It's Been a Long Time in Coming

...and it's going to be short! Just popped in to post some pics from Samia's birthday - she turned 6 a few days ago. Simply unbelievable. I adore that kid. She is sunshine and thunder and I marvel at her fire and beauty every single day. I love you boobear.

Here are a few pics of the cake I made her just so you know I haven't been completely unproductive these last few weeks (could it be?). In a previous life my friend and I had a small cake decorating business in Ho Chi Minh City - not alot of competition!

I'll keep you on the edge of your seats for pics of her party and her actual birthday which will follow shortly. That's right, we Fords do Birthday Week like nobody's business. Over and out.

Happy Momma's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone. I had a wonderful, (and very well-deserved I might add), sleep-in), breakfast in bed - Jackson made me special cereal which, in case you want the recipe, consisted of blue corn tortilla chips, fish crackers, blueberries and milk. An acquired taste I think. Lots of morning cuddles, cute cards and gorgeous paintings - to add to my stash of treasures. After an early afternoon retreat to everyone's respective rooms, (It's Mother's Day afterall, not Miracle Day), I managed to talk Jack and Sam into biking to the Tulip Festival, which turned into a wonderful afternoon with olympic tag and lots of laughs. Thanks kiddos. To the moon.

And I have to give a shout out to the person who gets my vote for best mom in the world, that'd be mine! My mom is the world to me. Yesterday she showed up out of the blue at Handmade Harvest just to see how I was doing and she made my day. She's the best. I love you mom!!

Here are a few photos from Handmade Harvest. The first photo is of my table and the second is of Annie and her table (her dolls are gggggorgeous). A fun day and great sale!

Hello Handmade Harvest and a Felted Flower Magnet Tutorial

Welcome Handmade Harvesters! and you too! Was that not a great craft show? (yes, I am writing this Friday night and pretending that I'm not, clever, no?) Here is the tutorial that I prepared as part of the rehash contribution to the swag for Handmade Harvest. If you were one of the first 50 people in the door on Saturday - well done!! and I hope you like all your goodies. For everybody else, rehash contributed a circle of felted sweater and a magnet as well as a link to this tutorial on how to turn these items into a felted flower magnet - magic I tell you.

Here's the tutorial...and happy felted flower magnet making! and super big thanks for supporting the handmade movement, for that alone, I heart you.

If It's Not On The List, It Doesn't Exist

The list is long and getting longer. Do your lists do that too? No matter how many things I manage to check off in a day, they just lead to other tasks to complete.

Can not believe it is 9 days until Handmade Harvest! Annie, Samia and I took a mini road trio out to Almonte yesterday to drop off our swag. The dropoff was at Blackbird which is owned by one of the organizer's. We were in and out in a jiffy as Annie's daughter was in a protest on Parliament Hill (Zoe, age 9, activist extraordinaire), and Sam had kindy, but I have to tell you - that's a shop I need to get back to. Front to back, floor to ceiling gorgeousity. (I'm getting on that making-up-my-own-words bandwagon..my favourite is requenching. That totally should be a word.)

Both Annie and I forgot to take our cameras with us so no photos of the road trip, Blackbird or Colleen (a sweetheart and the other half of the hardworking Handmade Harvest twosome). I had some photos on my phone but do you think I can get them to send to my email? No I can not.

So my list is definitely not getting any shorter by blogging. I leave you with a few snaps of what's brewing in the rehash product line for Handmade Harvest, Saturday May 7th. You don't want to miss this show if you are in the Ottawa area - awesome artisans, great swag and raffle prizes. A great opener to the spring/summer craftshow season. Love.

Felted bags awaiting embellishment...

Hoops for my Stitch Bytes line...

One of the many buntings awaiting assembly...

Slow Down. You Move Too Fast.

My son. He is 8 and he makes me so proud. He is growing up so fast and I am enjoying this big boy he is becoming but I want it all to slow down. Alot. This haircut does not help matters.

BEFORE

AFTER

I have never seen him with hair this short. He basically went from a bald baby, to a fuzzy headed two year old, to a kid with a mound of long blonde curls. Doesn't he look so much older? Slow down Jack. I need a little more time to savour all these fleeting moments that are whizzing by. I guess that's life - you spend half of it in anticipation of what is coming next and the other half applying the brakes, willing time to slowwww down and take it easy.

We're off to a good start!

Mondays aren't usually one of my favourites but this one is doing alright! Checking lots of boxes on my to-do list, got some business happening in my etsy store, my floors are clean, my homework is done, business cards at the printer, and I just got the news that I was awarded a busary for school! Life is good!

Had a wonderful birthday week with my kiddos, lots of cake, and lots of small and precious moments. Friday night I was out with my girls and had a great time - slept in until 11am on Saturday. Oh yeah.

Here are a few pics of my birthday cake baked by me, decorated by my monkeys.

The masterpiece. Jackson was distraught over Samia's toothpick accents.

They each had a very different vision suffice to say.

Oh. I almost forgot... did a little thrifting on the way to my cousin's birthday on Sunday, (I am 33 years older than her). Here's my haul...

I love those shoes, the need a bit of polish and they'll be right as rain. I'm even thinking of painting them cornflower blue. And I guess stripes are catching my eye these days. The striped fabric in the back is a man's shirt and I will be making Sam an Easter dress out of it in the next few days. I will post the finished product.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

On the Cusp of 40

The last photo of me as a woman in her 30s

An introspection: I've really struggled with this 40 business, thought about staying 39 for a few more years. I know it is just a number but it's a big one for me. For whatever reason however, in the past few months I have begun to change my thinking. I scan my body and it is fit, healthy, and strong. I look in the mirror and I see a woman who is growing and accepting, sometimes struggling but always learning.

So 30s. I look back at you and I see all these blessings. I turned 30 in Kathmandu on the Nepalese New Year - a huge celebration. My 30s brought me motherhood, and a marriage. It brought me great adventures overseas - a dream come true. It gave me beautiful friendships and taught me who I am and how to honour that person. When I think back on the past 10 years it gives me goosebumps to think of how very fortunate I am. So goodbye 30s, you were fantastic and you taught me so much. You will always hold memories of the sweetest kind, bring a smile to my face and the occasional shake of my head. But I'm ready, I release you and embrace all that is ahead. Love.

I Heart Weekends

What a great weekend. Had Whit and Annie and their kids over Friday night. Summer is in the air! Kids were outside until dark running around playing games, getting dirty, laughing and soaking up some long-awaited Spring. Homemade pizzas, lemonade, ice cream and smiles all around - especially on us moms!

Now it's back to the books. I'm madly trying to catch up on the week that I lost with no text. This course is intense. Heavy reading, lots of really brand new concepts and jargon. I'm finding it difficult but at the same time I'm loving it too.

The kids and I decided that this week (starting Monday) is birthday week!!! I am turning the big 4-0 on Thursday and I'm going back to old school celebrating. So far Monday is scones at Wild Oat (love this place), Tuesday is movie night ($2 Tuesdays at St. Laurent), Wednesday is making cake day, Thursday is out for pho and eating birthday cake, Friday is the girls out on the town (can't wait), Saturday is "whatever I want to do day" (I know after Friday a large part of it will be spent in my bed which is just perrrfect), Sunday we are going over to my Aunt and Uncle's for my cousin's birthday who is turning 7 (it's part of my birthday week because I won't have to cook and that, my friend, is reason enough). Jack and Sam are already planning their Birthday week. Love it.

Elevated to Tier Two

That's me. I have been "elevated to Tier Two." Meaning, I finally got my textbook for my class today that started last week. The texts didn't arrive until today in the bookstore. I have to register on-line for the on-line learning component of the text. I spent my afternoon trying to register - ie. filling out the same 40 fill-in boxes over and over again to be told each time that one of them (not a specific one),was not filled out correctly. Let's just say, I'm glad I was home alone. Called the support centre and she couldn't solve the problem either. And now, I have just received an email that my issue has gone to, you got it, tier two. Can I just tell you how much I dislike being behind in anything but especially something like school? Thank you. I feel better now.

Did a little mending yesterday. Samia was given a really sweet purple jacket from my friend Whit last fall. Both her girls wore it and Sam's not exactly easy on her clothes. Suffice to say when I pulled it out for Spring, it was looking a little worn. And torn too - Bodhi jumped on her and tore a chunk out of the material last October. Here are more pictures than you could ever want from the before and after of mending and stain-minimizing I performed.

Before

After

Before

After

I have to say I was quite proud of myself. Not for the results so much, they did the trick, but for being resourceful - not running to the store to buy another jacket but fixing what was otherwise a perfectly fine one. It's nice to start thinking like that.

I will try and write my next blog entry with a bit more of a heartbeat. I think I just needed to have a little convo with myself!

Pinch of This and a Squeeze of That

I'm finding it so much easier taking photos with this strong Spring sun. Instead of having a 20 minute window of ok lighting, it's now the better part of the day. This morning I was out taking some photos of some things I had made and actually had to come in as the sun was too intense. The sun was too intense - that just gives me goosebumps of joy.

Got to hang with Annie a few days back and she brought me a wonderful and thoughtful gift from Thailand - some beautiful cotton sarong material. It's gorgeous. I don't know if I'll be able to cut into it. I think I have to add it to my pile of material that I can't bear to use (not just yet anyways).

I have been exploring various techniques of needlecraft over the past few months. The pieces make up a series which I call Stitch Bytes. They are experiments in old school needlecraft with what I consider to be, new spins. I just completed a project that I started on a whim last week. I grabbed some material from my pillow case stash and I needlefelted some details on it. The flowers were pre-existing (printed on the fabric) and the butterfly I added. It was fun to do and I'm anxious to find some more fabric to explore this technique further. Here she is...

And a close up...

And this evening I completed my application for the Prince Edward County Women's Institute Craft Sale that is in July. I will mail it off in the morning. Yes, as in, post it. With three hard copies of photos. Country charm. Wish me luck - it's a fantastic show.

That's what's going on around here. Oh! And perhaps I haven't mentioned - I'm a student. Just started my first class (Accounting) on Friday. I love its uncreative nature strangely. It really feeds my numbers and structure needs and doesn't take from my creative headspace. I'm telling you everything is just so finely balanced in my pumpkin.

Looking forward to this Wednesday's workermade meeting. I don't know if I have mentioned it before but Annie and I started a handmaker's collective back in January. We meet the first Wednesday each month. It's an opportunity for local makers who are selling their wares to get together to support one another, promote the handmade industry and each other, share ideas and resources, and have a night out. If you know of anyone who would be interested please let them know about us!

Annie's Felting Goodness

Annie's back and she has opened registration on a brand new workshop that is very sweet and perfect for Spring. Yey! Check it out here. Love.

The Weekend Blur

The weekends always fly by don't they? Went to a great workshop today hosted by Les Ateliers for creative entrepreneurs. The workshop was taught by Krista Leben, of urbanite jewelry, and her partner Robin Sidhu who together run The Craft Co-Op (incidentally a great source for shows, call outs for artisans, and other crafty news). Lots of really good information and ideas to get my mind turning. Krista and Robin also offer one-on-one consultation to creative entrepreneurs at a very reasonable $25 for one hour session. If interested, you can email them at thecraftcoop@gmail.com

Apart from today's workshop, this weekend was a rather lazy one. I kind of gave myself a few days off. I knit up some fingerless gloves for the kids because you sure can't find a mitt in the city these day. It's all tshirts and flipflops in the stores already despite the frigid weather. The state of their mitts was appalling - I should have taken a picture of them instead of the ones I made. Stuffing spilling out of torn off fingers. Something needed to be done...

I used this simple pattern that I found on Ravelry and altered it to suit what I wanted. Again, scraps of wool that my mom gave me from old projects she has made. I really need to get me to a yarn store.

Almost forgot. Listed my waterproof beach- play-picnic-festival all-round good times mats on etsy this weekend as well. Each mat comes in a matching drawstring carry bag as you can see from the photo below. So I guess I wasn't thaaat lazy. Check 'em out here.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Checking In

Having a very restful and lazy afternoon. Feels great! Both the kids are off to friend's for playdates straight from school so I have been gifted this little lump of precious time. The sun is streaming in the window hitting my lap and it's soo warm. I love to feel the sun's warmth again.

Played photographer this morning and have listed some new things in the shop. Some cute little zipped and lined bags that I have been making.

Tomorrow I will list my practical and fun (can you beat that?) waterproof pinic/beach mats. Perhaps a bit early for that sort of thing but when it comes, well, you need to be ready don't you?

Remember this?

I finished it.

I was fun to do and satisfying. That being said I'm not super happy with the finished results but now I have an understanding of how it works and how I'd like to change it so I think there is some more experimenting in my future. I may actually pick out some yarn specifically for the next project rather than the use the only three balls I had under my bed like I did for this one. The pattern I used was from the book, Alterknits Felt by Leigh Radford. Definitely one of the best felting books I have ever come across both for Leigh's projects and for the techniques taught. This one will be late going back to the library let's just put it that way.

Just read this entry over at The Happiest Mom. It really echoes some of the feelings I have been having of late. Not going to go on about it here because she says it better than I ever could but suffice to say, I find it really difficult to close some chapters in life - especially those involving my kids. But, thankfully, life has a way of quickly reminding us that this very moment right now is pretty damn fine as well.

Blast From the Past

I have a friend her name is Sam. I almost wrote "had a friend" but that would imply that we are not any longer or something worse, which is not the case. Once a friend always a friend. It's only that I knew her for a very short time and I have not been in contact with her since 2007 when Sam and her family moved to their next posting in Hong King. I met her in 2006 when we moved to Sri Lanka and felt a bit short changed to find she would be leaving soon as I liked her immensely and instantly. Sam and a few other women had started a Stitch 'n Bitch which I joined. These women were good! The things they made were jaw droppingly gorgeous and they were exceptional quilters - hand-stitched always. I learned alot from them and I wish I could still go to our Tuesday night sessions as now I would really love to pick their brains. So why this walk down memory lane? I was surprised to see her name pop up on Facebook this morning saying that I had been tagged in a photo. I immediately went to the link and saw something I had completely forgotten about and which really moved me. Over many years, (I'm not sure how many but it started well before I met her), Sam has had all the women in the various stitch groups she has belonged to in the various countries she has lived in, hand-stitch (of course!) a square for a friendship quilt. She just finished. It's beautiful and I can't possibly think of a more meaningful and beautiful way to remember so many women that she has met in her life - some I'm sure have become lifelong friends and others just a name in a place and others, every degree in between. But all these women came together for their common bond- a love of needlecraft (and wine truth be told). Isn't that awesome? I am totally envious, and in awe of this amazing quilt and it is a testament to an amazingly wonderful person. Here's some pics that I ripped from FB (hope you don't mind Sam!). Love.

The square in the bottom row, second from the left is the one I made.

Spring Has Arrived!

Although I had trouble convincing Samia of this change in seasons this morning. She said Canadians are very messed up weather-wise. We went to bed last night with just a few patches of snow and woke up to a winter wonderland. Just the kind of snow you want on Christmas morning. But still it warms my heart to know winter is over. Buds on trees and crocuses, ants and puddles, warm sunshine and chattering squirrels are around the corner. Pack these hideous clothes away and bring out the cute stuff. My flipflops are calling and my skin is in bad need of a sunkiss.

My friend Laura over here is donating 100% of all her sales from here to Gobal Giving for the relief fund for Japan. Laura wants to empty her shop so please go check out her gorgeous things and play a small but vital part in helping out the Japanese people and their recovery from the horrific events of late. Laura makes the cutest hats that are the perfect transition hat from winter to spring and summer too. They are fun and funky and handmade lovely.

Sneak peak before you go waltz over there yourself...Love.

Check That Box

I did it! It's been about 6 months in the works and I'm feeling absurdly proud of myself but I did it! My etsy shop is now officially open. It has one listing. It took me a solid 24 hours to get a banner and one listing complete. Do I love my banner? No. Do I love the way my listing looks? No. But I did it. Now hopefully it will not take me 6 more months to list again (it won't, I am on it!). And now that it is done, I know how to make it much easier next time. Oh! Maybe you want to go to my shop and see my ONE listing...? here Except I just went to look at it again and there is no listing yet. They said it might take 24 hours. So check back again! You won't forget because now I will mention it daily (or at least as often as I blog). Love.

Because it's Been Awhile.

Don't say I never post pictures of myself.

Heyho.

Alot can happen in a week. It's been one of highs and lows. And I'm just sorting out in my head - why the things that happen, happen the way they do? I have to believe in signs and timing to make it all OK. Be grateful for the signs as they put everything in perspective and take comfort in the hope that things will happen when they are meant too.

Here's what's going on in my world:

This is what's on my nightstand (a random book off the library shelf

with two minutes to choose one - no expectations. I like that.)

This is what's on my mind (and it

would make me happy. Very happy).

This is what's on my lap (a new project and exploration of knitting/felting).

This is what's on my street (and 20 more cms to come tonight).

This is who's on my bed (if you're disappointed, you are not alone).

And because it's Wednesday...I am grateful for the early morning laughs with Sam as her tummy growled for ten minutes (her stomach never growls as she NEVER stops eating), the fabulous morning picnic snacks that she makes and have become a ritual, and her new-found confidence (snow mountains, being in a room on her own). I am grateful for the smile on Jackson's face when he sees me at afternoon pick-up and for his inability to knowingly do wrong. I am grateful for Whitney and her car for driving me today when I just couldn't bare to walk. I am forever and always grateful for my mom and dad. And to Simone, Charlotte, Kelly and Carrie - my gratitude spilleth over. Love.

March: Don't pull those bullshit February moves.

Can I just go on for a minute about how glad I am that it is March? Not that March is in itself any great shakes but it is in a Canadian's mind the month before the month before the almost end of crap weather. I know I went on a bit about how happy I was that it was February but now I know better and I won't do that again. I mean with the 8 inches of snow that was dumped yesterday I have learned my lesson. As was explained to me today by a seasoned Canadian "at least you know in March, even if it's freezing cold and nasty every day, which it often is, at least you know it is near to the almost end of it sometimes. Kind of. (pause) Sort of." Heh?

Sewing bags. Lots of bags. Cute little patchwork bags with velcro fastenings and mix-matchy linings. I am trying to perfect a pattern and have been having some luck. I am currently on bag 4 and I think I have almost got it the way I want it. Perhaps I shall post a tutorial when I am happy with the results? My first tut. yeah! The bags are made all from my stash and mostly repurposed fabric. Here's a snap of the first one:

There's a little Heather Ross goodness in there courtesy of my friend Mad via Annie. Love her stuff. Note to self, before taking photos, iron. I don't make my bed either.

Been thinking alot lately about consumerism as I have been feeling quite needy for new clothes and bright, shiny new stuff - anything! I love stuff dammit. I don't have alot of extra coin for stuff right now which makes me think of stuff all the time. But I do have willpower so... I have made a decision that I am not going to buy any new clothing for myself. I don't want to say "never" but, well that's the idea. Every item of clothing that comes into this house for me will be of the hand-me-down variety (I have a very generous sister-by-another-mother (and father) and a girlfriend of mine so it's not like I'm hurting. Other than that I will purchase only thrifted and handmade items. When I told my dear friend Whitney this she said/asked, "but you're going to buy your socks and undies new?" I told her "hell no! I'm going to upcycle them." Don't tell her I'm joking.

I'm itching to make more bags before bed. Love.

Elastic Thread Rocks My World

I really like elastic thread. It makes for easy breezy, quick, and mindless sewing. Which I can really get into sometimes. I was on a mission these past two days and whipped up two skirts and a top for myself (out of thrifted bedsheets), and a dress for Sam (thrifted pillowcase). All for summer - so nice to sew summer things rather than winter don't you think?

Perfect bummin around summer clothes for hot sunny days. I am eagerly awaiting those days let me tell you! Alas, it is time to crank up the sewing skill level however. In my mind, there's always a time and place for elastic thread, little-to-no-measuring, eyeballing, shortcutting, and all-round paper-bag fitting clothing. It has served me well and I have made some lovelies. But the next round of sewing that takes place by these hands will be tailored, patterned, measured, and suitable for more than bumming around. I'm looking forward to it. Anyone seen any fun patterns for summer dresses lately?

The look of late. Don't mind the lip plaster she has a prediliction.

There is at least one on her body at any given time.

Can I tell you how happy I am that this is a 4 day week? Love.

Go Find Your Inspiration

Alisa Burke is one of those women who floor me. I think she is so amazing. She is wildly creative and ridiculously generous with her ideas, how-tos, and expertise. I love following her blog. You should check her out. But first check out this video she made. It gives me goosebumps.

I am often filled with great doubts about what I am doing and what I can make of it. It seems like such a mountain sometimes. And every once in awhile, I feel a confirmation. I should follow my dream and keep doing what I love to do, what feels right. This video is confirming to me.

And how great is that song? Love.

And the winner is...

I have no idea how people do those randomn number generated selections on other blogs. I will have to search for a tutorial on youtube. Luckily, having 16 followers, the old -fashioned way of pulling names from a hat still works!

So the winner of a $25 gift certificate for any rehash product is...

Adam Chenard

(the crowd went wild). Adam, I have sent you an email notifying you of your big win! Congratulations and thanks to everyone that's following me and reading my blog.

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm one of those people that loves Valentine's Day. I hope you are having a loving day loving those who are loving you back. Here's a cool video created by Andrea Dorfman via ArtMind. Love.

I'll be back later tonight with the winner of my $25 giveaway! If you are following, you are officially entered.

I can't believe the weekend is over.

Shocking how fast those weekends fly by isn't it?

And it was a busy one. Craft and Cocktails on Friday night with a group of really cool women and a dude who are making really beautiful and cool things. Kathrin Von Dehn, who hosted the event, has a great house in the neighbourhood with big, bright, funky rooms and the walls are covered with her gorgeous art. She's a very talented lady that one, (she makes stunning jewelry too), and she threw a great night out for the gals (and the odd man too). Thanks Kathrin. This is where I would link you up to her blog or her shop but she doesn't have one! And of course I didn't start taking photos until the evening was in the late stages and you know my problem with focus on a camera. That and the fact that it was Craft AND Cocktails and, well, I can't show you a single photo of what she creates. I'm hoping someone who was there will send me some photos of the few people I missed and the few people who I did no justice with my poor photography.

But here are a few shots of some of the work that was displayed at Kathrin's and whom I had a publishable photo!

Susanne Loerius ( adornments4u(at)gmx.net ) makes lovely glass beads and jewelry - the details she adds and the colours she uses are really breathtaking. Petra Bokowski is a felter that makes the most gorgeous scarves and felted goodies - unfortunately the photos I have of Petra's work did not turn out. Sorry Petra!

Karin Flemig, (Painted Lady), works alot with vintage and thrifted items and makes really fun clocks, wrist cuffs, and purses. I love looking at her things.

Here I am. I am actually not eHASH, (I don't fill those kinds of orders) but I do have lots of bunting, crocheted and felted flowers, and a melee of other. You can see Annie's awesome felting kits in the back and her cute felted magnets just in front of them.

Eliza von Baeyer of Indie*Go Designs makes the coolest jewelry from Asian paper, maps, pictures and whatever else catches her eye. Fabulous pendants and rings - a ton of fun things to wear.

Amanda Porter of Green Acre Toys makes beautiful wooden toys and puzzles. Her stuff is really well made and finished and are definitely of the keep it for your kids' kids variety.

Adam Guzman-Poole is the creator of the above jewelry made from repurposed cutlery and other metal products. He has an eye for the unique and it's amazing the shapes and lines he creates in his work. I happen to know he is developing his blog as I write this but it's not quite there yet! Go Adam Go!

If I happen to get photos of the people I missed at the show, I will definitely post their work. If anyone sees anything they like or wants to see more, send me an email or post a comment and I can get the individual's contact info. Unfortunately most of us do not have on-line shops as of yet or blogs that I can refer you to.

And I have rambled on for long enough so I will sum up the rest of a hectic and fulfilling weekend with minimal wording:

winterlude, long skate with aunt uncle and my cousin, (temper tantrums, no names), ice sculptures, cab rides, home sweet home, late night with sugar high children, sleep-in (only me but that's who counts here!), hot chocolate sale, LOVE that kid, sucky sugar cookies, fashion shows, LOVE that kid, dog walk to the dog park, toboganning, laughter, meltdown (no names), snowbank foolery, Star Wars, early dinner, early to bed, kissing freshly shampooed heads, LOVE that. I am so glad that this is a 4 day week!