I took my camera for a walk

I must admit that having my camera with me has become much too infrequent of late.  The i-phone is just too easy to use sometimes and I have often neglected taking real photos.  Yesterday night we all went for a walk, the boys brought along a neighbour friend to play soccer with and I walked around taking pictures.  The kitty at the bottom belongs to a neighbour and made me miss our little Amber. Doesn't she look like little A? Hmm, almost time for another kitty.  Anyways, it felt really good to be creative with something other then ceramics!

It's been an extremely busy few months for me, filling a number of larger and diverse orders for shops and galleries.  I'm thankful to have shipped off the last order for spring, just as I head out to Winnipeg tomorrow to visit a dear friend, some family, and stop by the Woodlands Gallery for a meet & greet the artist.  I grew up in Winnipeg until I was 14 and went back to visit often until I spent 1 year going to college/Uni when I was 19.  It was a place I called 'home' throughout my teens because we had moved for reasons that weren't my own.  I wrote countless letters to friends, trying to keep in touch despite moving quite far away.  It's kind of amazing to still be in touch with many of my elementary school friends via Facebook these days.  I'm looking forward to doing some good catching up over the next few days, celebrating my bff's birthday and connecting with some family too.  It will be a much needed break from the studio and probably a good walk down memory lane too;)!

Approaching Spring

We've got all the signs of spring starting early except for a prediction of snow on Saturday.  Just in time for our Sasha's 8th Birthday.  I decided not to do a home party this year- this weather is just too random and unpredictable.  Furthermore I wasn't prepared to have ten 8 & 9 year olds running a muck in my house.  With a recent play-date involving one boy helping himself to matches that we have 'safely' hidden in a cupboard, I'm not willing to risk what would happen if 10 inquisitive and mischievious boys showed up.  Oi.  So yes, a swimming party it will be.  Not nearly as creative as past years, but oh well.  If it does end up snowing I'll be so relieved we made other plans!

Ready for Spring!

I'm finally back from being away for a while and wanted to say a big thank you for still finding your way here despite my absence!  My 'business/craft/art life' is so part of who I am that I find it hard to break away from being at the studio or blogging or being in touch by email on a daily basis.  On the other hand, time with family and friends without any work distraction has been really good for my soul.  I've really enjoyed the time that has been spent with everyone, including my own boys, but am really glad to have things settle back to normal.  I have lots of work to do in the next month in the studio and I'm looking forward to it! (A few Disneyland pics to come soon...)
Speaking of friends- a couple of weeks ago a little gift came in the mail for me from Eva at Sycamore Street Press for doing a couple of guest blogs for her while she was taking a maternity leave- so good of her! I've been a big fan of their letterpress cards and prints and can't wait to find a frame for their Little Green Garden letterpress print that she sent me- isn't it so pretty and lovely?  Even matched the Tulips my mom had brought for me.  And 100% of the proceeds from this print are going to Japan Relief with the American Red Cross!  It's a gift that keeps on giving! (Would be perfect for Mother's Day too!!)

First signs

Oh, spring is really on it's way.  The days are getting a little longer and there are buds on the trees.  And a whole lot of green stems coming out of the ground.  I know that this might be misleading.  That snow or cold or hail can come up any moment, but it sure feels good to know that these signs mean good things to come.  Did you know that Spring arrives here on the West Coast first before anywhere else in Canada?  Yes, it's true.  Victoria on Vancouver Island is usually first and then slowly Spring spreads across the inlet to Vancouver. 
So I've got a busy week, but will try to pop in here and there.  It's a week of glazing and sending off wholesale orders so I might be a bit busy on the studio front- and of course, it's the last week before spring break, so that means report cards and parent/teacher conferences (ie early dismissals all week) for the boys.  Sheesh. And this year our spring break is 2 full weeks. 

Chasing the end of the Rainbow

Since the Olympics are officially over, I finally feel like we can all embrace Spring here in Vancouver.  It's a shame to feel sorry that the flowers are blooming in February- it seemed like we had to make up excuses for the lovely spring weather we've had over the past 3 weeks. 
There was a glowing pink light in the sky the other night and I quickly donned my cute clogs to run down the street with my camera and my umbrella to catch the rainbow that was showing off it's colours in the sky. 

Spring chicks & baby kittens

My 'new' orange clogs that I found at the thrift store are proving to be the perfect slip-on shoe to be out in the yard with.  Our miniature daffodils are blooming and the new baby chicks have arrived at Dean's folk's place. 

 

And which kitten would you choose to take home?  Our neighbours cat had 3 kittens on February 14th and we've been patiently waiting to have a new kitty in our home since our cat of 14 years had to be put down last June.  Sasha and I are partial to the grey one, Johnny the one with the black head and Dean the one with the orange flecks.  They are so tiny and won't be able to go to new homes for a little bit yet.  Lots of time to decide...

glorious spring!

Well as you can see, I'm pretty captivated with spring these days and am pulling out the camera at every corner. We have these great community gardens around and I've been taking the boys for walks in them to see what is all growing. I love when they yell out at me- 'hey check out the chives growing' or whatever it is! Oh to teach children that their food comes from the earth and not just a fast-food restaurant!
Thanks for checking in with me this week. We are off to the farm tomorrow to help put in posts in the fence for the arrival of some new calves. Dean's folks own a hobby farm about an hour out of the city so I'm bringing some sewing - I've got to finish my booth table cloth and curtains for Portobello West Calgary next week so it's a good chance to get out of the city for the day.

Spring... or maybe not.

I don't quite know what to say. I had everything ready to go to do a post about the first signs of spring here in Vancouver, ready to gloat to the rest of the country that we had crocuses up and mini irises blooming and I even had the proof of great photos. And then it snowed on Sunday night. A big dumpload of snow. Isn't that so like spring, to tease us with it's warmth just enough before sending a big cold snap back at us so we don't forget what winter feels like.
Dean is going to go up to Baker tomorrow to do some Spring snowboarding so I guess it isn't all bad. I, on the other hand, still have this lingering cold and nagging head-ache that is hampering my studio time.