Janamade This

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

I had ambitious plans to send out handmade valentines to all of the Littles in our acquaintance from Sonny, but alas, the day has arrived and I didn't even start them.

sigh.

Maybe next year.

Pretty

2012-02-01T17:32:00.001-08:00

We're having one of THOSE days around here.

But look at how pretty my camera takes pictures.
(don't judge me on my grammar today please)

Oh Pinterest

2012-01-30T14:19:00.001-08:00

I just added a button on the left if you want to check out my Pins.

Hey you might!

My Guys

2012-01-30T11:27:00.000-08:00

I love that they are making the same face!
Hello dimples.

NEED (okay fine WANT!)

2012-01-29T22:44:00.000-08:00

Was just perusing Ye Old Blog bookmarks and came across THIS amazing thing via Saving it for a Rainy Day

Aaaand I just tracked down the product website HERE

I have done this, I've got some mason jars with handles that I've taken to the coffee shop and it's great, EXCEPT for the having to stop walking in order to drink your beverage moments.

Gads! I might have to order one of these! They are only $7.99!

Except that I am being VERY GOOD and sticking to my goal of Thoughtful Spending
(It's that thing, where I am only going to buy things that I have been thinking about for AGES, so clearly it's something that I am going to use/love for a long time)

Also thrifting is okay.

(Yellow cardigan, come to me!)

I should be sleeping right now

2012-01-28T22:34:00.001-08:00

Everyone else is.

But it's 10:30 and I've got the house all quiet to myself.

Also I have discovered Pinterest. (I've known about it for a while, but I just signed up for an account last week. I KNEW it would be a time sucker and holy I was not wrong.)

butIloveit.

Good Grief I am spending WAAY too much time with this.
but it's so FUN!

blurg.

I'm turning the computer OFF now.

This is a cake!

2012-01-26T11:07:00.000-08:00

!!!

Found it HERE!

snow day

2012-01-25T19:46:00.000-08:00

We got 2 days of snow here and took Sonny out for a walk during a sunny break.
Which, of course, right in the middle, turned into a blizzard.

He was a good sport though and we all bundled up warm when we got home.

9 months

2012-01-23T21:36:00.000-08:00

I still remember the Friday afternoon that we found out we were pregnant.

We were up in Mill Bay getting groceries and Geoff had been joking that I was pregnant, and I kept denying it.

Geoff told me he KNEW I was pregnant when we walked by some canned protein (neither of us remember what it was exactly, but I don't often go in for canned meat!) and said I wanted it.

I suspected I might be when I walked past the display of nectarines and NEEDED them.

So I said I would pick up a stick and pee on it and then we'd see.

Oh did we.

That little pink line popped up before I was even finished peeing on that stick. (too much? sorry!)

And then we met this TINY little creature who changed everything.

Who is 9 months old today.

Buddies

2012-01-20T20:23:00.000-08:00

Norman isn't quite as excited about Sonny's affections as he might have been a few years ago, but he is really sweet to him.

Even when Sonny is grabbing handfuls of Norman's skin and hoisting himself up by said handfuls.

The most patient dog ever?

Quite possibly.

A VERY late happy new year to you

2012-01-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

Good grief.

One of my few goals for this year is LESS SCREEN TIME.

To be more present, especially since most of my time is now spent trailing after a VERY busy and curious little turd who for whatever reason LOVES THE FIREPLACE.

With a single mindedness and devotion that instills my heart with terror.
He burnt the tips of three little fingers the other night and has three little blisters to show for it.

Not cool Turd. Not cool.

He in fact was totally fine after a 20 second scream fest, which was followed by another 30 seconds or so of screaming while I held a freezing cold wet cloth on his little digits while he tried to wriggle away from it AND AT THE SAME TIME suck on it.
(I of course was crying too)

Naturally he's forgotten all about the dangers of the fireplace (our one source of heat is a gas fireplace in the living room) and is all about sitting as close to it as possible. Whenever he can.

YOU try reasoning with a 9 month old. Selfish little buggers.

"I just want to be COZY mama!" "I won't actually touch it OH NO WAIT I NEED TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH IT RIGHT NOW JUST TRY AND STOP ME!"

So my To Do for this week is to find a screen for the front of it so he can be cozy and I can keep some of my hair.

And I have been pretty good at the whole Less Screen Time thing.

You can tell, I know, from my lack of posting.
Like anyone is reading this besides our Moms! HA!

Happy Holidays

2011-12-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

When he's bigger

2011-12-22T11:09:00.000-08:00

Sonny is ABSOLUTELY going to need one of these.

I think a wolf is in order.

And what else is amazing about these Spirit Hoods is that for every one purchased, a percentage of the sale goes to support animal conservancy charities.

Check out the details on the website here... Spirithoodskids.com

Oh my God

2011-12-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

It's too late for Christmas, but Lordy this is SO CUTE!!

Check it out at My Sweet Muffin here

This kid.

2011-12-14T13:20:00.000-08:00

when I was 8 or 9

2011-12-11T21:49:00.001-08:00

I had a pair of black "leather" loafers that I wore CONSTANTLY. I say "leather" because I don't know if they were actually leather, but in my hyper romanticized memory they were very luxurious.

We were visiting some friends who lived far away and I managed to leave a single shoe behind.

I have not worn a loafer since.

This photo however has be hankering for those loafers of yore.

found via Oh Pioneer

Covets!

2011-12-11T21:26:00.000-08:00

I am totally loving these custom constellation pendants from BethCyr over on etsy.

I can picture it on a long 22" chain with vnecks and big earrings!
I'd get Sonny's birth sign (the little bugger is a Taurus through and through!)

dreamy!

Little things

2011-12-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

I came home to this last week.

xox

Ridiculous

2011-12-03T20:34:00.000-08:00

He's sleeping in his crib right now.

By himself.

This is a big deal as this is only the 4th time he's EVER done it.
(I started some really mild sleep training with him yesterday, and so far it's not too bad. I sit in the room with him until he falls asleep and it's only taken 15 minutes at the most...so far. Tonight he just slept! ???)

Naps are happening in there now too.

This could be a game changer.

He was a Lumberjack for Halloween this year and this was him trying on his beard.

New Bangles!

2011-12-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

The Sunday Studio is still going strong. I am SO grateful to be able to get some work done on a semi regular basis (productivity all depends on Sonny's mood that day, my poor mother!)

I've been spending most of my time filling orders but I did get a chance to try up this new bangle design.

I'm kind of in love with it.
Can I be in love with something that I made myself? Is that too narcissistic?

I am not sure about that, but I want one.

But I will be VERY GOOD and not keep this one. I've got some left over bits from the run that I did that I'll make myself a weirdo out of.

Next weekend, December 10th (sweet jesus) I'll be selling at Trapper Jane's Studio Sale and I'll have this bangle plus these three samples!

If you are in Victoria, you should come by, there are going to be A LOT of great local talents and some pretty AMAZING hand made goodies on offer!

2-8pm 1422 Pembroke Street
Saturday Dec. 10

xox

New boots!

2011-12-02T21:40:00.000-08:00

I got these a couple of weeks ago and I LOOOOVE them.

Love.

(mine are brown)

image from Clarks Canada

AMAZING tattoo

2011-12-01T08:45:00.000-08:00

Found via Cup of Joe

(I kind of wish I had thought of this!)

"I am the hero of this story
I don't need to be saved"

I am certain that one day I will talk about stuff BESIDES this kid

2011-11-10T09:27:00.000-08:00

(I will tell you that he doesn't always look like a hipster)

But not today I am afraid.

He's asleep in bed right now. OUR bed, not his bed. He has in fact NEVER slept in his bed. The lovely bed that I HAD to get from Ikea months before he was born that he has spent all of three hours in total. SERIOUSLY.

He's teething. Two vicious little teeth that drive him (and me) crazy, make him nurse every hour (no joke) and stuff every single thing he can get his hands on into his mouth to rub and pull against those nasty sharp little teeth.

And I fear that crawling is not far away.

Like all he has to do is coordinate ONE MORE MOVE and he's moving. Everywhere. Faster than you think a tiny human could actually go. So fast.

He's not even 7 months old yet!

The Boss is asleep

2011-10-24T20:49:00.000-07:00

So I get to pop onto the computer for a moment....

breathe in

breathe out

casually (but with a slightly maniacal bent, because I don't really know how LONG I'll be able to "relax" right now. oy) perusing my bookmarked blogs, finding amazing inspiration in little things here and there.

Thinking about tattoos (for my Sonny) and skinny jeans (for me, to snug into my favorite boots now that I have FINALLY had the heels fixed!) and commemorative jewellery.

Like, I have designed a little something that I want. For Me.

But it got me thinking that maybe someone else might like one too.
(such a tease I know)

(I'll take pictures once I've made it, if it works)

And you can let me know if you need one too.

Also, new bangles are being sampled in the Sunday Studio, and I'm pretty excited about these.

So. No pictures to look at, but some words to read and things to think about. For me mostly.

And now I'm going to clean up dinner so I can wake up to a clean kitchen tomorrow.

Little pleasures!
xox

These guys

2011-10-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

Every morning when these guys first see each other, Sonny will reach for Norman with his big smiley mouth open and Norman will promptly lick all over Sonny's face and in his mouth.

I think it's completely disgusting, but they love it.

MmmHmmm.

2011-10-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

Thanks to ThatKindOfWoman for this one.

FOX FAIR!!!!

2011-09-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gents! I am back in action! Yes. YES!! Pops and I moved all my bench stuff to my Mom and Dad's garage the weekend before last, and LAST WEEKEND I made stuff!

some of THESE in fact!

OCTOBER FIRST!!!

(this weekend I am working on "GOLD" versions of the Bird Bangles.)

that's right.

I said "GOLD". (brass)

I can definitely make actual gold bangles, but with the price of gold these days we'd be looking at a $400 bangle. (I'm just guessing on that number, I'll calculate the cost out for reals if you want one, just email me and let me know)
whereas making them out of brass, it will look like gold but cost like silver!
AFFORDABLE LUXURY!

must go change a diaper now!
xox

Mama got a new phone last week

2011-09-12T08:37:00.001-07:00

and I can take pictures on it.

Red flats!

2011-09-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

Sonny is napping, I've eaten some food, and I am taking a small breather to myself now to catch my breath.

There were a few moments earlier when I thought I might lose it.

Fussy dog plus fussy baby plus hungry Mama is a recipe for disaster.
Just for the record.

inhale...

exhale...

I love red flats.

I actually love everything about this picture. (found on IamAgreedyGirl)

I am going to stretch now, get these shoulders away from my ears.

Covets (for Sonny)

2011-09-05T21:12:00.001-07:00

Jenna Rose Ships Bucket

I am picturing this in the living room, corralling all of the weird baby toys we've managed to collect.

Okay, I guess they are not so weird, but they are all small, floppy, crinkly or squeaky and I like the idea of them all in one place, easy to grab, and not lining every single window sill in the house.

Because that's mostly where they are living now. When they are not being ferociously chewed on.

Look how beautiful this is!

Available here

You should consider checking out Jenna Rose's Blog. Here.

It's lovely.

She inspires me to draw more.

New glasses!

2011-08-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

My sister got me new lenses for the hilarious vintage frames that I scored on Ebay ages ago for my birthday.

I have no defense for my silliness. I can't take a picture without looking goofy, and I have a baby. So there is ZERO time for any sort of beauty routine if I want to get anything else done. Ever it seems.

He's stirring in the swing as I write this! Must dash!

(although now that I am posting these to the internet I realize that maybe I could sneak 5 minutes somewhere to throw on some eyeliner or something. And I am still thinking that bangs are going to have to happen in the Fall. I am ridiculous)

4 months??

2011-08-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

I am a lazy blogger. (I started this post a MONTH ago and am only now getting to finish it!)

But a busy mom. It is still so bizarre that I am this kids mother. I always knew that I would have children. Even when I was a little girl it was on my list of things to do.

I remember being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up when I was about 6 years old, and my response was simply "a mum. Or a teacher"

And it's been such a simple transition, like he's always been here. We definitely have our moments. And I am grateful to have Geoff (who is incredible by the way, a wonderful dad) and our amazing family who all love this sweet boy.

We don't really have any real routine. He sets the pace and I simply follow it as best as I can.

I have left the house without him twice now. Once to go into town for the last day of the Floating Gold Iceberg's boutique, to support my lovely friend Angie.

And again a month ago (this used to say yesterday), when I went to the salon, and got my haircut. It was so nice to not feel rushed, pleading to the Universe to let me get through this small chunk of Me Time without him screaming. Because he was at home with his Dad and I could relax for a whole hour.

Lovely!

For reals on Saturday it was my birthday. We had some really lovely friends visiting us with their Littles, the littlest being only one month older than Sonny. And I have to say that it was the best weekend of the summer.

Really.

The weather was incredible, everyone was feeling good, and I think my entire family was around me for the afternoon.

No pictures from this past weekend (I didn't take a single picture!) But here are some of Sonny through his first three months.

These didn't load up in order but you get how cute he is!

Animals of High Moral Standing

2011-08-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with this!

You can find both prints here

Discovered by the always delightful Creature Comforts

8 weeks old

2011-06-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

I I though that time was racing by me before, I had NO IDEA what that really meant.
Sonny is the BEST BABY. Really. Even when he is screaming his nasty little face off and refuses to be put down, he's the best.
But right now, particularly, he's great.

He's asleep. In the swing. And I am eating breakfast BY MYSELF.

This is a joy formerly unknown to me, the eating by one's self.
The showering by one's self.

I still haven't experienced the sleeping by one's self since he arrived, but that's okay, because right now, we sleep at night with just a couple interruptions to nurse that sometimes don't even wake us both up.

Best baby ever.

snippets of time

2011-05-27T12:31:00.001-07:00

are all I get these days.

I am in no way complaining. In fact I am completely in AWE of the Mums out there who can keep up a regular blog schedule with a newborn. Really I am.

Because I can get just enough time to maybe brush my teeth, or make myself a little bit of food that I have to INHALE before this sweet boy get's tired of hanging out somewhere that isn't in my arms.

But I know that it won't last, so I will not complain about it and soak up as much of this cuddle time as I can.

Because I feel like he's going to be a firecracker in no time and I will soon be missing these days of rocking in the recliner in the living room with the Food Network on TV in the background and the Dog bundled up on the couch and this amazing little man snuggled up in my lap.

(Also, I just have to say that he's got the BEST hair right now. He's totally bald on top and he's got slightly gingery Old Man hair on the sides and back. AMAZING. A friend today described him as looking like a tiny Patrick Stewart.)

Jazz hands

2011-05-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting feeding Mr. Ali, his little hand is cool against my skin because he refuses to let us swaddle his arms, so he's always flinging his hands into his own face, startling himself.

But right now he's content to just sit for a moment with a boob in his face, mostly asleep, occasionally suckling like a little piglet.

(we took this picture just before we left the hospital, he's so different already!)

A little radio silence

2011-05-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

due to this little guy!

Our Son, Aldous Glen Francis.
Born 2 weeks ago, 5 lbs 8 oz, after a SUPER fast labor.
It was actually really scary for a little while, in the hospital (I'll go into more depth soon, but it all turned out great, he's healthy and perfect, and really, that's all I care about)

But he's starting to squirm so I've got to dash.

All I'll say is Overwhelming LOVE.

I had no real idea until he was placed in my arms just how much love one person could evoke.

But boy, does he.

The Bump! Part 6

2011-04-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

39 weeks!

We're pretty much just waiting for our boy to make his appearance, At Any Moment now.
Still feeling fine, starting to get a bit stressed but I'm trying to hold my shit together and not become a maniac.

I make no promises though.

(that scarf is actually a swaddling blanket. It's so soft and beautiful! Got to love multitasking baby products!)

Love this

2011-04-18T19:48:00.001-07:00

discovered via TheInspiredWoman.

The Bump! Part 5

2011-04-18T07:54:00.001-07:00

These shots are all from 37 weeks. (2 weeks ago)

I have managed to avoid maternity wear for the most part, yes I have probably stretched out a couple of perfectly good shirts, and my leggings have DEFINITELY seen better days (like they are going to have to get trashed as soon as I can afford new ones!) but all in all I have been able to makeshift my regular clothes into outfits that accomodate Sonny's little belly.

And it is pretty little. I still get snooty/angry looks from ladies who were bigger than me when they were pregnant, but I am not staying small on purpose! I am eating really well (read A LOT) and I am also measuring exactly where we should be at all of our midwife visits, so I am not going to stress it. As long as Sonny is healthy there is nothing to worry about, and so far so good.

These last pictures are all from 38 weeks.

Yes that is a Star Wars tshirt.

That I love.

And those jeans? Just regular jeans that I wore undone with a belt! No belly band or anything, just a long shirt over top of my totally undone pants.

Classy dame.

I will admit that I can't do that anymore, Sonny's sitting low enough now that I am strictly wearing stretchy pants, but it was nice to wear jeans while I could.

I think that's one of the things that I am most looking forward to when we're not preggers anymore. JEANS.

Well. Considering our Due Date is a whopping 7 DAYS AWAY, I shouldn't have to wait too much longer.

Holy Shit.

His Room

2011-04-16T17:03:00.000-07:00

Sonny's room is coming along nicely now. This morning I spent some time in there, we put up a world map, a Buffy Musical poster and I scraped a lot of paint off of our freshly painted bookshelf (sorry Mom!) just putting the shelves back on.

Here are some of the "during"pictures I took last weekend.

It feels REALLY WEIRD that we're only 10 days away from our due date now, or is that 9?
It's soon anyway.

Really Soon.

For Sarah

2011-04-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

I FINALLY uploaded the latest pictures from the camera like a good girl!

Here it is, in all it's slightly wrinkled, well loved glory. The Finished Couch Cushions.

It's never exposed like this. I had to wrangle the dog and three blankets off of it just so that I could attempt to smooth it out and make it look tidy, and as soon as I got this SINGLE photo snapped, Norman was right back up there waiting impatiently for me to cover him back up with all three blankets.

We're going to have to be really careful that we don't lose Sonny in there until he's big enough to hold his own. It's like a wormhole to another dimension those blankets.

A cozy one, but still.

The Noonie and an update

2011-04-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

Since we're so close to the end now (this weekend marks out 39th week, of being pregnant, for 39 weeks. SO WEIRD) our midwives are keeping a close eye on us. We're going in weekly now and we've had our fabulous Doula come by our house for a home visit too.

Did you know we were planning to do this at home?

Well we are.

About three weeks ago Sonny flipped his little self around and is now facing posterior, which means Back Labour.

The little stinker had been in the right position for MONTHS until then.

So today we had our first of three chiropractor visits to try to shift him around.

No cracking, just some nice mellow muscle adjustments and some lovely energy work to encourage the little bugger to roll back over.

We also spent the day running house errands and thrifting for all of the linens we need for our Home Birth Bin (read, large tupperware full of stuff to have ready, towels, oils, etc) among other things.

Nursing bras are depressing. I'm just saying.

ANYWAY.

I STILL haven't uploaded anything from the camera, even though I've been taking pictures, but I did come across this today, an item on etsy that I'd favorited MONTHS before we even got pregnant.

The NOONIE!

How insanely cute is this thing?

The answer you are looking for is Super Insanely.

Check out the shop here.

I am really loving all those chubby cheeks!

xox

How to Be a Good Post Partum Visitor

2011-04-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

I read this today over on Dear Baby and thought it was a great little article to share.
I have even considered just not telling anyone when Sonny arrives because I have no interest in hosting a house full of people with a day old baby.

Who in their right mind would I ask you??

Is that selfish? I don't think so. I would never presume to invite myself over to someone's home immediately after they'd had a baby. I offer support absolutely and if they want a meal or some cleaning or whatever, I am totally there. But I always wait until they are ready and INVITE ME.

That being said, we are so crazy lucky to have all of our super supportive family in the same city as us and a whole slew of incredible friends who have already offered support and baby clothes and gear that we wouldn't have been able to afford on our own.

And if you want to come over to see Sonny, please do. Just arrange before hand so that I know you're coming so I can put a bra on. Maybe brush my teeth. Find a shirt without barf or poop on it.

And make your own tea.

The Bump! Part 4 (36 weeks)

2011-04-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

So did you all know that I am a glamorous MODEL now??

(that can not make a straight face for a photo. Ever)

Well it's true.

My wonderful Friend Angie (of Floating Gold Iceberg fame) had me model some of FGI's great maternity friendly wares 2 weekends ago for the Spring line and let me tell you, this stuff is AWESOME.

I love love LOVE that Belle Epoch Dress (the black one above) it is I SWEAR the comfiest thing ever. And it looks smoking hot on non preggo ladies also.

(you'll have to pop over to the FGI blog to check out more pictures of ME as well as catching a glimpse of the Lovely Miss Lizz rocking the same clothes (in all of her non preggo sveltness.)

Sonny is pretty much fully cooked at this point, as in we could basically give birth any day now, which makes me feel like barfing a little bit. (We're sitting pretty at 38 weeks right now)
I am super excited to meet him, don't get me wrong, but the sooner he gets here the sooner I have the grow the F up and be a PARENT.

Wha?

But it's okay, because so does Geoff. And the more I think about it, the more I know that he is going to be the Best Dad Ever. He's already pretty damn great, but I have a feeling that Sonny is going to make him even better, and they are going to be the best team you've ever seen.

I am going to be dealing with a lot of naked boys, sweatpants and video games, but I will also have the sweetest, funniest, most loving troupe of weirdos anyone could ask for.

Pretty damn lucky if you ask me.

I love this outfit

2011-04-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

The whole thing.

Her hair, those glasses, that blouse, that belt.

sigh.

Love all of it.

(found it here at bklynstitch)

Sweet local GIVEAWAY!

2011-04-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

Yes that's RIGHT my lovelies (imagine that I have flying monkeys) my sweet Friend Danielle is hosting a give away on her blog!

Her adorable Girl just turned two (!) and she's hosting a BoPeep Baby give away over there.
Get yourselves over there asap before you miss out on the cuteness!

(that top photo is actually from the party, how insanely cute is that bunting??!)

I have entered already.

xox

Cinnamon Sugar pull apart bread

2011-04-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this?

We are trying to not eat sweets, but this, THIS is calling my name.

(recipe here)

Joy the Baker, she could be my new, bad place to spend time.

The Daily Countdown has begun

2011-04-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

So it's April 1st today, and this is in no way a joke.

We're 25 days away from our due date.

There is a seemingly endless list of THINGS that I want to do before our Sonny get's here.

In no particular order...

*finish his room
-this entails painting, assembling his crib, decorating and sewing projects

*a freezer bake
-I can't reasonably expect our lovely friends and family to accomodate all of our food restrictions so I have a few recipes that I want to prep and freeze so we've got a couple of weeks of dinners at least covered.

*paint the living room
-this has been on my list for AGES and I just haven't had the chance to get around to it. But I am hoping that after we get his room done and I've got a couple weeks of mat leave before he gets here (hopefully) that I can sneak a day of painting in there and get it done. It's only three walls and it shouldn't take me that long, but I know that once he gets here it ain't happening.

*Baby Crafts
-these are purely optional, but things that I WANT to do, like a mobile for his room, prepping up an old thrifted sheet set into wipes, little things that I have wanted to do since we found out he was coming but that I couldn't justify doing until I had packed up the studio. We'll just see how this list comes together!

I am sure there are a lot more things on this list than I can think of right now too.

sigh.

Recycled Birdies

2011-03-26T12:25:00.000-07:00

I started making these little guys a little while ago and naturally have taken FOREVER to get photos of them.

Scraps turned into little sweethearts.

I've got a couple more of these that I will (eventually, hopefully soon) post into the shop.
I've got a whole slew of jewellery that I intend to pop in there, and as soon as I'm on Mat leave (two weeks!) I'll get around to it I am sure.

Last Custom Woozy and some Bangles!

2011-03-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Now that we're getting really close to our due date (4 weeks, are you kidding me??) I have basically TODAY to finish the last two things on my bench.
So because I am a MASTER PROCRASTINATOR I am blogging about the last few things I've finished in the studio instead.

Healthy.

I met a lovely woman a few months back who knows the other lovely woman that I did the previous custom Woozy set for (Remember these?)
She had a pretty clear idea in her head of what she wanted, and she also had some stones that she wanted to use from her mother, so this is what we made for her...

I am really happy with how it turned out and she was too!
xox

ALSO here are some pictures of the bangles that I was going to pop into the shop, but they've all sold already! (A couple went to trades that I am pretty excited about too!)

So once I get the studio up an running again (in the Fall I am hoping) I'll be making more of these.

SO now it's 9 am, I've eaten breakfast and am dressed. I have no excuse now but to WORK and get those last 2 items done. I've got to head into town this afternoon too so time is already of the essence!

But my plan is to treat myself to a mini thrift trip (hoping to score a ring sling and a mustard coloured cardigan, maybe a basket or two - nesting!- as a reward for getting the jewellery finished.) Pops is coming to help Geoff move the studio gear out of Sonny's room this weekend so I actually have to be out of there by tonight.

So here we go!

Ikea part 3!

2011-03-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

While we were eating our plate of pickles on the ferry ride back from Ikea, we realized that we had managed to steal THREE PENCILS!

Gasp!

Sister as Twilight Vampire (Ikea part 2)

2011-03-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

There is a poster on the ferry that we took to Ikea on our trip that is basically a Twilight backdrop.

(if I had photoshop on the new computer I would have made her sparkly!)

IKEA!!

2011-03-16T09:49:00.000-07:00

A few weekends back my Mom, my sister and I took the Ikea bus over to the mainland for a pre-Sonny shop.

Oh yes we did.

We happened to be there for MeatBall Madness and good lord they weren't kidding when they warned us before we got off the bus that the restaurant was going to be busy.

It was lined up like this ALL DAY so we didn't get to eat there.
(I had packed a selection of snacks however so we weren't entirely bereft. Also Kristy got us all a frozen yogurt while we waited in line so my cravings were satisfied!)

I went with the Gulliver Crib...

I was originally thinking of going for the simpler Sniglar, but once we got to manhandling them, the Gulliver seemed to hold up to a bit more throttling.

Here is Kristy trying out one of the crib mattresses we were deciding between.

I didn't actually get too many pictures inside of Ikea, we were surprisingly short on time once we got there, considering that a lot of our day was spent traveling to and from the mainland, we really only had about three hours once we got there.

That sounds like a lot, but Mom and Kristy are marathon shoppers and it takes us a good three hours just to get through the shoe section at Winners.

Seriously.

But a lovely day was had by all and I was able to sneak all my purchases in under my planned budget! I had been squirreling cash away for this trip for months so I felt pretty darn good about that.

On the ferry back home I got my customary gross Veggie burger and I asked for an extra pickle.

ONE EXTRA PICKLE.

This is what they handed me.

There were at least 12 pickle slices on that little plate.
I managed to eat maybe half of them but I just couldn't take anymore after a while.

How does that make sense? I actually asked the server if he was joking when he gave me that plate. All he said was "you have to take it".

So weird.

Bah weekend.

2011-03-13T20:47:00.000-07:00

I had every intention of being productive today. By productive I mean that I wanted to get the last two projects sitting on my bench that I HAVE TO FINISH before we make the studio/nursery switch done. At least one of them.

But nope.

I DID however get 4 loads of laundry, the bathroom cleaned (I even washed the walls for cripes sakes!) the kitchen cleaned (read: I did the dishes) and hung out with the dog for a while on top of a surprise visit from my lovely inlaws.

I am not being sarcastic either, my inlaws are really lovely. All of them.
(I'm not sure how I managed to deserve that Universe, but I will TAKE IT)

So when 6 pm rolled around and I had only managed to get one ring sized down but not cleaned up, and another (but not one that I HAVE TO FINISH!) one resoldered and smoothed out and I got That Feeling.

You know, That Feeling you get when you are about to LOSE IT and you don't want to cut through your finger or yell at the dog for getting up and stand in the doorway STARING at you for no apparent reason AGAIN. (Does your dog do that? It's like he knows the MOMENT I start to get productive and he's all, "Hey, You, let me outside." Or "Cover me with my Blanket bitch!" Or "I need some Legs STAT!"-this is his favorite place to be and kind of the only place where he'll chill the F out for any length of time, curled up in your legs, under blankets on the couch. Ridiculous. How am I supposed to get anything done??)

Anyway, I digress.

So I only got about an hour in the studio today. But I did do a lot of other house stuff. So while I wish that I had gotten into the studio before lunch, I am happy that we've got clean sheets and the bathroom doesn't look like a frat house bathroom anymore.

Little things.

Raspberry Baby Sling (For Sonny)

2011-03-13T11:21:00.001-07:00

I know that Sonny will be dictating a lot of what we do and how we do it, but this is the sling that I plan to use.
I haven't ordered it yet, just because I've been deliberating whether or not I should make my own, but with the time line edging ever closer I am thinking I will be less and less likely to do it. Although I am not sure yet, hence my not already ordering it!

I like that it's a neutral colour so that Geoff can wear Sonny too. Plus I am not a huge fan of all the swirly, flashy fabric that people like to use for baby gear.

Available through etsy here

We have family who have a couple of slings for us too, I know an Ergo is coming our way, but I still really love the simplicity of this. I've been told too, that while Mum likes one style sometimes Dad likes another, so we'll at least have options when the time comes!

In 6 weeks.

Oh. My. God.

Saturday Morning

2011-03-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

We're getting ourselves ready for Day 2 of Prenatal Classes (not sure why it's all in capitals but I feel like it's the Right Thing since they are an All Day Affair)

Just finished eating Soft Boiled Eggs and Soldiers (toast sticks) and we've got LOADS of snacks packed. Last weekend we ended up having a really lovely sushi lunch on our break, but it cost WAY more than we'd anticipated. So packed snacks today.

We are thrifty, frugal types.

Sonny is kicking me on the insides already, usually he saves this for later in the day, but perhaps he likes Eggs? Who knows! He's busy as I write this anyway.

We've hit our 34 week mark now, and everyday I feel a bit bigger. Our amazing Midwives have said that as long as he's in there until 37 weeks we're all good. So he's cooking for another 3 weeks at least.

Here's a little bit of Norman to get you through your day. This is what he'll be doing all day while we learn about Transition! Breastfeeding! And Post Partum!

Wee!
xo

The Bump! Part 3

2011-03-08T09:43:00.001-08:00

Things are progressing steadily. Yesterday I had swollen ankles for the first time that I noticed and they are still fat today.
Love that.

Geoff and I had our first of 2 all day prenatal classes on Saturday and while I haven't learned too much that I hadn't gleaned from all the books I've been reading, it was really nice to share it all with Geoff and to meet other preggers.

At the beginning of the class we all had to go around the room and introduce ourselves, and tell everyone what the best and worst things about being pregnant are.

I think I was the only one who wasn't all "ooh I just LOVE being pregnant, it's totally THE BEST." I said that I was really excited to start our little family (which I really am) and that Sonny is the best part of being pregnant, and that I was/am TOTALLY UNPREPARED for my own reactions to the freaky things happening to my body.

I don't think that they were expecting that. The instructor asked me What These Things Were, and I was all, I am not getting into that in front of all you strangers WHO TOTALLY KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT.

Nothing like making a great first impression.

31 weeks (I think)
I am pretty sure that I took all of these in the same week, but the purple skirt might have been worn the week before.

I can't remember.

32 Weeks
I picked up a few items at Joe (ohmygodIloveJoeFresh) last weekend to accommodate the growing belly and this stripey dress is awesome! Hilarious camouflage that somehow takes the horizontal stripes and makes them disguise the belly!
From the front.

33 weeks
I took these just this morning (my hair is still wet, I haven't even really finished getting dressed, but I knew that if I didn't just do it while I was thinking about it, I'd never upload these pictures! Just pretend that I am all done up accessories and all)

(I hope that you are appreciating the various states of tidy that our bedroom is in in all of these. I know that some of you are REELING from the non staged, laundry piled everywhere state of things. I can't be held responsible for keeping track of all of that crap right now. Don't you know I'm pregnant??)

:)

Bangs

2011-03-06T09:13:00.001-08:00

Can I just tell you how much I miss bangs?
I do. A lot.
I miss being able to wash my hair, fuss for all of 30 seconds and go.

I can't do that now, which is ironic because I grew out my bangs for LESS FUSSING.

But now I spend a lot of time trying to make my hair look right but mostly giving up and tying it all up in a lame weirdo bun on top of my head.

Not the sexy, tousled locks I was enjoying (or at least thought I was!) when I had bangs.

It's totally stupid, I know, to obsess over stuff like this. Trust me, I am aware of how ridiculous it is. But being pregnant has come with a WHOLE BAG of fun self conscious issues that I kind of wasn't prepared for and I am leaning towards my hair as a place of weird resentment as opposed to freaking out about my belly.

I don't want to get to a place where I resent Sonny for ANYTHING.
Not a healthy place to be.

Also not something that I have ANY control over (another weird thing for me, type A anyone?)

But I can freak out about my hair and get weird and have some sense of control over it.
At least I'd like to feel like I can have some control over it, even if it's just in my head.

So. Back to bangs.

I am going to book myself a haircut.
A sweet friend of mine wants to trade some jewellery for salon time and I can afford that. (Can't afford to pay for a haircut, but I can always trade!)
So as soon as she get's back from a trip, I am IN THERE.
(I am also really trying to not cut bangs myself. I have done this before, but with the way I am reacting to the littlest things these days, I don't want to run the risk of LOSING IT over not waiting. So I will be reasonable and wait and have a nice trip to the salon and have a great little pamper.)

(I found all of these pictures when I googled "Bangs"!)

sexy diaper bag

2011-03-05T08:23:00.001-08:00

Mat and Nat makes this pretty snazzy diaper bag that doesn't look like a diaper bag.
I kind of love it, but I can't justify the steep price tag.
(why is a canvas bag almost $200?)

*sigh*

It's pretty classy though.

Oh. My. God.

2011-02-28T20:49:00.000-08:00

This is so insanely AWESOME.

What???

Wow.

(I can't actually say anything else, just Wow. Please take a look at what else they have!)

kitchen fun

2011-02-26T17:34:00.000-08:00

One of the things that I love/loathe about gluten free cooking is the mess that I make when I mix my flour mix.

I don't remember "regular" wheat flour getting everywhere the way that the starches that I use in my GF mixes do.

(I had already made a cursory tidy when I shot this!)

Whatevs. The mix works like a charm for practically everything so I am not going to worry about it.

Just clean it up when I'm done!

This particular mess was in pursuit of a new recipe that I tried from Molly Wizenburg's A Homemade Life that was recommended to me from the lovely Danielle.

Dutch Babies!
Not to be mistaken for toddlers in clogs, these are BAKED PANCAKES!
What what??

(I remembered to get a picture halfway through eating it, but you get the idea)

I am thinking that it probably stays puffier with the standard all purpose flour that the recipe calls for (I literally just swap out my GF mix for any calls for all purpose flour, I am a lazy GF gourmet!)
And we have since made this recipe with cinnamon and sugar instead of the lemon and confectioners sugar that the original calls for, both are delicious!

I will also admit to trying to tweak the recipe to make an Elephant Ear/Lango creation this morning that was a hilarious disaster. So I'll follow the instructions the next time I make it!

OH! AND I made a half batch in muffin tins and made us Yorkshire Puddins the other night with a roast, and THEY turned out great! (minus the cinnamon and sugar/lemon or course!)

Sunny winter walks

2011-02-25T08:57:00.001-08:00

Seaweed! Beach!

Sail boat!

Early flowers! Otter trail!

Cool round house! Norman!

Poop on a rock! (defying the laws of gravity and physics! sort of)

xox

Nursery love

2011-02-23T21:45:00.000-08:00

How insanely cute would a globe lamp/nightlight be in Sonny's room??

The answer is clearly Super Awesome.

I would also accept Insanely Cute.

(image found here)

I could order one from here too but I am not willing to pay $100 for a lamp.

Sorry Sonny. You are going to have to make do. With reasonable things.

Covets! I how I covet.

2011-02-20T18:14:00.000-08:00

I have been loving adult tricycles for AGES and have been thinking about how great it would be to be able to get back into shape after Sonny by riding around on one.
I love my Beasty-clette, but she's a little too makeshifty to ride while pregnant, and she's been languishing in the carport for the last 7 months.

Poor girl, I should see if anyone else can give her a good home.

Anyway, I just now off handedly searched usedvictoria for adult tricycles and THIS CAME UP!

So amazing! Can I justify this right now? I feel like I should wait until Snny actually arrives to get a sense of what life will actually be like, but ohmygod it's so awesome!

Someone is going to scoop this up, and I will be super jealous.
(if I'm really lucky it (or something like it) will still be available in the spring.)

sigh!

Everyday Jewellery

2011-02-16T16:05:00.001-08:00

I have realized that I don't really wear any of my own jewellery right now.

I have stopped wearing my engagement ring, since Geoff gave me THIS RING for Christmas.

Do you remember when I posted how much I LOVED it last summer?
(I may never take it off, seriously, never. take. it. off) So I am thinking about resetting my engagement ring so I can wear it on my other hand. I couldn't decide between two designs when I originally made it, and I went with the style that I could wear with my wedding band (which I made to match Geoff's)
So I am thinking that I'll make the other design for my right hand and then I get BOTH.

It's hard being a jeweller sometimes.

ANYWAY. What I am getting at is that I am sharing the jewellery that I wear everyday.
Ahem...

So my rings. And this necklace...

My mom bought me the quartz pendant and chain for Christmas a couple years ago and the Seahorse was a gift to myself from this shop which I love love love.

Seahorses are one of my favorite animals (Geoff gave me one cast in resin for my birthday and a friend brought me one back from Disneyland -of all places!- when we were 12) and I bought this little sweetheart when I found out I was pregnant, I couldn't resist it after I read this.

"if the seahorse carries the souls of deceased sailors to the underworld ~ giving them safe passage and protection until they meet their soul’s destination ... why couldn't she carry us along on her back while we travel our own life's journey?

long believed a symbol of good luck and mythical significance, this intricate and diverse little creature is full of surprises

content to roam the seas with her ambling-type motion, this calm and mild-mannered creature is symbolic of patience and contentment ~ happy with being where she is, and in no hurry for advancement

the eyesight of these tiny ponies is incredibly sharp, with each eye moving independently. take this as a symbolic message of perception and awareness of those around us and of our own situations. when we are lost or confused, the seahorse asks us to take a good look around ~ not just with our physical eyes but with our spiritual eyes ...

one of the most unique aspects of the seahorse is that the male is impregnated by the female and carries the offspring to term. this is a message of sharing the load in the home, and of gaining perspective on both sides of any situation

so, clasp this beauty around your neck, and let her lead you where she may ~ in whatever direction you'd like the current to take you ..."

So amazing. All of her stuff is amazing too, you really should check it out.
(Here)

And last but not least, my bracelets and watch...

Both bracelets are samples that I made up and never took off, the chain doesn't even have anything on it! I just like the chain. And the bangle has since evolved into the Bird Bangles (to be posted soon, I promise) and Birch Bangles (again, pictures soon)
My watch was my Amma's. My mom had a new battery put in it for me for Christmas many years ago and I've worn it ever since. (although the poor thing has been living rough since moving onto my arm (I'm a grand gesturer and bash my arms about willy nilly ALL THE TIME) and it's starting to behave erratically. I might actually have to get a new watch soon. This gives me Sad Face)

I've had people ask me if I can show them my jewellery designs whenever they hear that I make jewellery, and I don't actually wear anything that I've made myself! (my wedding band doesn't count, it's so simple) so I have been thinking about changing that, when I remake my engagement ring I'll probably never take that off either, so that counts.

And I've got a little something swirling around in my brain, a treat for myself before I close up the studio next month. But I've got a few commissions that I have to finish first, so if I don't have time for this, then it will have to wait.

But I am liking where it's going.

In my brain.

The Bump! part 2

2011-02-15T07:58:00.001-08:00

Here are some more shots of Sonny incognito.

I think these are 27 weeks

This outfit here (red cardigan and plaid shirt) is a good camouflage ensemble. It doesn't look like I'm too big here. There are some clothes that just make it look bigger, and it freaks me out a bit. SO there are a lot of tunics and leggings in my immediate future.

28 weeks

I think I took this last one just last week so we're at 29 weeks here.

I am not very big yet, people still don't notice that I am pregnant if I am wearing my jacket and scarf, and sometimes even at work, depending on the outfit, it takes people a few minutes of staring to figure out what's going on! And I've had a couple of ladies who've already had babies telling me that they HATE me, because I guess they were a lot bigger at the same point. I'm not taking it too personally, I am happy to not be huge already, and frankly I am a little terrified of how much bigger he's/I'm going to get in the next couple of months.

Because I am sure that I'm going to "pop" soon, I have heard that this is a thing, and that I should expect it.

I should probably be posting these weekly, but I haven't managed to get myself organized enough for that lately. I will try though. Maybe Tuesdays will be Bump days? Who am I kidding?? I'll aim for weekly, but I can't commit to one day a week that it will actually happen! Even if I wanted to my schedule changes too much!

(literally as I typed that out Work called and I have to go in early!) Spooky.

The living room ReDo and The Couch

2011-02-14T20:16:00.000-08:00

I was reminded (quite politely by the lovely Miss Sarah H) on the weekend that I still hadn't shared the "after" of our couch project.

I still don't have any pictures of the "after". Geoff and the dog study there everyday and I haven't taken the time yet to tidy it all up and make it pretty to photograph.

But I will.

HERE however are some "during" shots of the Great Living Room Re-Arrange of 2011.

(can you see Norman in the blanket there? It's hard to see him, as he is the same colour as the giant dog blanket that he lives in. Poor bugger has been sat on more times than I can count)

These are the closest to "before" and "after" pictures that I have right now.

The side table that's under the window in this picture is now in Sonny's room (it opens up into storage, so it will be a good little work table/play spot/toy storage in there. He won't be using it like that for a while, but it didn't work in the living room AT ALL.)

And the second mattress that is under the couch is also gone now. Pops came and took it up to the lake for me.

AND the same weekend we did the re-arrange I also sewed covers for all the pillows and a back rest for the couch in the same gray. I'll get my act together and stage the crap out of that couch this week and give you a REAL "after" shot.

It's pretty nice when it's not draped with giant textbooks. (I am not kidding when I say giant either. HUGE)

For Sonny

2011-02-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

These organic sleep sacs from WeeUrban are something that I would love to grab for our Sonny.
I've heard nothing but good things about this style of sleeper and I am planning on not having too much going on in his crib so these are perfect.

Plus how cute are those designs? It's so nice to see something for babies that isn't pastels and bunnies. (bunnies are cute, but seriously) And they're local!
love love love!

Available here.

Woodgrain Earrings

2011-02-06T17:02:00.000-08:00

I made up these simple woodgrain earrings before Christmas, and like the rest of the work that I've had photographed for a while, they've been languishing in iphoto for months.

Poor things.

love love love!

2011-02-04T22:56:00.000-08:00

A friend just posted this on Facebook and I had to share.

Because it's SO FLIPPING AWESOME.

If it wasn't for my vow to only buy things that I really need I would find a way to get my hands on this!

I might really need this anyway. I don't know if you know how much I LOVE Pride and Prejudice.

It's a lot.

(available here)

I think it's come to this already.

2011-02-03T20:37:00.000-08:00

It's time for slip on shoes.

It's a little embarrassing to admit that getting my leg up to do up my own shoes is becoming an issue.

Already.

We've still got three months to go.

(but I just grabbed my birkenstock sandals out of the closet because GOOD LORD this kid is a mini furnace! and the joy to slide my feet into something that required NO BENDING or leg lifting of any kind was a VERY REAL THING.)

So. Clogs are in my (hopefully near) future.

Custom Woozies

2011-02-01T09:51:00.000-08:00

I made these a little while ago for a lovely lady and am just now getting around to sharing.

She had some stones given to her for her birthday and wanted them set into a ring and a pendant.

I am pretty happy with how these babies turned out.

Another headcold

2011-01-25T19:58:00.000-08:00

is bringing me down man! This is my third head cold in as many months, and before this I can't even remember when I had one.

Nothing like working with lots of people everyday and a husband in university to bring these things to my face. Literally.

I shouldn't really complain too much, I am still able to function (there was one something that got me when we were in Vancouver that dropped me HARD on my ass for a few days. Geoff went so far as to go out one night specifically for something to bring be back to life. That was a bad one.)
We're in day 2 of this one and I am hoping that the MULTIPLE oranges a day that I have been scarfing down will kick it to the curb.

sigh.

I am actually eating my third orange for today (I started craving them last week, so Sonny knew this was coming) and I am going to cozy up with the dog on the couch now.

EmersonMade Spring.

2011-01-24T20:11:00.000-08:00

Oh this woman.

I love (and I mean LOVE) everything that she puts together.

The EmersonMade spring line is on the website today and I am coveting hard.
It's like she knows exactly what I want to wear, accessories and everything, and them makes them.

This is one of the reasons that I need a HUGE expendable income.

So I can get one of everything.

(particularly that topper coat. Oh. My. God.)

February Fox Fair

2011-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

This is the last market that Janamade will be attending before I take the studio apart and take some time to get ready for, and meet our Sonny.

I'll be making Bird Bangles, Earrings and maybe some sweet stacking rings.
I'll be bringing some older stock at reduced prices to clear out more space before having to pack it all up!

I hope to see you there!
xox

Jana's gonna make this (or something similar)

2011-01-22T09:24:00.001-08:00

I LOVE the Wiksten Tova shirt.

L.O.V.E. it.

I have a pattern that I've made before that is really similar, that fits me really well, and that I know I can make in an afternoon. I've got plans to make it into a maternity dress by altering the pattern a bit (as in making it long and wider) and that has been relegated to a February project.

I am off thrifting with my lovely friend Kathryn today, and if I find some sweet red plaid fabric, I am ALL SET!

Oh internet.

2011-01-21T10:51:00.001-08:00

So I don't know if you remember, but a while back I was trying to figure out how the heck to get my Janamade.com address to point to the blog? Do you remember?
Well after months of trying to get someone to help me on the hosting site, I have decided that it's just not worth it.

I actually spoke with someone FOR REAL this morning and they spoke to me like I was some kind of idiot for not being able to figure this out. Even though while I spoke to him he sounded like a goofy 20 year old who works at Future shop or something.

After that conversation I decided that I just can't deal with that company anymore and that I am (while disappointed that I'll lose janamade.com for the moment, especially of someone else scoops it up) happy to keep my janamadethis.blogspot address and live my life.

And not worry about it.

Any. More.

So. Awesome.

2011-01-19T19:50:00.001-08:00

Quite possibly the coolest quilt I've EVER. SEEN.

It's the night sky in April.

Wha?? The crazy bastard hand stitched all of those stars people!

Another incredible find from Creature Comforts.
available on etsy HERE.
StellarQuilts is on a whole other level.

Awesome

2011-01-19T09:33:00.000-08:00

I found this over at GoodMouse BadMouse and I had to share.

(don't get me wrong, I love me some Edward Cullen, but it's kind of true that Buffy needs to kill him.)

Oh Buffy, how I miss you!
(I am thinking that I am going to have to start Season 1 when Sonny arrives and we are having some downtime! Yes, we will be raising a nerd.)

Serious Girl Crush.

2011-01-17T20:17:00.000-08:00

Oh my sweet lord, I am SMITTEN.

I discovered this new show whilst perusing recipes on The FoodNetwork. I've now got every episode set to tape on the PVR so I miss NOTHING.

How incredibly lovely is Sophie Dahl?

We only just finished watching the first episode that we've taped and I couldn't delete it! I am going to have to go back and watch it again. And again.

love!

sigh! (post belly covet)

2011-01-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

Mama wants these.

I haven't been able to comfortably wear jeans in months.

Next year my lovelies, sigh, next year.

The BUMP!

2011-01-16T19:06:00.001-08:00

I haven't been taking too many pictures of Sonny so far, I wasn't really showing for the longest time, and then WHAM! all of a sudden I was all PREGNANT.

I think I am about 20 weeks here.

We're probably at 22 weeks in these.

I am pretty sure I took this one a couple weeks ago so I am going to say that this is 24 weeks along.

And these last three I took last week, at 25 weeks!

It's pretty insane. I've listened to women who are all "Oh it's just so wonderful, I love being pregnant, it's miracle, so amazing!" And it is. Totally.

But it's also TOTALLY WEIRD to have a HUMAN IN THERE.

The first time I felt him moving, it was a wee jab while I was sitting on the bus.
I was all "THAT'S definitely not digestion"

And now I get daily kicks and punches, the weirdest is when he punches the ol' bladder WHILE I AM PEEING.

Too much? TOO BAD! IT'S REAL!

So far we have noticed that he likes/reacts to:
Leonard Cohen
Hot chocolate
De La Soul
Apples and cheese
Mama relaxing. This is the big one. As soon as I've leaned back and taken a moment to relax he gets SUPER BUSY. One night he kept me up for what felt like an hour.
(it was probably only 15 minutes, but STILL!)

We've seen him in ultrasound a few times now, and I am so unbelievably excited to meet him in person! Like, sometimes I have a hard time containing myself.

But then I think about HOW he's getting out of there and I have to think about something ELSE. Immediately.

I feel a new craft love coming on

2011-01-16T17:47:00.001-08:00

My mother in law lent me this book the other day, a book that I have been COVETING hard for ages, and ohmygodit'ssogood!

I've got a whole SLEW of ideas swimming around in my brain right now.

So. Many.

I've got a few commission pieces to make in the studio before I shut her down for Maternity leave and we make the final changes to that room to make it Sonny's.

I am actually really excited to do it. It's been hard to work in there since we cleaned it up, it's SO bright and tidy in there, that the idea of throwing a bunch of metal dust into the air has me cringing a bit. But I will.
Geoff was amazing and spent a whole day in there while I was at work getting it set up so that I could work again.

Tonight in fact I am sizing a ring and cutting out a couple more band rings for Wood Grain rings. Then I've got a woozy commission that I have a meeting about tomorrow morning. And I've applied for one more craft market, so I will be making bangles for that and maybe some new little rings to match.

We'll see about that though.

Anyway, the whole point of this rambling rant is that I am going to print some fabric once the studio is no longer my space. My hands are itching to cut some lino stamps and I am thinking that I will get my Lace Blossom done up as a stamp too. I had been meaning to do that ages ago for packaging and never got around to it. But I think that this give me the perfect motive to finally get that made up.

I have a facebook Pay It Forward project that I am a part of (basically I have to make 5 hand made things for the first 5 people to comment on that update, I am sure you've seen it) and I am leaning towards tea towels or hankies or some other sweet thing.

sigh!

Fundraiser for Miss Molly.

2011-01-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

Molly Campbell is a tiny baby here in town who was diagnosed with Leukemia just before Christmas. She has 4 older siblings. While I don't know this family personally, I am friends with several people who do know them, and this Silent Auction had been put together by some lovely people who love The Campbells and are doing what they can to help.

I have donated three pieces of jewellery to this event, which is being held at Koffi on Haultain next weekend. There are some other really beautiful things to be auctioned as well, massages, house cleaning, you name it.

If you can, please come down.
xox

(the link above connects to the FB page with all the details.)

UPDATE! You can check out the auction items and the highest bid HERE

Nursery love

2011-01-07T08:58:00.001-08:00

So we spent the week with Pops tearing apart the house again (I know! didn't we just do that last weekend too? YES WE DID. Jesus)

Anyway, it's done for the moment, we (as in Geoff and his Dad) refinished the floors in Sonny's room, threw on a fresh coat of bright white paint on the walls. (Pops even did some drywalling in the bathroom, they hung a new shelf in the bedroom and I got my hanging fruit basket in the kitchen! They are incredible.)

So this morning, I am going to clean up the kitchen and the rest of the smaller stuff that they will let me move by myself, and hopefully if I have time, set my bench back up so that I can get back to work for the last couple of months before I close the studio for maternity leave. I have a lot to do!

I am hoping to get the pictures that I've been taking onto our NEW COMPUTER (thanks Santa!) and get them posted on here because seriously, it's been a long time since I shared anything around here!

But until then, this is the colour (or something similar) that I am thinking of painting the feature wall in Sonny's room.
(found at Skinny Laminx, I am loving that blog right now!)

xox

Covers for a Cause

2011-01-03T13:55:00.001-08:00

Geoff will be performing next Wednesday at Lucky Bar for this great night.
All hip hop covers all night, all proceeds going to charity.

I have been informed that Turtle Power is on the menu.
So Awesome.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

We're taking it pretty easy here today, I've got a couch cover to sew (before and after pictures this time I promise!) and Geoff is probably going to be napping most of the day. (I have no idea when he got home last night, but he was okay with me running the juicer at 8:30am, the sweet man)

New year's Fresh Start Juice
3-4 apples
3 carrots
1 stalk celery
hunk-o-ginger
1 lemon

juice those bitches and start your day with some zing!

xox

love love love!

2010-12-30T18:37:00.000-08:00

I just found these RAD HAIR PICS and I am feeling super jazzed about a new style.
I have been trying desperately to grow out my bangs so that I can just tie it up out of my face once I am dealing with a squalling infant, but it's HARD.

Ack I just want to rock cool fun hair again!

(I found all of these through Creature Comforts)

HugaMonkey giveaway

2010-12-29T11:22:00.000-08:00

I was just searching baby slings JUST NOW and came across HugaMonkey's website and blog and I am liking the look of things over there.

Right now they are having a give away for one of their pouch style slings and I am crossing my fingers that I can give one of these a try!

They look so SIMPLE.

Me likey.

(apparently you can use them with newborns and babies up to 30 lbs!) I am planning to sling Sonny and I am coveting this sweet simple design right now!

Dangerous (and awesome)

2010-12-28T18:06:00.001-08:00

Ninjabread Men.

I'm going to get me some of these.

I haven't made sugar cookies in a while, but I feel like Sonny (and Geoff) would enjoy these.

(I think I found them originally on ApartmentTherapy)

Baby Love

2010-12-27T17:51:00.000-08:00

So I have started to think about what is going to go into our Sonny's room (we found out it's a BOY!) and this is a pretty sure bet.

Print available HERE

(we're not naming him Sonny, I'm just calling him that instead of "It" and "The Turd" Seems nicer.)

just...need...more...TIME!

2010-12-22T22:25:00.000-08:00

ugh! I would really love it if Christmas was just a few days farther away.
That would give me JUST enough time to maybe get everything done.

I hope that everyone out there is having the most relaxed and wonderful of weekends this weekend, that Santa (or whoever) brings you exactly the right thing, and that you stuff yourselves silly with whatever your favorite holiday food is!

Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice(a bit late I know, but we actually had our first annual Solstice celebration at our house, it was lovely, and I'll tell you all about it. After this weekend) and Happy Holidays to all!

xox

Pear Tree Market!

2010-12-18T18:56:00.000-08:00

I am a little late in posting this, but if you are around Victoria tomorrow and have a chance to pop in, it's LOVELY.
FGI and Verbena have done an AMAZING job of decorating the space and the ladies who are selling are some of the nicest, coolest ladies I have ever met. Seriously.

I love them all.

We'll be there from 11-5 tomorrow!
Hope to see you there!

xox

(and seriously how beautiful is that poster??)

For Baby

2010-12-15T09:07:00.000-08:00

We have been pretty lucky so far in that we don't have to get too much Stuff for The Bun besides a crib and then the smaller incidentals. (like all the fun stuff for decorating that the wee one won't really appreciate yet!)

And I am determined to keep things on the reasonable and affordable side.
So.

Ikea, here we come!

This is the crib I intend to pick up in the new year...

The Sniglar.
Reasonably priced, adjustable mattress levels and one whole side comes off to make it become a toddler bed when the time comes.

Perhaps The Bun will sleep in here until kindergarten! (kidding, probably)

I wish I was wearing this right now

2010-12-14T11:21:00.000-08:00

found just now via That Kind of Woman

(and I just discovered That Kind of Woman at Cup of Joe)

After the Wee one arrives

2010-12-11T21:42:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking a lot about what I will do with myself once we have this baby. We're due at the end of April and I feel like that's a LONG time away. But I know better than to expect Time to give me any breaks. That bastard loves to just rush on by me regardless of how prepared I try to be for him.

And my studio is going to be the baby's room. So I am going to be taking a haitus from metal smithing while I get used to the idea of being a mother and let this new person settle in. My father in law, who frankly is quite possibly the GREATEST, has offered to create a space for me in the garage at the lake and I am SO unbelievably grateful to be able to have a space at all, let alone one where we spend a lot of time and where there is usually family around to babysit.

How did I get so lucky?

I am not sure but I am going to come up with something.

But until then, because I am sure that this won't be something that happens right away, I have been giving the idea some thought.

The idea of What the Heck I am going to do with myself until I am making jewellery again. That one.

Because I know that I am not always the most productive little jeweller out there, but I really do love it. It is something that makes me happy to be able to do and I always appreciate the time spent in my studio, once I get in there after procrastinating as long as I possibly can.

I am sure there is a clinical name for this.

ANYWAY. What I am getting at is that I have been thinking about drawing again, and I am pretty sure there will be some textile work in there too. I am not sure what yet, but Lena Corwin and Lotta Jansdottir are both incredibly inspiring to me and I love the idea of being able to provide beautiful things for my home.

And sewing. I'll be doing some of that too I think.

I've even been thinking of where I'll do this and I am afraid that the only place I can think of (and have already decorated in my head) is Geoff's study space.

I am hoping that he will be willing to share.

I haven't talked to him about this yet though. He just wrote his last exam for this semester today and I don't want to harass the poor man.

Sweet Jesus

2010-12-08T21:30:00.001-08:00

(Just found this here at A Beautiful Mess and she found it here.)

COVET!

2010-12-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

Oh my dear lord this bag is AMAZING.

I have loved Moop for AGES now and it seems like her bags are just getting better all the time.

OhMyGodILoveThisBagSoMuch!!

I could carry so many diapers in it too. So maybe I actually need this bag.

So many things to save up for. And so many cravings to feed! who's gonna win??

When the time comes

2010-11-30T09:43:00.000-08:00

I am going to order this lovely top...

(It was originally designed for breastfeeding and I like the idea of looking stylish when I've got a tiny human attached to me like a limpet.)

The designer, Replicca is Canadian too.
Got to love that.

(plus I love that everything in her shop looks luxurious and comfortable)