Winter
time is moving on – marking the days with the advent gifts
the best chocolate covered raisins – “President’s Choice” from Loblaws, made in Toronto
a pretty wooden bowl made in Australia
winter ale “Lift Ticket” – brewed in Victoria B.C.
two books – Clotheslines – author Susan Turnbull Caton – from Winnipeg, Manitoba
the language of clothing and textiles – ” don’t get your knickers in a twist” – a favorite of my Mother’s
Delicious – author Ruth Reichl – Random House, N.Y. looks like it is going to be a favorite
so what more could a person ask for in this grey, dreary weather than a beer, some chocolate and a good book?
Scrap Happy December 2025
not much to show this month – and it really is a bit silly
recycled tea bags
the process of making paper thread/shifu
everything you didn’t think you needed to know about a tea bag
carefully remove the staple holding the label, separate the center “seam” – it is simply doubled folded
how do they do this thousands of times in a factory?
opened out it measures approx. 10.25 cm. x 15cm (4″ x 5.75″)
compost the tea leaves
folded carefully just the same as a full sheet of Japanese paper
cut and then torn off alternately top and bottom with the joining edge rolled between thumb and finger
spun on my Turkish drop spindle
10 tea bags , thinly cut yields 234 cm. (92 inches) or 2 yds. 20 in.
what can I weave with that?
and I drink mostly loose tea
Best Wishes to all for a Happy, Peaceful Christmas and holiday season
Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys,
Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen,
Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue L, Vera,
Ann, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti,
Viv, Karrin, Alissa,
Hannah and Maggie
www.onesmallstitch.Wordpress.com u 