confessions [of an artist] part.2

Sooo, in case you hadn't already guessed - I am a colour-addict.  Throwing a colour deck in my direction is like throwing a steak to a hungry dog.  If I had a constellation of paint chips on my floor I would sit there like a happy child and play with colour combinations endlessly.

This obsession has been throughout my life.  Working at an art supply store [Cossars] as a teen, I would love stacking all the tubes of oil.acrylic.watercolour paint.  Working at Charlotte Paint - your Benjamin Moore store - I would get lost in the myriad of paint chips daily.  Working with various painters.interior decorators... well, a kid in a candy shop!  Working as the Arts Coordinator at a youth drop-in... I got to share that obsession with others.

Yes, every single job I have EVER had... has involved.used.cultivated this love of colour.  How great is that?

I was just asked to do a 'home colour consultation' for some folks again... which got me thinking about this passion lately.  

The above palette reflects not only my daughter's cuteness... but also the tones seen throughout our home.  Maybe I'll just do a colour tour of our nest sometime soon.

Colourfully yours,

Mel :o)

*5 more days to enter my birthday giveaway contest!  Link up here if you haven't entered yet!

slide show sunday. take 2.

Welcome friends.  Grab a cup of tea. sit back. relax..for it's sunday.slide.show time again.

Here's the 'photo-flood' of events from this past birthday bash weekend!  It was a beautiful, fun time filled with food.friends.family - could it be any better?  

Here's the hubby at our Farmer's Market... so great to be back outside!

A new tradition I plan on keeping = buy a delicious cupcake [peanut butter chocolate this time] from the Pastry Peddler.. and cram it back to my tonsils... MMmmmmmm!

Silver Bean was next on the list.  Iced coffees in the sunshine.

As usual.. anytime you go to the Silver Bean you run into friends you know... even Azriel got to hang out with some other 'Bean-y Babes' ... like lil' Gretchen here, delightful daughter to doula-Desiree of So Fawned blog. :o)

Next stop was the zoo.  Love love love those playful otters!

Zzzzzzzzz all the way home for lunch and naptime.

Azi's naptime was the perfect chance to whip off a fun skirt project (watch for the d.i.y to come) and relax outside.

Later, a walk through the neighbourhood. Admiring some local art scenes...and visiting our newborn neighbour and friends.

That evening - after a delicious family dinner out at Pizza Factory... we tucked daughter in bed.  Had our brother and his wife 'babysit' (the perks of 'communal living') and went to the movies with some friends.  Yah, it was swash-buckling... but just 'meh' for plot.story.dialogue.

After church this morning we ran to meet up with family and friends at the Old Stone Brewing Co.  This is our favorite downtown restaurant.  Yum!

Speaking of 'yum'.... my super sweet husband got up at 5am to bake me this super sweet chocolate.coffee.raspberry cake!!  Not to mention the "Fleet Foxes" new cd.  I love you Ben!

And we love bubbles!

Phew!  A whirlwind wonder of a weekend had here.. and I am one very happy. blessed. extra-caloried mama.  

Hope you all are savouring a beautiful long weekend as well!

(I hear some leftover 'panzerotti' calling me now)

Mel :o)

D.I.Y upcycle your sheets ..into forts.

Morning friends!  I'm still in the middle of a busy.full.fun birthday weekend, but I wanted to share a quick d.i.y fun project for you all.

Recently I discovered my daughter making her first 'nest'.  She was stashing all her lil' stuffies and friends under our antique pew chairs.  I saw this as a fort in the making and draped our tablecloth over it... for a fun session of 'peek.a.boo' too!

It reminded me of how much I loved forts as a kid.  Who didn't right?  I remember having elaborate tunnels all around our basement with sheets - and you had to have the 'secret braided yarn necklace' to be granted access to the fort.  Fun times!  Can't wait to relive it with my daughter.

Anywho, for a really great way to upcycle those sheets. or leftover fabric. here's a fun way to make a 'playhouse.fort' for your kids:

Source: The Artful Parent

Isn't that the sweetest thing?  I am eager to add this idea to the 'summer sewing projects' list.. and thought you may find it inspiring for your kids.your pets.yourself too.

Have a wonderful Sunday,

P.S ... there's now 6 days left to enter my 'birthday giveaway'... check it out here.

Mel :o)

'birthday blog' giveaway special!

No cats or toddlers were humiliated in the making of this cheesy picture.

 Happy birthday to meeeee.... means a giveaway for youuuu, cuz who doesn't like gifts?!  So yes, it's my big day, and I am thanking God for 31 years on this earth so far.  I thought a good way to celebrate would be to share my creations with one of you kind readers.  That is.. if the world hasn't ended due to the crazy 'prediction' mentioned from my last post.  Happy long weekend as well - it sure looks like a beauty!

Me at age 5(?)..... to me as a Maid of Honour...

Speaking of beauty... wasn't I a cutie?  I don't know what happened... between then and now.. there was a whole lot of acne... that's all i remember. ;o)

Anyways! Lets get to the good part already. Here's my giveaway special:

One lucky winner will get their choice of:

a) Either a red or yellow lil' hoot (#1)

or

b) Your choice of any two combinations of the other creations.

[i.e one pendant #2 - with one doily brooch #3 

or one baby tee #4 - with one clay wrist cuff #5

or mix and match another way!] 

But wait.. that's not all (cue cheesy infomercial voice).

You also get to have a print (read laser colour copy) of any one of my paintings that you choose.. and heck, I'll even autograph it for you... just cause I like you. 

Interested?

All you have to do is...

a) Become a 'follower' of this blog [look up at the top bar of this post... next to the Blogger icon and white search box there is the "follow" option.  It won't hurt, I promise.  I won't sell your identity to the underworld either.

b) In light of the 'end of the world' theme of this date... leave a comment sharing a few things you would do IF it was your last day on earth.

That's it. That's all.

A winner will be picked and announced a week from today.

Happy my birthday. end of the world. long weekend everyone!

Creatively yours,

Mel :o)

mark your calendars - May 21st!

Hello friends.  Tomorrow is an exciting day.

1) It's the start of the long weekend! 

2) It's my 31st birthday.. woo hoo! 

3) According to some nut cases*... the world is going to end!

4) In light of #2 & #3.. I'm offering my first blog giveaway!!

That's right, if you're not 'stuck' relaxing at a cottage... or raptured.. you can check in on my 'birthday blog giveaway special' tomorrow.  One lucky winner will have their choice of some of my handmade creations!

Stay tuned,

a young 30.. Mel ;o)

*To clarify.. when I say 'nut cases' in #3.. I am simply distancing myself - a Jesus follower - from these people who are also under the far too misrepresented.blurred.watered down.hypocritical label of 'Christian'..  enough said.

sweet sorrow.

 This morning marked a bittersweet farewell at our nest.  There she is.  My sweet.vinyl.turquoise.damask chair I scored for $3.  I did so love this chair.  In return she did not love me however... and 'fainted' beneath me during a dinner party a while back.  Now, if I was a welder I would gladly have put those metal legs back together again..

Alas, I am not a welder.  And today we had a dumpster at our house (for the gutted basement and our disaster garage).  So ... sadly, she was the first in line.  I admit that my Scottish..sentimental side had me run back in and slice all the vinyl off the chair.  I hope to make some sort of clutch.wallet with it in the future. :o)

Here was a sweet discovery during our garage purge today.  All wrapped up in paper... nestled in a box of bits and pieces.. this sweet gold owl [showcased on my rescued chair vinyl].

My poor husband the minimalist was heaving stuff into the dumpster while I kept poking and prodding through pieces I wanted to justify keeping.  I admit I am one of the worst partners to purge anything with.

In other news.. stay tuned for an exciting announcement tonight... about tomorrow. :o)

See you soon,

Mel :o)

sunshine yellow. grassy green.

There she is. My sweet lil' daffodil.  

I just have to say... my folks have one of the lushest lawns around.  I just want to curl up and sleep right in its glowing. spongy. sweet. denseness.  

Just wanted to post a sun-shiny few pics due to such a sun-shiny day!

See you tomorrow friends,

Mel :o)