It is such a beautiful time of year in Atlantic Canada, the weather has warmed, the trees a fresh green and flowers blossom brightly everywhere. I have been inspired by the gardens I walk by each day. Fredericton is full of heritage homes with front porches and vintage gardens. Delicate pink blooms are my favorites.

I was inspired to create a rose pillow, using ruffled strips of fabric sewn in circular layers to make the rose. Topstitched felt leaves complete the pillow.

A row of these on a front porch bench would be so cheerful and welcoming! Thinking of making a couple for my deck chairs in different colors. A contrasting print would make a striking pilow. The pillow style is an envelope so that the flower can be sewn on and then the pillow piece just folded and top stitched. Insert form or a sale ugly pillow. Follow the Joy! Debra

It is the first Monday of the month and time for the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop. This month's theme is Patriotic designs in time to craft for the July 4th celebrations. Forty talented designers have participated so hop along to be inspired. Post a comment on Julie McGuffee's blog to be eligible for this month's Giveaway!

My project was inspired by the fabric and felt wedding bouquets I have seen lately. Mine is a quick and easy version ideal for an early July wedding. It was a great way to use up pieces of fabric. I simply tore them into strips, folded and gathered. Some I twisted into roses. Leaves were cut and sewn from National Nonwoven's Xotic Felt. The base of the design is a 5" STYROFOAM Brand Foam ball. Happy Hopping & Crafting! Debra, CEO!

You will need: Variety of fabrics, ribbons, 5" ball, dowel, adhesive, pearls.
How to: Tear strips of fabric into 3" to 5" widths by 22" in length.
Fold strips in half right sides out and gather long side of raw edges.
Pull stitches tight and coil. I began by covering ball completely with white ruffled coils of fabric. Add red polka dot ruffled coils in between white. Make fabric folded roses from gingham and glue into centers of white coils. Cut blue leaves from felt. Glue in between flowers. Glue pearls in flower centers. Wrap dowel with ribbon. Insert into ball. Tie looped bows from a couple ribbons and glue to top of ribbon covered dowel at bottom of ball.

It is Fowl Friday with Fran & Freda Finally! Debra is virtually ignoring us and continues to bring more winged creatures into the house! Our nest runneth over and Freda is befuddled. (I admit not hard to do but still!)

Last night's almost addition was quite funny to watch as Debra hunted down a very noisy Junebug. She captured it but instead of thinking snack for us she took it outside! Well we just don't get any treats lately! They buzz against the screen just begging to come in, how heartless can she be!

I digress, the new bird in town arrived in an important box, Debra spent time carefully attending to this very tiny bird who is apparently very demanding and important. Something to do with CHA, not that we are being kept in the loop. Sigh we do not even get to attend, room service a sad distant memory! Follow the Fowl Fran & Freda not some wimpy "bluebird"!

CHA, the Craft & Hobby Trade Show takes place mid July. A lot of preparation takes place long before the show. This week one project I am working on is a mixed media project for a special event "Be Inspired" at the show involving Canadian Designers. The show's theme is Craft Fusion and there are several special events around the mixed media theme.

I am having fun playing with a lot of great products I have never used before. Along with the Canadian event I am working with a couple talented designer friends on the Crafty Couture Challenge. I love dresses and we are creating a very special mixed media runway dress. Thankfully it will be displayed and not worn as there will be some last minute gluing at the show to affix everything!

There is an excitement before the show and craziness as it gets closer. No matter how many resolutions there are to get everything done early it never happens. Some of the best creative ideas come at the last minute! I am determined to be even better organized this time as I am moderating a round table discussion on being prepared for the show!

Monday is the monthly Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop, there is a giveaway and the theme is patriotic. So lots of craftiness happening! Follow the Joy! Debra, CEO!

The Garrison Studio opened on Saturday in the downtown historic district of Fredericton. Seven studio shops opened sponsored by the city's tourism department. There are artists in residence on site and local artisans showcase their work. The first day saw lots of people out despite the very cool, damp weather.

The shops were originally storage for ammunition and so are solid brick and mortar with one tiny window and the large wood doors are wide open to the open walkway. Unheated it was quite chilly until our portable heater arrived! That took some of the chill off. The shops are open for four months opening early this season for the Congress 2011 of Humanities and Social Sciences  "Coasts and Continents: Exploring People and Places"  taking place this week in our city. People from all over the world are attending.

With seven or eight artisans in each shop it means we work only one day a week which is ideal to not impact a regular work schedule. I enjoy meeting the many viistors to our pretty little city and to have fun creating! Aprons are one of my favorite items to design and sew. I made a half apron from the remaining birdie fabric.

I will post pictures of the shop once we are totally finished with the decorative touches. I have been making bright felt flower garlands to wrap around the exposed pipes. So far I have gone through fifty feet of garden wire! Follow the Joy, Create! Debra, CEO!

Spring Cleaning the wardrobe and Fabric Stash! Wow great finds, some pink check, birdie fabric and the results some very cute aprons!

Setting up an artisan shop for the summer in the historic Garrison District of the city. We open for the season Saturday, seven artists and craftsmen in each shop sponsored by the city's tourism department. We have a talented and fabulous group in our Garrison Studio shop, potters, jewelry smith, wood artist and textiles! Follow the Joy! Debra, CEO!

Spring Cleaning my wardrobe I have come across several pieces I really like but for a variety of reasons they don't work anymore. So time to restyle them into something else! My fabric stash also needs to be "down-sized". Since I am in the mood to design aprons these days, the wardrobe and fabric finds will be perfect to sew up into flirty fun aprons .

I came across a polka dot dress which I was wearing the hot summer day my daughter's car stalled in the middle of the busiest intersection at the height of supper hour traffic! Two nice guys pushed the car onto the sidewalk and we ended up riding in the tow truck to the repair service. A gust of wind caught the skirt as I got out of the truck and just as the guys came out of the shop! One remarked "wow, a Marilyn Monroe moment". I haven't worn the dress since! I am thinking an apron is a much safer future for the dress!

I used the "too" full skirt from the dress to make the main apron adding a bodice and ties. The skirt just called for a heart shaped pocket. Fabric roses were added to the pocket and bodice to give it an even more feminine feel. I love how it turned out and this skirt can catch any wind it wants! I will be sharing more aprons plus a tutorial of the apron I am creating from a full eyelet skirt. What was I thinking when I bought that! Follow the JoY! Debra, CEO!

Although I was unable to attend one of my favorite trade shows Spring Quilt Market, held in Salt Lake City this year, some of my designs were there. I love to work in felt and have created several designs for National Nonwoven. Their Xotic line of bamboo felt is so soft to work with. They posted pictures of their booth on Facebook, the photo below shows the table runner and pillow I designed.

The show is an amazing array of vibrant colorful quilting and sewing fabrics, patterns and all the accessories! To see some great photos from the show visit Brenda Pinnick's blog. Happy Creating! Debra

May Flowers! April showers bring May flowers, here it seems to be May showers bring the flowers, plus everything a vibrant, luscious combination of pinks, yellows, purples and greens!

Craftywise flowers are everywhere, created from fabrics, zippers, distressed papers, felt, leather embellished with buttons and beads. They can be created quickly then added to a bag, a neckline, belt, headband or any fashion piece to create a fresh look for spring. This easy wreath has roses made from circles of wool felt cut into spirals, rolled and glued. I cut the circles with scalloped scissors. Follow the JOY! Debra, CEO!

It is Fowl Friday with Fran & Freda! Freda is actually nowhere to be found. It is Friday the 13th and Freda is very superstitious! Well that is probably putting it mildly as she is presently sitting in a nest of rabbits feet, horseshoes and four leaf clovers. We spent most of yesterday running from lawn to lawn looking for clovers. With spring late here that was a challenge. (While she wasn't looking a little creative clover crafting happened, a glue stick always comes in handy!)

So for the rest of the day I will carry food into the closet where Freda is staying until midnight tonight. Meanwhile I am going to be out enjoying the sunshine on the deck! Debra got these very comfy cool hot pink and lime chairs so with a lemonade, snacks and a good book there I will be enjoying Friday the 13th! Follow the Fowl, Fran & Freda!