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.

14 Valentines in 14 Days - Day 13

This one is for my baby!

I love you forever
I like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be

Do you know this book?
I give it to every new mommy.It's more of a book for the parent than for the child :) Try to read it with a dry eye :)

14 Valentines in 14 Days - Day 12

I used the same medallion as yesterday to make this jar wrap. It looks way better in person. These are my favourite long skinny jars. They held some kind of spicy pickle. I don't like it, but my friend Meep does! (thanks Meep, and keep eating the pickles :)

I used Divine Twine to tie it on. You can get most colours of Divine twine (bakers twine) here in Toronto at The Paper Place (check out the image transfer class coming up). Online, you can buy it from the maker herself at Whisker Graphics!. Her blog is wonderful too! I really like how she shows how people are using the twine. Someone stores all of her twine in sugar shakers.....

Here is what my kitchen table is looking like today -- I've been having a card extravaganza.
I'm thinking of posting a card a day for the next month.... the theme will be spring and easter..... and it might not be all cards..... lol...... But first... 2 more Valentines. One will be for Mr. B.

14 Valentines in 14 Days - Day 11

Another day, another doily :)

The red polka dotted medallion is a cupcake liner -- I cut the circle out of the centre and then eased it flat. These look really great on a garland......
The love ticket is a stamp. I punched the corners out with a too-small hole punch, but it was good enough. Some times "good enough" is just fine.....
Someone asked how I attach my paper to my cards. I find that glue stick eventually loses its grip. If I'm not sewing something on I use Aleene's Tacky Glue or double sided tape (Nasco). I used tacky glue for this one :)

14 Valentines in 14 Days - Day 10

Not my original idea :)
I think that I saw it last year on Dani's blog -- Oh Hello Friend....
I just love those doilies, so I couldn't resist....You can find lots more doily valentines (and free printables) at the daily suze

14 Valentines in 14 Days - Day 9

Well, Love kind of sums it all up, doesn't it?


And I have a new rubber stamp for my business cards......


(don't you just love all of that great texture on my windowsills? It's great for photography! I'll miss it when they repaint!(hahahaha, repaint.... that's a good one... hahahaha....)

14 Valentines in 14 Days - Day 8

If you are a regular reader of my blog you will know that I love doilies!

(I just love photographing my art in my classroom. This was taken after 5pm -- but there is still so much beautiful light. My windows face west -- I have 6 sets of windows -- they are about 4 feet wide and at least 7 feet long!)(I hope that I can stay in this classroom forever :)