Jason's newest painting

This original oil painting is for sale at onetindrum.etsy.com

This is the most recent painting Jason has created! I love it. It's a portrait of Erin who also happens to be one of my most cherished friends; a mother, wife and artist too. He's actually working on one of me at the moment and it's almost done..Just a few minor details to tweak. Never before has Jason painted me, so it's a bit odd to see my likeness emerging in oils. I'm excited to see it done, and then to see what he has in store next. Likely, it will be a portrait of our sweet baby Jude (-:

etsy treasury

That's what our pretty origami cranes have been featured in (-: Click here to see!

The day is remarkably cold. That winter coat and big squishy hat kind of cold! Brrrrr. Four years in California has transformed me into a big wimp apparently! More likely, I find myself in a bit of an unfortunate situation because I only have warm weather clothes! I shall have to fix that, but until that time I will dress in a million layers (-: I found a bunch of really great second~hand clothes for both Isabella and Jude, all ready for the coming winter (-: And the coming school year, which starts in just two days. Isabella is REALLY excited, which is great! There may be some emotional moments on that first morning though, when the nervousness sets in. Overall, for a kid who has been both homeschooled and then uprooted from her native land, put into three different California schools, uprooted again and taken back to Canada four years later, she is remarkably well-adjusted. She cannot wait to start her new school year and make new friends (-:

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ORIGAMI !!!!!!!! ORIGAMI !!!!!!!!

These lovely paper lanterns beautified our living room wall for years!

Jason and I love origami (-: We have been making it ~ and decorate our home with it ~ for many, many years. We have decorated our walls, ceilings, doorframes, windowframes and Christmas tree with waterbombs (small paper lanterns fitted onto the ends of Christmas lights). We make origami crane mobiles and hang them from the ceiling..We tuck individual cranes into garden pots, trees, windowframe corners, decorative bowls on a table or shelf...We give them to friends and waitresses and children. We create different origami designs for use on gift packaging, on greeting cards and holiday items (such as these Valentines made for Isabella's classmates last February!)

So yes, we love Origami. And we thought it was about time to list some in my shop so that others can enjoy it too! We have three designs right now ~

Origami cranes! They come in a package of 12 and are a random mix of different colours (-:

Origami Paper Lanterns! These come in a package of 25 and are constructed of patterned origami paper ~ Each one has a different pattern. They are so pretty when put onto the ends of Christmas lights and strung about the room. Depending on which colour(s) the lights are changes the effect. Very awesome (-:

Origami Flapping Mouths! These are fun because you can make them 'talk'. They open and close, which makes them very fun for both adults and children alike!

To see these lovely origami creations in my shop, click here!

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{{ this moment }}

Wandering Wednesday (-:

Here I am going about the business of motherhood with the sweet company of my 14 month~old son (-: Playing, exploring outside, enjoying the watery comfort of a cool sink~bath on a too~hot day... The moments of childhood go by so alarmingly fast; I know this because I also have a 9~year old daughter...I try to really pay attention, to really feel their presence and look into their eyes when we speak, to memorize the wobbly baby steps and the goofy laughs and the quirky ways they manipulate the world around them because I know that this time will be forgotten, cast aside for bigger and better things on the pathway to maturity. It brings about a sadness in me, but I also acknowledge the great beauty and honour it is to raise a child. To create a new being who will inevitably change and shape this blessed earth. The most wonderful gift (-:

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Embroidered works of art

I love to draw, and I also love to sew. I thought it would be really quite fun to incorporate them together and so I created these three prints. The first one, named 'Trees and a Basket' was drawn first with a thin drawing pen, coloured digitally, and then then I freeform embroidered the trees that you see in the background. They blend in so nicely that I think you might ~ (if you took a quick look at the print without studting it too intensely) ~ not even realize that they are, indeed, constructed of thread.

This sweet girl {Russian Teacup Girl} was painted first with black ink and a brush, coloured digitally, and then freeform embroidered. Four light pink flowers decorate the space around her and her teacup (-:

...And then there is this lovely lady ~ Pretty Bird on a Precarious Perch ~ I created her just like the other works. Her red cape has been embroidered you will see...

 

All are listed in my shop! (:  (:  (:

Oh, Wow!

Another one of my gnomes has been featured in an etsy treasury (-: Isn't that wonderful?! Click here to see!

What is even more awesome is this wonderful bed, included in the same treasury and made in Finland. I think it just may be the prettiest, most magical bed I have ever seen. I wish wish wish I could have it for my very own self (-:

Etsy treasury!

That's what this lovely little lady has been featured in (-: Yay! Check it out here!

Life's passings

Jason found this sweet baby mouse in the garage. More dead than alive, he brought it into the house to show Isabella, and she promptly created a soft nest~bed for it to lay in until its' passing from this life to the next. I don't find this morbid, I rather think it is beautiful; Especially Isabella's desire to make a comfortable death-bed for this sweet small creature, Her respect for life and it's passing.

Yesterday as we were spending time together on the front porch, Isabella spotted this huge, and very beautiful, dragonfly on the bottom step. Amarook the dog was snuffling all around it and so we did our best to zoom over and rescue it. It didn't die right away. Hours after Isabella and I created a soft grassy bed for it in a little plate and hid it from predators in a safe tree nook, it was still hanging on. We found that it had, indeed, died by the next morning but we're glad it was able to do so in peace.

Some people may think it is ridiculous to care for a small thing or to try and ease its passing; That nature deals with such things on it's own..But I think that if we care for all creatures of this beautiful planet and cultivate compassion and a genuine sense of caring, it makes a difference that is more immense than we can comprehend. I also think that sometimes wisdom can work through an animal as small as an insect or a baby mouse and create a situation where everyone involved can grow; Where knowledge and opening of the heart can transpire, and I think that it is important to 'look out' for these small gifts (which aren't really 'small' at all) because that's precisely why we're here on this planet, anyway. (-:

Keepers of the Forest!

Hello all! I have just added these sweet 'keepers of the forest', aka known as little gnome ladies, to my shop! I have been very influenced by nature lately, By trees and leaves, animals and the wind...my favourite things (-:

They are each quite lovely on their own, but they would also make an awesome set. I print my artwork onto heavy 'Arches' watercolour paper and the finished product is absolutely wondrous!

In this glorious time of autumn sneaking in from just around the corner, I am driven to consider even more 'Keepers of the land and forest'.. I do love gnomes (-: They are one of the things that truly warm my heart, along with that cup of Cream Earl Grey tea with rice milk and honey that I am going to brew for myself right now!

To scoot on over to my shop and see these lovely gnomies for yourself, click here (-:

Have a beautiful day! xo

creative happenings are afoot!

 

 

 

 

There have been various creative happenings taking place around our home as of late (-:

From the top:

1. weaving with sticks and yarn

2. the 'mailboxes' Isabella made for us (and of which she fills with special mail)

3. playdoh circle at a friends' home

4. Jason painting on the lawn

5. Mom stripping bark off of fresh branch cuttings

6. Jude and I, quilting (-:

There has also been drawing, letter-writing, card-making and photography (-: It makes me so happy to see creative projects scattered throughout the house and yard..all in progress, wonderful wonderful creativity! Most of all, I am blessed to live within a family of artists, where one's creative gifts are honoured. ^__^

Cameron Street Co-op

A couple days ago I was feeling pretty yucky. That sleep-deprived grouchy, sad kind of yucky. This doesn't happen quite so much these days. For the most part, I feel pretty good. But there it was..that yuckiness, and I couldn't stand being inside, but the day was dark and looked like it might rain at any moment so we jumped into the car and drove to the Cameron Street Co-op Cafe in Cannington (-:

I had been there just once before; nearly five years ago to see Rose Cousins perform live in an evening music show. It was magical. I brought Isabella, who was five years old at the time and she very much enjoyed the treats and entertainment.

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Jude was especially delighted because it just so happened that one of his favourite things in the whole world was there, and he was allowed to play with it as long as he liked!

He shared my sandwich and played happily (and quietly, which is a rare treat, I assure you!). I LOVE child-friendly places. It doesn't take much; just an old phone and a booster chair on the floor and not a whole lot of grab-ables strewn throughout an establishment, but it is such a great and appreciated thing for those of us who have small children but yet wish to be present in the outside world (-:

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