some more of that baby stuff

okay, so there's been no kind of slow down on the baby-making around here, but i'm getting creative with fun projects i like to do.

first, this adorable baby kimono for a newly-new-yorker, miss anna. it's from a great pattern by habitual, made from ikea fabric.



















then a quick little project for my niece ellie, dress-up leaf bib.



























and for my friend barb's just-born baby boy dexter james, the "falling leaves" baby quilt.




























free-motion machine quilted, as seen from the back.

being an explorer of the world

a few months ago i was trolling around the local big box bookstore (shame on me, but it's in such a handy location at a major intersection where i frequently find myself needing to kill time). i pulled the book how to be an explorer of the world off of the shelf and decided it needed to come home with me. hey, it was cheaper than signing up for the $200 art class i really wanted to take.

one of the "explorations" suggested by the author keri smith involves making a note of colours in the world around you and then collecting a bunch of those tempting free paint chips from a hardware store (ie. making a trip to another local big box, this time to shamelessly pilfer supplies for the project) and then match them up with labels.



i am going to try to make an effort to at least pick up this book every weekend, in the hopes that my visual journal will get a little more attention. it's a very approachable, inspiring book: great for seasoned artists to shift focus, young folks to expand their creativity, and the artistically terrified to begin quieting the "you're not artistic" voice.

*ps. i don't know why flickr/blogger is cutting off the edge of my photos. if anyone knows, please enlighten me.*

slacker blogger

okay, so my fellow crafty friend caitlin pointed out to me that i don't update my blog very often. totally busted. something about having a work blog, a flickr account, an etsy shop, and a "real" job just put the craft blog low on the priority list. so i've decided to kick my own ass and start posting more often. chances are i'm going to cop out a lot and cross-post from my flickr project. i'm just fine with that.

without further ado, here is a mosaic i made using flickr toys from a few photos i've already uploaded. call this slacker post part 1.

52 weeks

so one of my 2009 new year's goals is to a) learn how to use my DSLR that i got for my 30th birthday back in *ahem* august, and b) to take and post one photo per week for the whole year.

that's 52 weeks.

baby making & tutu girls

so the baby making continues in my group of friends. and my baby-stuff-making goes on. one of my oldest friends just had her second daughter, and i made her my first baby quilt. well, technically it's applique, not quilted. fortunately babies aren't all that technical.


and here is little miss eden rayne snoozing away all wrapped up in her new cozy blankie. it's lined with magenta minkie, which is a good thing since it snowed last night! i don't know about you, but i'm a sucker for a sleeping baby.


for the slightly bigger set, there's the ever-popular tutu. here's eden's big sister jade giving me her best tutu twirl.


and my second cousin miss audrey lu striking a pose.

back to camp

i recently returned to one of my favorite places on earth, the summer camp i attended for 10 years. back in the formative days of my youth, this place was my second home. i learned so much about life, love, and the world during those years and i know i would not be half the person i am today if it weren't for my experiences at camp.

one of the areas of camp is known as the "chapel" and it was the one place where every evening as the sun began to set and the throbbing pulse of activity began to wane, we would all gather and reflect in peace and quiet. one summer i presented a talk on the idea of radiance; the energy and aura we give off to others and the world around us. part of this presentation included me creating and dedicating a chapel rock to the camp.

that was over 10 years ago.


even the weather and climate of a temperate rainforest hasn't reclaimed this one yet.

baby stuff

okay, so the breeders in my life have been pretty busy lately, and consequently i've been making BABY STUFF. some stuff is now on my etsy site, some is already gone to new wee ones.

this is a diaper clutch, a stylish little purse that holds a few diapers, wipes, and flips open to a vinyl changing mat.


cute little blankie that went to a groovy baby in new jersey.


crib or stroller blanket that has a super soft red backing. i confess, i snuggled under it when i was finished.