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  • epp
  • Page 1 of 9 ( posts )
February 1, 2026
Wooden House Wintry Wanderings from Canadian Needle Nana

It seems to be all about the weather here in the winter months. Saturday,when I went out with the dogs, the temperature was this with a wind chill of -34C. 

But the sun was shining and I could feel its warmth on my face. That was so nice while on the pond throwing the ball for the dogs. Then it warmed up and here in winter, that means the snow comes. We have a few more centimeters on the ground and it's still snowing. The school buses are not running this morning so another snow day for most ...

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January 27, 2026
First Finish of 2026 from Loose Threads


Hello friends and happy Tuesday

 If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, or if you follow me on Instagram, you know just how much I love English Paper Piecing.  This quilt is called 1797 Revisited and is my first finish for 2026.  It was a quilt along that went around the internet in 2019 (I think).  This quilt is based on a quilt in the V & A Museum and is made up of 60 degree diamonds that are “snipped” on each end.  



I just finished binding this quilt a few days ago. I had Back Door Quilts ...

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First Finish of 2026 from Luann's Loose Threads


Hello friends and happy Tuesday

 If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile, or if you follow me on Instagram, you know just how much I love English Paper Piecing.  This quilt is called 1797 Revisited and is my first finish for 2026.  It was a quilt along that went around the internet in 2019 (I think).  This quilt is based on a quilt in the V & A Museum and is made up of 60 degree diamonds that are “snipped” on each end.  



I just finished binding this quilt a few days ago. I had Back Door Quilts ...

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January 11, 2026
Quilt Project From My Library, Finishing Hand Quilting, Medical Story from Canadian Needle Nana

I've been really busy. Well, what seems to be busy for us. Daily chores and lots of shovelling too. There for a few days it kept snowing every day, all day. We ran the snowmobile over the trails to flatten them for our walks. I've been taking the dogs down to our frozen pond for playing ball and they've been loving that. I get to do my little run about as well, safely, on a flat snow covered surface for now. The weather will change it soon enough. Update, it has. Milder temperatures and pouring rain for ...

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December 16, 2025
Christmas and RSC Project Stitching from Canadian Needle Nana

The lone rabbit is still hanging around. I glanced out the kitchen window and ears caught my eye amongst the old vegetation.

 And here's a closeup when he went under the bush and just sat there for such a long time I gave up and left. I had been curious to see what you would eat there.
 This is an Eastern Cottontail and he will stay mostly brown/grey all winter. I wish he would move on into the forest but there are so many places to provide sheltar for him here; I understand why he wants to stay ...

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November 26, 2025
Wildlife Shenanigans, EPP Project, Christmas Embroideries from Canadian Needle Nana

Well, my heart was in my mouth this morning as I let out the dogs. While opening the patio door, there was a tiny rabbit hopping into the garden and going under the deck. Luckily the dogs were headed off in the opposite direction. I stomped my feet on the deck so it would hide and it must have as they didn't even smell it. A close call and so happy this does not happen often, maybe once a year. The fencing around the back area is doubled in some places to keep the dogs in and wildlife out ...

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November 10, 2025
Cake, EPP Stars, Pumpkin Mat, Blackbird Designs Book, Grand Plan from Canadian Needle Nana

Well, it's November, a harder month it seems and more than a few steps closer to winter here in Ontario. We had a week of heavy rain which I think the earth needed but there were driving winds with it and so cold. It's freezing overnight regularly now here in the Ottawa valley. 

But I'm very thankful those rains have restored our little pond. It is very muddy looking from all the downpours. It will be interesting next spring if I hear the sound of peepers and frogs, etc. because we keep wondering where did they go ...

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November 1, 2025
Last Rose, Last EPP Star, Cross Stitching, Coziest Sweater from Canadian Needle Nana

Here is officially the very last wild rose of 2025 and what a strong little beauty it is. 

And look what happened to our Burning Bush after the first hard frost. I'm wishing now I had planted more of these. 
 I received a bouquet of flowers recently and it had the cutest autumn gnome in it. Are gnomes still popular? I guess they are.
I am down to the last of my EPP Starry Hexagons to stitch. I'm using a few lighter colours to add more contrast. 
And here is the wall as of this morning. This is ...

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October 6, 2025
All the Slow Stitching, Glue Basting?, Amish Hexagons, Can You See It? from Canadian Needle Nana

 Walking the dogs just out the basement door and starting on the nearest trail, I spied something amongst the big old oak trees.  So here is another of my Can you see it? photos.

Maybe now?

What a beauty! I loved seeing this Barred Owl. I especially liked seeing how those feathers ring the neck and the tree trunks provided a natural frame.
I hear them hooting in the night so know they are near the house a lot. I took the dogs back to the house and returned to just watch it for awhile. I suspected it would be ...

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September 18, 2025
Free Patterns, Autumn Cross Stitching, Starry Hexagons, YouTube Viewing from Canadian Needle Nana

It had been rainy but we seem to be back into a dry spell with no rain in the foreseeable future. Very cool overnights. Day times it's been changeable- I think that's the word to describe the weather- one minute dark and cloudy and the next a little sunshine. There have been two frost warnings so far with one night recording 0.6 C so the season is easing in. A pretty sign of such is the fall Aster like flowers are in bloom. What a pretty shade of lavender.

I've been busy inside stitching away giving ...

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September 13, 2025
The Three Bears — Paper Piecing Black, Polar, and Kodiak Bears 8″x 8″ from Wisonsin Quilting

These three 8″ x 8″ bears are great for incorporating into a child’s quilt, a table runner, or used as a repeat for a larger project. The three are all different patterns emphasizing the different head shapes that make these bears distinctive. They are meant to be pieced using the folded Freezer paper technique, but other methods work well too. The patterns are simple enough to be weekend.

The pattern comes as a PDF download for you to print, small enough to print on one sheet of paper. Click here for the $8.92 pattern. You can pay with ...

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August 4, 2025
July Sunny Days, Slow Stitching, Sampler Quilt and Soups from Canadian Needle Nana

I got up at 6 this morning and went right out in the garden by myself which has so many rewards. (But left two pouting dogs to do so.) Instead I had my shears with me on this walkabout and did a little snipping here and there. I disturbed three turkeys who I think must have overnighted somewhere nearby. I sat by the pond and reminded my body how important it is to relax. It is hard for me to sit and do nothing...by the pond like that early morning is the closest I can come. But even then ...

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July 20, 2025
Hexies and a Mindful Stitching Project from Quilting & Learning

Hi and welcome

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June 23, 2025
Scrappy Starry Madness, Free Patterns, Cross Stitching Too from Canadian Needle Nana

Halfway through the year now and past the halfway point of June. I wonder where are all those hours we were promised for retirement...when time on your hands would hang heavy- an expression first recorded in 1760, btw.-I was curious enough to look up that expression. But no, though my days begin early there is still not enough hours to get everything done. I struggle not to have the feeling I'm getting behind. Behind what exactly is a bit of a mystery. But there is always something that needs doing and mostly, I'm thankful to be ...

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June 8, 2025
Summer Machine Stitching Plan, Pretty Blooms, EPP Starry Hexagons, Fine Hair Help from Canadian Needle Nana

Well, it's June and someone should tell the weather that. We had an overnight frost warning one night last week and someone told me there were snowflakes in the air one afternoon. I didn't see that, perhaps because of all the rain pouring down in spits and starts around us here at the wooden house. And it's been cold, single digits most of last week climbing into double by day's end. This week it's been climbing higher and yesterday we had a hint of humidity- so maybe the sputtering start is about to end. 

But ...

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June 3, 2025
Two Stitchy Projects Updates, Birding News, And My Purchase from Canadian Needle Nana

A piece of my plant broke and I stuck it in this little single sprig bird vase.

I enjoyed seeing the tiny bud open and then when I took it out, a root was growing! It is now planted in soil.
Growth is amazing!
Here is the blouse I purchased at Simon's on my Mother's Day trip to Ottawa. It is roomy, light and airy. The tag says it's made of 100% cotton but definitely not the kind of cotton we quilt with as this is so light. 
Thank you for all your comments on my POST ...

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June 2, 2025
8 Marvelous Things This Week from Canadian Needle Nana

We have a Phoebe nest on the abandoned sound box on the back of the house and a robin's nest on the front veranda. I tried to discourage the robin because, years ago, the last to nest there came to a sad end. But my banging about out there didn't work. How I wish she had chosen the light on the wall just opposite her. Last year's robin family did quite well there. 

This was a good week for me and here are some of the things that made it so. 

 #1This bird below is another first ...

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May 23, 2025
Sunday Seasonal and Stitchy Starry Stuff from Canadian Needle Nana

 The birdsong alone is worth a very early morning start to the day. A switch has been turned and it's like cue the sun, the birds, and all the growing things too. Here Ned is amazed by the sprouting leaves that have appeared seemingly overnight. 

Note the fallen trees and branches; ice storms are very hard on old trees.

And it's definitely spring when Ontario's provincial flower is in bloom...the beautiful and delicate White Trillium. If I had a wish to improve it, it would be that it become hardier and last longer. 
And it is ...

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May 18, 2025
Photos, Great Online Fun Site, Helpful Readers, Free Stuff from Canadian Needle Nana

 I promised a few photos of my weekend away to downtown Ottawa which according to Google maps is a 41 minute drive from here. It was exciting to be in a city but I had mixed emotions about what I saw there. A lot more folks suffering around the streets and we were warned about not walking at night in an area that had always been an interesting/wonderful place to stroll and explore. But on the upside the Chateau is still so beautiful- I love it there. This is the view from our window looking towards Parliament Hill.

 And ...

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May 5, 2025
Busy Stitching Table, EPP Stars, Free Patterns, from Canadian Needle Nana

 The Phoebes are building a nest on the old speaker at the back of the house again this year...two in a row. I can watch them from my chair in the TV room window. The two of them spent ages flying back and forth from a nearby tree to the site thoroughly checking it out before giving it an okay it seems.

 They are both bringing material now I notice but I can't tell them apart, though one seems a little darker which might mean the male.
Working together which is nice to watch. They are beautiful birds ...

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  • epp
  • Page 1 of 9 ( 172 posts )