KEWDESIGNS

BEACH LIFE

2010-09-27T15:33:00.000-07:00

On this September morning at the beach we saw giant jelly fish, abundant sea weeds, rock cairns, oyster catchers, changing leaves and exploring children. Definitely our own part of paradise!

THE AUTUMN GARDEN

2010-09-19T14:48:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favourite time of year. I love the ambient lighting, fading flowers and changing leaves. Eating a crunchy, fresh apple whilst rambling slowly down a leafy wooded lane is a must. These images were taken in my rather neglected (but pleasingly so), overgrown garden. We picked seed heads for my daughter's school project and I was chuffed to see the little brown bouquet. How pretty they collectively look in a simple white creamer vase.

TEA COZY

2010-09-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

Have just made another tea cozy featuring my favourite little bird. Same recycled materials and theme (sitting on a raffia nest awaiting his little 'cuppa). Love interior fabric - faux bois - perfect to represent a hen house. This tea cozy is on its way to GreenCraft Magazine - fingers crossed they will like it as much as I do.

KID'S STUDIO

2010-09-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

We spent Labour Day revamping my "studio" space to make it more child friendly. I brought in a two big tables - one small, perfect for little people and one large table, perfect for spreading out supplies and large projects. Two orange old school chairs that a neighbour gave us lent themselves to comfortable seats for the children. I hope we can spend hours of creative time together this autumn.

I organized the space to better serve our needs filling baskets, boxes, and a wonderful old trunk full of great supplies. The old trunk was a perfect vessel to house all of my old coffee sacks and packaging, corrugated cardboard and miscellaneous bags. It has a great old sticker from 1926!

I love September - it inspires new beginnings and fresh prospects.

SCULPTURE

2010-09-02T15:08:00.000-07:00

We are still following the art show "Work of Art - Finding the Next Great Artist" on tv. The challenge for the contestants was to spend 30 minutes in a warehouse that had discarded electronics. They could gather and take any items they wished to make a sculpture.

Our at home challenge was easy - head to the basement for some bits and bobs to create our own smaller scale sculpture. Ironically, the day after viewing the show we were leaving the library where I found a crunched cell phone in the parking lot. Perfect! Found, free and fitting to my attitude about cell phones (I won't go there at this time!). Other items I gathered were a packet of wire Christmas hooks (for hanging tree ornaments), a small lamp shade frame, corrugated paper from cookie packaging, an old light that one would affix to a book, an old light bulb, sandpaper, a metal thingy, two large bolt type screws, a poppy seed head and some coffee sack burlap.

My artistic process is to not plan ahead and just see where the supplies take me. A sculpture of a female with a broken cell phone head and Medusa like wiry hair materialized. She wore a hessian dress and a tag with her name - Collette 604A around her inverted light bulb neck. Some rough, natural coloured twine added to her hair and attire. The bendy part of the light acted as a microphone or mouth piece making the piece look both futuristic and rustic simultaneously. She looks good in the garden and I found the perfect bit of smooth driftwood to mount her on when she comes back inside.

My husband went scrounging too. His sculpture was a wire man walking a dog constructed from an old bicycle light, an over sized spring for a body and nail legs. A length of random chain acted as a lead and a two bits of Styrofoam insulation made great feet to anchor this small sculpture.

Challenges such as these are fun, inspiring especially using all found objects with nothing more than a glue gun to assemble the piece.

PUBLISHED

2010-08-10T13:29:00.000-07:00

I have been very excited to receive the latest GreenCraft Magazine, especially because one of my burlap pillows has been featured in it. I absolutely love and adore this publication - it showcases recycled and reusable materials made into inspiring new things. I answered a call for pillows made from burlap and they chose my bird themed cushion for their pages - many thanks GreenCraft!!

It is a real honor to have my work selected and showcased for other "garbage" enthusiasts to enjoy and hopefully glean inspiration. There is a full write up with detailed instrucions on how to create your very own burlap pillow. These coffee sacks and shiny plastic coffee packaging has become a favourite material to create with. The twist ties (used for the birds legs and table legs) were from our local grocery store (again, free supplies). I also like to incorporate bits and pieces that I've collected or found and are just laying about my (messy) studio.

I encourage everyone to purchase this latest edition of GreenCraft magazine - it is full of projects and beautiful photography and will provide hours of inspired reading.

WORK OF ART

2010-07-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have been diligently watching (and enjoying) Bravo's latest reality tv show - Work of Art - The Next Great Artist. The premise is a group of artist's have gathered and given a challenge each week. They have a limited time span and funds to create a piece of art that they then show in a gallery setting to be judged by a panel of art critics, gallery owners, artist and the like. One contestant is chosen as the winner and gains immunity towards the following week challenge whilst one contestant is eliminated.

We have decided (with much excitement) to play along at home and create our own works based on the same challenge featured on the show. The first week the contestants had to do a portrait of their room mate. Any medium was game from digital, watercolour, oil and print making. Some were true likenesses based on how the artist viewed their subject. Others were so abstract even the judges had a hard time critiquing the work.

I chose a small 8"by 8" canvas for my portrait (of my husband) which I then treated to a coat of sky blue acrylic paint. I then added some fluffy white clouds and did a VERY simple line drawing of what I thought the essential lines of my husbands face consisted of using a litho crayon. He is very much a dreamer, therefore, I thought it fitting to do a portrait of his head "in the clouds".

John's work is a pen and ink line drawing filled in with colouring markers. He chose not to do a classic portrait, instead selecting elements of my interests to fill his page - Buddha, light and the garden.

This has been a really fun challenge to push ones creative process. We are already working on the next challenge....stay tuned!

BLOCK BUCKET

2010-07-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

These are the most useful storage units....buckets made from canvas and recycled coffee sacks. My latest is super sized to accommodate all of our Duplo blocks (there is actually room for a few more sets). The inspiration was instantaneous when I saw my daughter's newest Playmobil lady. I loved the graphic pattern on her jersey and immediately hit the recycled stash to make my own version of this bold design.

I cut loads of circles (loose definition) and arranged them in pleasing colour palettes and sizes. Together they form the nine circles that I sewed onto the burlap before assembling the bucket. I used some old burlap ribbon (again loose definition) for the handles which melds into the small hands that drag it around the house.

Fabric buckets make clean up time easy and they are a viable alternative to plastic containers. Any design could be put onto the bucket using old packaging with your sewing machine - just look at your toys or nature for sources of potential artwork inspiration.

SUMMER READING

2010-07-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

Today officially feels like the first week of summer as there is finally sun and heat combined. We hit the library and stocked up on books and DVDs (because, in all honesty, we need downtime after the water park and beach!). I hope we can spend many afternoons lazing in the hammock reading our favourites. I intend to be diligent in filling out the children's library reading program forms to acquire stamps, stickers and perhaps a chance prize. Our fave author remains Julia Donaldson and Robert Munsch, meanwhile, I am currently re-reading Eclipse before going to the theatre in a few days (extreme excitement!!!!!).

LANDSCAPE AS MUSE...

2010-07-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

Today we walked at Neck Point - a beautiful waterfront sanctuary in the heart of a residential area. The lighting was magic with bruised skies and filtered, ambient sun. A subtle breeze created tiny, gentle waves. Cottonwood floated through the air like a well orchestrated ballet.

As usual I took lots of photos and noticed a linear quality to them all. The "neck" beach cut through the water while jagged rocks jutted against smooth little pebbles. The sky was layered with fluffy clouds lending a softness to the distant mountainous shores. Meanwhile a small boy spends a pensive moment on a seat carved from a giant log.

Nature is inspiring as always... I wonder what creation might arise from today's outing.

GARAGE SALE FIND

2010-06-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

I love this wooden truck that we just found at a garage sale on the weekend. It has a lovely patina and retro quality to it that makes it stand out from all of the regular plastic toys that we own. It takes one back to a simpler time where toys were powered by little hands and sound effects came from excited voices...

ROADSIDE FINDS

2010-06-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

I simply can't resist anything with a "free" sign on it. We found this wonderful old wooden steam liner style chair at the end of a driveway on our very own road. All it needed was a clamp and it is actually quite comfortable to sit in. Now it needs one of my burlap pillow creations and it will be ready for a leisurely lay in the summer sun. (The bouquet of flowers was picked from my garden and loosely arranged in an old metal watering can - another free find)

TEA HAT!

2010-06-21T13:30:00.001-07:00

This tea cozy is my latest creation using my previously mentioned favourite materials. I love tea and the ritual that surrounds it from warming the teapot to waiting in anticipation for the tea to steep and sharing it with a friend or family while chatting about our latest creative moments or upcoming summer plans.

I used burlap for the outer layer along with a layer of quilt batting and a faux bois (wood grain) fabric for the liner. On the burlap I designed another bird, this time sitting in his raffia nest awaiting his 'cuppa. As there was only enough space for the word "TEA", I used a 7 Gypsies clear old fashioned clock embellishment to represent the word time, thus - TEA TIME.

I really love how this project turned out. You can custom your own tea cozy to any size teapot (I think my big old "brown betty" is next). My son coined the term "tea hat" which is so endearing and actually quite relevant. Happy brewing...

LIVE SIMPLY

2010-06-14T10:39:00.001-07:00

Another purposeful bag has been created, this time with a meaningful message - "Live Simply".

Again, coffee packaging and old burlap coffee sacks were used. As a family we try to live by this motto, omitting a lot of today's mod-cons by choice.

The latter photo is of my grandfather "Teacake" in his kitchen where he has lived happily for the last 70+ years! His little kitchen has all that is required to provide his basic needs. One is reminded that we don't need to fill our lives with "stuff" to live a content and healthy life.

BUBBLES AND BEES

2010-06-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Captured some nice images in the garden yesterday. I loved the effervescent quality of the bubbles as they glided fleetingly over the purple chive flowers. Shades of mauve were reflected back onto the passing spheres. The bees were just greedy for the pollen and kindly allowed me to be temporarily in their space as they went about collecting. I couldn't help but think of Jerry Seinfled's Barry the Bee character with his witty banter and purposeful quest as I witnessed them fly from flower to flower.

Every day the garden changes and the bubbles and bees made me stop for a brief moment to take it all in.

PLANT MARKERS

2010-06-09T17:48:00.000-07:00

I was inspired by the plant markers that I saw on http://www.heavypetal.ca/ the other day. They ranged from cute to kitsch and all cost a pretty penny. My recycle light bulb went off and I decided to create my own from old coffee packaging (yes, again) and used Popsicle sticks (previously sucked thanks to my children).

To make the markers cut silver coffee wrappers into 1" by 5" strips, fold in half and sew down sides using a zig-zag stitch. Insert Popsicle stick and write plant name in an indelible ink. Pop into soil next to plant and enjoy!

I TWEET!

2010-06-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

This is one of my latest bags using recycled coffee packaging and burlap coffee sacks. It features a crown- sporting blackbird declaring ,"I TWEET". Of course tweeting now possesses a new meaning worldwide and I like the double entendre this quietly dapper bird proclaims.

I free hand cut out the lettering from silver packaging and sewed onto the hessian fabric. The bird was also drawn free hand onto black coffee packaging and embellished with a coordinating crown, wing and tail plumage detail. His legs are grocery store twist ties and eye is a brad from my scrapbooking stash. (I'd really like to find a cell phone charm to really enhance the birds double meaning)

ANNUALS

2010-05-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

This year I decided to choose completely different annuals from the past. I don't usually care for any of the ones I bought this year, however, they looked fresh, healthy and appealing at the garden centre. The marigolds will be dispersed around the garden, particularly in amongst the raised veg beds. The begonias displayed a deep burgundy hue in their foliage that would perfectly compliment my favourite Gaura plant. The new petunias are a deep blackish purple that invites a sneaky touch as the flowers resemble a luxurious velvet.

They all got planted in pots and baskets and it will be interesting if my opinion of them changes as they grow and their beauty unfolds.

Spring Garden...

2010-05-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

As Mr. McGreely would say (from our most fave childrens story by Candace Flemming - Tippy, Tippy, Hide!) "Spring has sprung". Whilst my accumulating pile of discarded packaging grows, so does our garden. We choose to be outdoors as much as possible after a long, wet, grey winter. Here are a few images from the garden... The oversize window boxes were made by my husband from reclaimed wood from our old carport. They will serve as a new home to strawberry plants and mixed greens.

I'M STILL HERE........

2010-04-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am still here. The last five months I have been in a hibernation of sorts. Firstly, I have spent way too much time with my new friends - The Cullens. Secondly, a truculent little boy has kept me rather spent and devoid of any artistic endeavours. Now, however, spring has arrived and with it a new enthusiasm for creative adventures. I am truly enjoying watching the children paint with abandon and explore the first images appearing from the squiggles. Brilliant.

I've got lots of ideas to put into fruition especially with found and recycled objects. It is definitely time to get out the "supplies" and get busy. I've also got a wonderful new camera to play with and capture images relevant to our lives. Stay tuned...

Wet Paint!

2009-11-10T16:58:00.000-08:00

We finally got around to painting the living room. I have been inspired, of late, by simple, monochromatic colour schemes. A chance peek inside a home that hosted a garage sale this past summer as well as a feature in this months Canadian House and Home mag. showcasing artisan Heather Shaw's "serene white palette" sparked my (our) need to change things up....again.

We chose "Coconut White" which suggests sunny days spent at a beach in some far off tropical locale. It will definitely brighten the space on these wet, West Coast days.

Of course, Quinn had to help. He proudly donned his "painting" clothes and got busy with his corner of the room. He really enjoyed himself and left little white footy prints throughout the hardwood (it's latex...and washes out).

HALLOWEEN PART 2

2009-10-31T14:54:00.001-07:00

Yesterday John bought home four pumpkins to carve. We all sat at the kitchen table and got busy removing the slimy "guts" of these wonderfully plump, orange pumpkins. John created a preliminary sketch that then had to meet the approval of Elizabeth and Quinn. He then helped with the carving. (John is fantastically creative, having once spent the day carving a giant -think 300lbs plus - pumpkin for a local business). I kept mine "old school", traditional and simple. It mirrored the jack 0'lantern face on the burlap bag.

That evening, Elizabeth and I headed out to her school for a Halloween Dance that was remarkably fun. We saw inspired costumes from the children and parents alike. We went through a scary haunted house, ate popcorn and danced. It was great fun for a kindergarten girl and a tradition that I hope we'll continue.

We arrived home on that dark and rainy evening to find our four pumpkins alight at our door.

HALLOWEEN PART 1

2009-10-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I finished Elizabeth and Quinn's little vests just in time (thanks to Fiona for lending me a perfect pattern). They are being Jessie and Woody from Toy Story, a favourite movie at this time. Of course, cow print fabric would have been true to the characters, however, creative licence and the "reduced" wall led to better economic sense with orange corduroy and navy upholstery fringewhich seemed a wiser choice.

I made two star "sheriff" badges from the recycled burlap sacks and old coffee packaging. The burlap lends the perfect old world, rustic, wild west feel and they are easily attached and removed with a safety pin.

I also created two modest Halloween Bags (I always abhorred those carrying pillow cases ,the epitome of greed). Again, burlap was used along with a pumpkin applique that I created from free hand cutting scraps from remnants at my sewing desk. These were sewn onto the burlap then made into the bag. The ghost was some leftover quilting batting with two little eyes and a burlap mouth. They each have small handles - perfect for little hands. Now we just have to practice our "Trick or Treats".

FABRIC BUCKET

2009-10-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Here is my latest creation (made on a wet Sunday morning when we could not get to the beach). It is a fabric bucket inspired from http://www.mayamade.blogspot.com/ . I thought it would make the perfect receptacle for Quinn's many toy cars as it seems durable and has handles that he can easily use.

The exterior is made using my recycled coffee sacks - just love the graphic labeling on this heavy burlap fabric. I also love that these sacs are being re-purposed and staying out of the landfill. The interior is a very heavy duty cotton canvas that I also use to make canvas albums. Again, its natural appearance compliments the organic look of the burlap. This canvas is super strong and helps the bucket (which is about 13 inches high) keep its shape. I lined the outer and inner shell with quilting batting ,which again reinforces the shape.

I free hand cut a Euro look "smart car" from old coffee packaging and sewed it onto the burlap with a contrasting zig-zag stitch. This little car adds a graphic punch and subtly suggests the buckets intended contents.

The handles are made from canvas with some bold boy-looking ribbon detail. Quinn is pleased with his new bucket and he can easily stash his cars and take them from room to room.

This was a really fun and wonderfully functional project to make and I'll try some in different sizes in the future.

GARDEN IN OCTOBER

2009-10-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

I love the garden equally in spring with its new delicate green mounds poking through the earth and the autumn when the plants are getting ready to hibernate for the winter (a short one on the west coast). Today we played in the leaves, explored our garden and ate the straggler cherry tomatoes that lingered on the once robust vines.

I was happy to see my new addition to the garden was in flower - a toad lily. It promised beautiful speckled flowers in a deep plum colour and it's tag did not disappoint. There were an abundant of miniature flowers facing the shallow October sunlight. Pretty pleasing.

On our walk we found seed pods from a nearby Beech tree. I love their roughness and spiky hair like fronds that ensconce the nut. The oak leaves are such a gorgeous mix of browns, tans, and burnt umbras alike. (I feel a leafy project coming on...).

BEACH DAY

2009-10-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

I get a lot of my inspiration from Nature. We found ourselves again this Sunday at the beach. The weather was very mild for the 18th of October - practically no wind and the seas glass like and calm. Elizabeth and Quinn waded in the water along the shoreline looking for treasures - shells and special rocks - occasionally throwing a rock or piece of driftwood into the ocean.

I was inspired by a washed up, hollow acorn. It made the most perfect tiny vessel for a pretty posy of lingering summer flowers.

The colours were muted hues of blue, green and grey infused with an ever so soft yellowy sun. We watched the sea birds and the ferry come and go along with the ebb and flow of the gentle tide. Beautiful and inspiring.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2009-10-12T08:24:00.001-07:00

We spent another Sunday at our favourite beach. This time John had a rare Sunday off work and got to experience how we usually spend our Sunday mornings. It was a glorious, sunny day - quite blustery too. It was high tide so everyone was concentrated to the upper section of the beach adjacent to the lovely smooth logs that had inadvertently escaped from log booms and made to it to shore, giving us a comfortable vantage point to enjoy our snack and watch the ebb and flow of the little waves - "...the waves roll in and the waves roll out..." - Raffi.

I love how Elizabeth wore her "Thanksgiving" dress with its flowing taffeta and pink tulle underskirt. She paired it with her flowery gum boots in a true West Coast sense. I adore my eccentric little girl for this.

We ate apples, crunchy and fresh and watched the float planes, dogs, people and all beachy happenings.

John cooked a magnificent turkey with about a pound of herbs from the garden. It was succulent for sure. I actually helped prepare dinner (with help from Jamie Oliver) and made delicious roast potatoes with loads of crunchy bits and tasty carrots and brussels. Nana brought over a fittingly seasonal dessert of a tart apple flan. It was a feast for sure and for that I am thankful.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend everyone....

3

2009-10-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Quinn!!! You are now three. It is so fun to watch you learn new things and grow. You still love being at home the best plus going on walks and playing at the park or running on the beach.

Curious George makes you laugh and Fireman Sam and Postman Pat hold your interest.....briefly. So far you like being three because you get to eat whole grapes and use a big, china dinner plate. Ah, if only life could be that simple!

Enjoy your special year, my love.

FREEDOM

2009-09-24T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today I was thinking about freedom. It began with Nana coming to look after the children while I took a course. While driving there, I had a tingly feeling of freedom - the sun was shining, an awesome song was blaring on the radio, a hot coffee in my travel mug and the knowledge of a few hours ahead of me, learning... things.

It made me think and appreciate where we live (for so many places throughout the world, people don't have these same privileges of freedom) and all of the choices that we are free to make: the song on that radio, our mood for the day, our friends (mine are lovely), how we nourish ourselves, what we create and generally how we choose to live our lives.

ANOTHER SUNDAY

2009-09-20T13:12:00.000-07:00

What a busy week that was!!!!! Another Sunday has rolled around and we find some leisure time to visit our favourite place on the island - Piper's Lagoon Beach. The weather is holding up for late September on the West Coast - sunny, breezy and warm(ish).

I love the random comments children make like Elizabeth seeing a rainbow in a clear blue sky and Quinn seeing twinkling lights that must have been the glistening sun reflecting off the gentle waves in the ocean.

They ran, climbed on logs, fished and snacked. Afterwards we whipped up a beautiful tomato and boccacini salad from our abundant garden tomatoes dressed with a splash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, sea salt and pepper. Yummy.

EllaBella is back in full swing and I've been quite busy creating workshop projects and helping Ann re-stock the studio (she has an amazing talent for making beautiful displays - you'll have to come and check it out). Bought some tea towels as John wants another chef's hat made and also Halloween is just around the corner so will be making the children's costumes. Have more ideas for my coffee sacks (just not enough hours in the day) and people have been saving me wonderful packaging that I can't wait to play with.

LOVELY SUNDAY!

2009-09-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

Today was good. September has always been a favourite month. A month of beginnings - those school years now being experienced for the first time by my own two children. Every sunny day is a bonus - the lighting a little bit more gentle than the harsh summer sun. The garden is fully grown and herbs and vegetables in abundance (we've been having some very tasty meals of late).

We went to the beach today with family and friends (we are SO lucky to live a 90 second drive to Departure Bay beach). The tide was meandering in slowly as we explored the shoreline, avoiding the lingering jellyfish, and finding treasure along the way - seaweed, shells, driftwood and special stones. The children played on their "island". We witnessed a lone pink salmon jumping playfully out of the water. It eventually invited a friend in its play and evaded the fly fishermen along the beach. We watched the ferries depart and arrive bringing tourists to the wonderful place we call home.

After hours of fresh sea air, Quinn napped peacefully while Elizabeth set up a fort in the garden for her latest special friend (before finding a pot of water which, as custom, was made into mud soup). I had a most enjoyable, indulgent few moments with a coffee, chocolate and a beautifully inspiring magazine "Artful Blogging". Lovely, lovely, lovely.

After a little read about those visually inspiring blogs I took the camera for a walk around the garden. The sunflower (that was a tiny sprout in June) now towers well above 8 feet. Lush David Austin roses bloom and are as fragrant as ever (one sadly made it into the mud soup when I wasn't looking!), lavetara grows from every nook and cranny in the secret garden. Meanwhile, Buddha sits quietly evoking a feeling of peace. Even the birds were chirping exuberantly, obviously also finding joy in this sunny pre-autumn day.

GARLIC SACK

2009-09-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Here is that little garlic sack that was requested. The burlap was from the used coffee bags - loving up-cycling! Simple bag sewn together on two sides and a mustard colour grosgrain ribbon secures the little sack at the top. Easy to make and functionally great.

While I was at the machine, also had to whip up two more toy bags - one to keep a jigsaw intact and the other for a used train set that a neighbour kindly gave us. Our toys sacks really help with tidy-up-time and they keep the toys organized and managable.

I wonder what will be next application for these old burlap coffee bags....

LOVING BURLAP

2009-09-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

I have been doing some sewing with old burlap coffee sacks. So many thanks to Coyote Cafe(http://www.coyotescoffee.ca/ ) for donating their huge coffee bean bags - they are by far the best (and my most favourite) place in town to get a Soy Latte. Thanks for sharing and keeping them out of the recycling bin!!

My inspiration came from GreenCraft Magazine - a wonderful Stampington publication that showcases reclycling, eco-cycling and up-cycling projects. I was instantly smitten and had to get busy creating with burlap. So far I have made a chef hat for my Chef husband, a tote bag and coffee cozy. Also a unique burlap pillow that I have submitted to GreenCraft Magazine (fingers crossed).

This mag has made me so excited about working with materials that would normally go into the recycling bin. I've used old coffee packaging and twist ties in bold and interesting ways. Now I am saving any colourful plastic bag to use in further creations. (If you have any, please send them my way).

In fact, have just had a request for a small burlap bag from John (husband) to store the garlic he just picked from the garden.....off to the sewing machine I go. Will post the finished bag soon!

PAINTING PLAYDATE

2009-09-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

The other morning we were invited over to Fiona's house (http://www.pipnmillycreations.wordpress.com) for a most wonderfully creative play date. She brought the easel and paints into the backyard for the children to unleash their inner artist and explore the world of colour through acrylic paints.

Quinn cautiously applied paint to his paper canvas with short brushstrokes while Milly got down to business and used her hands to boldly apply her bright colours. The bigger girls (Elizabeth & Pip), meanwhile played with Lego under a blanket "tent" and awaited their turns at the easel.

What better way to spend a late summer morning than with fresh air, art supplies and a bounty of fresh snacks from Fiona's garden. Thanks for the cuppa and fun AND loved the new outfits you made for your girls. Keep up the sewing fun!

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

2009-08-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

While you were sleeping Quinn, we snuck (don't think this word will make it into the OED!) into the garden to pick some tomatoes and visit the herbs and plants. It is our first attempt to grow garlic this year and we had quite good success. This little clove went into making a beautiful hummus for our dinner.

It is amazing how the garden changes. The herb garden has passed our wildest expectations and has grown and filled out to completely cover the eye-shaped space. The borage we planted from seed on June 24th is humongous...meaty leaves and beautiful blossoms that attract the bees.

Elizabeth could spend the whole day in the garden making friends with caterpillars and leaves alike. We enjoy our sneaky forays into the garden, thanks Quinn.

HARMONY CIRCLE

2009-08-28T14:57:00.000-07:00

Today I took the children to walk the Harmony Circle. I love the concept of these circles as they are both visually striking and calming. One is meant to walk around the maze that is the circle for a meditative and relaxing experience.

Elizabeth and Quinn both really enjoyed not walking, but running the circle. They took off as soon as we got there and the circle's magic took effect on them both. Quinn thought it was very quiet which he appreciates. He even lay down for a rest.

We love getting out daily and being in nature. It is so good for them to hear the birds (and little red squirrel in this case), breath the fresh air, touch grass and leaves and enjoy the outdoors. They seem at their best when free to roam and explore.

After our harmony circle adventure I walked them over to see the chapel where we were married right next to Westwood Lake. It is at the Bethlehem Retreat Centre and a wonderfully peaceful place which holds special meaning as my mother-in-law designed the chapel.

CORN

2009-08-26T17:35:00.001-07:00

I love watching my kids eat. When they are famished with hunger they really, really enjoy their food. Corn is a new favourite summer time food for them. They eat with concentration and passion.

I love that they pronounce this vegetable Co'orn, adding a syllable along the way. Elizabeth's first tooth came loose with this latest cob. I have been asking around to see what the going rate for the tooth fairy is. Some coworkers insist upon five dollars per tooth. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I say. I was thinking of the quarter that I received back in the day. I do have to account for inflation, I suppose. A loonie seems a decent amount although if you add up every tooth in their mouths and multiply by two children, it does add up.

Maybe next year we'll try growing our own co'orn. We might get enough harvest for one meal but it will be exciting all the same.

CHARMED I'M SURE!

2009-08-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

I am REALLY enjoying making mini-canvas albums. This tiny one measures about 2 1/2" by 3" and fits nicely in the palm of your hand. I love little charms and pick them up from shops when I see them. They are just sitting on my desk amidst other embellishments and crafty paraphernalia and quite lost on their own.

As random inspirations happen, this mini album popped into my head to showcase all of these little charms. I gathered up 18 of the best and had one for each page. Then I thought of a little vignette for each charm and quickly painted an appropriate scene for each page.

The effect is quite cute and has accumulated into a, well, charming little work of art.

CANVAS MINI-ALBUM

2009-08-18T16:36:00.000-07:00

So here are a few pics of the swatches of painted canvas from the previous post. They lent themselves quite well to the Bind-It-All machine which has proved to be a great investment. Again with most of my projects I like to "wing it" and see what happens for the work to morph into completion. This album turned into one entitled "Beautiful Things". I had planned on doing lots of doodling and journaling on the pages, however, when scouring through my treasured stash, I came upon some single word rub-ons (remember, adore, adventure, treasure, explore, memories and smile). The sentiments proved more meaningful alongside the photos than a jumble of words and, hence, a more minimalistic album evolved. They also lend a visual continuity amongst the pages. I did leave one page to dedicate to journaling and look forward to filling it with words of, well, beauty.

The photos are of my family and garden all of which exude beauty. Embellishments are also minimal - the odd charm, button, paper flower and brad. I used my MOST favourite alpha stamps for the cover title. They remind me of an old typewriter font (the kind I actually learnt to type on in highschool which was manual, clonky and loud - it was the 80's after all).

I love the jagged edges, bold colours and general feel of this album and plan to make many more of a similar kind.

A DONNA DOWNEY KIND OF DAY

2009-08-07T07:39:00.000-07:00

Today I was inspired by Donna Downey's style of art. She is such an amazing "cross scrapbooker" and incorporates a variety of medias into her work that appeals to my own mixed media sensibilities.

So, while Quinn was enjoying his nap, Elizabeth and I got busy with our acrylics. We set up our makeshift "studio" on the deck and I cut up pieces of cloth canvas to paint on. I love that children are so completely uninhibited and just dig into their art. Elizabeth enjoyed the process making her imaginative paintings that magically morphed with the addition of more paint. My goal was to make a cloth scrapbook so I simply painted all of my canvas rectangles a myriad of colours - kiwi, orange, egg shell blue, pear, shimmery turquoise...

Quinn eventually awoke and joined us to paint a picture.

I bound my nine colourful cloth pages with my Bind-It-All machine and now it awaits embellishments, photographs, ephemera and more!

Fabric Mini-Album

2009-08-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was thinking of ideas for our 52 challenges at http://www.ellabelladesigns.ca/ . I was enjoying a quiet (and very rare) moment with a coffee and perusing some fave blogs. Link after link I stumbled across Elizabeth Kartchner's wonderful blog and was instantly inspired by her soft fabric mini albums. (It was strange actually, since I'd been gazing at my laundry gently swaying in the wind and contemplating writing a post on that subject when I found myself on Elizabeth K's blog where she has the cutest little image of laundry on a line with colourful scrapped paper, meanwhile her posting that day was entitled "Serendipity".....h'mmmmmmm.)

Anyway, I was immediately taken with her ideas and remembered that I had a stack of 4 inch square fabric pieces that were leftover from the quilts and soft blocks that I had made when expecting.

I remember choosing all of those colourful (and quite mismatched) lengths of fabric. I cut them up into loads of squares and recall a pleasant afternoon laying them all over the living room floor in random fashion prior to sewing them together to form what are now two quilts and 5 soft blocks.

Elizabeth has always loved her quilt she named "New Quilt". It is layer number 4 of 7 blankets, sheets and bedding that make up her winter Nest.

The soft blocks were a hit when the kids were small and they still like to toss them around. Now we have this new little mini-album to accompany our hand crafted keepsakes. Not sure yet what whether to put real photos inside or copy some photos onto muslin and sew them into the album....

MORE BEES PLEASE!

2009-08-02T13:02:00.000-07:00

With the bee population in danger, I think it is terribly important to do what we can to attract them to our gardens. In our garden they love the abundant lavender - I had wanted to harvest the lavender this year, however, could not bring myself to cut it back since the bees were enjoying it too much. I have to suffice by pinching off the odd sprig to sniff or throw into the kids bath.

If you really want to be a hit with the neighbourhood bees, then I suggest growing Sea Holly. I have several Sea Holly plants in a sunny location that will usually boast no less than 3 dozen bees of many varieties (big & fuzzy, small, orange backed, thin - my bee termination is not up to par!). It sounds like a formula one racetrack when nearby. I staked these lovely, prickly, silvery flowers with candle sticks that we had made for our garden wedding 7 years ago. They are stairway spindles that we bought from ReStore and my husband painted them white with different flowers. They looked so pretty with lit candles scattered around the garden on our wedding day and now I am thrilled to recycle them yet again to help keep the long Sea Holly stalks staked.

I plan to divide these plants up in the fall or next spring and create more bee havens around the garden in the future.

GARDEN BOUNTY

2009-07-26T15:53:00.000-07:00

We have finally been harvesting our veggies we planted back in the spring. The tomatoes are ripening and the lettuce is abundant. We try to mix lots of herbs in with our salads which is easy to do when the herb garden is a few steps away from the kitchen.

I was never a veggie garden person in the past, however, it is so satisfying to pick your own things that I am now hooked and planning additional spots to plant edibles. The kids love picking peas and strawberries and I plan to add raspberries, cukes, squash and more....

PICTURE FRAME

2009-07-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

I was looking at some of my favourite garden books yesterday (a brief moment when my toddler was napping) and was inspired by a old photo frame that the author had hung from a tree in their garden. When Quinn woke up we went to the basement and searched out our own old wooden picture frame and went to hang it from a plum tree in our garden. I could not find fishing line so I just used white thread to hang the frame.

It will be interesting to see who and what images I can capture as they pass through the frame. It's also a great way to recycle an unwanted picture frame.

IN THE GARDEN

2009-07-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos of the garden.... Elizabeth has been "Chef" all day (she even wore her chef's outfit to the library this morning) so it was fitting that she pick some yellow wax beans to accompany our dinner (chicken breasts stuffed with pesto - also made from the abundance of basil in the garden).

John's tomatoes look like they are on steroids - he specifically requested roma's when I was tomato shopping back in May. My 100 millions aren't doing too bad either. The strawberries produce enough for a delighted toddler to sample almost daily. The new herb garden has taken off. We have been using lovely herbs in our many Jamie Oliver inspired meals. Some of the herbs growing there are: sage, rosemary, thyme, fennel, coriander (although not successfully), bay, tarragon, sweet marjoram, summer savory, dill, chamomile, burnett, lovage, borage, parsley, Italian parsley, oregano and lemon thyme.

The secret garden's pathway has become overgrown with self seeders such as mallow, lemon balm, some purple flowering stuff and buttercups.

The garden is lovely - I added a beautiful french white lilac, many ornamental grasses and a brilliant ornamental oregano this year. We are all enjoying our the many aspects of our garden and hope our wonderful weather continues.

GARDEN TREASURES

2009-05-07T13:11:00.001-07:00

I love this time of year when all of the garden is a promise of green mounds. The colours are so natural and invigorating especially after a spring rain. I enjoy walking around the garden taking stock of what is poking through the earth and have been pleasantly surprised that some perennials survived last years construction zone. Plants like Astilbes and Epimediums prosper and I had quite forgotten exactly how many hostas were speckled around the garden. Although I don't have much in the way of spring bulbs, the shades of green are varied and plentiful. My favourite Forget-Me-Not's petite flowers shine electric blue in the twilight. We watch daily as the ferns unfurl. The Soloman's Seal is standing tall like silent soldiers gently getting ready to show off their little hanging blossoms.

We have many treasures speckled about the garden. I so enjoy chancing upon a little garden creature or ornament and my collection is subtly growing. My pond has been removed (not conducive to toddlers in the household) and has been replaced with loose gravel in an attempt to create a serene Zen-like garden, albeit a mixed one, due to the abundance of cottage favourites - Alchemilla Mollis, Coreopsis, Brunnera, Aqueligias, House Leeks and more. Buddha quietly sits in this garden alongside a small pagoda and bamboo water spout (from the pond's days). It remains tranquil and can also be viewed from my daughter's bedroom window.

STUDIOS

2009-04-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

I've just bought the latest issue of Studios - a special supplement of one of fave mags "Cloth, Paper, Scissors - and thought I should show off the space I use to create and store my stuff.

Firstly, I like a chaotic element when it comes to studios. The smell of turpentine and brushes littered with colourful remnants of paint are a delight to my senses. I love sunlight illuminating the space and Vivaldi or The Cure (ya, weird combo) blaring from a high tech. sound system. Dreams to be sure. I love supplies from paint, wool, fabric and sewing supplies, paper, rubber stamps, flowers (silk and paper), brads, beads, inks, charms and other random bits of ephemera.

I love having a stash of supplies at hand for whatever project takes my fancy. Over the years I've collected and amassed a variety of things that have formed a collective in a room in our house. While it is not my ideal space, it suffices for now (until I can convert my large solid garden shed - an ongoing dream of mine). I seem to, however, do most of my crafting at the kitchen counter and ferry things up and down stairs on an as needed basis. This facilitates my need to create and watch the kids simultaneously.

PLUGGING ALONG...

2009-03-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

I've neglected my poor blog of late, however, better than not paying attention to my family. Thought it needed some colourful photos of things that have been done around the house, so...

The dinosaur is in Quinn's room. It was a cut out wooden piece I found at Michael's and covered in Basic Grey's Archaic papers. It sits on a shelf of Love letters that my husband cut out before alpha's became popular and readily available (on that note, check out robynquigg@wordtothewall.com that custom cuts beautiful quotes in any font imaginable to simply adhere to your wall - we'll have a sample of her work at our EllaBella Studio). Just have to find the perfect photo of Quinny to put on my dinosaur.

Have also been making more fabric toy bags that the kids love. It makes clean up time easy (when energy and desire permits, of course!) and we have a hers and his section of the cupboard to house them in. Again, fabric scraps are used and I can whip one up in 10minutes (short enough time that the children don't get into too much trouble in my craft room).

KNITTY WONDERS!

2009-02-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

The doorbell just rang on this snowy February afternoon and Elizabeth was presented with more beautifully knitted Barbie outfits. Cecily continues to awe with her attention to detail in these tiny knitted clothes. Now Barbie is ready for Whistler in her long "fur" lined coat and apres ski in her green and purple ensemble equipped with matching scarf and hat (truly, this is an outfit I would covet myself).

BARBIE COUTURE

2009-02-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

As a girl, I enjoyed playing with my Barbie dolls. My favourite thing to do with them was dress and undress them in different outfits to get them ready for whatever activity they were dressed for. The playing never actually got done, if I recall correctly, since I obtained more pleasure from their clothes.

My Barbies met an untimely demise when I revisited them as a teen only to find my younger sister had either shaved their heads or had given them Mohawks (Johnny Rotten had a heavy influence on her life at that time!).

Now my daughter has turned five, she is showing an interest in this classic toy. Her Auntie Cecily has been making them "couture" knitted dresses that are exquisite. She knits them on tiny 2mm needles and it has been a challenge to source out finely woven yarn.

There is the Barbie sporting the "boyfriend" over sized sweater and matching comfy pants with coordinating headband and handbag (yoga girls??). There is the Barbie wearing the ruffled baby pink dress poised perfectly for a spring date night with Ken. One Barbie is resplendent in a form fitting gown, not unlike Michelle Obama's inaugural ballgown. Another outfit is a little creme number with a tulle overskirt, matching cardy (think twinset) and headband. The favourite is, at this time, the wedding dress. Sewn to perfection with darts - Barbie does have a decent chest - and finished off with hand beaded embellishments and beautiful full veil.

Thank you Cecily - your talents and thoughtfulness are endless.

PRETTY PARTY!

2009-02-04T20:08:00.000-08:00

I thought Elizabeth's party was quite lovely and all of the girls seemed to have fun. We created little clothes peg dolls which were easy and evoked a simple whimsy. The cake was designed by my husband. It was a pink stage with white scalloped icing. He drew tiny ballerinas and cut them out with precision scissors and attached them to the cake with a toothpick. Next was the curtains which was cut from chipboard and covered with brown and pink cardstock that was then detailed with pink pencil crayon - these were the stage curtains. It was original, effective and we loved it. The only mishap happened then following day when family gathered for round two with the cake and one of the ballerina's head somehow went up in flame after the candles were blown out. No harm done.

BIRTHDAY PREPARATIONS

2009-01-28T16:17:00.000-08:00

This year Elizabeth is having a "Ballet Birthday" Party and I want to make it very special for her and her attending friends. Each year to date we have had a themed party - polka dot, silly hat and flower parties so far. This year I have challenged myself to make and create all of the party accoutrement's. It's been a happy challenge thus far. Elizabeth chose the ballet theme and I made all of the party invites - easy to do when you have a scrapbooking business and love of all things papery.

While I am not totally against goody bags full of plastic bits (the kids like them), they do not really fit our party sensibility. We are trying to be mindful of where things come from these days too so the hand crafted route is one we are taking. I do have a penchant for supplies so I was thrilled to use what I had at hand to create all of my goody bag items for the girls.

The tutus are Fiona's design at http://www.pipnmillycreations.com/ . I used yards upon yards of creamy tulle that I had leftover from wedding six years ago. They are no sew tutus and kept me multi-tasking in front of the tv in the evenings. Together they are ethereal and remind me of beautifully light jellyfish gracefully swimming in the sea. Can't wait to see all the girls wearing them together.

At Elizabeth's last ballet class, they used wands to dance and prance with so we HAD to have them too. I downloaded a template from the computer and used sparkly coordinating papers. A piece of doweling acts as their base and curled ribbon makes them magical.

It's been very satisfying to use our imaginations to create these wonderful party favours also to use supplies I've had in my stash. Now we just have to cue the music and.....dance!!!!!

IT'S A JELLY-CAT TEA PARTY!

2009-01-18T16:30:00.000-08:00

We play tea party on a fairly regular basis at our house. I used to give the kids a real teabag to brew up, however, got tired of finding strewn tea leaves everywhere. One day I had a little epiphany and had to head straight for my sewing machine and create some reusable cloth teabags. I cut some white cotton fabric into over sized rectangles and sewed three sides together then filled each "bag" with three teaspoons of lentils before sewing the teabag closed. Pinking shears were used to create a zig-zag edge that is both functional (material won't fray) and decorative.

The little white napkins were recycled eyelet fabric from former bathroom curtains and a yard of pink seersucker cloth made a perfect "picnic blanket".

A tea party wouldn't be complete without a sweet treat so I made fours small Teacakes out of felt that are slightly stuffed and fill the china side plates perfectly. I do plan to sew beads and buttons to the tops of the teacakes to finish off these perfect tiny petits-fours.

A vintage tin holds the teabags and a complimentary yellow seersucker bag holds everything together. It was fun to create and make and the kids love it as do the bunnies and bears.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

2009-01-01T16:31:00.000-08:00

We all had a nice time over the holidays - it was busy with work and family and toys and food and SNOW! Our tree was taken down yesterday and the house put right again. This morning we awoke to more snow and have stayed in to play and relax all day long. January has long since been my least favourite month of the year. Have never been one for resolutions either. My hopes for 2009 are to be healthy and content, creative and curious. I look forward to reclaiming my garden to its former beauty. My dream of publishing a children's book may come true too...

These are some of the toy bags I've made for the kids. They are made from fabric store remnants and my scrapbooking ribbon. Each bag holds a specific toy and it is my desire to keep the toys organized and an overall tidier, less hectic house....we'll see. They are fun to make though and I plan of making many more in the weeks to come. Happy New Year to you All!

GINGERMEN

2008-12-19T15:14:00.000-08:00

Our artistic endeavours of late consist of seasonally festive fare. We've decked out the tree, the cards are accumulating and construction paper chains abound. Today was the perfect day for baking - snowy and minus 6C. We donned our aprons (thanks to the creative talents of "Foon" at http://www.pip/ ) and dug out the cookie cutters.

Quinn coined the gingerbread men and ladies we were going to bake - gingermen. I love it and the name will remain a holiday tradition.

Elizabeth and Quinn did exceptionally well rolling out the dough and stamping their own cookies - roosters, "pizzas" and traditional old gingerbread boys. We had leftover icing from our gingerbread house and smarties made the perfect buttons. Next we had fun eating their heads and legs and arms. Thanks guys for a nice day...

THE DAY...

2008-12-17T20:50:00.000-08:00

So today we made our first family gingerbread house. My husband assembled it and then the kids had free range to decorate. Well. It's a Picasso for sure. The fun they had sticking all of the little candy bits onto the gooey icing was priceless. I love how it turned out in all of its beautiful imperfection. Now we get to pick away at it and enjoy.

I did get the Sushi today and it was nummy! We had a feast of Pad Thai, tempura, Happy Tuna rolls and Spicy Saigon roll along with a steaming pot of Chai tea. We nearly forfeited our outing since there was a blizzard taking place all day. Being an Eastern girl for my formative years, I still find it amusing that snow brings life to a halt on the West Coast. People get out their wellies and brollies and clod hop through snow. Driving is a not at all desirable - it's hilly and the snow removal budget is bleak. Anyhow, we ventured out and enjoyed every minute of it.

I had lots of nice phone calls from friends with well wishes. During dinner we noticed a car pulled over in front of our house. We thought it was someone stuck in the snow, however, it was a dedicated florist delivering the most beautiful and humongous flower bouquet I have ever received - stunningly perfect winter red gerberas and liatris and alstrolomeria and 'mums and coniferous foliage. Thank you BB. A huge surprise, so thoughtful and kind. I love them.

The Day was good and to quote my Mum as she left our house today..."Life Begins".

CHRISTMAS TREE

2008-12-16T17:04:00.000-08:00

So we went to get our Christmas tree the other day. We usually cut our own at the House of Breads little tree farm, however, this year we stopped at a locally owned garden centre boasting Vancouver Island cultivated trees. We found the perfect, bushy, soft needled tree with the most delicious woodsy, piney scent.

Now, decorating with a two and four year old does present somewhat of a challenge. While I had ideals of listening to my new Loreena McKinnett Christmas cd and decorating the tree in perfect harmony, that simply did not happen. To abridge our decorating story, we had screaming for Bob the Builder and running off with the decorations from the two year old. Elizabeth loved sorting through the throngs of mix matched ornaments that have more sentimental value than beauty. She was happily existing in her own world and did a fine job of putting them on a concentrated area of the tree - front and centre and approximately three feet high.

We had to sneak water into the trees base since any open water equals free range for fishing and experimenting with swimming toys. The overall effect of the tree is.... good. It is ours with white twinkly lights and golden beads of garland (no tinsel in this house thanks), a hand crafted tree skirt from Grandma and now its stands ready for Santa.

I used to always decorate the tree when I was a teenager at home in Oakville just around my birthday. Yes, that is soon approaching and it is THAT birthday, the one I've been silently dreading for the last six months. Well, it is finally near and it's okay. I take solice that Monika and Rachael are That age. As are Julia, Halley and Celine. That age is the new 30 after all!! For months too I have been dreaming about how to celebrate. I've toyed with the idea of Vegas with all of my highschool friends and copious amounts of cocktails. Also fancied the idea of being in my Happy Place in Mexico. I am, most likely, going for a sushi feast and matinee with my husband and delicious meal of my choice at home with my fave Black Forest gateau. It will be perfect, of course.

FUNNY!!!!

2008-12-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

Holiday Eating Tips 1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls. 2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. Like fine single-malt scotch, it's rare. In fact, it's even rarer than single- malt scotch. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas! 3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. 5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello? 6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog. 7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the centre of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again. 8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labour Day? 9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards. 10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave, with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a great holiday season!

MIN-WATERCOLOUR ALBUMS

2008-11-25T13:27:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to share a few more pics of my offerings at the upcoming Kris Kringle Christmas Craft Fair in Qualicum Beach this November 27-30th. The little watercolour albums are indeed sweet, can't wait to take my mini-paint set to the beach and endeavor to capture some West Coast scenery. I'd love to see what other people do with them too.

Hope to see you Thursday!

KNITTING

2008-11-25T07:15:00.000-08:00

It's always around this time of year - November - that I feel the need to get out my knitting needles and dig into sumptuous balls of wool. The dawning of the cooler weather and observing frost covered rooftops make an hour on the couch knitting that much more inviting. I have a soft spot for knitting books and just wish I could actually see a project from start to completion. Generally, I knit scarves although baby sweaters have been attempted in the past (they were, however, more suitable for teddy bears).

My fave needles of late are ginormous! A size 35mm that create a wonderfully loopy look, almost like chain mail. Here, Elizabeth and Quinn kindly obliged to a photo shoot and are sporting a few of my latest scarves.

MEMORY BOOKS

2008-11-23T08:32:00.000-08:00

I've been playing with my paper stash of late. It has been so satisfying to revisit my old favourite patterned papers - they are multi-layered, grungy and some remind me of the best Rauschenberg collages. These faves have found their way into my new little memory books. As I also love to sew, it seemed fitting to sew in a "binding" both to appease myself and add reinforcement and visual interest to the book.

These memory books can hold photos and journalling. I've used one as an artistic garden journal of sorts. It's all about my garden and includes original watercolours instead of photos. These little books are compact and can be filled with whatever content your imagination can conceive.

COOL!

2008-11-22T21:24:00.000-08:00

I happened upon a cool site after seeing an article in the paper the other day. It's called www.exactitudes.com . These photographers have collectively photographed random people from different cities in various geographical locales. I love all the names they have chosen for these groups especially "eco-punks". It reminds me of that line the secretary used in Ferris Beuller's Day Off where she rattled off all the terms used to describe their pupils - geeks, metal heads, preps, dorks, dweebs, sluts etc. etc. Have a look - see if you can find yourself in the exactitudes.

A JOY DIVISION SORT OF DAY

2008-11-19T17:21:00.000-08:00

Today we missed story time because we were mucking about on YouTube for too long this morning. We watched a show called Control last night all about Joy Division and John had to revisit all of their videos and related bits this morn on the computer. I really like music from that era even though I was wee(ish).
It was also a bright & sunny November day on the West Coast. I raked some leaves and went for a walk with my husband and kidlets. As usual we collected "nature ephemera" - leaves, fir cones, dandelion heads, whirligigs, hydrangea flowers. It is utterly important that my children are familiar with and embrace nature in this plastic, disposable world we inhabit.

FYI

2008-11-17T18:23:00.000-08:00

Copy, paste and play along!
1. Where is your cell phone? What cell phone.2. Your significant other? A wonderful cook, husband, father and friend 3. Your hair? Died blondish and collar length (for work) 4. Your daughter? Beautiful, quirky, smart, curious 5. Your son? Lovely, perfect, all boy, rambunctious, rascal. 6. Your favorite thing? Being creative 7. Your dream last night? Don't remember 8. Your favorite drink? Red Wine 9. Your goal? Raise decent children, laugh lots 10. The room you’re in? Kitchen 11. Your church? My garden12. Your fear? Planes falling out of the sky 13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy, healthy and content. 14. Where were you last night? At home in our Castle watching British shows on tv. 15. What you’re not? Patient 16. Muffins? honey bran17. One of your wish list items? domestic help! 18. Where you grew up? Oakville, ON 19. The last thing you did? Took daughter to ballet class 20. What are you wearing? Jeans, t-shirt, sweater 21. Your TV? Heartbeat, The Royal, New Tricks, So You Think You Can Dance, The Hour, Documentaries 22. Your pets? No pets23. Your computer - Toshiba Satelite laptop .24. Your life? Busy, satisfying 25. Your mood? Good, husband gets two days off now 26. Missing someone? No .27. Your car? Nissan Altima28. Something you’re not wearing? A garter 29. Favorite store? HomeSense 30. Your summer? Too hot31. Like(love) someone? My family32. Your favorite color? Mustard 33. Last time you laughed? 10 minutes ago34. Last time you cried? Last Monday (small tear) 35. Who will repost this? No idea!

I'M BACK!!!!!

2008-11-17T15:26:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while.... a friend suggested I get this blog going again and thought that was a great idea since one does need a venue for one's musings...

RIBBON GALORE!!!

2008-03-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

What is it that attracts us to certain inanimate objects? I love supplies of all kinds, especially ribbon. I could have shelves dedicated to this little cloth gem. It comes in so many colour combinations, textures, widths, styles, weights etc.

Ribbon adds a beautiful dimension to handmade cards, clothes (especially for small children) and scrapbook pages. I love the tactileness of a journal embellished with a multitude of wonderful ribbon samples. I so enjoy creating these for our market customers.

Today I actually got some time to make a few cards - it is so satisfying to individualize each card and think about the intended recipient while the creative process is taking place. It gives one time to reflect on times past if it is a birthday card or be mindfully quiet if the card is meant as solice to a friend or family member.

ON BEING A REALIST

2008-02-27T16:27:00.000-08:00

So after publishing that last post, I looked at my desk and realized that it rarely looks neat and tidy like in the former posted photo. Of course, it gets cleaned, however, I actually like that element of disorder and chaos linked to the creative process. Realistically, this is how my desk looks today!!!

Happy scrapping...........

STUDIO SNAPS

2008-02-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

Okay - whatever happened to my New Year's resolution of updating my blog once a week??????

A lot has happened this past month to keep me otherwise occupied - I went back to my day job full time, my Nanny in England died, the whole family (except me) fell ill with nasty viruses and our garden became friendly with a bulldozer as construction began on our extensive home renos.

A few pretty good reasons that my artistic endeavours got put on hold.

To keep things colourful and light I thought I'd just post a few more snaps of my little treasured space!!

Studio Time

2008-01-25T16:58:00.000-08:00

I love looking at everyones artistic and crafty blogs. I can spend hours going from link to link and getting inspired by other peoples creations. I especially like glimpsing into the work spaces of those induviduals. It must have been my years at art school that made me love the mess and chaos that is a studio - that and the smell of turpentine and the endless supply of supplies. I love supplies from piles of gorgeous papers to ribbon, embellishments and more. Here's a little glimpse of my own nirvana!!

WOOLY WONDERS

2008-01-22T16:16:00.000-08:00

So, I've been on a knitting spree. I have discovered these rather yummy yarns - they have lots of mohair in them plus a bit of shiny bling. Knitted two scarves in two days and em looking forward to designing more to be available at the Nanaimo Farmer's Market this spring. The colours really lend themselves to evening-wear and would certainly dress up any little black number!!

They will be safely hidden in my studio since my lovely, imaginative 3 year old likes to make "spaghetti" - this involves unraveling yards and yards of yarn (usually on the quiet when I am fooled into thinking she is looking at a book) and making piles of delicious pasta noodles. I credit her penchant for Curious George's naughty antics and her love of the stuff for this truly unique passtime!

I have also just received in the mail, a knitting gadget from England that makes wonderfully pretty things. Stay tuned for more...

FIRST SEASON OF THE NEW YEAR

2008-01-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

That title is a direct quote from my 3 year old daughter. It's a wonderful way of describing the coming months...
Happy 2008!!!!!! It's been a long time, I know. One of my perhaps misguided resolutions is to update blog on regular basis even if it is just my musings. I love perusing other artistic blogs on the web. It's a lovely little glimpse into the world of creativity at its best. They inspire me to get my mind flowing with ideas and the lust to get down to the wonderful business of creating art.
I sit and write this from my cozy home studio whilst it blows with January snow outdoors. My outdoor studio is still in the works. It exists in my head and on my vision board!! This Spring will see some building and conversions of my outdoor cottage and I should be up and running for September '08.
I have been so excited and inspired by a magazine I just discovered - Cloth, Paper, Scissors. It has an amazing array of mixed media articles and I can't wait to delve right in to some altered art projects. I think my true passion has always been mixed media stuff. I love the mixture of elements - glass, stone, wood and metal. For this "season of the new year" I will focus on that love...

TIME FLIES...

2007-11-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

So how did two months just pass by with not one entry to my blog?????? Shameful, I must say. It certainly isn't for lack of interest because I think about it daily. Could be the many things going on in life - daughter starting pre-school, baby son turning one, major basement renovations, establishing EllaBella Design Studios as primary business, twice weekly markets on the waterfront in downtown Nanaimo...
Anyhow, I am still coming up with new ideas for pretty things to embellish life. My current focus is the upcoming Kris Kringle Fair in Qualicum Beach. I think until then I will concentrate on creating beautiful Christmas products and resume this blog in December. It will also include musings and more personal elements then EllaBella.
Look forward to chatting in the near future
Karen

LABOUR DAY WEEKENED

2007-09-02T12:59:00.001-07:00

Can you believe September is already upon us!!! The newsmakers coined this summer "The summer that never was". Somewhat appropriate, however, even through the rain and clouds we had a speckling of the most beautiful, pristine sunshine coupled with light windy days which made outdoor activities all the more enjoyable.

Many thanks to our loyal customers at both the Nanaimo Farmer's and Craig Street Markets. It was a real pleasure meeting you all and I look forward to recontecting later this fall.

It's funny how inspiration strikes - a chance overheard conversation, a glance at a bookcover in the library, a beautiful piece of fabric, the pattern on the skin of a canteloupe (yes, I even tried inking it to make a print!!). It is these wonderful times that fuel the brain and creations spurn forth.

Currently I am torn with creating beautiful pieces for the baby nursery and children's rooms keeping in mind the changing seasons and upcoming holidays. Sometimes everything is dropped to go on a photo shoot for upcoming projects. Alas the beauty of art...

Look for the above sweet image in future mixed media canvases for rooms with small children. They remind me of old fashioned stories, Beatrix Potter style. They were fun to create and they will be fun to view.

Stay tuned and happy long weekend :D

NEW WEB SITE!!

2007-08-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Once again it has been busy at KEWDESIGNS! I am continuing to source out unique items to transform into beautiful pieces for the home. My clocks have met rave reviews and I will be busy this weekend creating more for the upcoming markets.

Please visit http://www.ellabelladesignstudios.com/ for the latest market schedules and product displays. Also look out in the following months for original scrapbook products such as rub-ons and felt embellishments for sale. It is our desire to create wonderful pieces to enhance your scrapbook projects. Our first shipment of ribbon has arrived too. It can be purchased both at markets and the above website.

Thanks to all of our great customers - it's been a treat meeting you and look forward to more feedback in the future.

NEW PROJECTS

2007-07-30T08:43:00.001-07:00

Good Day!

Well, I have been very busy these past few weeks at KEWDESIGNS. We are currently renovating our basement with an additional bathroom which will facilitate not only our family but future clients to the studio which is coming in the near future. Exciting!!

These "Nursery Clocks" are my latest creation. They are 8"by8" and absolutely gorgeous in a baby's room. It is my hope to continue with this line and will incorporate both girl and boy styles.

Market day on July 27th was our most successful to date. We were blessed with having the most wonderful corner location on the main level looking over the sea and coastal mountains. It was a pristine summer day and we really enjoy chatting with all of the out of town guests to Nanaimo. I am very grateful for their business and sincerely hope they all enjoy their beautiful new albums and wall art.

Both Ann and I have finalised a company name in which we will market our own line of scrapbook embellishments, ribbon and eclectic altered paper art - EllaBella Design Studios!! We are proud to be Canadian owned and operated and it is our intention to forge a place for our wonderful creations in the ever-growing scrapbook industry. Exciting days ahead...

Remember to enjoy your day.

MARKET DAY

2007-07-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Once again it was the Friday Nanaimo Farmer's Market located on the beautiful waterfront of Nanaimo, BC. All of the marketers were out in full force selling wares from plants to jewellery and of course our PaperArts. We are, Karen (right) of KEWDESIGNS and Ann of Ann Chapman Designs. We are generally located on the lower level of the market alongside a dozen other stalls.

We offer an assortment of altered paper items including journals, picture frames, paper mini albums, cards, magnets, bookmarks, buddha canvas's and more.

Ann has produced some beautiful cards for all occasions that would be so very special to give a loved one. The journals also feature different themes, such as travel, gardening, dreams and secrets. Although I am a tad biased, I get extra pleasure from using a handmade item. I can almost feel the good intentions of its creator and the pleasure that went into making said item.

We are continuing to get more display items daily and are enjoying the process of arranging our merchandise. Our market "space" changes weekly so we must adapt to our new location. We must also take precautions against natures forces being excessive wind and rain. Altogether it is a very satisfying experience. We meet all kinds of wonderful people from around the globe and it is our hope to decorate their lives with our beautifully handcrafted selection of paper-arts.

IS THIS CANADA??

2007-07-01T19:09:00.000-07:00

So here I am by the beautiful Nanaimo waterfront taking in the family activites with my family when I caught a glimpse of myself in this marvously polished

boat propeller. Perfect for a self-portrait I thought.

Anyway, the kids were dressed ever so sweetly and I wanted to get some great Canada Day shots -waving flags etc. Most patriotic I thought. Alas it was not my day for photography. Everything was too dark and shadowy and my almost 9 month old kept eating the flag (showing his own form of patriotism?). So I pondered as to what I could do with these shots.

I came up with the following question? What makes our landscape uniquely Canadian. Sure there are the new "Seven Wonders of Canada" but there are also tiny pockets (micro-climates, if you will) that one would never think of as being in Canada such as this tiny frog. He could very well be in the lush understudy of a tropical forest or in a native plant of Bermuda. But no. We discovered this tiny creature in the backyard of my parents house, right here in Nanaimo.

Hope everyone had a smile and a happy Canada Day :D

Musings and More...

2007-06-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

So we did the unthinkable today.................

We not only took our family "to eat" lunch at McDonalds but we gave our sweet, pure, almost 9 month old son a french fry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt like all of those parents that I had previously judged (not a good practice, I know realise) were staring at us tut-tutting in disgust. It was shameful of us, however, Quinn was staring with those baby pleading eyes that no human being could say no to. So we let one cool down, rubbed as much salt off as we could and let him have it.

Part of us felt we were giving our young children a rite of passage experience into the world of fast food and the other part felt we should eat only fruit and veg. (organic even better) for the next fornight.

Pretty Things...

2007-06-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

Our lives should always be filled with pretty things - Elizabeth and I have been picking "posies" of flowers from our garden and they instantly pretty up the rooms they are in. After 6 seasons my pale pink paeony produced one luscious, perfect flower. The debate was to cut or not to cut...well you can see from prior photos that cutting won, and I am pleased. The rain would have washed the petals away anyway (so I reason with myself).

Another pretty thing that has entered my life is my Rhembein bag that my husband bought for me at last Saturdays Salt Spring Island Market. I absolutely love the fabrics and it, well, just makes me feel good. I even had to go and purchase some new tops to accompany the brilliant colours of this new fave pretty thing.

I've included http://www.rhembein/ in my list of sites I like and everyone should check it out. Gyl's children's dress designs are absolutely stunning - THAT is what little girls should be wearing!!!

Her site is so inspiring to me since I also love pretty fabrics and sewing, photography and tales of the everyday.

(I am quite chuffed that you can see my bag amoungst the other beautiful creations shown - I rather feel like I should be in "Hello" Mag (Canadian edition, of course) as a who's who sporting Canadian originals!!!!)

Hope you all enjoyed your days.

KEW

A Few Creations...

2007-06-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

Hello, Here are a few pics of some latest work. I am really ejoying the "Dream" Series and they are flowing into existence quite well. Can you tell that I am rather taken with paper arts - I am envisioning an entire clothing line for my wooden model friend!!!

Monday, June 25th

2007-06-25T20:01:00.001-07:00

So....Did you smile today?? I did. Several times actually. This morning Elizabeth and I were gardening and I dug up some old white bulbs. She collected them in an old pot and declared them to be her dinosaur bones...now that's creativity at work.
Secondly was while watching that Ikea summer sale commercial where the odd looking women gets into her car and tells her husband to drive all the while yelling "Woooooooooooooooo...!!!!"
Now we've all had that feeling before leaving a store getting a sweet deal. Their advertising worked - it made me smile.

EVERYDAY MOMENTS

2007-06-24T15:24:00.000-07:00

Greetings Everyone!

Welcome to Everyday Moments at KEWDESIGNS. My intention is to share musings, thoughts, stories and ideas along with photos of current and past works of arts, paper arts, garden creations and laughter of my two most sweet and wonderfully lovely children - Elizabeth & Quinn.

I am very excited about sharing everyday moments in this "new to me" medium. It is my hope to stay current and be connected to family, friends, colleagues and clients.

Even on the most ordinary and uneventful day we should find something to smile about - a memory, a joke, a glance out the window revealing a flower, a dog or a bird, an interaction with a loved one or just a classic episode of Seinfeld!!!

These special quiet (or not so quiet) moments are what makes life....well, life. I intend to take a moment (or several) to smile, reflect, give thanks and most importantly play. ENJOY!!!