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.