Woo Hoo -- Junkhouse!

I am so lucky!
I won the coolest thing off of one of my favourite blogs! (that's a little chalkboard to the right of the mugshot). this couldn't have come at a better time for me -- It was a great moral booster during these grey spring days......


The blog is junkgarden -- I read it daily for a look at some fab clothes, great home decor ideas and some very cool finds! She has lots of great links -- you should definitely follow her blog! Junkgardengirl also showcases her own mixed media work that she sells in her etsy shop -- I've purchased some of Angie's house necklaces in the past!

(aren't these adorable?)

-- and now she had some super cute jailhouse charms!

Royal Weekend

Yes, I was up at 5am on Friday. We had lots of festivities at school too :)

My favourite Royal memorabilia:

Harry is my favourite royal. He keeps it interesting :). Buy the poster here.

I found these tea bags creepy yet amusing!
I can't believe that 2 billion people watched the wedding. Astounding. At school I let the kids watch the wedding highlights on You Tube. Who watched it? THE BOYS. Interesting..... I think that the boys liked the cars, the horses, the carriages, the uniforms, the soldiers, the planes doing the fly by. The girls were only interested in the princess, but they said that she didn't look like a "real" princess, so they lost interest. All were floored, however, when I told them that the woman they called "granny" was the queen. I don't think that I ever convinced them that she was the queen (no crown= no queen).

Back to sewing

The cards were fun -- but now we're back to the sewing :)


I made this pouch/ pencil case for my friend D for her birthday. I was really happy with it (except for the stupid zipper that I used -- it's a bit sticky -- sorry D.

A wee bit of me Wednesday on Thursday

{one} have you ever been stuck in an elevator?

No! Yikes!

{two} have you ever ridden on an elephant?

No! Yikes!

{three} have you ever met a well known celebrity?Um, yes....Well, does Leni count?
I met David Cronenberg a few times when I lived in the apartment below his daughter, Cassandra. It was a big deal to me.

{four} do you have any food allergies?Roibos tea -- my throat swells up. It's scary! Yikes!

{five} do you know how to sew?It's what I do best!

{six} did you get an allowance when you were young?

Sometimes.....

{seven} how often do you fill up your gas tank?My gas tank fills itself, lol..... hahaha

{eight} have you ever been stung by a jelly fish?No. Yikes!

{nine} have you ever been robbed?Not in-person. But I've had bicycles stolen. And money..., and lots of other stuff. My daughter, the Lovely Miss L is super-unlucky. She has things stolen left right and centre :(

{ten} what is the worst haircut you’ve ever had?

Right before my high school graduation picture I had a hair cut and a perm. It was supposed to be a long, layered, soft curled look -- like Farrah Fawcett. Instead she cut off all of my hair and gave me a curly perm. It was HORRID. I looked like a poodle. And I think that my mom liked it. Yikes!

Mermaids

I had so much fun with the cards. I sent these ones off to a mermaid-loving friend in Chicago.

I sat upon a promontory,
And heard a mermaid, on a dolphin's back,
Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath,
That the rude sea grew civil at her song;
And certain stars shot madly from their spheres,
To hear the sea-maid's music.
~ William Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream)

Easter Wishes

Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate Easter!

Doilies and Bunnies

Even better than bunnies. Doilies and bunnies!


Again, I wish I had stitched the scallop down (these cards were off to a swap, so it's too late).

Annoyingness

I bought a fridge in September for Lauren because her mini fridge wasn't large or cold enough. This week, it died. Very annoying, because it was new and $700. Not top of the line, but certainly not a cheapo. Luckily I bought the extended warranty (which I never do) So her $200 worth of meat that she bought a few weeks ago will be covered. She's a meat-eater. But the store (The Brick) can't send out a repair person until next Wednesday (what's with that????). We've cleaned out the pools of blood (a very Dexter moment) (literally a bucket of blood) But her whole apartment now smells.... bloody.....
And, for the record. A large wave of blood splashing around doesn't look as red and candy-like as this.....

Carving and printing

This week I had Colette and Jocelyn over for some late afternoon carving and printing. I haven't done much lino cutting since school many years ago. I wish that I had taken pictures of what Colette and Jocelyn did! They made some lovely work... I am so lucky to have two such talented friends to inspire me :)

I started with a banner(tiny -- cut from an eraser). I plan to stamp it on to tags.


Then I graduated to doing a portrait of my puppy. It is very "Andy". Especially the movement created with those uncut lines in the background. (This one is made from soft cut linolem. It's about 2"x3"


After the girls left, I was still itching to do more, so I tried a self portrait. Oops, I cut the line away that was the side of the neck. But I'm still pretty happy with it. I'll try some more this weekend.....

Bunnies

I love bunnies. To me they mean spring. I know that they are associated with Easter, but I like to use them throughout spring.


Looking at this card now, I wish that I had stitched around the brown paper scallop (stitching it to the card) It's amazing what you see after you photograph something, isn't it?

another wee bit of martha

{one} how often do you do laundry?Every few weeks.... or so..... (clean clothes are so overrated)

{two} what is your favorite type of cookie?I'm more of a salty snack person... but I do love my dad's oatmeal raisin cookies -- and I do like peanut butter cookies...

{three} what would you do with an extra $2000 per month?Wow! Save up for French doors leading out do a lovely brick patio with a perfect intimate garden.... and then a deck and french doors overlooking it on the second floor.

{four} what was/is your favorite subject in school?

High School? or University? I love English Literature and Art History.... Studio art in University. I pretty much failed art in high school....

{five} have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon?No, no desire to either.
{six} what was your high school mascot?No idea. I hated high school.

{seven} if you had the chance to go into space, would you?

No. Which is very funny, because for many years I really wanted to be an astronaut. Well, I really wanted to be Uhura on Star Trek.

{eight} how often do you go dancing?Yuck, dancing. (boy, it kind of seems that I don't like to do anything)

{nine} would you rather drive or fly?Walk. Okay, drive. But I'm the passenger, right? That no license thing?

{ten} have you ever been caught re-gifting?I re-gift all the time. I see nothing wrong with it!(I don't remember ever being "caught" -- I quite often 'fess up' when I give the gift)

Hurray for Spring!

I have seen so many robins. Spring is truly here! (can you tell that it has been a really long winter??)

First a howling blizzard woke us,
Then the rain came down to soak us,
And now before the eye can focus -
Crocus.
~Lilja Rogers

joy

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!
~Mark Twain

Spring Arose

These girls are welcoming spring....

And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest.
~Percy Bysshe Shelley, "The Sensitive Plant"

Earth Day ATCs

It's been a long time since I've made and trades ATCs. I've missed going to the meetings and seeing the very creative work that everyone has been doing. For the earth day theme, everyone reused something that was going into the trash or recycling bin. I'm not sure if this was stipulated or not.... I have a paper shopping bag in my studio that I fill up with paper scraps and when it gets full, I toss it into my recycling bin. For these cards I raided this bag!

For the bases I used corrugated cardoard that I had soaked and peeled into 3 layers, then dried (this gives a nice strong paper base -- it's what Hanne Matthiesen does). then I spread on a layer of gesso, added some ephemera (ttc transfers and book scraps), then stitched the card to another layer to make it a bit sturdier. Then I added more gesso, then stamped on some "recycle" logos (from one of the first stamp sets that I purchased from Phillip's store, Great Impressions when it was in Queens Quay! -- before it moved to Bloor and Barb bought it to create Bizzy Bs). I also got to use one of my favourite stamps from River City Rubber Works -- It's not trash, It's "ephemera"...


(click on the pictures to see them a bit bigger)

This little girl is ready for spring :)

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.
~Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke

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.