playing with spoons

In between.

2011-05-09T09:54:00.000-07:00

inside outside in between winter spring summer grey brown green

no waste clothing...

2011-03-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

no waste clothing.... interesting concept. I heard this on Marketplace last week and I can't get the idea out of my head. So I played around with this tube of blue jersey I've had for about a year. It's kind of kooky, but I like certain elements of it.

Pros: I like the long sleeves with slender wrists, the poky shoulders that are shape-able, and could be interesting if sewn to be gathered or pleated.
There are no scraps. Just two shoulder seams and two continuous side/arm seams... Jersey doesn't unravel and I don't mind the look of an unfinished edge. I could hem/roll the edges later I suppose.

Cons: The arms are a bit tight, but I think I could have made the body a little tighter. Honestly, the pinning/sewing/cutting took 15 minutes, but the idea has been incubating in my brain all week.

I have other ideas too.... so we'll see if I can rustle up another tube of jersey or something else entirely.

bread update.

2011-02-28T13:48:00.000-08:00

p.s. I've given up on sourdough for now. I just baked my first loaf a la New York Times and that's the end of my experiment. I now have my daily (well, weekly anyway) bread.
Thank you Mary and Tim. The bread looks, smells and I'm sure tastes beautiful.

I'm not sure what I'll do with my fridge pet - probably keep it alive.
or eat it.... hmmm...think I'll stop calling it a pet.

something else to make you crazy.

2011-02-24T14:26:00.000-08:00

I am under the influence of a few different individuals and philosophies, so I’ll try and spell those out.
I’m reading Change by Design by Tim Brown , Edible Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy, and the Lorax by Dr. Seuss plus I bought a calendar created by the Anti-Poverty Coalition in Whitehorse made up of guerilla photography illustrating a different view of home. This collection of seemingly unrelated information has somehow fueled the question of conscientious consumerism that has been rattling around my brain ever since I left home and had to fend for myself… more or less.

Having children changes everything and as they get older and express themselves, I now have first hand experience regarding just how much they absorb over these short years - including their parents’ consumer behaviors. So, noticing my behavior – treasure hunting at 2nd hand stores, accumulating materials and projects at craft stores, spontaneous purchases at the grocery store… and online… this behavior (and it doesn’t matter if the products are responsible choices – this is the equivalent of going to the toy store for grownups). I’m not saying that we need to stop consuming exactly, I’d like to think that it is part of what makes us human. Think of the beauty and culture of markets and bazaars. The buying and selling from individuals by individuals. The artists and crafts people who create one of kind objects...

This is where my theories get fuzzy and I try and distinguish between gratuitous purchasing and meaningful choices. Nevermind that somethings out there are like *thneeds. My current thought is that routine is important. Most markets open and close with regular hours. Maybe they are weekly, or a special event. When things are constantly available 24 hours or a click away, the planning and self-discipline required to remember to get what you "need" at the market evaporates and is replaced with recreational shopping. And you end up with more than you or your family really needs.
Is it stealing? Is it spreading the wealth? Is it greed? Is it job creation? Is it boredom? Is it capitalism? Is it right? Is it wrong? It depends… right?
It’s enough to make me cry. Crazy.
In conclusion, for now, I will try and limit my purchases to things that we have put on a list, or intend to use that week. And then use them in the way they were intended and model the circle of follow through. That might mean I am only buying food and utilities and shelter. Which I appreciate even more fully how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to do just that.

*I haven't had a chance to read much more on this site other than the thneed reference which for me was spot on.

Centering.

2011-02-07T21:29:00.000-08:00

This is your neutral state. You probably know what it feels like. If not, it may take a little practice to find, but once you find it and how it feels, I hope that it feels like something you've known your whole life. This is your tool. When I am centered, I feel prepared... ready... for whatever the next moment unveils. Receptive. In control. Of me.

Yoga is the practice of extending the time between stimulus and response.

This is one definition of yoga.

It is one that speaks to me as a parent of young children.

Self-restraint. Wait, observe, react.
I get a lot of practice.

*I chose this photo because I think it is funny. Also, I think it is interesting how pushing a camera button by accident still records the moment, no matter how minute or mediocre. But I was holding the camera and I still remember this moment. Because of the image.
Now I must go feed my bread.

Life lessons.

2011-02-06T20:58:00.000-08:00

So, that post before... sorry about that. My underlying tone was sparked by the ever-present "how can you be a feminist if you stay-at-home with your kids" debate.
Which, I KNOW you can - but it is hard to explain. I don't feel like trying tonight.

*okay... bread update.
I'm figuring it out! It was that the recipe I was using was not scientific or a very good intro to sourdough at all..... I'd never heard of San Francisco sourdough bread before so I didn't understand that that was what is being made. From what I've decoded, this bread is a combination of sourdough and a no-knead bread recipe. So, I'm going to start with regular sourdough leavened bread - but not too sour - since I already have a starter. So far I've made a decent loaf and muffins with the excess starter. And I have, what some sourdough people refer to as, a 'pet' in my fridge. :)

It's just bread.

2011-01-25T14:59:00.000-08:00

The other night as I was feeding the bread starter I contemplated what living with ease really means. Creating a starter from scratch requires an astonishing amount of wasted flour and time (something I didn’t realize when I started the recipe) – so much that this bread better be amazing for what I have had to throw away. On the other hand, it’s only bread and my local economy has several wonderful bakeries, not to mention what’s regularly available at the grocery store.
Why am I trying so hard to make something that’s already easy, difficult? Is using yeast not authentic enough for my family? Is it because it is not satisfying to buy bread in a plastic bag? Just like how it is not satisfying to buy organic baby greens in a plastic box? While it is remarkable to even have this choice, it bears to witness what is happening to people with choices – which I think is technically anyone living in the middle class. It seems that the human condition is to want more, even when you know you want less. I find it so interesting to observe this in myself. Am I trying to please my family? Impress my friends? Is this authentic?
It’s just bread, dammit.
Isn’t it?
That’s my point. We have these amazing choices, time savers, things that free up our time and energy so that we can really address issues with ourselves, our environment, and society. Not to mention giant problems like world poverty or war. But we are so distracted, so easily distracted, from what we really want. Only I know what I really want.
I am making this bread because I'm curious if I can do it too. I love to bake and I like to learn new things. Also, I am trying it because I can. I am fortunate to have a choice. I'm just finding it a little surprising that this is what I have chosen to do with my energy and time. What do you do with yours?
Looking for meaning in everyday life is not a new concept.
We just need it more than we have time to search for it.

Influenza! etc.

2011-01-20T22:59:00.000-08:00

It's just like me to set myself up for a blogger comeback and then... as you wait patiently for that next perfect post... We get the flu.
On January 10th actually. We're better now and there were no complications.
Goodness me it was awful.

I will say that getting the flu in January is like putting yourself on detox... drink lots of water, go to bed early, no alcohol, barely any caffeine, eat small meals and no sweets.

During this time I managed to come up with this little self-interview that will provide the framework for this blog place.
For now.

Why do I want to blog anyway?
Explore things that interest me.
Formulate complete thoughts about those things.
Make those thoughts available to people who share my interests.

Isn’t this a craft blog?
Not really. The more I think about it, the blogs that I like to read are often craft blogs because like to know what motivates people to make things and to see myself in between the lines. I like talk about a project I’m working on and my giant dreams for that project in the future. But, in reality, because I love to play with new media, I tend to start a lot of projects but I don’t always see them through. I think I hoped having a blog would streamline my projects, but I have to accept that that is not my motive.

What is your subject matter?
Parenting, homekeeping, yoga, making things, and the discourse between those things.
Environment and consumer choices/societal behavior
Reviewing books, articles, and blogs on above subjects.

Well...let's see what happens next.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-07T21:50:00.000-08:00

When I first started this blog in 2007 (sigh, I was such a good blogger then) it was to keep up with family and send my sometimes lucid thoughts out into the nether land of webspace. As I went back and read those earlier posts it was like looking at myself in a very foggy mirror. I'd like to wipe away the cloud that has accumulated since and begin again. Oh, how I love a new year. Last fall I started a yoga teacher training program - which turns out is really a test in self-knowledge as well as lessons in anatomy, movement, patience and consciousness, as well as philosophy.

So, um... stay tuned!

Autumn was here.

2010-09-29T23:28:00.001-07:00

Where does the time go?. It is autumn. And tomorrow is the last day of September and we can feel snow in the air. The leaves are raining from the trees.

the swing of things

2010-08-31T12:07:00.001-07:00

I was sad and anti-media during the oil spill. Except for the occasional Jon Stewart web show and the paper funnies I distanced myself from participating in media. Partly because I was too busy - lots of happy family stuff and travel - and partly because, well, I wanted to be outside and my kids didn't want me on the computer.

And now it is fall. E is in preschool and Jack is napping. YeS!

We are home and in a groove.

Plus our 7 year old Mac failed. Now we have a new one (oooh! nothing like new technology to get you hooked) and I'm figuring out the iLife 09 features. i.e. flickr.

Now Jack is awake. Sigh.

a whole month.

2010-05-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it's been a month. Recently the weather has been amazing and I've spent every waking minute outside. Without my camera it would seem. I don't have a lot to offer. I'm afraid that the oil spill is haunting my thoughts, making daily life feel trivial. I'm gardening and yardening and feeling reflective.

green green GREEN

2010-04-30T20:52:00.001-07:00

It's my favourite colour.

away.

2010-04-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

Things just aren't getting finished. I've been distracted with thoughts of spring and gardening ideas.

But then it snowed. 7".

Melting snow droplets.

research. learning. inspiration.

2010-03-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

I've stopped and started posting this all week. Maybe for two weeks.

I've been doing research. I've been reading books. I've been scoping out sites. I've been sketching clothes. I'm trying to (re-)discover my style.
All I can say is... Where have I been?

Cal Patch. Alabama Chanin. Built by Wendy. Threadbanger. GiannyL.

This is my story so far.

A) Patternmaking for Fashion Design. Drafting a Pattern.

B) Test fit a la Betty Draper. My friend Amy, who has a past life in couture fashion, lent me the above book. She later taped me up, helping me to refine this draft...

C) ...and thereby create a fabric block to launch future pattern design.

D) My first project is a yoke top... possibly dress.

E) Using Matt's old jeans and fabric from within my house.

F) I plan to overdye the whole thing midnight blue.

practice.

2010-02-28T10:35:00.000-08:00

sooooo.... as I was saying. I want to sew my own clothes out of old tshirts. Before I can jump into making clothes for myself, I have a couple of must dos.
First, I must hone my sewing skills. I'm lucky that I have a pretty strong foundation of sewing experience to call on. It's just that it's been more than a few years since I've sewn a scrap of clothing. Therefore I may procrastinate by sewing my boys some clothes. For sure, their figures are more forgiving.

My first practice project was to turn a tshirt into a pair of pants for E. Using a super cute (but impractical !bellbottoms!) kids pants pattern that I picked up at the double V ages ago, I compared the crotch seams to his most favourite pair of comfy pants. Then I noticed that there weren't any side seams on the comfy pants and of course I wanted to figure that out. So I measured at the hips and at the ankles and lined up the pattern pieces and traced the waistline, crotch and side seams to the notches. From there I chose the overall pant length, keeping in mind a cuff, and tapered the sides to match the ankle width.

It's so cool that this is a single pattern piece - and what is neat is that you can get a whole logo without cutting it. I just laid out the tshirt, covered the logo, and cut through both thicknesses. Maybe most kids' pants are made this way, but I've paid no attention.

The bottom fits a lot better than it looks in the picture. And I like the way the logo shows up on the hip, off center. While I was working on this, the gold medal hockey game was on and I admit I felt conflicted while making these pants :)
yay canada!

self restraint.

2010-02-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

Before I expand on this post heading, first let me say that I am so glad that everyone likes that winterscape piece. I received comments offline and online. I do too - so I decided not to submit it to the Fiber Festival because I wouldn't get it back.

Nevermind that I didn't keep up with the requirements...

Other than that, I've had a lot on my mind lately. Wierd stuff, like "they should sell recycled toilet paper at Costco 'cause then people would buy it" and "why does toothpaste have pesticides in it!" etc... but I haven't been doing much with those thoughts as most of my energy is used to get us through each day. I suppose I should be writing letters, but I can't even really write a blog entry...

With that off my chest, I am gearing up for a busy year. I have spent much of January and February identifying some long term goals and objectives. I learned that an important part of cleaning out a house, is that you have to know what your house is for. I borrowed a book, Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern and o my gosh, it was just the kick I needed. I took her tests, and learned about my shortfalls. Well, more like shone a big spotlight on them. For example, amongst other things, I had unclear goals and objectives. And we've been in transition. Not only were my house messy and closets clogged, but so was my mind. My favourite organizing technique that she uses is the kindergarten room model... Anyway, as always, I strive for balance between family time and me time. I'll probably be trying to make a new schedule, so that I can try and meet some of those said goals (which I'm too nervous to list in full online for fear of failure :).

But for an example...
Goal: Behave as a sustainable consumer. (Huge, I know. Oxymoron? Doable?)
Objective: I'm going to sew some new clothes for myself out of old tshirts.

p.s. Hey costco - my favourite recycled toilet paper is seventh generation.

p.p.s. Can you mention costco and sustainable consumer in the same post?

couching

2010-02-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

My process (or rampage) of clearing out the house is settling down. I'm able to do other things again.

thank goodness.

2010-02-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness it's February. I can't believe it's February. I've been away from the computer, attempting to reorganize many areas of the house all at once. It's taking as long as I thought it would (re: forever) and time is both zooming past and crawling by. Not much else is happening, but it is freeing up all sorts of room in my brain as I don't have to keep a running list in my head where everything might be.

needle punch needle.

2010-01-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

front

back

and yet another technique... Last year too at this time, I was working on rugs. Apparently, I am a fan of things underfoot.
For instance these amazing Angela Adams hand tufted rugs make me drool, (I first read about them on Oh Joy!) and then by accident I picked up Modernism Magazine before our June trip and found an article on Cynthia Sargent, describing her work with her husband Wendell Riggs and their textile design studio and factory in Mexico.

This project is mainly experimental, since I've never done this before. I intend to add to the surface using embroidery and beads etc, and eventually submit it to the Alaska Fiber Festival as part of their "Through the Knot Hole" challenge.

...aaaand we're back.

2010-01-11T20:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year. Finally.

beautiful work.

2009-12-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

I'm almost finished one stocking and am keen to start the second. We've been baking lots of cookies. The burnt ones went on the tree. As you can see, they still taste good.

preparations.

2009-12-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

This is so important. I have such strong memories of the Christmas season because of all the preparations that went into it. The whole family was involved, and we (mainly you, Mom... well and Dad too) worked hard to uphold tradition. Like all the red candles and the nativity set and the balsam branches. And the baking. And the gift making. All the anticipation. Now I'm the Mom. And boy, it's a lot of work.

harvest knitting.

2009-12-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

While Christmas shopping on Etsy, I saw all this awesome play food and decided that I should just try and make some. I can knit after all... so I looked and looked for three dimensional knitting patterns in my books and online to get me started. I cannot believe how long it took me to remember how awesome Ravelry is. A quick search, and BAM. We have strawberries. Thank you Pezdiva. Then I made a carrot all by myself. And then a red pepper or a tomato, depending how squished it is, and then some peas.

A white Thanksgiving.

2009-11-27T12:47:00.000-08:00

We got lots and lots of snow. We made tracing paper window coverings.
We have an amazing family. We are grateful.

the quilt. again. plus boys.

2009-11-15T17:58:00.000-08:00

I used a white binding. I'm not finished tacking it down but I am so pleased with this quilt. I really want to make others. Now. It's hilarious how little of anything I have done since this baby was born. The house is so messy.

finally. a boy.

2009-10-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

so, this is the birth announcement.
Jack was born on Tuesday. I'm so lucky. And also tired.

p.s. now it is the 17th and no snow.

overdue.

2009-10-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

It's not that I've been that busy these past weeks but I thought that the next post would be a birth announcement. I'm barely a week overdue, but somehow I was convinced that I was going to be early so it feels as though I've been anticipating labour and meeting my new person for weeks now. I'm nearly finished quilting the quilt. I hope to finish the quilting tonight and start binding tomorrow. Provided nothing happens in the next few hours. :)

Yesterday we worked on the yard, raking and mulching, cutting back the sunflower stalks and such out of the garden, We harvested most of the carrots yesterday and will roast them for dinner tonight to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving along with a gifted meatloaf and roasted squash. My mom is here and is helping me prepare in all sorts of ways. Thanks Mom.
Weather wise, it's surprisingly mild here, but I still expect snow around the 15th.

plum. belated.

2009-09-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

It's been overcast and raining and raining these past two days and I really wanted to take a picture of the mountains with their plummy red hillsides and frosted tops. No such luck. I did enjoy colour week. I know that I didn't get each colour exactly, but it was fun thinking about it and planning each post.

chestnut.

2009-09-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

I love these coulottes. On Monday, I was wearing an entire outfit of chestnut brown, but I never took a picture (self portraits are hard). This is my attempt to document my pregnancy in its last few weeks. It's not that good, so I'm hoping to try again soon. Really soon.

goldenrod.

2009-09-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

I feel surrounded by yellows and golds. I couldn't resist more than one picture.

burnt sienna.

2009-09-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I fear the sunflowers are going to be erased by frost any day now.

brick red.

2009-09-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Canada Red Cherry. My front yard.

the quilt. again.

2009-09-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

I meant to post all last week, but my camera battery went missing. Excuses.
Just this morning I finished piecing the quilt top. And here it is, all pieced by hand - which is not as crazy as you think - it's only 33 x 38.5". You can hand-piece anywhere and work for just like 10 minutes and feel productive. Around here, getting the sewing machine arranged and fabric pieces organized in less than 10 minutes before interruption is mission impossible. With hand-piecing I can sit on the floor, at the table, on the couch, wherever the action is. Plus, if you are at all sloppy when you cut out the pieces or lazy about seam allowances, (guilty, and guilty but I don't care because) with hand sewing you can ease the pieces together more 'precisely' and keep the corners pointy. You do get little callouses on your finger tips though, from the needle pokes.

Next week I'm participating in a colour week, hosted by elsie marley. Up here in Alaska, we're well on our way to fall so I'm ready to document as much as I can. So stay tuned.

so dramatic...

2009-09-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

Okay. no more whining.
The rest of the week has been much much better. I've been busy working in the yard, had some "alone time", and have enjoyed a domestic long weekend with husband and son. I spent hours gardening... trying to get plants in the ground as soon as possible. eek. I'm such a procrastinator.

I'm usually not this melodramatic. I don't have to explain... but I will anyway. Because it will happen next year. Maybe it happens to you too? Does the end of summer create back to school feelings? I haven't been in school for years, but still, you know. Anxiety. Change. Expectations. But also... Focus. Routine. Production. So you see? ... conflicted. While I am regretful of all the things I didn't get to do this summer, I take comfort in the gentle quiet that is fall. I think of it like a New Year. Plus my birthday is in September. And we're just four weeks away in the baby countdown.

I've been suffering from music stagnation too. I realized that I have not changed CDs or made a new playlist in months. Poor Stars, Feist, Billy Bragg and Wilco. They need a break. I've heard about Pandora, but I never really gave it another thought until I realized how desperate for new music I felt. So far, I'm pleased. I just typed in Arcade Fire and it gave me Band of Horses. Mostly it is playing songs I already know and own ... but that's okay... it's doing the thinking. I still feel an Itunes binge coming on.

mixed emotions.

2009-09-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

Things are cooling off here. I'm always full of mixed emotions at the end of summer.

a little whine with my triangles.

2009-09-01T17:48:00.000-07:00

Two posts in a row? It's got to be the schedule. I cleaned the bathrooms again.?! The dishes are done. I still have to sweep the floor.... and we made cookies. But that's it. A whole day. Gone. I did do a pile of hand stitching by bribing my child. We haven't left the house. I've been so tired by 10:30am that if we are not out the door by then, we're not going anywhere. I really need to be going to bed earlier so I can tackle more.

ahem... whine whine whine.

Oh, and yikes. It's September.

But I'm so excited about how these triangles are coming together. It's why I've been staying up late.

a full weekend.

2009-08-31T11:41:00.000-07:00

We've had such a pleasant weekend with our Whitehorse family. So brief, yet so refreshing. My horoscope even confirmed that on Sunday... "Being with loved ones is energizing so relax and enjoy it. You'll end up with more loved ones". It was so relaxing watching one another make things, sharing ideas and books, appreciating good food and good conversation. Thank you for coming to visit us.

It was full weekend too, with an easy brunch with mutual friends, yes, even MORE Canadians plus a birthday celebration for a little friend turning three. I can't believe that I didn't take any pictures all weekend.

Last night I wanted to demonstrate a freezer paper stencil for my cousin... and since I'm still in love with toadstools... here's the quickie result. Something for the new baby :)

hand printing.

2009-08-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

I purchased this book the other day. Since it first made it onto shelves, I've picked it up repeatedly each time I saw it - sometimes more than twice in the same excursion. I just love Lena Corwin's hand drawn artwork, her colour choices, and of course the projects are beautiful and so adaptable. I'm so glad I finally own it.

I have a little experience with hand printing - particularly with speedball cutaway stamping for cards, though I have had absolutely no training. I think I started just after high school, and each time I print, I still learn something new (...like placing the paper on top of the stamp instead of trying to drop the heavy inky stamp on to the card). I usually make Christmas cards using this technique. The last card I made looked like this.

I took these photos back in December last year, but never posted them.
I hope this book will give me the kick I need to try more printing on fabric.

beautiful mess.

2009-08-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

I have to clean up the coffee table, but I love it when we have a beautiful mess. I admit this is not a collection that has grown over the years.... it's just a bulk bag of buttons.

patchwork for fun.

2009-08-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

I think I love my schedule. It's working - at least things are better than before. The bathrooms are clean and the piles of avoidance are getting smaller. I've even started a new project. It's just a little patchwork inspired by the colours of the toadstools. I'm piecing it by hand, randomly picking the scraps out of a paper bag. I just have one rule... all the orange/red/yellow triangles point in the same direction. I really don't know where it's headed but who cares. At least I'm playing with something fun. Ignore the wrinkles.

mushroom magic.

2009-08-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

they are everywhere. it is a toadstool explosion.

schedule of sanity.

2009-08-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

So... I don't know how anybody gets anything done. Maybe everyone has secret little schedules.
I had a great cathartic chat with Tracie the other day and it gave me the kick in the a$$ I needed to regain control... well, ahem, attempt to regain some semblance of sanity/control. I made a list of the things I LIKE to do. I made a list of the things I HAVE to do. I made a list of things I WANT to do. I've done this before, but like with most things in life I quickly lose steam if things stop working as I planned.
I've revised my schedule. It might only last two weeks, but maybe it will last until the baby is born. Then I'll have to start from scratch again. Here it is...

My goal, at the very least is to clean something right after I finish my coffee... do my chores for one hour. Then that's it. I am a reluctant housekeeper. I love a clean and tidy house, but lately we've been swimming in disorder. Not filth... really, but just clutter and piles of avoidance. I can make the excuses... but well, other people manage, don't they? Therefore, I can too.

After my chores are done ( maybe I should start giving myself gold stars) then I'd like to be a good parent and do something relating to the theme that I've set up for that day. Then it's lunch time. Then I need to rest - which means reading book after book in bed to a toddler who is wiggly. Then I want to play outside or go for a walk or garden. Then I want to do something creative before I start dinner. I strongly suggest having a meal plan for the week in addition to the schedule.

I put the schedule in a place where only I look. I try to make it beautiful, but not overwork it. It acts as a guide. It's worked before, but I stopped using it before Christmas!?.
References:
Organic Housekeeping.
Heaven on Earth.
The Creative Family.
And...Wisecraft's 'the art of cleaning'.

This was my old schedule.

why I live where I live 3

2009-08-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

mmmmmmmmm smell that alpine tundra...

three.

2009-08-06T13:52:00.000-07:00

time goes by so fast
run running running faster
and now you are three

photo by Grandpa Carl.

hectic fruit.

2009-07-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Things are hectic here... in a good way. Around the house that is... things just won't stay put together.

The garden is growing - I wish we had planted more strawberries since this bowl holds the total yield (minus one, ahem) for the year. Next year at least a dozen plants for sure. For fun, I'm rooting the baby strawberry sucker shoots. I can't just cut them off! Swiss chard and broccoli are the big successes this year. Peas are on the way.
We're so in love with our backyard. We have so many plans.

P.S. I am 29!? weeks already. Gasp... stutter. Yup. First week of October or so.

homer beach.

2009-07-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

Kids plus water plus sand = heaven. Just don't get too wet.

...and we're back.

2009-06-27T10:52:00.000-07:00

We've been in Ontario for most of June. So many photos. Such a great visit.
Thanks to everyone who made it possible.
Love Oona

Above photo is taken from a deer stand on the ridge near my parents home on Manitoulin Island. Oh, and I finally changed my profile picture. It seems there just aren't very many pictures of me unless they are self portraits, like this one.

painting for me.

2009-05-27T16:09:00.000-07:00

I don't paint very often. I enjoy it very much and playing with colour is my favourite part . I buy paint. I buy canvases. I worry about not creating meaningful art, and this is an example of art without a lot of meaning. I've always really like painting abstract landscapes and this time I simply wanted to experiment with a horizon line spread across three canvases. It's been in my head for some time now, maybe over a year. I've been focused on making our bedroom a more cohesive and relaxing space and there was a blank wall above our bed begging for something. I woke up really early yesterday and started a quick pastel study. Everett woke up and watched and participated a little, but honestly this took maybe an hour. Thank you public television.

fiddleheads

2009-05-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

I just love these shapes and patterns. I want to remember them in the winter.

inside. outside.

2009-05-17T22:50:00.001-07:00

Where have I been?
Much wonderful time outside + terrible twos + wonky sleeping habits for all = no time for the computer.

Except for craigslist... I always seem to be able to make time for craigslisting.

Our kitchen is finished! (We have some small outstanding items (like what to do about the light above the kitchen sink, getting the cover cut for the range hood, waiting for cabinet hardware... blah blah blah backsplash)... but we have countertops and a sink. It took me forever to take these pictures... I should have just photographed the chaos that is real life, but then you wouldn't be able to see the countertops. The countertops are nothing really "special", but if you are curious it is Formica Solid Surfacing in Real Concrete. We love how it all worked out with the floor and the cabinets and we're really happy with the integral sink. We feel like grown ups. As for all the old stuff, we sold our old kitchen cabinets, complete with countertops and sink, on craigslist. We donated the awesome but not-matchy dishwasher to the habitat for humanity restore. We gave the old fridge to a friend and the old stove was a fire hazard.

As for outside, it is really getting green out there. We had a good day or so of a good cleansing and nourishing rain last week (which allowed me to temporarily catch up with laundry and other indoor drudgery) followed by more gorgeous sunshine. I planted much of the raised beds on Mother's Day - kinda early for us but I planted cold loving plants like broccoli and lettuce seeds. The arugula and all the radishes are up and happy looking. The peas and carrots should be up soon I hope. I just planted beans yesterday and I'm still toting the cucumbers and zucchini inside at night. I think they'll probably stay on the deck this summer to make room for more carrots in the garden.

Matt also built a compost bin so that we can deal with most (hopefully all) of our yard waste. It looks pretty good from the deck too. So, between that and the worm bin (which is doing much better since I stopped poking at it) we are set up to compost almost everything.
That platform at the back of the yard is for the old fireplace that we took out of the house. We're going to try it as an outdoor fireplace. Right now it's like a stage for dancing and jumping and twirling.

best mother's day present ever.

2009-05-10T18:54:00.001-07:00

Two planting beds and a sandbox. Plus, a whole week of gorgeous sunshine. I can only hope it will last.

Matt worked very hard this past two weeks getting these built and installed. Of course, Everett helped, even though in this case he proved to be the worst helper ever. His sandbox is slowly being filled up with sand. It's going to take a lot of sand.

I'm so grateful because I did not think that I would have a garden this year - we have so much going on - and I never expected that they would be raised beds with a little cedar bench all the way around for my pregnant self (o yes, we're expecting in October) to perch on while I plant, weed and harvest. I think they are beautiful. The pavers showed up on Friday at a garage sale, and we immediately dug them in between the beds. I hope to have little volunteer plants show up along the pathway... preferably pretty ones. Eventually, a bench, maybe not that bench, or a little table and chairs will be centered on aisle with a (permanent) fence along the yard and perennial edibles gardens on either side of the bench.... strawberries, rhubarb, asparagus?who knows. I'm just so happy.

p.s. and a note to my father and anyone who is wondering.... I did line the pressure treated wood with black plastic after all. It was going to nag at me... is my soil poisoned, is it safe to grow food? Now it's done, and I don't have to think about it anymore.

worms.

2009-04-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

We have worms! A couple of days ago I purchased an established worm bin off craigslist... (sigh, ah craigslist, my online shopping addiction).... It was a great coincidence since I been curious to try vermicomposting and was keenly gathering information on the subject when I noticed this worm bin for sale... I haven't taken a picture yet... it's not necessarily the most attractive thing. Anyways... I still have lots to learn, but so far things seem manageable and it does not smell... really. I'm keeping it in our garage which is kept above 40 degrees F. I've added vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds and I've put in more bedding.... but there is still lots left over from the previous owner so I'm kind of just monitoring it. There's also plenty of worm castings (which is the good stuff for fertilizing plants) which I hope to use some of today. So... that's my earth week experiment.

Everett also helped me gather some litter from around the park today. It's so exciting when the snow melts... yet so sad to see the junk.
Ponder this: Why do litterbugs put the lids back on their bottles before they toss them into the woods?

moving right along.

2009-04-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

Goodness gracious. It's been over a week since my last post. Time is just flying by. Almost all the snow is melted in the yard and today we went outside early to rake the frozen ground before the sun turns the yard back into mud. We're eager to establish grass as soon as possible since it didn't take last year because of the incessant rain.

I have more to say, but someone is dissolving beside me begging for food. be back later.

new kitchen.

2009-04-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I baked fancy cookies a la Martha Stewart. On Easter Sunday we made the kitchen disappear. The fridge and range are sitting where the dining table once was. Our new green floor (#435) is being installed as I type this.
More details here...

royal icing.

2009-04-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

public media

2009-04-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

We listen to KSKA. We watch KAKM. Maybe you do too.
We haven't actually been members all that long, but we have been collecting old Marianne Wieland pledge drive mugs over the past few years. We seek them out at second hand stores. They are our favourite mugs.
The pledge drive is on this week, in fact it is almost over. We've done our bit and I'm happy.

Public media is so important.
I can't imagine my life in the USA without it.

what now?

2009-04-08T17:45:00.000-07:00

I'm being tortured by the allure of spring. There is still a lot of snow but the sun is strong so it is melting fast and we can play in puddles now.

A week ago I felt on top of it all. The house was presentable and the laundry folded and put away. Not so now. I can't decide what to do next. I still don't know how we will celebrate Easter.

I compensate by buying pineapples. And then eating them. mmm... like summer.

volcanoes and radishes

2009-03-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

Everett and I planted radish seeds on Friday, and by Saturday night we had a sprout. The top photo was taken this morning, the photo below was taken yesterday afternoon. It's so exciting to see them grow and change. I guess I'll have to find them a new, more substantial home soon.

On Monday we had a 3 more inches of snow. It cleaned up the place, but what a reminder that winter is not over here yet. It's still cold too. Sigh.

I feel like I should mention something about the weather. As most everyone knows by now Mount Redoubt is erupting, off and on as of March 20th. So far Anchorage, where I live, has not had very much ash fall. There was a little dusting this weekend - enough to show a 1/2" buildup of grey ash at the bottom of your car windshield and make the top of the snow grey. Apparently when Mount Spur, another volcano just north of Redoubt and closer to Anchorage, erupted 19 years ago, people used shovels to move the ash.
Hopefully that doesn't happen, and hopefully Redoubt stops erupting altogether. Air travel is the biggest problem since most of the ash stays up where the planes fly and can be fatal to aircraft engines. Mount Spur erupted for 4 months. Here's the latest story from our local paper.

knittin'...

2009-03-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've knit four pairs of slippers this winter; a pair each for my mother and sisters before Christmas, and then a pair for myself when we got home. It seems as though I finished all those slippers ages ago and I've been craving to knit something more delicate and airy. I've been going through my stash of yarn, waiting to be hit with a lightning strike of inspiration. So far I've just been playing, but I have had a some nice results. The other day, Everett requested a trip to the "train store" which is actually a quilt fabric and yarn supply store with a great corner train table. It sounded like a great idea to me - it's nice just to go and poke around. As a bonus, I think I finally got hit by that lightning.

snow walk.

2009-02-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

The light is starting to return. The sun rose at 9:05am this morning.

cut out hearts

2009-02-05T17:09:00.000-08:00

plus a glimpse of the upstairs. messy, but with a sewing machine.

why I live where I live 2

2009-02-04T17:02:00.000-08:00

again, while driving Everett to sleep. He is officially 2 and a half today.

growing...

2009-01-31T13:29:00.000-08:00

I just wish I had forced my own bulbs... one day I'll figure that out.

The rug is growing... 22" diameter and almost all 4 shirts are used up.

protect wild nature.

2009-01-28T12:53:00.000-08:00

we have a great need for rugs, but I have a hard time finding rugs that I like. Inspired by this image (thanks O joy!), a size Q crochet hook, a few library books on rug hooking, a pile of dirty old white t-shirts, a couple of packets of idye and the desire to make my own damn rug.
Matt's been hanging on to these t shirts since high school I think, and while he can't really wear them any more (too shrunken, to ragged, too dirty - they are old-school organic cotton t shirts that I just couldn't toss, never ever. While I'm cutting up the shirts into 1.5 to 2 inch continuous strips, I can't cut through the images and the timeless messages they behold.

Oh, and they say that Mount Redoubt is going to explode.

big snowball

2009-01-25T12:06:00.000-08:00

how to make a giant snowman. by j martin.

tradition

2009-01-24T10:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning tradition. Mom makes cinnamon rolls, one batch with apples, one without.

eastern market

2009-01-23T05:27:00.000-08:00

eastern market, washington d.c., work displayed by pridon goisashvili

working backwards through our holiday photos...

why I live where I live

2009-01-22T16:59:00.000-08:00

oftentimes I need to be reminded.
photos from along the Seward highway, 20 minutes from Anchorage.

good things this week... new commander in chief, lost a little holiday weight, learning about rug-hooking which is way more interesting than it sounds, sweet package from April containing the much coveted yet difficult to use calender stamps,
not so good things... sick and therefore whiny toddler, still haven't been to the gym, totaled "my studio/work area"/guest room and house in general... sigh o so much laundry.

Happy (yester)birthday little Beth Ann!
Happy birthday Lisa!
Congratulations Renee and Cambell!

New post! New Look?

2009-01-21T23:40:00.000-08:00

Old posts? You are so last year.
Be gone.

cowparsnip seedhead. obviously photoshopped... by me.

great day.

2008-11-24T22:18:00.001-08:00

Forest walk? check.
Everett nap? check.
A little bit of creativity? check.
Time with friends? bonus.

Tomorrowland Trees, Nature Tables, and Little People.

2008-11-20T16:35:00.000-08:00

One of things I'm trying to do for Everett is introduce more magic and wonder into his play. I used to think that play is play and thank goodness they can do it on their own. We avoid all toys that beep or make bad music, and are not beautiful or simple. Occasionally we receive gifts that don't meet my ideal, and of course Everett is allowed to play with them, and sometimes they are a big hit. But usually they are forgotten and he goes back to his cars, blocks and books... mainly his cars. We donate those forgotten toys and clear space out his area for him to play. Clutter is good for no one. Most "mainstream" toys don't last and if they need batteries, and I digress. Sometimes they are okay - at other peoples houses.

These trees are totally inspired by Wise Craft. The little people are my first attempt after I saw these on Etsy. The nature tables and this discussion are completely part of my enchantment with Waldorf Philosophy and The Creative Family, a book by Amanda Soule.

Happy Hallowe'en

2008-10-31T23:41:00.000-07:00

Yogurt.

2008-10-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I made yogurt using a method I found in the paper. Really, I know that this isn't that exciting, but think about it... no more plastic containers. I used a 16oz wide mouth mason but any airtight/waterproof container should work.

I said to Matt after successful yogurt making.... You know how I hate to buy those plastic containers... and he replied... no, you hate to throw away those plastic containers. Which is true because plastic containers are #5 and there is no recycling program that accepts them up here. Have I mentioned that our city has finally implemented a curbside recycling program and I am so o so happy about it?! No more sorting, just cleaning and combining all recyclables. No more special trips to the recycling center even though we'll miss seeing all those other good human beings making special trips and smile at one another the way good human beings should. Sigh. Anyway, I digress.

So I made yogurt. Just two cups to see if it would work, but I bet it would work with more, it would just take longer. So far it seems to be fine... I ate some this morning (and a spoonful last night) and I haven't died or felt ill. It tastes much like it's parent yogurt (which probably many of you who have made yogurt before are like, of course it does and why haven't you done this before?...) My only complaint is that it tastes a little like scalded milk and that might be my fault. Either way, I'm saving a little bit for another batch and going to sweeten this one up with good old Canadian Maple Syrup. yum yum.

Below is a photo of the clipping from the Anchorage Daily News with the short and sweet instructions. I couldn't find the article on the website, but Alaska is just so interesting right now what with Palin, Stevens and other political nonsense... well, have a peruse and see what we deal with up here.

daily life.

2008-10-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

I've claimed the upstairs bedroom as a workspace for myself and the closet as storage for my supplies. It will double as a guest room.

the day the banks collapse.

2008-10-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

It's so interesting. The economy, the nation that I live in, the culture I am part of. Pictured is a Radiohead T-shirt from 2000.

snow garden gnome.

2008-10-14T10:47:00.001-07:00

Blue sky.

transition.

2008-10-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

don't you love this hat?

2008-10-10T22:29:00.001-07:00

I do! I do! I'm willing to make these hats for everyone. I love this pattern. I love Fiber Trends. Their patterns actually teach you to knit better than you ever thought you could. Remember the slippers?
Yup, Fiber Trends too.
Anyway, Everett and I went on this really great walk today and collected sticks. It had been cold and snowy all week, so this surprise "warm" day was a nice pre-weekend treat.

daily life.

2008-10-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

Trying to make curtains. Big pumpkin.

on being whole.

2008-10-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

I really have been all over the place since that post. We bought a house in May and renovated in June and moved in July. It's still not really finished, but at least we have heat, hot water, and a increasingly nicer place to cook and eat. I need to update that status, since the last post was from July. I think.

I spent August in Ontario and September catching my breath, turning 30 and running in circles.

Everett is two now. He's a busy little crazy person and totally lovable. But try getting anything done. I don't know how others do it. I have my suspicions, but really... I'm hoping it's vitamin D.

I, we, have a long way to go before we'll feel whole again. For example, the house is completely under-furnished and I need to spend some serious time on craigslist in order to remedy that. I need a truck.

Here is Everett, wearing the sweater I was designing the motif for back in February. I didn't actually use the motif in the yoke, I just made it plain because the brown was so beautiful on its own. However, once completed the sweater sat unused in my knitting basket for weeks because I'd finished the neck to tightly and Everett would run away from me when I would try to put it on him because it was literally a pain to pull over his head.
"No! NO sweater..." run run run... But I re-finished it last night, and now it is called the... "new cozy sweater".

You can see we have no curtains, nothing on the walls, not enough furniture, no rugs or lamps. That's my job - I'm supposed to take care of the furnishings. Gad, I'm just going to wait till the new and only Target opens in five days. I'm just so cheap, but I like nice things. I wish we had an Ikea.

We do have a beautiful cork floor. It is awesome. Soft and warm, easy to sweep and wash. We also have a new sofa. It pulls out into a queen sized bead and has storage under the chaise part.
p.s. There are more pictures on the life blog.

inspiration, finally.

2008-10-05T14:56:00.000-07:00

This photo probably belongs on the other blog since it is a life type picture... but it pretty much sums up my inspirations right now. The Vitamin D is not pictured as it is totally missing and needs to be supplemented.

all over the place.

2008-02-26T13:45:00.000-08:00

I feel busy busy busy and I've been concentrating on establishing structure throughout the week. A rhythm if you will.

It's so easy for me to get swept up in whatever project I've taken on. Rarely the projects actually have a pressing deadline. Most times I develop a sense of urgency for no real reason and priorities go out the window.

So I've been all over the place.
Exhibit A. My Mom gave be this beautiful Manos del Uraguay yarn for Christmas and I have the perfect amount to make a sweater for Everett. It is so buttery to work with. I wanted to try my hand at developing a custom chart design and well, making a motif that works with variegated yarns proved to be more of a challenge.

Exhibit B. I dyed this old quilt top black because I really couldn't stand it before. I'd throw it away, but it might be the very first quilt top I ever made using the discards from my Mother's stash back when I was in high school or first year university. So I still have it, and it's not black enough yet for me... though it looks better.

Exhibit C. Wanting desperately for instant gratification, I grabbed this book, Odd Ball Knitting, off the new arrivals shelf at the library. Pictured here is a simple sachet that I intend to send off as a gift for a certain niece. (It's nearly complete...)

I guess I'll just wait and see if I can get over this crafty rush. Never mind my new addiction to the Alaska Multiple Listing Service.

fuzzy bowl.

2008-02-21T15:46:00.000-08:00

This little bowl is good quick fun and it came from the lovely book, One Skein. It certainly didn't take a full skein of the Lamb's Pride that I used, so I think I'll make a few more and experiment a little with shaping and size.

it's valentine's day.

2008-02-14T17:12:00.001-08:00

there are many
...kinds of love...

Final draft of valentine card block print.
Received by many in February 2002.
Found in random sketchbook.

I'm making some ribbon roses and a raspberry jello heart.
Ah, tradition.

circles and squares.

2008-02-13T15:41:00.000-08:00

Geometric contrast.

okay. good. self-discovery.

2008-02-08T17:22:00.000-08:00

My project space is a mess... or should I say, it was a mess.
You know what it's like. You are in 'the moment' and you can't find your fabric scissors... or your tracing paper... or your glue... or your needles... and you are running out of time. Nap time is almost over.
So.
These past few days, I've been clearing out my creative corner. Even though it's down in the windowless basement I'm very lucky to even have such a space - it's just gotten so bad. I wasn't about to take any before pictures, no way. It's very likely that there won't be many after pictures either... it doesn't photograph well and it's totally put together out of scrounged, beat up furniture. Of course, I do have the great cutting/layout table my husband made for me when we first moved in together.
Now that I'm (almost) finished sorting and discarding, I foresee great things. Ha.

I also had the brainwave to set up a play area. I found this great tent set (includes a tee-pee and two tunnels)(similar) as well as some other play things secondhand, moved stuff around and ta da. Build it and they will come.
On Friday, while sorting, I slipped into a fog while reading old journal entries.
From Feb 6, 2007, with a 6 month old...
5 things I need to survive.
1. a garden to grow things - flowers and food... I just can't manage with window boxes and I don't like buying dirt.
2. a beautiful environment
3. fabric (textiles, yarn, fibers... there, that's the word)
4. fruit... I swear, I am sustained on fruit.
5. hot chocolate... who knew that pure cocoa has iron?
Other than that now I drink coffee again but well, everything else still rings true.

Another entry dated August 22, 2003 explored my priorities. Discovering that at the time, at the age of 24, I did not put myself first or second, but third, I conclude with the statement...
"okay. good. self-discovery." which made me laugh.
I'm not a dedicated journal keeper. But I try and there is something about January and the prospect of a new year inspire me to set goals , so I can be pretty good about it for a couple of months. It happens again as I approach my birthday.
It's so interesting to look back. My life is so different now than it was in 2003, yet I still have many of the same concerns.

Do you? What are your five things? What about six? NPR had a interesting piece about six word memoirs on Thursday.

p.s. Go see one of my favourite Anchorage activities at Scribbit!

bedside window.

2008-02-07T13:23:00.000-08:00

Another short post...
My windowsill of shells is not long for this world. Afore-photographed toddler is now tall enough to seek and destroy. It's time to find a new way to display them or box them away for a year or so.

blue and white in the winter light.

2008-02-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

It's rare to get such a nice light this time of year. My last photos have been on the sad side due to a lack of light. (not of course, to hasty photography.) I was so grateful when this glowing light came through our kitchen window, finally at 10:30 I think.
Thank you vitamin D.

art and craft and life and such.

2008-02-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

Here is a peek at the back of the patchwork. I love the way you can windmill the seams between the squares. I'm pretty sure that this will be be a pillow cover once quilted. But it was fun and I want to do more.... and I just have so many squares cut out from when I was ambitious enough to think I might actually make a full-sized quilt for the first time. Not by hand, mind you.

Well. We'll just have to see.

On another note, I've been exploring this virtual terrain and I'll take a moment to link to some of the craft/artist/mom blogs so I don't forget how to get there.

elsie marley
karkovski
le train fantôme

My mom has always maintained that art and life are all mixed up. This is true. I have witnessed it. I am party to it. I think that this is one of the things that makes a really good blog: the jumble that is the creative process vs. the balance that is family life.

I will strive to do a better job of representing that balance here. My other blog, the first one, really focused on the development of my family - my pregnancy, my child, my marriage and my extended family and friends. It now serves as a photo update for those looking for an Everett fix.

So. What to do. Continue with two blogs? Hmmm. We'll see. I probably will continue to post a photo a week or so on the first blog but the bulk of my life and how it fits together with arts, crafts, parenting, partnering, home-making, and so on will be covered here.

Both blogs need a makeover anyway.

Oh, and also...
The other day I clicked my way over to mom-101. While not a craft blog, she is certainly very crafty with her words and I especially am enjoying her political musings. I am not able to vote because I am Canadian, but I am as immersed as anyone else living in the USA during the 2008 election coverage.

Oh my dear Canada. Stay focused on the Olympics and other global happenings..

dearest deer.

2008-02-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

This was fun. More fun than I thought it would be.
Look at the cute little legs! It stands all by itself. It's about 6 inches tall.
Before it had ears it looked like a camel.

I followed the directions in the book by Winsome Douglass, though I enlarged the pattern a little bit because I had no idea how you would turn something so small. I later read that she recommends using cartridge paper(?) templates and folding over the seam allowances so that you can stitch it together with the right sides facing out. Kind of applique it together I guess. Which means you could probably use fusible or foundation paper or similar nowadays. Maybe next time.

My hand piecing is going very well. Perhaps you'll see something about that tomorrow.

soft toys of yore.

2008-01-31T12:16:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went to the library... and I am so excited.
I found these incredible soft toy books. I remember a long time ago when I first ventured into this craft-blog-world I was inspired by little birds handmade (first here, now here) to try my hand at these soft, charming, animal character creations. Now may be the time. I am finding that hand-sewing is easier then anything else to pick up and put down at a moments notice. This is critical during these toddler times that I'm living in.

Two books stand out from the four I picked up. Decorative Stuffed Toys for the Needleworker by Winsome Douglass. Dover Publications, Inc, 1984. Originally published as Toys For Your Delight, London:Mills & Boon, 1957. and Creative Soft Toys by Barbara Snook. Published by Charles T. Branford Company, Newton Center 59, Massachusetts, 1965. Originally from the UK, 1963.
The embroidery alone in these books is fantastic. Such beautiful and purposeful ornamentation that distinguishes the horse from the zebra, the field elephant from the parade elephant. Check out that gryphon.

"Here the interest is in animals, birds and insects, not those humanised by a cartoon technique, charming though some of these can be but growing a little more directly from nature without being in the least naturalistic." From the introduction of Creative Soft Toys by Barbara Snook.

Anyway. I can't decide where to start. Perhaps with a dearest deer so that I can continue with a forest animal theme. I just love the idea of having a little imaginary toy forest.

Though the elephant is amazing.
So is the rooster. hmm.

it's as cold as ice.

2008-01-30T14:58:00.000-08:00

This morning revealed bright ice crystals over everything.

After reading my previous post, I thought a little longer about how to approach the Socially Responsibly Investing (or SRI) topic. You may see it referred to as Sustainable Investing because more and more SRI mutual funds include screens for environmental impact or a commitment to a sustainable environment on behalf of the companies (stocks) that they are invested in. If you, like me, are a conscious consumer (or try to be darn it!) then you are probably aware of this option. I guess I just want to make that clear.

Socialfunds.com or SocialInvest.org are some places that can provide mountains of information on this subject and provide tools for evaluating funds. FYI - I like checking out the different mutual funds (SRI or otherwise) top ten holdings just to make sure I like where my money is going. You can do this either through google finance or yahoo finance or msn money. It's like shopping.

By the way, my favourite personal/family finance book is "All Your Worth" by mother-daughter team Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi. I just loved their optimistic attitude, honestly been-there anecdotes and straightforward financial planning strategy.

As for personal investing - like in the Stock Market (yikes!), I haven't found the perfect book yet. Most books I've read (I just LOVE the library) focus on how to evaluate stocks or mutual funds, which is fine, but you need to find something that helps you with asset allocation. or that magic pie chart that helps you to decide just how much to put where. It's not that difficult, but I am grateful for the help I received from family and friends. Money is taboo, right? Not an easy thing to talk about. I know I'm not an expert, but you probably know one.

Good luck. Happy returns.

patchwork by hand

2008-01-28T23:03:00.000-08:00

This past month(!?) I've been busy in my role as family CEO. 401ks, IRAs (RRSP's etc... in Canadian speak) and mutual funds, insurance, the 'five year plan', and all those bank-y and plan-y bits that can make your head spin. I've learned more about the stock market, life insurance and asset allocation than I thought I'd be able to apply to my personal life. But there you are. Are you familiar with your financial future?
In addition, I've also signed up (starts in March) for a Waldorf parent-toddler class, and I've been buried in "Heaven on Earth" by Sharifa Oppenheimer. I'm new to the Waldorf philosophy and it's very exciting... I'm deeply inspired to make toys and provide a simple loving rhythm. I'm very much looking forward to the class and learning more.
Through all of this I've been itching to do some hand work. Over Christmas I knit two pairs of wristwarmers back to back for my sisters so this next project had to be completely different. I've been wanting to begin a quilt or other textile project and I wanted to experiment with colour. I wanted to make something quickly but with personality and flexibility. My solution is a quilted pillow-sham that will be pieced mostly by hand. I cut these squares for a full size quilt well over a year ago but I just can't face such a large project right now. I still love blue with gold.

an intimate connection with life.

2008-01-08T23:21:00.000-08:00

This is my horoscope for this year...

"Your main assignment in 2008 is to become highly skilled at feeling good. Does that sound like something you might want to do? If so, here's the beginning of a regimen you could follow. (1) Be constantly taking notes about what experiences give you delight and what situations make you feel at home in the world. (2) Always be scheming to provide yourself with those experiences and situations. (3) Take a vow that nothing will obstruct you from seeking out and creating pleasure, peace, love, wonder, and an intimate connection with life."

Virgo as described by Rob Brezny and published by The Press, my choice for keeping up with the what's up in Anchorage.

Oh, and I don't think there's any harm in trying... don't you?
Who wouldn't want pleasure, peace, love, wonder and an intimate connection with life.

better correspondence.

2008-01-07T16:52:00.001-08:00

Like so many others, I am behind in the area of correspondence. This is an area that I struggle with and year after year after year it is included at the top of my new year's resolutions. This is one of the reasons I started web logging last year in the first place. Why not harness the connectivity of the world wide web to reach out and make things easier for everybody. My own personal newsletter. I still think that this is true. I should think so since even though I may not be posting, I'm still checking your blogs. I suspect you are too.

Anyway.

Remember those holiday cards I alluded to back in November? err yes. those ones. Well, anyway. They didn't fill themselves out, or find the appropriate postage, or even address their own envelopes. Slackers.

found eggs.

2008-01-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

I found these eggs, dusty and hidden in a bowl on top of our fridge during our ongoing and extended January scour of our home. I think I still like them. They were fun to decorate back in April 2003. Maybe I'll do up some more this spring. I'll try to store them somewhere more mindful this time though.

2008.

2008-01-03T22:52:00.000-08:00

on my new year's day
a fresh start, I cleaned and culled
private plaque away

fresh snow.

2007-11-13T22:54:00.000-08:00

Three inches, give or take.
It's beautiful. And now that the snow is finally here, I feel just great about getting excited about Christmas. Snow makes everything better. Winter is better with snow. It is officially winter when it snows. And now that it is here, I feel like I can tell that I'm busy outlining Christmas projects and making lists. Now, obviously I've been away from the computer for a while. My last post was a weak jack-o-lantern shot hastily carved during naptime. But, I have a lot on my plate.

Back to Christmas. Well, it's awkward because I'm busy working on presents for people who will likely be reading this (or maybe not) but I can loosely list the things I think are cool for this season of giving.

Handmade Holiday Cards (well, not the paper, but you know what I mean, at least not this year). I am a big fan of speedy cut block printing.
Small wearable wool gifts... quick to knit or stitch together from a felted sweater.
Playsilks... this idea I owe to Jill (not a blogger). She brought the beauty of this imaginative toy to my attention. I purchased some silk that I intend to dye while visiting my mother (hint, hint).
Online photo-printing services... like Shutterfly or Qoop. Flickr is associated with some of the best of them. I've become kind of attached to Qoop (that's the problem with these sites, once you upload photos, you're committed). At least they are having a 20% off everything sale which is really nice.

That's all for now. What are you working on?
Is Christmas still the furthest thing from your mind?
Lucky you.

I guess I'll show you Everett's gorilla costume. The light was bad and blah blah blah, he kept moving etc... but here it is.
Complete with a felt banana.

I'm going to try and squeeze in some skiing here this weekend.

happy hallowe'en.

2007-10-31T23:46:00.000-07:00