McGill's Farmers' Market!

September always whizzes by, a month of changes and the start of autumn crispness in the air. Love it!

This Wednesday September 22nd, I'll be at the McGill Farmers' Market, on the main campus of McGill University in downtown Montreal. I'll be there from 11am to 6pm at Three Bares Park (not a typo), along with Norma of CaraCarmina and the wonderful fresh produce of our local farmers of course! Looking forward to bringing home some fruits and veggies, as well as organic tofu, raw milk cheese and chocolate, mmmmm... Full list of this year's farmers is here.

I won't bring ALL my stuff since the tables are small, but I'll have a little of everything. Worked on some cards today... doo dee doo ♪ ♫ ♪

New (ish) cabinet for my workshop!

My bro-in-law, Chris, was in town last week to help his mom clean out their basement and garage in anticipation of her moving in the next couple months. Sixty years of accumulated stuff - I was impressed with how organized everything was; goodness knows I'd just be living in a heap of a mess if I ever lived anywhere that long (remember I have that hoarding gene).

Chris' late dad had a wonderful woodworking and repair workshop (I think he was an auto mechanic or an electrician); most the of the well-maintained tools and equipment - ie, all of it! - had been given away, but this amazing metal cabinet that his smaller pieces were kept in, was still sitting in the basement. The drawers are wide and flat, perfect for larger paper pieces - I was thrilled when they said I could have it!


My enthusiasm was quelled somewhat when I realized just how grimey it was once we got it home. It didn't seem to matter how many times I washed it, there was always another layer of black that could be wiped off; it IS metal after all ... Jean-François suggested lining the inside of the drawers, but I was thinking more of the quick and painless route. A little online research and I decided to paint it. Krylon "Outdoor Spaces" in a can had become our toxic friend.

Here's JF finishing up the main part of the cabinet.

Before and after of the drawers...

Friday cat interlude: Chibi had to test the spot where the cabinet would go. She hates looking at the camera.

Tadaaaaah! Raise your hand if you love mossy green!

Thank you, Mr. & Mrs. O.! This cabinet will serve me well and will hopefully help to clear up some of my table space. Three tables in this room and I still can't manage to get rid of the clutter... I have the hoarding gene AND the clutter gene.

Will be writing more, had a great summer and have a busy season coming up! Happy week-end everyone!

Saturday - La Récré! Recess!

I'll be back at the Marché la Récré (French for "recess") outdoor market in Montreal's Mile End this coming Saturday, August 21st. You'll find me in the schoolyard of Ecole Lambert-Closse, corner of St-Urbain and Bernard, from 10am to 5pm.

This is one of a several neighbourhood outdoor markets that have been popping up in our fair city this summer; you can find artisan-made creations, vintage treasures and great eats all in the same schoolyard, under the summer sun! Lots of good stuff to be found, see a partial list of the sellers on the website. Thanks to Dana and Guerlain for all their hard work and big smiles (^_^)

Some new sushi platters for ya! Litte surprise gift with any sushi purchase !

Matsuri Japon - Japanese festival in Montreal!

Come and see me at Matsuri Japon in the Old Port this Saturday, August 14th, from 2 to 10pm! Lots of new jewellery designs to show you!
Venez me voir au Matsuri Japon dans le Vieux-Port, le samedi 14 aout, de 14h à 22h! J’ai des nouveaux designs de bijoux à vous montrer!

(*this shot is from 2008)

I will also be featuring cards & prints with real flowers, by Jackie Bassett of PetalPop Designs.
Je vais aussi présenter les superbes cartes & imprimés avec des vraies fleurs, par Jackie Bassett de PetalPop Designs.

This year’s edition of the matsuri will be along the water, just below Rue de la Commune between Blvd St-Laurent and Place Jacques-Cartier. Taiko drumming, Japanese dancing (odori), martial arts demonstrations and great food throughout the day – you can even wear a traditional yukata! Easily accessible by either metro Champ de Mars or metro Place d’Armes. For a map, and a schedule of the day’s activities, http://www.festivaljapon.com/.

Cette année le matsuri aura lieu au bord de l’eau, juste au sud de Rue de la Commune entre Boul St-Laurent et la Place Jacques-Cartier. Tambours taiko, la danse japonaise (odori), démonstrations d’arts martiaux et la bonne bouffe japonaise toute au long de la journée – vous pourriez même porter un yukata traditionel! Accessible en métro, soit la station Champ de Mars ou Place d’Armes. Pour une carte et un horaire des activités de la journée, http://www.festivaljapon.com/.

Looking forward to seeing you all there! Au plaisir de vous y voir!

Powell Street Festival July 31 - August 1!

It's that time of year again, yaaay!

I'll be in Vancouver's newly renovated Oppenheimer Park, for the 34th annual Powell Street Festival. Come on down for lots of great Japanese food and a schedule packed with amazing entertainment! Lots of music, dancing and taiko (Japanese drumming), both traditional and contemporary. Complete schedule of both days can be found by clicking here.

I'll be in great company as usual, among the many wonderful artisans selling accessories, glass, pottery, soap and lots more. For the list of sellers and a complete programme of the festival week-end, click here.

News...

Finally, photos of some pieces I've been working on! I'll have some of these at Powell Street in Vancouver, as well as at Montreal's Matsuri Japon on August 14th in the Old Port. Other new stuff as well, including these long 'n skinny pendants and earrings, plus a different sushi platter that I'll keep as a surprise... (^_^)

Marché la Récré outdoor market

I'll be at the Marché la Récré outdoor market in Montreal's Mile End this coming Saturday, July 17th. It's the first time a weekly event of this sort is being planned, where you'll be able to find artisan-made creations, vintage treasures and great eats all in the same schoolyard, under the summer sun!

It'll be happening every Saturday in the schoolyard of Ecole Lambert-Closse, corner of St-Urbain and Bernard, from 10am to 5pm. I'll be there tomorrow for sure and might make it back for some other dates as well! Lots of goooood stuff to be found, see a partial list of the sellers here.

Vancouver...
I'll be heading back to the Powell Street Festival in Vancouver in a couple of weeks, July 31st & August 1st. Looking forward to being back in the newly refurbished Oppenheimer Park and seeing all my Vancouver friends and family!

For the occasion, I decided to make a new fancy tamago maki, or egg roll (hee hee!) sushi! Click to see more detail. Other new pieces in the makes as well!

Happy Birthday Ebi! (aka Friday Cat Blogging)

Yesterday was Ebi's 11th birthday, woo hoo! He's been having some kidney problems lately which is common in older cats, but he's on a special diet now and taking some meds so he's doing pretty well. We can tell he's still the same ol' boy because he still charges around after Chibi, and she still takes it from him.

Here is Ebi the ninja on my craft show table cloth that is ready to go into the washing machine. Nothing quite as comfy as laundry on the floor to lie on.



Averting his gaze in this shot below, the ninja truly passes unnoticed...

Remember that Ebi was a birthday gift for my mom; you can read about that here. It's been four years now that my mom passed away - still can't believe it some days. Time goes by so quickly and yet everything about her hospitalisation is crystal clear in my mind, still makes me wince.

He was a few months old in this shot but boy, did she love this cat, her little king!

Well, he's OUR gift now, my little stinker and JF's best buddy - and Chibi's arch nemesis. Happy Birthday Ebi!