Crafty Week

Phew! It has been a busy August. I can hardly believe that all the kiddies will be back at school next week - this summer seems to have barely begun and already I'm having to think about the fall. Funny how time just creeps up on me now - I remember being a kid and the summer months seemed to last an eternity. Days upon days of endless adventures; riding bicycles through the subdivision and camping in the backyard. Ah yes...where have those days gone? The time passing quicker and quicker is a sure sign that I'm getting older - my Dad has warned me that this only increases as we get older.

These days I'm lucky to get a couple hours of drawing or crafting in after I come home from work...make dinner, clean up, chores, piles and piles of boring crap. Some days I feel like time is just falling in on me. I feel incredibly protective of the tiny space of each day where I can do exactly what I want to do. Time is so precious to me and lately it has been forcing me to re-evaluate our current situation as members of the rat race.

And on that note, I must mention that I will have no illustration to share for IF this week. Alas, I have run out of time to do everything. This week is all about crafting because I really need to focus on getting some of these gifts done for all the babies that keep popping up everywhere. And I do love to make bitty baby things - it brings me so much joy to give people a little bit of handmade goodness and I hope I can always shield enough time in my life to do that.

Last week I made these bitty booties from a pattern on Heather Bailey's blog and I have 2 more pairs on the go. They are a hoot to make and I think I have become an addict.



Other works in progress include a cushion cover, a softie, and a little sweater I am knitting up for my nephew. He turns 2 in September. Again, I am overcome with how quickly time flies.

Ok, off to bed now. There is a nice heavy rainfall to put me to sleep (I think I hear thunder!), I'm looking forward to these cooler nights - but not the shorter days. I hear mr. hubby complaining again... G'night all :)

Illustration Friday {Match}

It seemed as though everyone had a perfect match...except for her.

Illustration Friday {Play}

Recess "play" involved 3 vital parts when I was a kid - skipping (usually double dutch - I'm no athlete, but I was addicted to this), flying super heros and ,of course, a huge amount of make-believe.

The Mighty Movie Countdown!

Well, it has been 3 weeks since we took our pathetic camera back to get "fixed" by Samsung and still we wait...I am sooo dying to take some photos. While I'm waiting, I thought I could take this time to share my top 5 fave movies of all time...or for the time being (I find that this list is constantly evolving). Hubby and I love going to movies (ok, he is a lot more hard core about it than me..ahem!) But once in awhile I see a film that just totally gets me and there is no way of getting it out of my conciousness for at least 48 hours after. To me this is the sign of an excellent movie - also, it helps when the the story and the characters blend together to make something beautiful, magical and all around captivating. So, enough of my vague criteria for what makes a good film...drum role please...


The Mighty Movie Countdown
(I reserve the right to adjust this list at any time!)

Little Miss Sunshine we just saw this today - Wow Steve Carell can really act!
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou This was so tragic and real, yet it was set in this strange artificial world. I think Wes Anderson is a genious. Genious!
The Royal Tennenbaums..Anjelica Huston is my hero. I wish I had one ounce of her grace and sophistication. Love her.
Waking Life This one is a thinker. I just watched this recently and realized, I should really enroll in a philosophy class.
Amelie I have yet to see a feature film that portrays as much beauty and careful consideration for the frame. Gorgeous photography, intriguing characters, delightful story - and it all takes place in Paris. How could there be a better film??

Ok, so, there is my mighty list...what's yours?

Illustration Friday {Capture}

I know it is cliche to "capture" a moment, but when I was trying to come up with an image to share with everyone, I kept coming back to this classic poem by William Carlos Williams. The chickens always seem to compete for attention in this poem, so I thought I should portray them equally.

so much depends
upon
a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

(I'm also still trying to figure out my new scanner, so apologies for the uneven lighting on this image)

Gee Ma, I wanna go back to Ontario...

Well, I don't have a camera back from the manufacturers but I thought I'd share a couple photos from our trip to Ontario in July. We all had such a blast...almost makes me want to move back. Almost.

Our daytrip to the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit- This place was wicked cool! I've actually been inspired to do a series of drawings based on all the bicycle models they had on display. Harry was blown away by the size of the steam engines (so much so that he didn't notice me taking a picture of him with his finger up his nose - lol) My Dad took a million pictures of the red MG which is identical to the kit car he has in the garage.


The entire FamDamily celebrating Mom's B-day - Me, Mom, Ken,Mandy, Dad, Hubby Hubberson

The lovely wedding we attended. I actually babysat the bride when she was a wee one, so it was a bit strange to see her all grown up. Gosh do I feel old!

Europe..here we come!!

Last week Hubby Hubberson and I made a giant leap and booked a trip to Europe for 3 weeks in the fall! This is a huge event for us since it has been one of those things that we blabbed about forever! And we finally set a goal last January of actually getting there this fall. We've been saving $$ and vacation days all summer long and I'm positive that it will be worth every little bit! Harry has never been much outside North America (besides our beautiful beach vacation to DR)and although I have been to Germany and Prague in my teens, I must admit that I spent more time partying it up with my crazy German friends than really taking in the cultural sites! So, it will truly be a new adventure for us both!

In October we will be flying into Munich and taking a train to Augsburg to visit our good friends Colin and Marlene. After a few days there, we will travel north to Berlin, onto Amsterdam and ending in the romantic Paris!



I think we will be backpacking and staying with friends or in hostels for most of the time, but our final week will spent in blissful Parisienne paridise! We've booked a beautiful apartment on the Ile Saint-Louis which I have read is the most romantic area of Paris. Mon Dieu, je suis au paradis! (ok, I know my french is tres terrible..must remember dictionary)

Isn't this just amazing??


And the view is to die for!

Inspire Me Thursday {Non-Visual Art Form}

I have been eyeing the weekly challenge for sometime now and finally had some time to participate!

I've been listening to the song "Breathe Me" by Sia non-stop ever since I saw the Six Feet Under Finale. I just love the simplicity of the song and the feeling of vulnerability it evokes.



Breathe Me

Help, I have done it again
I have been here many times before
Hurt myself again today
And, the worst part is there's no-one else to blame

Be my friend
Hold me, wrap me up
Unfold me
I am small
I'm needy
Warm me up
And breathe me

Ouch I have lost myself again
Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found,
Yeah I think that I might break
I've lost myself again and I feel unsafe

Illustration Friday {Clean}

This week's word has led me to focus on the obsessive compulsive possiblities of keeping clean. A problem which I'm sure I'll never have to deal with myself (you should see my disaster of a house now - Yikes!) - but interesting to explore nonetheless.


My better half did not find this next image "clean". Instead he told me he was nauseated and creeped out by the pepto-bismol pink...I thought I'd post it anyways :)