new work

Esmae came downstairs this morning, saw the new piece I'm working on, and said "OOOOOH, BEEOOOO-FUL!" Sweet critique! She's generally a fan.

I just started this yesterday for AWOL's annual Square Foot show, Friday August 5th - 21st, 2011, opening on Saturday, August 6th at 7pm:  http://www.awolgallery.com/square_foot/

It's wood burning. I just discovered, at my local lumber yard, "karate boards", square pine boards that are meant for breaking! Right now I am working with damask and floral patterns, but this has inspired me to start doing some drawings of karate chops and kicks....

Esmae's Sketchbook

I created a blog just for Esmae's drawings. And collages, and photos, and.... all things that she makes, which I'm sure will only expand as she gets older. I hope she always loves to draw as much as she does now.
Here's her very own blog address: http://esmaessketchbook.blogspot.com/

Zilberschmuck

Yes, that's a real word. It translates (from German) to silver little treasures. I was introduced to this great little jewelry shop/gallery yesterday afternoon.  http://www.zilberschmuck.com/  What a splendid way to treat myself on the last day of the school year! The jewelry is delicious and brilliantly made. I purchased these two beauties - a lost-wax cast silver pebble pendant with a tiny blue topaz by Anat Kaplan http://www.anoukjewelry.com/  and a "One Footer" sterling ring by Dorothée Rosen, http://dorotheerosen.ca/, who I just discovered is also a graduate of NSCAD. 

Cake, Party hats, Loot bags...

Esmae's 2nd birthday party is on Sunday. I just ordered this amazing cake from Dufflet's. Simple vanilla layer cake with vanilla buttercream. Their website is amazing - they have images of all of their cakes with drool-inducing descriptions, price list, online ordering... it's brilliant. And their cakes are awesome. I can't wait!  http://www.dufflet.com

I looked everywhere (in vain), for party hats that did not have princesses or Disney characters! Failing that, I just downloaded a template for a simple party hat from http://www.firstpalette.com/. They have a lot of pretty hokey "kids' craft" stuff, but a few great printable designs - a wicked pinwheel template and some sweet butterfly colouring pages (though Esmae generally draws in a blank sketchbook.) I don't plan to have any organized games or activities, but the kids can colour their own hats and plaster them with stickers! This also goes along with the craft paper loot bags that Esmae decorated herself for her guests to take home. I know you're wondering - loot bag contents: beaded necklace, glass ring, small blank sketchbook, a pencil with novelty eraser, a few pages of stickers, a mini Slinky, some noisemakers and balloons, and a tiny dump truck. Fun for all!