Banners

I LOVE making banners!


I made this black and white one for my mom's "Noteworthy Christmas" . This year her theme is black and white with naturals and a touch of red. It's all about "notes" . This can be broadly interpreted -- musical notes, hand written notes, notebooks?

I made some other banners for my etsy shop -- keeping with more traditional Christmas colours of red and white. (If you would like a black and white one you can email me!) They are made from muslin and the letters are cut from quilting cottons.
(if anyone has any ideas on how to photograph these better -- please share -- I wanted to photograph them in a doorway, but if I use natural light -- i.e. no flash, then the background is VERY distracting, unless I skew them like this.... And if I use a flash, they are so blown out and not as pretty as they are in real life)

Really pretty fabric ornaments to come!!!! (and lots more for my etsy shop -- AND a preview of what will be in some upcoming shows -- more on that later in the week!!)

I've also put some of my punched aluminum stars in my shop....

Follow your dream

I finished this piece that I started in Cynthia Anderson's class called "Painting Faces" at Art Unraveled in August. I'm pretty happy with it. It is very "Kelly Rae". Thanks, Kelly for the inspiration! (I have it up in my kitchen).

A bit of after Halloween Voodoo

You have to watch this!



too creepy?

Happy Halloween!

Click to scare yourself. Don't my teeth look just awful??? The really scary thing is that they are my real teeth...

Another (very) disappointing ipad issue

And this one is a biggie -- You can't upload pictures from your ipad straight to blogger. I hadn't tried blogging from my ipad yet because I hadn't uploaded pictures to my ipad yet. So I bought the camera adaptor for the ipad, and yesterday uploaded some pics onto the ipad. So far, so good. I downloaded a photoediting app and resized and edited the photos that I wanted (I hardly ever use camera RAW). Then I composed my new post -- but when I tried to add a photo, I hit a wall because there are content compatibility issues with blogger and ipad. You'd think that after 6 months this would be all worked out. But no. Wordpress has its own ipad app. But not blogger (perhaps that is because Google is coming out with their own tablet and wants us to buy one? not gonna happen here).

I'm experimenting with mail posting.

Blogpress has an app that will allow you do do it, but with extra steps -- you have to load your pics to Picassa, then grab them. And blogpress apparently won't let you use bold, italic or add links.... (I'm still researching Blogpress -- the app is only $2.99, but they all add up, you know? Having said that, I'll likely buy it and play with it this week....)

So, I'm a bit disappointed with my ipad. The 2 most important features for me -- reading ebooks from the library and blogging on the go, aren't supported. I'll still be traveling with my Kobo and my laptop.

Dia De Los Muertos

Yesterday we traveled down College street to the ElMocambo. Upstairs was a super cool festival!
There was an escapist, a rockin DJ -- some burlesque dancers, a magician. And lots of cool shopping. I bought a hair clip made from a zipper, and some cool notecards and tags (did I really need these?) and I bought a Frida magnet from Carmi. If it wasn't for Carmi -- I never would have known about the event. Thanks Carmi! I hope that they do it again next year. I loved it. (In the evening there were bands. I'm too old for bands. They all happen after my bedtime)

left: dj misty (she has great playsits on her blog)

centre: red herring (fabulous burlesque)

right: magician gabriello pitman (So cute. So talented)

This picture is from Nancy's blog -- I was so overwhelmed,(and a bit tired) so I forgot to take out my camera!

Head of the Charles Regatta

Lauren is defending her title (with her 3 other oarswomen and the cox) of Lightweight Women's Four, this weekend in Boston. She works (trains) so unbelievably hard. I am so proud of her. Good luck Lauren!

(This is a shot of Lauren and Christina rowing last year -- I don't have a good shot of her in a four)

Why we needed a new comforter

When Mr Bs 19 year old son came to live with us, I put a puffy vintage green and yellow quilt on the bed. A few months later he says "Martha, that blanket has a hole in it" I said "Okay, bring it down, I'll put a patch on it" , thinking that I'd sew a sprinkling of vintage fabric leaves on it....

Ummmm, so here's the hole:

That's not a hole, that's a crater! All of the quilting thread is missing off of the yellow part.....

So I cut out the batting (hmmm, that's WOOL batting... I'll have to save that and dye it and needle felt it into little hearts)(no, I'm still not a hoarder).


Then I cut new batting (cotton) and pinned it all in.



Then I basted the opening down.

Then I pinned and re-quilted the layers. Hey! It worked! The original was hand quilted with embroidery thread, but I machine quilted this. And now I know that I can machine quilt right to the centre of a quilt...(hmmmm .... the possibilities........).


Then I sewed on two strips of fabric... I was planning to sew on the sprinkling of leaves..but I'm going to leave it like this.


Now it will be put away and used when there are guests...

Hold the Presses!

I am rescinding that last comment that I made saying that I am a collector.
I have decided that I am instead a gatherer........
Yes, indeed... that is what I am.

Plates

On Sunday we went for another walk. We had to buy Mr. B's son a comforter (you'll see why tomorrow). Anyway, I also live a short walk from Walmart. I'm really big on "buy local" and "support Canadian" (hmmm, that tape and twine isn't Canadian, oh, just forget about that). but sometimes you just need a cheap comforter, and Walmart is just around the corner. Well, when we were there, we passed the tableware aisle and I spotted some really nice looking dishes! I really wanted the Anthropologie Fleur de Lys plates, but they're a bit too spendy (they cost lots in Canadian dollars)..... So I bought these! Luckily Mr. B was there to carry them. I do't know how they'll hold up over time, but I really like them. This plate makes my ham and cheese look really yummy, doesn't it? (16 piece place setting for $40) (They are Better Homes and Gardens "medallion")(plus some extra $s for some completer pieces like a platter, serving bowls and ice cream dishes). Let's hope that this cools that lust for the Anthro dishes..... Well, if I don't stop going to the website and looking at them, it won't :)

(no mom, I'm not a hoarder.... I'm a collector)

Today is about TAPE!

On Saturday I felt well enough to go for a little walk. We had a lovely walk through Trinity Bellwoods park and then went to The Paper Place and Type. I am so lucky to live an easy 15 minute walk from such fabulous stores!

The Paper Place now sells LOTS of decorative tape!!! It sells many kinds that I have ordered online from Korea (like I used in these collages). And now I can just shop locally. Yay! (don't worry -- I'm sure that I'll still be shopping at Pretty Tape....)


The paper Place also sells Whisker Graphic's Divine Twine if you are in need of some bakers twine (see it here on the Whisker Graphics site)(and while you're there at Whisker Graphics online , check out the printables). It was really hard not to buy an assortment..... hmmm, it's a beautiful day today... maybe I need a walk?????

Speaking of tape though -- have you seen this tutorial? Julie K in Taiwan shows how to make your own faux Japanese masking tape. I'm going to try this out!

ipad update :)

Now that I've found the Kobo app for ipad, I can read my Kobo books (haven't read any yet, so I can't tell you if there are backlit readability issues). I still can' t figure out how to read the library books....... (mr. B, the computer expert, said that I wouldn't be able to read the Kobo books. Big raspberry to Mr. B :) This is what happens when I have whole days to play on the computer.

The problem with ipads....

My ipad was an early birthday present from Mr. B. I think that I squealed and jumped up and down last week when he gave it to me. I find it incredibly annoying, however, that it doesn't support Flash. Pretty much all of the online magazines (independent ones) are done with Flash Media.

Another thing: it's really hard to touch type on the on-screen keyboard. I'll be buying a keyboard and dock really soon. And a camera connector. The ipad seems like a pretty economical alternative to a laptop. But after you buy all of those (necessary) accessories, it's not, really. I'm still jumping up and down and squealing though......

AND the worst part -- it can't read most epub books. How annoying is that? it is definitely not a replacement for the KOBO -- which will read downloaded books from the library. So now I have to carry around the ipad, the kobo and the cell phone. Yes, cell phone. Lauren bought an iphone and I got my cell phone back (after 10ish years). I'm not really into talking on the phone, but I love to text.... I feel so.... connected......

Anyway, I made myself a pretty ipad cover. I'm also making a little board with slippery fabric on one side and flannel on the other to slide into the case to protect the screen from bumps (slippery so it will slide in easily against the fabric, flannel so it doesn't scratch the screen). The little board can be used in all of my ipad covers. Good idea, non?

Resting

So there I was, on the operating table (before the surgery) and I was chatting to the orderly because he was telling me all about the super cool robot that was going to assist with my surgery (it didn't look Edward Scissorhandish at all). A woman came up beside me (I didn't have my glasses on, so I had no idea who she was -- they all had masks on) and she said "I'm just going to give you a happy needle" I said "okay" and turned back to speak to the orderly. Next thing I know I'm in a white fog and I hear "Martha, wake up, the surgery is over, you're doing well... blah blah blah" WHAT???? All I can think of is -- What a rip off. I didn't even get to count backwards from 99. That's my favourite part!

The surgical robot is really cool. Watch it make an origami crane here. You have to watch right to the end of the video. Amazing.

Off now for a nap.... maybe I'll actually have enough energy to journal on a journal page tomorrow......

View from my bed

If you follow my classroom blog you may know that I am off work for the next 6 weeks or so. I had abdominal surgery yesterday -- but am home now and well on the road to recovery. It was REALLY REALLY hard to leave the kids on Thursday. And the parents and my coworkers. I work in a pretty great school and I consider these people my family.......

Hopefully I'll be able to make some art soon, but for now, I'm reading. I have school books, art books and novels. I've just finished Continuity Girl and a very light trashy novel called Bet Me.

I stuck some cards and pictures that the children made for me on the door (please ignore the purple -- I painted the room 2 1/2 years ago but haven't painted the trim or doors yet......). The cards and the pictures make me very happy!
(if you want to see a picture of me right after surgery -- go to my classroom blog after Saturday 8am -- I don't look too bad)
(my bedroom is teeny tiny -- less than 10x10 -- and it has 2 doors and a window. The only furniture in it is the bed, bedside tables and bookshelves. What more do you need? Oh, other than some cardboard boxes to sit my fan on..... Maybe I need a small bench here....)

Sweet Paul and more!

It's time to read online magazines again!


Sweet Paul -- and don't forget the Sweet Paul blog either!

Rue is a new one!

I haven't read the whole Aug/Sept Lonny yet and its new website is fantastic!

Why you're here -- does anyone know where (if?) you can get Anthology magazine in Toronto (it's new and I want it). You can look at a preview here. From the website it looks like you have to order issues -- but has anyone seen it on a newsstand?

Omiyage

Omiyage is an online Canadian source for Japanese tape! Woo Hoo! And fabric too! And lots of other cool Japanese stuff! The rubber stamps are too cute!

sleep talking

So, Mr. B talks in his sleep. I usually wake up, reassure him quietly that the killer bunnies are all gone, and then fall back asleep. Here is a recent dreamy conversation after I returned from a middle of the night visit to the bathroom.

Mr B -- "Oh, good, it's you"
Me -- (thinking to myself, ummmm, who else would it be, it's not like there are 7 other wives involved here)
Mr. B -- "I always know it is you by your hairy legs"
Me -- "WHAT???"
Mr. B -- "It's okay, don't worry, they keep me warm"

Hey folks, my legs aren't that hairy -- just a teeny bit of stubble. I can't believe that his subconscious thinks that I have bear-like legs that are capable of enveloping him in a wooly hug. Sheesh.
Here's a picture of the offensive legs. Or cuddly bear legs.And how about one of my new super cute haircut, while I'm at it!

ATCs

I made some time at the end of the summer to make some ATCs for the "Back to School" themed exchange at Bizzie Bs last Friday.
Here are mine:

Here are the group's:
It was good to see everyone again! (and I really missed the people who were away)

Cabbagetown Festival

I've had a busy few weeks getting ready for "Back to School". This weekend I took a bit of a break and made the annual pilgrimage (by streetcar) to The Cabbagetown Festival. If you live in Toronto, and have time today -- head on over to Riverdale farm for the excitement .There was so much that I wanted to buy! And remember too that the Queen West ArtCrawl is next weekend -- with the art sale in Trinity Bellwoods Park on Saturday and Sunday.

I just loved this booth -- the tree and leaf canopy is all fabric. Isn't it great?The booth is Patouche -- Kessa Laxton makes the most adorable children's clothes. And now that my cousin has just had a baby, I'm really into children's clothes! (please click on the links and visit the artist websites). I think that Patouche will be at the One of a Kind Show too. Thanks Kessa, for letting me take photos'of your fabulous booth! (and I'm so sorry that I didn't get better pictures of the clothes -- your website photos are stunning, so please everyone, go here to look at the clothes -- and the fun pirate hat!)

My other favourites included:

Liz Kain's Jewelry (I own many of her rings -- and this time picked up a Hamlet one -- "We know what we are" (and hidden on the inside =-- "but not what we may be")

Lauren Blakey -- ceramic artist
I didn't buy one of these, but I might have to go back today -- I can't stop thinking of them! This is brick size -- and the one that I liked was pale blue green -- and looked like barnacles...... They looked very cool grouped on a wall......

gosia -- beautiful illustrations and mixed media work. I have a "thing" for birch trees...I regret not picking out one of these little elves on a stump... but she does have an etsy shop :)
lisa mclaughlin larose -- hauntingly beautiful treescapes and birds.... She'll also be at the Queen West Art Festival in Trinity Bellwoods Park next weekend

lilli et moi -- needle fabric fiberwork
The piece that I wanted was already sold.... but she has an etsy shop too! Her business card had super cute hand stitching on it -- definitely a keeper!

Peter Barelkowski --fabulous paintings! (sorry I couldn't show a pic -- but I stood in front of his both for a long time:)