Can't Get Enough of.....

MGMT. I've been listening to them continuously over the past week - at home, in the car, in the studio, and I will be taking my ipod to part deux of my dental appointment this afternoon (in an attempt to drift off to my happy place).

Here's the track A Time to Pretend from Oracular Spectacular. The images from the video below are quite spectacular. I recognize a few of them from BBC's Planet Earth (a must see).

Sit back. Turn up the volume. Enjoy.

Flutter

These are photographs of toy butterflies which have been digitally enhanced. They would add a vibrant splash of colour to a child's room or nursery.

Soon to be posted in puddlejumpers.

I've fallen in love with them. Hope you love them too :)

Meet Kyle

He is 3 years old.
Impossibly cute.
Utterly charming.

He also loves his trucks and cars..... I've tried to be very gender neutral in what my boys play with, but the gravitational pull of moving vehicles is just too strong.



Pssst.....this photo is now for sale in my etsy shop puddlejumpers .

Half Full

This last week has been a little crazy.

I've spent a good chunk of time sitting around dreary waiting rooms reading outdated magazines and recovering from my first root canal. Ouch. While sitting white-knuckled in the chair, the freezing did not take in one of my nerves. I actually felt the drill. Oh my god. I felt the drill. Double ouch.

In addition to my dental emergency, a routine physical examination on Ryan has revealed that his 5 year old heart has a murmur. We are awaiting a referral to a paediatric cardiologist to rule out congenital heart defects. Apparently this can be quite common (the murmur that is, not the congenital defects) and many people go on to lead healthy active lives. I was instructed to not jump to any conclusions.

For now, I'm choosing to see the glass as half-full.

How do you see your glass?

Little Beauty

I snapped this photo on a walk to the playground the other day. I just couldn't resist attempting to capture the beauty of this lovely little bud.

Isn't she gorgeous?

Finally

Finally..... a chance to get back to the bench! I hope to have some new pieces posted in my Etsy shop over the next few days.

Having the kids out of school has been great fun, but I find I'm a better mother when I've got the boys out of the house, which means I haven't had much of a chance to sit down, clear my thoughts and create something new.

It feels so completely therapeutic. I wish I could do this everyday.

Home Again

After a blissful week in Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands, I am feeling completely refreshed and ready to get back to work. It is amazing what a healthy dose of fresh air, sunshine, kayaking, wild flowers and trees can do for your spirits. They soar.

Whoa Nelly!

www.giddyupstudio.etsy.com

Well, so much for winding down! My customers have been keeping me very VERY busy of late!

Thank you
Thank you
Thank you

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

Yesterday, on the way home from the post office, my youngest son was in the midst of one of his daily (I should say thrice daily) hour long temper tantrums, while my oldest proceeded to throw up in the back seat. Oh the joys of going to the post office!!! If they hadn't been in such distress, it almost would've been comical. I'm so thankful Ryan had the good sense to throw up on the way home and not the way there. He probably realizes by now how completely psychotic his mother gets when she can't get her packages out on time.

The packages did go out. Phew!!!!

Now it is really time to wind down. I leave Saturday to go up north. To a cabin in the woods by a pretty lake. I can almost hear the lonesome call of the loons already. I'm looking forward to some time with my family and am hoping to blow the dust off my old camera.

I will be back in a week's time (if the bears do not get me).

Thank you giddyupstudio for your incredible illustrations. Please see her shop for more art!

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

www.ashleycakes.etsy.com

One of my favourite things to do on a Saturday night is to curl up in my pajamas with a glass of wine and watch a really good flick.

I saw a fantastic movie this weekend. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. It was artful, poetic, told an incredible story and combined all of the elements I love in a great film.

The movie was based on the real life experience of Jean-Dominique Bauby. At the young age of 42, the former editor-in-chief of French Elle and father of three, suffered a massive stroke leaving him paralyzed and speechless. With the use of his left eyelid, he wrote a book documenting his experience of bodily imprisonment and how his mind was able to set him free.

I've always believed that one of the secret ingredients to true happiness is the ability to live in the moment - to not dwell on the past or pine for the future. This movie was a beautiful example of that.

Also, please check out Ashleycakes' etsy shop for some beautiful artwork. Thank you Ashley for the use of your photo!

Here's the movie trailer....