International Women’s Day is coming

It has been a hectic couple of weeks. Family member who had surgery is doing remarkably.  Had my grandson with me so not a lot got done.

I am  now preparing for an International Women’s day event in Ottawa. I have a table to sell my cards and pendants.  This event is for celebrating the achievements we have made as women but also serves to remind us that there are still women who are not safe, free or economically able to support themselves.  The Canadian reality is that we do have much more than women in other countries so we need to support the causes that they are fighting for daily.  Come and find out how…

If you are around please join us on March 9th

https://www.facebook.com/events/542246639143053

PSAC 233 Gilmour Street, Ottawa ON

WOMEN’S MARKET PLACE
Free Admission!
10 AM – 12:30 PM
Light breakfast

MOVIE SCREENING
Give what you can!
1 PM – 3:30 PM
Popcorn and light lunch

« The Shape of Water »
For the documentary synopsis, visit this website:
http://www.theshapeofwatermovie.com/trailer.html
For more information contact WISE @ 613-230-6700

Or email us at communityevents@wiseottawa.ca

See you there

CA

Just a quick note

Grandson napping and other three kids at school.  Family members surgery went well no big surprises and she is recuperating in the hospital for the next couple of days.  Hopefully she will not try to rush it.

Kids were excited to go to school today they had valentines for all the students in their classes.  Each teacher seemed to have different rules.  No gifts of any kind but send a treat for your child but no peanut or nuts of any kind in middle kids class.  Anything goes in the older ones and in the youngest no restrictions except peanut and they were having a party I think.

So far the kids have been great but the novelty of grandma staying may wear off soon…lol One more day of school then they are off for 3 days yeah.  Sleeping in, mommy comes home, no baths if they don’t want to….Oh happy oh joy….

So this is quick Happy Valentines Day if you partake if not happy Thursday…

CA

 

Next few days

Things are going to be a little hectic.  Looking after my 4 grand kids ranging in ages 2 to 10 for the next week.  School and school buses, frantic morning rushes, lunches, suppers, homework, reading, baths, and bedtime.  Will be happy when the weekend comes.   Necessary surgery of family member, worry, pain, recovery, sharing, fussing, caring all will take up the rest of the time.  If I don’t post it will be because I am too busy or exhausted.

Stay well.

CA

 

New project in the works

A little while ago I discovered rug hooking.  I have latched rugs before but found it difficult to find materials and was never satisfied because it just seemed so controlled.  Last summer I met a woman artist who’s medium was wool and hooking into linen was her canvas.  She painted the most beautiful wall hangings.  She used a method called the Oxford method.

So I started to research and what I found was there seemed to be two methods out there for rug hooking the Oxford and East Coast.  Oxford is hooking from the top and East Coast is pulling the wool through the bottom.  I bought the two types of hooks for hooking wool –  any kind of wool - nubby or smooth, silk or unspun or strips of wool fabric into a backing.  I honestly got frustrated with the Oxford hook and will go back to it later on.

Then I found the East Coast method and fell under its spell. Right now I am working with a medium hook, a primitive burlap backing, a 14″ hoop and a pattern that I made up.   It is rhythmic and calming in a world full of craziness…

Of course I don’t do much small or bite off more than I can chew.  Much of my artistic learning has been on a wing and a prayer so I am expecting the results will be primitive because I am learning as I go.

Some YouTube videos and Deanne Fitzpatrick has been great to guide me in the right direction for supplies

online shop http://www.hookingrugs.com/

YouTube Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR6KPRs8QDI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s6E2YZgC_g

I will post progress as the piece comes along

Catch you tomorrow

CA

 

 

Well I missed yesterday

As I prepared for my sale yesterday it was sunny and had snowed 25 cm almost 10″ nothing compared to other parts of the country and the US.  Problem for me is that I had to schlep my wares through snow that had not been cleaned on sidewalks or bus stops to catch a bus to take me to the sale.

I braved it not so bad I was even early enough to stop for a coffee and a muffin before but the day went on from there.  I realized as I unpacked that I forgot my business cards, gum, water and a few other things.  Set up was fast and I was finished by the time the doors opened and introduced myself to the individuals on either side.  Lots of interest in my glass and cards mostly discussed how I did the process.  I met many new people, saw some old friends, invitation to another sale so all in all a good day.

Nicole Shaw and her daughter Olivia from Livwell Toys www.etsy.com/shop/livwelltoys

Kym Brown from Bombshell Revival www.bombshellrevival.com

However going home was a bit of a nightmare, it was cold and damp and the bus I planned to take did not come on time but another did which I thought it will get me to my appointed destination eventually…eventually being the operative word here an hour and a half later I finally got to where I needed to transfer to my next bus which of course I had missed and waited while some woman complaining loudly to all that would listen about the state of the world and that the ills we are experiencing is because we are moles and not wanting to go to church or take up arms, oh and not smacking our kids enough blah, blah blah…

Well finally got home and exhausted and cold – did not unpack, from the comfort of under the covers of my bed used my laptop to catch up on the news of the day I had missed.  I was brain-dead and I think I eventually passed out and woke up in time for my niece to come home at around 11 pm.

Then I remember on of my favorite quotes..

“If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”
― E.B. White

Today I am hoping to go to the movies and see Quartet.

Have a good one

CA

Its a snow day

We have already had  approximately 2 to 4 cm and we are expecting more tonight.  Really I shoveled that by 10 am problem is it is also blowing and we are in a valley.

Not as bad as Toronto Jenny McCaig: MTO posted this pic…Canadian Motorists in Toronto are actually shoveling the snow on the 401 themselves!

It is ld white out there and I hear the sweet sound of the neighbor’s snow blower humming its happy tune making its way to my driveway.  Was pretty sure that my organic vegetable delivery would be delayed a day but they made it through the snow and it is now tucked neatly in the fridge to be cleaned and cooked tomorrow night.

I am just hoping that it clears by tomorrow around 8:30 am cause I will be schlepping my wares in the snow and catching buses to get there with my glass and cards.  Might have to edit so it will be a lighter load –  so tonight is sortin’ time.

The event is …

“For The Love Of Winter” will feature the works of 30 local artists!

• Saturday Feb. 9th, 2013,
• 11:00am until 4:00pm

• Knox Presbyterian Church Ottawa
  120 Lisgar St., Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0C2

Hoping to see some great art, make some new connections and share my love of art with others.

Stay warm and safe.

CA

What a day

Got up this morning feeling rushed already at 5:30 am.  My dog Buddy is getting spring coif. My groomer comes to the house so I needed to get up, shower, clean up the table, move things around…Oh wait grand kids are coming over put the stuff back on the table.  Plan a craft.  Oh wait take a shower… OK take a breath regroup.

Take the shower…check

Vacuum…check

Shift things around for the groomer to set up…check

Plan the craft…we will do gelli prints …check

Ok the groomer is here…halfway through the appointment grand kids arrive 4 of them hungry…good parents brought McDonald’s phew.  Dog is getting anxious wants to see the kids so I tell the kids to be quiet …this works for 5 minutes.  Clean the table off, stack the dishes in the sink, start the gelli plate printing process and voila the dog is done comes upstairs and runs around like he is a puppy…he is not he is 13 years old almost blind and deaf with selective hearing.  Get the groomer out the door, look over there is chocolate milk everywhere, youngest says he pooped which he did not, middle girls are waiting impatiently to get to the printing, oldest is upstairs on the computer yelling grandma there something wrong … Crisis mode kicks into high gear.

I am the queen of multitasking check the boy nope no poop just chocolate milk, wipe him done while going upstairs to see whats up nothing major - fix it.  Yeah crisis averted gelli plate printing time.  Finish off with a little Dr. Seuss 4 books later parents here to pick up kids to go to Winterlude and I am done… Nap time…

Results:

yes colbie printed her name upside down and backwards

before and after

all in all a good day.

CA