New Studio - Part One

The long awaited new studio is finally complete! I've been planning it for ages, and Martin built me the desk a couple of weeks ago, and I've been pulling everything together since then - but it's done! The rest of the house is a shambles - but my studio is done! The thing that really makes the studio great is the desk. Martin worked really hard on it, and I love it. It's 8 feet long (!), dwarfing my previous work surface which is now the cutting table you see in the middle of the room. The new desk has got big shelves for baskets and books but best of all...
Do you see that curtain? It's hiding... Lots of flat paper storage! I am so happy to finally have a place to store my flat papers. I couldn't afford to buy new flat files, or find any used ones, so Martin rigged this up for me and I think it's great. I've covered it with a curtain because I didn't want to paint every single shelf - I know, pretty lazy - but there are a lot of shelves! There's lots more to show you in my new space, but right now, I need to kick back with a cup of tea and relax. I'll show the rest tomorrow...

Hurry up!

That's a note to myself. I've been working on getting a new studio together for the last couple of weekends now (that's my old one, above) and I can't wait to have it finished. It's nearly there, but a few frustrating things are holding me back. The main one is that I can't get the filing cabinet I got from work up the stairs. It's a neat old filing cabinet, and it's going to be my main storage unit in the room since I won't have the cabinets along the wall that you see in the old studio (which will now be the spare bedroom). Also, I opened the new blinds I got for the room and discovered that there was no hardware, and, the baskets I bought don't fit in my new, custom built desk - so it's back to the shop I go. Sigh. But - I am hoping to have all of these issues sorted out by the end of the weekend and show you some photos soon.

Weird Things

I've been tagged by Tash at Poppyseeds to list 7 random things about myself. For some reason, I thought I had to say 7 weird things about myself, so that's what I did. I am a bit sleepy, so I'm not going to go back and change them now. Anyhow, here goes - both random and a bit weird -

I don’t have prescription sunglasses so I wear really big sunglasses over my regular glasses and everyone laughs at me. See Exhibit A, above. Really bad photo - and you can kind of see my real glasses under the sunnies. No wonder everyone laughs.

I have really long toes. I can pick things up with them, curl them into a fist and nearly splay them out into a Vulcan-type salute. See Exhibit B, below. As you can see, I am also ghostly white, even in the height of summer.



I love salt. When I was little I used to make salt sandwiches on white bread. Recipe – Salt one slice of white bread, top with another slice of white bread. Enjoy! Where were my parents? Actually, I could kind of go for one right about now…

I almost always wear mismatched socks because I can’t be bothered matching them up.

I’ve had a monobrow since second grade. Thank goodness for waxing!

I hate ketchup. The look, the smell, everything. I don’t even like sitting next to someone who is eating ketchup, but I am getting a bit better about this.

I always have to be reading something or I feel totally lost. In the absence of books or magazines, I will read cereal boxes – anything!

I won't tag anyone else, but you are most welcome to play along anyhow. Maybe just write one weird thing in the comments? Thanks for tagging me Tash, it was fun. And now, good night!

Kitty Lovin' Blogs

I recently received comments on my blog from Sabine of Cats & Quilts and Danielle of Pussman & Co. Both are from Belgium, are children's book illustrators, and both love cats! I'm glad that they commented on my blog, because I've loved discovering both of their blogs. They do such wonderful illustrations, and share lovely craft and project photos. I would recommend checking them out!

Warning - Gratuitous Puppy Photos follow..

My mom bought him this outfit. The back says "Ready to Snuggle." Not very dignified, but he seems to like it.

Button Swap!

I received my sweet vintage button swap package from Joan of roseandpie. As well as some lovely buttons, it included great paper scraps, stamps, tags,ribbon and cards. All my obsessions bundled into a lovely little package. Thanks Joan!

Long time, no blog

Sorry for my unexplained absence from the blog. We had some holidays last week, and went away to the beautiful Annapolis Valley here in Nova Scotia. We had a great time staying in a cute little cottage on the beach. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos, because my camera ran out of batteries as soon as we got there, and I had forgotten my charger. It also rained a lot, but we relaxed by reading books, drinking wine and eating, lots of eating! Above is a photo of what our view from the cottage would have been like on a sunny summer day.
We went for a drive one day, and discovered this grouping of little hobbit cottages. This one is called the Blue Cottage, and they were built by Charles MacDonald, owner of a local concrete company. I can't describe how strange it was to come across these fantastical little structures in a fairly isolated little spot. The cottage can actually be rented for holidays - maybe our next trip?

I've also been very busy making books, and Martin has built my new studio table. It's all very exciting. I hope to paint it over the weekend and get the studio set up ASAP. We had a great holiday, but it's good to be back.

Martha @ Michaels

A new Michaels craft shop opened down the road from my house last night, and I went to check it out. Much to my delight, they had the new Martha Stewart Craft line in stock. I had been looking forward to see what was on offer, and the verdict? Well, it’s mixed. Everything is beautiful, as you would expect, and also very pricey – this was to be expected as well. The range is mainly focused on papercrafts, with scrapbooking items, food packaging and craft kits. The things I loved about the products on offer were the colours – beautiful and muted. I bought a few spools of ribbon in colours I had been looking for – beautiful corals, teals and greys – all toned down a notch. Lovely! There were also lots of nice papers, cards and tags in these gorgeous colourways. Even the craft tools – scissors, rotary trimmers, punches, etc. – were in a lovely dove grey tone. A nice change from the bright orange tools you often see in other ranges.

The disappointments mainly had to do with price. She had some gorgeous linen storage boxes for ribbon that would hold about 6 – 8 spools, but at $24.95 each, I could never afford to switch my huge collection over. The craft kits would look very familiar to regular readers of the magazine – I had seen them all in previous issues, projects like the tissue paper flowers - an image of one I made is above - were packaged up in kits with the pieces pre-cut at a price of around $15. To assemble the materials you would need to do the project would cost much less, and having all the items pre-cut is taking away half the fun. But, I guess if you aren’t particularly crafty, or are short on time (and have lots of cash!) the kits could be an option.

To coincide with the new product range, Martha is launching a crafts website in May. You can register to be notified when it goes live, and to get regular updates. I, for one, have already signed up.

Vintage Button Swap

My swap partner Joan, of roseandpie emailed to let me know she received her package from the Vintage Button Swap. Now, I'm free to show you some images of the buttons I sent off to her. Above is a close-up of the outer package...

Here's what was inside - some spools of vintage ribbon, a little accordion book, a small bird, and of course - BUTTONS...
And, here is a close-up of the buttons that I sent. I hope that Joan likes them, and gets to use them in some projects. I expect to get her package any day now, and look forward to sharing some of those images with you.

Recent Work

I've been working on a few photo albums recently - I'm seeing a client on the weekend and promised to have a few new "spring-y" designs. Ok, the brown isn't especially spring-y, but I like it.
How much more spring-y can you get than pink cherry blossoms?
Maybe red and pink cherry blossoms on a blue sky? All the albums have very colourful pages inside too - robin's egg blue, fushia and red respectively. Now, I must "spring" into action and make more books. The puns just keep on comin' around here....

The Postman Only Rang Once

Ok - I'll start this off by saying that I think that is officially the corniest blog post title ever! But, I was quite thrilled to come home on one day last week and find that the postman had indeed rung once, and left many wonderful things.

First - my Print Gocco order! I haven't had a chance to unpack and use my Gocco yet, but I am so looking forward to giving it a go. And, I can't say enough about the speed and professionalism of etsy seller feltcafe, who I bought the gocco from. It took about a week after I placed the order for the Gocco to reach me from Japan, even though I asked for a number of additional supplies that feltcafe proprietor Liz had to go out and buy.

I had also ordered a few books and albums from Amazon, and a part of the order arrived last week. One book that arrived was "Flea Market Style" - something I've been wanting for absolute ages, but for some reason never bought. I'm so happy that I did though - flea market style is really my aesthetic, and the book is so inspirational. It will join my other fave home design books "Found Style" and "Canadian Country Style" on my shelves. I know that I will look through it again and again, and be inspired again and again.

The other book that I ordered was Barbara Gowdy's "Helpless." I have loved previous books by Barbara Gowdy, who explores and normalizes the darker side of human nature in many of her books and stories. I was first drawn to her after reading her book of short stories "we so seldom look on love" featuring stories about necrophilia, transexuality and siamese twins. She has an amazing way of getting inside people and making us understand them. The subject matter of "Helpless" is also confronting - but I am sure that it will make compelling reading.

Finally, but also most wonderfully and surprisingly - I got a package from Shona of lala dex press that included tapes of "Extras" - a show that I love but cannot watch here. I haven't watched them yet, but I am so looking forward to it. Thanks Shona - what a fantastic surprise!

Can't judge a book by it's cover

Penguin books has just released (well, around here anyway) a series of classic books with blank covers that you can decorate yourself. I think it's a great idea - I saw them at the bookstore and was struck with their lovely simplicity when blank. The titles include classics like Crime and Punishment, The Picture of Dorian Grey and The Brothers Grimm. My personal favorite of the lot is Emma, and the cover interpretation by Elisabeth Jobin that I found on the Penguin flickr page. It would be great fun to decorate a book, or to give one to a creative friend to have fun with. Penguin is inviting people to submit their designs to the gallery, which is pretty cool too. I just think it's wonderful that a company known for it's iconic cover designs - remember those great orange ones - is letting us have a go!

Lessons from a Painter's Studio

I recently picked up Pottery Barn Workspaces on sale at my local bookstore. It's a great book, full of inspiration. There are lots of artistic workspaces, and lots of different furnishings are used - not just things from Pottery Barn. Which is good, because there isn't one within a zillion miles from here. My favorite room in the whole book is in a section titled "Lessons from a Painter's Studio."
It's an amazing, light filled studio which is perfectly furnished and organized. Above is a detail shot of the worktable and all the artist's tools in an "old school" toolbox.

One of my favorite things is this work island in the middle of the studio. There is so much workspace on top, and so much storage underneath. The height is perfect for standing, or sitting on a stool.

This desk would be a great secondary workspace - I love the way that the top is clear so that you could store your supplies and inspiring images below, and have the whole top free for work.

My most favorite thing are these flat files. I dream of having flat files in my studio. I guess the reason that I'm revisiting this book now is that we are finally (!) going to begin work on my new space. Some of the inspiration is coming from this room and this book - and I will have flat paper storage! I really can't wait. Stay tuned for some photos in early - mid May.

Extreme Makeover, Puppy Edition

On the urging of the vet, I took Milo for a haircut. I was a bit reluctant, because I didn't want him to loose his "puppy" look yet - but I think the hair cut is great. It's still nice and puppyish, but now I can see his eyes. Actually, it's a little like a doggie version of the mullet - short and spiky on top and long in the back.

Shopping and Swapping

The weather has been miserable here the last couple of days, and so have I. I have had a terrible headache - but it's not all bad - being indoors has let me catch up on my blog reading, internet shopping and completing my vintage button swap package. That's a photo of the package going to Joan of roseandpie - hope she likes what's inside! The little suitcase that the package is sitting on is my husband's old school case from kindergarten. There is a little sticker inside that says "C'mon Aussie." It's very cute. But - I digress - I've finished telling you about the swapping part of my day - now the shopping part.

I'm quite excited to tell you that I've ordered a print gocco (!) from etsy seller felt cafe. As well as goccos and supplies, she sells her own wonderful felt creations and also Japanese craft books. It was all I could do not to order the book on needle felting featuring dogs. So cute! I am planning to make some cards and hope that the gocco will arrive from Japan in time for my holiday in a couple of weeks so that I can have a good play with it.

I also finally ordered a few books on Amazon that I've had my eye on for some time. And, I pre-ordered the new Feist (!) album. I love Feist, and I'm very excited that her new record is coming out. I saw her live last year, and she did a few songs that she was working on - absolutely amazing. I can't say enough about Feist and how much I love her - I think that she is a true artist. The album is released on May 1st - how many sleeps away is that?

This is what happened....

...this weekend and this week...

...I cut up lots of Japanese paper and made some books...I made hot cross buns from Austen's recipe (they were yummy - thanks Austen)...there was a giant snowstorm...I went to work...

...yeah, I know it's pretty dull...even Milo was bored.

Buttons

I'm participating in the Shim + Sons Vintage Button Swap. I have resisted a lot of cool swaps lately because I don't have the time to shop and put things together, but I couldn't resist this one. I have a load of buttons in my house - the photo above is only a small sample of what I have. I got the buttons through an inheiritance - two older women that my mom knew passed on, and she got their buttons. Then, she gave the buttons to me. I'll say again - there are a lot of buttons. These women were raised in the depression, when everything was saved. If they discarded a worn shirt or jacket, they would cut the buttons off first. I am the lucky beneficiary of this thrift - to the tune of a few big jars and tubs full of buttons. Sometimes, I feel guilty about having all the buttons and not using them for something. But, maybe the best thing is to have a collection and appreciate their utilitarian beauty. At times, I will need one or two buttons for a project, or to replace the horrible button on a thrifted jacket. I love to pour the jars of buttons out on the floor and pick through them, discovering new treasures.

Sorry, I've just gone into this total blabbery stream of conciousness about buttons when I could have just said - "I like buttons - a lot."

Pantry Pasta

Two posts in one day - must be a record! After eating a yummy dinner of what I like to call "pantry pasta" I was inspired to post about it. A pantry pasta is one that you put together on the fly, with stuff you have lying around. Tonight, my pantry pasta included goat's cheese, walnuts, olives, lemon, mayo, tuna, red onion, sundried tomatoes and dried herbs, with a bit of parmesan grated on top for good measure. I don't cook the sauce, I just add it to the warm pasta with a bit of the cooking water and heat slightly. Don't ask me about the quantities, because I just chuck everything together willy-nilly.

Another great pantry pasta is the one pictured above by Jamie Oliver. It's simply linguine with lemon, olive oil and parmesan. Simply delicious! And there are so many variations, you can add herbs, artichokes and veggies. Jamie Oliver makes lots of wonderful pastas - there are a few recipes on his site, and his books are highly recommended.

My other pantry pasta idol is Donna Hay. She has loads of delicious and simple recipes in her magazine, and her book "Off the Shelf." Of all the cookbooks I own (and I own a lot), that's the one I refer to the most. And, all of her publications have beautiful photography and styling.

So, the next time you think that you have nothing to eat, have a closer look in your pantry - you could have the ingredients for an unexpectedly lovely pasta!

Long time, no post

It's been a little while since I posted. Things have been a bit crazy busy around here with book orders and Milo. Also, our phone/internet was disconnected for a few days when techincians cut our lines. Anyhow, a quick recap of the weekend - even though it's Thursday already! It was 13 and sunny on Friday, so we took Milo for a walk in the park. He was so happy and excited - it was probably the warmest it's been in all of his little life.
On Saturday, we left the little guy at home. After supervising a container shipment of craft supplies for Double Happiness (not really, but I love the colours and the juxtaposition of the industrial ship and the old wooden wharf).....we went out for coffee and delicious cupcakes. Not only was my lilac and chocolate cupcake beautiful, but it was also extremely tasty.
Finally, Milo got a new jacket. He doesn't mind wearing it, and it keeps him toasty on the chilly mornings (and afternoons, and evenings) that we're still having. And now, it's nearly the weekend again. Have a great one!

Inspiring images from Marie Claire Idees

A few months back, Marieke of Treats and Treasures kindly introduced me to Marie Claire Idees - a lovely craft magazine out of France. I thought I couldn't get it here, but then happily stumbled upon it in the French section of my local newsagents. I now have them reserve a copy for me each month, and I find so many great things - it's quickly becoming my favorite magazine. For example - check out the image above from this month's issue. What a great craft space, complete with those lovely jam jars with checkered tops used as storage.

Continuing my obsession with organization and craft storage, have a look at the image above. I think it's an amazing idea to incorporate storage into a room divider - could be a great solution for someone who doesn't have a dedicated craft room. Also great for storing home office supplies or creating a reading nook - magazines could be stored in the pockets.

I also have an obsession with trees and cherry blossoms, so I think this project is great. I am thinking of working something similar into my next craft display booth. I also just love the styling of this image - it really says something about the French lifestyle to have such a beautiful and whimsical piece in a utilitarian place like the laundry room. But, a lovely laundry room it is - I imagine that jug on the floor is filled with lavender scented water for the iron - almost makes me want to do housework. But not quite.

Finally - this is my favorite image. I love the muted yellow colours - perfect for Spring. I also love this project - I have been wanting to replace the shade of the light in my front hall for ages, but couldn't find anything to fit the existing fixture. I think that a beaded shade will look perfect there - and I can make it fit perfectly. Even if it turns out a bit wonky, that's all part of the charm.

Marie Claire Idees is great - there are so many more images I'd like to share with you. I want to make so many projects from this issue - there is inspiration on every page. The magazine includes instructions for each of the projects pictured above. All are written in french, but even I can pretty much follow them with my rudimentary skills. Now, all I need is more time to craft!

Martha + Craft Storage = Yay!

I just heard that Martha Stewart is releasing a line of craft storage and organizational products to be sold at Michaels and I have one thing to say - yay! Her ideas and projects - like the ribbon organizer in progress above - are so fantastic, I'm really looking forward to seeing these new products, which I think will hit the shelves in April/May. Apparently, she is also releasing a paper craft line at the same time. Again - yay!

I feel amazed...

Via Cool Hunting, I came across a site called "We feel fine" by Jonathan Harris. It's absolutely amazing - it searches blog posts from around the world for the words "I feel" and then takes the results and sorts them in wonderful ways. It's hard to explain - I guess I would say it's like a snapshot of the blogosphere as it relates to our humanity. It's great, and very addictive - I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Library Thing

I was looking for a widget to display the books I'm reading in my sidebar, and I stumbled across a site called "Library Thing." It's a site where you can catalogue your library of books, get suggestions on new reads and create a lovely widget like the one you see in my sidebar. I know that you can do some of the same things with Amazon, but sometimes it's nice to have a non-commercial reference source.

I'm actually thinking of doing an Amazon order soon. I want to get a few things I've had my eye on for a while, like Flea Market Style, Simple Sewing with a French Twist, Japanese Bookbinding and - as if that's not enough! - a fiction book, but I'm not sure which one. With all the suggestions from Amazon and Library Thing, I'm a bit overwhelmed. Any one out there have any ideas?

Days and Nights

I've spent my days this week on the upper campus of the university, taking some computer courses. I actually love working on the University campus - it's got so much more life and soul than an office tower.
I like the old buildings, and the character and texture of the bricks. The blue sky and sun we had earlier this week helped my mood, thank goodness for the beginnings of spring.
Nighttime is puppy time - I can't wait to get home to this little guy every night. I am so glad that the weekend is coming - the days will be busy with walks, errands and crafting, the nights with relaxation and fun. TGIF to all!

Dog Judo

Ok, this is the last of my dog-centric posts - for a little bit anyhow. I just had to share this funny site called "Dog Judo." It's been around for a while, but never fails to make me laugh. It's two dogs who, well...do judo. They also read the morning papers, go on "powerdates" and all in these really great English accents. Martin pointed out last night that Rexley, the mean little black dog, looks a lot like Milo. Anyhow, if you're looking for a silly laugh, check out Dog Judo. You won't be sorry.

I broke a promise...

To myself, and to my dog. Milo, I am so sorry that I made you wear that little red jacket. But, you were shivering everytime we went outside. But, you obviously hate this - so back to the shop it goes. I promised myself when I got you, that I wouldn't be one of those people who dresses their dog up in little outfits, but I couldn't resist. I think that I am well on my way to becoming a "crazy dog lady." But, I promise not to put bows in your hair - honest. Well, not 'til summer anyhow....

Henhouse in "Style at Home"

I have mentioned "Henhouse" a number of times in my blog. They are my favorite shop here in Halifax, and they carry my books. They were my favorite place even before they carried my work though! The shop is a treasure trove of wonderful items, from whimsical little accessories, to Eastern European antiques to custom furniture. The owners, Sappho and Denise, are amazing and supportive - as are their staff. Henhouse was featured in "Style at Home" this month and Sappho is interviewed on the website. So, if you're in the area - check out the shop. And if you're not, check out the website and the magazine. You'll be inspired!

Milo

I haven't posted in ages, but this time, I have an excuse. His name is Milo, and he is a terrier poodle cross. After wanting a dog for ages - it was my dream to get a dog when I owned my own house - and convincing Martin that it was a good thing to do, I found Milo on the internet, and went to meet him on Friday. It was love at first sight - on my part anyhow - and he must have thought I was okay too because he licked me. It's been a tough few days though - Milo got sick on Saturday, and we ended up in the emergency animal clinic with him wrapped up in a blanket, limp and shivering. He spent the night there on an IV, and now he's on the mend - turns out it was a mild virus brought on by the stress of all the changes in his little life. I know he's feeling better because he even chased a cat yesterday!

Despite all the frustrations of housetraining in below freezing temperatures, and the way he cries each night when we put him in his bed, I've already developed quite a bond with this little guy. Every night when I come home, we head up to my studio and he sits on a blanket and just watches me work. I'm looking forward to a lot of nice times with Milo, and I'm sure that you'll be hearing about all his antics (ad nauseum!) here in the future. He's curled up sleeping beside me as I type this and looking extremely cute.