I just finished these 2 portraits for Romina in Toronto, who is a good good friend of my dear sweet friend Mo. Romina found out about my work in a round-about way and was surprised to find out I was friends with her best friend.

When I sent these pictures to Romina, she told me she teared up a little.  I feel so lucky when I get to do one of these portraits, and even more so when I know it’s going to such an appreciative home.

The show is up and it looks great!

If you have a chance stop by and take a look (the gallery is open daily 12-5), it’s such a great group of artists. The official opening is Saturday at 7:00, hope to see you all there!!

I didn’t think it was going to happen, but we got a space! There was a cancellation at the gallery@the Guild and we are booked!

It ‘s such short notice, but we still managed to get 13 pairs of artists for the show. I’m so excited and honored to help put this show together.

The amazing poster was made for us by Tyler Landry, I love it!

I feel like I’m finally on the other side of crazy. The sleepless nights, the planning, the worrying, the moving, the cleaning…  are over. We are in our new home, and loving it.

It’s really everything I’ve ever wanted in a home, and I’m loving it more each day.  We have big plans for this house, but won’t start anything until our other house sells. For now we are just enjoying being here, which is pretty great.

The past few days have been chaotic and emotional. We packed up our lives at the house that welcomed us to this island, and have moved on.

I wasn’t expecting to feel this way, this move was my idea! I just can’t help but feel sad to leave the only home Sosi remembers, the one where Ila has lived her whole life. There are so many memories there.

Our last night in the house I was busy packing and I glanced out into the yard and saw this. My girls planting the chestnuts they had stuffed in their pockets that day from the new house, in the backyard of the old house. I don’t know what it was, my sheer exhaustion or the golden light falling on their backs but this just broke my heart.

Farewell  fifty-five Fitzroy, you have been so good to us. I hope whoever’s house you are next, they will love you as much as we do.

I’ve been holding back on the blogging lately because the only thing I’ve had on my mind is trying to sell our house. I was worried that talking about that here might jinx things, so I ‘ve been keeping mum.

The thing is the house still hasn’t sold, and I don’t think my talking about it or lack of talking really has anything to do with it. It just is what it is.

We move into our new little house next week. That’s her up there. I’ve been holding back my excitement because I ‘ve  been so stressed out. It’s  incredibly difficult to maintain the high level of stress I’ve had for the past 7 weeks. I’ve realized there’s nothing I can do about any of this (hard realization for a control freak), so I’m deciding to let it go. No more stress. Ahhh, that feels better.

Look at that  sweet little house. It’s nestled on a quiet street, close to Sosi’s school, around the corner from my sister-in-law’s house and down the street from Ila’s baby-sitter’s. It’s still walking distance to my studio, downtown and the water. It’s a tiny house and I love that. I’m looking forward to making it our own. I’m also looking forward to the huge backyard with trees and my future garden… and maybe chickens? We’ll see about that one.

This house will sell… and if it doesn’t, maybe we ‘re meant to keep it. In the back of mind I’ve always wanted to hold on to this house, rent the 2 apartments out and maybe move back when the girls are grown. I love this house something fierce… maybe the universe is trying to show me again that I can handle more than I think I can.

Last week.

This week.

*sigh*

These past weeks have been a little overwhelming. We bought a house (!) almost  sold our house, but didn’t :(.

I’m trying my best to stay positive and grounded, but I’m worried about having to move in a few weeks, worried about what to do if we don’t sell this house… and about million other things.

In between the crazy-hustle-bustle there have been some lovely moments… it’s in these moments that I feel everything will work out and be OK.

I’d love to hear how you get grounded…

Here are some peeks of something I’ve been working away on. Donnalee  gave me a couple of painted boxes before she left to the UK for a year to work on her masters. She wanted me to to create something from them. She mentioned something about pinecones that stuck in my head… and this is what I came up with.

She also asked me to curate a collaborative show for Peake st studios ( a wonderful local art collective)… but sadly I’ve dropped the ball on that. I haven’t been able to find a space, as the Guild (our usual space) is booked all year.

Hopefully we can get something set up for next year. At least my pieces are done!

It’s always very exciting when something new opens in Charlottetown.

It’s even more exciting (for me) when they want to have my things in their shop.

The Young family (Adam, Rebekha and their 3 lovely boys) recently moved to Charlottetown and is opening up Young Folk and the Kettle Black. It’s a coffee shop/store.  I actually went to high school with Rebekha in Ottawa, many years ago. It was so nice to see her again. She and Adam fell in love with PEI after visiting,  (it’s hard not to) and decided to move here last year.

Last weekend, with my sick Ila in tow (I didn’t know it was hand, foot and mouth at the time!), I dropped off a bunch of paintings, fabric pieces and cards for the store.

It is a beautiful space, where the old Ampersand used to be. They are opening this weekend and  will be selling all sorts of lovely things upstairs and downstairs there will be cake and coffee…

yes, the coffee… let me tell you about the coffee! It is the best coffee I’ve had on PEI. I almost cried when I tasted it. I’ve been wanting to go back and have another ever since, but have been stuck at home with a contagious child. Soon.

They are such kind and lovely people and it’s a wonderful  little space, just what this little town needs.