I don't know what compelled to me to make these pillows. It just felt right to whip up a couple of letters to spell a word that comes up frequently in my household. Maybe its the way I've been feeling since its wintery and a time of year to hibernate indoors. I have a hunch they will come in handy on many occassions.
After a cold skate, it was time to make stew. Well, the stew making happened Saturday. I chopped all the veggies and Jason put it all together. So yummy! I couldn't believe there was such a beautiful sunbean shining in right onto the counter when I was preparing the veggies. This is a spot in our home that never sees a sunbeam. I love the light at this time of the year in the late afternoon.
It's only small portion of the canal, and its only minus -35 or something with the wind chill, and I think my skate baldes are a bit rusty from being in the damp basement for a year, but I'm off to try it out...
Here's a new cute, vibrant piece I've been working on. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out, so bright and whispy. I've had some of the parts of this piece around in my studio for quite some time and wasn't sure where they would end up. I seem to make bits and poofs just because I like to make a wee thing and then make 10 of them. Then at some point I'll be putting things together and go 'Ah ha!' now I am going to use that bit. So that's how you end up with something like this. Its all part a long process and trusting the instinct that this is all going somewhere.
I scored this super cute embroidery at the St Vincents a few weeks ago for $3.99. I really like the tree motif and all the sweet animals hidding in it: birds, owls, even a few elephants! It's a bit worse for wear (a few threads are broken) but when you know its was framed in Winnepeg in 1972 as the back says, then you know its had a long, well travelled life, a few broken threads is nothing.
I made this winter skirt last month. It seems I don't often wear skirts in the winter because I can't stand wearing tights (maybe it has to do with being 6' tall, they just don't make tights tall enough and there's nothing worse than having to hitch up a sagging croth...I digress). I made this skirt with this green stretch knit I've had hanging around for so long. I had so sew the seems with polar fleece and felt because I only have an ancient straight sticher machine and it does not like sewing knits. So you make do. This skirt is like wearing a big sweater for your legs: warm and wintery!
With such a nice snowfall yesterday, I decided not to bike or walk to studio but SKI instead. Only in Ottawa would this seem like a 'normal' thing to do. I was a little worried that the snow clearers would be in full force in the afternoon, and I'd have to sheepishly walk home with my skis in hand. But it turned out they hadn't gotten to the side streets so I happily slid home.
Ahh, finally a snow day! Doesn't it make everything better? I made a big pot of veggie soup yesterday, almost like a stew except no beef. A blustery day outside will make with bowl taste even better. Welcome to Winter!
Back to the blog, back to work, back to getting into the swing of things. Happy 2007!!! It was a very good idea to get out my routine for a while and rest. Now is seems refeshingly different to get back to work. I have made a little photo gallery to the left of some images from my trip to the east coast. Always an enjoyable place to visit. And having a bit of time to work on a labour intensive little embroidery has filled me a sense of accomplishment. It seems I do have patience to sit for extended periods of time in a stitching reverie. Here's to a colouful and productive new year!
I scored this book at a granny/church craft show a few weeks ago. I had to immediatly purchase some embroidery threads and found some hoops at the St. Vincents. There are so many pretty embroidery patterns to try...which one first??? Since I am travelling to Nova Scotia at the end of the week, I thought I need a good craft project to work on while relaxing to the sound of the tides. They're all so crafty out there on the east coast.
Patterns:
I think I'm settling on one of these. Not too big, not too small, and really pretty!
My friend Lisa gave me this candy-food. I dare not eat it for fear of getting a sugar overload. Isn't it weird to see sugar "fries", "breakfast" and "hotdog". I can accept the ice cream...that one makes sense. But a sugar hot dog??? That's just plain strange. Who thought making these things were a good idea? oh, I shouldn't judge, I'm the one running around with cake on my head on occasion...
Here is a little home-project I did last week. I have wanted a blackboard for a very long time and I finally got around to picking up the blackboard spray paint and taping off the walls. It has only been a few days since its been up and its already proving to be useful for cheerful messages, lists and quick drawings that come to mind.
Back in October, Melanie, the Spins and Needles organizer, was generous to partner with me for a Lost Mitten sewing night. I had many of the Spins and Needles attendees help sew up mittens for the series of sleeping bags I am working on. So I return the favour by posting about S & N heading to Toronto for a crafty night on Sunday December 10 at the Glastone Hotel. For more info, head to the Spins and Needles site. Craft On, my Toronto friends!!!
Short of this blog turning into a food blog, I wanted to give a pre-view of the christmas fruit cake I made yesterday. I haven't even been baking anything for while, so it was nice to have a little festive session. I am not one to go on seasonal baking rampages, and making a dozens of cookies. I can only handle one recipy at a time. Now these loaves are getting wrapped in boozy cloth and hidden in the closet for a few weeks. From the wee sample I tried (delish !), I am looking forward to when this Cake has some Kick!
I had the best bowl of seafood wonton noodle soup in toronto. I also had delicious dim sum on sunday with tania and pals, but the dumplings were eaten so fast, there was no time for photos. There was also some yummy cheap sushi. and another night it was quick pizza slice. Ok, I admit it, I went to Toronto to eat. Its true.
What happened to November? It almost over and I'm trying to figure out what I was up to...moved a studio, finished some art, and had an studio tour. I spent last week painting and installation the show at Gallery 101. It looks so nice in the gallery! I did a really swish job, if I do say so myself. The gallery is having its annual fundraiser on Saturday night. Artists have donated small works for the silent auction. It's always quite a party and bidding frenzy. The gallery is open for a preview until 8pm every night this week and the event starts at 7pm on Saturday.
Now I am off to Toronto for a few days to get out my routine and see what shenanigans I get up to there.
I know cupcakes are featured regularly on this blog, and today is yet another post about them. This time, these sweet treats are being donated to SAW Gallery's ITEM sale taking place tonight. Many local artists are contributing small works made in multpiles. Should be a fun event!
So are they real or are they fake?
I went to see the new Edward Burtinsky film Manufactured Landscapes last night. It was pretty incredible, and quite a lot depressing and scary/beautiful at the same time. A must see. On a big screen. Close to the front of the theatre. The cinematography was amazing, and the audio was a lot of banging of shipbreaking and industrial factory noises. It was like being inside an Butinsky photography for about 80 minutes.
The weekend went well at the Stables Studio open house. I did a whole bunch of cleaning up (after having just moved in) and made my little nook of a studio into a cute little art gallery. It was so cozy! It was great to get some public feedback on this new fibre art that I have been working on in the past few months. I like how many people disregarded the 'rule' of do-not-touch-the-art and just went ahead and gave these fluffy sculptures a rub. It is just too tempting when you see something so textural. Good thing I finished all the pieces for the show. There were quite a few that still had pins in them. I love starting the work, but finishing it gets a bit hum-drum. Anyway, I'm pleased with the way things turned out and I'm looking forward to finding a 'real' gallery for this work. It definitely needs to be seen.
a little tree display in the other corner:
