That Special Thing

If you could stop the clocks and step outside of having to do anything else for a few uninterrupted hours - what would you be up to? Here's mine.

Theoretically this would be really fun to do along with the kids. Theoretically.

Realistically, the phrase "I want to paint" usually translates into mama setting things up, getting two kids organized with two different sets of supplies, finally sitting down with my own favourite bits, and then being told "I'm bored. Let's play a game." Despite my early parenting fantasies, my children have a very short attention span when it comes to arts and crafts (believe me...I'm working on building that muscle). They love to do it - it just has to be planned, concentrated and quick on results.

I can see faint glimmers of getting back to some of these special "me time" activities. In the meantime though, I'll settle for taking a brief time out to just daydream about it a little during 15 minutes of making someone else's sweet creation come to life. And luckily it takes infinitely less time to take a picture I love than it does to paint one.

Julia's favourite Princess palette and her fancy Easter nailpolish.

Today

It's been a long week. Very long. But it's Friday at last and today I'm loving...


The start of Spring/Summer art journaling with Julia. One picture, every day. Only one. If you finish quick - keep working on making it better.

Daily 'tea break' and Julia's new hairstyling services. She makes Matthew look soooo purty.

Plans for a kickball re-match.

More sunshine and some new high temperatures for the day. Outdoor toes that race out of reach the moment the door opens (usually accompanied by a naughty giggle and then a delighted squeal once they're chased).

26 Post Challenge (T)

I have to admit that I was a little stumped for a T today. So I've decided to give today's entry over to the latest evening ritual around here and make T for The Tudors.

It's always so much fun to have a complete season of a show to watch marathon-style and this one has been well worth the wait. As soon as the kids are in bed, hubby and I are glued to the tv and have been pushing bedtime later and later. Forgiving a few historical question marks this is a totally juicy, big production, well acted and totally captivating series. But sadly we only have about four episodes left to go and a while to wait before we have all of Season 2 at the ready. So I'm taking early recommendations for another series so we can avoid total withdrawal by next week.

Watching The Tudors and looking for a T also got me thinking about Tapestry. And then that got me thinking about how disappointed I was to have missed visiting the Cloisters when we were in New York. So I decided to enjoy a virtual visit here and grabbed a few favourites to share.

1. The Unicorn in Captivity, 1495–1505, South Netherlandish
2. Embroidery with the Annunciation, mid-15th century, Netherlandish
3.The Pentecost, ca. 1150–1175 (Mosan)
4.Opus Anglicanum , late 15th century, English (Chasuble)

I guess I had a T after all.

26 Post Challenge (A)

I've been struggling with a lack of ideas for posts lately and feel like it's the same old same old every time I login to my Blogger account.

So, for a tried and true jumpstart (and a great chance to work on improving my indoor photo skills) I give you Post 1 of 26 Posts of Home-Spinspiration.

It's going to be 26 letters and 26 posts of the things I am inspired by, surround myself with and am grateful for. I'll still be including a few updates on the knitting and sewing projects that are finding their way to completion but in the meantime I bring you ... A ...

...for Art. All types of art from drawings to paintings and from crafts to writing.
Art surrounds us, teaches us and inspires us to go back and create more; create our own.

One of my favourite classes (probably because I took it totally for my own enjoyment) was Art History. Sitting in a dark auditorium on Thursday evenings with a tall coffee ('cause continuing ed students require caffeine) watching slide after slide of amazing art throughout human history. Observing, dissecting and discussing the awe-inspiring works of artists whose craft documented their time and formed a foundation for even more creation to spring forth. I didn't even mind the memorizing; it was sort of like a game-show by the time I was done with all those flashcards. "Who is - Manet. What is - The Picnic."

And remembering how much I enjoyed painting and how much more of it I should really motivate myself to start doing again. This was a Colour Theory exercise from back in those same dark auditorium with large coffee days. Another amazingly fun class.

Guache on Watercolour Paper. By...moi. Untitled apart from the label which I guess is sort of it's title now. "Colours of Equal Brilliance".

So tell me, what is A bringing to you today?