I am so excited about our next project in art class: print making! Last week, we were given the task of choosing a picture we want to carve into the linoleum block. I started a board on Pinterest to save some ideas but was still having a hard time deciding until a package arrived from my younger sister who was just in Portugal. She sent my daughter this amazing stuffed sardine and I immediately knew which image to choose.
Today we practiced using the cutting tools and then copied our designs onto our lino blocks to begin carving. The lino feels rubbery, kind of like an eraser. It is surprisingly soft and easy to carve. I should say easy, as in resistance. Not easy, as in simple. Navigating those tiny curves is tricky. But if all goes well, sardine prints will be available soon!
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I am really enjoying these Thursday dates with myself. I feel so in my element at the studio. I've always fancied myself a creative person, so I'm loving this opportunity to dust off my pencil case and learn some new things. And even better? Brewed Awakening is right next door so, chai tea lattes are perfecting this deal.
I finished up my large zentangle picture for class this weekend. I ran out of time on Thursday so I brought it home with me to work on. I am so proud of how it turned out. I love some elements more than others but I learned a lot about pattern placement and am planning to continue creating tangles, for myself and for you! If you are interested in hanging this lovely drawing in your home, or have an idea for another design that would work in your space, send me a message! I would love to create something for you!
We have been experiencing some seriously gorgeous weather for May. My daughter loves being outside, so we have been taking advantage by dining al fresco and playing in the dirt everyday. I had purchased some bulbs from Costco a couple of months ago and was planning to wait until the recommended post-May-long-weekend to plant, but I was impatient. So we dug some holes, following the handy diagram on the bag, to create what we hope will be a lovely display this summer.
When the snow first melts, our garden looks like a barren wasteland. But as the weather warms and the ground thaws, tiny tufts of green begin to emerge and remind me of all the forgotten plants I buried the year before. Some were cast offs from my mom and some were gifts from my husband, but each year they return bigger than the year before. They give me something to look forward to between never-ending winter and summer.
We also popped by Dutch Growers and picked out our annuals for our window box and lone pot. We actually had to go twice because the first time I forgot my wallet. This will come as no surprise to my family and especially to my daughter who, when pretending to shop at home, regularly returns to the room exclaiming she forgot hers as well. Take a look at what we selected on our second attempt:
We went impatiens in the window box this year. I have not had success the two years before with planting in here so I'm hoping these are the winners. These pictures were also taken pre-toddler hands. The poor celosias are already missing a few heads and one has been replanted twice. It will definitely be a toss up on whether her impulsiveness gets them before I quit watering them mid-season.
It's starting to look a lot like summer around here. And we mustn't be far off because I heard the familiar jingle of the Dickie-Dee this week. This is absolutely my favourite time of year!
I had my first art class this afternoon over at the Cathedral Art School and Studio. The new space is located in the beautiful Warehouse District in a building that formerly housed the bar where my husband and I met. It's one of a few old buildings along the strip that were around in the early 1900s and they are full of character and history; a perfect location to get inspired to create!
My instructor is studio owner Carla Lorence and, upon hearing her introduction, I instantly knew I was in the right place. I am so excited about all of the things she has planned for us this session. We were introduced to something called Zentangle today. It's supposed to be a relaxing, almost meditative, practice of drawing repetitive lines and designs. At first glance, it looks complicated but it is actually quite simple to do. We were given handouts of examples and step-by-step instructions for a variety of patterns to try on our own and I loved it. I can totally see myself taking this up as a relaxation exercise in the evenings after my daughter is in bed as a way to zone out and wind down after a busy day.
The other thing that's appealing is how accessible it is. You don't need a lot of fancy or expensive materials to get started. Of course you can experiment with different pens or markers, but here are a few items that would get you started:
My reason for starting this blog was to encourage myself to start putting me first once in a while. Staying at home to watch my daughter grow has been a gift; I love that I get to spend my days with her. But somewhere amidst the toddler-time and the swimming lessons, I feel like I've lost myself. Like all the things I used to enjoy and the aspects of my life that made me "me" have been erased by my new role. My husband works away a lot and that brings on its own unique set of challenges. One of those being a tremendous amount of guilt when asking people to watch my kid so I can go do other things. Especially when those things don't feel "important" enough to warrant a sitter. But that's some bullshit thinking right there. So last week I traded in my mom-guilt for something new: I have Grandma booked for the next 8 weeks and I'm going to art class. Art and creating is one of those things I loved doing, so I registered myself for an Adult Mixed Media class over at the Cathedral Art School and Studio.
Classes start this week and I'll be sharing my creations on here. I think it will be an outlet for me to learn some new skills, and to do something 100% for myself and completely unrelated to parenting. What do you do for yourself? Or what would you like to be doing?
I have always loved the idea of gardening. When we bought our house, I was so excited to graduate from a few pots on a patio to a full-blown garden bed. Actually, two garden beds and a window box. We have been slowly adding plants to our collection as to not overwhelm my hardly-green thumbs. You see, I am notorious for emerging from winter ready to get my hands dirty, only to lose interest a few months later and leave what's left to fend for itself. I recall a friend buying me a lucky bamboo as a house warming gift. I warned him of my inability to successfully care for plants but he insisted that he chose this particular species because they were difficult to kill. He also added that if the thing died, I probably shouldn't have children. The bamboo did indeed eventually pass away and I also went on to have a baby. I am happy to report that there is no direct correlation between my ability to care for plants and babies.
Despite all of this, every year when I see those little spikes of green emerging from the ground, I am filled with excitement for a new planting season. I love visiting my favourite nursery and buying too many annuals for the pots we own. I also love the tradition my husband has started of buying me lilies for mother's day so I can add them to my beds. My mother-in-law has a garden straight out of a magazine that I imagine mine will miraculously become one day (#gardengoals).
Tending to my blooms after Rowyn was born was actually calming for me. I would step outside for a few minutes of quiet and fresh air each night and refocus my mind. Now Rowyn loves spending that time outside with me and I swoon at the prospect of this being something we do together. However, this year will be a true test to the strength of my flowers. Can they survive my neglect and an overzealous toddler trampling them? Only time will tell. |