Life and Olive the Above

Being that Christmas time is a busy time for the art/craft community, I was happy to attend a Christmas market in Vancouver this year with a good friend, one we’ve attended the last 3 years in a row. My favourite moment is when I realize there was something the year before which I wanted so desperately and never picked up. This year I remembered a potter who made such lightweight and skilled work and I had the opportunity to pick up a beautiful mug by Junichi Tanaka which is in a very iron filled dark clay with a dripping glaze over the top that is a myriad of greens, white and brown all mingled together. In the last few years I’ve come to the realization that a cupboard of diferent handmade mugs is somehow much more desirable to me that any set of mugs I could find in the store. Even if it’s only one mug at a time it has been worth it to have been collecting over the last year or two.

Well it would appear I haven’t posted on here for some time. I’ve been working away trying to get everything in order since my graduation from University in the spring.

It’s apparent that winter is settling in as I begin to read more blogs again and prepare myself for a season of craftiness. The possibilities seem endless in winter as there’s so much more time to pass indoors. I’ve been highly interested in reworking old furniture. I love freshly painted pieces that have a certain crispness. I’ve been looking through the Design*Sponge before and after section getting nearly giddy with excitement. Most recently they posted about a reworked beach house and the transformation is phenomenal.

Also an update of photography a few from trips this summer as well as some more recent shots from fall and for a more full view of my portfolio have a look at my website!

The temperature this last week or two has been comparable to November I think I heard! Thankfully most of the photos here don’t seem to reflect that and even the umbrella shot looks pretty nice out, however it was entirely stormy, with thunder and that rain that comes in heavy drops and it comes in sheets! Regardless of all this, we’ve still managed to have a great time and take some great photos!

First are a couple of shots from a band photo shoot with Stalking Stella:

The Honeybee Festival in Cloverdale, BC:

Shopping and changing a flat tire with Kari and Amanda:

Bowling with Kari, Amanda and Steve:

After a very long and cold winter, even a few days ago chattering in the cold weather, this weekend brought with it plenty of hot sun and I could not have been happier!

I thought I would display a couple shots I took last night while at a fondue party a friend of ours hosted. I am working on getting a great night time shot for an on-line assignment and these were my first two attempts. They are 13 Seconds long with a slow flash.

Well a lot has happened since my last post.

Thanks to PoppyTalk for mentioning that Olive would be at Got Craft and to OdetteNY for featuring me in her blog!

Also since I last posted, I graduated from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, which means it’s time to find a career! It also meant that I got to indulge in a new Nikon D80 Camera from my parents as a gift of congratulations and from my in-laws The Urban Disguise 40 camera bag from Think Tank, which will help me be a highly organized photographer!

Since I’ve got a new camera, here are some photos to prove I’ve been enjoying every minute I’ve had behind the viewfinder!

First off I need to say thank you to Marichelle at Heart Handmade blog for featuring my products in an article about product photography earlier this week! If your love handmade and all things Etsy, check out her blog for interviews and how-to instructions.

After many years of slogging I have finally completed my Degree in Fine Arts! It has been great to have completed it and I’m thankful to say that I have time, once again to enjoy the greater things in life like friends and party planning and touring around between Vancouver, Victoria and the northern parts of Washington state on last minute trips for Ice Cream at Ed and Aileens!

Photography is one of my passions, one that conveniently gets tucked away when I get too busy but lately I’m gearing up for a new camera so I’ve been trying to clean up my skills so I don’t appear so rusty!

So here are a few moments from our time in Victoria…

Since returning home I have once again been baking bread, which is one of my favourites! My naturopath would be horrified I’m sure but it’s true, I love bread. This past week I followed along with the Apartment Therapy Kitchen blog and made their recipe for Sourdough and it was amazing! I changed it around a bit and made the starter out of a equal blend of rye and white flour which I think was the secret of its success! I tastes magnificent! Last night I dealt with another craving so I’ve also got an image of my Mojito!

Last but not least on the way to pick up our ice cream as we drive through the country I couldn’t help but enjoy this simple landscape.

Well for me winter has always been a season of hot drinks and plenty of projects. School hasn’t always allowed for the former luxury but I have always managed regardless.

I occasionally go through some of my favourite websites seeing if any updates have occurred since my last visit (yes, I know about RSS feeds…) and this one always strikes me because of the beautiful mug and although I’m not a huge fan of Chai, I have always enjoyed brewing my own blend of spices to create a tasty cup. It’s been a long while since I did this last and I feel inspired!

(Inspired by Cookbook Catchall)

Another project I’ve got my eye on is a clutch. I’ve always had a thing for accessories and all the better if I can make it myself. I’ve got a load of great fabric just waiting to be used and this may well be one of those. I found it on Craftster.org a great place to get a little life back in the sewing room or wherever it is you create.

Today, April 17th, 2008, I ran my sewing machine needle over a metal portion of a zipper. In so doing, I have significantly altered its precious timing and it will no longer join fabric in a way that sewing machines should. Although this is likely quite fixable, I’m still lamenting that I cannot finish my weekender bag today and thus, will not be able to take it with me to Victoria tonight. I fear it will cost me a lot to get it fixed because it’s so old and I can only see that as a salesmens perfect opportunity to jack up the price. Oh Singer, I love you.

Photographed is someone else’s Singer 15-91. I couldn’t get myself to go into the back room to photograph mine as I’d probably end up sulking and feeling oh so sad and that just wouldn’t help the problem.

Well it’s been smooth sailing since last Friday when I had my first day of Summer holidays after classes commenced Thursday evening. It was a wonderful sigh of relief to know that the worst is over with (at least thus far.) But then as the days continue on I realize there’s the anxiety of what comes next, and where the heck should I be applying for jobs? I’d really like something stable from 9-5 Monday to Friday, as boring as that sounds, but it’s closer to the schedules everyone around me has.

Tomorrow evening Steve and I are heading to Victoria to celebrate Robyn’s birthday. I’m so excited. Last summer when we went there we indulged in something we’d wanted to do for quite some time. Scoot around the city!

Here’s hoping for some more adventure when we arrive tomorrow night!

I swear I take on too many projects, but you’d have a difficult time to try and stop me! Soap making, photography and even sewing, they’re all in my repertoire and here are some photos Steve took for me one day of people using my slings. One day we’ll set up a studio and get official looking photos but until then, I’m focusing more on the bath and body care products and slings are mainly just for those who know me and know how much I adore them for all the benefits the kids enjoy but also how fashionable they are.