Fabric ATC blanks

I've created these atc crazy quilting atc's to embellish for a swap that I'm in and also to swap with some friends that I know from the store Quilty Pleasures. I don't know if they have begun or have thought about it - perhaps I should light a fire under their beads?
So I'm really looking forward to embellishing these and all kinds of ideas keep swimming around in my mind. Fibers and beads and faces and embroidery floss! I don't know if I'll have time to put all of that on each card but I'll keep you posted!
I've booked a class at Dragons Lair Beads Remember that gorgeous blue bracelet that Genevieve Crabe created? Well, I'll be teaching that one. I"m also booked to teach bead embroidery at Micheals at the Pinecrest Mall here in Ottawa. More bookings to come!

On one more note - we are getting ready for our big trip out west. We are contacting people and practicing getting out of bed, making our beds and getting dressed - first! That means we don't come downstairs and lounge around watching cartoons and playing computer games. That, I swear it is harder to teach this to the girls then all the other preparations I've been working on! Less than two weeks!
Cheers, Denise

Don't look Ellen!

I picked up this lighthouse form years ago. I really like lighthouses and always wanted to do something with it - there were six originally I think. Anyway, I sent one to my friend in Washington State and we agreed to trade them when I get out there in August. So Ellen, here is mine - all beaded! I'm not sure if I'm going to add anything else to it, but I sure had fun beading it and it really didn't take very long. So now I'm showing it off, and Ellen - don't look!!!

Cooke Family Go Karting Day

We had such a fun time! Here are a few pictures of the day with a few of us - me driving, my daughters, my niece and her boyfriend. Check out the awesome family t's! They were a great surprise by my brother and father. There may be more pictures coming, I have to go through them. I of course, forgot the camera back in Ottawa and didn't get any shots. Silly me.
We had a wonderful dinner with the 22 of us. Lots of laughing and giggling. The kids were great - it was wonderful to see my cousin Anne again and meet her boys. My Aunt was there and she went out on the track too. It was very cool!
We were all getting together to have fun and play. It hasn't happened in a long time and it was great for us to see and be together. It also happened to be on my father's birthday! We had great enjoyment celebrating his day and making the whole thing that much more special.
The next day we went to my Mom's. We had a good time there too but I do have to apologize because we were all a little sleepy. Still, a short visit was better than none at all!

On Friday I came home to teach! It was a great class - the students were enthusiastic and fun! I love teaching bead embroidery! I teach at Quilty Pleasures - it's a wonderful store here in Ottawa.
The staff are the best and it's where I've been taking my quilting classes. I'm not teaching there anymore this summer but look for more classes in the fall! I'd love to create a scissor case class or a needle case class. It would be great to work on projects and see how creative people can be!
Cheers, Denise

Here in Toronto

Hi all!
I'm here in Milton - just outside of Toronto, with my sister and her family. We are having a great family event tomorrow where a bunch of us Cookes! Will get together for some laughs and gokarting! Way cool - the kids are really excited and it will be great to see some of my relatives.
Then off for dinner with the same bunch. My brother was absolutely great to arrange all of this! Thanks STEVE!!!!
On Wednesday we are off to see my Mom and hang at the beach if it's beach hanging weather. I'm hoping! My Mom lives in Cottage country and it's a great town. I really like driving to and from that area because we take the back roads which are turn and roll and are very scenic. And on Thursday we will be doing just that - home.
We had a good drive yesterday. Haley did a triathon in the morning and then we were off. We couldn't get the computer to play a DVD so we talked and laughed and read ghost stories in the car. It was good.
Cheers, Everyone!
Denise

Chores

Weeds grow so fast! Pools get so dirty after a storm! Arghhhh - yesterday they called for high winds, hurricane like weather, and hail so I rushed outside with my daughter to close the trailer quickly. The storm passed us. Not like the day before, when it hit us full force and put the electricity out. Then, the trailer was up and everything stayed dry. This morning, I opened it up and all kinds of things are soaked - because we closed it in the rain! Note to self - leave it up!
So the weeds are mowed, the pool is clean, the kids are doing chores and I'm ready to watch them by the pool. Of course, the dishes aren't done, the art room is a mess and I still have to rake, but lemonade by the pool just sounds so darn good!
Cheers, Denise