Relaxing

This has been the best week ever! look where I am!


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Finally, summer!

I made some thank you cards. They are a bit simple -- but very effective, I think :) The photo is a bit blown out due to the brilliant sunshine that we've been having lately!

Happy Canada Day!

If it's Canada Day, I'm on the island! (That would be Centre Island in Toronto).

The Dominion Day Regatta is held here annually and we go every year to watch Lauren row. Tomorrow she rows in London. Hey! I've turned into a hockey mom! Go Lauren!

Eliza Doolittle

Isn't she so cute?



I bought her album earlier this year (I actually preordered it -- I never do that) -- it's a favourite. I love the song "Skinny Genes" too -- but I don't like the video so much.

(only a week left of school -- I'm super busy with year-end stuff so no time for art! But soon, soon!)

camper love

I just love vintage campers. How ironic for someone who doesn't even have a driving license. But I'd love to have one parked on some land somewhere and then go and visit it on weekends. Like a cabin :) (how I would get there is another story --- I'm sure that Mr. B would want to be part of this dream)(really, truly -- that wasn't sarcastic -- he has a strong sense of adventure)

Anyway -- have you heard of Sisters on the Fly? It is a group of women (nearly 1,000) from around the U.S. who own and restore vintage camping trailers. Your should see their gallery! Of course I'm pinning them to my pinterest board -- Camper Love.

This one is by Cath Kidston in her online magazine.


Of course, I could buy a new one. This one is about $14,000 and is made in Canada! but it seems a shaem to buy a new one, only to park it. And I can't see me in a car pulling a trailer (even with someone else driving)

The Outback by Trillium Trailers

(these images via , who else? poppytalk)

poppytalk

Do you follow the blog, poppytalk? It's my favourite blog for style, home decor, little cool things,
I could just pin EVERYTHING on there to my pinterest boards!. Sigh... I love pinterest.....

Pure Green Magazine

While we're checking out online magazines, check out this one!
Pure Green Living
It features (on the cover!) my favourite local florist, Coriander Girl!
Don't forget to check out the Pure Green blog!

The new issue of Rue is also out. My eyes are getting sore from all of this online reading. Plus, I can't read these while reclining on my chaise longue.....

my life is all about the frogs

Have you been following my other blog -- Ms Brown's Classroom? Check it out to read about how our tadpoles are changing/have changed into frogs!


The fun all started on April 27 -- so if you want to read it chronologically, go to my other blog, and then read the posts from April 27 until today (not to worry -- there are only 4 or 5 posts about the frogs). I'll be returning them to their home pond next weekend!

Sweet Paul

The summer issue is Sweet Paul is out! If you don't already know (have you been under a rock?) Sweet Paul is one of the best Online Magazines out there! And it's free! The summer salads look so beautiful (and yummy). The food that I prepare is never photo worthy. But it tastes good -- and that's what counts, right?

Candy Coloured Whimsy

This is my work in Rachelle's book (in the altered book Round Robin that I'm in). It's theme is "candy coloured whimsy" (well, candy colored whimsy because she's American, lol)

Scrappy Layers

This is one of my favourite blogs for card making and all-things-layered inspiration. Homespun with Heart.

(this card above is Danielle's card -- click on it to go to her blog)

I love Danielle's style! She does the scrappy layered look that I am finding lovely right now. My sewn work is definitely headed in this direction. In fact, some of my scrappy layers are shown in the Art Quilting Studio which is out now! (umm... I don't have my copy yet, so could someone who has seen it please confirm that I'm in it :) and maybe tell me the page number?)

Even More Mixed Minded

This is the nametag that Karen made for me! She actually sewed nametags and lanyards for each participant. (I'm pretty sure that she never sleeps). Karen has more energy than anyone that I've ever met. Honestly :). I made the embellishment in the upper right corner. I made it in Carmi's class when I was supposed to be making my needle felted brooch. I got a bit sidetracked. I think that was because we had some wine and cheese beforehand....
You can see more pictures of our work from Carmi's classes here on Carmi's blog!

More Mixed Minded

More from my weekend at Mixed Minded in Kitchener!

The brides were out in full force! From what I gathered -- they were raising money for the "Make a Wish" Foundation. They were wearing their own wedding dresses and going out for a night on the town.
This is a background that I started for my mixed media quilt. Actually -- its move than a background -- it is the base for the quilt. I can't give away Sandra's secrets though. You'll have to take a class from her :) You can see what Ludgera did here.


I needle felted in Carmi's class. This is my work-in-progress. (I didn't finish anything at the retreat -- except for the make and take -- more on that in a minute)


Isn't this cool?
Karen (Mixed minded creator and artist extraordinaire) was at the Inspire Retreat in North Carolina (oh I am so jealous) a few weeks ago and Tracie Lampe did a class of her cool fused plastic bags. I have a small pouch by Tracie that she gave me at ArtFest a few years ago. But anyway, Tracie said that Karen could teach us how to make small bags for our "make and take" -- this is the bag that I made.


Literally -- the whole thing, from 3 plastic bags to finished project - took about 10 MINUTES!!! And isn't it cute??? Target bags rock. (Especially since we don't have Target yet in Canada)(soon!) Great for carrying my lunch at school. I bought Tracie's book -- it's a fun one!!! More fusing to come. It's right up my "reuse and recycle" alley!

Mixed Minded

This weekend we headed up (down?) the highway to Kitchener to the Mixed Minded Even that Karen Ellis from The Art House Studio put on. It was FANTASTIC! .
I am terrible at taking pictures -- so I don't really have many of the event (even though I brought 2 cameras with me)

Below is the placemat that I worked on top of while in Sandra Spagnuolo's class....... House of Cards. (I took 3 of Sandra's classes, so what I did in each of them is a bit of a blur). If you have a chance to take a class from Sandra -- don't miss it. She's a great teacher and her background techniques are fabulous! She holds an open studio in the Milton/Guelph area if you live near there. Check out her blog here to see times/dates/ content.

(I did a bit of stamp carving -- this is my practice sheet of the heart stamp that I made)

I made this technique sample in one of Sandra's classes.

It was great fun seeing lots of my friends -- and also seeing some friends who I only know from online -- like Pam Barnes and Karen Oullette! Heather Robinson was supposed to come, but couldn't make it, and we really missed her. Hopefully, we can all get together and have an art weekend in the fall!

(more pictures of the event will be posted tomorrow as soon as I unearth my other camera :)

So today Mr. B and I went on a tree tour. In the pouring rain. Oh, the things you do for love....

( The Lovely Miss L talking about the Serviceberries -- or Saskatoon Berries)

My daughter, the Lovely Miss L was giving an Edible Tree Tour in Trinity Bellwoods Park. She was representing LEAF at Park Day -- The Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park sponsored the event. Despite the rain -- there was great attendance -- between 15-20 people! L is a great speaker. Very knowledgeable -- I learned a lot!

(redbud)

Did you know that you can eat acorns? The ones from the White Oak tree are the best. You can roast them. Like chestnuts. The buds from the Redbud tree are delicious in salads. And you can use Spruce tips to make Spruce Tip Shortbread.

(spruce tips)

(latte to warm up my poor soggy body)

If you live near Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto and you are able to volunteer a bit of your time this summer, The Friends of Trinity Bellwoods Park need some people to "adopt" some young trees. This involves watering the trees once a week if it is a week with no rain. Water, buckets and a wagon are available in the park -- they just need the people power to do it!

zombie apocalypse

So, on my left is.... my printer..... perhaps I'll be swinging it around from its cord?
On that note, off to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After.

finally -- beautiful weather

We've been walking on the beaches the last few days... picking up driftwood for our dogproof fence, picking up beach glass, watching the sailboats and watching all of the busy life at the marinas, sailing clubs and rowing clubs.

(the dogproof fence)

I found lots of glass treasures!


Lauren and her friend Christina have a new rowing blog: Rowing is Awesome. It's modeled after the 1000 Awesome Things blog (which I read daily). Check it out if you row, have rowed or like rowing.

A Wee bit of me Wednesdays on Saturday :)

I'm a bit behind on everything this week


{one} when was the last time you used a pay phone (if ever)?
I called Maija from the airport in Phoenix last summer.

{two} did you ever fail a subject in school?umm.... do I have to admit it? okay, statistics in first year University.

{three} where do you go to get your favorite hamburger/cheeseburger?.... do I have to admit it? McDonalds. Yes, really.

{four} have you ever served jury duty?Nope.

{five} how old were you when you moved out of your parents’ house?19

{six} what is your favorite color to wear?

Black

{seven} do you have a pair of shoes that you wear all the time?I love my Keens Mary Janes. I have 4 pair! In the winter, my Blundstones.

{eight} do you enjoy talk radio?

I listen sometimes online... the arts ones.

{nine} if you could turn one unhealthy food into a healthy one, what food would it be?potato chips, hands down.

{ten} who is the best speaker you’ve ever heard in person?hmmmm.... myself? hahaha (so not true)

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).