making spaces

19Nov09

Little by little, we claim corners of our new home.  Though we really have to save our pennies for the basement reno, I couldn’t resist the temptations at IKEA yesterday.  This lampshade looks like the woods outside our house.  Nerdy, perhaps, but I love it:

My dad made this lamp for me when I was little.  The lampshade is new…. as are the candles…

and maybe we didn’t need the throw pillow quite yet, but it is pretty.  Yes?

Just forget that I should have sewed it – out of recycled pants or some such thing. W and I had a party:  ballroom, meatballs and fries, chocolate milk and shopping.  Neither local, nor sustainable.  I am hiding my car keys.

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beautiful yarn and that nasty flu

16Nov09

Quick update!  We got hit with the flu.  I am pretty sure it was THE flu, though we weren’t offically tested.  The day after returning from Yellowknife was spent in a feverish haze.  I think I passed out (I woke up on the bedroom floor after a treacherous trip to the bathroom)…. It was ugly – and pretty much knocked me out for a good week and a half.  Nobody else got it.  Well, W and S might have had it, if coughing and vomiting without a fever counts.  Not sure.  Regardless, I am keeping my fingers crossed that we stay in the clear until my lovelies can be immunized.

So… my creative efforts have been limited.  I did manage to start a toque for AZ.  We picked up this yarn at the Whistler Farmer’s Market over the summer.  I love it.  Impulse of Delight yarns are inspired by the Whistler landscape.  AZ chose “Emerald Forest”.   Appropriate, because we used to ride our bikes in Whistler’s Emerald Forest trails before our babies were born (you know, when we could spend 4 hours riding our bikes together and not worry about impaling ourselves on branches and falling off of wee cliffs – and follow it all up with beer and nachos at the pub.  Ahhh… one day… we’ll get back there).  I want to pick up some Blackberry next.

Filed under: Knitting, Traveling near and far   |  1 Comment

like a giant art project…

10Nov09

Our old house was a well-oiled machine.  We had built-in cabinets, a simple layout and a place for everything.  The silly thing is that I keep forgetting it took us nine years to get to that point.  It takes a while to build infrastructure and settle into a place.

We are still in boxes.  Big time.  I refuse to unpack the little bits and pieces until the infrastructure is built.  Thankfully, we have a wee budget for a cabinet or two.  That, and we are planning to finish an unfinished basement.   The girls will get their own rooms and we will all get a second bathroom.  It is all so exciting!  I just have to be patient.  In the meantime,  I have unpacked my sewing machine.  It sits in the middle of the living room, ready for a project or two.

Did I mention that our new house is brown?  Very brown.  There is grass wallpaper on most of the walls.  I do like it.  Except I don’t like it on every wall.  I have been steaming some of it off.  And guess what?  It’s brown underneath.  Wood paneling.  In beautiful condition!  So, do I wallpaper this?  Or paint over it? (ie. change it forEVER).  My girlfriend made the best comment of all.  She said that the house is “like a giant art project”.   I suppose it is.  And I should look at it that way.

Taking deep breaths, heating up the steamer and pouring over decor magazines….  design ideas most welcome.

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the Flame

09Nov09

I went to Yellowknife (in the Northwest Territories!)… to watch my sister carry the Olympic Torch.  She doesn’t live there, but won a Coca Cola torchbearer lottery.  Until now, I haven’t gotten caught up in the 2010 Olympics one way or the other.  I am excited to have a new Skytrain line and some fancy new ice rinks, but I am not looking forward to the traffic or the chaos, especially when I haven’t been able to score some tickets (1. they are expensive  2. I was not successful in the ticket lottery).   Bah Humbug!

I have to say that the Olympic Flame brought tears to my eyes.   Yes, the Olympics are expensive, intrusive and corporate….  but do you remember how they used to feel as a kid?   I remember watching the Olympics in awe.  I knew many of the athlete’s names and would practice my rhythmic gymnastics routines for hours on end.  I loved watching the procession of athletes and flags during the Opening Ceremonies, marveling at the size of the Kenyan team versus the size of the American Team and voting for my favourite uniforms.  I loved the athlete bios (called something like “Minute Maid Minutes” or “Nestle Nanoseconds” or something like that), with video clips of them training in their hometowns.  I am sure me and my sisters crafted a podium somewhere in the house.  I know there were some paper medals!

Kids are dreaming, athletes are training hard and people are getting together to share food and ideas.  That stuff is pretty cool.

And I got to see Great Slave Lake:

And buy some caribou antler buttons for E’s sweater!

It is a wee bit small (ack!!!!), but she likes it and… it’s blue, so W will wear it.  Right??

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little blond Leia

31Oct09

I found most of the instructions here.

We were at a party.  She wasn’t in the mood for a photo shoot…

… until I found her watching a Halloween flick:

We added the wool buns – they double as earmuffs.   I’ll try to get photos of my Dragon-slaying King and Witch up this evening at some point (their costumes were more assembled, than made).   Actually wait… here is my little Witch:

AZ made the broom!  And E loved that she could call her sister an “Evil Witch” without getting into trouble.

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we’re in

28Oct09

and back Online!  Lots to do, but no “have to” dos.  It is a nice position to be in.  The previous owners lived here for 49 years.   Aside from some particularly icky bathroom tile, their tastes were quite similar to ours.

The garden is big and extremely well cared for (gulp).  There is no veggie plot.  For now, I am trying to figure out where to squeeze my garlic in amongst the perennials.

I’ll be back in a day or two with a Halloween update.

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prayer flags

21Oct09

As promised, here are some photos of S’s birthday prayer flags – all sewn up and ready for her new room:

The classic signature of my 90-year-old grandmother:

We used both permanent markers and Identi-Pens.  I would recommend using the Identi-Pens or a similar type of fabric pen.  The permanent markers bled.  Also, I tried to ask people to write or draw something special about S, rather than draw a birthday card.  I didn’t want to end up with 35 “Happy 6th Birthday S!” flags.

I would most definately do this project again.  If you haven’t been there already, Future Craft Collective has many great ideas and an inspiring community ethic.  Read the “What are we doing?” and Why do we do it?” on the first page of their website.  This flag idea was from them.

Filed under: Community love, Crafts   |  2 Comments

crafting for good

18Oct09

I have been reading Knitting for Good, by Betsy Greer (see Craftivism).  It’s not so much about knitting as making stuff.  Making stuff together, alone, as therapy, as a way to connect with others, as a way to slow down and as a way to battle mass produced stuff.  With the move and all (hasn’t happen yet.  Friday.  I started packing way too early), I have lost my focus.  Maybe it’s the ridiculous amounts of driving I have been doing?  (commuting=life suckage)  So, last night, inspired by this book, I went on a rampage.  The ideas are flowing, the fabric is cut and the machine is once again dominating the living room.

My girlfriend asked if I wanted to participate in her church craft sale again this year.  I haven’t been able to give her an answer.  I do have some wares organized to sell, but I am not sure I am making what I really want to be making.  At some point, I will have to venture beyond hats and barrettes.  Maybe it’s time for another year of clothes-making? (putting it in writing is the first step!)

The best part about the craft sale is being with the other crafters.   And, this particular community does amazing things for one another.  I wouldn’t mind picking up some beautiful pottery as well.  Check out the clay necklace I bought last year:

Sorry for rambling today.  My overall point here is that crafting is good and sharing it with others is better.  I will keep you posted.

Filed under: Community love, Crafts   |  2 Comments

turkeys

14Oct09

Not sure if they are gobbling or getting ready to eat the poor birds (I guess that would be gobbling too)…

This was last week.

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weekend

11Oct09

I will write about sewing again soon…  Actually, I’ve been making Shirlies for the nieces and nephews lately (seven down, one to go!).  I’ll get some pictures together soon.  Promise.

This breakfast shoot was last weekend, but the scene this morning was pretty much the same:

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