My Creative Space

I am forever scouring the Internet looking at the creative spaces of others and end up drooling and wishing I had what they have...but it isn't so, but I must say I do LOVE my creative space and it meets my needs quite well. Welcome and come take a tour:

 This room belonged to my toddler, but since he would not sleep in it and my creativity was all over my family room and kitchen sideboard...I moved him out and me in...we are both very happy now. This is not a huge room, but it is cozy and quite bright.

 The buffet style changing table/dresser stayed and has been put to perfect use. It displays lots of product ready for market. I covered to canvases with some fabric I really like and made an elastic bulletin out of them to display past creations. Baskets hold other creations and wool scraps.

 Drawers hold broad cloth, printed cotton and flannel, all laid out for easy perusal. The little cupboard holds felt, material scraps and recycled fabric pieces and such.

 This is the business side of Darla Creations and another bulletin board I made. I also have my cutting board on the desk since it is so big!

 This is where I do most of sewing machine sewing....see the cradle full of MONSTERS! I can look out into the backyard. I love the old vintage sewing machine and even more so my NEW machine that my husband bought me...I am so lucky to have his support.

 I make dolls and I inherited this Legion Doll from my mother when she passed away recently. This doll was made for her and it is in full Legion uniform, I am so happy to be able to have it displayed in my creative space. My mom was creative when we were young, making quilts, sewing curtains (she made the ones at this window) and loved to crochet.

 I have lots of little places to put baskets and products.

Yet another sewing machine in this area. I use it just to sew felted wool. It was a gift from a friend who didn't need it anymore and it has really inspired me to sew, create and make the products that I do, however I have been a full-time crafter for more than 8 yrs and have dabbled all my life and even studied art and art history at Acadia...it is in be to create. I love this picture on the wall of my boys that I took, they are my world and certainly aide me in my creative thinking  process and execution.

So this it, the grand tour, not amazing, but comfortable and does the trick...oh I should mention that I have whole another room in the attic that hold all the surplus supplies...piles of felted sweaters, fabric, paper, machines, display items and so much more....enough for a whole another POST!

Creative Play

I really wanted to get some work done this afternoon, my creative need was beckoning me, but my little man was also constantly calling my name. Truly the largest Human Resource issue that Work at Home Moms face... and we must be creative in out attempts to solve the problem, we cannot call in a sitter, ship them off to the neighbour or for me send him to Nanny's house. He also loves to venture into my creative space and claim all items for himself...today once again he found himself drawn to the fabric drawer... and what should appear, but that same Bob the Builder material he spotted last week that he begged me to make something out of, for him, of course. I had said no, he had said, it is craft night, I said, I am busy, he says, I need something..well today he "got" that something....and I can still use the material for its intended purpose later on.....

And as if this teepee/tent was not enough for fill his needs, he went over to the door where some finished product hung and decided he needed something else, it is not like it was not just hanging there. I really have trouble saying no, and so I let him choose, now one would think he would choose the one with tools on it, but no cupcakes...WHY? "I love cupcakes", he says. Enough said.

This cupcake toolbelt/apron would allow him to have a belt like Woody (he loves Toy Story) and all was well and my own productive creativity prevailed and together in our creative space had a wonderful afternoon.

A Mother's Strength...a Daughter's Passion

A week ago tonight, my mother peacefully passed away. When I think of her and reflect, the things I remember the most fondly are her independence, her strength and her passion. She could make anything from nothing. Missing an ingredient she still baked, made a costume out of old sheets, no make-up - markers will do. She was about doing with what she had, never complained, always smiled and always gave to others. What was there not too love and above all she did not want anyone to worry, she would handle that too. She believed in me as a mother, a woman, and thought that it was awesome that I followed my passion. In a tribute to her, I will be

blogging a few pieces over the next while that will show how I get some of inspiration, why I am crafty and above all to show a little more of who my mom was, and why I miss her. On this note, I would like to post the Eulogy I wrote and read at her service:

Eulogy of Irene Nickerson
Thank you all for sharing this day with us. I will try to be brief, but for those who know me, I am not brief, but when talking with Mom, I think she would just look at the clock and cut me off, having had enough and the Legions calls! Many of you have known Mom from her time on Bernard St. Many of those stories she shared with us so I thought that I would share of few stories from hers after. Mom and Dad moved to Cat Island shortly after marrying into a house that he bought her on the way home from fishing, the same house she sold in a yard sale years later; only Mom would do that. When we were young she went to watch us skate, swim, but she couldn’t swim. Watch Troy moss in the river, but like I said she could not swim, she was there, it was important to keep us safe, that is what she was about, even to the last moment, keeping us safe. When we would get home school she always saved us dough to fry and she always seemed to find spare change when the milkman came so we could have chocolate milk – it was such a treat. She knew how to make $20 be $40, I don’t know how she did it. She made the best rappie pancakes, raisin cookies, hamburger soup and a mean chocolate fudge, this took years to perfect.

When she moved back to town, she said she gave Dad 20 years of country living, now it was his turn to live where she wanted, he didn’t argue. With this, she was able to dedicate more of her time to volunteering, in particular the Legion and its Veterans. She started holding every position in the Auxiliary and for the past 11 years as an Associate of the Main Branch. You could call the Legion and ask for Ma, you didn’t need to use her name. She brought her grandsons as sidekicks and it was fine. If she wasn’t home, you knew where she was. She loved the work, the people, the cause; she needed no awards, medals; the smiles on the Veteran’s faces were enough. She wanted to educate everyone about who they were, and we understood her passion and didn’t mind. The Legion was her second home. Thank you all for being here and celebrating her and we ask that you join us at the Legion, her second home, for a reception where we can share more about what made her so amazing. Thank You.

Walking Encyclopedia!

I grew up in a small little neighbourhood on a spot of land called Cat Island...(Glenwood, Argyle take your pick) in Yarmouth County. My dad bought my mom the house on his way home from fishing one day....she was a "Town" girl, but a house of your own is what everyone wanted in the 1970's so a pump on the sink and now indoor bathroom mattered little, a home is where you raised your family, and that they did and did it well. As a part of this raising is right, my parents put an emphasis on education...wanted us to obtain more than them and for us to have all the opportunities in the world, and it started with the purchasing of "The Merit Student Encyclopedia"....and although published in 1978, it is still a fixture in the house they own now...yes, it has been moved twice...oh and some of the books even ended up in the freezer on the first move, while the food thawed on the floor...talk about dedication to education!

I was in awe of these books when I was young, remember I was only about 6 when they bought them. The neighbourhood kids (I was 6-10 yrs younger then all of them)came to use them and I so wanted to do research too, I could not wait to read them all....and over time I read most of them and used them for my own studies as well. I knew facts about things that I just didn't need to know and my dad would read the children's books to me, those in the bottom right of the picture. The cream ones you could look up medical information and there was a 2 volume dictionary too. All any aspiring kid could want. They are fixture that truly show my parents dedication, although little did they know at the time that their little red head would be the one to use them the most, would be so nosy when others came to use them, or would go on to spend 7 plus years learning in a post-secondary environment. This would have been an expensive purchase at the time, remember, these were bought before an indoor bathroom or about the same time...thank goodness for those travelling encyclopedia salesmen and thank you Mom and Dad for seeing a bright future!

Peaceful Afternoon

So I made it through my 30 day challenge and blogging and picture taking for 30 days was so rewarding, so much so, that I have decided to continue. Not sure if I will keep up everyday, as I skipped yesterday, but I was suffering from mental drain. But here I am happy and back on track...and would like to share my sleeping beauty.... This picture represents a peaceful afternoon and a creative one....well completed a part of a project...but really is all about progress at this point.

27 days....

I am sure you did not read it here first, as all that has been on TV lately is awards show, and I have so say, I watch, not always do I listen, but oh do I critique...yes the wardrobe choice, not whether or not the winner deserved to to win or the other deserved to be nominated. Actually I am really not qualified for any sort of critique, but my personality leads me to have an opinion nonetheless. One thing my friends know, if I don't like your outfit, and you asked my opinion, I will tell you...if you don't want the truth don't ask. But more importantly, it is 27 days until Oscar Night, and well for me that means walking the Red Carpet, no! in Hollywood, in little old SJ and to be more precise my dining room.


A few years back, I decided that my friends needed an excuse to wear clothes that they had no place to wear them, clothes that made them feel special, if not glamorous...well to my surprise everyone was on board, and the event has grown...why someone has not created a fundraiser based on this who knows, so much better than "Wine Tasting" and much more classy. So now, the issue, WHAT to wear.... Last year was SIMPLE

I wore this amazing dress crocheted by my dear friend Sharon from a Vintage McCall's Magazine...the dress was Oscar Red Carpet, She was my Nora Walker and I was her Catherine, minus the $10,000, but a friendship weighed in gold.


So this year, I am at a loss....I have lots of bling....

But, not sure what to wear with it....another reason not to purge those dresses a talked about a few blogs back...never know when you may have to dig deep. Also, I am not a seamstress, so I am hoping something fits...oh and did I mention that I have been saving my dryer sheets...yeah I have....I might not be a seamstress, but I am crafty....oh and I do have an amazing Sari, I have yet to wear. What I do know is that I will not be wearing a strapless number with wings or fans (not sure what the technical style word would be) coming up from my boobs, they have enough issues without trying to make them fly or creating an opportunity for them to catch all the crumbs from the yummy food we will be eating. All I know for certain is that I am going to have blast, and I can't wait to see what everyone is wearing...it truly is the best part....oh and sharing the night with great FRIENDS!

Sunday Supper....lost tradition

Sunday suppers were somewhat of a tradition, it was the day when Mom made a big meal. Not that she did not make a meal every night from scratch she did, but they were quicker and did not have dessert. Sundays were different, she wasn’t as busy and could have the stove on all day...she would make Chicken, Roast or something along those lines, or spend her time making potato pancakes, imagine she even made long before she had a food processor, can you say “all day event and look out for knuckle skin”. But she was dedicated, unfortunately, I fall very far from the tree in this respect, I could live on Popcorn and Coke, neither I of these I might add would she be caught eating or drinking EVER!

It’ s not that I can’t cook, she taught me well, not too much water in the potatoes, but don’t boil them dry, always have another side, always have bread, always have something of substance, somewhere along the way, I lost the importance of the meal....when Kelton was little mixed veggies and tomato soup, was a MEAL more than once...poor guy no wonder he likes nothing....well that was until tonight’s supper...yup...he went outside his food comfort box...um no he still did not eat rice or potato dressing, but oh my he ate the other items and even tried the sweet and sour sauce, no complaints, but still not going vegetarian. I am so pleased; make my three hours and the use of some 15 spices and 10 ingredients at least later worth it. Oh, and more importantly perhaps is that Jeevan loved my Tofu meatballs, well that means not more packaged ones...still need to tweak the recipe a little, but they were devoured by all including the meat eaters!

Although I still miss the atmosphere created by mom, and I will in no way be able to create it myself, as it she who makes it was it is, I think I created my own today!

Menu:
Rice
Potato Dressing
Veggie Gravy
Corn
Zucchini Patties
Turnip Puff
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Tofu Meatballs
Crispy Crunchy Squares

Creative Saturdays

Today was gallery day...I love Saturdays at the Fundy Gallery of Art.

I probably should have been more productive, but I did get two dolls turned and 2 monsters created. I just love Orangy...one eyed with a flair of an eyebrow and the most awesome shade of green pants...who would not want this guy, I think! The plaid dude is just all mustache and spectacles....A bit of a strong man/geek.

My production was slowed from paying too much attention to the art class that Alma was listening to on the Internet....didn't think the guy would ever stop critiquing and actually teach the class, not that even Alma was painting today...but we both came away with more insight into was wrong with paintings, as the guy really only liked one completely, and I had to agree with him. Also learned a little about powder pastels and their application and about what can be left off a colour palette, very educational day.

Also, I now have in my stash Sharon's discarded project....yup she has started anew....even had to make a trip to Michael's...she is just so funny...but look out Oscars, because she is going to look great....so the piece to the right in the picture is the piece that didn't work, I told her what a great skirt....it might just be a new skirt for one of crazy dolls...who knows! But it truly was a rewarding, creative and educational day.....

Best of Couture

Once again my friend Sharon has outdone herself on my Christmas gift. Some may remember my Oscar dress that she made me last year; well this year I received the most adorable and practical granny square vintage inspired skirt. I cannot contain my excitement....nor my desire to wear it....we all know what I am wearing to the Fundy Gallery of Art tomorrow , this piece of art....

I love the triangle hemline, is that not the coolest...it was suppose to be fringed to make it even, but I could not have that, it was it was suppose to be a little longer, but knee length is more my style. Oh and I mention that there is orange in it...this is better than any Pj’s people leave the house in, I can now go out wear the “lap” blanket and I know it is going to be oh “wow” not the disgust people give at wearing Pj’s, but I will have the same comfort....now to find the right shirt or sweater ....I am so spoiled, but really there is more to the story....

Originally, she gave me another granny square skirt that I fell in love with in a magazine earlier this past Fall and I knew I had to have it, so I bought and passed it over and said “I need this, I love this” and from there the saga begun....my Christmas gift in the making, the colours were perfect, purple, grey and black...she worked tirelessly, it was a lot of work....it got bumped by some other projects, including those awesome Angry Bird hats she made my boys, and the head warmers that she made both Mary and I, and those snowflakes for her daughter to give to her co-workers, and the breads, and paintings she made, but alas she presented me with my skirt just after New Years, I was so excited....and then I put it on and ...it was too big, I wanted to cry...this was not like a material skirt where you could just put it under the needle of the machine and zip up the side, no these were individual squares that were put together, these modern patterns did not compensate for a decreased waist size....people are suppose to be built straight or pop out, and even a ribbon or tie would not work...just too much bulk. I hated to break the news to her, but she took it like a grain of salt and found another pattern within hours it felt, and here we have the do over....and a magnificent piece of couture...once again the story of the Friday Night Knitter Club rings true....I am privileged to have such a wonderfully talented and loving friend.

Renforth Winter Village

Every morning when I drive Jeevan to school I look at the New Winter Village that has developed at the Renforth Wharf. It had grown over the past couple of weeks, more “shacks” being added, adding more colour and texture to the icy landscape; the essence of winter culture in the Maritimes. What a community that is built, close knit, cozy but freezing at the same time, all with a common goal in mind...Smelts.

For those who are new to this winter phenomenon, Smelts are little fish and not ones to be eaten one at a time; no you need a “feed” of them. I never liked them as a child, although my dad couldn’t wait to get a feed, and my mom dreaded their presence. These little things, that you gut using your scissors (cut off the head and slit down the belly) really aren’t worth the effort, gutting them is a pain and eating them is worse given how boney their backbone truly is...for a small fish way too many bones. I am wondering why my Dad loves them so much; all I can say is Yuck! It must have to do with the purity of the fish, given that they are small, it is not about freezing his butt off, as he doesn’t go to the shack, he get delivery...it can’t be the light coating of flour Mom puts on them....but it is something, but be about the culture, the season, the thrill of how many will be in that pound, as you will not just eat a few of these fish, they are way too small.

To those in those fishing shacks, I wish you great daily yarns; new friendships and a prosperous season and I will miss you all once the thaw of Spring arrives.

My Knits!

Mommy, I need my Knits....A couple of months ago while shopping at The Hospice Shop, Jeevan spotted knitting needle in a basket. Mommy, I need these knits, I said are you sure. Yes, I need to knit...I am thinking this will not last. So after lots of shopping and checking everything out, and a lady who worked there telling me, that needles were dangerous, I confirmed with him that he needed them, Yes, I need. Would you rather have a toy, no, I need these knits...home ward bound we go....

Today, he discovered, my purchase from this past weekend's adventure. Red, Briggs and Little yarn, hoping it will work for a project, not that it is what I had in mind at all...but what's a girl to do after all it took to get to the wool event in Florenceville. Jeevan proceeds to tell me that he will knit this yarn, Red is his favourite. Without a doubt he did his best!

He claims he needs lessons, so look out Auntie Sharon, you can't knit and crochet in front of me on Thursday nights for the past 3 yrs and not expect me to want you to teach me how to knit, as it does not come naturally, and Mommy can't help!

Rainy Day Suprise!

Today the rain made me think that it was time to surprise Jeevan at pick-up with the bear he is has been asking me to make for almost 3 weeks. Well today was the day. I stuck him in my pocket and off to school we went....and Jeevan was elated...and of course commented on its bow tie, as that was a very important part of the creation. He fit in his coat pocket too...and I was met by a wonderful note at his cubby....

It was just a perfect day and glad Jeevan had the best day at school and that little bear met his expectations.

When the time comes to let go...

20 years ago I was getting ready to head off to University for the first time...getting bedding ready, my mom offered me some white pillow cases that she had, so I thought, perfect, but I bet everyone will have the same so I embroidered my name, or I should say my dad's "name" for me....at that point in my life he was the only person who called me DAR. Recently, when cleaning my linen closet, I realized that I still had them, imagine, I have been across the country and back

and STILL had them...well I can't remember the last time I used them....but oh they were just the perfect feel and texture for yes my favourite thing, tea-dying...they turned out great....now they are on their way to becoming a "Darla Girl", which Darla Creations will be launching in the near future...what better way to use them...who knew that BA in Art would lead to the "Darla Girl" doll ....oh and I left with another very inspirational piece on the first day of the rest of my life too....you'll hear about that soon too...stay tuned....and thank you mom for believing I could be anything and giving me some pieces of home to make sure that I did!

When 6ft is short...

For those who know me, my kids are tall. My oldest is 6'3 and my 3 yr old is 3'6.5 so he too will be over the 6ft mark... But as we discovered yesterday at the MillRats basketball game,being 6ft is short. You had to feel bad for number 10, despite is good looks and in the the real world, above average, but in his world he is short....especially when a fellow player is 6'7, 7 inches is a lot...I have many friends who about that much shorter than me and there are times when it is awkward. Well, he looked like a runt...but ran like fire and played like a pro...leading the team to victory....so being 6ft truly is not all that bad! I strongly recommend taking in a game...great time to be had by families.

Another Road Trip...and

Today I set out on an adventure with my sidekicks Sharon and Mary to visit Stickney and Florenceville, NB. First place was new for me and it had been at least 8 yrs since I had been to Florenceville. But it was important, Mary's Mom is turning 90 tomorrow and there was a Wool Event in Florenceville...how could we girls resist the temptation.


Some may recall the story about Pandora's box, well that is what today ended up feeling like....it had some glitches...but the cake was well worth it. As you can see from the photo, my car has no window, yup, it fell into the door when we stopped in Welsford for gas. It all started at Tim's when my window was frozen....I followed procedure, and made it Welsford....lets just say driving back to Saint John, at highway speed with no window and -16 degrees cold, I am lucky I still have friends and that we do not have frostbite....not sure I can explain how cold my hands were....thank goodness for the wool turtleneck sweater I decided to wear. So out of sheer determination.....

We prepared Sharon's car for the trip and 1.5hrs later from our first departure we were back on the highway...oh and did we ever need that washer fluid....the roads were a mess in places...my I am a driving queen and even in the boonies of NB I got us through....and it was well worth the cake....but not the wool event....will leave that for another post.....it was just a little disappointing....

Spot of Tea anyone

I am so not a Tea person, in fact, have drank a cup in my life, just can't bring myself to do it...always felt I was too young for tea and now I figure if I made it through almost a decade of University why would I start now. But according to my husband I make a great cup....but I am even better at using it for dying cloth. This re purpose cloth from vintage pillow case is just perfect for my next creative endeavor...stay tuned for come results....but be patient, I am not very fast!

Savouring the Christmas Gift....

In my family room, I have a little workspace, that truly allows me to be productive while my little guy plays and I can enjoy some sun and TV. I bought this old treadle machine years ago more for its Antique appeal than to actually use it, but it does work, my mom used it one day. I just love it and it is a splendid place for the perfect gift from my lovingly supportive husband. Yes, he bought me a new sewing machine!

I have been waiting since Christmas day to have some quiet time to use it, as I needed to thread it etc., and I didn't want any interruptions. It is so smooth and threading was so easy, a little sad I waited so long...so then I needed to test it....

So I did a little test run with some scraps I had stored in my studio room. It's not finished, but it was a great test. Sewing without a peddle is a whole new concept....but I think I like it. Now that I remembered that you can slow the stitching down, I thought that it was already on the slowest...glad it wasn't....now to try sewing curves without a peddle....oh the excitement and challenge....I can't wait to put myself to the test....look out new products...here I CREATE!

My little Artist!

There is nothing more amazing than watching my little man express his creativity, which today meant giving Woody a new outfit! He needed is favourite PJ's on to do his best work...one paint brush to give Woody a makeover and one to paint a picture. I just love creative afternoons...will post my creative afternoon results soon...something NEW for Darla Creations customers!

It's been a year...but I can still hear her voice...

When I was a pig-tailed little girl my parents brought me and my 2 flowered suitcases home, my only doll in hand, but they bought me a grey music dog that day. I am their daughter, but I always knew that I was daughter to someone else too; this was scary, cool and way too interesting for my mind. When I hit my teens it was in the forefront of my mind, and my mom told me as much as she knew, even let me read all the documentation she had and things remembered. Fast forwarding, I am doing an internship for grad school, and I meet a guy who knows my birth family, how could this be. He found my parents; they now knew I was fine, happy and asking about them. At the end of that year, I sent a card, pictures and my address, and the letters started...starting with a my first ever birthday card from her....but now there are no more birthday cards, parcels at Christmas, letters in the mail, telling me about her painting her house, baking, pickling, the car breaking down, what is going on with the locals, her sister, her brother, my brother..nothing.....I know that I am luckier than most, I have lost a Mother, but still have my mom and dad....but I can help but be sad as I re-read these letters that I just happened to save....I miss not having something friendly in my mailbox. The scroll of her writing, the misspellings of words, but always asking how my kids are doing, commenting on how they are growing and her awaiting of pictures in the mail....a year of an empty mailbox, but lucky to have had the 14 years that I had.

Ways to reduce your laundry....

One of Jeevan's favourite things to do is to help me with laundry. Unfortunately, most of the time this means more work as he unfolds laundry or jumps in the basket. But he is also pretty funny as he loves to get into the dryer as he pulls out the last pieces...ALL CLEAN! Certainly if we could wash them and their clothes all at the same time it would reduce so much work and laundry....but it is not happening and I love him and his messes very much....so bring on the laundry!

It is always the coldest of days

Today Sharon and braved the bitter cold to visit with our dear friend Karen. Although unbearably cold, as least we did not have to shovel a path like last year, but I had brought my shovel just in case. Sharon and Karen have been friends for more than 20 yrs, much longer than I have known her, but oh how we miss her at Thursday night crafts. Always getting us to test out her new low fat, no sugar baking....usually they weren't all that bad. Tomorrow marks 2 years since her passing and interestingly enough it was unexpected and not because it was an accident or that she was in perfect health, but rather because she had always beat odds, turned around 360 when the last rights were given, no last rights this time, and no time for us to say good-bye expect for that freezing day, that was too much snow and wind so strong you thought we would be the grave with her, he saw as a sign of her shouting out an everlasting friendship.

We noticed she has new neighbours this year, and like last year, no one had been by at her birthday or Christmas to visit, flowers where there, when her neighbours flourished with evidence of visitors, made me want to cry even more tears...but I laid my bouquet, my birthday bouquet from My dear friend Fabiola no less as I knew that she wouldn't mind that I shared her lovely gift to me, with another lovely friend. Til next year Karen.

Survial Food....keeps me ....

Some people love cream sauces, not me, coffee, not me, toast and butter, not me, meat, chicken, fish ...not a part of my diet....but POPCORN, a staple in my diet, almost my daily diet. Those who know me well, know that I will pass up any meal for popcorn. What's for lunch...popcorn, supper popcorn...why? It's easy and I love to snack and hate to eat meals. Popcorn goes with anything and any event....not really messy, can popped in a pot, air popper or microwave. I eat the least amount of microwave, but I supported the recent Scout popcorn campaign, so I have been eating microwave, but my 1lb bag of kernels are paitently waiting for me....I can't wait. Nothing goes better with popcorn than cold coke... my other survial food! I know, I should not be promoting this survial diet, but for me it works.

Teddy Bear....

All week he has been asking if I have made his Teddy Bear yet, well know I have not. He has been under the weather for 2 days so that has not helped. Today Daddy was suppose to buy chap stick, instead he bought lip smackers and well, you guessed they came with press-on nails.

Guess he got his Teddy Bear...10 of them. The thought the nails were great....can't help to have a brighter day seeing these lovely hands.

The things we save...

Do you ever wonder why you keep certain things? Well as you know I have been on a cleaning/organizing frenzy and the other day I came across a bag in my linen closet, and though "What is in that", opening it I realized it was something that I had been keeping for quite a while...but why? I am still not sure why, but this bag pictures here is the same bag and it is filled with my hair. Today marks 7 years since I began chemo for Breast Cancer, and in my attempt to get ready, I travelled from Saint John to my home town to get ready. First, to tell my mom in person that I had 'Cancer', needing her help to tell my Dad and my 12 yr old son. Furthermore, I went to my hometown salon "Hair Hut" to get my hair cut off, I did not shave it, I just had a short pixie cut. I really liked it and I knew it would be so much less mess when falling out than my long locks and I had been given the advice not to shave it, as your scalp becomes very tender and having hair to fall out is softer than stubble. The things you learn. I had them scoop up the hair into a bag, because at the time I had all intentions of using it for crafting....real hair on a doll. Well, I have yet to put that real hair on a doll yet, but I still have time for a new project! Life is good, and there are always reasons for keeping weird things!

Breaking the rules of closet purging...

Today I decided to tackle my closet, after moving some stuff, I was able to get the doors open.

I do not share this closet and it actually not a bad size consider out house is from the late 1880-1890s. Well designed and full! It is my understanding that you are to purge anything you have not worn for 1 full year, well, there in lies the problem. More than 90% has not been worn in more than a year, in fact, some has yet to be worn and many others may never be worn again. So why keep them..well...did you see 27 Dresses?... this closet is similar and packed filled with stories and memories...oh and I am quite sure has more than 27 dresses and at least 1 in every colour, even colours I do not like...and at least 5 black ones.
For example, this beautiful piece, never worn, tags on, waiting for a date with a tailor. Picture does not do it justice, but I love it. My mother-in-law bought it for me and it is stunning...hence not purge material.
Then we have this green Indian pant suit, love the colour, detail, wore it a few times unlike many of Indian clothes that I have only worn once. Although it is dated in style, it is one of the suits given to me...and I am not ready to part with it.

These beauties have similar stories. The pink one was purchased for my Friend Kelly's wedding that I planned to attend and be a bridesmaid to bout, is this not bridesmaid material....what a thrift store find. Furthermore, I never made to the wedding, never wore the dress, but packed and brought all the way from BC with me when I moved. It is a travelling dress with enough cultural history to fill a small book. The elegant cream dress was purchased from a thrift shop in Fredericton with the intention to wear to my dear friend Leisa's wedding 7 years ago...she initially had mentioned she wanted her guests to be in black and white and I would never wear black to a wedding, ideas changed, no dress code was asked so I wore a very summer dress in orange in its place. Still in the dry cleaner bag, as i was ready to go, oh and I mention that when I bought it had a price tag of $235, I paid about $3. Such awesome memories and who knows I may wear it yet.

Then you have that item along with the black dress that should be in every closet, the black suit, well for me this is one of the few items that I have worn too much in the last year...now deemed "The Funeral" suit, I wore this twice this past year, first when my birth mother died last January and then just a few months ago in October when my best friend Deanna passed. Also in January of 2010 when my friend Karen passed. This is one outfit, that I truly hope will be added to the list of "not been worn for a year"!

Hence, my creative production is at a snail's pace:

This is my studio, how can anyone work in here? Answer, they can't. How one might ask can a creative space get to this level of disarray...simple put .... end of the selling season, getting ready for the holidays and making my family room presentable for a change. Yes, normally my trunk is full with product, props and everything else required for 1 to 3 days worth the selling....when the season is over it comes inside. Then you have all of the stuff people drop off at my doorstep that I do not deal with right away, my stops for the perfect display items at yard sales, notice the crib. Then my addiction to re purposing and a love for fabric, not to mention that I have been a paper crafter for more than 8 years....oh and did I mention that this room is only 9x13 and on the 3rd floor so it has eaves on both sides. It is my goal, to get it back to normal....I have put 8 hours into since this picture...progress is slow, but I gave away 100 magazines today and cut all those shirts yesterday.

Oh, did I forget to mention, that the supplies, etc., starts before you even get to the doorway... Stay tuned for updates on my progress to getting my studio in order.....many more hours left to work.....I can dedicate all my free time, as I still love to be creative, meet for coffee (Coke), read a magazine, drive to school, cook meals and clean the other 12+ rooms/spaces in my house. All in the day of the average creator.

1st Day of 2nd Semester

Today Jeevan went back to school, second semester of Preschool and could not have wanted to be there anymore than he did. He woke up, before my alarm, to inform to get up, it's school today. Continued to rush me while asking me "need clothes for my cubbies, need boots and jacket, need snack bag", as if I did not know all of this. Followed by, "Me done, me ready, I need help, lets go" Luckily he slowed down enough for a picture. Arrive at school, "Let me out", huge smile and high-five for Mr. Jeff. Then a change! The cubbies have been moved, who knew this would garnish so much conversation for 3 and 4 yr olds....big thing in their little worlds and the excitement of finding their cubbies again! He rushed to put things in and then off to wash his hands....interesting how for 2+ weeks he needed me for everything, but now he was leading....then off to the classroom, no bye Mommy, not even a backwards glance to see if I was still there. What to do with my time...the idea was to work more on reorganizing my craft studio....
Well, I worked and worked and then realized that one of the shelves was just being used effectively to this is what I really did, I cut the arms and collars off of dress shirts and cut the rest into panels. The collars are for my friend Sylvia, the panels will be monsters and maybe a skirt or two, and the arms will be bags. I make the bags, but although people always comment favourably, they don't sell well so I think I will make these 40 into bags for my own product, wouldn't you love a cloth recycled bag for your Doll or Monster. Oh and when I picked up Jeevan, first thing he asked "my teddy bear done", um, I replied, I was busy...very long face....but then went on to tell me all about how much fun he had with his friends.... really need to make the Teddy Bear, he spotted it in a magazine Friday night at craft night and again last night when we were camping out and spotted the magazine...I put it off...he knows his Mommy is Crafty!