treasures I brought home

I love what I do because I feel like people ask me to take pictures and hang out with amazing people and this weekend was the ultimate amazing-people-hanging-out-time. When Becky approached me asking if I'd be interested in taking photos and documenting City of Craft 2011 a few months ago, I didn't even hesitate to say yes! I knew it would be a weekend of inspiration being surrounded by so many talented vendors. Now City of Craft has come and gone and it was amazing. I hope you had the chance to drop by.

I wanted to bring home so much more but I had to practice much self-restraint.

I got a Squirrel Crest Bottle from rcboisjoli for my brother because I saw him eyeing it when he came to visit me at the show.

Some very soothing balm from Truth & Beauty for my ever growing belly (it has worked really well so far too!)

I couldn't resist getting this pretty necklace for myself from the talented duo, Caboto!

This lovable Lucky Number 13 Cat from Fools Gold will probably keep char siu bao company in the nursery!

A few shots I took this weekend are already up! You can see them in this flickr set. Watch for more in the coming weeks!

good mail

I feel extremely lucky to win Elizabeth Dunker's giveaway she hosted awhile ago. It is a print from her shop and brand Fine Little Day!

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth's art and creations, but most of all, her photography of her everyday life is a huge inspiration to me.

I love this print "Baboab". I already have a frame picked out for it. I have been collecting things to hang on our empty walls for awhile now, and I can't wait to find the perfect spot for it!

Thank you so much Elizabeth!

A show in slow motion

My friend’s father is an avid gardener, and I will never forget what he told me in the first year I decided to tackle our garden.

His goal was to make his garden like a slow motion fireworks show. As some flowers fall out of bloom, others are coming up so that something is always in bloom. I just imagine a time lapse movie of the whole summer when I think about this, and how beautiful it would be.

Now that we are in our new place, we don’t have a garden for me to work on this year. We have to figure out the hardscape first, but that is a task I will leave for another year. For now, I am growing small things in pots, and I really enjoy seeing how the gardens are changing everyday in my new neighbourhood.

flower shop break

I took a break from work and went for a little walk. Spring is all around us, I wanted to catch some of it.

I stopped by my favourite flower shop, Jaidens Petals.

Dani was kind enough to let me look around and take some pictures. I love her style, and she always has the best window displays.

After a little chat, I brought back this sweet little bouquet home

That was a lovely break, now back to work I go.

Welcome spring!

The weather has been wonderful in the city since March arrived! Hopefully spring is here to stay! We got 2 prints, illustrated by the incredibly sweet and talented Melinda Josie, to welcome spring into our home!

The first one is of a handsome Mr. Fox, playing in a clover field. Clover is my favourite, their petals are heart shaped! I have never found a four leaf clover yet, have you?

The other is Dre, at a springtime tea party! Melinda told Jin and I that you know it is Dre, because of his pointy head (yes, Dre is a boy! How cute!).

I love our new pieces of art, and I cannot wait to find a perfect frame for them and hang them on our very blank walls. Rosalyn got the same prints, and I picked hers up for her. I cannot wait to deliver these beauties to her tonight, I know she will squeal!

I am excited to see what Melinda's next print will be! Check her blog, and her store for her current and upcoming prints!

p.s. I like the way she wrote our names! Such attention to detail!

house numbers

I have an aunt and uncle that bought a house because it had a good number.

It was the number "8". "8" means fortune in chinese, so whoever lives at "888" has fortune x 3!

"42" is not a good number, from what I understand, it can be interpreted as "easy to die". The number "4" is death, and "2" is easy.

"17" doesn't mean anything (I don't think it does anyways!). I just love how perfectly it is carved out of the fence. I think it would be really elegant if it was backlit at night. Jin loves house numbers that light up. It is easy to find.

I don't really believe that house numbers determines your fate, but part of me wishes I had an eight.

do certain numbers mean anything in your culture?

Julia

Speaking of food, has anyone seen the movie Julie and Julia?? I watched it last week, and I absolutely loved it!

I knew nothing about Julia Child before the movie came out (I know, shame on me), but after I learned more about her, I felt so inspired and hopeful! It gives me hope that even later on in life, I could find myself and find my joy. And that the concept of "being in your prime years" when you are young is just silly pressure that people put on themselves.

Meryl Streep was simply amazing! I have starry eyes for her! Like I said, I did not know anything about Julia Child, but if she was anything like Meryl's interpretation of her, I would love to be as bubbly and positive as she always seemed to be.

2 Travel Journals

Admiring these travel journals from these 2 talented ladies.
Yurio Seki (first 3 photos) and Sara Midda (last 3 photos).

up, up, and away!

When I was a very very little girl, I wanted to be a Disney animator. Watching the new animated movie that came out each year was one of the highlights of my youth. Now, how did I end up here? I guess animation wasn't my passion after all!

But I watched the movie "UP" this week, and it blew me away! 3D animation has come such a long way over the years, not only are the graphics stunning, but the story was just so full of goodness! It made happy, sad, laugh and cry. Wow!

I hope you all get to see it. It has inspired me to go on more adventures, and to include more helium balloons in my life.

beautiful balloon photos via danisoul, emilie79*, leanncannon, and me respectively.

I am a fan

Speaking of housewares, wouldn't you love to own a dish, or a teacup from Studio Violet? I love Elizabeth and Camilla's work. Seeing their work tickles my eyes and inspires my heart.
Watch them work in this great video here.

via Lena Corwin

the next project

We planted a box of flowers on our front porch. Pansies. I love that it comes in so many different colours! I wish I was one of those people who could make a beautiful arrangement with various different types of plants in one planter, but the variety of colours in these pansies amaze me for now!

I am starting a quilt for my friend, and she requested a purple and yellow quilt. Definately not my most comfortable colour combination. But I looked to my colourful box of flowers for inspiration.

I keep changing my design, hopefully it will settle soon, and I can show it to you.

A little collection : Inspirations for patchwork

Gee's Bend Quilt Exhibition via elizabeth



2008 Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival via Karyn



Rie Elise Larson



"sugar" by Vanilla Bug via Joanna



Fun Makes Good via Design*Sponge



"tiles tiles tiles" by famapa

Gathering ideas for my future quilts to come.

Gee's Bend Quilt Exhibition blew me away with patchwork forms I have never come across before!

I love the prominent quilted stitches from the quilt in the 2008 Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival, and quilts by Rie Elise Larson

gathering inspirations from objects and art like "sugar", Fun Makes Good, and "tiles tiles tiles"!!