What I love about Phoenix

I miss Phoenix already....
here are just a few things that I have to wait many months before experiencing again...

Maija and her family (furry family too)and friends

Art Unraveled

Scrapbooks etc -- a super cool scrapbooking experience (plan to spend many hours). But the best part??? The fabrics! I've already made 3 skirts from the fabric I bought here!

Frenzy Stamper -- Your one stop shop for rubber stamps and lots of other mixed media supplies. I bought a super fun sock monkey stamps and some great stencils.....

Frances -- Frances has great clothes, jewelry, gift items and my favourite body cream and fragrance line, Chymia.

The heat (really)(honestly)(I'd love it even more in February)

The adorable quail and pointy birds
(photo by http://artistbarbararudolph.blogspot.com/)

Stick Mountain
I always know where I am in Phoenix by looking for Stick(South) Mountain!

My Big Fat Greek Restaurant (greek fries.... yum) (and I hear that there is one opening in Santa Barbara)(not that I've ever been to Santa Barbara -- but I'm just sayin')

I have a few favourite US cities. Phoenix, New York and Chicago, of course, but also Burlington, Vermont and Ann Arbor, Michigan. What are your favourites? Why?

Mockingjay

Only 4 more days until Mockingjay!
If you have no idea what I'm talking about -- it's the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy. I"m quite excited about this third book. I've preordered it so it should be in my hands very soon. I've never preordered a book before -- that's how much I like this series. Read about the books here! (don't read the whole plot synopsis -- there are huge spoilers). It's all about government control, power and the lack of civil rights. The Hunger games would be a great teacher lead novel study for Grade Eight (and up).

The Hunger Games introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen who lives in a post apocalyptic world where a powerful government called the Capitol has risen up after several devastating disasters. The Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the Capitol chooses one boy and one girl from each district to a fight. The purpose of the Hunger Games is to show how no one, including children are above the Capitol's power. The last person standing wins the game. Yes, the fights are to the death. The winning district gets a year of wealth (yet still lose one child). The losing districts lose 2 children, year after year. Yes, it is appalling. It makes you angry. It makes you think. That's what good books do......

a view of public education

This brave high school valedictorian has a lot to say about public education. I hope that I'm not teaching my students to become little robots. I don't think that I am :)

I hope that they will enjoy their learning this year.... School starts in a few weeks.... I will be teaching (guiding) my students to learn. I'm going to try to support them in an enriched "emerging curriculum". Which means letting the students guide the content that I am teaching them. I will assist them with their skills but I'm going to let them drive the content. What does this mean for me? It means that I'm going to have to work even harder this year! Yikes! If you want to know more about emergent curriculum, please google it or google "reggio emilia" -- a region in Italy which is committed to providing their early learners with the best enriched and supportive emergent curriculum. This has been my focus of study for the summer. And I'm almost ready to take it on. I can't duplicate a true Reggio classroom, but I'll do my best. It's all about the children....

Phoenix Airport

Last year you may remember that I was stopped by security for a small matter about brie in the water bottle :)
This year it was the stevia (strange white powder) (it's a natural sugar substitute)(from Trader Joes).
Neither time they took it away. BUT there is a new rule (well, new to me) . You can only carry on one bag plus one personal item (like a purse). I had my (very full) Backpack, my purse and my computer bag. I had to consolidate the computer bag and the purse. Right at the check in desk. How embarrassing. I think that the carry on storage space in the airplanes is getting too full because no on likes to pay the fee to check their bags. Anyway my carry on is once again completely full -- and the computer bag is stuffed too. And I don't think that I have enough snacks. I have some dried mangoes, a handfull of trail mix and a box of Good and Plentys . I think that I'm going to have to make the trek to the other end of the terminal to have a Cinnabun. (i seem to have lost a few pounds here, so I can indulge) I was hoping for a Starbucks too but there doesn't seem to be one.
AND I can't seem to find an electrical outlet, so my computer will die soon. Sheesh, I ask a lot, don't I?????

Happy Birthday Maija!!

This year, M is for Maija! Well...this month anyway :)

We've been celebrating Maija's birthday all week -- I'm sure that she'll be celebrating all year :)
We went out for lunch (very very yummy strawberry and chicken salad with poppyseed dressing) with Maija's friends Earlene and Annette (two super nice Phoenix girls). Here's the red velvet cake that I had... (after the salad, of course). (it's a mini cake... one serving... I ate half and saved the rest for later. Of course, it turned into soup in the sweltering 110 degree weather!!!!) (no humidity though!)(it tasted just as yummy in a pool of icing)

Maija had tuxedo cake... it was delicious too........

Thank you so much, my friend, for allowing me to hang out with you for an extra week and for chauffeuring me around. I will miss you so much!

More shopping

I forgot to show you what I bought from Joanne!
She makes very cool polymer clay buttons
And lovely cuffs!
Hopefully she'll have these in her shop soon. I know that she sells some very cute paper word dolls and some image cds too.....

haiku my heart

oven door opens

heat blast almost knocks me down
phoenix in august

please join Rebecca ( recuerda mi corazon)for haiku my heart

The Journey

I took Ruth's class with Maija and Joanne. We layered, we tattered, we stitched! I ALWAYS learn new things in Ruth's classes. You need to take a class from her. And buy her book too,
I was fairly prolific.
I finished this heart collage:


And almost finished my tryptic -- I just have to use some ribbon to tie it together (I have the perfect silk binding at home). (when it is together it will stand by itself)

Shopping Break

There is a shopping extravaganza at ArtUnraveled. There seemed to be less vendors here this year -- and less shoppers......
Here is a sampling of my purchases. It's hard to see the beauty of the scarf that I bought from Lori Scott. I wanted one last year, then thought I'd make my own, but I didn't, and I was lucky enough to be given a second chance this year. The ribbon with the script on it is by her too... (click on the picture for a close up)

I didn't take a class this year from Susan Lenart Kazmer, so I bought a necklace. It is fabulous! The bottom danglie thing is a resined rose bud. So beautiful... and mine....

I also didn't take a class from Olivia Thomas (Olive Rose) -- so I bought Party Skelly :)

Transformation

Kelly Kilmer's class rocked. If you EVER get a chance to take a class with Kelly (especially a book class), jump at it!
We made our covers (Kelly made it so easy peasy)


then painted pages (Kelly gave us many painting prompts -- i.e. what order to slap down the paint)
then folded the pages and bound them into the book
then we collaged some pages - again, Kelly gave us page making instructions -- I love being told whaqt to do -- so less stressful for me :)
(and with Kelly -- you can do them or not -- she's not going to guilt you out for following your own ideas (some teachers do -- can you believe that?)

Kelly offers online classes -- I've taken some -- they are fabulous too. So now you have no excuse. Go and take one now!!!

Wild about tiles

Last night I made polymer clay tiles in Laurie Mika's class -- I learned lots of tips and tricks. We painted and coloured the clay before and/or after firing. I also learned that regular sculpy burns easily -- but sculpyIII or Premo doesn't. It should have been a full day class!
I've won the draw of the day twice already (there are multiple winners daily). I've won a glitter sample pack (handy, because I don't use much glitter, so a sample pack of many colours is great) and I won a little bag of brass doodads. It's my lucky week :)

Champion!

Lauren defended her title of Senior Lightweight Women's Pair at Henley yesterday. She won! I could not be more proud. Her partner Jenn wasn't the same partner as last year (Christina). Congrats to all of the rowers who are at Henley right now! Lauren is racing in the Quad and the Four today. Good luck girls! (sorry.. women....)

Waxed Collage, Plastered in Wax

These classes were with Patricia (Trish) Seggebruch. I love encaustic!
These were my first attempts:




These were created day 2:

Henley -- haiku my heart

If I'm in Phoenix, it must be the Henley in St. Catharines (Ontario Canada). I miss Lauren race every year. But I'm there in spirit! go Lauren, go Lauren, go Lauren). This year I believe that she is defending her title in the Pair, and rowing in the Quad. Both races are today (Friday).

In celebration of this, I'm participating in Rebecca Brooks' (recuerda mi corazon) Haiku my Heart

Regatta

on the cool water
they swiftly quietly pass
race to the finish

Play on Faces

Okay -- I finished my first class. A Play on Faces with Cynthia Anderson. Well, I finished the class, but I didn't finish the artwork :)(do I ever???). I made two VERY different pieces, and am liking how they both are coming along.....
Work in progress:(thanks Joanne for catching my double chin in that one :)

( I need to get a body on that head)

Next is a super quick background:
Hopefully I'll be able to finish these while I'm here....

Little gifties

I've been making these tags as small gifts for friends. I've made a bunch to give out at ArtUnraveled to friends and teachers!

Here is my line up of classes:
Wed -- Play on Faces with Cynthia Anderson
Thurs night -- Waxed Collage with Trish Seggebruch
Fri -- Plastered in Wax with Trish Seggebruch
Friday night -- Wild about tiles with Laurie Mika
Saturday -- Transcribed with Kelly Kilmer
Sunday --The Journey with Ruth Rae
Sunday Night and Monday -- Controlled Chaos with Raina Gentry and Kristine Kollasch
Tuesday -- maybe.... Buried Treasure Folk Art Doll with Olivia Thomas....

The best thing about this huge lineup of classes is that I didn't have to buy anything. I already had ALL of the supplies. Well, except for the wood pieces for the waxed classes. My dad cut them. Thanks Daddy!

Then I get to hang out with Maija for a few days! WooHoo! I'm not sure what I'm more excited about. Hanging with Maija -- or taking classes. Hmmm.... Maija wins! (Mr. B was supposed to meet me here and we were supposed to travel in the desert -- but he couldn't come at the last minute :(

Traveling again!

This time I'm in Phoenix visiting Maija and going to ArtUnraveled. I just adore Maija! And I can't wait to see Ruth and Kelly and Joanne -- and all of the other people that I never get to see.

I'm sure that I'll be posting a lot -- if my computer cooperates. I couldn't access the internet in Toronto's airport -- I try to connect and then get this comment saying "you are connected to the internet, but have limited access" Does anyone know how to fix this? I did diagnostics and tried to fix, but it said to contact my administrator (that would be ME). I was in tears in the airport over this -- especially since they took my little fold up scissors away -- so I couldn't do my embroidery either!

I'll really miss my garden at home -- the tomatoes are just about to ripen!

Lauren is rowing again at Henley -- so I'm sure that I'll be posting about that too! She's undefeated this season in her pair (or double)(well, one of the races that has 2 people in the boat -- she races both)

Finishing up

I (finally) finished hooking this piece. I think that the hoop is a 10" hoop....just to give you an idea of the size. I just need to steam it and then turn the edges under to hem it. I think that I'll hang it on the kitchen wall....
I really enjoy rug hooking. But I don't think that hooking with yarn is very great for a beginners class. The yarn is hard to grab and it splits. Lots of frustration (Lauren isn't finished hers yet.....) But I like it enough to continue doing it.....

fun with friends

I spent some time yesterday at Colette's with Susan and Jocelyn. Colette gave a workshop on backgrounds. We all made fabulous backgrounds (go to Colette's blog to see what she did with hers.
Here are mine. I'm hoping to have some time to add some foreground before I go to Phoenix!


Next up at Colette's -- Carving your own stamps! If you don't know already, Colette has a line of stamps that has been put out by Stampington. I love them! (I have most of them). Anyway -- I'll let you know when Colette is doing her next workshop -- please join us :)

small trip

Please excuse my lack of posting.... I was off on a little trip to North Bay by train. Yes, I looked just like this....

to thine own self be true

Still playing with stitching. I'm liking this very much......

free motion stitching

I found a link to the Simple Woman's Daybook somewhere out the in blogland...
And we all know how much I love lists.... Here is the list for today:

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... children playing
I am thinking... do I sew or do I paint now?
I am thankful for... the cool breeze
From the kitchen... fresh fruit
I am wearing... new shorts! (haven't bought short in years!)
I am creating... tags
I am going... downtown to the apple store. Again. grrr.
I am reading... Echo in the Bone (I catch up on Jamie and Clare every summer)
I am hoping... that the Apple people give me some compensation for the 3 trips I've made downtown this week! (to fix a computer that arrived broken!)
I am hearing... laughter
Around the house... doggy tumbleweeds
One of my favourite things... solitude
A few plans for the rest of the week: making a bike basket liner -- with ruffles :); heading north
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
Go here and make your own list!
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Today is about water...

Ray and I went kayaking! It is the first time that I have been in about 12 years. It felt good. This summer I have been running and swimming almost every day. And I've been riding my new bike everywhere!
Current goal: make my journal pages more complex...... maybe......

today is about inspiration

(today's journal page features some wonderful artists -- clockwise from the top left: Michelle Purchase; Alice Jarry; Gillian Farnsworth; Lizz Aston; Beverley Hawksley; Kelly Grace)
(the images in my journal are from the artist's business cards, moo cards and postcards -- the images below are from their blogs or websites)

Today Mr. B and I went to the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. It is my favourite art show and sale of the year. This year I saw so much that I wanted to buy! But we are on a tight budget right now, so I could only be inspired.... But what inspiration it was!

My favourites:
*in brackets is the booth number if you plan on going on Sunday!*
** click on their names to see their websites**

Gillian Farnsworth (Green 352)(I really wanted a piece by Gillian)
Michelle Purchase (Green 332)
Alice Jarry and Jason Cantoro (Yellow 663)
Kelly Grace (Orange 416)
Beverley Hawksley (Turquoise 451)
Sheila Norgate (White 24)

Summer vacation! WooHoo!

Finally -- it's here! Today is the first real day of y vacation (real means that the others in the house have gone back to work-- I'm alone.......)
But the list of things to do is building up.
Here's how my summer is looking:
- make polar fleece mittens for next year's kids (40 pair)
- make felt food for my dramatic play centre
- organize phys ed lessons
- do my Reggio readings (have almost a dozen books)
- make baby gifts for J
- assemble my Christmas themed tip in book -- the last pages are here!
- mount the white 3x3 swap squares (they were in Sew Somerset -- the swap was over a year ago)
- prepare for week at the cottage
- prepare for 2 weeks in Phoenix
- organize the art studio (I could likely do this every weekend for the rest of my life)
- cut the dogs hair
- make some zombie dolls for some certain deserving people
- paint the trim in the bedroom (waiting 2 years)
- finish painting the basement (I started last summer)
- tackle the removal of 100 years of wallpaper and paint off the front hall walls
- battle the slugs!
- buy a new bike and ride to the beach almost every day :)

Today I'm making thank you cards. It's about 10 billion degrees here today. Okay, perhaps I exaggerate a bit. It feels like 10 billion degrees today..... I've also done my income taxes today (yes, I'm a few months late.....) and I did Lauren's taxes too.... and I ordered some school supplies for the fall....

Tomorrow I shall ride my new bike to the swimming pool and swim a mile...... I love summer :)