Come sail away with me

 I managed to find a few things to spruce up the mantle a couple of weeks ago.  The oval mirror was a free find, but I picked up the framed embroidery on linen and camera at Value Village.  It's nice to shake things up a bit for spring and have something 'new to look at. 

It has been quite a busy week- thank you to everyone who stopped by my updated website and spent time watching my new video.  As someone who, after 5 years, is still trying to make a living (i.e. not just pay my studio bills) at selling what I make, I do hope you can appreciate the thought, time, and effort that goes into what I make and do.   I didn't launch the video as a 'how to' make ceramics the way I do, but as a bit of insight to the amount of work and care involved.  While the online craft community is a little over-saturated these days, I felt that opening up about my process would validate that there are makers out there that are really working hard to create beautiful, hand-made objects from scratch.  So thank you for your encouragement this week!

We are off to Princeton for the long-weekend to have a much needed break as a family at an amazing camp!  I was able to stock up on Polaroid film to try out an old polaroid camera that I have had for a couple of years, so I'll be back with hopefully some really beautiful images of the landscape!
Hope you have a great long weekend!

Embracing the gold within

Just in time for the golden hues of fall, I'm  managing to embrace this colour with a few finds from the thrift shop.  I couldn't resist the sunny pattern of this enamel plate, which fits rather well into our kitchen.  It's one of those things about our place that I wouldn't change even if I owned the house... our kitchen, that is.  Albeit an odd layout, with a very small eating area, I love the cheeriness of the tiles and golden counter.  I'm sure I would have cringed at this colour in the 80's but I can't quite seem to get enough of it now!  So much that I also bought this blanket for the kids bed.  Whenever I look at it I think of a summer cabin- it kind of has that feel and look to it, like it belongs in someone's cabin.  

Perhaps it's because it's mis-matched and a bit odd. 

Well, here's to the weekend- the long weekend!  School starts next week and I have a bit more to do to get the boys ready, lots more to work on in the studio and I'll be saying 'goodbye' to Sarah, my summer studio intern.  I'm sad to see her head back to school- she's been amazing in the studio with me this summer!  Her enthusiasm and hard work has made this massive undertaking all the more do-able.  I really couldn't have asked for a better assistant for the summer and wish her all the best this year at school. She's got big plans for her career: with her hard-work, attitude and talent, I have no doubt she'll make it happen! 

good neighbour thrift

The good neighbour thrift store is something to behold.  If you aren't really observant you might miss the signs to the back warehouse where 'couch. chair' are located.  There you will walk in as though you are walking onto a stage with an entire audience of couches facing you.  Scores of chairs to sift through, I managed to find myself a 'fixer-upper' with good bones worth doing a little re-upholster and possibly paint.  For $15.  Although I had my doubts as I was trying to get it into the back of our car, knowing that our luggage and Dean's bike still had to fit into the car...somehow it all managed to fit in:)

Finds & Fancies: Vintage Maps & Atlases

I'd been looking around in thrift stores for an old atlas for a while and hadn't spotted one until  my trip to the Sally Ann today when I found 2 of them.  One of them is a 'Canadian Oxford Atlas' from 1957 and the other, a 'Reader's Digest' version from 1977- both being a really large size, perfect for using for craft or art projects! I've had a few ideas about using them as gift wrap, covering books or making cards out of them.  I'm sure if I really got into it I could frame some of the ones I really like, or use them as a back-drop for a collage.  It's kind of nice to have 2 of them- I get a little sentimental just looking through the maps and start to getting cold feet about actually cutting pages out of the books, but with two I can save one for just looking through and one can be for making crafts with.  I know this isn't a new idea to use vintage maps for projects; just typing in 'vintage maps' on Etsy brought up a whole list of shops and makers that use maps in their work.
Here are just a few craft how-to ideas I found to use vintage maps with:
How to make a bangle from a vintage map by the CraftStylish blog
Vintage Map blocks for kids by the Craftzine blog
Map Coasters by Martha Stewart Crafts
I'll let you know when I actually get around to getting crafty with my new atlases. 

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...