Source: scoutandcatalogue.blogspot.com via Alison on Pinterest

Came across this image yesterday of the Rockies and I love it so much. Longing to head west as soon as possible...

Just a quick note to say hi! It's another rainy day in Toronto. Today will be a day of scavenging, will be heading out in a few minutes to hit up The textile Museum's Annual Yard Sale and later today The Clothing Show...plus some work in between...


Enjoy your weekend lovelies!


XO
A

Some photos from our weekend at Long Point. It was quite delightful, slow and beautiful. We camped on the sand, in amongst the dunes of Lake Erie. The park is surrounded by protected bird sanctuary and there are just so many birds hanging about, I loved it. If you know me then you know that one of my greatest pleasures is laying in bed in the morning and listening to the birds. I love hearing the denseness of sound that is heard in the very early hours in a natural area of birds and insects. We had all kinds of weather and one of my highlights was stringing my hammock high between two trees so that you had to stand on a picnic table to access it. So fun to swing high in the air in my hammock! We also took some nice walks - on the beach and in the great expanse of grassslands, sometimes you could have thought you were in Africa.

And now, its back to the city. where I hit the ground running first thing yesterday morning - that pace will continue all week. But first,  its coffee and blog time! More tomorrow!

Pinks & Blahs

It has been raining in Toronto for 5 straight days. I mean that, 5 straight days, not even an hour break of sunshine. I think it is really starting to get to people, my mail lady just saw me on the street and rolled her eyes, I did the same. Between the rain and the sounds of the city outside my window it is really dragging me down, though thankfully, things are green and lush now.  To brighten our collective days, I am posting some pretty magnolia's. They are just so magnificent. Oh and me in the cherry blossom orchard. That is not even this year, the cherry blossom viewing party I usually go to was cancelled this year because.....of the rain. For an antidote to all of this, I am heading to Long Point for a little camping trip this weekend. I think we are in for at least one full day of sunshine so, hallejuah! Bye for now my friends!  XO

Around the House

 It's another rainy day in Toronto. I have a lot to accomplish today, four orders to get out but first I must run out and get supplies. So, just a short post with a few shots from around my house. My love of gathering and collecting is apparent from these shots I think. Above, some wood from my favourite beach on Vancouver Island. (possibly my favourite place to be in the world), some little accorns that I gathered in Florida and some pine cones. Oh and of course, my little deer friend.

More collections. My home is filled with textiles, dishes, baskets and other random tchotkes from around the world. I just love finding cool things. Sometimes I wonder about all of that mixed energy around me but aesthetically, they do add a lot to my home.

I feel very connected to First Nations cultures and nature, I try to bring that energy into my home, any way I can. Above is a fan, made from feathers that I bought from some Native craftsmen on Vancouver Island and some old moccasin boots, not sure which culture they come from.


I'd be amiss if I didn't mention just how cluttered my home is. I constantly wonder about this urge to gather and purge, what a strange cycle it is. I do love to have beautiful things around me and I think when I come from Value Village with a bag full of new clothes and the umpteenth Chinese tea pot that I do have the best of intentions! But lately I have been trying to rid myself of more and collect less, part of that clear space, clear head ideal. I'll let you know how that's working for me later!


And now its off into the rain for me. At least I found some great new music online last night. I reconnected musically with my old friends from The Moontribe on the west coast and will be undoubtedly be playing various dj sets that I found on repeat through the day.


Have a good one folks and more tomorrow! XO

Spring!

Oh my god, where have I been? Clearly I need to exercise a bit more discipline with this blogging thing. And I will! Soon-ish.

I've been busy, did two shows this month, one at The Drake and one at The Good Earth Winery in Beamsville. Both were pretty fun and I really lucked out with the weather, especially considering it has pretty much rained every other day that I have not been at the shows. Blah. But things are incredibly lush and fresh outside. Yesterday I did not mind walking in the rain at all because it was so mild and colourful. The magnolia's are starting to fall already and many sidewalks have a pretty lime green carpet from the tree fallings.

The above is a lovely picture that Mark Elliotson took of some of my pillows at Handmade Marketplace last weekend. Seems everything I have made in the past two months has been in anticipation of the gloriousness of Spring with lot's of pinks, natural linens, blossom motifs and the like. It has been a busy time with preparations for many shows and wholesale. I feel I have so many ideas and want to move in so many directions; screen printing, natural dyeing, appliqué. But then that little voice in my head tells me to focus and build a cohesive and unified line of products.
Rules Schmules!

The above is a little sample of some of my new screen printing work. I have been working on designing patterns that are inspired by Japanese motifs. This one is a more literal and popular Japanese motif of waves, printed in gold metallic ink on linen. These are picnic placemats, so you have a pretty cover when you eat your lunch in the park in the summer! The little holders can hold chopsticks or a little fork, spoon and/or knife. I have matching coasters as well, might do a table runner soon too, we'll see.

Last shot above, also by Mark, is of some of my latest packaging and a few tea towels, also gold metallic screen printed onto linen. I did two designs for now, a feather motif and the horses running. I am trying to stick within my Japanese patterns theme but I could not resist doing some fun animal prints for Spring and Summer. They are just so cute! 


And now I must actually get some work done! Yes it is Sunday and I am stressing about work.


More soon! XO