summer fun

Posted on Posted in crafting, knitting, Life, P.E.I

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I don’t think there is a better place to be on a hot PEI summer day than Belfast Mini Mills.

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While the children watch the chickens and bunnies and play with the pups, I get to shop for yarn and dream of future projects.

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They dream of someday being farmers and getting to have 17 cats (or at least Sosi does).

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We came home happy, our tummies full after a visit to their little tea shop.

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My knitting basket is also full now, of the yarn to make this beautiful blanket.

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I’ve been wanting to make one for years and it felt like now was the time. Summer isn’t summer unless you have a good knitting (or in this case crocheting)project on the go… at least for me it isn’t!

Finding Balance

Posted on Posted in Art, Barnfaces, Kids, Life3 Comments

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My biggest challenge in motherhood so far has been finding that ever elusive life-work balance. In my perfect world I would have a few days of doing this…

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followed by some lovely days like this…

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The hard part is not feeling a little resentful (for not having time to work) when I’m doing this…

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or not feeling really guilty (for not being with my kids) when I’m doing this.

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It’s especially difficult in times like this when my girls are having a hard time.  I know things will work out. If we are patient and easy on ourselves, the perfect balance will come.

lego portraits

Posted on Posted in Kids, Life1 Comment

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(lego portraits by Sosi of Ila and herself)

Thinking a lot of my girls today as both start new summertime adventures that will allow me some much needed time to work.

It never gets easier leaving them somewhere new for the first time. I feel the same today (a little nauseous and a lot sad) as I did when I left Ila at daycare for the first time, or dropped Sosi off for her first day of school. It breaks my heart every time. I really hope the tears have been replaced by smiles and happy new friends when I pick them both up later.

quiet, alone

Posted on Posted in Art3 Comments

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The kindest of people thought of me to be their studio-sitter this summer.

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You know that feeling of not realizing how much you miss something that you haven’t had in so long?

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That’s what I’m feeling right now… plus the pure bliss of having a quiet space to be alone and work.

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It’s so good!

what do you when it feels like winter in June?

Posted on Posted in crafting, Kids, Life, P.E.I

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You make a beach blanket! It’s usually cold here on PEI this June. Most days we are still in fleece jackets and boots. Each morning we wake up to a dreary 10 degree day. We ‘re starting to feel pretty grumpy and are wondering how long this can go on!

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I decided a bright yellow happy beach blanket was just the thing to make us feel better. While cutting, pinning and sewing this with Ila on my knee, I couldn’t help but smile and think of all the beautiful days that will hopefully come soon and we can finally be outside.

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The only thing is Ila’s convinced that this blanket is for her and will not let it out of her sight. I think I will have to get back to my sewing machine and make another. I have plenty of time though, it’s still chilly outside…

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at least it’s sun-shiny inside!

sweet, sweet weekend

Posted on Posted in food, Kids, Life1 Comment

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I’ve been dreaming about making these mini banana splits since I first laid eyes on them a couple weeks ago.  The girls and I made them together yesterday (more them as you can see). Ours didn’t look as amazing as the ones in the recipe, but man, they tasted sooooooo good! Our dinner table hasn’t ever been so quiet as when we were eating these. 🙂

Sosi made the rice crispy snowmen for a dinner we had with some friends on Saturday. She had seen a picture of some popcorn marshmallow snowmen in an old American Girl magazine we had lying around and has been fixated with making them ever since… like mother like daughter!

an easy blanket for Ila

Posted on Posted in crafting, Kids1 Comment

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I’ve been wanting to make a similar patchwork quilt for Ila like the one I made for Sosi a while back.  Sadly, it just hasn’t happened and I couldn’t see it happening anytime soon. So I decided to go for the easy road instead of no road at all.

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I went to the local Fabricville and picked out the least offensive fabric (sorry Fabricville, but I hate you). I quickly sewed it  to the rest of that amazing vintage chenille cozy blanket I have been saving. I then filled it with the same bamboo quilting batting I used for Sosi’s.

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I stitched on some cute buttons in an effort to make it a little more special (and to hold the batting in place ) . I think it came together pretty well. It will at least hold her until she gets her proper quilt like her sister’s… someday (I’m still hopeful, that’s good right?).

pile of things…

Posted on Posted in small fancy2 Comments

03-06-2011

This week at The Small Fancy we were inspired by the Burning House to make our own piles of things we would rescue from our houses were on fire. Once I knew that all the humans and the cat were all safe I would go back for:

  • some favourite comics
  • photo of me and my sister
  • photo of my mother in law
  • tiny paintings of my girls
  • favourite pair of scissors given to me by my mother in law
  • wedding photo
  • daughter’s teeth
  • doll Mia gave to me as a wedding present
  • hard drive with all my photos on it
  • bedspread made by my mother in law

making me happy

Posted on Posted in Kids, Life3 Comments

Paul has been away and is still away. When he’s away from us, I tend to feel pretty sad…

Here are some things that are have been cheering me up while he’s been away…

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A visit from Pop

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Finally getting a warm day!

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Flowers from our backyard

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Sosi’s paintings of these flowers

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Quiet  moments

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Crazy moments

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Having this handsome man to keep me company.

cold may knitting

Posted on Posted in knitting

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It is cold, so cold. I usually have a hard time getting through the freezing cold April here in PEI, but this year the cold-rainy-windy-horribleness has crept into my usually lovely May. What’s the best way to deal with this? Knitting!

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I’ve started my Stripe Study Shawl! It is wonderful to knit, and I can’t wait for it to be done (I could really use it right now). I bought some lovely fine alpaca yarn in beige and teal at the Farmer’s Market. It is so soft and fluffy.  I’m going to keep on happily knitting and pretend I don’t notice what it looks like outside.

mother’s day

Posted on Posted in Kids, Life4 Comments

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I’m so lucky I get to be the mom to these 2 little ones. Sometimes I feel so completely inadequate for the job, like they deserve so much more than I can give. Each day is a fresh start and I get a change to be better, and become the mother I  dream of being.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there, especially my mom and my mother-in-law Norete… love you both.

special day

Posted on Posted in Illustration2 Comments

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It was a pretty special day here today. I wanted to pop in here and write something about it this morning, but have been too busy with work, cakes, kids… so here I am at 8:30 at night wishing my lovely husband a happy birthday.

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We are all so in love with you Paul and feel lucky each day to have you in our lives. Thank you for being the best dad in the world to these 2 sweet girls of ours and for always being there for me. I hope we made you feel as special today as you make us feel every day. Happy birthday!