A day off

Took a day off work yesterday, since I worked through much of the week-end finishing up an order that had to be shipped yesterday. It was a relief to send it out, and I think my customer will be happy. Hope so!

JF and I tried a tai chi qigong class in the morning and really enjoyed it. Very soothing and flowing kind of movements, focussing on the breathing and energy flow. Shared pizza with some friends after that and then went to rent a movie; we got "The Recruit" with Al Pacino and Colin Farrell.

I thought it would be the kind of movie where I may want to get up and do something else. I swear, I have the attention span of a gnat. I know it's not fair to JF, since he likes to just sit and watch a move together, but unless I'm really in the mood to just sit, I will be making pendant bails while watching or putting together earrings while watching or fiddling with something or other while watching. Anyway, this movie was actually rather entertaining, although the script was pretty darn cheesey. If I hear, "Nothing is what it seems" again I think I'll scream. I felt a little bad for Mr. Pacino if this is the kind of movie he has to make these days; same kind of crotchety, bossy character he played in "Scent of a Woman," which was god-awful.

Last Saturday was spent over at a friends' house, where we finally got to meet little Noam (pronounced No-am, not gnome) who was born in December. Here he is with his dad. Can you tell that Daddy is proud?

On the work front, I know I've been saying that I'm working on new things, and I swear it's true! I'll spend today working on these a little more and hopefully have something to show for it (or that I'll want to show publicly) in a short bit (how vague is that?)...

Gung hei fa choi! And Etsy rat finds...

Happy New Year!

It’s the start of the New Year today according to the Chinese calendar, which follows the lunar cycle. It is the year of the rat, said to be a year of hard work and good for new starts - maybe start a new job or create a new product for your online shop (the wheels are turning); being well prepared and patient will bring rewards later on.

Here's a cutie, a perfect example of the enterprising, sociable and hard-working rat that you are, if you were born in 1924, 1936, 1048, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, or are freshly born this year ☺You are also said to be very intelligent, affectionate and family-oriented if you are a rat.

There are some great rat items on Etsy, if you would like to celebrate your year, or get a gift for the rat in your life.

This adorable card is by Etsy seller, kissui.

A gorgeous woodblock print by CuriouslyDrawn (rat is sitting on mochi - gotta love it!)

This cool magnet by mokajadedesigns

Or how about a pendant by etherealgirls, to show your rat love around your neck?

I've got a couple of ratty items in my shop too, you can have a look around if you like...

Lastly I just thought this guy was neat; found him here, on a Japanese textiles website. I love his vest, also patterned in rats!

Happy New Year everyone!

Etsy favourite and a fat cat

Another ETSY favourite : Cavendishsoapworks lipbalm

I told you last week about my favourite soap on Etsy. Well, THIS is definitely my favourite lipbalm. In my experience, a good lipbalm has been difficult to find - some are too waxy which ends up drying out my lips (strange, but true), some have just been too soft and globby, and some have been too thin which just makes me feel greasy. I'm a bit of a lipbalm nut, so I've tried many! This is the first time I'm going back to the same shop for more ☺

This lipbalm, created by Kathleen in Prince Edward Island (fellow Canuck!), is firm and smooth, not waxy or thick, and the formula doesn't wear off. The flavours are subtle and lovely, and the tubes look great too. She also makes great soap and candles; go on, have another look in her Etsy shop and try some - you will not be sorry!

Much better today, looking forward to a good work day.

More custom orders! I have an order of mini taiko drums to make that will then be made into cell phone charms, so that will keep me busy through the end of the week and likely into the week-end.

Will also work on a taiko brooch/pin, since I've had a request from a couple of students in our taiko class. This is something I've been meaning to design for some time but never got around to.

Also am working with an expectant mom, a return customer (yay for return customers!), to make birth announcements for her second child.

Look! I made a pendant with my avatar, the Pudgy Waiting Cat, inspired by the late great Jerzy who died at the age of 19 in 2006. The original stamp is larger than this, so I scanned the image, made it pendant size and did the whole image transfer thing.

♪♫ Ta-daaa ♪♫ I think I'll put that up in my shop. Still working on other pendant designs that are taking a little longer...

I guess this means I've really got to get to work now.

Down for the day

I felt really lousy today. Not sure what it was, but I had a terrible headache this morning, and I rarely get headaches. JF told me to go back to bed and sleep a little more since I looked pretty icky, but I kept insisting I would be fine. Of course, I ended up on the sofa after breakfast until early afternoon and didn't budge.

Well, actually I budged a little when Ebi the cat came to sleep with me - the first time ever! He came to live with us on October 21st and it's taken awhile for him to get used to living here, especially since we already have Chibi, who you can see in this photo at my feet.

It's been rough on both of them, but they are slowly adjusting - probably because they have come to grips with the fact they have no choice... We're happy having Ebi here since he was my mom's cat (she passed away in the summer of 2006) and strangely enough, it's a bit like having a part of her with us ☺

Anyway, I was so thrilled with Ebi coming to sleep with me that I flailed my arm around to get JF to take a photo - who knows when this will happen again. I think Ebi just wanted my spot on the sofa.

It's really to your advantage that you cannot see my face today - it's the same colour as my t-shirt.

I feel much better now, and hopefully with a good night's sleep, I'll be good as new tomorrow. Lots to do!

I think I need a nap, but I have lots to say.

I had a custom photo pendant to do for today which I had forgotten about this week so I ended up working on it last night. I generally like to make these at least a few days in advance of the deadline so that if something doesn't quite work out, I have time to try again. Well, of course something had to go wrong.

Rule #1 with custom photo pendant work: Once the photo has been scanned and adjusted, and then printed on the transfer medium, check it again against the original photo since differences in computer screens and printers can result in very different colours. I didn't do this and went through the whole process of transferring it onto liquid clay and then making it into a pendant... only to check at the end of all that and realize that the lovely little red-headed girl that I had been staring at throughout the pendant making, is actually blond. Hello.

That realization came at around 1:30am this morning, so I had to start all over again. Readjust colour, print, transfer, make the pendant, varnish. This time all seemed fine and I made a few other pendants since I was wide awake from stress. Off to bed at 4:30am.

Up at 8:30 to find an air bubble that had formed in the four short hours I was sleeping. Air bubbles are not my friends. My attempt at fixing it resulted in a disaster... and yes, I had to start over again. But the final version looks good! Moving on.

I also finished some custom bracelets that accompany these pendants I made for four little girls a few weeks back. The bracelets are for their moms who are the BEST of best friends; the mini birdies represent the moms and the hearts are for their four girls (they each have two daughters who are like sisters). The birds and textured hearts are made with Kato polyclay in my handmixed colours. You can click here to see the girls' pendants, if you like.

As for the girls' necklaces, the bracelets' message hold true: a friend is never far away.

YesterdayI didn't write yesterday. Not sure how much snow we got, but must've been close to 30cm. Friday night was terrible, with ice pellets (ouch) and lots of wind (ouch). Here is a car just outside our front door.

I really wanted molasses cookies when we got back from taiko practice yesterday afternoon. No, I shouldn't be eating such yummies all the time (last week it was these brownies), but I figure if I want something sweet, I'll go for homemade anyday. My mom was a supreme baker so we were always spoiled with freshly baked stuff at home ♥♥♥

These aren't as molasses-y as some, but they are definitely yummy. Soft and chewy on the inside with a nice sugar crunch on top. Harmony of textures.

You'd like to try them? Here you go! Really easy and reeeeealllllly yummy. There are many recipes for these on the internet, but here's my version, should you ever be in the mood ☺

Soft Molasses Cookies
Makes approx. 36 cookies , 350 degrees
1 cup Crisco shortening
2/3 cup white sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup molasses
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 tsp baking soda
2 1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugars until fluffy. Beat in molasses and eggs. In another bowl, combine flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Blend thoroughly with wire whisk. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until dough is blended and smooth. Roll dough into balls and flatten slightly. Dip tops in granulated sugar; place around 1.5" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 11 minutes, or until puffed up. Cool on wire rack. Eat immediately for maximum comfort and enjoyment.

I think I'll go for a little snooze now.

My happy little doxie is featured...

Had to write again!

My little Happy Doxie card,



is a featured item in today’s Etsy Finds newsletter! Yaaay! The one I had up in my shop sold already, so I've got another one up. Way to go, little doggie ☺

I’m offering a Buy one get one at 50% off to subscribers of that newsletter, and I will also offer it to my blog readers for today Friday, Feb. 1st, until midnight EST. Come and have a peek in my Etsy shop!

Off to make more cards and other delights...

Just some shots...

Been working on some custom orders lately, which I always enjoy. Hop from project to project while trying to work on new designs too. At times challenging but usually fun. I sent out this set earlier this week; I love this paper pattern! The customer seemed pretty happy with it, a gift for her daughter. She sent me a photo of the dress she made her, and this pattern went just perfectly with it!

I took some photos in the bright sunlight yesterday, and I like the way they turned out since it was so sunny, but I may have to avoid that from now on since I’m not sure the colours are always accurate in the sunlight. Actually on this more neutral background the colours are good, but on this very saturated limey-olive background (which i adore) I will have to be more careful. I think depending on the colour of the pendant too - something lighter in colour will absorb more of the back colour with the reflection. Sorry, just talking off the top of my head...

I listed these:

Will list this later on this morning:

Must... go... have... coffee... now.