Coffee, tea and hipstamatic

Mr. B and I were playing...




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Five Faves Friday! Sweet Treats

Although I'd much rather eat Salty Snacks, sometimes I get a craving for sweet...
My Favourite Sweet Treats:
1. Licorice Goodies (Good & Plenty) / black licorice / licorice allsorts
2. Poptarts. Seriously. Must be toasted.
3. peanut butter cookies
4. pralines
5. beer nuts

29 in 29 -- Day 2

Day 2 was a bit related to Day 1. Bubble wrap. I'm cleaning out a drawer. The next bag will be foam packing sheets. Is anyone moving? Anyone need foam packing sheets? The kind that you wrap around plates? I'll also ask on freecycle -- I have a lot of this :)


The bubble wrap is going to a teacher at school who would like it for her kids to pop. It will be a "de-escalation" device. When they need to calm down a bit, they can pop bubbles instead of, say, punching someone :) This has DEFINITELY gone to a good home :)

I'll pack up some fabric bags this weekend. Maybe even sew some fabric bags for the fabric to go into :)
Oh, and I'll also be packing up a lot of rubber stamps and craft books to go to Bizzy B's annual Second Hand Stamp Sale, which will be held this year on Saturday February 25 from 10 am-3 pm. Come early for the best deals :)

29 in 29 -- Day 1

so, here's the premise:
get rid of 29 bags of stuff from the house in 29 days.

I read about the idea on my friend Don Maddon's blog. He and his wife Susan call it the 30-30. Take 30 bags ( size of your choosing) and number them with the date that you are starting, until you run out. Then each day fill a bag, and get it out of the house. Could be garbage, recycling, donations to a thrift shop. whatever. As long as it leaves the house!

My 29 in 29 is so named because I'm doing it in February, and this year, February has 29 days. Following Don's lead, I will be using the clear bags that you get produce in at the grocery store. I've used masking tape to label each one. I'm sure that at least one ( likely more than one) of these bags will have fabric scraps in it. if you are in Toronto, keep checking my blog -- I'll likely have some kind of cool assemblage materials available to give away! First people to ask for them, get them :)
My stipulation is that all 29 bags must be full and out of the house by Feb 29 at the latest.
So, why aren't I using garbage bags, or at least larger grocery bags? Hello people! I am a HOARDER, Baby Steps okay???? Mr. B had the gall (THE GALL!) to make fun of the bag size. But some of the bags will be larger. None smaller though.

So Day #1 is a bag of bubble envelopes. They are going to a new home with a friend who sells a lot on etsy and doesn't mind re-using envelopes (yay! recycling!!!)

(hey! I used a big bag here -- they wouldn't all fit in a little bag! I'm off to a great start!)

Don't worry -- I'm not going to take pictures of it all :) Although these hipstamatic pics are kind of fun, aren't they?
I have part of this weekend set aside for art, so there will hopefully be some pretty things coming soon!

My thoughts on report cards....

source

I've never uploaded an animated gif before. Oh the things that you get accomplished while you are procrastinating.........

(note to self -- you have to copy image location and then paste into the upload image from the web button)(because I won't remember this next time)

ArtUnraveled

I just realized that I didn't pick names for my ArtUnraveled giveaway. I had the Lovely Miss L pick the numbers -- she chose 1 and 4. That is Joanne and Natalea! There are some surprises coming to you both :)

This is a picture of what Joanne is teaching at AU -- Hello Dollies!


I heard from Linda -- the Organizer of the retreat. I got into all of my first choices. Yay! Some spots are filling up. Some of Deryn's classes are full so I might not be able to add a class when I get there. Yikes! and Congratulations, Deryn!

If you are thinking of going, consider Angie's class:
Up Close and Personal -- it's all about texture!

Five Faves Friday! Children's Animated Movies

I LOVE children's movies. I can watch them over and over and over and over and over.

My five favourite children's movies:

1. Monsters Inc.

2. Toy Story (them all)

3. Wall e

4. Finding Nemo

5. Shrek

I also like The Little Mermaid a lot. But mostly I just like the soundtrack.....

Full Disclosure

So, on Sunday, Mr. B and I went to Ikea. For breakfast, not to shop :) Usually, the breakfast is pretty good here, but the eggs were kind of runny -- not so good for scrambled. But for $4.19 (breakfast for 2!), who's complaining, right?
So, we had to walk through, right? We walked through the showroom parts -- and the whole time I was thinking "Wow, I love my home and I don't need anything else, hurray!". then we went downstairs to the open stock section. Bad idea. They had the CUTEST glassware with little pink or green (or turquoise) flowers on them. Ice cream would be SO LOVELY in the bowls. But I resisted. (and I can't even show them to you because they aren't even online yet). There is currently a lot of pink at Ikea -- it looked so pretty.

Then we walked past the baking section and I saw these:

Cookie cutters -- see the HEDGEHOG ??? and the SQUIRREL ?? and the snail? Too cute!

And a pastry mat too . It's silicone and kind of fun. You're not supposed to use metal cookie cutters on this one.... but we do have lots of plastic ones....

Our pastry mat disappeared when we moved.

So Mr. B -- who also needed a flower pot to repot the Aloe plant that he is bringing to work -- bought the cookie cutters and the pastry mat. He bought them. Not me. Him. Pay no attention to the fact that he has never used cookie cutters before. Or rolled out pastry. He's going to learn. Soon.
Money spent at Ikea: 16.99. His money.

Five Faves Friday! Movies

It is so hard to narrow down the movies to five...

My five favorite movies:

1. High Fidelity


2. Pretty in Pink (or Sixteen Candles?)(I had to go with Duckie)


3. Dead Man (well, really anything with Johnny Depp)(Chocolat, Pirates of the Carribean, the 1st one?)


4. Amelie


5. Groundhog Day


Gross Point Blank likely should have been there too... and Toys. I love those Cusacks... I watched The Sure Thing a few weeks ago, wow, we have all grown up a bit, haven't we? I also really liked Inglorious Basterds and Little Miss Sunshine, Green Card, Edward Scissorhands and What about Bob.... oh, and also Unbreakable, 6th Sense and Fight Club. I can't really narrow this down to five.... I should have categorized this list!

Eclectic, aren't I?

What are your favourite movies? Why?
(And don't forget my giveaway!)

Go

another day, another card...


I sent this card to my mom and dad. Because this year, we're going to GO!

divine

Another pretty 2012 card!


2012 has been divine so far ... how is your year going so far?

Art Unraveled 2012

It's that time of year again! Time to pick my classes for Art Unraveled, which happens at the beginning of August in Phoenix (yes, it is hot there, but the only time I actually leave the hotel is to go to the patio during happy hour :) (and a brief trip or two to Trader Joe's)

And I can't wait to see these super fabulous friends of mine (and to eat Greek Fries!)


and to see Adena, Fran, Angie, Tracey, Lorri, Don, Susan... and Michael :) Can't believe that it's still 7 months away, LOL.

This is my lineup for 2012, assuming that I get into all of the classes....

Tuesday - 10 Objects 10 Ways -- a drawing and watercolour class with Jane LaFazio
Wednesday -- Flower Power -- torch enameling with Melissa Manley
Wednesday Night -- Romantic Buckle with Ruth Rae
Friday -- A Cut Above -- Lino cutting with Pam Carriker
Sunday Evening - Coffee, Tea and Onion Skins -- Dying with Lorri Scott
Monday -- Bench Scraps -- jewelry with Richard Salley

I seriously have been considering Deryn Mentock's Alchemy of Objects... if the class doesn't sell out (it might) I might add it when I get there...

I am also considering Joanne Thieme Huffman's Hello Dollies -- I'm not sure if I want to take an evening class the night before I leave... because I have a very large road trip planned with Mr. B right when I get home!


ANYWAY, in the tradition of past years, I have participated in the 4x4 technique chunky book. I had to make 28, 4x4 pages showcasing a technique that I learned at ArtUnraveled. I decided to make some gelatin monoprints which I learned from Jane Lafazio -- you could take her class this year!
I made a few extra -- so I'd like to give 2 away.

Please tell me (in the comments area) What class would you take at ArtUnraveled? Why? I'll pick 2 random winners on January 22. I really should have done this before I sent in my registration.....

Love -- a fabric collage

Finally, I'm listing some work on etsy.

I made this quiltie last year, but couldn't part with it :)

It is an 8 "x8" fabric collage. the background is vintage cotton and silk and it is embellished with vintage and new fabrics, lace and felt and some vintage buttons. It is hand embroidered and hand quilted. It would be lovely framed or applied to the front of a purse.
You can see the listing here.

The Library Rocks!

I have always visited the library often -- but 2012 will be the big year of the library for me (with the no shopping and all). The Toronto Public Library rocks! I love "ordering" books on my computer, and then they arrive at my library a few days later. And I can borrow ebooks for my Kobo! I worry about the libraries closing -- it is in the news all the time here.
Please, everyone, Support your local library!

Here's what I got this week!

Some inspiring reading and eye candy:

(my favourite of the 3 is Jenny Doh's Creative Pilgrimage book -- oh, please let me be able to to to the Squam retreat some day! )

And a few to read on the subway:


For those of you who have asked how the frugal year is going.... I haven't bought anything! Well, 1 lunch at McDonalds , a box of cookies for my class (they were super-good this week) and some stamps at the post office. That's not shopping. BUT... I have dreamed about shopping (seriously, what's with that? It's like a nightmare -- because in my dreams I know that I'm not allowed to buy things and I'm trying to sneakily buy them and hide them :)

In real life I am coveting this ipad cover (bookbook) and this iphone cover (also bookbook) I have been on the waiting list for my new iphone for months! It will arrive THIS WEEK ! .... (hey, that's not a purchase for this year.... it was ordered waaaay last year... )

I think that I can get away with the iphone case as a necessity... but not the ipad case... I do already have one :) And with the iphone case -- I'm hoping to be able to barter one... or wait for someone to give me one as a gift.... Valentines day is coming (okay, maybe too spendy for Valentines day) and Mother's Day is coming (again, too spendy)...

Five Faves Friday - My "Go To" Art Books

I have so many art/craft books! I read them over and over and over. It was really hard to limit this list to just 5, so I am am listing the ones that I keep beside my bed -- the ones that influence me every day. I think that they really give an insight into the art that I am drawn to make -- stitching on fabric and paper, adding some paint and printmaking techniques, scrappy layers, and my big love for making jewelry.....

1. painted pages by sarah ahearn bellemare (look inside at the link)

2. cut it, paste it, sew it by Chisa Itou (look inside at the link)

3. Jewelry Lab by Melissa Manley (look inside at the link)

4. Layered, Tattered & Stitched by Ruth Rae (look inside at the link)

5. Scrapbook Workshop by May Flaum (look inside at the link)

(the links are to Amazon.com -- because the US site has more "look inside" features -- but if you are in Canada, buy them from an independent retailer, or Chapters.ca.... or amazon.ca -- preferably in that order :)

I also look at the Art of Personal Imagery by Corey Moortgat often, and Printmaking and Mixed Media by Dorit Elisha.


What are your favourites? Why?

Winter morning

Today I'm back to school after a two week break. I'll miss curling up in bed in the morning with my tea, my ipad and my little dog....

Welcome, winter!

This weekend I (finally) wasn't sick any more. I've been a bit under the weather. For pretty much my whole school break! But Saturday was a beautiful day, so Mr. B and I walked to the beach. It was much colder there than at home (I live maybe a mile from the water?). I brought some cards that I made on Saturday morning so I could have a little photo shoot.

But first I shot my toes in the water. Normally there is ice out for a few hundred feet, but it's been so mild this season! If I closed my eyes, I could hear the waves lapping the shoreline... just like in the summer :)


Welcome, 2012! Welcome, winter! There was a little pile of ice, so I shot my cards there. I'll post more throughout the week.