tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65348677526171506742024-02-02T01:03:38.501-08:00So anyway...I'm a Photographer, visual artist and
a mother of a very mobile toddler and a 6 year old dynamo.TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.comBlogger609125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-44617901030053698022013-11-01T12:20:00.001-07:002013-11-28T09:26:36.853-08:00All in a Hallowe'en Afternoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVKUGlFi8DREGodUxfAs8z4jGP2Cf8LW_A-XHcn8cjwMVFfdzG2OTJBiXSQRzTNA4N58XIhPba5tDvUcOdBHKwrIWhbql6esGSrJ1SbAYs1Bm0Y5Vrwzi5aSewqqacYq1U9shizIEA9A/s1600/Last+Import+-+375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVKUGlFi8DREGodUxfAs8z4jGP2Cf8LW_A-XHcn8cjwMVFfdzG2OTJBiXSQRzTNA4N58XIhPba5tDvUcOdBHKwrIWhbql6esGSrJ1SbAYs1Bm0Y5Vrwzi5aSewqqacYq1U9shizIEA9A/s400/Last+Import+-+375.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslxuo6H_ULi5FREiHGL7vNs-7rbBZw0xK-HSkQBB9OM5XtnOajFL0ImAwgBUWu-KJdKPsJOp2hx919k370n72jKUSQBlSz1nmkcBGklD_YITU25TUwKqoqkCK2Zeh8G1dPb6axNnYodc/s1600/Last+Import+-+385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
The Bean was the topic of some mild twitter hoopla yesterday. You see, this year her hallowe'en costume was based on the adorable super sneezing panda Chu from Neil Gaiman's and Adam Rex's picture book for preschoolers Chu's Day. It's a big favourite in our house, as is Fortunately the Milk and all other Gaiman books and Adam Rex illustrated books.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslxuo6H_ULi5FREiHGL7vNs-7rbBZw0xK-HSkQBB9OM5XtnOajFL0ImAwgBUWu-KJdKPsJOp2hx919k370n72jKUSQBlSz1nmkcBGklD_YITU25TUwKqoqkCK2Zeh8G1dPb6axNnYodc/s1600/Last+Import+-+385.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslxuo6H_ULi5FREiHGL7vNs-7rbBZw0xK-HSkQBB9OM5XtnOajFL0ImAwgBUWu-KJdKPsJOp2hx919k370n72jKUSQBlSz1nmkcBGklD_YITU25TUwKqoqkCK2Zeh8G1dPb6axNnYodc/s200/Last+Import+-+385.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
As I have posted before, I like to make the Peanut and Bean's costumes. The more every day use items I can find to concoct their hallowe'en costumes the better. This year I hit the jackpot at Old Navy in the toddler boys section with a super green stripped shirt and again at the Canadian Superstore with a Joe Fresh aviator cap (again from the boys section because I'm all non gender specific with the girls) I Added a pair of black leggings, a pair of her sisters clean white underwear over top. Black face paint (with added sparks) on her nose and eyes with a pair of bear ears pinned on to her cap and she was Chu.<br />
<br />
After her costume was complete; at around 10am she refused to take any of it off until sometime around 3pm. On top of that she carried her Chu book around the house all morning and pretended to sneeze every few moments with an, "ah ah ah ahhhh no" peppered in every once in a while.<br />
<br />
I snapped a picture of her in full Chu gear and tweeted it to Adam Rex and also to Neil Gaiman. I didn't expect anything to come of it, twitter posts are buried almost as fast as they are typed up, and then nothing happened. Until about two hours later when Mr Rex re tweeted and then oh holy of holies Neil Gaiman re tweeted. Using all caps. And my brain exploded, well not literally but Caps! My Bean all done up as her favourite book character got my favourite author excited enough to tweet in all caps. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BEST COSTUME EVER! LOOK! ALSO I'M TYPING THIS IN CAPITALS AS IT'S IMPORTANT! RT <a href="https://twitter.com/PeanutButterPie">@PeanutButterPie</a>: <a href="http://t.co/y9XiF8BC8S">pic.twitter.com/y9XiF8BC8S</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MrAdamRex">@MrAdamRex</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ChusDay&src=hash">#ChusDay</a><br />
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) <a href="https://twitter.com/neilhimself/statuses/396031025039806464">October 31, 2013</a></blockquote>
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12NjOqMPRXUjXoFq_moGyJLZQWpnp8HOeQKQ3Tn9Hnj6WRIpKTFCXDo7Em9LBxQnLb4s3wNIB0v2z9SsTk55jzl3KfHLE8PjTktcMHWX8SF_btGoUmKyl4kbwCMt545eV2ylvp56liYM/s1600/Last+Import+-+367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12NjOqMPRXUjXoFq_moGyJLZQWpnp8HOeQKQ3Tn9Hnj6WRIpKTFCXDo7Em9LBxQnLb4s3wNIB0v2z9SsTk55jzl3KfHLE8PjTktcMHWX8SF_btGoUmKyl4kbwCMt545eV2ylvp56liYM/s640/Last+Import+-+367.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnG-9icmKAWXRoaxlEXM2wPRYSvDRC6FhPhmTFkgfGwBM7xCcjJgvfp4MUJq-okgaQ4oRXJDxqfq3pt5upk8RoBjF_MpOBHKRzCD8guELJD_8iOlkBCqACOiw3zae29I6KKx9YHOEE2s/s1600/Last+Import+-+372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnG-9icmKAWXRoaxlEXM2wPRYSvDRC6FhPhmTFkgfGwBM7xCcjJgvfp4MUJq-okgaQ4oRXJDxqfq3pt5upk8RoBjF_MpOBHKRzCD8guELJD_8iOlkBCqACOiw3zae29I6KKx9YHOEE2s/s400/Last+Import+-+372.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a>To add some extra sweetness to the Gaiman Rex excitement we went to the Peanut's Hallowe'en Assembly and watched the spooky performances, and costume parade, then we went in with the Peanut's class and helped celebrate with the class party. The Peanut dressed as a gorgeous Phoenix. We used an old red tunic of mine with flowing sleeves for wings, I painted her face with flames and topped it off with a hand made fire feather. She looked stunning and her face paint stayed pretty close to unmarred all day and into the night.<br />
<br />
We went out trick or treating for an hour and then it headed home amongst the bangs, pops and booms of fireworks. The candy stash is huge and we haven't even dived in just yet, so our sugar hangovers are pretty nonexistent today but I'm sure that will change over the weekend.<br />
<br />
Did you buy costumes for your littles or yourself; or were you able to get a costume together from your tickle trunk? I love to hear about costume concoctions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-87442837855178628592013-10-06T16:50:00.001-07:002013-10-06T16:50:17.408-07:00I Want Only to Haunt YouAnd the countdown to Halloween is on and the race to get costumes ready is on as well.<br />
<br />
The Peanut had decided at the beginning of the summer that she wanted to be a knight dragon. I spent a number of hours considering how I'd pull that one off. And then this morning she declared her new choice; a Phoenix. The scrambling for that get up is on. At the very least I have a few ideas for this one. Once I've pulled it together I'll try to post it. If it looks a 10th of how I'm picturing it she'll look fabulous.<br />
<br />
The Bean declared she would be yellow and then green when I asked her. While I could pull those two choices off with minimal effort I just can't take the easy road so I'm taking advantage of her lack of desire to demand an exact costume and she'll be going as the sneezy panda Chu. I found a hat and shirt to fit the bill and I'm just on the hook for goggles and panda ears to have her done. With the Bean I don't have to worry about getting a great look. Her sparkling eyes, infectious smile and corkscrew curls will make up for any shortcomings I have in getting her costume completed. <br />
<br />
This past month has been a whirlwind with me getting started teaching, getting the Peanut settled into school, getting the Bean settled in without her sister around every day and then reworking everything with the Peanut. Last spring she was accepted into the Challenge Program in her school district; which means that she goes to a special class once a week at a different school. On top of that we have both girls enrolled in classes in the center I'm teaching at. With all the comings and goings I'm barely able to keep up with the laundry and dishes.<br />
<br />
I now have full and near full capacity classes in two of my programs and I have some very talented and engaged students. I'm learning what types of lessons work best, how to deal with different personalities and challenges and on top of it I'm trying to do a dry run of each class each week so that I can make any changes to fit within the time I've got for each class. My weeks are flying by.<br />
<br />
With all of that I found this lovely sound today and thought it would be a nice soundtrack to get into the Halloween spirit. Are you getting costumes ready? <br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/orq96z9Vzbc" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-57357228761920527642013-09-25T13:50:00.000-07:002013-09-25T13:50:55.565-07:00And Just Like That; It's Over.What a loaded title,right?<br />
<br />
<br />
Of course I could have been talking about how fast Summer seemed to fly by which it did:<br />
<br />
We went camping, swimming, and to the park among other things. Most everything on our bucket list was crossed off and a few things were added in that were completely awesome; me being offered a job for instance. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzourrL6tFobbDydCxkyv0Vu4_l8TPjhNxEo64SLP6u2X9n2rRlMDlvUaGWCcagyGbz74JBEx1_E7AZ1rgVq313VpWmmsf1KNTi1RpPnmhRycpHKGKj2TAaD-pSTttI7ZIS9pp2BAS69o/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.19.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzourrL6tFobbDydCxkyv0Vu4_l8TPjhNxEo64SLP6u2X9n2rRlMDlvUaGWCcagyGbz74JBEx1_E7AZ1rgVq313VpWmmsf1KNTi1RpPnmhRycpHKGKj2TAaD-pSTttI7ZIS9pp2BAS69o/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.19.49+PM.png" width="577" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X-NlaLM0aaUcXDxKbcPWjBZZj5X00RIeRN3yA-hb0jvt4EaD2W-gItwzUqh9HxQomgna9BLtSixKPa1ENDvf08wX8RfBV8SuiUxQ41fpxsGGYwk0gIwdK2FjI91AvULkzr92ols02NQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.21.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7X-NlaLM0aaUcXDxKbcPWjBZZj5X00RIeRN3yA-hb0jvt4EaD2W-gItwzUqh9HxQomgna9BLtSixKPa1ENDvf08wX8RfBV8SuiUxQ41fpxsGGYwk0gIwdK2FjI91AvULkzr92ols02NQ/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.21.19+PM.png" width="578" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpJwwiLg3Nbrbbl7PI8yaoG3ZYz4WD7iPG3bDc5Pg2e6VIv5s41hfvDe5ydTsyFjCBW1wQbvtLPLAWDoRpBDFgaGtLKKCucjwBe3pTOTBuGCf_xvl4wc4Gy9sbgd-tkI-W10WoXgMAyY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.22.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpJwwiLg3Nbrbbl7PI8yaoG3ZYz4WD7iPG3bDc5Pg2e6VIv5s41hfvDe5ydTsyFjCBW1wQbvtLPLAWDoRpBDFgaGtLKKCucjwBe3pTOTBuGCf_xvl4wc4Gy9sbgd-tkI-W10WoXgMAyY/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.22.17+PM.png" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpcbb06LeyqjhkbCfWCh_NmNtndpxkymMJcJYhCeWNSiiZ7Sxvp2DMnXvif00ZbjKD1TzFnDuPE9g6BaTnlP7qKQrLbgDKVI6OgGf-fovocVt4HEHHva8yCcC1S3l8eInt4mnzmuGXxc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.22.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpcbb06LeyqjhkbCfWCh_NmNtndpxkymMJcJYhCeWNSiiZ7Sxvp2DMnXvif00ZbjKD1TzFnDuPE9g6BaTnlP7qKQrLbgDKVI6OgGf-fovocVt4HEHHva8yCcC1S3l8eInt4mnzmuGXxc/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.22.53+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpcbb06LeyqjhkbCfWCh_NmNtndpxkymMJcJYhCeWNSiiZ7Sxvp2DMnXvif00ZbjKD1TzFnDuPE9g6BaTnlP7qKQrLbgDKVI6OgGf-fovocVt4HEHHva8yCcC1S3l8eInt4mnzmuGXxc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-09-25+at+1.22.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What's that you say? Yes I was offered a job at the beginning of the
summer break right after the Peanut's birthday party. I am currently
part of the teaching faculty at Burnaby's Artspace for Children. I teach
toddlers and their parents, Preschoolers and school aged children art
on Saturday mornings. It is so much fun and so nerve wracking too.
Fortunately I have two tester kids to practice my classes on and tweak
them accordingly. So far we've painted circles and op-art, drawn a still
life and made an autumn leaf collage. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/artspaceartscentre?hc_location=timeline" target="_blank">You
can see some pictures of me in action; and some of the other amazing
classes available at Artspace if you click on this link here<br />.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Also added in was a great night out for me and a friend where I got to go and hear one of my favourite authors read. While I would have liked to get a personalized autograph on my book I made due with a pre-signed copy I might have been waiting until 1AM had we stuck around. And then we were off on our camping trip and then back in time to scramble for the beginning of school. Which leads me to September. September just flew by.<br />
<br />
It could have been that the first week is full of the unknown, new teacher, new class and nothing is settled until the second week. It could have been that I began teaching the second weekend and getting each lesson planned and organized takes up a lot of time. It could be that juggling our schedules has just swallowed up a lot of time and it could be that each week something new has started or finished or popped up and when that happens time seems to fly. In any case September is nearly over and I feel like I have whiplash.<br />
<br />
How was your summer? What did you do? It's been so long, let's catch up.<br />
TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-9464589204783901882013-05-15T11:02:00.000-07:002013-05-15T11:02:04.871-07:00Time Sure FliesLooking over the posts from the last year I notice that I've been posting more and more on regular family things and not on being creative. This last year <i>has</i> been a challenge that way.<br />
<br />
Most of our focus has been on the husband's pedal building, music playing and getting into school. Then there were bucket of other family matters. The last time I had a spurt of creativity was around the winter holidays. Until now that is. I'm getting myself busy getting ready for the holiday selling and craft show season. I have felt ready for sewing, birds sculpted and right now, between typing paragraphs (you know, to let the tips if my fingers recover in between) I'm working with wire to make bird feet to go in the sculpted birds. <br />
<br />
There are a few things that I've been doing to stay creative this year. One is a daily photograph on Instagram (<a href="http://instagram.com/peanutbutterpie" target="_blank">my instagram name is PeanutButterPie</a> if you're interested in following my stream). I've been trying to incorporate a smallish diary type entry with each photograph and that is getting me to think labels and hashtags too. What I'd like, is to look at these together and see what patterns arise; what images really get me excited and happy and perhaps use them as a spring board for art projects or just to get my brain working.<br />
<br />
I've also started to draw and paint again as you can see in the image below, there are a few of my quick watercolour sketches included on my instagram feed. And I'm gearing up for the Peanut's birthday party but this year it will be much more about baking than crafting as she's having a drama party at the ArtSpace for Children instead of a back yard party.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVFe7j92PHwaY1bKvzhDe8H3VCOjUKzkBk9VenPx9w2_5vsPo-uLQY_2xAhsEbIH3nxqzy1aoIfAiy0H6grgx4SWcleOan1Igz-4nM1dmeovvesgtwUzYvPDHlY4qc7zfykrO-90pqog/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-15+at+10.40.55+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVFe7j92PHwaY1bKvzhDe8H3VCOjUKzkBk9VenPx9w2_5vsPo-uLQY_2xAhsEbIH3nxqzy1aoIfAiy0H6grgx4SWcleOan1Igz-4nM1dmeovvesgtwUzYvPDHlY4qc7zfykrO-90pqog/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-05-15+at+10.40.55+AM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
On top of that I've been working on a separate project that I have kept away from here. It's a guerrilla art project that you can read about on the blog; <a href="http://thepaperheartproject.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">The Paper Heart Project</a> which I've created just for it. <br />
<br />
So I may not have been blogging here lately but I've been doing stuff. What have you been up to? anything you're doing that you are excited about? Share in the comments. TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-64482859242294946792013-03-08T13:49:00.000-08:002013-03-08T13:49:12.200-08:00this and that again again againWe've been doing laundry dryer free since before December of last year. It sounds like such a long time ago when I put it like that and then I think about it and it is a long time. On sunny days like today it's actually kind of nice, sheets and towels outside on the line is a nice image, even every one's clothes on the line outside is nice. The rest of the time we've been using the multi-tiered drying rack that we got from IKEA but it's slow going. Toss in a few days where the family has been sick and then it feels like we have laundry piles from a year's worth of living.<br />
<br />
The Husband is in school now and re-shifting his priorities as he figures out what it is he wants to do.<br />
<br />
I'm in the midst of a project that is taking me outside of my comfort zone and also hopefully bringing a happy moment to strangers in my city. On top of that I've challenged myself to submit a piece of art to an art magazine which is giving me something to mull over while I'm playing with the Bean or picking up the Peanut from school.<br />
<br />
Add to that trying to get organized for my niece's wedding in less than a month and it's busy around here. <br />
<br />
What have you been up to?TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-53296158626550850862013-02-02T16:27:00.000-08:002013-02-02T16:27:53.152-08:00Book Review: Chu's DayWhen Chu Sneezes bad things happen. How bad? So bad that his parents always ask Chu with great concern if he is going to sneeze.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/photos/1350289655p8/599969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/photos/1350289655p8/599969.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
We got the Bean the latest of the great Neil Gaiman's books, which was illustrated by one of our favourite artists Adam Rex; <i>Chu's Day</i> for her Birthday gift. She thinks making pretend sneezes are the ultimate in comedy.<br />
<br />
The book was a smashing (or should I say nose tingling success at the first ahh ahhh ahhhh... and since then we have read it to her multiple times a day. Until today; when the reading wasn't at nap time or snuggle time but when the Bean pushed herself between me and the kitchen counter where I was doing kitchen things and demanded Chu Day Chu Day! and like all Moms of a just starting to speak child I looked at her in bafflement and said "what is that you want today?" and she replied with "Chu Day!" and I said "yes it is Today" and she looked at me with infinite patience (which in a two year old is a miracle in and of itself) and said again "Chu Day" and then the light bulb of comprehension kicked in. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hZYtpLtDGqc" width="420">So </iframe><br />
The Bean was demanding that I stop and read her a book. A specific
book, the book we got her for her birthday and the book that in the
deepest part of my heart I had hoped she would adore so much that I would be
reading it over and over and over. Wish granted.<br />
<br />
In case I've not been clear We love this book. It's short and sweet and so lushly illustrated that we can look into the art and tell more stories to each other based on the characters in the pictures. The tale of the snail for example. So I read it to her and then I read it again and I recorded me reading
it to her and though I'm not Mr. Gaiman I think it went well and the
bean is watching the video and shouting Achoo achoo so it's a keeper.<br />
<br />
If you would like to read Chu's Day to your little one click on the picture above of Chu with his father at the diner and you'll be transported to Harper Collins where you can find your very own copy. <br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-23394876025182951392013-01-09T15:06:00.002-08:002013-01-09T15:06:51.974-08:00Greetingstime flies when both kids are home, the husband is awaiting news of entry into school and the holidays are keeping every one very busy. This holiday season was declared the best one ever by the Peanut and I'm sure the Bean would agree if her vocabulary was up to it.<br />
<br />
Since we're now in the second week of January I won't deluge you with holiday news and pictures. Suffice it to say that lots of quality family time was spent, lots of baking, cooking and eating was done and everyone got what they asked for as well as some things they weren't expecting but hit the spot. New Years eve was spent in a quiet fog. A fog rolled in just before midnight and midnight was so quiet and still that I slept through it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUFnDJEq1jmhz2-7AqnRUlji_-mLI31bDsJu9BYf7PtHHD-7bkAi2EwwPiGFqIPYPh39A1KF2i7hcX7klOk6zmHL7pJbxQrvMrM7YfDvVB0N4FH_MciwfnLriuK4DPcjhTtHCyJxz3L0/s1600/IMG_5629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUFnDJEq1jmhz2-7AqnRUlji_-mLI31bDsJu9BYf7PtHHD-7bkAi2EwwPiGFqIPYPh39A1KF2i7hcX7klOk6zmHL7pJbxQrvMrM7YfDvVB0N4FH_MciwfnLriuK4DPcjhTtHCyJxz3L0/s320/IMG_5629.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The husband was accepted into the program he's been upgrading for which means that we are moving into a year of changes. I'm looking forward to them and also to the other changes coming down the line. He starts at the end of the month, until then we're getting last minute house organization things taken care of and cramming in as much family time as possible. His courses are intensive and we'll see very little of him for four months.<br />
<br />
What new things are going on for you?TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-29991505211850586182012-12-17T17:54:00.001-08:002012-12-17T17:54:22.309-08:00MourningIt's funny you see; not funny ha ha but funny in an odd way because I don't have any connections to the children, teachers and families who lost lives and loved ones on Friday, no physical connections and yet I find myself sobbing at random moments and wiping away stray tears before entering a room where my children are playing. The only thing that links me to last Friday's tragedy is the fact that any one of those beautiful bright eyed children could have been my Peanut. My peanut was a day before, a week after, a month before two months after, six months before, a year after... days, weeks, months a year. I could be in the same position as the mothers in Connecticut who are mourning their babies, their children.<br />
<br />
When I posted after my niece' lost her baby after a long stay in hospital I said that I could imagine the pain and the loss and that I knew full well that what I imagined for myself didn't even scratch the surface. And still the pain I imagined was immense; and I had the Peanut who is six and well past infant-hood and the Bean who was and is and was healthy without any trace of genetic disorder or disease.<br />
<br />
So I can well imagine what the mothers of those twenty children are feeling, I can put myself in their shoes because what they have lost is so, so very close to what I have safe and sound and boisterously running around my home. I can imagine their pain and it is unspeakable and I know it's not even scratching the surface. So I do what they can no longer do; I hug my girls close and tight, I let them know that they mean the world to me and I pray that no other mama has to feel the pain I am imagining. TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-57189868597148041742012-12-11T11:02:00.000-08:002012-12-11T11:02:05.633-08:00Another Art Show How To (or this is how I did it; packaging edition) If you're just finding this post and haven't read my previous post where I focus on creating an eye catching display using mostly materials I already had on hand <a href="http://tmcphoto-peanutbutterpie.blogspot.ca/2012/12/another-craft-show-how-to-or-this-is.html" target="_blank">click here and catch up</a>. I'll be adding a link there to this post so you'll be able to find your way back.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoure3K3V_LXrtqc3tW32M32VYYC1H6vqXr35LMLSIdkw3A7doo_RmDqscoUtNhfhWZS7tn4b2JBB_FaHm87Jn1uPg1vGcvVcJ1z0cCE08x_V3Z6nuKRISmExr74QxqJEnPXlJflR5uI/s1600/Recently+Updated.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoure3K3V_LXrtqc3tW32M32VYYC1H6vqXr35LMLSIdkw3A7doo_RmDqscoUtNhfhWZS7tn4b2JBB_FaHm87Jn1uPg1vGcvVcJ1z0cCE08x_V3Z6nuKRISmExr74QxqJEnPXlJflR5uI/s400/Recently+Updated.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drawers we used for display, the one in front is<br />filled with our ornaments, tissue <br />and our packaging </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So while I was spending the last few years making mental notes about the best ways to do a craft/ art sale some pretty cool ideas were filed away in the back of my head. One of my favourite blogs from an artist who has some pretty fantastic ideas and tutorials for this type of stuff/ not to mention just in general is <a href="http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">ArtMind</a>. She's posted tutorials on making your own scratch cards, contemporary price tags, adding your brand to your packaging and of course recycled bags. Mitzi of Artmind is someone who I would love to emulate. She spends her days being super creative and artistic, she's major organized and she loves sharing her ideas.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2U7IfCPa3Z_rzs-woKJkJ67yQ7iI5lO99Cpn5PzE1aqAW194G5gfb8FMU6iNvgA78241_JyYnGdKMkF2PdEQnNLIimXnvthyphenhyphenGyZOccO4lruR0REkLj0waG2kF5Ae7E_UplVEDhAcR3w/s1600/IMG_5642.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2U7IfCPa3Z_rzs-woKJkJ67yQ7iI5lO99Cpn5PzE1aqAW194G5gfb8FMU6iNvgA78241_JyYnGdKMkF2PdEQnNLIimXnvthyphenhyphenGyZOccO4lruR0REkLj0waG2kF5Ae7E_UplVEDhAcR3w/s320/IMG_5642.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our folded envelopes and Tissues</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While I was sitting down on the computer to find her tutorial on making the recycled bags (which is something that I will be using in future, when I have way more time and a lot more energy to plan for a show) I started to think about other options that would be less time consuming, use less materials to create and would be self contained. Add in the Peanut's recent obsession with origami and I decided to look up folded envelopes as an option for creating packaging. I came <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Fold-an-Origami-Envelope" target="_blank">across a tutorial </a>for a simple origami envelope that was self contained, required less than half a minute to do for each envelope and was self closing. <br /><br />I played around with different paper sizes to get the best package size and decided to use the holiday themed scrapbooking paper I had got on sale last year and that full 12"x12" sheets that were the best bet. They were a little bigger than the ornaments but if I was factoring in tissue to cushion the glass and business cards the larger envelope was the way to go. Also using a full sheet meant I wasn't spending my time measuring and trimming paper before getting down to the business of folding. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoFZ_xpEUFuNVhhxf5oa3Tb4x_4I46du2WwcsTYSiP0eUEVYaCWmKe8uFF7HgobVTjRy2gxWfs2dXtaS06AiKATUjst-ghyXUCYt6uNbW2_ZaYBH9Q6tpCxyzGhhycM010ZQl2tNsv4o/s1600/IMG_5643.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoFZ_xpEUFuNVhhxf5oa3Tb4x_4I46du2WwcsTYSiP0eUEVYaCWmKe8uFF7HgobVTjRy2gxWfs2dXtaS06AiKATUjst-ghyXUCYt6uNbW2_ZaYBH9Q6tpCxyzGhhycM010ZQl2tNsv4o/s320/IMG_5643.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of the branding we attached to each envelope</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The packages we wrapped our ornaments in looked
elegant and charming which fit with our branding and were eye catching
to boot. <span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I wrapped each
ornament in it's own envelope so that they could be given away as gifts without further need for wrapping.
They will look beautiful placed on a tree branch filled with our
ornaments or another charming little gift. I used the clear ink jet
sticker sheets to print off o</span></span>ur shop name and web address
and attached them to each envelope as well so the person who bought the
ornaments has another reminder to check out our online shop and the
person receiving the ornaments can check us out too. One of my customers
even asked if I was selling the envelopes which may not have been a bad
idea...<br />
<br />
To keep the ornaments safe once we sent them
off with new owners (to be hung on trees, attached to floral
arrangements or gifted to someone special) we used gift wrapping tissue
paper from the dollar store. Also from the dollar store we picked up a
booklet of receipts to give to customers as well as a decorative book to
collect names and email addresses to use in future marketing.<br />
<br />
Next post will talk a little about money and payment options. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIoure3K3V_LXrtqc3tW32M32VYYC1H6vqXr35LMLSIdkw3A7doo_RmDqscoUtNhfhWZS7tn4b2JBB_FaHm87Jn1uPg1vGcvVcJ1z0cCE08x_V3Z6nuKRISmExr74QxqJEnPXlJflR5uI/s1600/Recently+Updated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoFZ_xpEUFuNVhhxf5oa3Tb4x_4I46du2WwcsTYSiP0eUEVYaCWmKe8uFF7HgobVTjRy2gxWfs2dXtaS06AiKATUjst-ghyXUCYt6uNbW2_ZaYBH9Q6tpCxyzGhhycM010ZQl2tNsv4o/s1600/IMG_5643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2U7IfCPa3Z_rzs-woKJkJ67yQ7iI5lO99Cpn5PzE1aqAW194G5gfb8FMU6iNvgA78241_JyYnGdKMkF2PdEQnNLIimXnvthyphenhyphenGyZOccO4lruR0REkLj0waG2kF5Ae7E_UplVEDhAcR3w/s1600/IMG_5642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-3242381379062381942012-12-06T09:19:00.004-08:002012-12-11T11:03:19.591-08:00Another Craft Show How To (or this is how I did it)<br />
I was going to make this one post but then it just kept getting longer and longer so I thought why not split it up.<br />
<br />
Over the last few years as I've played around with the idea of doing art/ craft shows I've visited lots of blogs and flickr pages (and more recently pintrest pins) to figure out how to do a successful show. This is my addition to that list. Hopefully someone finds it helpful.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEzgTaZ1phebMGare971qnjVWzjo4KYbYIRPPd3CqNdJLn1d6JPj2FZdfJEdJtTkFsVyespmMmjTHJUp6-Ldn_J9biHhB6R_4mTijlfy62zBIud9T4uGfVzSUHTEAjAXLLjc9FLvU_B4/s1600/Recently+Updated1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKEzgTaZ1phebMGare971qnjVWzjo4KYbYIRPPd3CqNdJLn1d6JPj2FZdfJEdJtTkFsVyespmMmjTHJUp6-Ldn_J9biHhB6R_4mTijlfy62zBIud9T4uGfVzSUHTEAjAXLLjc9FLvU_B4/s1600/Recently+Updated1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table Set up the Peanut's School Art Show and Sale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So
the invitation to be a part of the Peanut's school art sale was a
little last minute; and my procrastination/ planning for the one day not
to far away that I would take that step and sell at a handmade
show/sale paid off in that I was able to put together a beautiful table
with little stress. Not to mention that there was no stress on the <i>making sure that I had enough inventory</i> front. The husband and I have a nice stack of finished ornaments that are ready to go.<br />
<br />
So this is the first of three posts about what did I do to get ready for a show. This post focuses on display and set up. In all my research and reading having an inviting and interesting display was number one on the must do list for a successful show. In our case we weren't just competing with the other vendors at the show but also the student's art. All of the people who attended the show were family or friends of the students in the school and they were all there to buy their kids art. Any other purchases made were bonus buys. Having a beautiful table that beckoned buyers made sure that we had a steady flow of people talking to us, picking up the ornaments, taking business cards and coming back for a second look. In some cases we saw people scanning the room from the refreshment table; see our display and walk over to get a better look.<br />
<br />
As is my MO I used a lot of what
I have/had on hand to create the display (as well as our packaging and signage which I'll talk more about in future posts). The rest we broke down and purchased. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWpoeGiG9wLtvZPSzErwLR6CdyJREtE3kEo1JHqzrLfElOLm38CieMuybjnfA0UtxvXzOLCN0ZlESU2J-6oTLp-u1t3iXFT-BG0J5r2IC1Cx6F0wdS8i3R15ZZZVXHBkR4p6puRxJ3jg/s1600/Recently+Updated.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWpoeGiG9wLtvZPSzErwLR6CdyJREtE3kEo1JHqzrLfElOLm38CieMuybjnfA0UtxvXzOLCN0ZlESU2J-6oTLp-u1t3iXFT-BG0J5r2IC1Cx6F0wdS8i3R15ZZZVXHBkR4p6puRxJ3jg/s400/Recently+Updated.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Display:</b><br />
<br />
I
had a decorative brass tree that I picked up a few years ago after the
holidays. We've used this tree on our kitchen table during December with
battery powered LED lights and some of the hand made ornaments we like
to display.<br />
<br />
After the show we put it on the table and filled with with
candy canes and some of the hand made ornaments the Peanut has made this
year.<br />
<br />
I've also used this tree in merchandising photographs over the
last few years and have it featured on my business cards. When I bought
the tree it was for future use in shows like this one. Getting to use it
for holiday decoration and for product photo shoots has been a bonus
but putting it to use for the reason I initially purchased it for was
pretty darn exciting. I wrapped some lights around the tree and hung
ornaments from the branches.<br />
<br />
A few years ago the
husband and I got a little organizational and picked up some drawer
units to stash my art supplies, his electronics components and also
the girls paints, crayons and play dough. The drawers (pictured above filled with everything we took to the show for sale and display) are also metal mesh
so that we can see what is inside without having to open all the
drawers. I emptied out three of the drawers from these units to use as
display racks on the table with the tree.<br />
<br />
Because the drawers are metal
mesh I was able to set up a light source inside and to create a semi
permanent hook system for hanging our ornaments. Using some metal ornament hooks I'd picked up at the dollar store a few years ago; I threaded them through the mesh on the bottom of the drawers pinched the top portion of the hook closed and used the bottom to hang our ornaments. The drawers also would
have doubled as a handy place to carry everything from our home to the
show venue and back again if we weren't in the middle of a torrential
downpour; instead we put most of the display stuff into a plastic bin
with a lid. Once the sale was over, the hooks were removed. Once
I've got some free time, the drawers will be replaced and all our
displaced art supplies put away.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrCHhdjWDm4aEm39Ohi8OfKlNHstOAmqcEWAEpGjp1PRMi5zxGZV0InRee3USY_ZjldAcnqxUonBWdKRIKeVcJmphUwbkgqSLc3Uj5T35Brry1ylxpy3BslBMxuw42qZyAhslQMdxf7g/s1600/31620_10151310445290891_1238628917_n-1.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrCHhdjWDm4aEm39Ohi8OfKlNHstOAmqcEWAEpGjp1PRMi5zxGZV0InRee3USY_ZjldAcnqxUonBWdKRIKeVcJmphUwbkgqSLc3Uj5T35Brry1ylxpy3BslBMxuw42qZyAhslQMdxf7g/s320/31620_10151310445290891_1238628917_n-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our fish, Dragon swimming in front of the <br />
As Is vases we picked up at Ikea for the show</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For promoting our shop
name I used watercolour paper that was in in my paper stash,
watercolour paints and some ink jet sticker paper with our shop name and
address printed on it in the font we use for our Etsy shop. These were placed in a shadowbox frame that
I've had in storage for years. I used some blackboard vinyl on a
photograph frame clip board that we got for a wedding gift to write down
our prices with chalk pastel. One of the other vendors at the show
commented on what a good idea the large signage was, which was a pretty
awesome compliment. <br />
<br />
Inside the drawers and behind the
ornaments we used some glass jars; baby food jars, kitchen storage
containers and one of the pretty glass vases that was a gift filled with
pretty flowers after the Bean came home. We filled them with some
battery powered floral lights that we used to decorate for our wedding
over ten years ago and that we've had on hand and used yearly since in
our decor. the lights inside reflected off the glass and made a pretty
glow from behind the mesh similar to tree lights.<br />
<br />
In
addition to all the things we already had and were able to transform and
use for our display we also picked up a few things inexpensively at
dollar stores and Ikea to fill out the display.<br />
<br />
From
the dollar store we picked up some adjustable book lights to help
showcase the iridescent quality of our ornaments and also to light up
the signage on the display so that people could see what our prices are
and who we are.<br />
<br />
<br />
At Ikea we got more battery powered lights both plain
LED as well as a snowflake string and a fiber optic disco ball to place
behind the mesh display inside the jars we had on hand. These lights
are now decorating our house for the holidays.<br />
<br />
To drape over the back
of our boxes we picked out an inexpensive set of sheer curtains in
black. We'll likely keep these solely for use in craft sales unless we
decide that the privacy of being able to keep our bedroom windows open
in the summer is too tempting to forgo and now that I've put that
thought into my head you know that that is what's going to happen.<br />
<br />
Lastly in
the display department we hit the "As Is" section in Ikea. I love love this section and never go to Ikea without visiting that area. I found
two pretty glass vases with frosted stars decorating the outside which
were also filled with lights and placed in the boxes. These will be put
to use all year round and right now I've got blue and silver glass balls
filling them with a couple of the light strings. they're lighting up
our kitchen window and entertaining the family pet.<br />
<br />
Absolutely
everything we had on hand and picked up to use in display will also be
used again for different purposes. Even the book lights are being used
at bedtime and I can see them inside a carved pumpkin next year. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK8CQJiEFe_sQsmd1FSWX6P9odGBjs7vsaaygp-l7EFaWE33g3QDvj0rK0B2hu7naKAryhLjDHIKj8whUGiYgNNE9Rkc2uiO_R52yhP0McnAuwa3dy0hccgkAzGFsybUR2XYTbMH_9ho/s1600/IMG_5615.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK8CQJiEFe_sQsmd1FSWX6P9odGBjs7vsaaygp-l7EFaWE33g3QDvj0rK0B2hu7naKAryhLjDHIKj8whUGiYgNNE9Rkc2uiO_R52yhP0McnAuwa3dy0hccgkAzGFsybUR2XYTbMH_9ho/s320/IMG_5615.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practice set up for the show. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before the show I practiced setting up the display in our kitchen a few times. Once when I got the initial idea to use the drawers. This let me see how the display might look and also let me figure out what items I had on hand and what I'd need to pick up to finish off the display. I did another practice once we'd visited the dollar store and Ikea so I could see how everything looked together as well as making note of what was missing, what needed to be added or subtracted from the set up and what I might need to help make the display as seamless looking as possible. I did a final practice two days before the show to figure out the most efficient way to set up and also to make sure that the loose items (mostly the sheer fabric but also the book lights) on the table would stay where I wanted them. This way I was able to include twist ties, paperclips, scotch tape and alligator clips to my supply list so that I could keep the lighting wires organized, attach the light for the price sign and not least make sure the fabric was secure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhK8CQJiEFe_sQsmd1FSWX6P9odGBjs7vsaaygp-l7EFaWE33g3QDvj0rK0B2hu7naKAryhLjDHIKj8whUGiYgNNE9Rkc2uiO_R52yhP0McnAuwa3dy0hccgkAzGFsybUR2XYTbMH_9ho/s1600/IMG_5615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQnSePnp6x3HWztiw4wrMV_vzQG7GJpcaJF73O8pZgjc8KEAhAoqxUOdZSDhE3oX1BSFJlsaPhuPLfBa_MOYlI8LnsBcEfj6_RC3dGL-XFd60a67NN0YWlfQc6JlsbyRAeooHTqIT3Fo/s1600/484380_10151126827690812_680858711_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQnSePnp6x3HWztiw4wrMV_vzQG7GJpcaJF73O8pZgjc8KEAhAoqxUOdZSDhE3oX1BSFJlsaPhuPLfBa_MOYlI8LnsBcEfj6_RC3dGL-XFd60a67NN0YWlfQc6JlsbyRAeooHTqIT3Fo/s640/484380_10151126827690812_680858711_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished table</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I got to the venue to set up my table I adjusted my layout to suit the location of my table. Because the tables we were given to use included table coverings both white and the black place mats I decided to use both the sheer curtains on each display box instead of draping one over the table and spreading the second over both boxes. I reversed the placement of the boxes and tree, as well as the pricing sign and our business sign. Before I set up I also adjusted the table placement to allow more room for people to look at our display without crowding the table behind us or in front of us. Next year we may move the tables even more.<br />
<br />
Did I leave anything out? Is there anything you would do differently? Anything you 'd like to know more about? Tell me int he comments. <a href="http://tmcphoto-peanutbutterpie.blogspot.ca/2012/12/another-art-show-how-to-or-this-is-how.html" target="_blank">Next time I'll post about our packaging; click here to read it!</a>.TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-19372359389769937902012-11-22T09:22:00.000-08:002012-11-22T09:22:26.341-08:00Moving Right Along<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-BcUZRpuIJpPhDWWiiuMAze6gDaku-SPcp8YRRcVzVTXCy5Vaw4o0oCpuOHHxhw5UnvasjF0bZ9LTkXiu2VQ_p7Ms9YwZSY32aqB3Wswutg_J8pW6e9fd0O7tenanyqz3MXt8vqIHao/s1600/530873_10151295931390891_793652361_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="10" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-BcUZRpuIJpPhDWWiiuMAze6gDaku-SPcp8YRRcVzVTXCy5Vaw4o0oCpuOHHxhw5UnvasjF0bZ9LTkXiu2VQ_p7Ms9YwZSY32aqB3Wswutg_J8pW6e9fd0O7tenanyqz3MXt8vqIHao/s400/530873_10151295931390891_793652361_n.jpg" title="Signage" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signage and Proto-Signage for my table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://tmcphoto-peanutbutterpie.blogspot.ca/2012/11/deep-deep-breaths-or-theres-nothing.html" target="_blank">If you've read my last post</a> you'll know I've been busy with trying to keep the Bean asleep past 4AM, making sure the Peanut is feeling loved and everyone has clean clothes... Oh yeah there's also that art show and sale thing....<br />
<br />
<br />
All my procrastinating has finally paid off and planning a display and table layout is so far going surprisingly well. There are bugs to work out, like where and how to attach spot lighting, collecting glass jars, vases, bottles or sourcing some nice ribbon to use for hanging the ornaments as well as fabric and more lights and getting a float together, and looking into possibly getting a card reader for debit and credit cards and so so many other things. The last few years when I was thinking each year, "Next year I'll get it together to do a art/craft sale" and looking at how other people do it and do it successfully was well worth it.<br />
<br />
As well as the procrastination worked, <a href="http://pinterest.com/jbandpbp/" target="_blank">finally breaking down and joining Pintrest helped too</a>. Really it made sense after doing search upon search for just about anything and everything and having just about every search end on some one's Pintrest pin. So now I have my own boards and am collecting ideas and images that feed into my need to be creative and to dream and to plan and did you know that Neville Longbottom went and got all dreamy looking after puberty? but I digress. Also I find that my thinking that particular thought a little on the creepy side and still I digress. back to Pintrest. One of my most posted to boards is the one for display ideas.I've used one or two from the plethora of pins I've repinned and the rest were all brainstormed using those other pins as jumping off points.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zrSlvVrysuv6w_WiwUEx8YaoBBEljRevLJ8B08lIZ3zoT-VTNHnVIGF0i-boTLhmwbGakb7CF2wk2gh7VvFmkX4LAh-vAyjjnphHMbNuk-Gqj9HtToFdIxiDxDMWiVkOQ32jWVFs_74/s1600/483408_10151295943915891_893426794_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="10" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zrSlvVrysuv6w_WiwUEx8YaoBBEljRevLJ8B08lIZ3zoT-VTNHnVIGF0i-boTLhmwbGakb7CF2wk2gh7VvFmkX4LAh-vAyjjnphHMbNuk-Gqj9HtToFdIxiDxDMWiVkOQ32jWVFs_74/s400/483408_10151295943915891_893426794_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>There's really nothing like doing creative things to get more creative ideas. I've been sewing little felt trees together over the last week or so and some of my best brainstorming comes when I've got busy fingers. So Pintrest and making things together have gotten me into one really productive place. I'm excited for the sale and for getting the rest of the display and packaging together over the next week.<br />
<br />
I'd say that I'll post pictures once I've got everything put together but I'm not going to promise anything. I still have so much to do as well as getting the Bean to sleep past 4, keeping the Peanut taken care of and managing piles and piles of laundry. I will post after the show for sure and will post before if I can swing it....<br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-2955326446808642172012-11-16T03:00:00.000-08:002012-11-16T03:00:07.282-08:00Deep Deep Breaths or There's nothing quite as exhilerating as jumping in with very little prepOh boy; so I went and gone and done it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTXKycZzzSSx3FlpTcUh_65JmcC-zYiV7t53-LI55WWaYoh6OI9G1y7KPT0Ix1DhkAvv8LWXFwKe5vQLntg8gWCBXEw3RL8JWRAR_05IlQPLlR8Ao9-G7aAzsnsJClhGjVyl7fsyNWoA/s1600/8753_10151286896540891_729252577_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="10" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTXKycZzzSSx3FlpTcUh_65JmcC-zYiV7t53-LI55WWaYoh6OI9G1y7KPT0Ix1DhkAvv8LWXFwKe5vQLntg8gWCBXEw3RL8JWRAR_05IlQPLlR8Ao9-G7aAzsnsJClhGjVyl7fsyNWoA/s400/8753_10151286896540891_729252577_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An assortment of snowflake ornaments</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Peanut's school's PAC sent home a request for items for a silent auction that they hold as a fundraiser every year. Last year the husband and I attended the event for a short hour and a
half before heading downtown to see The Watchmen (one of our all time
favourite Canadian rock bands) perform at a grey cup party. While we
<i>were there</i>, we bought the Peanut's art pieces that she made for the sale
and also a few other gifts for family and friends. This year we have no
other obligations and are excited to be there all night long.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PTX6uoVy95pZD8IMib_07Q08J-jBcJBN69jMg_ogacwEXeB-5o4FEdkCv4noWn6Fo5i8VfG3BNJVVtCacoQc5CkW-TfXsM85JHft07wQbXxTMZHT5tVH9XTacpB5hwZ4moL8Q4UVIBs/s1600/63309_10151286893850891_1931946712_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="10" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PTX6uoVy95pZD8IMib_07Q08J-jBcJBN69jMg_ogacwEXeB-5o4FEdkCv4noWn6Fo5i8VfG3BNJVVtCacoQc5CkW-TfXsM85JHft07wQbXxTMZHT5tVH9XTacpB5hwZ4moL8Q4UVIBs/s400/63309_10151286893850891_1931946712_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bean's Peacock ornament I made for her last year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've been playing with the idea of approaching them next year to have a table at the sale. It's well attended and the people who attend are there to spend some money, it's a fund raiser after all and also an amazing place to get holiday shopping done and dealt with. So I thought to get my feet wet I'd dip a toe in and offer a set of three ornaments for their silent auction and perhaps inquire about setting up a table for the following year. They replied with an invitation to set up a table this year and now I'm awash in excitement and panic in equal measure. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJib_bvaUvEjsWKBhaoKDjnZQNhE2S013biDEVl-pWtFnViP6jg6RZmgAoIS4tbpw_N76TZxVlKxh_Oc-9FryopmoSwYFTBc-zOWYXLKmR3j8GYr2GeeL2SS4hQXCuOtIU1MU-mt-8HMI/s1600/558830_10151286886145891_462386115_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="10" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJib_bvaUvEjsWKBhaoKDjnZQNhE2S013biDEVl-pWtFnViP6jg6RZmgAoIS4tbpw_N76TZxVlKxh_Oc-9FryopmoSwYFTBc-zOWYXLKmR3j8GYr2GeeL2SS4hQXCuOtIU1MU-mt-8HMI/s400/558830_10151286886145891_462386115_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Year's ornaments for the girls; the first of as many <br />as I can put together over the next few weeks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have about 60 finished ornaments sitting in boxes that can be sold right away and about 60 more that can be soldered if need be. Is that enough? should I include other things? The Peacocks I created last year? I have 5 of them in various states of finished; read all done to still needing a first coat of paint. The felt trees I've been making this year? I can make about 3 or four a day if I don't embellish them with stitchery and beads.<br />
<br />
What do I have on hand to display with? What do I need still? What should I build my banner with? Should I have one? Should I price individually or use signage since all my ornaments are the same price across the board? A Float how much change should I have on hand? Packaging, business cards, mailing list, artist bio..... on top of keeping up with the laundry, feeding the family and making sure the Peanut is picked up from school and the Bean isn't drawing on the couch with permanent marker (true story) and also dealing with her recent habit of getting up at 4, 4:30 and 5AM. I have one pretty full plate.<br />
<br />
One of my intentions for this coming year is to take any reasonable opportunity and keep up any momentum that builds so that I keep moving forward. I could have politely declined the offer of the table. I could have stepped back and made plans for next year instead. Instead I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and accepted. I've been reading up on doing shows, I've got a list of display items I'd love to be able to put to use, some that I can only dream of and others that I have on hand and or can put together simply and elegantly (I hope).<br />
<br />
So the roller coaster is starting up that first big hill, the trick will be to keep those cars on track after that first hill. Any good advice out there?<br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-47335806103143526002012-11-03T08:48:00.001-07:002012-11-03T08:51:53.632-07:00Still In Candy Coma-land<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghTYf2HEc69iS1Z8sg4LDrHq59EqRH0SUACxpEerXSIP5ztK3KxijLDcCNAP85RxeRLZ3hzZNA8BFw4jXeMfJsLEtk4mGdbjvXwe4wnA5IP2PVgT4-fZYj41w4IaTPwTWXfs1vo2C90U/s1600/391633_10151257149275891_1819316432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghTYf2HEc69iS1Z8sg4LDrHq59EqRH0SUACxpEerXSIP5ztK3KxijLDcCNAP85RxeRLZ3hzZNA8BFw4jXeMfJsLEtk4mGdbjvXwe4wnA5IP2PVgT4-fZYj41w4IaTPwTWXfs1vo2C90U/s400/391633_10151257149275891_1819316432_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>We celebrated our seventh Trick Or Treating night this year and once again I managed to keep the costumes pretty close to the home made scale of things. I'm a little bendy in what I'll consider part of a home made costume though. For instance if it's been in the dress up box for more than a year and it was originally part of a bought costume that has been handed down to us I will call it a home made costume. I will also accept the addition of newly purchased components of a costume regardless of what it is. This year both of these were a big part of our costume building.<br />
<br />
The Peanut had a dress up party to attend this year and since I didn't
want her to give up the surprise of the costume she's picked for the big
day we rummaged in the dress up box and came up with a layered witchy,
gypsy clown costume. The main dress was part of an old witch costume. It
was way too flimsy and kind of boring so I added a pink tulle tutu and
also the ribbon tutu that's been in the dress up box since our first
Halloween with the Peanut. WE put on her flowered leggings underneath,
layered the Bean's baby legs leg warmers, some spotted socks and the
orange and black witch hat headband we purchased this year. We finished
with some purple glitter face make up and she was ready for the party. I
think it worked out pretty well and I think the Peanut looks pretty
darn cute.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKlWQl9Gfd5oy0VYSdc-pDwwXds0Op4VqgC1Bkf-kSxW1b3bQBkHgSuswQZaw9ArhhYnInS6a_-Bxkm7jcIB9CVe99M24SkxOwNEodQgNx0OZ_ntKAZ0jxcgKGUs0tmxBeaFg9H-D5zs/s1600/384812_10151263672955891_1244314647_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKlWQl9Gfd5oy0VYSdc-pDwwXds0Op4VqgC1Bkf-kSxW1b3bQBkHgSuswQZaw9ArhhYnInS6a_-Bxkm7jcIB9CVe99M24SkxOwNEodQgNx0OZ_ntKAZ0jxcgKGUs0tmxBeaFg9H-D5zs/s320/384812_10151263672955891_1244314647_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi971kAy1xETnCOldD3CqE5Ag1fUpbNv2A_ilU3F4mwkueByw5pSMmYAHk2K6dnledZI9aC2UrT_gxyNpw-nEqpLJ741mPtP9X34YfdLaCHS2fFdJGctmJ65KRd6ufUsHSLvbfWytLeP1U/s1600/396176_10151263616910891_1938513644_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi971kAy1xETnCOldD3CqE5Ag1fUpbNv2A_ilU3F4mwkueByw5pSMmYAHk2K6dnledZI9aC2UrT_gxyNpw-nEqpLJ741mPtP9X34YfdLaCHS2fFdJGctmJ65KRd6ufUsHSLvbfWytLeP1U/s320/396176_10151263616910891_1938513644_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZBe0X0nB2zUCztC6axbWrHN4E8Grs0Zgc_64Bv2RMn_TBBcqCjTsoU2HpZbyu9s5FHd2i5CHWO4GQ8Ix66Q7_U5Lf_1DwnXlBO1axQ3zxtnju22u4tqP9eBBfuYGNMFXiI7qRt96OjY/s1600/409189_10151263659290891_956823793_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZBe0X0nB2zUCztC6axbWrHN4E8Grs0Zgc_64Bv2RMn_TBBcqCjTsoU2HpZbyu9s5FHd2i5CHWO4GQ8Ix66Q7_U5Lf_1DwnXlBO1axQ3zxtnju22u4tqP9eBBfuYGNMFXiI7qRt96OjY/s320/409189_10151263659290891_956823793_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKlWQl9Gfd5oy0VYSdc-pDwwXds0Op4VqgC1Bkf-kSxW1b3bQBkHgSuswQZaw9ArhhYnInS6a_-Bxkm7jcIB9CVe99M24SkxOwNEodQgNx0OZ_ntKAZ0jxcgKGUs0tmxBeaFg9H-D5zs/s1600/384812_10151263672955891_1244314647_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
For the big day the Peanut chose to be a cheetah. We purchased a pair of cheetah ears and a tail when we got the with hat pictured above but the main part of her costume was the face paint and the cheetah print top and cardigan that are a part of her every day wardrobe. We got up a little early to get her face painted and her hair done so that those ears would stay put. A little trick I came up with is to pull a portion of hair over top of the head band and secure it with a barrette directly behind the headband. It holds the ears in place and also hides the headband too.The makeup and headband held up from 6:30am until 8:30pm, or if you'd rather all throughout the school day and up until the end of trick or treating.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf4VYkm_6O2Fk35UtUZX6qyY9BJlKNr3NaE-EJjkbpK7JJFBSIpnGP4hLgILwyQppGQbtObQ2elPaiL4yJKAkVABQcvNZwBth3YKU-0l_VdUzFnl8PvDb7amUqYcIicz945_XNApKc7o/s1600/155379_10151264149275891_898781598_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVf4VYkm_6O2Fk35UtUZX6qyY9BJlKNr3NaE-EJjkbpK7JJFBSIpnGP4hLgILwyQppGQbtObQ2elPaiL4yJKAkVABQcvNZwBth3YKU-0l_VdUzFnl8PvDb7amUqYcIicz945_XNApKc7o/s320/155379_10151264149275891_898781598_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DuObmafNPYqysnyURKSmHgDEhbO34GfcdAVI5ln4UWZXUwdtez5xqeAJ-lRhxsROKpg-dYOzEi_kCUa9e0hqAtM8S-Z111iYBQCkwcKWpmi4vhaqJqzlF0kfgLg7Z0R51RHHPvcUFt8/s1600/544683_10151263973675891_1898038449_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5DuObmafNPYqysnyURKSmHgDEhbO34GfcdAVI5ln4UWZXUwdtez5xqeAJ-lRhxsROKpg-dYOzEi_kCUa9e0hqAtM8S-Z111iYBQCkwcKWpmi4vhaqJqzlF0kfgLg7Z0R51RHHPvcUFt8/s200/544683_10151263973675891_1898038449_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Last year for the Bean we used the Monarch Butterfly costume that's been with us since the Peanut was 4 months old. I couldn't get it together enough to put anything more together for her after building bat wings for the Peanut. This year I am pleased to say that the Bean's costume was home made from top to bottom. We put her in a black velveteen dress, purple striped leggings and a little purple shrug. Then to top it off I made a tiny felt witch hat and attached it to a barrette and my little witch was ready to go out and cast some spells on the neighborhood. Except the hat didn't stay put; toddlers eh?<br />
<br />
This year was the first time we did Trick or Treating with a friend and it was a big success. The Bean made it to ten houses before she rode in her stroller, and the Peanut finished the night off with a big bag of goodies that we are still working our way through hence the candy coma.<br />
<br />
How was your Halloween? Did you build a costume or go store bought and what were you?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-7211663086333356122012-10-12T08:09:00.000-07:002012-10-12T08:09:32.136-07:00WowThe husband and I finally had a date night two weeks ago.<br />
<br />
What did we do? We went to see Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra and it was one of the best live shows I have ever had the fortune of experiencing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlhwv2Qxz71uBYCgyg-80azo4GLNeGDjEH1-pedx0DN5XUE7vBw34Nl4z-0JCIRINxgOXBIo4jjRq0pTd5nybngZW3HFuPlQF_OA6OQaSv2QCve7elmNAFs7Qljdlr8PX4l5vI06rXGE/s1600/IMG_4816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlhwv2Qxz71uBYCgyg-80azo4GLNeGDjEH1-pedx0DN5XUE7vBw34Nl4z-0JCIRINxgOXBIo4jjRq0pTd5nybngZW3HFuPlQF_OA6OQaSv2QCve7elmNAFs7Qljdlr8PX4l5vI06rXGE/s400/IMG_4816.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqOIWoBUxjiy17yt5Ff_eKPPGGyiIxvlNqLS1cq7sCe-oUa97nqWOJ5PTrFZV_DRsD8qLSmmzGzyf-DLQ2d0ILYvHts0DgMQsMNX3fRu8m-48V8HujbNCYL-V45a0tdEQ6-wvJabV3ug/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqOIWoBUxjiy17yt5Ff_eKPPGGyiIxvlNqLS1cq7sCe-oUa97nqWOJ5PTrFZV_DRsD8qLSmmzGzyf-DLQ2d0ILYvHts0DgMQsMNX3fRu8m-48V8HujbNCYL-V45a0tdEQ6-wvJabV3ug/s400/IMG_4818.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgileQ9NrUOXndyuPAr90XBcmSG37ahWB6ScdSW3y98fgO_LrmVobTq-0aGrI2vMStECsH7Yf8bDyRoniLecj5353Bp-ouns-hoCa30tlMqPZ-nwwiczOyrBU-jDWZOKipIJUejWMoBC8E/s1600/IMG_4819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgileQ9NrUOXndyuPAr90XBcmSG37ahWB6ScdSW3y98fgO_LrmVobTq-0aGrI2vMStECsH7Yf8bDyRoniLecj5353Bp-ouns-hoCa30tlMqPZ-nwwiczOyrBU-jDWZOKipIJUejWMoBC8E/s400/IMG_4819.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZQ_i4otzLzxsMby7YAvd3gdwi9nb4gxZ8EoY2SV6BtlfNWkd6qBSxS1zdx62osIW6cl8yvukaU-VqUKVmycu95i4TH-wca-OzAKAZje32eSrmfIE9dxSPfkh0ZgbLwTFPtRBIvdgKHQ/s1600/IMG_4821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZQ_i4otzLzxsMby7YAvd3gdwi9nb4gxZ8EoY2SV6BtlfNWkd6qBSxS1zdx62osIW6cl8yvukaU-VqUKVmycu95i4TH-wca-OzAKAZje32eSrmfIE9dxSPfkh0ZgbLwTFPtRBIvdgKHQ/s400/IMG_4821.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e3VMWSmPzTeJqZ0VtSmarfjda1U7RKDse7Vv-rNhewMjQTRtYNSLytlTmwdIwe13iEo5m4qeScoYsLtFphzH-NE0u_pjstoz0lmy_WnasIZYNjGe-8Q-iYeLHvzsPtPseha1B-2IEAs/s1600/IMG_4822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e3VMWSmPzTeJqZ0VtSmarfjda1U7RKDse7Vv-rNhewMjQTRtYNSLytlTmwdIwe13iEo5m4qeScoYsLtFphzH-NE0u_pjstoz0lmy_WnasIZYNjGe-8Q-iYeLHvzsPtPseha1B-2IEAs/s400/IMG_4822.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBhn-oe1_aJyX-3z07TaY94wdGIspO4Xh8W2yxWZ4QQJuLLYDD0iI5M29sSlRLZSLjZ_vZVQ5NX-1Pqv-_y1_X-vsPLmRD8k6xmJA7tXDXatBjMS4tAjyEmw9-BtD4JHfNBpp1OwA7gk/s1600/IMG_4823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBhn-oe1_aJyX-3z07TaY94wdGIspO4Xh8W2yxWZ4QQJuLLYDD0iI5M29sSlRLZSLjZ_vZVQ5NX-1Pqv-_y1_X-vsPLmRD8k6xmJA7tXDXatBjMS4tAjyEmw9-BtD4JHfNBpp1OwA7gk/s400/IMG_4823.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeF92IWo4xY3GsRsPd3_P5Wb-29t-l6F9v5Jrp_gMorQrizrrSGMVW6AUKSMvoZfGPqR9Kj7yOur-8VN8gY29CfBa2XSLerxD_mGIERJ1ksazVsS9oE1SNmgIc1uMiDd_p01Q2_3MqKSg/s1600/IMG_4825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeF92IWo4xY3GsRsPd3_P5Wb-29t-l6F9v5Jrp_gMorQrizrrSGMVW6AUKSMvoZfGPqR9Kj7yOur-8VN8gY29CfBa2XSLerxD_mGIERJ1ksazVsS9oE1SNmgIc1uMiDd_p01Q2_3MqKSg/s400/IMG_4825.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTxvGrdK32DJLMO8tK5b1WU6qyMxiRfKl31lzhonYpSMVliuN25Ck2KkY2i0IdwR6JhBZVqk8VAlwKUMI14c_ZMS-rzOTkOh-60VCb8JvAtL197zJPwTBeMHQdAaGJovMEG2Y6m1f4JI/s1600/IMG_4826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTxvGrdK32DJLMO8tK5b1WU6qyMxiRfKl31lzhonYpSMVliuN25Ck2KkY2i0IdwR6JhBZVqk8VAlwKUMI14c_ZMS-rzOTkOh-60VCb8JvAtL197zJPwTBeMHQdAaGJovMEG2Y6m1f4JI/s400/IMG_4826.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdMaH0Wz-cDtZeQzBpVcvm7TvKVjqxr8PPhN4iiPA-_JNv1rjB8Z-CJQbvCr6jeqi6aXM4rGILwcjRrAAFixYq7NKDQtG-8EGW8GpwZzUDUrDXzB8iMlLkCYrNztu3Dw5hU9aONTIlkM/s1600/IMG_4827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdMaH0Wz-cDtZeQzBpVcvm7TvKVjqxr8PPhN4iiPA-_JNv1rjB8Z-CJQbvCr6jeqi6aXM4rGILwcjRrAAFixYq7NKDQtG-8EGW8GpwZzUDUrDXzB8iMlLkCYrNztu3Dw5hU9aONTIlkM/s400/IMG_4827.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4FdWNGl_8ZFy3hYsxPnIdrCuksw-nHWpn84sqpYLrfMmGuwuFCBMHD_oNT_AVgNuQM0yeC9exz_-oeIxz5y5JN4QP-lmBkQ2yWlic-g9QhvxCChraSgDVyHBd7Vuio8LsuBuHH3Z6Sg/s1600/IMG_4828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO4FdWNGl_8ZFy3hYsxPnIdrCuksw-nHWpn84sqpYLrfMmGuwuFCBMHD_oNT_AVgNuQM0yeC9exz_-oeIxz5y5JN4QP-lmBkQ2yWlic-g9QhvxCChraSgDVyHBd7Vuio8LsuBuHH3Z6Sg/s400/IMG_4828.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRSU3gH26xImgyRVXA9FQHq9He6izMToir3DDJE60kHhuMvEFejZULZMNN3XkqFoeUV-rwd4ScCbRLYJR3qiS4iMxPsZHkOxzMRXQJTLN_-Fz-5N8YtJHh__apWH82K8YoE4V64AIYLQ/s1600/IMG_4829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRSU3gH26xImgyRVXA9FQHq9He6izMToir3DDJE60kHhuMvEFejZULZMNN3XkqFoeUV-rwd4ScCbRLYJR3qiS4iMxPsZHkOxzMRXQJTLN_-Fz-5N8YtJHh__apWH82K8YoE4V64AIYLQ/s400/IMG_4829.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP9-NNY7j80SgROoHUwWXTgb9siB7EUf1JBb8P7BonAJkkJ5gkP6RGOITDi5O28H73bOo9lUCJhyYaG99nVKV_mFuCacB8errZhomw4nNCOdpS959u-Mi06WOzsTu0LPV0QfKMZ4hjwc/s1600/IMG_4830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOP9-NNY7j80SgROoHUwWXTgb9siB7EUf1JBb8P7BonAJkkJ5gkP6RGOITDi5O28H73bOo9lUCJhyYaG99nVKV_mFuCacB8errZhomw4nNCOdpS959u-Mi06WOzsTu0LPV0QfKMZ4hjwc/s400/IMG_4830.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLvcUkVQ-kd6UcKU98oLpLjvYAkLkDyxCZpGGzJZUbQo9nH2I8xcpbDBu9zpo76eDc_Pjuc5cgwt-JB_ltz3yFXAhyXZ38_auE3tBayA2wEfO1595jyCP9azFaH0apK86Cx3dKaSST70/s1600/IMG_4832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLvcUkVQ-kd6UcKU98oLpLjvYAkLkDyxCZpGGzJZUbQo9nH2I8xcpbDBu9zpo76eDc_Pjuc5cgwt-JB_ltz3yFXAhyXZ38_auE3tBayA2wEfO1595jyCP9azFaH0apK86Cx3dKaSST70/s400/IMG_4832.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM3kIQjD07hUtRUr-kjDyMay5FZ4aq9wr97joSdtY6nj5o2HfrJHfEfdCk2Qqr9Q55L8CDkIT6dTpZLErO9hwPKpM5k8wCUP3SQoh9J76yT2VYkx3LpmU6Qin2b10m3m109eFJl9xW04/s1600/IMG_4834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOM3kIQjD07hUtRUr-kjDyMay5FZ4aq9wr97joSdtY6nj5o2HfrJHfEfdCk2Qqr9Q55L8CDkIT6dTpZLErO9hwPKpM5k8wCUP3SQoh9J76yT2VYkx3LpmU6Qin2b10m3m109eFJl9xW04/s400/IMG_4834.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWD-vyBD7iqf9l2pcg0uHjKCir2qEKAKtJWfaAB_kuxsBBj6mYzGcdVujfDXDXSH_TplSLi-bn_ppFjRBCHObWKYNcZNIaf-KeSWGM-9H1_8u_F54gOByYEmQCKdRvDIo_tqwzWAlYNs/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWD-vyBD7iqf9l2pcg0uHjKCir2qEKAKtJWfaAB_kuxsBBj6mYzGcdVujfDXDXSH_TplSLi-bn_ppFjRBCHObWKYNcZNIaf-KeSWGM-9H1_8u_F54gOByYEmQCKdRvDIo_tqwzWAlYNs/s400/IMG_4835.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq49nf617sspzxNKrU7oyF2ozyZuHjHBvYg4pTgGh6c871DEj77V25omA5BQsef51AezLPJdNWujQ00UNJ2SlitDyBo1toQkqG-p_hViqD-9sJvctS1FoQVNuqM2bOdCg728DSBAKxdV8/s1600/IMG_4840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq49nf617sspzxNKrU7oyF2ozyZuHjHBvYg4pTgGh6c871DEj77V25omA5BQsef51AezLPJdNWujQ00UNJ2SlitDyBo1toQkqG-p_hViqD-9sJvctS1FoQVNuqM2bOdCg728DSBAKxdV8/s400/IMG_4840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2gotgJZF9kt1JMNvTTU1v4ExYD3dm87-wUOkElwEXIFd5JwlbowE3GD2qthEbztAaCuMC2ixzquN4BtiR3z7v8CrONxOydjTtU20NS1YNRnFQH6baleWg3B7eQLkjzu21Z7N0QZ9av8/s1600/IMG_4841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2gotgJZF9kt1JMNvTTU1v4ExYD3dm87-wUOkElwEXIFd5JwlbowE3GD2qthEbztAaCuMC2ixzquN4BtiR3z7v8CrONxOydjTtU20NS1YNRnFQH6baleWg3B7eQLkjzu21Z7N0QZ9av8/s400/IMG_4841.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-45395000960174301822012-09-20T04:00:00.000-07:002012-09-20T07:53:24.154-07:005 questions: Colourful and PerfectI started following Eyelah's (otherwise known as Ayla) blog way back when it was mainly in support of her jewelry shop on Etsy, AAlexandra. I came across her one morning in the etsy forums and added her blog to my reading list because something about her writing style just seemed to resonate with me; her taste in music has sealed the deal for me; I have been known keep Imogen Heap on auto repeat myself. That and I thought her creations were simply beautiful. Now Ayla puts most of her energy into her jewel bright hand bags and clutches which you can fine at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Eyelah" target="_blank">Eyelah</a><br />
<br />
Over the course of the last two or so years I've found following all the blogs on my reading list a bit of a challenge but I manage to drop in here and there when the Bean allows for a little me time. When I decided that it might be a good idea to return to doing features again Eyelah's own blog post about doing features seemed to be too serendipitous to ignore.<br />
<br />
Before I went into my feature hiatus I decided that in order to be excited and get everyone else excited about the features I do I would have to choose the artists and artisans I featured from my own list of favourites. They would have to be shops that I would shop at, have shopped at or just visit on a very regular basis to satisfy my hunger for awesome stuff.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/105796593/yellow-butterfly-cotton-clutch-handbag" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="10" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9a5SQ3L9UWw85bwe7f8ApLAbUd4I0L_5IlARlYUgJCP2qiWdDRJex8yJqR-DLzz3GmME6s-rqa3om0xd6MEaYO8SXMbTbwZ1Lo2giUlWfRLvX7B5y4zW8LXcO3aRAgl3PdNY764Q9CU/s400/il_fullxfull.361772374_3fbi.jpg" width="400" /></a>Of course Eyelah fits right in there. Her handbags are bright and colourful and I could picture grabbing one of her butterfly clutch handbag's and heading out for an evening on the town with my Mommy friends or for a date night with the husband. Personally I think her yellow Butterfly Cotton Clutch would look stunning at Amanda Palmer and The Grand Theft Orchestra's Theatre is Evil performance at the end of the month... I covet; it's true.<br />
<br />
As always a five question feature is a Q&A format of five questions about being an artist, designer and/or artisan, getting inspired and possibly a little insight into the nuts and bolts getting creative. Please please visit her shop you'll be happy that you did. Just looking at her gorgeous and fun handbags puts a smile on my face, let me tell you...<br />
<br />
so here's what I asked and how she answered:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NkOMLLRqGstD29NQdLz9_-HZuCiLwM_mdxW2OAV-EbgXJxbAgYICOJM_lSGhNRTRGAwFgUkW-yUkaZEgdC6uu2bKDQ6dhqWJwL-MvBj3NB9wtm5lh105FsDoW1dFD55ODur94F-EZX4/s1600/il_570xN.362734997_o0q8.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>What got you started?</span> </b></span><br />
I originally starting making jewelry a few years ago because I have a nickel allergy and I found that it was better to make my own earrings than buy them. So when I started making earrings it became necklaces and then someone suggested Etsy. After going Etsy I pretty much became obsessed with crafting. <br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/106053918/brown-with-multicolor-swirl-clutch?ref=v1_other_1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="10" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1NkOMLLRqGstD29NQdLz9_-HZuCiLwM_mdxW2OAV-EbgXJxbAgYICOJM_lSGhNRTRGAwFgUkW-yUkaZEgdC6uu2bKDQ6dhqWJwL-MvBj3NB9wtm5lh105FsDoW1dFD55ODur94F-EZX4/s400/il_570xN.362734997_o0q8.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /> </b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b>Do you listen to music when you create? What's on your play list right now and why?</b></span><br />
I definitely listen to music now. I used to have Netflix playing in the background but I realize that I am more creative/productive when I have music playing than a movie or TV show. I currently use Pandora for my music source and right now my station is for Imogen Heap.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/105651679/pink-floral-cotton-clutch-handbag" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="10" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTJFqPRWh4wdeqaaeiwaETcDMCsY5a4VoB43RPQ9ScX6unbfXEYB3ULxcyxNQpX5A3vuzbCF8rAn8NGJCHmBhSRzFZXVwP23mhMIajYbsUCbjsvNSpUDTWiJ2UhhY07qaXK9alftCwIM/s400/il_570xN.361201311_trdx.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/105651679/pink-floral-cotton-clutch-handbag" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="10" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIwt146X4TvAKRi8dlUoOysg3pzapx906jvynhoRu40bMLWIaxo8z211_OkPe8ckq5nN48Bp-CVykQsqWUkjhpcX3yHAlCJPd6VKP4uJa2Z87SYIBqr6uJ_lzJiV4W2K17MkRMxMINqk/s400/il_570xN.361192926_qdaw.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIwt146X4TvAKRi8dlUoOysg3pzapx906jvynhoRu40bMLWIaxo8z211_OkPe8ckq5nN48Bp-CVykQsqWUkjhpcX3yHAlCJPd6VKP4uJa2Z87SYIBqr6uJ_lzJiV4W2K17MkRMxMINqk/s1600/il_570xN.361192926_qdaw.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue;"><b><br /><br />What life or art lesson have you learned that has shaped your work?</b></span><br />
I guess the art lesson I have learned is handbag making and sewing. I started making handbags shortly after I started jewelry and I've just developed the craft even further. It took me a while and a lot of troubleshooting to finally get the look I wanted even now I'm constantly developing the handbags, clutches or wallets I make. <b><span style="color: blue;"></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/105428585/mustard-yellow-linen-clutch-handbag" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="10" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykTlGuRnHfYNxHCcDrKY8uE_YeW4RwUwc5GgrG0w-SuDCnNxVwuJ4cVmyZ-r7uHV7h2trRjKVgkViHyBUJ5QNs6R5eOqaGjEHtgkTvdyOfk8P4LKEnkIg17hyphenhyphenppXeRFy-9B1Q40nn95Q/s400/il_570xN.361237205_gshf.jpg" width="400" /></a>If you were granted 3 wishes to furnish your dream studio space, what would you choose and why?</span></b><br />
an awesome sewing machine, endless amounts of materials, a new camera. I think these three things are the key to handmade items especially for handbags. Having a great sewing machine is very helpful. Having an awesome camera makes all the difference. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue;"><b><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/105795698/blue-butterfly-print-cotton-clutch" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="10" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkuHp_zD8bc3k1RLBeDH5OiPCEVF4jJwN7gOTaxwq62BCAHmSeiLBBX51DKJkrfHiB3fwXcdWFz58azlRcqF4yWpz5M3f2o2DXDIrxQk-dZ_-SreAvd9d_gmkFRjDtmHndV1TrR2BfXk/s400/il_570xN.361778467_801l.jpg" width="400" /></a>Which Children's book character would you be and why?</b></span><br />
One of my favorite children's book growing up was "Alexander and the Horrible No Good Very Bad Day". I liked Alexander because he was just trying push through the day and everything just wasn't going his way. Sometimes I felt that was my life back then and even now but at the end of the day or month, year, or decade everything ends up being awesome for me. Plus, I also liked he was named Alexander because my middle name is Alexandra. <br />
<br />
So besides Eyelah on Etsy you can also find Ayla on her beautifully designed <a href="http://www.eyelah.blogspot.com/">Eyelah blog</a> where she posts some pretty awesome tutorials as well as lots of other everyday stuff as well as on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EyelahAccessories">facebook </a>where you can get a glimpse of her work in progress, the treasuries she's made on Etsy and a little bit of what is going on behind the scenes.<br />
<br />
<br />
As always all the images should link up to the matching item in Eyelah on Etsy. Go! Visit! and then I really must insist that you check out her latest blog posting... Really it's a great post. I promise!TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-16658560905944585612012-09-19T04:00:00.000-07:002012-09-19T04:00:17.739-07:00If Given a Chance<h3 class="post-title entry-title">
</h3>
<div class="post-body entry-content">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJp-Dt18MRNPrcihLyNiZZI9iWPcbkYHfW6VqGs-A9dQFCHWirQuONYqYr4Nod2IMBhiDBcRGwNpMyZ3MyTCg-XUqaIJvEwMkj4F1zxS3WlwYeccAgQe5H6lNwi6-9fiFXz1T0rhdMch8M/s1600/419980_387600671258530_387539384597992_1457338_1009606262_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
</div>
would you take the opportunity to make a positive change in someones life? What about if the process was easy to do? <br />
<br />
I know from experience that thinking about becoming a bone marrow or stem cell donor isn't at the top of life changing activities. Unless you or someone you know and love is in need, or you see or read about someone who is in need the option isn't one of those things that jumps to mind when you hear about someone who has changed another person's life for the better. Becoming a donor remains one of those things we think is a good idea but rarely something to act on. The idea usually dissipates as soon as the next topic of conversation rises.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4KGuYPKhulmDgNydJk8FmckNGdiRp4UzjtfpicJjH_lDpUqz6LoXxaJP4wDYCYZFA2lWT6eX0TeVvcOoUibMp96Rgy5qVCHevb_WqIdDbZ_LB5dph_0k_zzUVTm5oWrp-zUkzANylZY/s320/625542_10151978337370461_838114297_n.jpg" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image courtesy of my niece</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last March I posted about my nephew who really needed a transplant to treat his rare disease. Today would have been Linden's first birthday. While Linden was fortunate enough to be matched with not one but two donors as well as receiving stem cells from his Mama, there are families still waiting for a match out there. Families who just want their baby, their child, sister, brother, mother, father to have a chance at more time with those they love.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tmcphoto-peanutbutterpie.blogspot.ca/2012/08/unthinkable.html" target="_blank">Linden's life ended on his own terms</a> and had nothing to do with his rare disease or the treatment he received for it. <span class="text_exposed_show">If it had not been for the two people who signed up and were matches with him as donors, his family would have had very little to hope for. The two matches that ere found for Linden were cause for much rejoicing. In honour of Linden, on the day that he would have been smearing cake and frosting all over his face and opening presents to celebrate one very full year of life; please consider becoming a donor. Please pass on information about
becoming a donor to your friends and family. If you could help save the
life of some body's loved one it would be worth it! What a wonderful gift to Linden's memory? Please help spread
the word and please if you do sign up and are a match let us know so that we can celebrate with you and the person you are matched up with. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"> </span><span class="text_exposed_show"> </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">If you live outside of Canada you can
become a donor in your own country. Matches can be made from all over
the world. To list a very few: </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">In Canada visit <a href="http://onematch.ca/" target="_blank">One Match </a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">In the US go to <a href="http://marrow.org/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Be The Match </a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">In the UK </span><span class="text_exposed_show">go to the <a href="http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/" target="_blank">British Bone Marrow Registry </a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJp-Dt18MRNPrcihLyNiZZI9iWPcbkYHfW6VqGs-A9dQFCHWirQuONYqYr4Nod2IMBhiDBcRGwNpMyZ3MyTCg-XUqaIJvEwMkj4F1zxS3WlwYeccAgQe5H6lNwi6-9fiFXz1T0rhdMch8M/s1600/419980_387600671258530_387539384597992_1457338_1009606262_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJp-Dt18MRNPrcihLyNiZZI9iWPcbkYHfW6VqGs-A9dQFCHWirQuONYqYr4Nod2IMBhiDBcRGwNpMyZ3MyTCg-XUqaIJvEwMkj4F1zxS3WlwYeccAgQe5H6lNwi6-9fiFXz1T0rhdMch8M/s320/419980_387600671258530_387539384597992_1457338_1009606262_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> </span>TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-42113535379365657322012-08-30T09:27:00.000-07:002012-08-30T09:27:14.517-07:00Another Great Collaboration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltgtWts9NQDutYstH5DvQeEQRLnx_sVcu5sDETwgu7bN0UEzWW2CCS8WC3jb0tUifVPr2DgRjDGSdLGMaitzTR3RO6K57F4ithw_nbt7TI35dCTfpcRW2fPZnmwytDZru-jlEALmXSpY/s1600/291929_10151173472195891_1813281961_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltgtWts9NQDutYstH5DvQeEQRLnx_sVcu5sDETwgu7bN0UEzWW2CCS8WC3jb0tUifVPr2DgRjDGSdLGMaitzTR3RO6K57F4ithw_nbt7TI35dCTfpcRW2fPZnmwytDZru-jlEALmXSpY/s400/291929_10151173472195891_1813281961_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Not too long ago, the Husband and I put our skill sets together and created some beautiful microscope slide decorations. I carved stamps and used them to make impressions of my prints into glass paint and the Husband soldered the glass adding jump rings and a shiny silver frame around my images.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://peanutbutterpie.etsy.com/" target="_blank">We sell them together in my etsy shop PeanutButterPie.etsy.com</a> and we've had a little success with them. Given more time for marketing and possibly a chance to sell them in person, where their charm is way more evident than online I foresee more success for them.<br />
<br />
The great thing about collaborating is that we get to spend a little time <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5H6S3HjiazgrEquxL4rq0LXt1tokQc3-AtAxVcrn_AnF5loMVGd6r20K4hsvTehm3srZ72ujIDmAoAzSH5ONEy5kvV0qPUi2wf7PcpHnQpFtkexq5o4KpBiLZioDAW0bCouZK9RRbTW0/s1600/557523_10151173470790891_66703432_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5H6S3HjiazgrEquxL4rq0LXt1tokQc3-AtAxVcrn_AnF5loMVGd6r20K4hsvTehm3srZ72ujIDmAoAzSH5ONEy5kvV0qPUi2wf7PcpHnQpFtkexq5o4KpBiLZioDAW0bCouZK9RRbTW0/s400/557523_10151173470790891_66703432_n.jpg" width="400" /></a>together both doing something that we both love and are pretty good at. <br />
<br />
Of course this means that we've been collaborating a little bit here and there over the last year or so on projects that aren't PeanutButterPie-centric but more BoneShaker centric. You see the Husband has been dabbling in building stomp boxes for guitar and bass for about as long as he's been playing bass. The goal is to create a boutique stomp box operation that features hand painted stomp boxes in limited editions. To the left you can see one of our prototypes.<br />
<br />
The box is empty right now but soon it will hold the components to make it into a reverb pedal. There will be switches and an LED light added to the box and it will be lovingly passed on to it's new owner. The nice thing about my process is that even the same carved printing block will yield a unique image each time it's pressed onto a surface. A short run of reverb pedals featuring this image will all be one of a kind. In addition to the boxes I plan on creating hand pressed limited edition prints of each image that will be for sale either in PeanutButterPie or in the Husband's soon to be up and Running Etsy shop. Once the editions and the boxes are sold they will be done and we'll start new editions with new art.<br />
<br />
I'm very excited about this new collaboration. The Husband is a consummate perfectionist, his work is high quality and if it's not up to customer satisfaction he'll work to fix it or create a happy resolution for everyone. For my part I get to flex my creativity muscle on something that I am excited about and proud of. Not too shabby if you ask me. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5H6S3HjiazgrEquxL4rq0LXt1tokQc3-AtAxVcrn_AnF5loMVGd6r20K4hsvTehm3srZ72ujIDmAoAzSH5ONEy5kvV0qPUi2wf7PcpHnQpFtkexq5o4KpBiLZioDAW0bCouZK9RRbTW0/s1600/557523_10151173470790891_66703432_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-33250677676209079162012-08-27T05:00:00.000-07:002012-09-13T21:40:39.120-07:00It's not over yet,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9NqwN_ONvoiusOwKH-FxnDY7gvxN4-mRUM13V_3yV1qOICob_a9kquvZg1Y5T08Gl9h1BV0XUKm3QMWlp_ofXt7HRFGMZLYb8HVol14pvru7iN-aEG5RJdjheNVSho3O_j5sVjhI1c1p/s1600/IMG_3420.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9NqwN_ONvoiusOwKH-FxnDY7gvxN4-mRUM13V_3yV1qOICob_a9kquvZg1Y5T08Gl9h1BV0XUKm3QMWlp_ofXt7HRFGMZLYb8HVol14pvru7iN-aEG5RJdjheNVSho3O_j5sVjhI1c1p/s320/IMG_3420.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home made popsicles. Fresh picked raspberries <br />
in a popsicle mold covered in fruit juice and frozen <br />
for a special treat on a super hot day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We're headed into the last week of summer vacation, we have school supplies nearly checked off our list, just tissues, glue sticks and a box of watercolour paints left, well also shoes; but then we are ready and excited about heading into Grade 1.<br />
<br />
The Peanut spent this summer participating in the Library's summer reading program, reading books to me as well as vice versa. We've over shot the 50 days of required reading, and in that time we've finished the Hobbit and started on the Harry Potter Series, (me reading to her, currently we are on book 2) as well as a stack of picture books, poetry books, information books and Easy Reader books (The Peanut reading to me, or alternating pages between us). We'll be handing in her reading club form at the end of this week and we'll be keeping on with the reading. It's a lovely way to have some Peanut and me time every day. So with the end of summer looming<br />
<br />
<br />
I'm determined to squeeze every last second possible out of summer except for those two days of rain they're predicting...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKLUZhN8WlXqzGB7RJtefCiqQhg3ozjZeq0fmYRy0_RAB7JValpv24rDbUrjj9TH9G8Rfpmusc_2VX_zQLUcJuRP2PwqAt2gDpnV97hy3xyWoclWGhz7pxvkxK2kXFk-MRatjt5wEjDCi/s1600/IMG_3113.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKLUZhN8WlXqzGB7RJtefCiqQhg3ozjZeq0fmYRy0_RAB7JValpv24rDbUrjj9TH9G8Rfpmusc_2VX_zQLUcJuRP2PwqAt2gDpnV97hy3xyWoclWGhz7pxvkxK2kXFk-MRatjt5wEjDCi/s320/IMG_3113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Summer started off a little cool and damp. the Peanut's Birthday party was threatened with rain. Our plans to fill the backyard with boxes and let the kids play with and in them was thrown out the window when the rain continued to fall right up the moment that all our friends arrived. Instead of boxes our friends enjoyed the new back yard swings, the jump rope, hula hoop and sand box. They ate up all of our home made ice cream cake and fresh cut veggies.<br />
<br />
Even without the boxes it was a lot of fun and we'll revisit the box idea next summer. Perhaps for the Bean's 1/2 birthday extravaganza. For goody bags I made each child a hand drawn paper doll that looked just like her or him and included a few sheets of clothes for them to decorate and colour. In the rush to get them all done I forgot to photograph the finished dolls but I have plans to make more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuRC38ueUl91WQDAawhQblO1KxLFK2gQovmaOtRADWNTGLOY5vIxnB96tcjkeE1NZdHoKF11G40lNzbb0W5wVeDYl6JbmvsJ01yEHCu1-86g0JBfiZhYB9WA4Fw3DvTj0edlRolRV12w/s1600/IMG_2896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07GMaq2KrA5tO-hJbRO0tE6fut6GL1Uta3ymUfh80QSM2ffcIOo8xUjhJ1aAmWTBoyzvVqQH2B4IyMV29FrLsdkerNra1gWEUCVA0dVFqNTmfSSmGdzVOf-ydSQWOOn9d2x7O-6Qan8Hx/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07GMaq2KrA5tO-hJbRO0tE6fut6GL1Uta3ymUfh80QSM2ffcIOo8xUjhJ1aAmWTBoyzvVqQH2B4IyMV29FrLsdkerNra1gWEUCVA0dVFqNTmfSSmGdzVOf-ydSQWOOn9d2x7O-6Qan8Hx/s320/IMG_2894.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hmJaZkXiEA9DToX8Kjy99cO6RKhU9avqN4kh7Xn_M6HBjWhXJfSJ1htN-kwvXbvCvAq9I2SsY9r-KYVVjvz5QcMKkluyAUhQSNqjGy3p-FvQvZq41es7gvpXYDeVlnrJEO12AaS-t10/s1600/IMG_2895.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hmJaZkXiEA9DToX8Kjy99cO6RKhU9avqN4kh7Xn_M6HBjWhXJfSJ1htN-kwvXbvCvAq9I2SsY9r-KYVVjvz5QcMKkluyAUhQSNqjGy3p-FvQvZq41es7gvpXYDeVlnrJEO12AaS-t10/s320/IMG_2895.JPG" width="320" /></a>After the birthday party rumpus we hit the Vancouver Jazz festival where the Bean enjoyed roaming free through the crowds, followed closely by either the husband or me. The Peanut enjoyed the music and blew bubbles and crawled over some of the public art in front of the court house. It's been a few years since we last went to the Jazz Festival. The last time we attempted was the day the wheel axle broke on our car and the trip was aborted in favour of getting the car towed and calming our nerves.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKLUZhN8WlXqzGB7RJtefCiqQhg3ozjZeq0fmYRy0_RAB7JValpv24rDbUrjj9TH9G8Rfpmusc_2VX_zQLUcJuRP2PwqAt2gDpnV97hy3xyWoclWGhz7pxvkxK2kXFk-MRatjt5wEjDCi/s1600/IMG_3113.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuRC38ueUl91WQDAawhQblO1KxLFK2gQovmaOtRADWNTGLOY5vIxnB96tcjkeE1NZdHoKF11G40lNzbb0W5wVeDYl6JbmvsJ01yEHCu1-86g0JBfiZhYB9WA4Fw3DvTj0edlRolRV12w/s1600/IMG_2896.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuRC38ueUl91WQDAawhQblO1KxLFK2gQovmaOtRADWNTGLOY5vIxnB96tcjkeE1NZdHoKF11G40lNzbb0W5wVeDYl6JbmvsJ01yEHCu1-86g0JBfiZhYB9WA4Fw3DvTj0edlRolRV12w/s640/IMG_2896.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07GMaq2KrA5tO-hJbRO0tE6fut6GL1Uta3ymUfh80QSM2ffcIOo8xUjhJ1aAmWTBoyzvVqQH2B4IyMV29FrLsdkerNra1gWEUCVA0dVFqNTmfSSmGdzVOf-ydSQWOOn9d2x7O-6Qan8Hx/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA7UZNoyBcCIccpRwENy9-1ILvhh_CucXM0NkmXKwn-KOyAGmIouBtOrc2cvv1rsoXyRlGsgzLd81I6WdwUvf8-3UWmmc9L-sG4kzeFmflan_4HtSZlRsjhU-vwoWYRxyFmVh8LmBuxAs/s1600/IMG_2888.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZA7UZNoyBcCIccpRwENy9-1ILvhh_CucXM0NkmXKwn-KOyAGmIouBtOrc2cvv1rsoXyRlGsgzLd81I6WdwUvf8-3UWmmc9L-sG4kzeFmflan_4HtSZlRsjhU-vwoWYRxyFmVh8LmBuxAs/s200/IMG_2888.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteDi-QdzTZMVodAQ95AaVapOHbunbp6yFeNJleG8Vibk8jwmCG8zn_mltt6w_VKlErZoIPO4MB4q6jfq0JSTLQeUDSSUpsVY069Yu9WwRgEgLfATTpbvAfxewngk3ekLBi0dmeyyo1I4x/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteDi-QdzTZMVodAQ95AaVapOHbunbp6yFeNJleG8Vibk8jwmCG8zn_mltt6w_VKlErZoIPO4MB4q6jfq0JSTLQeUDSSUpsVY069Yu9WwRgEgLfATTpbvAfxewngk3ekLBi0dmeyyo1I4x/s320/IMG_2898.JPG" width="320" /></a>the addition of a swing set to our back yard has kept both girls busy
this summer. The Peanut loves to swing and the Bean has figured out how
to get her feet swung around to go down the slide, she requires a little
aid to climb the ladder but that's coming (all Gods please help me) The
first half of the summer in our back yard was full of sandbox play, Side walk chalk, slip and slide and sprinkler fun. Once the heat set in sprinkler fun was the best way to keep cool without going too far from home using too much energy getting back home after having fun. I loved watching my girls play together and mostly get along.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCxfAC1lFv1dhw56AQ6IBhUqoygJM5F3Dtzm1GqaXJXDaHdXb2w_Cu9eP_dUr7zgEyqgdTHfckhjvjlWA07J2f5K7ceDNkk3Pso8dAxUMQdytgTdkMj56I5hEkhBKlhAHxzqEMSd8ZXy-/s1600/IMG_3614.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCxfAC1lFv1dhw56AQ6IBhUqoygJM5F3Dtzm1GqaXJXDaHdXb2w_Cu9eP_dUr7zgEyqgdTHfckhjvjlWA07J2f5K7ceDNkk3Pso8dAxUMQdytgTdkMj56I5hEkhBKlhAHxzqEMSd8ZXy-/s400/IMG_3614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteDi-QdzTZMVodAQ95AaVapOHbunbp6yFeNJleG8Vibk8jwmCG8zn_mltt6w_VKlErZoIPO4MB4q6jfq0JSTLQeUDSSUpsVY069Yu9WwRgEgLfATTpbvAfxewngk3ekLBi0dmeyyo1I4x/s1600/IMG_2898.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQKRBtFg0ezwXAXc1jIunCLdBhmIXJr0RtmjJmprx_h0VxW60TUHbbKGIkZKDEZPby2qVYCsQmcSop_-ZaDAy9ewFjgSH-jwT8mwLsscTx2OKdSB7ywZ4hHMzV2xsTfunScJDOmL2bDMk/s1600/IMG_3617.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQKRBtFg0ezwXAXc1jIunCLdBhmIXJr0RtmjJmprx_h0VxW60TUHbbKGIkZKDEZPby2qVYCsQmcSop_-ZaDAy9ewFjgSH-jwT8mwLsscTx2OKdSB7ywZ4hHMzV2xsTfunScJDOmL2bDMk/s320/IMG_3617.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7OGyvg-4AR4OG18xqz1FMKEXoGjW5y9vIf6brsKJAFxKwFmy-4-VebSak7AmKNWntx77yvM1DsMO5-KgI1myK8wYSFCWObwDS7hWOFZ81iVsDlEIUkGOnJKzjZmvXP_9eEtN8DoaOMqo/s1600/IMG_3681.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7OGyvg-4AR4OG18xqz1FMKEXoGjW5y9vIf6brsKJAFxKwFmy-4-VebSak7AmKNWntx77yvM1DsMO5-KgI1myK8wYSFCWObwDS7hWOFZ81iVsDlEIUkGOnJKzjZmvXP_9eEtN8DoaOMqo/s320/IMG_3681.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When we did head out; we hit the beach</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKLUZhN8WlXqzGB7RJtefCiqQhg3ozjZeq0fmYRy0_RAB7JValpv24rDbUrjj9TH9G8Rfpmusc_2VX_zQLUcJuRP2PwqAt2gDpnV97hy3xyWoclWGhz7pxvkxK2kXFk-MRatjt5wEjDCi/s1600/IMG_3113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w2GkxaBFc05inWtFoy1JzWzav7TwkEXPNue98uef2RPU78YL_cJosxGxDUXfB4p1XQDfoIBFB-I3u_7l_UVIEDSKJe93lMYNqy1WsiWHVZUsKgRvdG4h0n6FoknHAwaQsJDpghe3hQd2/s1600/IMG_3154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2w2GkxaBFc05inWtFoy1JzWzav7TwkEXPNue98uef2RPU78YL_cJosxGxDUXfB4p1XQDfoIBFB-I3u_7l_UVIEDSKJe93lMYNqy1WsiWHVZUsKgRvdG4h0n6FoknHAwaQsJDpghe3hQd2/s400/IMG_3154.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78WIruA4WuXEHc81LgNTXa822AP0uCwuUqNCPeaBG5xgC8MMFJNHdV3lI5CsZUEDCUSIEBtNhHyb0RiWY8VostjARrDkHiCV7uvTA0q1_NXQEg0269OHOjYZGeMnenaqXV0TbINlGlBXH/s1600/IMG_3222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Visited the wading pool at the playground:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78WIruA4WuXEHc81LgNTXa822AP0uCwuUqNCPeaBG5xgC8MMFJNHdV3lI5CsZUEDCUSIEBtNhHyb0RiWY8VostjARrDkHiCV7uvTA0q1_NXQEg0269OHOjYZGeMnenaqXV0TbINlGlBXH/s1600/IMG_3222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78WIruA4WuXEHc81LgNTXa822AP0uCwuUqNCPeaBG5xgC8MMFJNHdV3lI5CsZUEDCUSIEBtNhHyb0RiWY8VostjARrDkHiCV7uvTA0q1_NXQEg0269OHOjYZGeMnenaqXV0TbINlGlBXH/s400/IMG_3222.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
waded in the water feature at the PNE grounds:<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuHnQkktPj01cG119hWf1qirAEIg7qWi5PGZkCOHhyDqUKlgfDwCAUdVCbZd_rgPAe1l_dphT6M6jZE9BdaXi9n-kLD6Lg_gaiBiORbkQ1U8LlhRm1OtdDhZ_VtUR6szKBWiJzQbZbhjO/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuHnQkktPj01cG119hWf1qirAEIg7qWi5PGZkCOHhyDqUKlgfDwCAUdVCbZd_rgPAe1l_dphT6M6jZE9BdaXi9n-kLD6Lg_gaiBiORbkQ1U8LlhRm1OtdDhZ_VtUR6szKBWiJzQbZbhjO/s400/IMG_3821.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuHnQkktPj01cG119hWf1qirAEIg7qWi5PGZkCOHhyDqUKlgfDwCAUdVCbZd_rgPAe1l_dphT6M6jZE9BdaXi9n-kLD6Lg_gaiBiORbkQ1U8LlhRm1OtdDhZ_VtUR6szKBWiJzQbZbhjO/s1600/IMG_3821.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hit the playground, where we spent the bulk of some visits trying to
contain the Bean, who would try to play in traffic if given the chance:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguHMqYtA0DDQ_6aJ44yiIzbTA786N1agw2r0C9zu4Y9uy2bIhyJTM2-aztrLwTggx2bldIynoSlt94mHSQdFmjvUKrUZINDfkPcEnwn-NHCSwODyHNuc4O_8J-w4GOibQjxlxkmKWlRrT/s1600/IMG_3928.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguHMqYtA0DDQ_6aJ44yiIzbTA786N1agw2r0C9zu4Y9uy2bIhyJTM2-aztrLwTggx2bldIynoSlt94mHSQdFmjvUKrUZINDfkPcEnwn-NHCSwODyHNuc4O_8J-w4GOibQjxlxkmKWlRrT/s400/IMG_3928.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCxfAC1lFv1dhw56AQ6IBhUqoygJM5F3Dtzm1GqaXJXDaHdXb2w_Cu9eP_dUr7zgEyqgdTHfckhjvjlWA07J2f5K7ceDNkk3Pso8dAxUMQdytgTdkMj56I5hEkhBKlhAHxzqEMSd8ZXy-/s1600/IMG_3614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iHLej2jil2ENqVtWh6vCYxIhg3g7cg6lSz1QS7yaL3JV90LmNlfMX0HZmN6C5mlrFq3d5RIau_tpAlM1pfkb7NGmaOMEEFfppurhyLp95wyGAWmyxLQ4Wg64i9qctRik6x1VDk4U4CTF/s1600/IMG_3698.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iHLej2jil2ENqVtWh6vCYxIhg3g7cg6lSz1QS7yaL3JV90LmNlfMX0HZmN6C5mlrFq3d5RIau_tpAlM1pfkb7NGmaOMEEFfppurhyLp95wyGAWmyxLQ4Wg64i9qctRik6x1VDk4U4CTF/s320/IMG_3698.JPG" width="320" /></a>We managed to check off almost all of our summer Must Do List, including a back yard camp out complete with s'mores and flashlights. and in between we filled out days with lots of silliness and even a few timeless moments.<br />
<br />
Our summer wasn't all fun and happiness. <a href="http://tmcphoto-peanutbutterpie.blogspot.ca/2012/08/unthinkable.html" target="_blank">We lost a family member</a>, and are still reeling from that. The Peanut is still trying to wrap her mind around saying good bye to her little cousin and we've had numerous conversations about death and I see more in our future. It's one thing to say good bye to a great Granny who has had a full life and yet another thing to have to say goodbye to a baby who is <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9mJFkHiYd0G7RcNhFCNKIxLAgdF6peWW2GUk-Pme_d13-JqU0CHZn-WeSL9lQfRoCpAi4pXExhzUAakIV99se_aJHartQhAXuLyrU4-CGBKweA0axNb9hTwehugzX3XRgyDSQ8frf7FY/s1600/IMG_3366.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid9mJFkHiYd0G7RcNhFCNKIxLAgdF6peWW2GUk-Pme_d13-JqU0CHZn-WeSL9lQfRoCpAi4pXExhzUAakIV99se_aJHartQhAXuLyrU4-CGBKweA0axNb9hTwehugzX3XRgyDSQ8frf7FY/s320/IMG_3366.JPG" width="320" /></a>close in age to your baby sister. We're working on making the idea of death seem (to paraphrase Dumbledore from book one:) like another great adventure. Something that should not be frightening because everyone does it, hopefully after living a life full of love and adventures.<br />
<br />
So anyway, I've not posted even a fraction of what we've done this summer. I may post more pictures later or I might not. Life flies by on you and my next post might just be full of first day of school things or perhaps a look into what I started on my birthday and am so excited about that I'm itching to get back to it every day...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iHLej2jil2ENqVtWh6vCYxIhg3g7cg6lSz1QS7yaL3JV90LmNlfMX0HZmN6C5mlrFq3d5RIau_tpAlM1pfkb7NGmaOMEEFfppurhyLp95wyGAWmyxLQ4Wg64i9qctRik6x1VDk4U4CTF/s1600/IMG_3698.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjUMhks8PnJT-T8CQGUDqJVghc3O_LS03Z5Ijk162R6uEXmLcRBKy4N-gqZVO2UnOlgNetET0ZQOSOLlGD2tIMSSa2gnlOATYC9-raM_a2H8z1aAelHN_U7I2Iup532hXdQi_EUVgtJy3/s1600/IMG_3986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjUMhks8PnJT-T8CQGUDqJVghc3O_LS03Z5Ijk162R6uEXmLcRBKy4N-gqZVO2UnOlgNetET0ZQOSOLlGD2tIMSSa2gnlOATYC9-raM_a2H8z1aAelHN_U7I2Iup532hXdQi_EUVgtJy3/s640/IMG_3986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
How did you spend your summer vacation? Did you do anything extraordinary or was it a summer just like a summer should be?TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-9220976117121261302012-08-17T05:00:00.000-07:002012-08-30T09:01:10.505-07:00Counting My BlessingsWell last week we attended the celebration of my nephew Linden's life. It was a painfully sad day and there were not enough tissues to wipe away all the tears. Watching my niece and her partner say good bye to the baby that they were hoping to bring home and celebrate his first year was devastating.<br />
<br />
Since Linden was entranced by the nurses green pants and was also drawn to his green coloured toys everyone wore green to the funeral service. All shades from deep forest to pale mint and soft limes were worn on shirts, dresses, ties, ribbons, jewellery and in the Peanut's case in the form of marker coloured bangs. At the burial they released a large Elmo (another of Linden's favourites) balloon surrounded in a bouquet of green which caught in the trees nearby. Some of us believe that Linden's spirit wanted to keep Elmo close by to help watch over his parents during the next little while.<br />
<br />
Saying good bye to anyone whom has made an impression in your life is such a hard task. When that person is a baby... I can't even begin to describe how hard it is.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://tmcphoto-peanutbutterpie.blogspot.ca/2012/08/unthinkable.html" target="_blank">As I did in my last post</a>, I'm asking that you please consider becoming a bone marrow donor, Linden's life would have had little hope
had he not had a match. <span class="text_exposed_show">If you live outside of Canada you can
become a donor in your own country. Matches can be made from all over
the world. To list a very few: </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show">In Canada visit <a href="http://onematch.ca/" target="_blank">One Match </a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">In the US go to <a href="http://marrow.org/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Be The Match </a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">In the UK </span><span class="text_exposed_show">go to the <a href="http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/" target="_blank">British Bone Marrow Registry </a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show">You may be a match for someone whose
life could be changed and possibly saved by a donation. Wouldn't that be a lovely legacy for
my nephew? Please, if you do sign up and are a match for someone at
anytime, please let me know so I can pass that information on to my niece
and her partner, knowing that Linden's circumstances helped someone
else might be a tiny balm to the pain they are feeling right now and in
the future.</span><br />
<br />
As for me I am holding my girls a tiny bit longer and telling them I love them a little more often . I am taking notice of all the good things in life and being grateful for all the blessings I have, including delicious birthday cake and extraordinary hand drawn and stickered birthday cards. It's not every year a Mommy turns ** now is it? <br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-55022312550301098582012-08-06T08:35:00.001-07:002012-08-16T19:19:29.988-07:00Unthinkable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoNwpFdsYdTumcZwwq2j9y6XTVaU5W7iV3mXeGUm6Bzxxc-ho81kYkZi_CtdiyU1g-9AYq96UKUdRzjhW60PTbf8s_x-IRNUJs0l3AkMJ6T6yz_vWbvXJa5CcFfwPIGc-US6LTAYse-mE/s1600/268626_373676219368004_1995156485_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="10" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoNwpFdsYdTumcZwwq2j9y6XTVaU5W7iV3mXeGUm6Bzxxc-ho81kYkZi_CtdiyU1g-9AYq96UKUdRzjhW60PTbf8s_x-IRNUJs0l3AkMJ6T6yz_vWbvXJa5CcFfwPIGc-US6LTAYse-mE/s400/268626_373676219368004_1995156485_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
My heart is breaking for my niece and her partner and also for my sister. My nephew quietly left them yesterday, suddenly and from an unforeseen complication which was unrelated to his rare condition. A blockage in an artery dislodged and Linden went to sleep, peacefully, surrounded by the people who loved him best.<br />
<br />
Linden fought tooth and nail, battling mountainous odds and beating them in his very short life. When things seemed to be at the darkest he rallied, accepting the positive energies and healing prayers that were being sent his way from countless people who knew him and his family and also from those who had just heard his story and kept him in their thoughts. For those of you who added to the ocean of support via my blog. Please, please, please accept my gratitude. <br />
<br />
Losing a child is simply and horrifyingly unthinkable. We try not to dwell on the possibility that any child will leave this world before their parents. When it actually happens there are absolutely no words that can do justice to the grief that follows. The little we can do and say never <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;">
<tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxVBk74ieqPwrgj7K1LMxdTiAja9SXzaiWtI5aoEReK41PnWQHWlz8jumPYNr2NQ10n81oFZWJk4de-EwZvq_0Yq-TEnqA-X43svPQqyfZoelc3jPbX50BBJfl1EMy3HITdsIxLM7bBMs/s1600/207544_370901686312124_873840445_n.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="10" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxVBk74ieqPwrgj7K1LMxdTiAja9SXzaiWtI5aoEReK41PnWQHWlz8jumPYNr2NQ10n81oFZWJk4de-EwZvq_0Yq-TEnqA-X43svPQqyfZoelc3jPbX50BBJfl1EMy3HITdsIxLM7bBMs/s400/207544_370901686312124_873840445_n.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">taken last week. Happy to be able to go outside after <br />
months of being indoors. Linden was so close <br />
to being able to go home.</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>
feels like enough. We are awkward in our condolences.<br />
<br />
As a mother I can only imagine (and quite vividly) what my niece is going through right now. I know that my imaginings barely scrape the surface of what she is living through. Her desire to have her baby in her arms just one more time must be overpowering. The wish that her child was still here and still in possession of all the possibilities we are gifted with when we take our first few steps in this life, must be exquisitely painful. These are things I imagine but cannot know myself. I am blessed with my two daughters. They are healthy and full of energy.<br />
<br />
Watching my sister, my niece and her partner put all their energy into Linden's treatment allowed me to look at my girls and really be thankful for their health, their childish wisdom and even their mischievous moments. Because my niece is no longer able to hold her baby I hold mine a little tighter and for a few seconds longer. I am thankful that I have them, that their little spirits chose me to be their mother and I let them know.<br />
<br />
Linden embodied the love from all the people who sent him their thoughts and prayers, from his grandparents and great grandparents who looked on him with devotion, from his aunts and uncles who fell in love with him the moment he was born, and from his parents who were graced with his monster sized soul. He fought to stay with them. When he was too tired to fight they/we fought for him. When it was his time to leave they held him with all their love as he went to a place with no more pain. Love is a verb as well as a noun. Linden was loved, he loved he was love.<br />
<br />
In honour of Linden's short and powerful life please consider becoming a bone marrow donor, Linden's life would have had little hope had he not had a match. <span class="text_exposed_show">If you live outside of Canada you can
become a donor in your own country. Matches can be made from all over
the world. To list a very few: </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show">In Canada visit <a href="http://onematch.ca/" target="_blank">One Match </a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">In the US go to <a href="http://marrow.org/Home.aspx" target="_blank">Be The Match </a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">In the UK </span><span class="text_exposed_show">go to the <a href="http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/" target="_blank">British Bone Marrow Registry </a></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show">You may be a match for someone whose life could be saved by a donation. Wouldn't that be a lovely legacy for my nephew? Please, if you do sign up and are a match for someone at anytime please let me know so I can pass that information on to my niece and her partner, knowing that Linden's circumstances helped someone else might be a tiny balm to the pain they are feeling right now and in the future.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-84455626693403675832012-06-22T04:00:00.000-07:002012-06-21T21:08:44.350-07:00Birthday SeasonIt's creeping upon us.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't have any photographs to share in this post but there will be some coming up in the next post. I promise (I got my mothers day/ birthday gift yesterday and I've been putting it through it's paces; a lens attachment for my iphone that has wide angle, macro and fisheye options; I'm super giddy about all that) in the meantime I'll keep this post as short as I can.</span><br />
<br />
Usually for all the birthdays we go to each summer I get all the same thing for each child we celebrate with, and I always give something art supply-ish. Getting all the same thing for everyone means that shopping is less of a hassle and if I shop at the right time cheaper. We've been on a pretty tight budget ever since the Peanut came on the scene and now with the Bean here and the Husband headed back to school we are even tighter in the budget department.<br />
<br />
I go with art supplies because a gift of art supplies is different from what they'll get from the other kids and because beyond crayons markers and the odd set of watercolours; kids don't really get stuff that they can be creative with on a regular basis. That said; I do have some fabulous Mommy friends who stock their kids up often but a little bit of something new is always welcome and just what the doctor ordered to get the boredoms out of the house.<br />
<br />
In the last few years our gifts have been:<br />
watercolour paints and glitter glue<br />
sketch pads and pastels<br />
Buddha paper (paper that changes colour when wet but then dries back to normal) with paint brushes<br />
and last year it was a packet of watercolour paper and water soluble pastels<br />
<br />I won't say what we're getting this year since party season isn't on just yet, but suffice it to say that it will hopefully help those creative minds get going.<br />
<br />
Birthday season starts off with the Peanut. She turns six in eight days and we'll be celebrating on the following Monday. It's a long weekend here and Monday seemed to be best for most of our friends to join us. We're keeping it simple. The theme this year is Using Your Imagination and we figured the best way to do that was to fill our back yard with moving boxes and let the kids use their imaginations to build obstacle courses, hide in them for hide and seek and create towns, space ships and whatever else they can come up with. I can tell you now that it will probably be nothing like what I've listed here and most definitely better.<br />
<br />
Each child will go home with a personalized paper doll with a selection of clothes to colour, collage and decorate as they see fit. I've got costumes of astronauts, cowboys, rock stars, pirates, fairies, ballerina's and just plain old being you clothes for them to make up for themselves. I'm pretty excited about them and thinking of adding something similar in the Etsy shop. I'm seeing some potential to get into a niche here and I'm having fun with it as well.<br />
<br />
In other news my nephew had his second transplant on Monday. No news is good news as far as we are taking things. We've heard very little except the odd photograph and facebook status. He's off the breathing tube and has even had a stint in his Mommy's arms which I'm more than sure has done him a world of good. <br />
<br />
We're still sending out all of our healing thoughts and prayers to him he's got a long way to go but he's getting there each day.<br />
<br />
So what types of things do you like to get for your kids birthday gifts? Do you go the experience route and get a class for them to take, a night out to the movies or a play or do you stick with toys and books or (heavens forfend) clothes? Share, please I always like to know what works best for other people. <br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-87781472563281916362012-06-14T22:11:00.000-07:002012-06-14T22:11:21.330-07:00Beating The OddsSo here's the thing, even good news is tempered by possibilities that are not so bright and sunny. But good news is good news none the less. Today my niece and my sister sent out a facebook update that the <span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">CMV virus has lowered from 200,000 to 54000 on Monday and today down to
4500. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">To take the words out of my sister's mouth; hopefully this horrible virus will be destroyed and allow
Lindens blood stream and organs some much needed rest to repair
themselves. Monday Lindens second stem cell transplant will take place.
His amazing mother will start her treatments tomorrow to empower her
stem cells so her baby has a fighting chance! Keep up the prayers we
need time on our side, no viruses and Lindens organs just to stay
strong!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">For those of you who have sent your prayers and thoughts Linden's way thank you so very very much and please keep them coming. His situation is measured minute to minute and all good thoughts do their part to help get him to where he needs to be. After being told that he could go at any time this news is breathtaking. It's a fantastic step forward for him. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><br /></span></span>TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-7360510992631595402012-06-13T09:35:00.004-07:002012-06-13T09:37:02.792-07:00Prayers and Then Some<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sZDbHdPOdQYV5eSHbuYK_JNvj8jOBzn2Sn7iCnq7H_USez74NRamjiyC7XrcIijSvcA1mRP3cOXtBVNAUhIZB5JfYyFFWnlENyf0eEzI3vTO-3Bm_8HPK7YArPkIL9xFOcpZ9bX64Zot/s1600/295075_350068675062092_1057005677_n-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="15" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sZDbHdPOdQYV5eSHbuYK_JNvj8jOBzn2Sn7iCnq7H_USez74NRamjiyC7XrcIijSvcA1mRP3cOXtBVNAUhIZB5JfYyFFWnlENyf0eEzI3vTO-3Bm_8HPK7YArPkIL9xFOcpZ9bX64Zot/s320/295075_350068675062092_1057005677_n-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eyes open, a rare and beautiful sight lately</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was going to post about my Gran's memorial but instead I have to post about my eight month old nephew, he is in my thoughts so much these days, when I hold onto my own two healthy and happy girls the most. I was finally able to go to the hospital to see him and give some physical support to my sister and niece yesterday. <br />
<br />
Linden is not doing well. His journey has been filled with ups and down so very high and so very low that they rival a roller coaster for how quickly things can change with and for him. This is why even though things right now seem as though there is no hope that I hold on to the hope that he will somehow spring out of the depths that he is in right now. <br />
<br />
My niece, her partner and my sister were called into see the doctors yesterday and told that it will take a miracle for Linden to survive. He has been fighting a viral infection solely on medication because he has no immune system of his own, he is on three different life support machines because his blood pressure is dangerously low, his heart rate is dangerously high and he is unable to breathe on his own. The virus he has, has dropped by half through the medical treatment he is receiving, but it still rages through his body and they have him on dialysis to take the pressure off of his kidneys as they flush all the toxins and extra fluid from his body. He is in danger of going into cardiac arrest at any time. They were given the options yesterday:<br />
<br />
They could turn off the machines and let him go.<br />
They could leave him as he is, hope that he comes out of it and his heart doesn't stop<br />
They could continue treatment and take the next step of giving him some of their own white blood cells in the hope that any white blood cells will help to fight the infection. The danger here is that neither his Mommy or Daddy are a perfect match and the transplant will end in complications.<br />
<br />
They have decided to honour the efforts Linden has made so far to live and they will keep up the fight for him; . Today they will be transplanting thier own cells with fingers crossed and all the prayers of family, friends and people who have never met them or Linden behind them.<br />
<br />
For all of you who have sent your thoughts, prayers and healing energy to them at my requests already I thank you so very very much. I ask that you continue to keep Linden in your thoughts if you follow no particular faith and prayers no matter which god/s you place your faith in. All positive thoughts no matter what form they take will help Linden out.<br />
<br />
I will try and keep updates here as things progress. Since the ride Linden and his family are on is so very unpredictable (they measure things in the terms of good minutes/ hours instead of days right now) they aren't keeping everyone posted with each change unless the change is a drastic one positive or not. <br />
<br />
<br />TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-70043869246137514582012-06-05T03:00:00.000-07:002012-06-05T03:00:02.502-07:00some things fall by the waysidewhich is what happened with my Orange List project. This year I just couldn't get into reading after the first few books and it has taken me up until the last three weeks to actually feel a yen for a little reading. So what got me between the covers again?<br />
<br />
Oddly enough it was a combination of a little Terry Pratchet "I Shall Wear Midnight" and a dash of autobiography featuring Anthony Kiedis' "Scar Tissue".<br />
<br />
I started reading again on my trip to Alberta. I took the girls with me to attend my Grandma's memorial. I'll post a little more on that soon. I absolutely have to share the elegant and beautiful urn that my uncle chose.TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6534867752617150674.post-45794030647728367342012-06-04T07:46:00.000-07:002012-06-04T07:46:15.894-07:00Black Out Speak Out<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Please join me, <span id="goog_1340037496"></span><span id="goog_1340037503"></span>click <span id="goog_1340037499"></span><span id="goog_1340037500"></span>the image below: take action, speak out.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQgJtmaCf16OHQZ0T6JJhT7ku5L_GGhPK4CaC4mZe4Nrf5ztn0Bi9zDtpA4I3m2WTKnt5oO-k9n8kNbbwt8LzE1FaJcY1Y5jpm8csWvxXT_9hijemqqso03brhR1syziOj6BIr_OtLOtV/s640/english_mini_400x300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silence is not an option, which is why I'll be turning off my inside voice today</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1340037485"><span id="goog_1340037489"></span></span></a><span id="goog_1340037490"></span><span id="goog_1340037486"></span></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_1340037491"></span><span id="goog_1340037492"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a>TMCPhotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00507659700870917548noreply@blogger.com0