Silver Sisters Studio

2011- The year that changed everything.

2011-12-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

2011 will be known around here as the year that everything changed. It all started with an email. “A long email. I’ve been thinking.” It was titled.

But let me go farther back than that. My husband and I had been looking for a new home for at least 4 or 5 years. Yes, years. Our little house was getting too small now that we had two kids, two dogs and a nanny squished in. But it was extremely difficult to find something that we both liked. He wanted space to spread out. He’s a mechanic so ample outside parking and garage space is a minimum requirement. He would joke that he was looking for an acereage in town. In town because I refused to move to a real acereage – you know, the kind where you’re isolated and spend your weekends mowing your gigantic lawn and driving kids places.

And then one day I woke up. I started thinking about what I wanted in an ideal life. I had been so busy trying to figure out how to shoe horn my husband’s long term vision into our current life (it didn’t fit) that I’d forgotten to dream for myself. And just for fun I let my imagination run wild and be as idealistic as possible (I am usually trying to rein in the idealism!). And this plan started to form that fit exactly into an acereage. In fact it blossomed into an even bigger plan – a homestead – with chickens and bees and gardens and children running and playing in the woods, and that’s what we’re working on these days.

And so the conversation began with the email titled “A long email. I’ve been thinking.”, and my poor husband had no idea that my entire perspective had shifted.

Vacuous

2011-12-15T13:02:00.002-07:00

Colours of Winter

2011-12-06T19:04:00.003-07:00

I snatched a rare moment this morning to run around outside, camera in hand. The colours this winter seem to be yellow and blue.

Fox footprints dance lightly on top of the snow crust where I saw them playing in the moonlight last night. I was worrying about how I would get down the driveway in the morning, they were enjoying eachother's company and the night.

Winter season is so intense. Bright snow and early dark skies, cold wind, cozy by the fire, time spent with loved ones, trying to fit it all in. The intense yellow and opposite blue of snow and light seem to represent it all.

And yet, there is subtlety and gentleness in the between moments if we make the time to look.

Our new neighbours are a delight to get to know.

There is a new one in their midst and he's having trouble fitting in. I remember being that kid. I'm so glad it doesn't matter anymore.

Maggie's Horses

2011-11-10T08:11:00.003-07:00

I had the opportunity to photograph these two beauties this summer:

I found myself saying over and over, wow, you are just so gorgeous! (to the horses)

They are mother and son, Arabians,
who hold a dear spot in the heart of my friend Maggie.

We chose to meet an hour before sunset on the most gorgeous day of the year.

Though I must confess I don't know much about horses, I approached this portrait session just as I would if they were people, looking for the spirit, the personality, the beauty, the relationships, the story.

I believe you can photograph anything that way.

And it really doesn't hurt to have the most beautiful models around!

p.s. I must thank my friend Lelainia (@tatterededge on twitter) for the advice (and blog post) on this project.

We've moved

2011-10-28T12:50:00.000-06:00

I feel like the first couple of weeks after having a baby - when you think will I ever cook a meal again? How will I manage to do that? I keep moving in the direction of my computer to get to those photos and write a proper blog post, but I never quite make it. You'll just have to accept my apology for the too-long absence and really bad cell phone pictures. It's all I can do for right now.

So, yes, We've moved. It was crazy and hectic and we're still recovering. I can't wait to be really settled. I'm such a homebody. Would you look at that sunset, though, seriously. Who wouldn't want to just park themselves in front of the window with all that going on outside. (it's much better for real. In real life there are mountains, but I would need a real camera lens for that) Our new place is pretty amazing. We wake up every morning and think do I really get to live here?

Case in point, on the 5th day, this little guy was born right outside our window. (It ended sadly, he never was able to stand up on his own.) Epic.

We really do have the best neigh-bours. har har. I'll post more later.
I can't help but thinking that this is a huge step in a new direction for us and I'm so excited of what is to come. Truly, life right now is like a summer strawberry that you just took a bite out of, dripping and sweet and so delicious.

This summer:

2011-09-07T08:09:00.000-06:00

Having a camera phone around this summer meant catching so many small memories of everyday things. For that I am truly grateful.

From the garden:

2011-08-29T19:51:00.000-06:00

2011 has been the year of the raspberry. I pick at least 5 cups of delicious berries every other day from my back yard. These are all volunteer plants - I didn't plant any of them on purpose. We eat them just like grama served them to us - with some milk and sugar for dessert. Actually, grama would probably have used cream, but it's still delicious with milk. If there are any berries left we freeze them for winter - oh, can you imagine the sunkissed sweetness in the middle of January? So Yum.

Also in my garden this year:

Something, I suspect a mole, has been digging and chewed through all of my pea stems. I'm glad we got as many peas off as we did, they were mighty fine, and growing really well. I will have to remember to plant those again.

The house we are hoping to buy has gardens, oh boy, the gardens! I might as well go ahead and tell you, it's an acreage! Our very own homestead. I've got big dreams of chickens and honeybees, Saskatoons and of course, raspberries. I'm making lists. Lists of the things that my grama used to grow (she lived on a farm not too far from here), lists of things that grow well here, lists of foods we like to eat. All the while praying and hoping for our little house to sell so we can make these dreams real.

At Peace with our house.

2011-08-25T20:58:00.000-06:00

Big changes happening here chez Silver Sisters.

First of which (chronologically), Selling our house.

Anyone who's sold a house before knows that it can really stress your relationship with your home.

All you see are the flaws, the reasons no one will ever ever buy it, how it doesn't fit you anymore.

But I remind myself that we bought it once, not so very long ago, and we were so happy to have it.

It's been a good house. We brought 2 babies home to this house.

Made a home away from home for a nanny, chased a naughty puppy around this house.

Nurtured our old dog for the last time in this house.

I love all the corners of this house. The light. The wood floors. The crazy paint colors.

I even like that it's small, because that just makes it cozy.

(But boy do we have big dreams, big plans, I can't wait to tell you.)

p.s. Ailsa says she likes the soft carpet in her bedroom best.

This Moment

2011-07-29T07:07:00.000-06:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual over at soulemama.com. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This post is not about Chocolate

2011-07-27T09:02:00.000-06:00

This photo is not about chocolate, it is about light. And shadow. Composition. Contrast.

There are so many ways to learn things, so many different paths to knowing.
I am thinking about my own path, where I am in my own learning, and taking strange shots like this one just for fun.

I've seen so many debates lately about the difference between professional photographers and amateurs who think they are professionals. And I wonder how it is that anyone can expect to cross from amateur to professional in this kind of hostile climate. I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really much matter. Just keep shooting the work that you are drawn to and don't worry about what other people think.

Usually in these rants the photographers are quite concerned that "photography is dead" and "no one appreciates a good photograph anymore" which I believe couldn't be farther from the truth. So many people taking photographs means so many more people appreciating photographs, and looking critically at them. This can only be good for the industry. I see a renaissance in people who are genuinely excited about great photography. How is this a bad thing?

I am:

2011-07-13T19:20:00.000-06:00

(Photo of light. The best part of summer, imo.

So much light to photograph in this northern hemisphere.

Totally off topic. grin. for 52photos.)

My word of the year is change. It sounded good the time. change.

Change means being vulnerable. And I am feeling wide, wide open. Like a hermit crab without a shell.

I keep hearing messages about taking giant leaps into the unknown and following your dreams. Facing your fears head on, blah blah.

But I can't help wonder how you know if the grass is really greener on the other side. How do you know if you want the change because everything sounds better than whatever it is you're doing right now? I'm really sincere in this question. If you have any thoughts, please share in the comments. I am thinking of taking a giant leap but how do you know if it's really as great as imagined?

Heart You.

2011-06-23T08:39:00.000-06:00

“Mom, Mom, you forgot the I!”

I Heart You.
It was a message for her dad.
Made from strawberry tops and cookie cutters
photographed and emailed.

Heart You.
was the message I saw. Love you.
Give yourself a great big hug just because.
And smile, because you are worthy of it.

(for 52photosprojects one word. )

Thoughts on Exercise. #2

2011-06-12T09:03:00.000-06:00

On exercise:

You may remember I posted about exercise at the beginning of May. About getting out and doing *something* 5 days a week in that month to kickstart an exercise habit. The most important part is not that I nearly accomplished that goal, but that I figured out what is keeping me from exercising.

sleep.

yes, those days I didn't want to go out I was just plain old tired. So, that's obviously what I need to work on next. It's hard to get enough sleep because after the kids go to bed is my one time to do things for me. Especially when hubby's not home. Gosh, this ballance thing is tough.

To kick my butt a little further on my goal to get more exercise I've signed up for a running class. Yes, I know, I'm not a runner. Really not a runner, but I'm seeing this as a grand challenge. (and now that I paid money for it I am sure to stick to it.) If nothing else I'll have gotten a bit more exercise and will be able to say I've tried it. Given it a really good shot. Who knows, I might even enjoy running. It's possible, right? I am actually really really looking forward to diving in.

(here is a link to the running class. It's online so you can do it anywhere, and the registration is open until aprox June 17th. join me?)

I don't know what this means, but it can't be good.

2011-06-07T13:04:00.000-06:00

ok, so this is really funny. I'm not a frilly kind of girl who doodles hearts all over her notebook pages. I'm just not, ok!

But then, thumbing through my photos searching for a certain one for this week's 52photosproject theme...

And I find heart after heart after heart. Hmmm..... All taken in the last couple of months. I'm not sure what this all means, but it can't be good.
(kidding!)

1. Found in a neighbourhood I walk through everyday on my way home from work. There must be someone interesting living there. Probably the people with the crocheted car. Maybe as well as the people with the crocheted car. I love that it says heart and home and that someone just left it there for whoever to see.

2. Daughter's valentines picture. She used it as the front of her homemade valentines cards for her classmates (we made one and photocopied, there were 50 kids in that class). The picture is SOOC and we only took two. I was giddy 'cause I knew we'd nailed it.

3. My newest favourite way to send boiled eggs in lunches. In heart shapes. This is ridiculously easy. tutorial here.

4. Someone left this on my phone for me to find (tilt your head to the right). See photo 2 above. LOVE.

Remember

2011-06-07T07:56:00.000-06:00

These are the days I will remember forever.
Days so full they're bursting at the seams with joy.
I never thought I'd be quite so in love as a parent.
Life before seems as shades of grey.

But we didn't know it then.

My heart aches with love for them,
that I get to be the parent to two most amazing people.
To witness their souls at such a close level,
is a rare joy indeed.

Sometimes all you hear is parents complaining
and I want you also to hear about the joy
because in the end there is only joy.

for 52 photos project: Remember

Water!

2011-05-25T14:24:00.000-06:00

This weekend was Victoria Day Long weekend in Canada, and for us, as many, it was the first camping weekend of the year. We were all loaded in the truck and ready to go when it was discovered.

A massive leak in out trailer roof. What you are looking at here is the insulation held up by vapor barrier (plastic) after the soggy roof panels were removed. We've poked a big hole in the plastic and water is running out into the bucket. See how it is bowing? Water. Lots.

Does my husband look not impressed? He's a mechanic and used to fixing broken things and I admire him for not freaking right out. We took it in stride, really (I followed his cue as I'm normally the one to react, um.... strongly). He didn't seem annoyed even, just got down to the work of fixing it.

We ended up removing a good portion of the roof and rebuilding it. Renovating, as it were. What a mess. I ran around the disaster scene with my camera. That part was fun, at least.

But don't worry, there was plenty of time for this:

and this:

We worked out butts off and still managed to get out to the mountains for a couple of days camping. And it was pretty darn awesome to hang out with these guys for a couple of solid days.

(Water is the theme for 52photosproject this week. Go check out more photographs on the theme)

Bookmark - Spring

2011-05-17T09:44:00.000-06:00

I feel like I need to bookmark this time. I took this photo on Friday. The first leaves are finally opening and spring is officially here. It's been a long, wet, cold winter here and we are sure appreciating the opportunity to leave the windows open at night, to play outside in bare feet and to finally take the bicycles out into the neighbourhood. Ahhh spring, so full of promise and joy. Exhale.

Grounded

2011-05-11T07:29:00.001-06:00

Grounded.

Firmly planted.

Like a tree swaying in a strong wind or reaching up toward the sunshine with roots firmly planted, anchoring, providing stability.

My feet are rooted, my body is still so I can do the work.

for "I found it on the ground" with 52 photos project.

Color

2011-05-04T14:10:00.000-06:00

2 weeks ago it rained and then snowed and then froze. I started out at 6 am as usual, drove up the hill, and then back down it and went back to bed. It's not worth going to work on days like that. On the way home I had the fortune of following the snowplow, and here's what I saw out my windshield. Yellow and Red, Snowplow Ahead. The yellow streak? That's the reflection of the lights in the ice that coated the entire road. That's what you look for to see how slippery the road really is.

I took this photo with my iPhone as proof of how bad the roads really were. It's the photo I thought of when I saw 52 photo project's prompt for the week: color. I love all the bright primaries.

On Creativity.

2011-05-03T10:49:00.007-06:00

I am an artist.
I am not prolific (right now).
But I am always an artist.

I have seen this pattern before.
I get excited.
I create.

Something happens.
A glitch.
My camera breaks
or I get sick
or computers are silly.
(aren’t they always silly?)

And I stop.
Temporarily.
Temporarily turns into a long time.
Because Life keeps going.
And the excitement is gone.

Until that spark hits me again.
(because it always does eventually)
And I delve into creating.
Something new.
Something completely new.

This time I am pushing through.
I am not stopping.
I don’t want to start over again every time.

Because this is what you do
when you really love something.

This is what I think it means
to be a Serious Artist.

On Exercise

2011-05-02T12:11:00.001-06:00

You might remember I mentioned it here - one of my goals for the year is to get exercising. Well, It’s May already (yikes!) and I need a plan.
If you want to make a change commit to doing that thing everyday for 30 days and it becomes a habit, so here is my plan.

I hereby commit to doing some sort of exercise for 45 minutes 6 days a week until the end of May.

Why? If you are clear on your goals then it’s easier to stick to your plan. I want to be healthier. I want to be able to breathe deeper, feel stronger, run longer with my kids, and yes, feel better about my body.

How? I know I need exercise, but I’m not really excited about it. That’s why I’m challenging myself to just do it. I really need to just start, and stop making excuses. I like Leo’s take on it here. I’ll start with walking and yoga and keep looking for other things to do. Maybe I’ll get out the roller blades. Exercise should be fun and part of your normal life so that you keep doing it. Exercise is part of living.

When and Where? ok, so a new activity does not “fit” into my schedule at all. But this is uber important. The only flexible time during the week is my lunchbreak. That’s usually my creative time, but if I’m going to get some exercise that’s the only time I can really see it happening regularly. I’m hoping to fit in creative time (also Sooo important to me) in the evenings and weekends which is a better fit anyways because I’m at home where my tools are, it’s easier to do with the kids around, and it fits into small chunks of available time.

And with that, I’m off for a walk. I think I’ve got a podcast or two to listen to on the way to spice it up.

I’ll check back in at the end of May to let you know how it’s going. And now that I’ve said it out loud this will keep me accountable.

Nourish

2011-04-26T20:14:00.000-06:00

The first photo prompt is up at 52 Photos Project, a new community for photographers. Nourish.

This photo was taken when I was sick and at work earlier this year.

Hot lemon is always my drink when I've got a cold. Equal parts lemon juice and honey. Mix with hot or cold water depending on the season and your mood. I try to keep a jar of the concentrate in the fridge at all times.

Take Back the Weekend: Check!

2011-04-25T09:09:00.001-06:00

Take Back The Weekend::

:: Hosted dinner with some of the incredible women in my family. A relaxed, joyful evening together (they even did the dishes!).
:: Made paper easter eggs with my kids. Where we all sat down together and created. No rules or big expectations, just fun.
:: Spent a whole afternoon with the sweetest little niece. Oh, baby cuddles!
:: Showed her the pussywillows and creek where we spend so much time.
:: Had a lovely dinner out with my sister and her little family and me and my little family where the 14 month old ate more than the 3 yr old and the almost 7 yr old combined.
:: Drafted a pattern for, cut out and half sewed a pair of summer pyjamas for a certain little person.
:: Made muffins (new half batch recipe!), cobbler (first time ever) and turkey stock.
:: Took photos – over 300 of them! Some of the niece, some of kids being kids, some more self-portrait work.
:: Finished it off with dinner with family and a video call with my far away sister.

It was a pretty great weekend. We followed our hearts and it was just what we needed.
(see here – we did all that.)

I was pretty sad by the end of Sunday. I was thinking of all the cleaning up I’d done, all the things I wished we’d gotten time for, the pictures I took that I hated, the stuff I still need to deal with in real life. It was a great break, but we need more of them. Working full time and raising a family take up just about all the energy I’ve got. Lately I’ve been stressed out about my daughter’s health issues and I’ve been noticing this undercurrent of worry about it. I know I haven’t talked about it much in this space, but in my world it’s always there. I wish I could solve it but I can’t and I know I need to stop blaming myself for it.

So what is this post about? The good stuff, the bad stuff, and how it all goes down. The meat of life and how all it all comes together to make today. This is what life’s like at my house these days. All the messy bits and pieces and the rays of sunshine, too.

Take Back The Weekend!

2011-04-21T08:02:00.001-06:00

Allright, folks. I've been trying to post something forever but none of my technology is working nicely together lately. Really, it's a mess. But I just have to tell you about our new initiative, it's called Take Back the Weekend! Our lives have been so structured and busy lately that we need a break. A breather. A Pause. It's just me and the kids home for this long weekend so we're taking it back! Here's the plan to take back this weekend and live with intention:

No grocery shopping. Grocery shopping takes up so much time and I think we can eat from our freezer and pantry until hubby gets home on Wednesday. It's an opportunity to be creative.

No driving. We're sticking close to home, walking if we need to go somewhere, not rushing.

Eat fiber, drink water. Getting back to basics with things. Our daughter has health issues and we need to always be aware of fiber and water intake for her (among other things).

Get outside. Exercise. Bodies need fresh air, sunlight and movement to be healthy. If it snows we'll do some yoga inside. Or go out and make a snowman.

Be aware of screen time. This is more for me than the kids. I don't want to spend the weekend watching uTube videos. It's so easy to get completely sucked in and loose days at a time.

Do something I've been meaning to do. Probably cleaning or reorganizing. I'll feel much better if I get just one thing done. But I'm not tackling the whole to do list.

Take some pictures. My soul needs some art. Hopefully I can get them out of the computer afterwards, but I have to trust that the technology issues will eventually get wored out. Eventually.

How are you taking back your weekend?

PHOTOS!

2011-03-28T14:46:00.000-06:00

The last class for the You Are Your Own Muse Workshop was last week.

I thought you might be interested in some of my favourite photos from the class.

Twirling. I took a lot of shots of twirling and dancing etc, but this one was the best.

It's harder than you'd think to get a good shot of twirling.

I thought I would take tonnes and tonnes of shots of twirling

(maybe because I thought I should)

but I'm actually not much of a twirler in real life.

I relate more to stillness.

One of my favourites because of my co-star in the kitchen.

The title should say: These are the days I will remember.

I spent hours and hours on this one and still am not sure what it's about.

Sometimes you're called to say something and you don't even really know what you're up to.

This one is about a sense of place. I feel really connected to this land.

Part of it, one might say.

I love these shadowy, ghosty images.

While we were all learning to photoshop our photos to create something interesting

I took a simpler approach and traced.

Yes, traced.

I'm saving my favourite favourite photo for last (as in next post)

due to technicalities I won't even get into right now.

Sometimes I would create a photo and then think to myself

that this was what I came here to express and I'd done it and so now what.

But the next week I'd pick up the camera again

and astound myself by creating something that took my breath away again.

And now I'm at the end of the class thinking to myself what am I going to do now?

I'm craving community, and I still long for art that explores meaning.

I'm at a bend in the path again, and can't quite see around the corner.

(would love to hear your comments.)

(p.s. many more photos here in case you're interested.)

CHANGE

2011-03-16T11:30:00.000-06:00

Inspired by all sorts of blog posts this January, I picked change as my word of the year for 2011 (I realize I’m really late telling you this – bad blogger). I didn’t realize until later what I had done and how far reaching this word would be.
To go with this word I had three goals, things I wanted to change in a fundamental way.

1. How I manage finances

2. How I approach work

3. Getting some exercise

Without getting into details I will say that I’ve made great strides on the first 2 goals, and still have 9 months to work out a strategy on the third. But that’s not so much what this post is about.

CHANGE

There have been unexpected CHANGEs, too.

I’ve switched my focus from selling handmade items to making art and making things for my family (I talked a bit about that here). That one change has given me so much freedom in my creating because it only has to please one person – me. I think I’ve grown a lot in my art – it’s imbued with more meaning as I experiment to make images that are not only beautiful, but convey meaning as well. It’s a big step.

I have a feeling that the biggest changes this year are still to come. My husband has just accepted a job that requires him to be away from home quite a lot. He’s so excited for the amazing opportunity that it’s contagious. I find it intriguing that I’m not as freaked about this as I think I should be. I used to be the girl who hated change. The girl who fought it, moaned and moped about it before accepting it, grudgingly. This year I am welcoming change, creating it even, and maybe even having some fun with it.

Knock on wood that things don’t get too crazy around here – it’s only March afterall!

2011-03-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

I have to show you this photo for no other reason except that I love it.

It represents to me an idea, not just a moment.

It represents inner light.

Acknowledging the spiritual being.

Acknowledging striving.

Acknowledging optimism.

Acknowledging hope.

Progress:

2011-02-24T19:53:00.000-07:00

The last thing I wrote about was being so excited about starting the You Are Your Own Muse photography class. And then I disappeared which usually means there’s stuff going on I don’t know how to write about yet. The class has been as awesome as predicted, full of learning. Which means starting at a certain point, struggling, figuring things out (learning) and eventually coming out the other end better than when you began.

I am at the struggling part right now.

I haven’t quite hit my stride with it yet, but I keep trying new things and my eyes keep opening wider.

The biggest challenge for me is letting go of my expectations of myself. I had these airy ideas of beautiful photos I would make, exposing some ideal spark of goddessness. But life is not all sunbeams and twirly skirts, my friends. Some days are hard, and, yes, that too gets caught on film.

I had this idea that I would go out in the forest by myself for a couple of magical hours and come back triumphant with stunning, perfect, happy photos in hand. But I’ve realized that would only happen in an alternate universe where I have extra time (without kids responsibilities or distractions) to skip in the daisies. And I know that I wouldn’t be happy with more than a couple of those photos anyway as that’s just not (my) reality.

My photos will be imperfect. My photos will reflect My reality. And I will try to love what I see there for what it is.

I’d love to take blocks of time to do formal photo shoots, but I don’t really have blocks of time available so pictures will be taken when I have a minute, when inspiration strikes, and when it feels best to do it. This realization is making me so happy right now. I am giving myself the freedom to do this course my way. Still seriously (I do lots of stuff labeled “homework”), but organically, rather than (self-)imposing rules.

About Possibilities

2011-02-10T14:42:00.000-07:00

I dreamt the assignment was to take pictures of green things. I had quite the collection of blurry abstract images - the stripe on a mitten, part of a toothbrush, part of my iris. I woke with a start with iphone in hand ready to shoot. Sleepwalking again.

I'm about to start Vivienne McMaster's self-portrait photography class (here, I think there's still a space or two left), and I'm just a little bit excited (obsessed).

I'm interested in taking photos (and making art) that tell a story. I can make a pretty picture but I want to make something that conveys something more.

(I recently found this book - have not bought it but it's on this very subject.)

I'm not cute or precious. But it would be easy to take that picture.

I'm worried I'll look and not find anything beautiful. Quirky, maybe, but beautiful?

I'm worried that in the pursuit of beauty I'll completely miss the point. That I'll end up with a bunch of pretty but shallow pictures.

But most of all I'm just excited. I'm excited about getting out the camera and making something.

I'm excited about possibilities.

Triumphant Muffins!

2011-02-04T12:16:00.001-07:00

The other day I stepped out of the shower and realized I had forgotten to wash my hair!
I was daydreaming about muffins. Perfectly domed, moist and delicious gluten-free multigrain muffins. Oh my, they sent my heart a pitter patter. Just look at these:

Hard to resist, I know. OK, so maybe this isn't so exciting to all of you so let me explain. I'm not good at following recipes. Or patterns, or directions of any kind really. I get lost in my own town. really. It's a small town and I've lived there since the 7th grade. I've made so many bad muffins; flat, hard, soggy, bland, fallen muffins. And now that I'm wheat-free (and now mostly gluten-free) I'd completely given up on ever making my own muffins again. I can be good at other things, I told myself.

Enter these babies.

Shauna of Glutenfreegirl fame has figured out multigrain gluten free flour. Take a look at her post here. It's all about getting the right proportions of flours to get that perfect muffin texture (gluten free baking is all about getting the texture right). And she lists them all (in categories. it's not complicated, I promise) so you have so much freedom to choose. Now, I didn't actually use her muffin recipe as she cooks by weight and I refuse to convert. What I did was take the proportions in her flour mix, made my own flour mix and used my own recipe. The muffins in the picture are Sunny Cranberry Multigrain Muffins. But they're long gone now. And there's a smile on my face.

(I'm still tweaking the recipe otherwise I'd post it. Just one more batch ; ) It's for research.)

(even the hubby went back for seconds and he doesn't normally like cranberries. or nuts. or multigrain.)

Work in Progress or Hockey Mom

2011-01-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

I realized that I've done a couple of projects and not shown you pictures. This one is a work in progress that I've been working on while my oldest daughter takes skating lessons. It's a shirt for the little one. I'm not loving the randomness of the design but I'm working with what I started. Do you ever have second thoughts after starting a project?

I just love the handmade ribbon that I found (here). It makes the shirt. You'll have to take my word for it as it's hard to see much in this photo from my iPhone. I don't know why it turned out all grainy - I've obviously got some learning to do on that. My thinking is that a grainy photo is better than no photo which is what you'd have if I waited to download pictures off of the real camera. Good thing for the iPhone, I just don't get to the real computer at home very often anymore. I think this is ok, as it means I'm playing with the kids or creating something in the kitchen instead, and doing internet on the bus.

On Funerals

2011-01-17T14:47:00.001-07:00

This picture only captures a fraction of the elegance of my Auntie’s beautiful horse.

On funerals

Anyone here like funerals? The official, formal part, I mean. Didn’t think so.

I’m starting to form a real dislike for them. I find that the real healing, satisfying part happens before and after the actual funeral. I don’t remember much about my grandmother’s funeral, what I do remember is sitting around at my aunt’s house visiting with my cousins, aunts and uncles in the days before and after and that just being together was comforting. My grandfater’s funeral was exactly 5 minutes long, followed by tea at the senior’s center and then home again. I cried all the way home. I felt alone.

When my grandmother on the other side passed away we gathered in the carport and built a casket together. I painted a big swirly letter B on it in her favourite color of blue (hippies? yes.). Working together on it filled the need to commemorate that I think funerals try to fill.

This weekend the family gathered again at my aunt’s house. No funeral this time for my cousin who had passed away. We played cards, ate pizza and homemade pie and visited. Cousins gathered from all over.

It’s what we all needed, no formal service required.

I’m starting to think why bother with a funeral at all, when, for me at least, it’s the gathering of family and friends that is important and healing.

Am I missing something? Agree or disagree? Please comment.

I love you, Etsy, but...

2011-01-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

Change is in the air, can you feel it? Maybe it's just in my house. I have a feeling that 2011 is a year for going inward, for simplifying, and finding great joy that is in the nooks and crannies of our lives. I can't wait, actually, and I feel better already. Like making the intention has already started the process.

It is in the spirit of simplifying that I have to tell you that I'm closing down my Etsy shop, at least mostly (I have some inventory I'd love to get rid of). I have a full time job with long commute and a young family. It's time to concentrate my energy inward and on things that really matter. I'm glad I did it - I learned so much about online business, working as an artisan; it pushed me creatively in so many ways and has been an experience that I will always be thankful for. I don't have to think 'what if I had done that' because I did. I acted boldly and was greatly rewarded. I think if I had more time to dedicate to an Etsy store I could really make it work, and maybe in the future, when things change (things always change) I will be back.

So for now, if you'd like something from my shop get it quick. Otherwise I'm more than happy to do custom orders, in fact I'm hoping to have more time for them now, and they have always been the most exciting things. I'm hoping to have more time to work on my own art, and projects for my family. I'm excited for the new beginning.

Felt Ornament Tutorial

2010-12-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

My daughter wanted to show you how to make these lovely Christmas tree ornaments. She's 6. I'm sure this project would not take too long if you didn't take as many breaks for pictures (we had to do it over 2 days due to attention spans.). She says hopefully yours will look as pretty as hers at the end.

1) Cut two pieces of felt. We used a plastic lid as a template.

2) Decorate! This is the fun part! You can stitch or glue to attach things to your ornaments.

3) Put both sides together right sides out. Sew most of the way around.

3) Stuff. We used scraps from another project.

4) Sew the rest of the way around and tie a knot.

5) Add a loop of thread or yarn.

6) Hang your new ornament with pride and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

The ornament on the left was little sister's project - we didn't write a tutorial for that.

I cut the circle and she cut and glued the decorative bits on. Perfect for a three year old.

Eyes Wide Open - Now I Get It

2010-12-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

I recently walked through a part of the city that I'd never before been to before. I was stewing on something so the walk was good. I realized how much you notice everything when you're in a new place. You see every detail because you take nothing for granted. And I got to thinking that there's probably lots to notice in the places I go and the things I do everyday. I think bloggers have been trying to tell me this for years but I'm just now getting it. I thought they were being blindly by optomistic when commenting about how beautiful the snow is when it's -30 outside, or how a tragedy can bring out the best in people. But no, they're just fully seeing what's actually there, and carefully choosing which parts to point out. I still don't agree with censoring your blog to only show the polished perfect picture, but I wonder if they don't all do it on purpose.

The picture above is NOT from my walk to unfamiliar places. Truth be told I had taken a wrong turn was embarasingly late for lunch. My coworkers all applauded when I finally got there. It was so sad. I even had a (working) GPS with me. I'm not kidding.

Sand and Sun

2010-12-07T08:14:00.000-07:00

It's not hard to see the beauty in a place like Saint Lucia. Sand and Sun and Humidity. Oh, the humidity!

But it's good to be home. Going on a trip without your family is not nearly as much fun. It's good to be home cooking my own food, also. The restaurants didn't quite know how to feed someone with a wheat allergy, so there was a big pow wow each time I went to order something, approximately twice a day.

Saint Lucia Hurricane

2010-11-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

Friends-
You’ve probably heard that my sister in law and I won a trip earlier this year. Well, we finally booked tickets to the Caribbean island of St.Lucia!

And then a hurricane hit the weekend of October 30th and devastated the island. They were without water for several weeks, there are 8 confirmed deaths (and many still missing) and the country was in a state of emergency. Now, a month later water is back, roads are being rebuilt, and, since our resort has reopened, we have decided to continue with our travel plans.

We have several extra suitcases which are currently empty.

We have been in contact with the Red Cross and NEMO (the national disaster organization) and below is a list of items that the people in Saint Lucia need right now. If anyone is interested in donating anything we would be happy to take it along with us. Nothing too heavy or bulky, please, we don’t want to go over the weight restrictions on our suitcases.

We are leaving the evening of Saturday November 27th. Donations can be dropped off with us anytime before Saturday suppertime. I can meet people downtown Calgary at lunch this week to pick up anything they might like to donate. Email me to make arrangements (silverSistersStudio (at) gmail.com).

thank you,
gisele

From the Red Cross:
Tooth brushes (we have some already donated), toothpaste, soap, towels, linen, under wear- children and adult, male and female would be welcome, dry items like cookies, pasta, beans, cereals will be able to pass through customs.
Other emails have mentioned basic food supplies like rice, sugar and flour as well as children’s clothing and toys (story books, coloring books, crayons). Again, nothing too heavy or bulky, please, we have to fit it all into suitcases.

what's she up to now??

2010-11-22T13:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a new project to show you. I needed something for a gift this weekend so thought I'd whip up a shirt. I took 2 shirts that no longer worked by themselves - one was overdyed grey (ick!) and the other had a super wide neck and a couple of tiny holes. I painted the greyish tank and cut the red shirt up to sew on top.

Of course, you can't just "whip up" a shirt that calls for painting and drying, construction and embellishing, all done by hand so I am cheating here and only showing you the front side which is finished! Soon enough the whole thing will be finished and whisked away on a jet plane on a tropical vacation.

Obligatory artsy photo of the stitching. Love stitching.

Eyes Wide Open

2010-11-18T07:07:00.000-07:00

This photo was completely accidental but then I realized I loved all those lines.

Eyes Wide Open

2010-11-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

I forgot about the beautiful patterns snow brings. It's going to be an interesting winter afterall.

Birds and Blooms Magazine

2010-11-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

Look Look Look! Silver Sisters gloves in a magazine!

I should be all cool about it all but to tell you the truth I'm darn excited. I think I squealed a little when the package came in the mail yesterday!

I've got the gloves in my shop here, here and here. Order now if you want some, I only have a limited number of gloves in stock until spring.

Eyes Wide Open

2010-11-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

This leaf is about dochotmies.
And I love how it's accidentally beautiful.
It's like a secret that I pass on my way through the city every day.

I used to be a painter.

2010-11-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

Before I ever sewed fabric I painted it. And painted it and painted it. I had the urge to paint something early this Saturday morning, so I got up, snuck about and got to work.

I am thrilled to bits about how this turned out. It's a bit 60's era old man, but I like it.

I bought this red cotton sweater when I was pregnant with my youngest - so 3 years ago. And never wore it after she was born. It fit well but lacked interest. I used a stencil for the pattern. It was something that was in a ceramic painting kit that my daughter got for Christmas. To tell you the truth I got pretty worried about all that black about half way through. But I knew I had to finish and then figure out how to fix it.

I think I am in love.

Eyes Wide Open - New Feature

2010-11-05T17:54:00.001-06:00

There's so much to see if you just look around. But you have to have your eyes open and be looking for it. You might have noticed I've been posting some random images lately, well, these are the beginning of a new feature on the blog where I post images I've taken recently of interesting colors, textures and patterns I find while out and about. Play along if you like; put a link on the comments to your own pictures of interesting things in the everyday.

The light tonight is so beautiful. I loved the way the sun was playing with the bark on this tree trunk.

I love the "wrong" sides. So right.

2010-11-02T06:55:00.000-06:00

I'm back, and I intend to stay!

2010-10-28T12:48:00.000-06:00

I've been writing this post in my head for at least a week, but now that I'm writing I don't know where to start. I'm back. I don't quite know what happened, but I'm back, and that's a good thing.

I keep telling people "I think I lost a couple of months" and they laugh because I think we can all relate to life going a little more quickly than is comfortable. But, really, I think I lost about 6 months. As in I wasn't really there for it. I remember my daughter's doctor appointment in April and then the one in June where we'd made no progress and I felt like I was in a time warp. The summer wasn't much better. I was here but not here, you know? I don't know if I was depressed or just exhausted. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and be very very still for a long long while.

But I'm back, and I intend to stay.

Several things have changed lately. First, we went on a 2 week holiday that ended up being even more relaxing than intended (for me anyway) due to a blown engine in our truck. We also stopped nursing, and though it wasn't all that frequent near the end, I know that has a huge effect on how my body works. I can feel the bounce back in my step. I feel like doing things again. Living.

But I'm so cautious. I never want to be in that place again. What if I don't resurface next time? I'm doing all I can to boost my health, get enough sleep, build a support system, but will it be enough? So for now, focusing on the positive, I'm BACK! and I intend to STAY!

Yellow and grey

2010-10-27T16:41:00.002-06:00

The One With All The Pictures.

2010-09-21T20:20:00.000-06:00

On to the eye candy. I started this project at the end of April and completed it the beginning of September. It started with a compulsion to make something a little more useful than I had been doing before. I made a shirt and dress which were auctioned off for this charity which I talked about in this post a couple of days ago.

First up, the dress:

Completely hand-stitched from reclaimed t-shirts. The blue ones are from the same golf tournament the year before. The flowers are relief appliques from still more t-shirts.

You can see the charity logo on the bottom left back which was reused from one of the volunteer t-shirts. This will fit as a dress from about 6 months until about size 2 as a shirt making it long wearing. I love that it can be used for a long time as kids grow out of sizes so quickly.

I was so worried about the buttonhole loops. I'd never done them before and left them for the last minute, but they worked out really well. You can see the vintage buttons and zigzag chain stitch here as well.

Palestrina stitch along the bottom hem. I love the look of Palestrina stitch - it's delicate and looks almost beaded.

And now on to the boy's shirt. Mothers of boys always complain that girls get all of the fun clothes, so I wanted to make sure I made something good for the boys. My daughter who's two saw this picture and said "There's my bear!". She loves this guy.

Again completely handsewn using reclaimed t-shirts. I enlarged the charity's logo to use as a pattern for this reverse applique.

I wanted the stitching on this one to be a lot simpler, but still let it have some details. This one is a 12 month size.

And a close up of some of the stitching. I used linen thread (brown) to give it a more rugged appeal.

It was hard to let them go after spending so much time with these two pieces, but both went in the silent auction and now have the most loving homes as well as having raised money for a charity very close to my heart.

A Fashion Designer is Born.

2010-09-20T20:32:00.004-06:00

You are looking at the face of the worlds newest fashion designer.

I should back up a bit. We happened upon an arts festival in our town this weekend. An entire street was blocked off and art was everywhere – pottery, paintings, photography – but Ailsa gravitated towards a particular set of abstract paintings stopping at one that had black painted fabric flowing from it and a face painted on the canvas. She said it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. I thought we should tell the artist that as she was sitting right there. Jolan was her name – but apparently the kids call her Yo yo. The conversation went something like this:
Yoyo: Are you an artist
Ailsa: ?
Yoyo: Do you like to make things?
Ailsa: Yes.
Yoyo: Then you are an artist.

We told her about the doll dresses that Ailsa had made and some of the other projects she had done (she really is an artist). Completely stoked, we went home, got out the fabric and started sewing. My little girl is now a fashion designer. She is NOT “going to be” a fashion designer she IS a fashion designer. Right now. And she’s about as excited as it gets. The enthusiasm is contagious, really, and I really admire (envy?) her confidence.
And why not. I’ve heard so many brilliant people say they started doing their life passion (ballet dancers, mechanics taking everything apart, engineers building bridges with lego) when they were six.

Here’s a parting shot in case you don't believe me. These were taken this spring. The outfit just shouts creativity, don’t you think?

p.s. Anyone know anything about fashion design for real? Like what skills to help her learn – drawing and sewing obviously, as well as looking at clothing, art, color around her. I’m looking for ways to help her realize her dream.

Scott Smed - part 1.

2010-09-14T21:47:00.006-06:00

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house and that was a good thing. The Annual Scott Smed golf tournament came and went this week, and I was thrilled to be part of it again. No, they weren’t crying about their golf games, in fact, I think the golf part is almost like an afterthought. Almost. They were crying because the charity had touched their hearts. again.

It all began when my friends Shannon and Peter were pregnant with their first child – a boy – Scott. I didn’t know them at the time, my sister was still dating Shannon’s brother (they are married now with a baby of their own this year). I remember my sister saying that Shannon had read every baby book there was and was so excited about the pregnancy. Anyone who knows Shannon knows how she throws herself into things with contagious enthusiasm (oh, that laugh!), and I can only imagine what she would have been like then.

But, sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. Something went very wrong and they ended up loosing the baby in the third trimester. Peter always says that the charitable works that they do make Scott’s life and death have purpose. That even though he is not here with us, his presence can be felt by the good things that people do in his name. The Scott Smed Memorial Foundation is making efforts to improve the experiences of families who have lost a child. The money raised has gone towards building special delivery rooms in soon to be four Calgary hospitals for families who are experiencing a loss, support and resources for families, and training for hospital staff.

What I really admire about this charity is its grassroots beginnings. It’s the story of a family seeing a need in the community and deciding they can do something about it. And this group of people is accomplishing that in really concrete and measurable ways. The best part of the golf tournament, in my opinion, is the guest speaker. Someone who has used the services of the Scott Smed Foundation gathers up all their courage and tells their story. You grieve with them, but you also can hear the hope coming through, and the gratefulness that they didn’t have to go through it alone. That’s why I choose to volunteer at this tournament every year instead of just sending my silent auction items. To be part of something like this, even for just a day makes us all feel a little more human.

(come back to see part 2 - I promise lots of pictures, less seriousness, and a follow up to the sneak peak posts I keep taunting you with. Thanks for reading this far.)

Sneak Peek!

2010-08-09T20:41:00.003-06:00

Here's a sneak peek at a huge project I've been working on since, oh, probably April.

Completely hand sewn from leftover volunteer t-shirts. They are for a favourite charity to include in their silent auction.

There are two of them, one boy, one girl. The boy one is a t-shirt with a bear (their logo) reverse appliqued on it, about 12 month size and the girl one is a dress with flowers relief appliqued on it size 12 months to 2T - it grows into a shirt as the child grows.

Guess how many hours of stitching this was! Happily I've found a better solution for inside labels!

PINC GLAS AND YELOFEED (glove pictures)

2010-08-03T22:56:00.004-06:00

Here are a couple of glove pictures I haven't shown you yet. I packed up a big order of gloves this spring - the one on the top is a freebie I threw in as a thank you for the massive order. I was getting a little tired of monograms at this point so the geometric folk kind of flower design was really fun. I will definitely be doing more of those.

After the big order was this pair.

They were a special order.

#8 on my order list - it says: Ailsa (the name of the orderer, my daughter) A H (The desired monogram) pink gloves. Yellow thread. You know, all the details. Don't you just love kindergarten spelling? I love that thread starts with the letter F. Precious.

On Water. And how to get more of it into you.

2010-07-26T20:57:00.004-06:00

We’ve been struggling with water in our house this year. Our older daughter has a medical condition and meds which require her to drink a lot of water.

Her specialist is a very different sort of doctor. I like him. At our April appointment he brought out a spreadsheet and detailed how we could increase her water intake a little at a time at specific times during the day to eventually get us to where she needs to be. I get spreadsheets, and this made a lot of sense to me.

But I am really really random and following a specific, timed, numbered consistent plan like that was doomed before it began. Oh, we gave it good effort, but fell off the boat in a couple of weeks. Fast forward to last week’s appointment and I realized we need to take a radically different approach and be serious about this.

And that is how the race began. A. and I are in a race to see who can drink more water in a day. To make it fair we somewhat arbitrarily decided on a 2:1 ratio – as in 1oz of her water = 2oz of my water. The logic is that I am at least twice as big as her. I should mention that it’s not just water that counts – juice, popsicles, soup, jello, freezies, snow cones, lemonade, iced tea, anything wet other than milk is fair game (and we’re looking for new ideas here – please comment if you have any suggestions.).

We’ve got bar graphs and everything.

Hers on the left, mine on the right. Notice how my bars are twice as fat? That’s the 2:1 ratio. We just have to compare the height of our bar graphs to tell who is winning.

She totally creamed me yesterday. We’re 4 days in and she’s already only a couple of ounces away from her daily goal. Now, doubling your water intake in 4 days is definitely not recommended, but it shows that this method is really working. Hopefully it is sustainable. We’ll have to figure out how to make it sustainable. And how to make it work when school resumes in (eek) 5 weeks.

Now I have to tell you that it all falls apart on the weekends. Remember that random part? Ya, the kid needs set meal times and routines to get her body back into a normal rhythm. I am totally lost on how to do this on the weekends. I could do a whole post on weekends because I can’t decide if we’re severely dysfunctional on the weekends or maybe that’s the only sane part of the week.

Well, I’m off to fill the water bottle again and head to the bathroom for the 4th time this morning! Please comment if you have anything to say, I'd love to hear your experiences, ideas, wisdom.

why I’ve been gone so long.

2010-07-16T11:09:00.002-06:00

I had a dream one night where we were all becoming mindless robots.

I’m worried about that. Worried about living a life without meaning. I think we all should be at some level. I believe that’s part of what it is to be human. Many things that I won't go into here led up to this realization, but I'm deciding to do something about it. I have to.

So I’m readjusting my attention to things that are more grounded. Instead of trolling the internet looking for humans, I’m meeting them in person. There’s a group of like-minded moms that meet for coffee and support. Reading blog after blog looking for something to make me smile has been replaced with a running conversation through the day with my sisters (love the internet for that).
I catch myself when I’m bored or annoyed turning to facebook or the blog reader and am making a conscious effort to turn it off and deal with whatever it is that I am avoiding, spending time with the family, neighbours or making some art (or bread) instead. I’m even reading a real paper book for the first time in a long time. And, yes, it does feel better than the shallow un-focused existence. I just didn’t know how to get here before.

So where does that leave this blog and my shop? I don’t know yet. I’m sure I’ll return to blogging. I’ve always enjoyed doing it for myself, not the readers. It really bugs me that I can’t put lots of pictures on here and do it properly, though, a problem that I’m sure technology could solve if I threw some money at it.
The shop, maybe not. I can be creative without the hassle of listing and promoting. I always thought it would be a good back up if I got laid off – I could easily throw it into high gear – but this doesn’t seem like quite enough anymore. It challenged me creatively, that I will miss for sure, but I’m sure I can find that passion elsewhere. I keep going back and forth on this one.

So that’s where it stands. I’m having trouble articulating all of this because I’m still in the middle of it. And this is, of course, the abridged version. If you have any thoughts, please comment, I’d love to hear it.

gisele

Mumford And Sons - Awake My Soul

2010-06-28T20:24:00.001-06:00

This is just where I'm at these days.

Wouldn't this make some good art - Awake my soul.

p.s. If you haven't yet you should check out more Mumford and son's videos. I'm digging this music right now.

blogging break ahead.

2010-06-24T14:14:00.001-06:00

I’m a little out of sorts this week. a lot out of sorts today, we put our big old dog down last night. It was the compassionate thing to do. But it still feels pretty crappy.

Guest Post

2010-06-15T15:48:00.002-06:00

Guest Post!
Check out my guest post on the lovely and gracious Gina's blog.
Lots of pictures, I promise, and I can't wait to see what her other guest posters come up with for the rest of the week.

what inspires you?

2010-06-11T14:13:00.003-06:00

Gina (from Dreamland) is having a multi-week long discussion on her blog on creativity and invited me to guest post there on Monday. Here’s the prequel (you know, like star wars had a prequel?) to that post. Like many of you, I am driven to create things. I am happiest when I’m busy making something. It’s my fatal flaw.

I create mainly for 2 reasons. First, I have a brain that often spins out of control and leaves me behind. By doing something with my hands I can trick it into slowing down, then I catch it and get it to do what I want. I didn’t always know this trick so I try to tell others often.

I also create because it makes me feel whole. It makes me feel like I fulfilled some higher purpose beyond the necessary getting things done that takes up so much of our energy and time. I believe there ought to be more to life than just getting through it, and being creative fulfils that need in me. I feel whole again.

So, you see, this drive to create goes way beyond simply making something pretty or useful. Lots of people don't get that. They think we're just playing around. Which we are, what's so wrong with that?

Friday Links - So Silly.

2010-06-04T14:06:00.005-06:00

I just spent 3 lunch hours embroidering text. I need to find a new way to put labels on things. And now I’ve lost interest in the project. Does this happen to you?

On to the Friday Links. I had fun with this one. It was time for some silliness.

domo pocky. so silly!

OMG. for Roxy. Everyone else check out the pants in the post for today. I think life would be better with the addition of those pants.

Caramel Bacon Popcorn. Oh ya. I hope Jessica (aka bacongirl) doesn’t hate me for this. ‘Cause I laughed out loud when I thought about the irony. It’s like triple chocolate cake if you have a wheat allergy (me).

And one more link. This one’s a treasury. A dying art apparently.

A new twist on the Farmer's Market.

2010-05-28T09:21:00.004-06:00

OK, so I have this idea -

You know how much I love the farmer's market - and mostly because it's grassroots and it's community etc. etc.

Well, what about a booth that's a creativity booth. Not selling anything, but a place where people - ok, kids, probably, but not necessarily, would come and make something - I haven't figured out the details of that part yet, but it could be collage or painting or whatever we wanted. There would be a donation jar to hopefully get enough money to pay for the table rental and maybe some supplies but that's not really the point, it's about getting people together and opening up their creativity. I think this could be really fun.

Thoughts??

25 Things to do this summer:

2010-05-20T13:19:00.006-06:00

1. nature scavenger hunt

2. what to eat while camping

3. weave a rug

4. zoo journal. or maybe camping journal. or roadtrip journal. or nature journal.

5. coloring pages and fairy puppets to make.

6. draw something.

7. draw together.

8. finish someone else's drawing.

9. doodle pad.

10. read books.

11. make books.

12. counting the house - wouldn't this be fun with outside stiff - count squirrels, flowers, logs, bugs, wheels...

13. make bannock

14. creating zoo maps. why stop at zoos? How about a campsite map?

15. go for a picnic

16. coloring mandalas

17. conduct a pond study

18. finger knitting. I remember spending hours and hours on this as a kid. "Dad, what's your favourite color" must have seemed like a suspicious question.

19. say you're at the beach... sandcasting

20. learn all the words to Red Grammar's the ABC's of you.

21. leaf printing on fabric.

22. visit small-town museums and coffee shops. Like this one.

23. Make sun tea

24. make butter with children. it's magic.

25. nap in the sun.

I just have to do something with my hands.

2010-05-19T09:01:00.003-06:00

My daughter has what she calls her "bad brain". Sometimes her brain just gets carried away on a train of thought and she can't help it. I know exactly what this is like cause it happens to me too, and probably everyone, I'm guessing. I have a couple of good fixes. Meditation (finding stillness). Yoga. Breathing (this works well for my daughter). And doing something with my hands. It’s the latter that really works the best for me. I always forget how therapeutic it can be to work on a project. To just sit and sew or draw or paint, how it calms the mind. I was thinking about this today when I came upon these 2 blog posts by very different people who also create and have run-away brains.

I started something new yesterday as I was home sick with a cold and going a little stir crazy. Something biggish and fun. I really ought to post some work in progress pictures but that would mean stopping the sewing to take pictures. And that would defeat the purpose.

If you have the time, Stefan Bucher also talks about this a wee little bit in his video talk on design in the Architecture/Design series on iTunesU that I mentioned in an earlier post. I really loved this talk (it was, by far, the best of the bunch I have listened to so far) and will certainly be revisiting it from time to time when I need some inspiration.

Please add to the list!

2010-05-17T11:34:00.002-06:00

Hi, all!
I've been sick with a cold, so away from the blog for a bit. We're getting ready for the May Long weekend here - the official start to the camping season, and while hubby is getting all the vehicles etc. ready (and there is a lot of etc. this year) I am thinking about food and things to do while camping. I'm compiling a great big list of things to eat and do and ways to enjoy the great outdoors this summer. Our summers are relatively short so we tend to do them with gusto.
So, if you have any favourite camping foods, projects, crafts, etc. please leave a comment and I'll add it to the list.

Friday Links.

2010-05-07T15:29:00.001-06:00

I have two fantastic links to share with you today, and one of them’s not even a link. I feel like I’m cheating but it really is worth sharing.

Link #1: Fear.less magazine. Read the story about the bus crash that almost killed the photojournalist. What I loved about this: People thinking about what’s happening is a really to-the-core kind of way.

Link #2: Look up iTunes U Advertising / Design podcast out of the Walker art center. Go through iTunes, it should be really easy to find.
I just discovered iTunes U and am so excited to devower and entire education via podcast. Nerd? Yes. Reminds me of when I took Sociological Theory for fun. And then picked up a second major. Ahem.
Anyway… oh, yes… hour long video lectures from some really smart graphic designers (so far I’ve devoured Ed Fella and Stefan Bucher. Figuratively.). Graphic design lectures are really interesting mainly due to all the pictures. What else would you expect? Like the Project Management class I took. It started and ended exactly on time and was exceptionally well organized. Just what you would expect.
What was I saying?... oh yes… smart, entertaining - who knew artsy fartsy people had so much to say. About what’s going on in the world, not just art. Stefan Bucher, in particular, made some really good points about greed, authenticity, work, searching and values.
I think I’m about to fill up my hard drive with podcasts again.

stormy skies

2010-05-07T07:41:00.003-06:00

The weather is finally starting to clear, but we've been in blizzard mode for a couple of days here. School was even cancelled for a day. We're getting pretty tired of talking about the weather which is odd for Albertans, we are always going on about the weather. I've heard spring is coming, and wouldn't mind seeing that someday soon. Little green bits are trying to poke up their heads in my garden but I'm afraid they'll take one look at the snow and give up. It is MAY, for crying out loud!

By the way, today is the last day of the sale. There are over 70 shops participating with a very wide range of things you might really need. or just want. or need. for a birthday present or something.

go here for a complete list (with links) to all these shops.

Gigantic Sale!

2010-04-30T15:28:00.003-06:00

I was going to post a giveaway for my 100th post but, to be honest, just couldn't get excited about it right now. When the time is right.

I've been itching to stitch! I've been collecting things to upcycle for my next project and it's just killing me to try to get things done so I can start that. Do you ever get so excited about an idea that you can't think about anything else? It's probably a sickness, but some call that passion.

The Alberta Team on etsy is having a gigantic sale starting tonight at midnight. There are 70 stores participating. 70! A list of links is here. I hope you don't buy the necklace I have my eye on!

I'm offering 40% off all hair accessories in my shop, and free shipping on everything else. Garden gloves will be relisted this weekend. I had to take a break on them for a bit to catch up.

Interview with a 5 year old.

2010-04-24T09:30:00.004-06:00

SSS: what's it like to be almost 6? Are you excited?

A: ya.

A: and then I want the next question to be do I have a little sister who has book in her hand.

SSS: so?

A: yes.

SSS: Do you like your sister?

A: mmmhmmm.

SSS: what do you like most about having a sister?

A: I like poking her belly button.

SSS: why do you like poking her belly button?

A: because it makes her laugh.

SSS: What's the best thing about being almost 6?

A: my best friend's birthday is close to my birthday and I'm gunna have my birthday soon.

SSS: so are you excited about your friend's birthday?

A: mmmmhmmmm

SSS: Is it all about the cake?

A: no

SSS: Is it all about the presents?

A: no. It's about I'm gunna give A. her presents. and I have my clothes picked out.

SSS: what are you going to wear.

A: I'm gunna wear a dress with a skirt underneath it and a shirt.

SSS: why a skirt under the dress?

A: because I think the dress is a little smaller than the skirt.

SSS: so you can see the skirt out the bottom?

A: yes, and I want my dress to be longer.

A: the end of the story.

SSS: where did you get the idea.

A: because when I tried my dress out it was too small.

A: Now say The End.

SSS: The End

ailsa

adgzl

Interviews and interviews, oh my!

2010-04-20T07:26:00.004-06:00

ok, boys and girls, check THIS out! There's little interview over on Gina's blog today.

And I'd like to carry on the tradition (Natalie Chanin interviewed Gina, Gina interviewed me...) and offer to interview someone here, too. Put your name down in the comments by Friday if you'd like to be interviewed and I'll pick someone to feature next week.

Also, My 100th post on this blog is coming up VERY soon (this week or early next) and I've got a little something up my sleeve... so many exciting thigs happening at the same time.

And please do take a gander over at Gina's blog. It's full of inspiration and art and the beautiful penmanship she is known for and who could forget the Alabama Chanin style skirt (my favourite).

(p.s. I just noticed a sale in her shop right also)

Mind Over Matter. Get it?

2010-04-16T10:33:00.005-06:00

Can I tell you a story?

I started walking a different way home from work recently. There is a pedestrian bridge that goes over the road on my new route and I’ve always hated pedestrian bridges. It’s not rational, my heart beats a little faster and my breath gets panicky so I walk as fast as I can right in the middle so I can get off of them as fast as I can.

One day last week I’m walking on the new pedestrian bridge thinking that after a while this will seem like no big deal. After walking over it a thousand times it’ll be old and familiar and not scary at all. And at that moment the bridge lost all it’s power over me. Just by imagining what it would be like to not be scared, and knowing that it would happen I suddenly wasn’t scared anymore. Amazing, the power of thought.

Now, thinks me, how can one use this kind of thinking to one’s own advantage? Think of a thought pattern you want to change. Imagine as vividly as possible what it will feel like to think in the new way. Believe, no, know that it will happen. Take it for granted that it will happen and go for it.

Friday Links

2010-04-16T08:48:00.003-06:00

Every Friday I share something I found interesting I found on the internet that week. Here are this week's links. :

Brilliant. I just love these pavement sheets. I love the social commentary that they provide, plus they're really well done. And some of the profit goes to homeless. Aaahhhh, the intersection of art and sociology - it tugs at my heart.

I found this blog written by homeless people while listening to CBC (via podcast) yesterday. Very interesting to hear a perspective that I'm not as used to seeing.

I'm almost up to my 100th post on this blog so am planning a giveaway. I'm thinking hard about what to give away... any suggestions? I'm very malleable. That's fancy for gullible.

When it Rains, It Pours!

2010-04-13T09:42:00.004-06:00

Can I tell you about the craziness that's gone on here lately?

Here's a screenshot of the etsy front page (right now!). Notice something second from the bottom on the right hand column? This comes from a lovely treasury made by the lovely emmamaha who makes wool felt accessories as well.

I was also featured in an etsy finds email (like a daily email newsletter) on gardening and have gotten several orders of custom monogrammed garden gloves from that. I'm being very careful to schedule the work in and let people know when I will be able to ship their order. I don't want to disappoint anyone, and I don't want to feel panicky about getting the work done.

And lastly, things on the home front have been really busy. We painted 1/3 of our house two weekends ago (what a gong show with little kids, let me tell you) and then installed new carpet last weekend. For the carpet we had to move all of the furniture from 3 bedrooms and a tv/playroom out which meant that basically none of the house was inhabitable. I have this vivid picture of my husband and I sitting, one on the stairs, the other on a pillow leaned against a dresser in the hallway checking emails on our laptops, tired after a day's work of organizing and moving things. Phewph. I took the kids to the museum on the second day so they wouldn't be in the middle of the chaos.

When it rains, it pours, I tell you. After all that the day job seems relaxing!

NEED_WANT

2010-04-09T14:21:00.002-06:00

Here is a screen shot from the treasury I mentioned in my last post. Not much new to say about that except it's long been my belief that more recycling and better light bulbs are not what we need to save to world.
I find it's getting tougher and tougher to tell the difference between an need and a want these days. When you're surrounded by a material culture on all sides it's tough to see an alternative.

Friday Finds!

2010-04-09T09:31:00.002-06:00

Interesting things from the interweb this week (see below). I'm working on a super-secret project for my daughter today. I do hope she likes it! I do hope I can get it done before Saturday (ya right!). I like to call my lack of planning ahead "living in the moment". What, you're not convinced?

Friday Finds:

You'll want to check out Angie's drawing, Be the Change. I think I might embroider the second line onto something.

I loved this blog post about perspectives on aging. It's a guest post from several different women of different ages talking about fashion, body image and how it changes over time. I'm glad to be out of my 20s, that's all I can say.

Last up this Friday is an inspiring story on how making art heals. I can completely relate as this is how creating makes me feel alive.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!

NEED vs. WANT

2010-04-08T12:27:00.003-06:00

New Treasury Here!
I was thinking about talking with the kids about NEED vs. WANT as I stumbled upon this article earlier this week. I loved that the article had actual activities and suggestions of things to do with your kids on this topic. We'll certainly be printing out the "what do you need?, what do you want?" cards sometime soon.

a list.

2010-04-05T16:07:00.004-06:00

Things have been just a wee bit crazy on the homefront recently. We've painted a portion of our house and are waiting for new carpet. I have pictures to show but no time to download them yet. I've stitching to show but no time to take the pictures. How is it that time is not linear? It bunches up and slows down and I can never keep up.

Found this on a blog I like to visit. I am the complete opposite of this person, which is so interesting. I had the hardest time with #16. It's a satisfying list.

If I were a month I’d be April.
If I were a day I’d be Saturday.
If I were a time of day I’d be quiet and still early morning.
If I were a font I’d be bacon font.
If I were a sea animal I’d be a jelly fish.
If I were a direction I’d be West.
If I were a piece of furniture I’d be a comfy leather recliner.
If I were a liquid I’d be water.
If I were a gemstone I’d be amber.
If I were a tree I’d be a brooding pine tree.
If I were a tool I’d be vice grips.
If I were a flower I’d be a pussy willow.
If I were an element of weather I’d be light fog.
If I were a musical instrument I’d be a clarinet.
If I were a color I’d be cranberry.
If I were an emotion I’d be wishfull.
If I were a fruit I’d be a wild strawberry.
If I were a sound I’d be a sigh.
If I were an element I’d be Oxygen.
If I were a car I’d be silver and small and urban.
If I were a food I’d be satisfying.
If I were a place I’d be the space between mountains.
If I were material I’d be repurposed.
If I were a taste I’d be layered.
If I were a scent I’d be subtle.
If I were a body part I’d be a long graceful neck.
If I were a song I’d be acoustic.
If I were a bird I’d be a heron.
If I were a gift I’d be handmade. And late.
If I were a city I’d be miserable.
If I were a door I’d have a window.
If I were a pair of shoes I’d be sandals.
If I were a poem I’d be by shel silverstein.

Gluten Free doesn't have to be Expensive!

2010-03-30T15:38:00.004-06:00

Posts around the interweb today have got me thinking. Thinking about gluten.
Thankfully, it’s only wheat that bothers me, and not gluten, but I end up eating close to gluten free as a consequence. And when I say bothers, I mean BOTHERS, friends, not a pretty sight, so I’m pretty motivated to stay away from the stuff.

I keep having a conversation with a friend about how expensive it is to eat gluten-free. I vehemently defend the point of view that it doesn’t have to be expensive – it just depends on how you do it! For example: For breakfast today I had plain yogurt with frozen berries, a dribble of maple syrup and some pumpkin seeds. Yesterday for breakfast I had cheeze, rice crackers and a couple of strawberries. Lunch was leftover chicken, brown rice and leftover broccoli with apple cider vinegar and olive oil dressing. Supper was homemade hamburger helper with rice noodles. No special expensive ingredients here.

I was recently at a specialty gluten free bakery. I paid $8 for 2 pizza crusts and $3.50 for a coffee cake. One tiny serving of coffee cake. $3.50. And that was the best darn coffee cake I had ever eaten. For someone who doesn’t get cake often (ever) boy that was good stuff (and you can bet I’ll be back). But can you imagine how much you would spend if you ate there on a regular basis? Save it for a treat.

So, my advice to you if you are trying to avoid gluten – avoid the specialty shops and specifically gluten free items. They ARE expensive. Because they can be, it’s a niche market. Eating gluten free is easy when you cook from scratch.

I make pizza crust at home from spelt flour (not gluten free, but you could easily use a gf blend) and baking soda which probably costs pennies. We eat a lot of potatoes and brown rice. I make a big pot of brown rice, leave it in the fridge and serve it with everything. Spaghetti sauce, tacos, everything. When the rest of the family has noodles and breads I have rice or quinoa.

Anyone else with me on this one? Do you find eating gluten free to be expensive? Comments and discussion welcome.

Here are some interesting resources I just discovered – there’s a gluten free carnival going on at kitchen stewardship this week, so I am looking forward to seeing what else comes up. Plus there's a giveaway on there right now from some coconut flour that you won't want to miss.

Also, simply sugar and gluten free looks like a good site for resources. It’s making me start to wonder if I should try quitting sugar for a while, too… but I’m just not sure how to drink coffee without it.

And I have to leave you with Gluten Free Girl’s delightful blog which asserts that she is not missing out by eating gluten free. Just look at the pictures – she is definitely not missing out!

handstitched mama...

2010-03-25T14:51:00.002-06:00

As promised, here are screenshots of the two treasuries I made this week on etsy.

This one is on handstitching. Inspired by Alabama Chanin, my current obsession (can you tell). This one was actually tough to do. I was looking for projects inspired by, not copies of the style.

And this one I really do love. I was thinking Mother's day. Maybe that's obvious. All of these selections are so expressive to me about what it means to be a mother. I especially love the little girl with the frown. She's got a bee in her bonnet about something. Some days are like that.

2010-03-23T12:30:00.002-06:00

By some stroke of luck I managed to get two treasuries today, within minutes of each other.

Here is the first one, on motherhood.

And here is the second one, on handstitching. I was thinking about the Alabama Chanin books I recently purchased when I made this one. It's amazing how little is handsewn for construction these days, even in a handmade marketplace.

I will put up screen shots in a few days.

DIY Revelation – Starting a Yoga Personal Practice

2010-03-22T11:19:00.003-06:00

I have practiced yoga since 2001, so 8 or 9 years off and on. Off mostly when my babies were born and then on again when I returned to work. But this winter I just couldn't get into the class.

My brain was moving too quickly and I needed to modify or skip so many of the poses that the class became, for me, disjointed and unfulfilling. The class failed to meet my needs anymore. So I stopped going.
And stopped moving.
Not moving is bad when you sit in a chair barely moving all day anyway.
My body started to feel stiff and still and I knew I had to do SOMETHING. Anything.

Suddenly, one day it dawned on me that I already knew everything I needed to practice yoga on my own. Call it a DIY revelation. After 9ish years of practicing, I had learned a thing or two. So I did a little research and came up with a plan and have been practicing in my little office twice (more or less) a week for a couple of months now. I thought it might be beneficial to share the journey a little. Because starting a yoga practice on your own is easier than you think (though I do think you should take classes to begin, yoga can’t be learned by reading about it).

I have always practiced ashtanga yoga and I always enjoyed the classes that most closely followed the traditional ashtanga series. I don’t know why it took so long to figure out that all I had to do in my own private practice was to use that series as a starting point and then branch out from there. Easy. Before I figured that out I would meander from pose to pose, not exactly knowing what I would do next. Finding my foundation was key to a good personal yoga practice. I can deviate from there, but at least I have something to start with.

In my next post I’ll tell you about what poses make up my personal practice, and then I have a third post in mind with tips and hints to get you started and keep you going.
And don’t be shy posting a comment – I love to dig deeper.

TAST - Beaded Hedebo Edge

2010-03-20T11:42:00.003-06:00

Here are a couple of pictures for Take a Stitch Tuesday from Sharon B. Check out her blog if you are at all interested in stitching, it's a great resource.

I have to tell you this wasn't my favourite stitch. I don't normally carry beads around with me in my embroidery kit - and I didn't have many ideas for doing different things with this stitch. I like the challenge of doing as many things as possible with a stitch. It is a very pretty stitch, though, and I can see using it in little girl's clothes a lot. It is quick and easy to work up and, as you will see, quite dainty.

You might have noticed that I didn't use beads, but substituted french knots.

I also tried putting it on the edge of the fabric which I'm not actually crazy about, but it was worth the try.

and a close up:
And another close up. This one is actually the front. Next time I would stitch it so that this is on the back.
And that's all I have to say about that.

Friday Links

2010-03-19T09:19:00.003-06:00

Links to interesting things I found on the web this week:

An inspiring story about people making a difference in their community. I love the simplicity of the story and the huge grass-roots impact. There's a lesson to be learned here. (OK, and the pictures! I so want white hair like that when I am older!) I've been thinking a lot about the doing that has a bigger impact than just our small lives. Any other ideas, readers? Cause I'd love to see them.

Food Links:

A waffle recipe using soaked oats (and bonus - no wheat!). I wonder if we can make pancakes out of this recipe... perhaps the perfect use for the whey I'd like to make out of this recipe for whey and cream cheeze. Oh, I'm going to be so healthy! or at least well fed...

And, finally, a link to bacon font for Jessica, my fav. bacon foodie friend. I love being your daily sanity call!

I'm working on a new project this week that I am totally enthralled by! I can't wait to show you. I don't even have a sneak peek teaser for you, bad blogger, I know. It's inspired by Alabama Chanin, but a pattern I made myself.
For the gardeners out there I've got something new in my shop. I imagine people giving them as gifts to their mothers and grandmothers. To me something personalized and specific like this says that you recognize and appreciate them for who they are.

TAST - Knotted Loop Stitch

2010-03-14T18:16:00.003-06:00

Here are my samples for TAST week 2 - knotted loop stitch. See here for more details on the challenge and how to do this stitch.

(above) Of course, I tried a circle, spiral, whipped, laced, varying the size and placement of the stitches, and combining it with other stitches. I was most pleased with the knots I was able to create (below) by working the stitch singly and very tiny. The darker green knots are french knots show to demonstrate how much smaller and closer to the fabric these ones are.

I must say I am smitten.

Most of my work is done on things that are worn and washed, and I think these little knots will stand up to that kind of wear much better than french knots. If anyone knows the name for them please leave a comment. I'm sure it's been invented before but I couldn't find it on my stitch book.

I like to make things more complicated (so says my husband anyway!) so I made this picture below out of knotted loop stitches. There are a couple of straight stitches thrown on for good measure as I felt I needed more density of color after the knotted loop stitches were in place.

I've always lived near the mountains, and I have such a nostalgic affection for them. I look up at them every day and think how amazing this world is.

2010-03-12T10:33:00.002-07:00

vs.

via wordle.

Friday Links! Leprechauns!

2010-03-12T07:53:00.002-07:00

Today, a list of links to use as educational resources in case you need to 'splain to someone about leprechauns. Who knows when you might need this.

Leprechauns up to mischief at wee folk art (I love this blog). Be sure to check out all 8+ days of mischief.

Oh, my, this family really has a leprechaun problem! This is from last year, I wonder what's going to happen this year.

Maybe they should look at building one of these leprechaun traps! They look well engineered.... I wonder what they would do if they really caught one!

And last, but not least, May the wind be at your backside.... an oh so funny remake of the Irish Blessing.

Stitch Sampler Ideas

2010-03-06T22:57:00.007-07:00

Here is handy list for things to try with a new stitch.

Things to try with stitches:

curved, spiral, circle.

couching.

layering it on top of itself.

layering with other stitches.

whipped.

different thread.

fill a space with it.

woven?

open vs. closed

vary size

spacing and angles

Feel free to add your ideas in the comments.

Happy Stitching.

Diamond Stitch - Take a Stitch Tuesday

2010-03-06T12:52:00.005-07:00

Here are the samples I worked up for the very first TAST - Take A Stitch Tuesday. A new stitch is posted every Tuesday and then you spend some time playing with it and post your results. I will try to get photos on Saturdays and post them as soon as I can. That's the hardest part for me, so wish me luck!

All right, diamond stitch. I started working a 4 inch square sampler on felted wool.

I was delighted with the star - I've been looking for a way to stitch a 9 pointed star (a Baha'i symbol) for a while now and I think I've found a good stitch for it.

I really liked the argyle look of diamond stitch on top of itself (right), and couching with it (left) has potential.

Next I got this silly little idea of stitching green thumbs on some garden gloves! I like the look of it but I think I will choose a stitch that is more attached to the fabric (if you know what I mean) for this for durability. I liked the idea of this stitch because it is stretchy and I can see lots off applications for it in garment making where stretchy stitches are needed.

And then I got this idea to stitch on my apron. Aprons and embroidery are both symbols of domesticity so this is a comment on that. I think I will do a lot of sampling on this apron and see where the project takes me. The first sample here is whipped diamond stitch and the second is playing with the size of the elements. I really love the look of alternating small and large sections.

And then a band on the top of the apron.

My thinking is to add to this band with other stitches as time goes on.

I'm already beginning to regret using such bright colors, but I'm sure I'll be bale to tone them down with the next row of stitches.

And finally, I couldn't resist a small patch of french knots. I saw this on a blog somewhere for using up the last bits of leftover thread and I think it's kind of pretty. I'm adding to it already.

I can't wait to see what other people have done with this versatile stitch.

Friday Links

2010-03-05T13:25:00.003-07:00

Here are some interesting links found this week.

Alabama skirt. This is an absolutely gorgeous project.

Graphic Design. The basics all on one page. I have zero art training, and I found this little article on design principles quite helpful.

Here's an interesting project I stumbled upon. Maybe a good place to send all that extra brown thread you bought by accident.

So, I bought the book from last weeks list. And here's the website, I think I'll be spending a bunch of time (virtually) with Summer Pierre.

I've been working on prototypes for a new project for my shop - green thumb gardening gloves! I just thought up the green thumb part today on my lunch break and it makes me want to clap like a little girl. Seriously, though, I hope to have these listed in the store soon - tomorrow if all goes well. I'll post something on here about it, too.

I'm also working on a huge blog post with some covert stitching I did in January and February that I can now show you. Lots and lots of pictures to go through first, though. It's eye candy, though and I think you'll like it.

Also sometime this weekend I should have a post up about TAST - Take a stitch tuesday which I've been playing with this week. I promise pictures in that one, too.

Phewph! I even tire myself out!

Red Petal Onesie. Stitching Love.

2010-03-01T20:46:00.006-07:00

This was the scene at my house Saturday. I woke early to get the most out of that precious quiet time when the house is still before everyone else wakes up. Stitching and reading. It makes me smile just thinking about it.

I was in progress with a onesie for a baby I know (not Anya, sorry, Jessica). I appliqued a pale yellow base - an old work shirt that I loved the color of but didn't fit me really well, and red petals from an old sweatshirt of my daughter's (also used on this project).

You can see some petals stitched and cut out and some in the process of being stitched. I stitched the petals first, then the background fabric and then embellished with more surface embroidery. I was too impatient to wait and cut everything out after it was stitched, so I stitched 3 and then cut.

And here is a shot of the finished shirt (below). You can't see, but there are green and yellow stitches on the background. Once I did those I felt the petals looked a little plain, hence the stitching there. Next time I do this shirt I'll be a little simpler with the embellishing. I wasn't entirely happy with the stitches in the petals, but it was colorful and pretty for a little girl, so I left it (plus I was running out of time).

Anyone care to leave a comment with suggestions for stitches for the petals (this is feather stitch)? I have another onesie and am thinking of doing this design again.

I might go super simple and ditch the yellow background next time around. I don't think it added that much to the overall design. I can't wait to see it on it's new owner ... it's a little big still, though.

I'm also thinking of making my own baby t-shirt pattern up instead of using bought onesies to give myself more flexibility in the design. Working around the pattern already on the shirt was a pain in the butt. They'd be fairly quick to sew up due to the small size and could probably be made from one large adult t-shirt. I could see making a tonne of these once I've got the pattern right.

Friday Links:

2010-02-26T10:19:00.002-07:00

1. Quinoa and Spelt Flour Muffins. I think this recipe was written specifically for me.

2. Prayers for Angie. I wondered why she hadn't blogged all week, and here is why. My heart goes out to you.

3. Illustration Friday. My favourite topic today. Hmmm...

4. The Next Book I Really Need To Buy (since the last one I said that about came in the mail just yesterday).

Happy Weekend to you.

1 year ago today.

2010-02-11T17:59:00.006-07:00

1 year ago today I wrote this post on my old blog. I just looked it up because I had forgotten about that wheat-free pizza crust that I used to make. I love that I have a blog and wrote that down.

updates:

1. I got a new camera this fall and the "green line problem" is gone, gone, gone!

Here's the picture from that post:

I still love that 50mm lens and use it almost exclusively.

2. "R" is now 2 and a force to be reconed with. She still passes out occasionally, and I don't don't think I will ever get used to it.

And here's the pizza crust recipe:

Simple Pizza Crust
Approx: 1 1/2 cups spelt or other flour.
1 cup milk.
a little salt a little baking soda.
1 Tbsp oil.
mix until it forms a dough. pat onto baking pan. Top with a little olive oil, Italian spices, an garlic powder.
Bake at 350 until cooked.
Top with pizza toppings and bake again until cheeze is gloriously melty. Yes, melty is a word.

And here's an action shot:

Filed under yum. And a good birthday it was.

Homemade chilli pdr.

2010-02-10T08:59:00.003-07:00

Homemade chilli pdr. from Alabama Chanin.
3 teaspoons paprika
1 tablespoon cumin (I love cumin so always add an extra shake or two)
3 teaspoons cayenne (best picked and dried from the garden and ground just before using)
3 teaspoons dried oregano
Optional: 1 tablespoon garlic powder – I prefer to use fresh cloves and eliminate the garlic powder. I add the fresh cloves during cooking (see below).
(followed by a delicious looking recipe for chilli)

It's bugged me for a long time that I didn't have a recipe for chilli powder. It seems like one of those things that I should be able to make myself, along with taco seasoning and italian seasoning (which I do have recipes for). So I had to grab this one when I saw it this morning.
Incidentally, you should all go on over to Alabama Chanin's blog - it's stunning and makes me want to run out and sew something right now. I tried to advance-purchase a copy of her new book but the form didn't like my shipping address, so I'll wait until it actually comes out in stores in a couple of weeks.

keeping it real...

2010-02-09T08:53:00.002-07:00

It’s been a tough week on the homefront this week. Our weekend disintegrated in front of our eyes and all I could do was watch. Our only goal on Saturday was a simple project to make 18 valentines for dd’s kindergarten class. The project was simple, I swear. But the day was a flop. Completely. It just split open at the seams and came apart all over itself. A big gooey mess of a day. I don’t have a plan for valentines day at kindergarten now, but we’ll have to come up with something (by Friday).
Update: this post was written yesterday. Last night we got busy on the invitations. I made them. DD wrote the names of her classmates in them. We omitted the glitter and fun decorating parts of the plan. For now. What's important here: that she have valentines for her class, not that she make them herself. I'd love to live a fairytale life where everything works out spectacularly and according to plan, but what fun would that be? right? RIGHT?! Now, anyone have tips for getting permanent marker off of wooden diningroom table tops?

And I was testing out a theory that I can’t eat spelt anymore – or maybe it is potatoes… I’m not sure. Either is not something I’m looking forward to. Anyone with food intolerances knows what the process of figuring this out means, and that it is no fun.

I could have cried this morning, talking to a very nice lady at the specialist’s office. They had finally gotten back to me to say that they had no idea who I was and that they hadn’t received the referral from dd’s pediatrician. That pediatrician had sent it on August 11th – 6 months ago – and told me that it would take a long time to get in so I didn’t follow up right away. Big mistake.
And then she continued to tell me that usually they follow up within a week. A week. I felt sick to my stomach. We could have been in to see the specialist in (gulp) September. Yes, September.
Edited to Add: This wouldn't be so bad if it were the first time it had happened, but the first time we were referred to a specialist we were referred to the wrong kind of doctor who then refused to return my calls.... Yes, it sometimes takes me a couple tries to learn a lesson...

But on to the positives (you have to end with the positives):
1. we have a specialist appointment for DD1 and it sounds like the right kind of doctor. (ie. If anyone (in the medical system) can help, it should be this guy.) We’re finally getting somewhere with this.
2. I have Friday off and big plans to spend it in kindergarten. And then supper out with good friends and family.
3. lots of fun weekend plans including a 1 yr old birthday party and a whole day to spend with my sister.

By the end of the week.

2010-02-03T12:43:00.005-07:00

OK, folks, remember this from way back in October?

Well, I am so happy to say that it's finished!

I am so excited about texture, can you tell?

And this is the shot that only blog readers get to see. I left the back raw because I felt that's what it needed. She feels a little shaken up by the world. (Don't worry, the stitches won't come out! She's sturdy.)

I imagine her hanging in a quiet corner inspiring contemplation. A reading corner perhaps, or in a spot where you usually rush by to tell you to pause for a moment and be mindful.

Here's her listing in my little shop.

As Promised...

2010-02-01T13:42:00.003-07:00

I promised Angie I'd post pictures of the treasuries instead of just links so here are screen shots of the last two. The first one was pretty silly, and oops, it looks like my screen shot has the alternates as well...

And this second one is really about feeling connected with the earth. Which I realized I'd been missing about winter. It's interesting how many comments I got about this from people who love winter. I'm not saying I hate the winter, I just miss digging in the dirt.

And if anyone's still with me, I managed to snare one more treasury today. It's here. Pure Luck. I got back to my desk at lunchtime and the treasury opened. This never happens. Yes, I am an addict. Curating treasuries is an exercise in seeing, matching up colors and textures, themes and ideas. It appeals to the arty gene in me.

earth: I miss you.

2010-01-29T12:57:00.003-07:00

Somehow I managed to snag two treasuries in one day! (click here for the second one.)

It's cold where I live and I miss being outside; I miss the earth.
I miss wriggling my toes through the drass,
running my hands over the leaves
and eating swiss chard right from the garden.

Valentine Humbug

2010-01-29T08:09:00.003-07:00

New Treasury! (click here)
All the marketing buzz these days is about valentines day, and this is one holiday that I'm just not that excited about. Maybe it's because it's all sweet and cutesey and that just makes me want to loose my cookies. It seems a little ingenuine to me to wait until the pre-determined date to say I Love You. And no, I'm not buying my children special valentines day gifts. Just because the marketers would like me to. So there.

I’ve gotten derailed.

2010-01-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Rather than slogging on and persevering (as is my nature) I’m going to admit that I’m derailed and start in another direction.
See, I made something for my shop which I thought should be framed but the frames are turning out to suck up a lot of time that I’d just rather spend doing actual creative work. So, adios frames! I have a new plan to frame these guys in the embroidery hoop, which, now that I’ve let go of the frame idea (isn’t it hard to let go sometimes?), I’m realizing might just suit them better. Less stiff, formal, more playful which is what I was going for with the stitching as well. I hope to have the final work done on them this coming weekend to show you. Things are just so busy these days on the homefront – good busy, but busy nonetheless.

And here’s a thought: when you price things for sale do you take into account all of the time spent in development? Do you count all the hours spent on projects that don’t work out, all the tweaking that needs to happen before you have finished that first prototype? The time lost that could have been used making other, more saleable things? Hopefully when people buy handmade people think about the artist, and not just the price. I mean, that’s the point of buying handmade, right?

6,7,8!

2010-01-21T20:22:00.004-07:00

Just a short post today to show you something I made over the Christmas holidays.

I used a plain T-shirt from daughter's drawer and the sleeve of another shirt that we knew she wasn't going to wear again. Well, obviously. 'Cause now it's armless on one side.

I used a water soluble marker to draw the numbers on the shirt, stitched around the outside of the lines and then cut out the numbers. (it's important to remember to not stitch right on your marker lines). And that's it. Really.

Ailsa's learning to recognize her numbers by sight and only really has trouble with 6,7,8 now, so I thought this would be a fun way for her to remember what those numbers look like. I don't know if it's working but she's wearing this shirt almost every day now, and always with the little blue undershirt underneath. Because that's what undershirts are for, you know.

For a more adult version of this check out the tutorial at Hope Studios. I think I need to make one of these for myself.... how do I make it office worthy?
Also, the thread I used is the most beautiful in my stash. It's silk from here (go to her artfire store). It's lovely stuff to stitch with and the colors are magnificent.

Perhaps you can help me.

2010-01-14T09:01:00.003-07:00

If you're not reading this in a feed reader, you'll notice some new gadgets on the right hand side. One of them is tags and I've spent a little time going back through the posts and tagging them with relevant descriptors. I'm trying to figure out what you readers might be interested in, and how to categorize the posts. My old blog had approximately a million tags with one post each, and that's what I'm trying to avoid by planning ahead. Yes, planning ahead, shocking, I know.

I'm also trying to figure out how to get an etsy mini up there so if anyone knows anything about that I'd be really grateful for the advice.

I've got my ipod on shuffle today. Like the whole thing. I just listened to Monty Python and now we're on to Mozart. Before that was Diana Krall and ocean waves. I wonder how long it will be before we get to Feist and Yael Naem. This is exactly how my brain is running today. Must be a chinook coming.

eye candy

2010-01-14T08:27:00.003-07:00

I just loved this piece and had to show you.

Lovely, isn't it? It's a sampler stitched by the very talented Corinne at so september (visit her blog). What do I love about it? It's a sampler, but it's not traditional. Sometimes all those band samplers make me yawn, no matter how marvelous the stitches are. My eye just keeps going round and round on this piece, the textures, the color, the design. delightful.