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A Car Chase to Great Thrifting and Fun Hunting!

Sunday, August 8th, 2010

This was a completely good and awesome weekend. I got lots done and it was relaxing and full of good things. Friday night I went out for dinner and knitting with some friends to a great local raw food place, Raw Aura. They serve amazing raw food – lactose, sugar, gluten free – yum! I had a really amazing falafel wrapped inside a big green leaf of…oops I forget! And…taboulleh. Dessert was an awesome chocolate ganache – with hemp ricotta and I had an awesome creamsicle smoothie of hemp milk, bananas and vanilla – it was all divine.

Yesterday I spent from early morning to early afternoon at the pottery studio and had great success throwing some nice big bowls, smaller bowls, and some mugs. They are drying up and I will likely begin trimming them Thursday to work on their embellishment next weekend.

Today was a trip to Port Hope to check out Primitive Designs after a friend recommended it and I totally fell in love with a 1-string guitar she had at her apartment, and I found myself wanting to pick one up.  This shop is the warehouse of an importer and there are amazing things there. I kinda spent more money than intended, but nothing too dangerous. I did however get some amazing things…

A Pinocchio marionette!

This teak chest! It was my biggest purchase but I could not resist and it was a steal at the price I paid. This is because I bought directly from an importer and not from some antique store trying to pedal imports as antiques..which is altogether too common.  It has 18 deep drawers which I will soon fill with my button collection – organized by colour. I cannot wait. I have totally haunted the presence of every multi-drawered chest I have ever seen. I plan to get larger ones when I am a super rich superstar later in life but for now, this makes me happy.

This piece of bark …darnit I forget the name of the tree it came from – but it’s rainforest reclaim and basically can be used as a non-water vase – so for dried flowers or interesting branches. I love the pattern.

And, the musical instruments – that 1-string guitar, an interesting thing…with tongs that make sounds – again..loss of real name for the instrument strikes me ..sorry, and a SLIDE WHISTLE!! Oh yes, I am going to be the most annoying person around with that slide whistle, lemme tell ya! I picture myself using it when people are doing things like sitting down, standing up, picking things up, etc. etc. etc. – endless possibilities right?

I also have to mention how truly in awe I am at the amazing finds I have had recently while thrift shopping. I swear for a few months now it has been nothing with a capital NO! But, lately has been great! I found these today..check it out!

This awesome wooden bowl:

This vintage mushroom casserole:

This awesome book on Textile Science!

But, today was not all shopping. On the long drive back from Port Hope, we decided to take the long scenic route home and we saw these old cars…

They were cool but when the followed us for a really long time, through a couple of small towns and cities, I started to giggle and Mat started to say things like ‘You’ll neva catch me alive coppa!’ and ‘We’ll Loose them at the Pass, ya See!!’ and other crazy phrases as only likely muttered by the most animated of fifties’ era gangster. It was a laugh. I kept my eye on them while Mat sped…well, around 40km/h anyhow..

The complete normalcy of our Toyota eventually saved our lives..allowing us to blend in with traffic and for the gangsters to move on..

Then, after avoiding certain death, we arrived at a sheepy farm with a donka-donk! Look…they are so cute..then suddenly either the donkey or a weird black faced sheep make a weird honking sound and they all ran away. I laughed at their bums!

Also, after hearing about the awesome, button-organizing teak chest that I got, Laurie from The Black Lamb gave me an awesome assortment of vintage buttons, because she is sweetness personified!

And, I haven’t devoted my time entirely to lollygagging – I managed to spin a couple of yarns!

Well, as I write this I feel my eyes getting heavy so I should go brush my pearly whites and get to bed..it’s going to be a bit of a long week. So, night night.

PS..Hippo says hi!

Posted in Art and Craft, Day to Day, Nature, Pottery, spinning | 1 Response »
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G-Whiz and the Day to Day

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Because the dumb G20 and G8 are in town, Toronto is a crazy town of traffic and people in the streets. Overall it is a giant waste of time and money that is impacting Ontario’s economy in ways that no one sees or cares about. But I guess…myself included. I hate politics but moreso, politicians. They are the reason I hate politics really. Don’t get me started on the ridiculousness of the manmade lake that they constructed….um, hello, Lake ONTARIO wasn’t good enough for your ‘cottage in the city’ experience? Argh…

The good news is I get to work at home and look at this for most of the day:

Tonight, I podcast – no matter what. The agenda is written, music chosen and essays recorded. So, soon Episode 10 of Muststashyo will be up.

Today I need to find my camera battery. It is missing and making me sad.

Last night was my pottery guild meeting and that was really fun. I have been really lucky in finding a great, embracing place to learn pottery and also make a lot of new friends. The guild is full of really nice people, of all skill levels, with a lot of hobbyist potters. There are some really creative folks to be inspired by and the president is an absolute sweetheart who is really great at celebrating people’s creativity and strengths. It is one of the most pleasurable cooperatives I have been a part of in a really long time. It makes up for a few that have been not so fun. I have redesigned the website for my guild and taken on the role of updating the blog, which I am totally excited about. So, if you are interested in what is happening in pottery and stuff relating to the Mississauga Potters Guild you can check out our website here: http://mississaugapotters.com/ and just click the blog link to see my blogging. I am only 2 entries in thus far but already doing the research on ceramics relating to this task has me learning so much.

Today I am hoping to have some time to read up on a Ceramic Arts Daily article about converting cone 10 (high heat fire) glazes down to cone 6 (medium heat fire) which is great because our guild is a cone 6 guild. When I was in North Carolina a couple of months ago I came across a potter, Bill something…., who did these incredible crystalline pieces where crystals are grown in the glaze on the surface of the pot. THAT is one of the techniques. So, I am going to read up on it, see what formula and chemicals are involved and see if the studio coordinator could work with me on it. I think it would be fun to test out and then later a great workshop.

Here’s a look at a crystalline surface – amazing right?

Here’s my progress of my second pair of the Totem Pole Socks from my recently published FREE pattern:

My girlfriend Vicki has recently started a pair as well – so check out her project - she had amazing colour choices:

Anyhow, I am slowly knocking out a little piece of the list and realizing that my items are very big and general so I am hoping not to have 101 of them. I need to break it out more but that might feel like work.

1. Business Plan
2. Find good accountant
3. Talk to a bank
4. Discuss much with L and S relating to TBL.
5. Renovate basement
6. Get M here
7. Update resume
8. Finish Doll Feet dyework
9. Podcast Episode 10
10. Prepare fiber palettes
11. Muststashyo page on Studioloo website
12. Update non-fibery pages of Studioloo
13. Make plush and birds
14. Whale painting
15. Take sewing classes
16. Guitar lesssons
17. Find a voice coach
18. Raw food diet planning
19. Dog training
20. Set weight loss goals and achieve with a plan
21. Research urban farming and what is allowed in PH
22. Organize Spin in Public Day in PH
23. Raise money for Sea Shepherd
24. Work on book
25. Design workshops
26. Wake up Yarn a Day
27. Set spinning goals
28. Etsy destash
29. Gnome
30. Altered art
31. Clean house
32. More hooks added to window in kitchen
33. Finish enough pottery for another bisque
24. CofC application
25. Foot therapy
26. Publish Muststashyo pattern
27. Yarn club
28. Fiber club
20. Tea order
21. Cashmere and Bamboo order
22. Contests
23. Clean out garage
24. Garage sale
25. Recipe database
26. Master Spinning Course
27. Find local fleece
28. Monthly Projects for Artists Project
29. Curriculum design
30. K for M
31. M Painting
32. Type up kiln instructions and save
33. Keep food blogging
34. Organize beads
35. Finish knitting WIPs
36. Finish blue skirt appliques
37. Finish mending things that need mending
38. Find blue paint, mix and paint bedroom

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Fresh Air and Sunshine

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Yesterday was a great day. I got up early, opened all the windows in the house,  had breakfast and got started working away on a bunch of work stuff. Working at home can be so much more pleasant than sitting in a dull, flourescently lit office.  I got a lot of work done thankfully, but also embarked upon a recipe for Cherries Jubillle with Butter Crunch Icecream. I will post photos of the entire 2 day process a little later. Note to self – next time read the recipe to fully understand the prep time – holy cow!

Anyhow, other than working on that I also finished up a handspun yarn, my ode to the Golden Girls:

And, I finished up a bit of pottery, watched ‘Up’ and thoroughly enjoyed it and knit a bit of my sock.

I also emptied my camera of it’s pictures so here’s a bit of what I have been up to:

Worldwide Knit in Public day brought me to Hiawatha Park where I worked on my Totem Pole sock.

The tide had been high the day before so there was still a lot of fresh seaweed on the rock ledge just below where I sat. This is one of the most peaceful places in this city. I come here often just to look at the water, reflect and watch different birds swimming, fishing and flying. There were a lot of cormorants that day. I am starting to wonder if the introduction of their species to this area might be one of those ‘oops’ situations and now they are massively overpopulated. It sort of seems that way.

I am really enjoying the warm summer with cool breezes we seem to be having in springtime. It’s nice and I have even been making time to run, go for long walks and hikes and such. I am starting to find my balance among artistic endeavors, exercise activities and work.

I also love working at home because I can hang out with my dogs. I spent a good hour working away on a project plan and throwing this lamb rattle toy for Poppy. This is after he was sort of tired out, but still springing inward with energy. He’s a happy guy.

I have been cleaning the house like crazy too. Part of me could really love being a domestic goddess I think. The perfect life might be held in being your own boss, being artsy and just having time to look after a family and a house. I think my path is getting a bit closer to that. I am trying to take more pictures of the various houses and such I have lived in. I always think back to the different apartments and condos in which I have lived and wish I had more pictures of the decor.

I am the last of the holdouts in not buying one of those flashy flat screen televisions. We don’t watch a lot of TV in this house so it hasn’t been a priority much.

Here’s a bit of the yarn dyeing adventure from yesterday. These are still drying on the rack in the sunshine of my kitchen.

And I am engrossed in reading ‘Sweater Quest’ right now, and managed to finish up another octopus yarn bowl. I have 3 done and they will go into my next bisque. I went to the pottery guild lastnight and finished up a couple other pieces and threw more. I think I need another bisque before I will have enough to fill up a good portion of our large kiln for glazing.

And, now it is time to get cracking on more work stuff and start packing for the weekend. I am going away for a little bitsy, visting the family and such. Pictures to come!

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Hold on to Every Loose Thread you Can!

Friday, June 11th, 2010

The morning started out quite nice with homemade broccoli and cheddar quiche.  I didn’t get to snap a photo of it until it was half nommed…I find these days I love the stems of broccoli much more than the actual little trees. That is a complete turnaround since I was a child. I hated the stems when I was a kid.

I am working at home today, going through the dozens of emails and such that I have to deal with today. One of the nice things about working at home however is that you can take little breaks, and you can choose your background noise. I watch a lot of documentaries and one of the nice things about being a cable subscriber is that you can get ‘on demand’ channels and catch up on all the stuff you never have time to watch. I don’t have much time for television so I partly watch but mostly listen to it while doing other things. Today I queued up ‘Schmatta:Rags to Riches to Rags‘ directed by Marc Levin. This was screened at TIFF but I never had the chance to see it.  The context of the film takes a look at the garment industry in New York which bustled in the twentieth century, acting as one of the largest employers in the United States. Now, it dwindles by a thread literally…with industrialism pushing all of the manufacturing overseas. I think that when most people think about the economy, the terrible affects of Wal-Mart and other big box corporations, they think about the white collars, the banks, and so on – job losses, stocks falling, and so on. But, it really goes much deeper.

It’s sad to see the offspring of the immigrants who came to North America with a dream, lived it and hoped to pass it on – only ..they didn’t really get to because of the ‘me me me’ culture that we seem to plummet deeper in to with every generation. Consumerism and the low price mentality was defined in the film as ‘the race to the bottom’ and it is so true. It won’t matter that a dress only costs 8 dollars when you don’t have a job, and therefore the 8 dollars to pay for it.

The other side of this is knowing where your clothes actually come from. This is the part where you can actually get involved and try to make sure that wherever you live people are getting what they need, not being forced into labour that pays them poorly or treats them without ethics. Sweatshops are not a thing of the past, and are still very prevalent. The clothing industry in the United States went from supplying 95 to just 5 percent of the garments in it’s country. That is a stunningly scary number.

Save the Garment Center is spreading the word to save New York’s garment industry. I suggest checking them and the film out – both very worthwhile reminders.  Whatever keeps you out of H&M, Wal-Mart, etc.  :)

I have also been spending a bit of time working on more pods. I went to the pottery guild lastnight and trimmed up a few of my pieces. Today’s result – a large pod.

And a new art yarn is off the drying rack, hanging out with the pod:

And, this morning I finished up my Totem Pole socks! (And cast on a second pair..yay!)

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Catching up on Another Week!

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

So, perhaps last week (where does the time go?) was the Mississauga Potter’s guild potluck! I decided to make a couple of pies from recipes that have been in my recipe box since the dawn of time.

Pumpkin Dutch Apple Pie

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

I got to spend a lot of time at the pottery guild last weekend and finally got to crack open a bag of the black clay that I bought. I really love it even though it feels like it is much messier/dirtier because it is black. It feels nice in the hands and seems to handle well. The only strange thing about it is that I find it harder to trip the strip at the bottom of the pot before removing it from the wheel head. It might just be me having a weird/off day so I will try again when I throw more of it and see if I have the same result.

The lighting is a little yellow in the studio but here is a picture of some of the forms I threw from it – I really love the colour.

Here you can really see the contrast between this medium white clay and the black.

On my adventures of book acquisition, I received a lovely book called ‘Nature as Designer: A Botanical Art Study’ by Bertel Bager and it is proving to be really inspirational for pottery. I am really wanting to take some time to make different pod forms.

This is the starts of a pod I was working on. It is now just about finished and drying up to be bisqued.

I have also been playing with fiber quite a bit (when not deeply entrenched in business plan and financial analysis – yikes). This is a sneak peek of a yarn I finished spinning today beside a bunch of little yarn orbs from yarns of the past. I usually collect them up in bunches and sell them off as little freeforming kits. People have a lot of fun with yarn scraps.

Speaking of yarn scraps, I am almost done my Totem Pole socks. This photo is from last week but I have now moved along quite nicely and I am just about at the toe decreases.

There is also a bunch of yarn dyeing going on as I am working on the Summer 2010 colourways of Doll Feet! I will announce when they are all ready to go to the shop. Here’s a sneak of some that are dry:

And my drying rack in the sunshine of the window – it seems never to be empty these days:

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Long Weekend Bliss, Knit Like a Jester and Stuff!

Monday, May 24th, 2010

It has been a fantastic weekend! Saturday was spent hanging out at The Black Lamb and doing some letterboxing and hiking in Port Hope. We managed to find this letterbox hidden in the rock cut and it was just a nice afternoon, despite the flash rain shower that seemed to happen just as we were hustling to stamp the letterbox.

This letterbox is planted along the Ganaraska river which is littered with beautiful scenes like this:

After searching out this letterbox, we took Hwy. 2 toward home again and decided to take in all the country air and nature we could find. There is this big field of cows that I love to visit on this route and this time there was a donkey hanging out with them. He was so adorable and when I started to talk to him in my signature ‘oh my gosh cute!!!’ babytalk animal-lovin’ voice, he came running right up to me and was adorably sweet.  Case in point…

We stopped along a stony beach and hid a letterbox, near the town of Bond Head. Then, we made our way into Oshawa and the rest of the routes going back home. I saw this weird anomaly at a car dealership – cars in a dumpster.

Sunday was my day of focusing on web design and lightening the load of the day by drinking lots of summer beer and taking breaks now and then.

Today was really nice too! The weather warmed up and I got some spinning done, photographed the new line of Bootsie sock yarn that will be coming, managed to design and order new business cards and yarn labels and just generally answered a lot of emails that needed answering and got lots done. I got some time in at the pottery studio and have a load of thrown forms to carve and embellish. I am thinking up some new fun themes. There is still loads for me to get working on but I am trying not to overly stress myself about any of it. Today is the day of the floating dandelion fluffs.

I think tonight I will do a bit of spinning and planning out my knitting project for a knit-along that I am doing with Velma and Jacey of our friend Tracy’s court jester cowl.  This will give me a chance to actually knit something with my art yarn which I have been meaning to get to forever. Here’s my beautiful Tracy modelling her own design:

If you want to join in and knit this cowl with us, you can find more information here on Ravelry. Ok, time to get spinning this palette:

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Never Tell a Lie or Your Nose Will Grow…and other Tales

Friday, April 16th, 2010

I have had the busiest, most whirlwind kinda week ever! But I have one more week until a wee getaway and then Maryland Sheep and Wool, which I cannot wait for! Tonight I am going to mellow out in the pottery studio and try to get some more work done. I should soon have enough for a bisque firing. I am planning on making a load of buttons and some more tea bowls, cups and mugs for an upcoming idea I have.

I have been working away on this bowl based on the tale of Pinocchio. It is Pinocchio’s head with a branch sprouting from his lying little face and says ‘never tell a lie or your nose will grow’.

And a little cup I call ‘Fat Crows’

I am also just about ready to record the next podcast. It’s going to be a really fun one!

I had a really amazing mail day today! I scored 3 skeins of Skinny Bugga from the last SG update! My favourite is Sea Urchin.

And a friend, Dana, send me these adorable little earrings and stitch markers made from handspun, hand dyed laceweight:

Now, its time to fill Winston’s water bowl – he practically had to get in there trying to forage for water! Yikes! I am a bad bug mommy!

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Shop Update and New Podcast – An Accomplished Weekend!

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

I finished a big update in the art yarn shop today! You can check it out here: http://www.studioloo.com/handspunartyarn.htm

Here’s a sneak peek:

And, Episode 8 of the Muststashyo podcast is recorded, this one focusing on Mel Blanc – what a fun guy! I am cooking up some really fun things for the podcast that will be pottery and yarn centric. Here’s a look at where my thought process is going:

It was overall a great weekend of knitting, spinning, pottery and just relaxing. I had lunch at one of my favourite restaurants that have this lovely platter of dips they serve with warm pita -  kefalotiri, olive tapenade and hummus are my favourites.

That combined with a great shopping day, beautiful weather, new shoes….life is good!

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Yay for Long Weekends!

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

It could not be a more perfect weekend. Yesterday the weather was so beautiful that I packed up all my stuff to head over to the pottery studio but then feeling the cool breeze and warm sun, I was drawn to take a nice walk. Everyone was out with the dogs and it was too fun. I then spent the afternoon working away on some pottery. I am hoping to have enough pieces to do a bisque firing soon. Here are a few pieces I am working on. Sorry for the bad photo – the lighting in the studio in this area isn’t the best.

I did quite a bit of sculpting yesterday, and carving, and then applied coloured slip to my Octopus and Squid bowl which is starting to come along nicely.

I am just cleaning off my desk this morning to record the podcast and then I think I will go knit at the park. Ooh..a sneak peak at a project I am doing for the podcast!

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Spring of Creativity

Thursday, April 1st, 2010

First off, I was given a massive load of pure cashmere yarn and I am giving a lot of it away here because I simply don’t have the space!

It is starting to feel very like spring outside with the sun waking up so early, birds singing and that last bit of frost finally starting to dissipate. I have been really productive lately trying to prepare for late-April to early-May vacation, Maryland Sheep and Wool, Stitch n Kitsch and all sorts of other things involving yarn and artwork.

Also, I should mention, as many have asked, there is finally new Candy Sprinkles yarn up in the shop.

I have plans to do about a million things beginning with finally podcasting tonight. That is my big priority. There have been endless hurdles getting me to the next episode. Holy cow..hopefully we won’t talk forever. But, otherwise I have been really feeling inspired to work on pottery lately as well as spin. I feel like I just don’t have enough time! My knitting time has been seriously suffering. Can someone please win the lottery and buy me out as an entertainer of the arts or something?

Here’s a bit of what has been happening around Casa del Studioloo!

This is a blue/purple circular pinch bowl that I made by rolling tiny balls of clay and pressing them into a bisqued bowl mold. It’s a fun easy project for when you have days that your clay just won’t cooperate on the pottery wheel but you still want to accomplish something. Beside it are a couple of new yarns that will be heading to the shop soonish. One is my Oak Leaves in Fall for a challenge involving this photograph:

This is a bowl that I handbuilt and printed with a lace doily.

And, here are a couple freeform dishes that I made

I don’t want to overwhelm you with pottery photos however, so for those interested, the evergrowing photo collection of pottery is here.

I am starting to plan for a whole bunch of different types of clubs for yarn and pottery and tea and so on and so forth so more details to come on that very soon. :)

For the month of April I have started a ‘Make your own Supplies-along‘ in which you make some of your own creative add-ins for art yarns, share your methods and tutorials or just inspire us with pictures and ideas! So, join in!

Here are some loomed flowers I made:

This weekend also we are having an Easter Bunny Spin-along so, pull out your wheel and spin along with us! It’s the last day of the work week today! Woo hoo!

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