Carving out my family...

I carve my own stamps that I use in all my card and bookmark designs. Like with all my crafty and artistic endeavors, this was something I was interested in and just tried. I read books, did internet research and just kind of threw myself into it. Stamp carving is now my favourite class to teach, since people are always so amazed at what they didn't think they could possibly do.

I like to show people how to work from photos and get a good image to potentially carve. You do have to take some artistic license and make some decisions about what to carve away and what to leave intact, but this is something anyone can do with a little patience and practice.

I've been wanting to work with some of my family's old photos for some time now, but have been too scared, intimidated and worried about being disappointed in my results. One of my favourite photos is this one below, of my Dad (tallest) and three of his four siblings, taken at Fujiwara studio in Vancouver, BC, probably in around 1930 or so.

I worked for five and half hours on Saturday evening since once I start I cannot seem to stop. I tell everyone they need patience, something I do not have. Gotta finish, gotta finish... I finally stopped when I knew I was too tired and sore-necked to keep doing a decent job. Finished it yesterday and will likely still tweak and poke at it more. So the actual carving job isn't so pretty, as you can see here:

But I'm pretty happy with the result. My dad actually looks like my nephew, Ryan, and my Auntie Mary ended up looking like me! And I'd like to say it was my tired hands, but it was actually a bad decision that led to one of my Uncle George's (the littlest guy) nostrils being cut off. I now have to add it in separately. Oh well, live and learn, right.

I think it will look neat with some added colour too. I will experiment a little with it, and try working with some other family photos too. So much to do!


Just have to mention this ...
When the Academy Awards roll around every year, we always have the tv on, even though we are usually doing something else and just keep our ears pricked for anything exciting. We do like to watch the opening though, and we could absolutely not miss last night's since Jon Stewart was doing the honours once again. I haven't let out a cackle quite so piercing in a long time as with the "Gaydolf Titler" line; as soon as my laughter subsided, I told JF, "That is going in my blog." En bon québécois, on dit, "Il l'a, l'affaire." In Quebec slang we would say, "He's just got it." Jon Stewart, that is.

"Your babies are in the mail"

I just mailed out these 60 little babies this morning! Here they are all bundled up, ready to be packaged and sent off to North Carolina.

I created this little bundled baby card, as a way to congratulate new parents on a new addition to the family, but a lovely customer of mine, Michelle, wanted to announce the arrival of her son at the end of March with these cards. What a great idea! And I'm so flattered that she chose my cards for such a momentous occasion ☺Inside the folded blanket will be a little print-out with all the info about the new baby boy. Thanks Michelle, I enjoyed making this order for you!

Teaching an old dog new tricks... My Microsoft photo editting and imaging software went all wonky on me yesterday and asking it to do something for me resulted in my computer shutting down - not good. This was the so-called updated version of the same program I've been using for the past 6 years, called PictureIt. It's always given me and my computer and my husband - bless his patience! - problems, but I was so comfortable with it that I've stuck it out. Well, now even the newer version has been discontinued, so I guess Microsoft realized it was a dud. So I'm now learning to get around Picasa, which I've heard so much about - excited to learn how it all works, although I mourn the loss of my friend, MS PictureIt (can you hear the leetle violins playing?).

Ok, gotta go. Time to make the donuts...

Did you know I'm also a proud auntie?

Yesterday was one of my nieces, Sarah's, 15th birthday. We had this dessert for the occasion, a Paris Brest, the epitome of decadence - a perfectly golden pastry ring, filled (jam-packed) with cream and berries. Sigh. Yum. The little green spots on the strawberry and the whipped cream is actually melted wax from the candles, not mold, in case that's what you were thinking.


Both Sarah and her sister, Amy, soon to be 13, are rhythmic gymnasts, which means they are ridiculously flexible and can make throwing what resembles a bowling pin look graceful (I'm serious). They'll be going to Edmonton, Alberta in a few weeks for the nationals, but before that, Sarah will be going to Moscow for an international competition, since she's ranked 4th in Canada at the Junior level. She has already been to Belgium and Portugal - how lucky is that!

Last night she shared the Russian she's learned from the other gymnasts at their club: toilet, throw, bumpy road, goat, catch, eat, green. Handy if she needs to throw a green goat in the toilet, and then catch something to eat on a bumpy road.

Here she is competing in Belgium last year.

Here are Sarah and Amy holding one of their wild bedazzled costumes. They look pretty garish up close, but from far away all you see is a faint glimmer of sequins and crystals. Parents and coaches apply each sequin and crystal by hand and some of these suits have 3000 Swarowski crystals on them, making them worth around $400 a piece (don't even bother counting the hours it took to apply all the shinies!). And yes, they have different suits for each routine.

Sarah is smart and cheeky. Loves pasta as much as her Auntie Sandra and Uncle JF do! She is maturing into a wonderful young adult, and we like to embarrass her whenever we can. She just rolls her eyes ☺

Amy is the vaudevillian of the family. Ever since she was a wee thing, she's had a schtick! Cracks us up. She is also one of the most thoughtful soon-to-be teens I know. She has always been quite the grilled cheese afficianado, but has recently discovered the joys of a good chicken fajita.

These are just two of my eleven nieces and nephews. Maybe I'll write about the others and embarrass them all...

Onto business...

Ok, so I got that out of the way. Now onto my good day.

Listed some pendants yesterday in my Etsy shop, with my new Greek leather cord. I've been wanting to try Greek leather for so long since I heard that the quality is consistently top notch. Key word, consistent. I got some leather in colours, to play with, and I love the way it looks with my pendants! Really complimentary. Kinda hard to see the colour in the first one, the leather cord is olive green.

I got some paler colours too, that I'm not yahoo crazy about but will try them with some other pendants and see how they look.

Finally went shopping last week for a new agenda (organizer). I've been using the one that my brother Ron got me for Christmas around 15 years ago; it was used to death, the zipper on the wallet section died around 8 years ago because I stuffed it with too much, well, stuff. I covered the outside with cow patterned shelf liner since I couldn't have just plain black. 'Course not!

I went to Bureau en gros, which is what they call Staples here in Québec, and headed straight for the sale section, where they had lots of old stock agendas. I'm always so happy when I find a good bargain. So this all-leather agenda with wallet section and lots of compartments and space for notepads, that was originally $69.99, was marked down to $49.97 and then 75% off that - I got it for $12.49! Zipped home, to transfer everything over to its new home and then added a bit of zing to plain brown leather (nice tho it was), with this sticky-backed cloth. Very happy with this. Here's the front:

And the back:

To work I go!

Hello, witness

I'm trying to see the lesson in everything. The positive lesson.

I'm a bit of a wallower, yes I am. Ever since I was pretty young, I can remember thinking to myself that it's better to think things won't work out because if they don't, then I won't be disappointed and if they do happen to work out, well hey there - what a lovely surprise, like a bonus with extra whipped cream. What a charming child I must have been.

I've made an effort to change, since I've realized that everything is a choice, and how I can choose to feel positive or negative, regardless of what I run into on a given day. How I cannot change the chaos around me , but I can choose to limit its affect on me. How my perception is totally filtered by this decision to see it one way or the other. How even if I'm having a not so good day, I am still a content person, with a wonderful life - a roof over my head, more than enough food in my fridge, family and friends who love and support me, I'm making a living doing what I love, I get to play taiko on week-ends... La vie est belle, n'est ce pas?

So today, even though I feel like crap, I am going to make a true effort to have a good day. Just so you know - if you've read this, you're my witness.

Nori expert...

I forgot something this morning! A good friend of ours and member of our taiko group, Mikio, is a sushi chef, some would say the best sushi chef in Montreal. Knowing him personally, we know that every morsel of food prepared by him is of the freshest and highest quality, not to mention exquisite to look at.

Mikio is quite the understated star too - he's great on tv and in movies. I was even an extra with him in the movie, "The Day After Tomorrow" with Dennis Quaid (who was very nice, by the way, and likes carrot cake), and actually Mikio was upgraded to a speaking part. Anyway, he was on tv last night, on a show called L'Epicerie, (in French) which is all about food and restaurants here in Québec. Click here to see the segment he's in, all about nori or seaweed.

J'avais oublié d'inclure un lien dans mon "entry" de ce matin! Notre ami Mikio avec qui on joue le taiko, est un chef de sushi, un des meilleurs, sinon LE meilleur à Montréal.

Comme expert au sujet du sushi, il est évidemment expert en nori, ou les algues. Le voici sur les ondes de Radio Canada hier soir, sur l'emission L'Epicerie. Cliquez ici pour le voir!

Enjoy!

The sun is shining...

Beautiful day here in Montreal - bright blue sky, no wind, 10 below zero. Just perfect to be walking around outside.

Went to the post office this morning to mail out some orders and on the way back, stopped at the local grocery store, which is just a couple blocks from our house. I thought since we're so close I could get a 10 kilo bag of flour which ends up way cheaper than the small 2.5 kilo bags. Ended up with cranberry juice and milk in my knapsack and some salmon and salad, veggies and cheese in a bag, and this 22 pound sack of flour slung over my shoulder. After the four minute walk home I was all sweaty and cranky. I get home, JF comes to get everything at the door and while unpacking I realize I left the lovely warm ciabatta (bread) at the store. I had this perfect brie, à point (ready to eat - room temperature and just going towards runny) and no bread. Low growl forming in my throat. I'm so easily crankified.

Since I was cranky JF went to the store to get the bread, which was there waiting on the counter since they figured someone would return to get it. JF is the best. He is the best husband, best friend, best caregiver, best craft assistant, best everything. I'm serious. That's why I love him and that's why we've decided not to celebrate Valentine's Day anymore; we tell each other we love each other all the time and we certainly don't need a day to mark what is part of our everyday life ♥ Besides, the chocolate will be on sale for half price tomorrow!

You know about our cats, Ebi and Chibi, and how they are sloooowly learning to tolerate each other. They are individually such delightful cats, very easy and sociable - although not with each other. I know everyone thinks their pets are beautiful, but ours really are - really.