Alphonse

I finished Donna's bear and am about to mail it to her.

Alphonse Ami

The bear I made for Donna is not finished yet, but he has all his body parts. Watch for a completed version in the threadanimals photo folder as soon as he is completed and ready to mail to Fort Worth from Surrey.

Berta's Bears

Berta's table was dark, and not being a professional photographer, the pictures aren't very good, but I think you'll get the idea. Berta's bears leave me speechless.

deBBie's shots

Berta and deBBie arriving at the hotel after the tornado hit. Do we look scared? Nope! We were more concerned that the internet and telephones didn't work than anything else. What more do we need other than our crochet, oya and needle felting girlfriends?
Flat Francoise's introduction to Berta.
Berta giving one on one instruction to us all around the table.
Deanna working her oya stitches on our practice piece of white felt.

Some of Day 2

Deanna
The group after our shopping trip to the Bead shop - bring on more great food together at Portillo's
After everyone else had left, Donna and Therese stayed for an extra night. Bobbie was helping Donna needle felt this bear's nose.

Bobbie not only showed her how to do it, she shared many points on making better bears - we were a very captive audience.

This was wonderful! Being a newby, Therese watched in awe.

this is Donna's Roly Poly Panda.

Unfortunately I completely forget to get all the bears standing up to get a group shot of the bears at different stages of completion.

Great job Donna!

Welcome to Bobbie's "Office"

Bobbie showing us her home work space.

Everything is organized by bin and yes, she knows exactly where to find EVERYTHING!
On the left side of this picture, see all her bags of raw wool - organized by colour and breed.

On the middle of this photo is her "photo studio".

On the right side of the photo is her pattern and book library, as well as her collection of grandies toys. It looks like she welcomes every family member down to spend time with her while she works the hours away.




Sneek preview of her latest projects.

Donna's new lamp

This is where I'm telling a tale on Donna. Sorry, but I couldn't resist.

This happened on Tuesday morning. We'd all set up our lamps in front of us on the table. Berta had gotten us all started doing our Oya stitches on our squares of felt. Donna was stitching away and started to smell something melting......eeeeeek she says....the smell is getting worse....we all start looking around to find what is burning....it was her brand new Ott lamp - she'd forgotten to remove the bubble wrap around the light bulb. Parts of it had melted on to the lamp. Out comes the tweezers as Donna is forced to pick away all the melted plastic. I don't think she'll forget to check the bubble wrap on any new lamps she buys.

Note the little watering can below the lamp - Bobbie had M & M's special made with "B & B's Workshop" for each of us. What a sweet touch. Thanks so much Bobbie.

Bobbie and Don's Garden

Bobbie and Donna A.

Plate Sized Hibiscus and Phlox


Bobbie and Don have a wonderful back yard garden. I took many pictures - Above are a few of note.

Flat Francoise is currently in the Netherlands

Yes, you read that right! Berta took Francoise home with her to the Netherlands. I hope we have some pictures to add before she is winging her way back to Quebec CANADA and home to the real Francoise.

Everyone working together

Don our superviser and support with Donna A. Thanks so much Don for your hospitality (he's a great cook too - we all can attest to that).
Bobbie - he's a KEEPER!

Berta and Debbie N.
Donna A. and Tammy

Back - Donna, Bobbie, Debbie & Berta
Front - Becca, Therese, Tammy and Deanna

Four of our Mods

Donna A., Bobbie, Debbie and Berta!

All workshop participants autographed one another's pink shirts.

Posting at Last

We are here in Elmhurst, Illinois safe and sound.

Tornado touched down 1/2 mile from our hotel & O'Hare Airport in Chicago last evening. Made for a hairy day. No phones or internet. Power was out in many places until this morning.

Tammy's flight was diverted to London Ontario to a holding pattern until the weather improved. She arrived a little late safe nonetheless. Debbie and her fellow passengers were sent to hunker done immediately upon landing to stairwells in the airport. Donna had landed just previous to that. During the remainder of the day we all kept Bobbie and Berta, Don and Leo occupied being our pickup crew. Deanna arrived this morning by car after a tree branch blew through a rear passenger window of her brand new one week old Thunderbird.

Today was a day to be remembered forever. We made new friends and rekindled old ones. We learned Oya needle lace from Berta in Bobbie and Don 's home. They are just like family and made everyone feel welcome. Flat Francoise included.

THE FLAT FRANCOISE PROJECT

Please take a moment to visit this link so you have a better concept of the Flat Francoise Project:

http://www.flatstanleyproject.com/

And the story begins.

Fellow Canadian Threadanimals member, Francoise Beauchamp emailed Therese late last week expressing great envy about being unable to attend Berta and Bobbie's workshop in Chicago.

Therese had heard of The Flat Stanley Project, invented by fellow Canadian Dale Hubert and welcomed Francoise to join us.

Watch for pictures of the workshop group and Flat Francoise. She'll be making the first leg of her journey from Vancouver to Chicago bright and early Monday morning via United Airlines Cargo Cabin comfortably tucked First Class inside Therese's luggage.

Watch for further reports and sightings...

Therese's Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo Bars

I am bringing along a purchased version of this recipe to Bobbie's since it is a local treat from Nanaimo British Columbia. I want to share something at the workshop that is my version of heaven!

Base

1/2 c. white sugar

1/2 c. butter

5 T. cocoa powder

1 t. vanilla

1 beaten egg

Method: Put ingredients in a double boiler. Heat until butter melts. Then add crumb mixture below. Blend both base and crumb mixture together well and press in greased 9" x 9" pan.

Crumb mixture

2 c. graham wafer crumbs

1 c. fine cocoanut

1/2 c. chopped walnuts

Cream filling

2 T. custard powder (I use Birds)

3 T. milk

1/4 c. butter

2 c. icing sugar

Method:

Blend cream filling ingredients until smooth. Spread over base. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 15 minutes. Then spread over base.

Chocolate topping

Melt 3 squares of unsweetened chocolate with 1 T. butter. Spread over top of cream filling.

Note: I much prefer using unsweetened chocolate for the toping over semi-sweet. This dynamite treat is sinfully rich and the unsweetened chocolate helps to balance it. The squares would be wonderful made either way though.

OHare Map - FYI

Arriving at Bobbie's in Droves!

The lot of us will be arriving at Bobbie and Don's one week today...... I hope they are ready! That's Don in the front yard pruning the hawthorne tree.

Getting excited - views of Berta's Oya and Crochet workshop

Here are some pics of Berta's half of the workshop.

ThReAdTeDs® 2008 Berta Hesen-Minten


ThReAdTeDs® 2008 Berta Hesen-Minten


ThReAdTeDs® 2008 Berta Hesen-Minten


I am beginning to really get excited now. Today I took down my suitcase, and started loading it. I had hoped to manage with carryon only, but aw shucks, it ain't gonna happen what with all the "stuff" that I am bringing for everyone...maybe no room for my clothes...

I plan to work on this blog when I have time before I leave and while I am there....if I have time.

I am bringing a pleasant surprise that will help keep us cool, among other things. I've been sewing up a storm. My serger died not a second too early. I'll have to get it in to be serviced when I get back. I think I fried the motor...

I started Donna's Ami Bear

Finally got round to beginning Donna's requested bear. I hope I got the colours right?

I'm sure I won't have time to complete her before I leave on Monday, but I'll try to have all her parts complete if possible.

Workshop participants

Short list of participants for Bobbie and Berta's Oya and Needle Felting Workshop:

Donna A from Ft. Worth Texas USA 4 kids, 4 Grandies
deBBie Nicholas from Molalla Oregon USA 8 kids
Deanna Kiel, Chicago, Illinois
Tammy Martin Boston Massachusetts USA 6 kids
Therese Preece, Surrey, BC CANADA 3 kids

practice pic upload camera/laptop

this is a practice upload from camera to laptop. I am very technically challenged, and Tom is giving me lessons so I don't have problems once I arrive in Chicago where I won't have him handy to fix any issues I come up with. To explain the pics, this is one of our BC Ferries out of Powell River. Tom and I took a short motorcycle trip in early July over to Vancouver Island and back home. NOTE - The bike is not a harley....we aren't the questionable sort - just a systems consultant who is reliving his younger days with his office manager wife who tags along behind for the ride. Oh our old aching backsides.....We arrived at the terminal a little early, so we sat on the beach for a couple hours. Was a lovely day. Don't you agree?

Six days and counting before I leave

Well today I asked Devin to open the attic so I could get down a larger suitcase. I'd have been fine with the carry on bag if I hadn't decided to bring gifties for the lot. Oh well. Not a problem. Don and Leo are picking me up at OHare, so I'm sure they'll help me if I load it down too much.