a list of happy things:

+ paint palettes.

+ summer skirts.

+ new leather sandals.

+ pretty pink peonies.
 

+ snuggling children.

+ dinner ready.

+ quiet times reading/praying.

+ friends who 'get' me.

+ family.

+ chocolate cake.

+ colourful fabric.

+ new wedding band!

***

Just a few of the highlights of my week so far, and how goes yours?

Oh, and yes.. I ordered a new wedding band since I seem to have lost misplaced my chunky big amber one (for the past year)!  I love these stacking, spinner, 'meditation' rings I've seen lately.  Opted to get a frugal version of it from Etsy... and it's a beauty.

Three spinning rings within it (silver and copper).

"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken"

Ecclesiastes 4:12

 You may have guessed I'm not a 'diamond' type gal.

Keep it chunky, keep it weird... much like myself, thank you.

What's making you happy this week?

Mel ;o)

colour me: brushed in blue.

Brushing out the winter blues here...

...with more blue hues.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of painting skyscapes, they are the perfect blend of abstract and realism.
_______________________________________________________

I see art as a form of 'truth-telling'.
Or as Keats penned, "Beauty is truth, truth beauty"... 
So whether a painting is abstract or realistic it can be beauty-full if it is truth-full.

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original:
whereas if you simple try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it"  
 C.S.Lewis

("Mere Christianity")

Have a beauty-full day friends,

Mel ;o)

colour me: in summer cheer!

 I just can't get enough of our kid's room.

the sunlight

the colours

the creativity

...it's enough to cheer up any dreary winter day.

This is my happy place.

I love to play with the kids here... or read a book on that couch while they entertain each other.

But maybe what delights me most is to see all the creativity poured into this room.

Almost every.thing in this room has been painted/upholstered/sewn by yours truly.

From curtains to clothes.

Bunting to benches.

Pillows to paintings.

It's really wonderful to be able to fill a room with love for your loved ones!

What place delights you in your nest?

Mel ;o)

colour me: blue eyes.

 If I were to dress in a palette to match my eyes... it would have to be this.

A smokey swirl of night sky mixed with cloudy blue - and a hint of tan around the pupil.

Murky, muddy, foggy blue eyes.  That's me.

Outfit details:

Earrings: In my SHOP

Scarf: thrifted/gifted to me

Blue lace top: H&M

White sleeve shirt: Old Navy

Lace skirt: Sewn by me.

Charcoal leggings: Wal-Mart(?)

........

I guess I got my Dad's Perry-winkle eyes, since my Mom's are brown.

Our kids got my blue eyes... (missing out on Ben's awesome olive-grey-sage colour).

What colour are yours?

blue-eyed mama,

Mel ;o)

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*P.S - it's been quite a while now since I've done a vlog.. any one out there have something new they'd like me to talk about/answer here?  Shout 'em out, thanks!

a week in my closet...

 Well hey there, lovelies!

So here's a weird thing.  I attempted to document what a 'week-in-my-closet' looked like.

Turns out I got bored/distracted/apathetic about the idea after only four outfits.

The days that I did remember to shoot a couple poses may give you a better glimpse into my sense of 'style' (ha, now I'm laughing...)! 

---

Day 1: feeling fancy.

If my hair's down... it means I've showered.

Throw a lace collar on with a cozy owl sweater - a re-fashioned polka dot dress - and cable knit tights.

This was my 'lets go shop for art supplies' outfit.

 Day 2: feeling funky

Hair up in a messy bun.

A big bold scarf... my crazy homemade vest with a belt, a shirt with hip-zips... and some cardinal red skinny jeans.

This was my 'time to go to Church' outfit.

 Day 3: feeling 'fatigues'

I've said before that I would join a boot-camp just for their wardrobe.

If it's army green.. I'll wear it.

A vintage scarf, light loose cardigan, army shirt, khaki zippered skinnies and some favourite wrist cuffs make this my go-to-style.

This is my 'stay at home mama' outfit... (you know, when I'm not in sweat pants and barefoot in the kitchen).

Day 4: feeling friendly

This is how I dress if the possibility of social interaction presents itself... (i.e: I may escape the house!).  Hair down, another vintage scarf, my leopard print wrist warmers, purple cardigan over a plum dress/shirt and my gold corduroys.

This is my 'ready to go' outfit.

Oh yes, and I really was talking on the phone... bet you didn't think I could multi-task!

I can also chew gum and walk at the same time, folks.

---

Hey look at this - a bonus shot:

Turns out I managed to take 5 shots this past week.

This is my essence-of-Mel shot:

I'm a bit frilly (handmade lace infinity scarf)

a bit frumpy (old man sweater with added elbow pads)

a teensy bit girly (coral tights)

a touch grungy (ripped jeans c/o my ben's closet).

---

What I realised in doing this post: 

I'm always wearing a scarf.

I have an eclectic style.

Most of my outfits include something I've made/re-fashioned. 

Also, I feel 80% dork, 20% vain and 20% vapid posing for these shots.

That's 120% premium awkwardness right there.

Let's all breath a collective sigh of relief that this is NOT a fashion blog.

Don't get me wrong.. I love seeing what other bloggers wear... but I think the only time I'll be doing loads of posing around here is just to show what upcycles I've been creating! 

the frumpy funky fashionista...

Mel ;o)

Colour me: in holiday cheer.

Kaleidoscope paint shirt.

Liquid mistletoe.

Golden fingers.

Dancing feet.

 ---

We love painting our hearts out,

mel :o)

Colour me: fashionable or frumpy?

I don't know about you... but my wardrobe consists of three sizes of clothing:

frumpy

fitted

funky

The first size I keep around for those days I just want to lounge around, eat sugar, or feel like the post-pregnancy physique has room to jiggle.

The second/third options are for the days of actually 'trying'.. you know, to be fashionable dressed half-decent.

This past weekend I decided to de-frumpify (sure, that's a word) my wardrobe a bit:

 Example 1:  The uber baggy.. two-sizes-too-big navy cordurouy pants.

Turn inside out, pin to fit... sew a new seam up the sides, voila!

The more fitting tapered cords.

 Example 2:  The bell-bottomed baggy mustard corduroy pants.

Tapered in from the knee down.  Hemmed up at the ankle.
I could take them in a bit more... and attempt the hipster 'skinny' jeans look, but I'd likely end up looking like I was riding a chicken.  Yep.

So, subtle it is, but that's enough difference to fit them in my boots.

 Now, a word about fashion.

I believe a woman's beauty goes way deeper than an inch of fabric on the external.

I know I've said this kind of thing before... but I need the reminder.

Seems our mother's always tried to remind us that it's "what's inside that counts"... when we came home crying about how our outfit was teased at school.

Yet, we still find ourselves primping, preening, perfecting the exterior so often.

Looking at beauty/fashion magazines (blogs) and coming away feeling... uglier.

Now, imagine a world where our beauty was determined by the quality of our heart?

Because when the makeup cracks off, and the hair loses it's shimmer, and the clothes are eaten by moths... that's what we'll be left with, our heart.

body

soul

mind

Frumpy or fashionable... doesn't need to be my focus.

Grant me a heart that glows and grows in beauty.

 -------------

³ "Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— ⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

1 Peter 3:3-4

Have a beauty-full weekend friends,

Mel ;o) 

thar she blues...

 Anybody out there remember that I paint?

Yeah, I barely did either.. it's been too long.  

What with having the kidlets, and focusing on more manageable sewing and crafting projects, the brushes have been left sitting dry.

That's why I'm so thankful for good people (great friends) who inspired me to do this commission, and this one too... and now, I've got a new.blue.view order to create!

Just slapping the canvas with wet paints is a rekindled thrill.

But what's even more fun?  My 'resident-artist' was beside me:

 Having recently purged our hoarders.nasty.clutter.junk-pit garage, there was a sheltered space for us to get messy and have fun.

Two tandem painters.

Two easels, and canvasses covered with colour.

The fact that we both love painting (and sticking our tongues out to concentrate better) is such a fun part of our relationship.

Not to mention the hilarious sweetness of her ecstatic dance/singing that comes with her creative groove:

  (If you make it past the first.slow.30 seconds.. it gets pretty sweet, but I am biased).

I love my wee artist's style.

Azriel is wearing:

indigo

cobalt

ultramarine

carbon black

...

(Ok... and a Crayola paint smock over a cute Owl shirt from Old Navy and grey pants from JOE...  which may not 'count' as style for the Small Style link-up crew, but I think it's pretty funny)!

She blue me away,

like she does everyday.

Mel ;o)

colour me: thank.full.

Ok, so I'm a bit excited here.  It's the long weekend.  Thanksgiving weekend to be exact.

Family feasts.

Country drives.

Glowing leaves.

Snuggling kiddos.

Husband holding.

Tea sipping.

Wine bibbing.

Ham spitting.

Wood hiking.

God praising.

~

Just a whole darn lot to be super duper thankful for.

And to start off the fun today?  I get to teach 'art appreciation' to a room full of home.schooled kids.  Yee-haw.

Happy Thanksgiving my fellow Canadians.

The rest of you turkeys, ok, you can be thankful too.

See you on the flip side friends,

Mel ;o)

colour me: in autumn's treasures...

Every season marks a new collection for our daughter.

sticks

mushrooms

flowers

...and now...

fallen leaves in all their glowing glory.

Recently I decided to make a little expedition/field trip/nature journal for her.

Grabbing an old "How to draw Trees" book I had, we wandered around our in-law's property looking for different leaves (bonus points if they actually matched the trees sketched in the book already!).

Azriel's delight in collecting leaves is equalled only be her enthusiasm to drench everything in glue... as she was contentedly slopping leaves onto the various pages.

My delight was to sit back, sip coffee.. and watch as the glowing embers of summer nestled down into Autumn's embrace.

....

And seriously, I don't know where that girl gets all her ridiculous faces from...
She's unbeleafable! 
(Yes, that was lame, but I needed to fill my cheesy humour quota today).
....
What fall activities do you love doing with your family?
Happy harvesting of fun memories!

Mel ;o)

colour me: rainy day people

 Just splashing a little brightness into a dull rainy day here.

My wee artist... just like her mama, she knows that true talent rests in the tongue position!

Happy weekend'ing friends.

Mel ;o)

(P.S: If you missed the cutest video ever of her painting... it's still here).

colour me: [like two peas in a pod]

 Well colour me all-a-blush, because here I go again...

...these two peas in our 'pod' still brighten my world!

I know, I know... it's yet another post with pictures of my babies, but can you blame me?

 Despite the fact that they're over 2 years apart... they are already smitten with each other.

They share the same sense of humour.

They co-conspire to keep mama up day and night.

But still they daily delight me.

They share the deepest part of my heart.

Not to mention the same diaper size(!!).

...

Annnnnd, they have pretty adorable tea-parties together:

 (I feel it's my motherly duty to state that this is Azriel's hyper 'baby' voice... she actually does know how to speak clearly!).

I'm currently creating one of those online-photo-books of these two.. (more to come on that later) and just seeing all the sweet shots of them together overflows my cup with blessing.

Granted, every shot tends to have Azriel tucked behind her thumb... but that's cute too.

Case in point.

Nite nite dear hearts.

Mel ;o)

 

colour me: in love

Can the eyes absorb this much cuteness at once?

Our friend's gorgeous chocolate daughter... and our vanilla son... sweetness overload!

It just makes me want to start singing: "Jesus looooves the little children, all the children of the world..."

Love is colour blind isn't it?

It looks past the skin, the race, the education, the social class... and embraces each soul as precious.

Oh, and these two.

Our Hudson, our Azriel.

My heart doubled in size.

Sun and sand in their hair and leaves dancing overhead.

Colour me in love,

Mel ;o)

my mini.me...

 Well go figure... this daughter of mine seems addicted to painting!

It's not even like I tried to 'force' her to enjoy the arts... but ever since her first introduction to painting she just begs.whines.squeals to use it daily!

This is one of those 'supervised mess' moments... giving her the freedom to slop.slap.slip the paints around... even over her cute toes and fingers.

I really need to take the time to make some non-toxic homemade paints... for how often she wants to be coated in the stuff!

Yes, it's honestly like looking at a mini-me here... even sticking the tongue out to paint!

She also gets into a 'trance-like' mood when she's fully focused on her brushstrokes... quite something to behold.

I just had to make a video here... she's too beautiful sometimes.

Just so you don't think she's this 'calm' all the time, I'll have you know that shortly after this video Azi jumped up, tore off the paint shirt and ran around in wild circles barking because she suddenly wanted to "dance like a dog".

True story.

What do your kids love doing the most?

Colourful fingers mama,

Mel ;o)

colour me: rainbow wool & balloons!

Colour me happy... look at this beauty ball of wool!

It's got every hue of the rainbow in it, and I just can't stop spinning it around in my hands. 

I think this just may convince me try and learn how to knit again friends... now, what the heck can I make with one ball of wool?  A small scarf cuff... a wee hat?  I just want to see all the colours, close by me.. always!

Not to mention I was given this sweet turquoise sheepy too!

Yes, tomorrow is my birthday.. eeep!

In fact, all of Canada is celebrating with me this year - a national holiday for all.... you're welcome. ;o)

----------------

This mama is having a beauty weekend so far... and more fun to come today and tomorrow... 

so stay tuned for a belated 'slide.show.sunday' friends,

(but here's a peek at some more colourfulness and livestock): 

A family hike through the countryside to collect beautiful lilacs for our home.

Hope you're all having a wonder-full weekend too!

Fireworks & Birthday candles mama,

Mel ;o)

 

colour me: [sew crazy!]

This here,... this was going to be a do.it.yourself jersey t-shirt tutorial.

I was going to say: "take a large folded square of jersey/stretch cotton, fold it lengthwise and cut out a neck hole... and slice an angle cut down to the waist"...

But you know what?  I've never actually sewed with jersey before... much less attempted to make myself a real shirt.

So I kept screwing it up.

And this, this is why I always tend to call myself a 'messy sewer' (see, I can't even write seamstress - it sounds too fancy).. and 'sewer' - the kind you might be thinking, is likely more fitting since a lot of these projects should be in the gutter!

However, I tend to thrive at adapting from mistakes (I've had over 30yrs to do so!).

This project kept evolving with every blunder... 

 

Mistake: cutting the neck hole too large.. especially since jersey stretches.

Solution: sew a lace backing into the gaping hole... inspired by this dress.

Yeah, that kind of turned out neat. 

Thankfully jersey doesn't require hems since it just rolls at the edges, phew!

 

The leftover length of jersey was perfect to make another infinity scarf out of (with a stretchy bright floral inside).  A good, simple project to convince me I'm not a complete hack at sewing!

--------------------------------

So there you go, I sew crazy.

I hate patterns.

I taught myself to sew only a few years ago.

I can't sew a straight line... if it's longer than an inch!

There you have it, if I can do it, you can.

Really.

The real key is to just keep experimenting, like I did with this shirt,

and learn as you go!

In stitches,

Mel ;o)