Emily & I decided to offer:

Introducing the Handmade Nest Crafter's Club!

Keep your resolution to get out of the house, try new things, be creative and socialize more by becoming an Official Handmade Nest Crafter.

For only $100, purchase a Handmade Nest Crafters Club Package.

Each package includes:

• 1x Free Workshop to be used anytime (value: approx $40)
• 12x 15% off Handmade Nest Workshop (one coupon per month for twelve months - value: approx $72)
• 12x 15% off your Blackbird purchase (one coupon per month for twelve months - value: unlimited)
• 1x 25% off your Blackbird purchase (one time, anytime use - value: unlimited)

A fantastic gift for yourself or others.

Buy one today - in store at Blackbird. Neat Stuff for Every Nest.

Package expires one year after purchase.

Cottage Season

We stayed out at the cottage overnight this week-end. We were a little nervous about how relaxing it would really be with the two dogs, what with Molly being deaf as a doornail and Eddie still being a puppy. I had heard our new cottage neighbours have two dogs and we didn't know what to expect.

Worry as we did, the cottage ended up being very chill. See below:

Relaxing on Grandpa's boat

Despite protests, so happy we ended up at the cottage this week-end.

Missy was getting a little overly brave. I think she was just attention-getting because there are now SIX dogs on our cove.

Finn is soo shy.

We couldn't believe that Finn took the time to have some 'quiet' moments. In between Owen complaining "Finn won't stop singing! Make him stop".

The boys spent a lot of time at Jeff's art walk, and this time I sent them with our camera. Our neighbour on the other side has created the most amazing zen art walk.

The boys helped make this one.

All made out of found materials.

After lots of time spent finding the most comfortable spot, with the best combination of cushions, drink and books-we headed home.

And enjoyed a quick nap in the car.

Seriously?

Today is a long day at work. By no means am I complaining, but the fact remains I will be gone for over 12 hours. I'm working 10-5 and then we are hosting a workshop from 6-9. Maybe I'll be home by 9:30.

My point being, yesterday I felt I really needed to be organized to leave the troops in good hands. Being the uber-Mom (not!) that I am, I made a roast, caught up on laundry, had every surface cleared off (which is no small feat for me) and took two of the boys to the library after supper.

For a small town, we have a pretty great library. I'm still getting used to the fact that they don't whisper, and I'm usually the only one there whispering to my children. Dork. Anyhoo, I had to look something up on the computer/card catalogue. To my surprise, I found our library has a blog. The library?

Well after years and years of reading blogs, and having my own neglected one for some time...blogs? Hmm, not so cutting edge.

*disclaimer - I do love that they have a blog. Nice that our library isn't just gray-haired old fuddy-duddies.

What Was I Thinking?

Our house out here in the country is a 70's house. It reminds me of the house we had in Halifax as kids, with a big fireplace that is exposed at the back in the dining room.

I have fallen in and out, and back in love with this house. There is a long list of things that need to be done, some big renovations and a few small cosmetic. For instance, our main bathroom is a mess. It has a green tub & surround, blue sink, blue toilet, navy blue peel & stick tiles and had navy blue walls! It has potential for sure, but our money has been designated for other more fun things right now (disney!) so it can wait. I painted the walls, and for now I can tolerate it.

Unfortunately what I've found, having this be our third house we've owned, it takes me at least two tries before I get a room colour right. Our first house I painted our foyer twice (once neon yellow, oops. and then the right shade), the second house I painted the hallway and our bedroom twice.

This house, so far, I have re-done our bedroom twice. And now the living room. This is the first colour I tried.

Check out the vivid green behind the dining room table. Mmm, not so much loving it. Oops again.

So I picked up some paint samples (finally! samples! $5 at Home Depot). Thankfully, my youngest son sees colour better than I do. He informed me that of first two samples I brought home, one was too brown and the other too grey. So the third one really was the charm.

Yay! So much better. The colour doesn't fight with the wood trim (which unfortunately has a lot of orange in it) and it's warm and cozy. It's my favourite room again. All it needs are some great curtains and rug and I'm ready for my Project Runway marathon.

Mondays

It's monday morning at the crack of dawn. Mike's started his commute and the kids and dogs are all asleep. This is my time to get a moment of peace. Despite feeling like I was going to die waking up when Mike left, it's too good of an opportunity to waste. Our house is rarely quiet with all the personalities that live here (mostly just Finn really).

And it's so lovely right now!

I assume that the general public hates mondays. I don't. Kind of love them. They bring back order to the day, we all have things we have to do regardless of our energy level, and it's a fresh start.

I hate wednesdays. They are boring, people call them 'hump day' (dumb if you ask me), and they seem to drag on and on.

In celebration of mondays, I'm going to start posting some links and pictures to all the wonderful inspiration I find on the internet ( a.k.a. my reading material, really. my news, my magazines, my entertainment. that is what the internet means to me. call me a loser-go ahead. I still love it.)

Apartment Therapy, how I love thee. I will never have enough time to pore through every picture on this site. I love seeing how people decorate their spaces, their use of colour (some c-razy), and the amazing architecture of their homes. LOVE this site!

A stitch in dye is to die for. She designs and dyes her own fabrics, then turns them into amazing creations like these pillows:

Finally, Color Me Katie! She's amazing, really. I'm pretty sure I would love to be a fly on her wall. She's a street artist, photographer and I'm sure creative in every aspect of her life.

Case in point.

Have a wonderful monday!

Sick Kids and Whole Lot of Stuff Going On

I have all the boys home today from school. One is sick, one is at the tail-end of the flu, and the other just smartly slept in enough to have his Mom not want to go out in the freezing rain and drop him off. I really don't mind having them home, it's very cozy and reminds me of when they were little. I know one day I won't have anyone here and these will be the memories I need.
Beyond that Emily and I are hosting another workshop tonight. It's the second time doing this one, and although I'm looking forward to a night out crafting I find that we do move on after finishing a workshop and can't wait to create something else new.

Our next workshop will either be Sock Monkeys or Embroidery Hoop Art.

We are also going to start working on hosting a Craft Show in Almonte in the fall. Our intention is to get a craft show together that is full of funky crafters who are creating fun and amazing affordable items. Not that we don't appreciate the 'artisan', but we kind of want to avoid all the snobbery and expense that goes along with that title.

While all this happens, I am still coveting other blog's photos of beautiful spaces. Like this one below that I found on daisy chain.
Oh, how I'd love to sit here with a coffee and my sister before heading out to explore Paris for the day!

Big Dump

It snowed all week and for some reason I don't seem to mind! It's very pretty outside.

Emily & I hosted another workshop this week and we think it went really well. We had a great time, anyway. We're already looking forward to getting another idea out there and see how the wonderful women of the community respond. Can't wait!

Funny things my boys have done this week. I 'zerberted' Finn's belly the other night (raspberry?), and he asked me if he could 'pervert' me. I think he's spending too much time on the bus with the big kids!

Owen woke up at the crack of dawn this morning, miracle of miracles since he loves his sleep, for a hockey practice. Within minutes I could hear him discussing the Canada vs. Slovakia hockey game with Daddy in the kitchen. Too cute, and it put me back to sleep. zzzzz.

Tyler is off of gaming right now and seriously involving himself with his Bionicles. I love that my 12 year old still plays with toys despite being almost as tall as me.

My biggest boy Mike? Well, annoying and cute as ever. He's very lovely to me but I'm so outnumbered in this house I think he needs to be reminded that I'm a girl that does girl things.

*just dumped my old blog on this one, feels good to keep a record. particularly since we lost all our 2006 photos*

There are a few things I've had to get used to over the last 2 years about living in the country. One of them being that when I wake up in the morning, I no longer peek out the window watching neighbours, students, and friends with strollers up and about starting their day. In fact I don't see anyone. I have a beautiful view of the sun rising out a room full of windows.

I'm just not sure what I prefer.

When we decided to move out of the city, I didn't necessarily want to be out in the country. I wanted to be in a small town. Except that meant we wouldn't have a little bit of land, and that was something we thought the boys would benefit from.

So the jury is still out. Not to say I want to move back to the city, but a small town would be nice. I miss walking to get errands done. My body and mind both.

I suppose I'll go through this conversation with myself every February.

Head dressings

Emily & I are deciding on our next workshop for February 23rd. Our first workshop was successful, and we are hoping that people are keen enough to get out and create again this month.

We love the idea of making some accessories, and these are some examples of what we have planned:

Button bobby pins, for the days we are feeling conservative.

A rosette or two, because we still love Sex and the City.


Maybe a hairband?

And more bobby pin projects! (cabochons for sure)
(I will credit these photos later. Can't find my links at the moment.)

I did end up getting some sewing done last week. Never as much as I want but I completed projects which is always a good feeling. There has to be a balance, right?

This week Emily & I are gearing up for a workshop we are hosting under our new business called Handmade Nest. We want to be organized so that when we get back from our road trip we can just move straight into our workshop. Should be fun and we are both very excited!

Beyond that, I was thinking this morning about how some of the funniest moments in my life come from the children. Yesterday while I was in the shower Finn came in to grab his toothbrush and as he was leaving asked if I could wash his "lucky underwear".

Finn is seven. Turns out his striped underwear are lucky. Who knew?

(I have a friend who has a journal for all the funny and clever comments her children have made throughout the years. Wish I had thought of that 12 years ago! Is it too late?)