Let's Party!

The image in the centre of the doily is from Anahata Katkin of Papaya-- back when she used to sell images. I love the simplicity of this card.

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

A wee bit of me Wednesday

{one} have you ever fainted?

um.... no, I don't think so... the Lovely Miss L is the fainter

{two} what is your favorite casino game?

I don't gamble. I don't even buy lottery tickets

{three}do you have a good sense of direction?

yes

{four} laptop or desktop?

both (usually at the same time....)

{five} what is your go-to hair style when having a bad hair day?

I pull the hat down really far...

{six} do you read the newspaper on a daily basis?

we have the Toronto Star delivered on Saturdays and Sundays only. No time on weekdays! (and, so sorry, the Globe is too wordy for me)

{seven} do you have a favorite celebrity chef?

I love the Brits -- Nigella and Jamie

{eight} what tv show would you like to make a guest appearance on?

Survivor (sometimes I dream about it)

{nine} do you have satellite radio in your car?

Well, I don't have a car(I keep telling you that!) But do they have satellite radio in Canada?

{ten} what was the last movie that made you cry?

I cry during every single movie. I cry while reading books. I cry when I read the newspaper. I cry when the kids say cute things. Although I don't consider myself overly emotional... am I?

Oh Deer

I'm still loving little woodland animals. Especially deer :) (and foxes and hedgehogs)

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.
~William Shakespeare

Signs of Spring

I'm starting to see flowers! crocus, hyacinth, scilla, snowdrops. They are here!!!!

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven -
All's right with the world!
~Robert Browning

hello friend

I forgot to post my cards that I made for ihanna's postcard swap. They were sent all around the world (to the US, Argentina and Sweden). I used Colette's beautiful stamp ("podcast" -- available here or at Bizzie Bs if you are local in Toronto)

Simple Cards

I've been making a lot of cards lately. These two were very simple -- yet very lovely, I think. I just took images (these ones by DJ Pettitt) and layered and sewed them onto card. Easy Peasy. I added a bit of extra stitched detail to the top one before I sewed it on. Why not cut up some old magazines and make some cards. You can't sell them, of course, if you are using someone else's images, but you can make note cards or birthday cards to send to friends. Go and do it right now. Send a card to a friend. We all love finding a treasure in our mail box that isn't a bill (or that never ending supply of election literature).

very cute needle case

So, now that I'm such a knitting expert (LOL) I decided that I needed a swanky needle case to carry my double pointed sock needles in (well, carry is an odd word, perhaps store is a better word, because I can't see any occasion that I would actually carry these with me)

The needles are only about 5" long -- so this is small. And it was super fast to whip up. The little "knit pirates" label was on the selvedge of the fabric -- and I had to use it. So cute. Because you know that all new endeavours will only succeed if you have cool new accessories. Honestly. That's a real rule. Well, in my house anyway :)

A wee bit of me Wednesday

(I can't get the new button to work -- if you'd like to play along -- please see Leigh Ashley's site here)

{one}

what is one food that, as an adult you love, but as a child you said you’d never touch? broccoli

{two}

did you go to college? if yes, what was your major? well, I went to College -- and took Fashion Merchandising. Then I went to University and majored in English Lit, then French, then Psych, then Clothing and Textiles, and I finally graduated with a Degree in Art History and Criticism. Don't forget the Criticism. It's my favourite line on that piece of paper. A few years later I went back to school for Magazine Journalism. Then many years later I went back to school to pursue my Bachelors of Education. I think that I went to post secondary school for 10 years in total. I love school. I've taken 2 University level classes in the past few years. It's lifelong learning baby. Lifelong Learning.

{three}

what’s the most wild animal you’ve seen in real life (not counting the zoo)? Many bears and once I saw a moose. Moose are VERY large!

{four}

have you ever been to a fortune teller? Yes, but only because it was offered at Mr. B's company Christmas Party a few years ago. She told me that many people "look up to me". How true :)

{five}

can you juggle? With 2 balls, not with 3 -- does that count? I also juggle many different projects at once..... that surely counts?

{six}

hardwood floors or carpet?

hardwood. I love patina

{seven}

is it called “soda” or “pop”? Pop. As in Red Pop.

{eight}

what was your first car? I keep telling you that I don't drive.

{nine}

what is the most decadent dessert you’ve ever eaten?

I'm not a big dessert fan (I like sweets, just usually in the afternoon, not right after a meal). I can't really think of anything extra decadent... maybe Meep's cheesecake.....

{ten}

how often do you rearrange your furniture? Pretty much never. I move in, put the furniture where it goes, and there it stays. I've never lived in any one space longer than 3 or 4 years, so you'll have to ask me this in about 10 years when I'm bored with my space.....

Pampered Chef

I'm having a Pampered Chef party on Wed April 13th 7pm -- do any of you local (Toronto and area) bloggy friends want to come? It's like a tupperware party -- only with really great kitchen utensils etc. Check out the website here. I'm not selling -- I'm just hosting. You can watch the consultant and I make pizza :) and then you can help eat it!
My favourite products? The stoneware cooking trays and the oil spritzers. And the apple wedger. And the scrapers.
If you'd like to come -- just email me and I'll give you my address.

Socks

I forgot to show my socks. Okay, perhaps they are a bit large... but I am a loose knitter. My next pair is being stitched on smaller needles.


But I've worn them. Twice! I love this new skill. Off now to practice my uke. (yes, another new undertaking).
[ummm.. before you get thinking that I'm turning into a Jenny Doh, please remember that I have no coordination and little musical skill] I do plan to decorate my uke with doilies though :)]

Tim Burton

Today we went and saw the Tim Burton Exhibition at Tiff. It is the MoMA's tribute to Burton’s life work. The exhibit features childhood sketches, paintings, storyboards, puppets, and costumes, as well as other completed and non-completed projects, and screenings of his major movies. It was fabulous.

My favourite part was seeing the costume that Johnny Depp wore as Edward Scissorhands. This is a sketch of it: I was also delighted to find out that a full length production of Frankenweenie is in the works. Yay!
I think that I have seen every Tim Burton film except Planet of the Apes. (Hey Meep!!! Do you have that one? ). Yes, I have even seen Ed Wood :)
And Mom, just letting you know that he not only directed Edwards Scissorhands -- but also Mars Attacks. So maybe this wouldn't be the exhibition for you ;)

It ends on April 17th.

a wee bit of me wednesday

{one}

if you won a trip to Disneyland/world, who would you take with you?

my daughter

{two}

when was the last time you listened to a CD?

yesterday -- the Folkfest CD for school (I teach folk dance with my teacher friend D) (please stop laughing all of you people who KNOW that I have no coordination)

{three}

what spice/seasoning is your favorite?

salt...... and cinnamon (not together)

{four}

if you were in a band, what kind of music would you play?

Rockabilly! For sure!

{five}

if you could have personally witnessed one historical event, which one would it be?

ummm, the "reign" of Anne Boleyn

{six}

if you could go back to school, what would you study?

I already did that

{seven}

if you could go to one sporting event, all expenses paid, which one would you see?

An Olympic rowing event.... with the Lovely Miss L racing !!!

{eight}

do you drive an automatic or a manual?

my bicycle is pretty much manual :)

{nine}

are you comfortable speaking in front of people?

only if they are under age 6

{ten}

have you ever experienced an earthquake?

no thank you

A wee bit of me Wednesday

{one} what was your first job?

delivering newspapers

{two} have you ever seen a stand up comedian?no, I'm not really a comedy fan

{three} when was the last time you played mini golf?ummmm, can't remember. Twenty years ago?

{four} what was the last picture you took?kids painting with cars at school

{five} burnt food: yes or no?no… yuck.
{six} if you have a pocket full of change, what do you do with it?I would never have change in my pocket. It's in my wallet.

{seven} can you touch your tongue to your nose?nope
{eight} do you scrapbook?

nope, too scary (each page is a big commitment)

{nine} do you buy lottery tickets?

nope (but I plan to win 27 million some day)

{ten} do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it?behind it -- I HATE having my picture taken

Nanopod

Tosca Teran 0f Nanopod Studios -- where I took my jewelry classes last year (here in Toronto) was a featured artist on Handmade Portraits on Etsy last week!

Check out her amazing bio-video here:



Click here for her etsy shop!

ipad cover

I made this one for Heather. I figure if she doesn't use it for her ipad -- it can be used as a journal pouch, or a strap could be added and it could be a purse. Multi purpose -- I love it!


The image is by DJ Pettitt -- I'm not sure if she still sells them in her etsy shop or not.... it's empty now.

Spring!

I saw snowdrops yesterday. Spring is really here! The sun has been shining for days -- but it's still freezing and there is still some snow on my front garden (where I piled it when shoveling the walk. I'll be out soon cleaning off the fallen leaves and mulch. Maybe next weekend.

March Break is over. My basement isn't finished yet -- but at least I have some clear space to work/play. This is some work in progress -- postcards for ihanna's postcard swap. Someone gave me a bunch of craft paints and I'm trying to use them up. They're kind of dried out, but I'm managing to get some colour out of them! Very springlike. I'll likely stamp some interesting quotations on them -- but maybe no collage? or maybe some gesso to tone them down a bit... We'll see... The 2 at the back (collaged) will get some stitching on them and then they'll be finished!
o

An Artful Journey

This year I'm participating in a book Round Robin -- I haven't done one in a few years, so I though that it was high time that I did.


These are the pages that I did for Janis -- her theme was The County Fair. For me, the Fair was all about the rides. And maybe the food, a bit. As an adult I like the quilts too. When I was young I entered flower arrangements into the competitions too. (can you say 'geeky"?) My mom was a big part of the Horticultural Society and the Garden Club, so I was being a little mini-mom. Sometimes I even won ribbons! (it really seemed a big deal at the time. However, I realize now that I was one of the only kids who entered the kids competition, so of course I would win. It didn't even cross my mind then)

Mixed Tape

Well, I figured out how to hook my ipod up to my newly set up stereo. But I'd rather play the mixed tape that was still inside the tape deck :)

Here's the playlist from "Martha's Faves, 1995"
Stay - Lisa Loeb
Down By The Water- PJ Harvey
Bizarre Love Triangle - Frente (whatever happened to her???)
Spin the Bottle - Juliana Hatfield
Divine Hammer - Breeders
Miss World - Hole
Superstar - Sonic Youth
Hurting Each Other - Johnette Napolitano
Close to You - Cranberries
Linger - Cranberries
Dreams - Cranberries
Claire - Rheostatics
One More Colour - Rheostatics
Luka - Lemonheads
Laid - James
(on the other side is the soundtrack from Twin Peaks)

You know what I don't like about tapes?waiting for them to rewind to the beginning if you don't want to play the other side. Are we spoiled, or what?
For your viewing pleasure, here I am around that era:

I'm much more wrinkly now and my hair is a bit, ummmm, lighter.......

Still in the basement, cleaning. It's not picture worthy yet. Not even close.

A wee bit of me wednesdays

{one} scruffy or clean shaven?Are you talking me, or him? lol. Clean. Scruffy is too scratchy

{two} what’s your favorite sundae topping?Cherry pie filling. But really, I eat them once every 10 years

{three} do you own slippers?Yep, but I usually wear trainers with orthotics in the house.

{four} did you ever have a tree house?Yes! My dad built them.

{five} how you do relieve stress?sleep

{six} what’s your favorite dr. seuss book?Go Dog Go (Do you like my hat?)

{seven} have you ever taken dance classes?Yes, sadly. Ballet and jazz. Let's just say I'm not a natural.

{eight} which do you use more: the thesaurus or the dictionary?the thesaurus
{nine} what’s your favorite form of exercise?swimming
{ten} what’s the longest you’ve ever waited in line?Many hours at the passport office.

Studio makeover

This is going to take me FOREVER.
Here's what I went down to this morning:
I am so lucky to have such a big space to work in. I have separate spots for sewing and paper crafts. There is a kitchen sink (double sinks) and a counter with an exhaust fan. I have a huge cutting table. But it's all under an avalanche of stuff. I have my recycling box and a garbage bag in hand. I've rolled up my sleeves..... and I'm sitting down to a cup of tea......

Okay, first up -- setting up my stereo. It's been packed in a box since I moved in 3 years ago. It only took me about 1/2 hour to unpack it and set it up. I'm playing a tape (yes, I have a great tape deck -- I can still make mixed tapes, lol). The tape playing now? Twin Peaks Soundtrack :) ANd when I unpacked the 3 cartons, what did I find? All of my missing bath towels! And a vintage down filled duvet. Hmph, that's where they went.

Now I'm going down to tackle the desk area. Wish me luck!

Going down the wheat free road

My daughter, the Lovely Miss L, has bullied me into guilted me into pestered me into convinced me to try to go wheat free. That means no cereal (well, actually, she grudgingly agreed that Corn Flakes aren't wheat), no bread, no pasta, no cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pies -- and what about my favourite Raspberry Wheat Ale?

We've decided to eat what we have in the cupboards, but not to buy any more. We'll see if I can do it. (oh, I'm talking the "royal WE" here. Mr. B isn't convinced yet)

Apparently, she tells me, the wheat (gluten) is destroying my gut. Miss L eats "Paleo". She eats no grains at all. No legumes. No dairy. No refined sugar. What does she eat, you might ask? Organic meats, eggs, fish, and lots of veggies. Occasional fruit. NO potatoes though, and right now she isn't eating any nightshade plants (tomatoes, eggplant, peppers). I worry about her calcium levels, but at least she isn't filling herself up with junk food, right? She wants me to follow her down the Paleo path, but I'm starting with wheat.

I'm off now to make some yummy strawberry crepes. Thought I'd end this wheat era in style.

I love hedgehogs!

So I crocheted one!

In week 3 of my Learn to Crochet class we made little mice. I'm not a big fan of mice (especially in little traps in my kitchen) . So I made a hedgehog. Well, actually I made a mouse, then pulled it apart and then made a hedgehog. Too cute. She is sitting in my back garden in the thyme. I took the photo today -- it is a lovely day! The snow is pretty much gone here -- just piles of icyness on the front garden where we piled the snow from the walks. My mom lives 2 hours down the highway -- they have a few feet of snow there! Their roadside piles are up to my shoulder! Just one more reason that I love living in Toronto :)
I'm on Spring Break right now -- no school this week. Today's job was to clean the basement, But the weather is so beautiful, that I'm spring cleaning upstairs in the sunlight instead. And likely to go for a walk. Hmmm.. I'm supposed to paint my bedroom door..... maybe....

Bizzy Bs 2nd hand stamp sale

That's were I was, lined up at 9:45 this morning! I got some Stampington magazines to cut up (oh, horror!), a few books to keep and give away, some punches (I should have bought more.... oh well), a letter stencil set and I bought lots of stamps. They were all pretty good prices. (Ludgera -- lots here were from you!) I also bought a Sizzix oval tag die set that will go in my new toy -- My Big Shot (bought new last week). I'm really into punching shapes right now -- they kind of go with the kind of scrappy journal layering that I'm doing right now.


I'm off now to my studio to make some room for the new acquisitions.....

Oh The Places We've Been!

I've joined an art book Round Robin for the year! I haven't done one in a few years -- I'm really looking forward to it.
This is the cover of my book. I made it (and the inner pages) "Remains of the Day" style (Mary Ann Moss' online class). Take the class. Go on, take it!


This is my spread. I've been to Phoenix :) I asked each person to journal/art journal/ scrapbook a spread about a favourite place that they have been. It could be a favourite bookstore in their hometown, an airport, a country. On the right side of the spread I've made a pocket. I have a whole bunch of tags to put in there when the book comes home. I couldn't bear to lose them, so I couldn't take that leap of faith to put them in to travel across the USA.....


I can't wait to travel again to Phoenix this summer. I wish I was there right now. I really need some warmth.....

Gayley's Cafe

photo above from TORONTO SLOP

Out for breakfast again! This time I took pictures :) Gayley's Cafe is one of my favourite breakfast/lunch places in toronto. AND it's just a few minutes walk from home. It's a family owned business and the staff is super friendly. Don't sit around waiting for the bill though -- it's won't come. Just get up and pay :) The sandwiches at lunch are great!

After my tea (Earl Grey)

I had a basic breakfast (just basic and yummy):

I bullied Mr. B into having French Toast with his big breakfast (sorry -- I didn't know that you don't like French Toast -- why didn't I know that?). I LOVE French Toast and this didn't disappoint :). The bacon was floppy -- just the way I like it. (Mr. B -- if you don't like floppy bacon you have to tell them when you order :)

Two thumbs up (but give yourself lots of time -- the service is very laid back :)

Crochet class

I've mastered crochet in the round. I made this very cute cloche hat. It just needs a little crocheted flower. Maybe Edie will teach me in the next class? Wednesday at the Knit Cafe. I have really been enjoying my nights there knitting and crocheting. I see why Mr. B likes going to Stitch and Bitch so much (Tuesday nights at the Knit Cafe). See the blog here!

Pinterest

Pinterest is my new favourite online thing. It's still in the beta stage, but if you apply for membership, you will eventually get it :)

It is great for making online "bulletin boards" of thigs that inspire you. I have bulletin boards called "i love hearts" , "i love scrappy layers", " i love garlands", "favourite rooms" -- and I just 'pin' photos to it.

yarn yarn yarn

My first sock is coming along nicely:


And so is my dishcloth:

This is a pricey dishcloth though... the yarn was $12? I wonder how many I can get out of 1 ball? (skein, whatever). The colour doesn't look right on my monitor -- it is a more orangey pink. Not quite salmon.....

I like crocheting and knitting. People have asked what I like more, but I can't really answer that. I'm better at knitting (faster) .

And I won some gifts too!

I am so lucky! I am taking a sock knitting class -- I just started last Monday -- and in One World One Heart I won some Malabrigo sock yarn from Paula at Yarn Yarns! How great is that! The perfect gift! I was looking at this exact yarn in this exact colourway at my class! (Which, by the way, is at the Knit Cafe in Toronto!)(See the Knit Cafe blog here)


AND I won a crocheted hat from Debbi (it's a baby's hat) -- and I just started a Learn to Crochet class. There are some new babies in the family and more coming , so this hat will mean I won't have to make as many, lol!


AND I won a plant stake (for indoor plants) from Nic at Indigo Star Fairy! (and some custom note cards!!!!)

AND I won the coolest paper doll from Sabine in Germany -- her blog is Stempeltanz


Am I the luckiest person ever?

Darn iPad :)

So I have been commenting on some blogs and I just noticed as i pressed submit, that my default blog address said "bloodspot.com" instead of "blogspot.com"

I'm not even sure when it started, so I've likely been leaving my wrong blog addy everywhere.

Bloodspot.... Hehehe.....

Darn that autocorrect, lol.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Nice people gave me gifts :)

Lauren gave me this card/tag (can you see her influences?, lol) And she made me this heart. On the back she says that I'm the coolest mom ever. But she is very clear to point out that I'm not really cool -- I'm a cool mom. Apparently there is a HUGE difference :P


Ray gave me gifts already -- my sock knitting class (have finished the ribbing on one -- that's about 2 inches, lol). And he bought me a tiny Tamar Mogendorff bird in a cage. And he bought this pin for me at the Love and Rummage sale at the Workroom. It's by bookhou -- I think that it's cut out of plexi? It's funny -- I have 3 different bird pins (spanning about 6 years) made by her!

One Word One Heart! The Winners!

Drumroll please......


The winners of my 'love" pouch and my heart banner are:
Linda from Italy (who has the cutest little westie in the whole world!)
Kim from the Yukon Territory (check her art out. Really, click on her name and go right now)

Well, I didn't make it through the whole list -- I did last year and the year before, but life came up and I stalled out. I made it through all of the Canadians though :) Rah rah Canada and all that....

Lisa -- A whimsical Bohemian who hosts OWOH has said that this is the last year for One World One Heart. BUT she is planning something different for next year. YAY!

I actually have already been notified that I won some fabulous things with OWOH. More on that tomorrow!!!!

14 Valentines in 14 Days -- the next day :)

I couldn't show this one because it was for a swap -- I sent it to Dawn in the Canadian Chickies Valentine Door Hanger Swap! Hope that you like it, Dawn!

14 Valentines in 14 Days - Day 14

This one's for Mr. B!


I thought that I'd have a sing-a-long to go with it :)



Sonny was so cute before he grew that mustache......

Tonight I'll be at a sock knitting class (compliments of Mr. B). The rest of February will be busy -- for the next 3 Mondays I'll be knitting socks. For the next 4 Wednesdays I'll be learning to crochet.