A tiny bit flaky

I saw this a few days ago on Heather's blog. Her's are so curvy. I wonder how she did it. This morning I finally got around to making a couple, however I can only find this one. Hmmm.

I like it.
I guess I'll have to make a new one...

or two

She did it!

Congratulations to the wonderful, talented and dedicated Carmi.

She accomplished her goal of 2,500 handmade cards for the One of a Kind Sale. It makes me tired just to think of it. lol.

Today is her first day at the show. You need to check out her exquisite, luscious cards. Her both is O37.

Why are you still here?

Go!

updated @ 18:43 on 27Nov07
Wondering where to go in Toronto: Go!
Not in the area? You still can view and purchase them (lucky you;): Go!

Valentines for Veterans

I think this is an incredible program.

I encourage you all to make some valentines. Make as many as you like. Just make them!

I'm going to suggest that my son's daycare make valentines. In fact wouldn't it be great if every school made them in lieu of exchanging them with each other?

Make some and send them to:

"Valentines for Vets"
Veterans Affairs Canada
Communications Division
P.O. Box 7700
Charlottetown, PE
C1A 8M9

Hey, if the Valentine Grinch (she loathes the day) will get out the pink&red paper, hearts and doilies. There is no reason why you shouldn't too!

Card Exchange in Bolton

We zoomed off to Bolton today to meet the ladies for the card exchange.

The theme for Black, White & Silver. They did a fantastic job. Take a bow ladies.

Obsession has its rewards

You may recall this post about my quest to find a secret in the new PostSecret book.

I have been dashing into stores to flip through each copy to find one with a secret.

I also couldn't buy one (or peek in the store - I did a bit) until I found that elusive copy. Pure torture.

Today I found one! (thanks to June's eagle eye.) It was a bittersweet secret and it made me a little sad. I know exactly what Corey meant now.

I read it cover to cover tonight. I will again tomorrow.

Not a good week for tech stuff!

I must be cursed this week. Revenge of the machines.

My sewing machine gave up the ghost too.

The upy-downy (yes, it's a highly technical term) thing won't move now. I figured it probably wasn't a good thing to keep flooring the petal.

Wish me luck getting it repaired. I need it real soon.

pay it forward

I heard about this on Martha's blog. Sounds like fun.

I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF (Pay it forward) exchange.
I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise!
The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.
So basically, if you are one of the first three comments, I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make!

Once you sign up, you will need to copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work.

Alright then! One person (Jo) is signed up. Yay! She is from Australia (how cool is that?)
Two people are signed up! *dances excitedly* Franca is from France. I love bloggers.

You might recall this post. I still find it highly amusing that not one single person signed up. Maybe I should be offended, however, it's extremely hard to maintain when you burst out laughing.

Extraordinary Society of Mixed Up Media Artists Club Night

I was late. What else is new? I feel like I am always rushing to do something or go somewhere lately.

The demo was well in progress. I figured that I would quietly abstain as I work ever sooooo slowly.

I wandered up to find a plate but frankly was to embarrassed to ask for one due to my extreme tardiness.

Instead I grabbed a coffee (bless whoever brought it!), settled in to catch up and admire the WIPs. I was content to simply admire but Martha insisted that I do a plate too. She had no problem asking for a plate for me! I will post my plate sometime within the next few weeks. I have to use my remaining vacation days (11!) in the next four weeks. So in theory I should have the time!

I was really happy to discover that I did not miss the 'What's new, what's hot or not?" part of the meeting. It is truly my favorite part of the meeting. OK, I like the big reveal too, but it is stressful. Will it ever stop being stressful?

Carmi has decided that we will be taking turns for the demo in the upcoming year. I like the idea - seems like fun - but what the heck am I going to teach these talented women?

It was time for the big reveal! I was curious to see the alterations made to the dreadful doily.

But wait. I was time to see next month's assignment first. It's loathsome. It's horrid. I hate it. Oh goody.

Back the reveal... Delicious results. I really love the that everyone comes up with such a unique creation. I can't wait until Carmi posts a photo of the most recent assignment.

I made a Christmas ornament.

I cut up my doily and dyed it in tea and randomly stitched it with other embellishments. I tried to make a little pointsetta using the pink flower but it didn't look right to me. I buried it under some lace instead. I played with ArtEmboss metal and sewed it to my ornament. I really liked using it - even if I did slice my palm open once (OK twice.) I will be using it again on cards and ATCs real soon.

I distinctly recall someone saying 'where is the doily/flower?' when it was my turn. It's there, you just can't see it from across the room. lol.

RIP Blackberry

It died. Today.

The warranty just expired a few months ago.
I'm not eligible for a device upgrade for a couple of months.

I think I could cry.

Wait. I am.

Sweet suprise - RAK

This came in the mail today. I love getting mail.

It even came in an envelope with real stamps. * joy*

Toronto the Good? - I think not

Are you ready for another TTC story?

My son and I took the 504 streetcar home tonight just as we always do. Except this time he forgot his little blue book bag (containing his two very favorite books) on the seat. His much adored-goes with him everywhere-sleeps with book bag.

I realized he did not have his bag just as the streetcar rumbled across the intersection. Oh crap. We waited for the next 504 streetcar with the hope that his bag could be quickly retrieved.

The TTC operator was very kind to my tearful toddler. She did her very best to help us. They contacted the driver ahead of us. I could actually SEE the street car we'd been on ahead of us. He checked and no bag. We got off the second streetcar and began walking back home.

I knew it was always a possibility we could lose the bag. I just hoped it wouldn't happen.

I'm disappointed not with the TTC but rather the citizens of Toronto.

Now I ask you. Who takes a toddler's bag, books, crayons and drawings and keeps it?

Toronto the Good? Not to me.

Remembrance Day

I took my son to the Service at Queen's Park today. I think it is important that he attend Remembrance Day services. That he learns, remembers and understands their sacrifice.

I wish I could forget his behavior at the ceremony. I didn't think he was behaving too badly/loudly until a guy turned around and angrily asked us to leave. Ooops. I left without a word.
I was upset though (maybe wrongly), my son had every right to be there too. But perhaps I was expecting to much of an active three year old to sit/stand still for 45 minutes. I really did try to keep him quiet/occupied. Apparently not enough.

It was sobering to hear today that veterans are passing away at the rate of 500 a week.
Did you know that there is a Canada Remembers Program? I didn't.

Here is my favorite Remembrance Day poem:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

William Tell Mom

Martha, Hope and I were hanging out chatting after the ATC swap last night.

Hope suggested that we watch this video. I'm glad I did, it's hilarious...

Last ATC Hive meeting

I missed it. Completely.

I had fun making my ATC's for the 'self-portrait' theme. They ended up being very personal. The end result? I was to shy to trade them.

I love to hang out with the ATC group members though. Just try and keep me away. lol.

Is that cheating?

Sometime I just can't help myself

I couldn't resist signing up for a second Altered Abbey skinny book swap.

Right from the beginning, I wanted to do two of the books. I ultimately decided just to commit to one.

I recently discovered that Chrysti has had several last minute drop outs and needed some help. The extended due date is November 30. I thought to myself, "I can do it!". I emailed her before I could change my mind. (some would interpret that as 'before my brain could engage'.) She said yes (does that mean she liked my work?! lol) and now I have 26 more pages to do.

I think she still needs some fill ins - so if you are interested click here.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed working in the last one (not the last minute part though). I have a brand new tree image to from Chapel Road to use. Yay!

I have a new stamp company to worship...

I win the 'Bad Mommy of the Month' contest. Why? It was my son's birthday yesterday and I still went to the Creativ Festival. I told him it was a special day with Daddy and Uncle and zooooom out the door. lol. I had a great time. Aren't I terrible?

Check out Chapel Road ... why have I not heard of this company before??? I spent a lot of time in Carol's booth at the show. I think I greatly amused her.

She said, "Aren't you lucky that I only bought half my inventory to the show?" after she glanced into my shopping basket.

"Aren't you sorry that you only brought half your inventory to the show?" was my instantaneous reply.

Birthday wishes!!!!

Happy birthday sweet darling son! You are such a big boy now!

Happy birthday to Martha and James too.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you

happy birthday dear rowanmarthajames happy birthday to you!!!

xoxox
p.s. check out his cake. lol.

I have been obsessing about the new PostSecret book

I haven't bought it yet.

I keep going to bookstores and picking up random copies to see if someone has slipped in their secret.

I really want one of those books with a secret...

I'm a little strange aren't I?

p.s.

Check out Waiter's latest post. This is why I love him.

Art club night

I did better.

We used microscope slides, alcohol inks, the Encore metallic ink pad, rubber stamps and Utee for Carmi's demo. It was fun and some of the ladies made some astounding slides.

I only ended up with one completed slide. I dipped it in gold UTEE because I wanted to try dipping. Its trickier than it looks. I plan to redo it with platinium. I'm just not a gold girl.



For the past month my 3x3 metal etching has been going everywhere with me. It even went out west with me, I tossed it in my luggage, crossed my fingers and hoped it would arrive with me.

I would take it out on the subway and stare at it thinking, "What the heck am I going to do with this?"

I finally decided to do something I though I never ever do. I put it in an altered book.
I had a grand delusion that I would actually finish the whole book before the meeting too.

Hahahahahahahaha!!!
yeah, no.

It's still very much a WIP. I plan to add UTEE to the front cover, which meant that I couldn't do the inside cover. (I want to use both sides of the metal piece) I plan to use a transparency and I'm pretty sure it won't stand up to the heat.

The assignments were unveiled at the end. I got to go first (bless you Carmi!).

Many of the assignments were a al deMeng. Which was very cool. The thing I regret most about not attending his class is learning how he mixes paint.

I had my camera but no memory card. I hope Carmi doesn't mind that I 'borrowed' her photo.

It's gonna get me

It compels me to do strange and unusual things.

I wouldn't normally do these things....

• run into traffic
• stop at the bottom of a crowded escalator with many people behind me
• rush back off the streetcar into traffic

I keep dropping my blackberry at the most inopportune times. I think its out to get me....