by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jul 5, 2015 | Design, Quilting
Some months ago, I participated in a quilting retreat. One of the projects was a quilt with 12 star patterns using a variety of patterns with a common plain colour center. When I was laying out the blocks to play with colours, I decided to turn half of the star...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jul 3, 2015 | Repurposing
I recently finished a restoration project that has been in the queue for a few months. It wasn’t even that big a job but I had put it off to the side several times and decided that it was time to get it off the list and into the finished column. We have a...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jul 1, 2015 | Woodworking
Today is the first day of a new month. I’m beginning this month with a target of 3 posts per week on this blog. And on the topics of beginnings, I thought it would be a good day to talk about getting started in woodworking. As members of the Atlantic...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jun 24, 2015 | Design, Quilting, Woodworking
Just because I haven’t been posting, doesn’t mean we have not been busy creating in our West Chezzetcook studios. It was a long, snowy and icy winter here on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. That meant lots of shovelling and snow activity but also...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jun 21, 2015 | Marketing, Repurposing
I started this blog with big intentions to post everyday and then read some advice that might be unrealistic and I should start more slowly and ramp-up to daily over time, if at all. I fell into the mire of over-thinking and over planning and, after falling behind in...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Feb 15, 2015 | Woodworking
I am not sure why I am always drawn to wood craft and wood furniture but there is an undeniable draw. On a philosophical level, maybe it has something to do with a connection to the earth and nature. On a more basic level, there is the tactical attraction: I love...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jan 17, 2015 | Repurposing
Lately it seems social media is full of new projects for using old pallets. Where are people getting all these pallets? It would be great fun to try to recreate some of the many inspiring projects that I keep seeing but I have yet to find a source for pallets that...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jan 14, 2015 | Woodworking
One of my goals this season is to finish three found projects and in preparation I’m busy studying and experimenting with woodworking finishes. Plans to share some of my studies soon but in the meantime, here are some great tips and articles from Popular...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jan 11, 2015 | Uncategorized
If one of your goals is to improve quilting skills, you should consider a Block of the Month (BOM) or Quilt Along (QA) program. Typically, these programs focus on a particular style (ex. modern) or type of technique (ex. free motion). Some of the options are mystery...
by Mary Elizabeth O'Toole | Jan 6, 2015 | Repurposing, Woodworking
One of our goals for Chez Craft is to refinish abandoned or neglected furniture, structures or materials to return it to its original use – or find new uses. It seems like we are always accumulating items that could use a little TLC. Or sometimes, it works the...
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