kitty-sose

Posted on Posted in crafting, Kids, Life3 Comments

 

I have a confession… I’m not a big fan of Halloween (why does it have to be so scary?). I’ve never really understood it. It seems like a lot of fuss (a.k.a work) for no reason. Luckily Sosi seems to be just like her mama and has never seemed to care much for it either. She’s been happy to wear and re-wear the same couple of costumes her grandma made her each year.

This year though, maybe inspired by her sister (who would happily live her entire life dressed as a monkey), she seemed keener to dress up. After looking through thrift stores and costume stores we decided to hit the fabric store instead. She instantly fell in love with this super furry white fabric and gave me simple instructions… kitty dress.

All the dread I had over the years about homemade costumes was for nothing. Making this costume was so fun! The fabric was very forgiving (mistakes hidden in the  furriness) and we are both couldn’t be happier with the results. I especially love how it turned out to look a little like a girl version of Max from Where the Wild Things Are.

New big portrait

Posted on Posted in Art3 Comments

 

I just finished this custom portrait. It’s another large one, like the one I did back in the summer.  The house in the back is the house where the girls were born, in Ottawa. They now live here in P.E.I, which is symbolized by the big tree on the right and the 3 little ones on the right, like on the provincial flag (I wish I could say that it was my idea idea to add this… but it was the mom’s).

While I was painting this Sosi kept asking me while we don’t have a family portrait like this. She has a room full of my paintings that I did when she was a baby, but nothing like this. It might be time to start thinking about making one of our very own.

warm things for winter

Posted on Posted in Illustration, knitting, Life1 Comment

 

I’ve finally finished my striped study shawl. I think it may be the longest (stitches and time wise) thing I have ever had on my needles. Painful to knit (tiny needles… soooo many stitches!), but absolutely worth it. I LOVE it! It is a tiny bit of heaven wrapped around my shoulders. The yarn is 100% alpaca (so soft). I got a great deal on the yarn from the yarn lady (I should really learn her name) at the Farmer’s Market. I have a ton left and have already started thinking of what I can make next… maybe this?

With the recent drop in temperature (brrr!) in these parts I finally got to try out the heated mattress pad I got for my birthday present from Paul and the girls. I don’t know why I have never had one of these before. It is beyond cozy! Our bedroom is not a very well heated room in an old not very well heated house. Getting into a cold bed on a cold night can be down right painful…. but now it’s like getting into a warm bath! For someone who hates to be cold, it is the perfect gift. I’m a happy (and warm) woman.

recent work and some other stuff

Posted on Posted in Art, fabric, Illustration1 Comment

Some recent custom pieces… I feel so lucky that people ask me to do these for them. They are always so much fun! The top one is of a cute family from White Rock, B.C, the bottom one is of a girl and her pirate kitty. They travel the world together.

Some illustrators I’ve recently discovered and have been really enjoying:

Sachiko Umoto (so wish I could understand Japanese)

Ina Hattenhauer  and her  blog.

Happy weekend!

 

 

 

 

what’s been going on?

Posted on Posted in knitting, Life, P.E.I1 Comment

 

It’s been a busy couple of weeks here. We’ve had Paul’s folks for a visit. My mother-in-law cooked , sewed, mended, played and baked. My father-in-law re-roofed our shed and took the chainsaw to some dead trees in the yard. They are both in their 70s and both equally inspiring. It was great to have them.

As we always do, we took my mother-in-law out to Belfast mini mills. I stocked up on more delicious yarn. I got a lovely cashmere blend to make the girls some winter hats. We love it out there.

Sosi always tells me she wants to be a farmer when we’re out there. I think Ila already thinks she is one…

It’s a long sad story (with a happy ending) but we now have another cat! Little Poppy.

 

She is so adorable and sweet, we can’t decide who loves her more, us or Angelo…

I’ve also been super busy working away on a very exciting project that I hope to be able to share with you soon!

 

 

goodbye summer

Posted on Posted in Life, P.E.I

It seems just as I started to get the hang of things, summer’s over! The decision to have the girls home with me in August was a huge success. We had a great time together and  we’re all coming out of it so much happier than we went in. Oh! I found a studio that I love, cross your fingers for me that I can get it!!

 

 

 

mail from berlin

Posted on Posted in Art, P.E.I1 Comment

At the beginning of the summer I subscribed to Peter’s “Mail me something” project. I made a small donation (I wish I had paid more!), and then proceeded to get lovely things sent to me all summer long.

Here they are:

 

A tiny alphabet book,

We got to assemble it and make a tiny cover for it ourselves.

The 4 seasons in German.

 

And a gorgeous full moon calendar (my favourite).

We even got a postcard from Oliver, he said the 2 on the front reminded him of Sosi and Ila. 🙂

I hope this is something Peter continues, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

 

 

Last 2 barns

Posted on Posted in Art, Barnfaces1 Comment

 

Here are the last 2 barns.

All together I painted 6 barns this summer in Catherine’s Studio. I’m so happy she chose  me to watch her space. These barns would never have been painted if she hadn’t. She’s back now and it’s time to hand back the keys, and I feel a little heart broken about it. I think it may be definitely time to find a space of my own…

oh, the things I do for free chocolate…

Posted on Posted in Kids, Life, P.E.I7 Comments

When I was contacted about participating in the “perfectly tiny” awards, I wasn’t sure it was for me. There was talk of photos… press… I cringed (pretty shy and awkward over here!).

The more it sat with me though, the more I began to think “why not”?  A year’s supply of chocolate and getting recognized for some of my favourite paintings? Doesn’t sound that bad! Also, how often do my kids get to see me awarded a gigantic trophy? Not enough times, I’d say. 🙂

(Thanks Nicole and  everyone at Reese for making it such a fun experience!)

table rules

Posted on Posted in Illustration, Kids, Life20 Comments

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Our “Table Rules” poster has worked wonders around here. Especially for the smallest person in our house, who you can see, was my major inspiration for the poster.

I whipped it up in a fit of desperation one night before supper. Nothing else was working or getting through to my temperamental little 2 year old. Every night she was making dinnertime stressful with her crazy behavior, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I’m not sure why I haven’t made anything like this sooner… maybe because it just seemed too easy. If your kids aren’t listening to you when you ask them something 100x why would a picture work? Well, it does. When someone  is breaking one of our “rules” at dinner time, we simply point to the picture and  (mostly) they stop.

It’s also been a big conversation piece with visitors to our home  (most likely thinking to themselves “what kind of crazy house is this?!”). People seem to like it …so I thought if this helped us, maybe it might help some others in the same situation.

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So I redid the poster and made it into a PDF (b+w, so your kids can colour it in if they want). You can download it by clicking on the button below.

P.S Sosi is pretty horrified I drew her throwing food and wanted me to make it very clear she doesn’t do that. I just couldn’t draw Ila doing everything .

download

these days

Posted on Posted in Art, Barnfaces, Illustration, Kids, Life4 Comments

summerdays

These days have been full, very full. A lot of going back and forth…

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from things like this,

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and this,

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to this,

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and this.

In July my attempt to get more childcare backfired…and I ended up with no childcare. My children were both miserable in the new places I put them and begged to stay home with me. After weeks of fighting them, and lots of tears and stress, I gave in. I ‘ve had them home for 2 weeks with me and it has worked out amazingly. I ‘m with them during the day and my husband is with them in the evening and weekends (when I whisk myself off to my (Katherine’s) studio, aka heaven). I’m actually getting lots done and more importantly …

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look how happy these two are (man, I love them)! It’s been nuts, but so totally worth it.

Chirp summer

Posted on Posted in Illustration3 Comments

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Standing in line at the Superstore last week I was surprised to see the Summer issue of Chirp. In the busy-ness of life I had forgotten about the super fun insert I did for this issue (way back in the dark of winter).

I’m really happy how it turned out. The past 2 summers we’ve done a black and white on newsprint insert, but this colour one is so much nicer looking. Hope you get a chance to check it out.

sweet surprise

Posted on Posted in Illustration2 Comments

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I made this logo last year for a woman starting up a macaron bakery.  At the time there was mention of some free samples once she got up and running, but I wasn’t holding my breath… I know how life can get crazy and these things easily forgotten.

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So you can imagine my joy when out of the blue I received this sweet package in the mail last week. A box full of these delicious treats. I’ve never had French macarons before, and boy, they do not disappoint! They were so good that they all got eaten before I could get a picture of all the different kinds.

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I love getting surprises in the mail, sweet surprises… even more!

Love confection website here.