Tinker's Gallery

today...

So today I woke up to find this on the chalkboard in our kitchen...

Apparently it was Wyatt's idea to add the word 'dear' - so sweet.
So yes, today is my birthday. My thirty-seventh birthday. I have been reluctant (for some strange reason) to turn 37 but now that it's here I'm embracing it. I like the fact that 3+7=10, strange mind games I'm playing with myself but it's working. I don't normally care about numbers but 37 has taken a little adjusting to.
Anyway... it has been a lovely day... full of love and hugs and birthday wishes. Paul and I went out for a fabulous little lunch after we dropped Hannah and Wyatt off to school. So nice to just sit and eat and talk - it felt like a 'date' - it felt good. After lunch we went to a little shop that I like and Paul picked this up for me...

I have wanted a Buddha for quite some time so finding this one today seemed serendipitous or perhaps, on a more zen-level, I was destined to find this particular 'young Buddha' today. He is lovely. He is a treasure.

Tonight we'll have a simple dinner, cake and perhaps a few visitors.
Feeling blessed on my birthday.

pieces of me...

Spent most of yesterday tidying my 'studio'. Sounds like I really know what I'm doing, like some major art happens here - really, it's just a space for me to 'tinker' in. It's home to my craft things... papers, paints, stamps, punches, fabric, patterns, magazines and books of inspiration. This room has a tendency to get out of control with my 'stuff' and the stuff that gets stuck in some type of holding pattern - not sure where to put it? throw it in the studio and we'll figure it out later! At Christmas and H&W's birthday it gets especially messy with ribbons, wrapping paper, gifts etc.. But, all that is going to change - I'm ready to claim this room as my STUDIO and make it a space about creating and growing - a space that fills me up!

Here is a shot of my bulletin board today. Lots of little pieces of me here - some of the things mean something big and tug at my heart and others simply inspire me with their colour and style. Some things remind me of where I've been and some of where I want to go. I made the board myself - just lots (and lots!) of wine corks hot glued to an old board. Don't worry... I didn't drink all the wine myself - most of the corks were 'donated' to me from wine-loving friends and family members who knew about my project. Although, I do love a little (wink!) wine here and there!!

And here's a close up of a couple of my favourite things... a tiny card that Paul gave me with flowers just because (love getting flowers 'just because') and an early photo of my little ones...

The photo of Hannah and Wyatt was taken in July 2003. The photo session was a gift from our fabulous friends Cindy and Stephen when H&W were born. Such a treasure to have professional photos of their chubby cuteness!

You can also see a bit of an Ikea closet ad in the photo above which brings me to my next project...
'operation closet over-haul'!! Hope it turns out worthy of photos. Wish me luck!

in search of creative inspiration etc.

Just wanting to post about what's up around here. Took a week off blogging - just a lot of errand running and regular life preventing me from documenting things here. Also, didn't feel like I had all that much to report. Trying to find some inspiration to get things off the ground again and get into doing something creative every week. Funny how 'life' can get in the way of creativity and before I know it I feel bogged down and uninspired. This feeling usually means that I need a new project and not just a little crafty-thing... something kind of big... something like a closet make-over or a bathroom over-haul. I need something to look at everyday and see that it has changed. I'm just visual like that.

Today has been a tired day with both Hannah and Wyatt home with colds/flu. Nothing major (knock-on-wood) but sleep was not something that I experienced much of last night. I should have known... remind me never to say 'I don't want to jinx us but...' - that one totally backfired on me. I said it in response to how well Wyatt was sleeping when I headed off to bed. I thought that he would have been the challenging one (coughing etc.) but instead my 'healthy' girl spent most of the night with me feeling feverish, nauseous, restless and thirsty. No fun for either of us but we managed. Crossing my fingers that they are on the mend now.

And now a photo of more of my favourite cookbooks just because I LOVE cookbooks! I think I get it from my Dad - he has a wonderful (ever-growing) collection of cookbooks.

So now I'm off to prep some dinner - just in time to watch Giada - love how I time that??!! Having a little tv in the kitchen has been wonderful for me!! Lovin' the foodnetwork.
And tonight... ironing Paul's shirts while I watch my favourite (Canadian) design show.

And... can't forget this...

Thinking about... getting ready for Hannah and Wyatt's 5th birthday (gifts, goodies, cakes, fun!)
Thankful for... meeting great blog friends
Totally loving... beachy colours (greens and blues and sands)
Motivated to... organize, paint and get ready for spring!

Happy Tuesday!!

the new year...

So today we celebrated the first day of 2008 and our dog Asha's 7th birthday. Kind of a quiet day - we were all a little tired - celebrating the holidays has a way of wearing you down a bit. We did manage to watch a great hockey game between the Pittsburg Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres. It was the 'Winter Classic' and took place outside in the cold and snowy weather of the north. Fun to watch (from the warmth of our home!). We love the Sabres and Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are always a thrill. We had some life-size Crosby posters so today was a great day to surprise the kids with them. We hung them on the backs of their doors - even Hannah was totally into it.

It occured to me last night that 2008 will be big for our little family... my twins will turn 5 and my marriage will 'turn' 10!! And in between those events I will turn 37 - not a huge birthday but oddly enough 37 makes me a little uneasy. Never been phased by my age before but for some reason I'm not embracing 37 yet.

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions - but I do like starting fresh with things and the new year is a good time to start (although I can usually manage to 'turn over a new leaf' on any given day - especially Monday - if I'm feeling like something needs changing!!). I'm not planning on making any major changes but I do want to 'tweak' things a bit... I want to be more aware, more focused on what we eat and how much exercise we get... want to get more sleep, have more people over, have more laughs, more dates with Paul, more outings with girlfriends and more creative time. I want to listen to more music, watch less television and read more. I want to cook and bake more. Ok, I guess I want a lot!!

I have been thinking of my 'one little word' for 2008 (an Ali Edwards inspired activity) and I came up with SOUL. My word last year was BALANCE and it served me well - balance will always be a go-to word for me - so key to living well. But, this year I am going to try to focus on SOUL. Yes, SOUL. I want to live with more soul - everyday!! I want to savour, to do, to feel, to encourage, to comfort. I want a fun and soulful home and a life that is uplifting and empowering for me, my husband, my kids and my friends and family. I want to soak it all in and send it back out. I want to be good to others (even those I don't know) and to the environment. I want to find solutions and not problems. I want to move forward. I want to feel at peace. I want to be a good soul.

I'm sure I've rambled on, maybe it's the post-holiday-fatigue setting in, but I have come to know that life is short and on my one trip around here I want to make it count. Sometimes it's hard to feel whole when you are a stay-at-home Mom in an often flashy world - nothing too fancy about what I do - but there is beauty in that and I want to savour it.

So, today there is no photo... there are not bells and whistles... just a girl with some thoughts on living a better life.

When I started with this post it was January 1st and since I have carried on past mid-night I now realize that it is January 2nd - and today would be my Grandma's birthday. So cool to think of her now as I write about bettering my life and bringing in more soul. Grandma had a beautiful soul - she was a good, good soul. Love you, Ma.

books I'm lovin'

I am really loving these two books! What can I say... I'm a book girl (and a magazine girl - love the visual and tactile thing about books and magazines). I have a really hard time parting with a book and even a magazine. But that is beside the point... the point is that these books are fun!

Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld ... came at just the right time... wanting to make healthier meals for all of us and not feel like we're being bombarded with veggies. Loving that I get to rev up the food processor and puree my little heart out. Love that the ingredients and meals are pretty standard - nothing too funky. So far I have tried three of the recipes and had the most success with the 'Sloppy Joes' - especially with Hannah - she giggles at the name and loves the taste. Can't wait to try the dessert recipes.

Life Artist by Ali Edwards ... can't say enough good things about this one ... I pre-ordered it in August and have been anxious to get it ever since. It finally came last week and I was pretty thrilled to see it. It is a must-have if you like creating art and capturing life's little (and big) moments. Love the way Ali encourages you to 'be awake', to let go of the quest for perfection and just 'be real' and 'share your story'. Love the idea of letting loose and not being afraid to experiment and grow. Great, great book - just the push I need to get creating.

So, here I am...

Part of me is surprised that I am doing this - blogging, that is - but you know what... that's the point! I'm thinking it's time to try something new, to put it out there and push myself in new directions and see what happens. I also want to document the everyday and cherish our little life.
I debated about when to officially start the blog and delayed and delayed thinking that I had to have it just right before I launched it off into the universe but today I realized that it was time to let go and 'embrace imperfection'. So what if I don't have my own fabulous banner, photo albums and lots of links - I'm starting. It might be humble and digitally lacking but I will learn and I and this little blog will grow.

I have 4 women in mind as I start this... 4 women who have influenced me and guided me...
1. My Mom - who taught me how great it is to have a loving, creative and fun home... who always makes me feel loved, safe, smart, pretty and capable of doing anything. She has shown me how to be strong and kind at the same time.
2. My Non (my Mom's mom) - wonderfully warm and loving - she shared with me her love of art, baking and bringing soul to a home. We share the dream of opening a store - Non actually did and the store was called 'The Tinker's Gallery' - the sign hangs in my studio (it was painted by my Uncle Michael) - love having it in my creative space. Non means all things comforting to me - she is the perfect mix of everything fabulous.
3. My Grandma Maves - the mother of 16 (yes 16!!) children - my Dad is the youngest. The ultimate domestic genius - a seamstress, chef, baker, nurse, gardener and crafter. She was loving and selfless - in early days she often struggled to make ends meet but was always first in line to help another family in need. When I feel like I can't do something I think of her and try harder.
4. Amy - my very dearest friend - She was a wonderful mix of ambitious career girl and creative homemaker (her desserts and chocolate chip cookies are legendary). Amy was always fun, loving, and encouraging - the kind of friend that everyone should be blessed with.

So, it's official... I am here.