Winter in Phoenix...

is a heck of a lot nicer than winter in Vancouver. I came home to freezing rain, from sunny skies and 83 degree temps. This city as some fantastic art galleries, Mexican restaurants and there's a place called the Sugar Barrel that makes the BEST ice cream sundaes. Oh yum.

A leisurely Wednesday off...

I'm lucky. I get Wednesdays off now, and I LOVE it! It's my day to do whatever I want to... I can take the boy for a walk, make some art, or do this. Nothing. Sometimes that is my favourite thing to do. And Henry is always happy to oblige and keep me company. My dirty little secret is that I've been watching The Young and the Restless for 20 years. It used to be on at 5, so I could catch it when I got home from work. They changed it a few years ago, so now its on at 3, so I never, ever watch it anymore. Except on Wednesdays. Really, as with most soaps, you really only need to watch it once a week, and you'll still be in the loop. I'm not proud that I watch this... its just been a part of my life for so long, I'll probably never kick the habit. And that's OK! I'll just have to do more Sudoku puzzles to make up for it.

Family Hamper

Every year for the past 8 years, we've done a hamper for a needy family through North Shore Family Services. This is our hamper this year, and I was really happy with how it turned out! Henry liked it too.

Toronto has some great graffiti!

Henry sitting still, an unusual sight!

One of a Kind Show & Sale

As usual, we'll be doing the full 11 days at the show this year. we're BOOTH R32, so come by and see us if you're going to be there! The show runs from Nov. 22-Dec. 2.
It's a fantastic show, and I'm excited because we just found out the show will be coming to Vancouver next Christmas!

Windy Day

The Studio

I was experimenting at work a few weeks ago with my new camera... I took these with the macro feature, I think they turned out pretty well!
I'm afraid we have a mouse in the house, er, studio... I've found some "evidence" to suggest it, but still haven't seen the little rodent. I'd love to see what Henry would do if it ventured out during the day. Probably nothing, based on his actions on a recent walk with my mother in law. She said a garter snake crossed right over their path. Did this Australian Silky (bred to kill snakes) do anything? Nope! Didn't even notice it!

My studio...

I'm a jewellery designer. These (minus the monster pencil topper!) are some of my "tools of the trade". I got a new camera for my birthday, and have been having so much fun fooling around with it. These photos were taken with the macro feature. I just love the black and white... everything just looks, well, better in B+W, don't you think?

WOW! I haven't posted in a while.

It's been a busy summer, and I use the term summer loosely. The weather has been mostly crap, a couple of heat waves during the week, then clouds and drizzle on the weekend...

Here we were at the dog park a couple of weeks ago, on a nice sunny evening. This dog is MAD for this frisbee. He is almost embarassing when we first bring it out. The yipping and sqeaking noises that come out of him are quite bizarre, but once we throw it a few times, he gets tired and can't make the noise through the panting...

The Kootney's

This is a slideshow of our recent road trip through the Kootney's. Such a beautiful province we live in!

I...CAN'T...GET...THIS....SONG...

out of my head! And i LOVE it!
It's by a Swedish group called Peter Bjorn and John. Love it, love the video. Love love love! I've been whistling it all day!

But can you make me look like Gisele?

Last night I had a few of my friends and family over for a night of make up! One of my employee's is a make up artist, and this is something she does as a side... make up lessons. She also does weddings, graduations and special occasion make up.

I don't wear very much make up in general, but I've always wanted to have my make up done professionally. I told her to go crazy, do whatever she wanted... so she gave me an evening smoky eye look.

Check out her website...

www.http://www.patriciabanzigermakeupartist.com/

SAINTS Animal Rescue

This is an organization that gives me a renewed faith in human beings. SAINTS is an end-of-life sanctuary for senior and special needs animals that have nowhere else to go. How anyone could abandon a member of their family when they need them most is beyond me, but that's what a place like this is so needed!
Since they've opened in December of 2004, SAINTS has had over a hundred and fifty animals come in through it's doors. Forty-nine of them have been adopted into wonderful loving homes. Forty-two have passed away in loving care at SAINTS and the remaining 65 still call SAINTS their home.
I'm so glad there are pople like this in the world.
http://www.saintsrescue.ca/index.htm

Hare there...

and everywhere!

Warren photographed this wild hare up at Whistler. You can see that it's changing colour from its winter white to brown.

Arcade Fire

Went and saw Arcade Fire at Deer Lake in Burnaby tonight. What an amazing show. These people are true musicians... they put everything they've got into putting on a great show.
It's an outdoor venue, and thankfully the weather was beautiful today... it was a good nght!
Check out their website... it's one of the coolest I've seen...

I love graffiti

I discovered a new piece of graffiti on my way home from work the other day, and it just delighted me!
I have no idea what it says in the sign, hopefully it's not anything too offensive, but the gnome just gave me a good chuckle... if anyone has any idea's of what he's trying to say, will you let me know?

Etsy Treasury

http://www.etsy.com/treasury.php?id=1179741318207U5018506

I was featured in an Etsy treasury recently, click on the link to see the rest! If you don't know what Etsy is, check out www.etsy.com, and you will see some of the coolest art and craft in the world. There are sellers there from all over the world, and it's just a great artist community.

Is summer here yet??????

This was a couple of summer's ago on a trip up to Naramata, B.C. wine country. It is so beautiful up there, and everywhere you go they give you free wine to try! It is PURE heaven! This was at one of my very favourites, Elephant Island. They make the most delicious fruit wine, and they use the fruit from their own orchard. Henry wasn't very happy that he wasn't allowed in, but he survived. See the link below to check out the winery for yourself.
http://www.elephantislandwine.com/

I heart my hometown!

This is the fountain in front of the art gallery. It has some beautiful mosaic work that just sparkles in the sun. Not that we've SEEN much of the sun this year, but summer is upon us, and the May long weekend! And yes, the forecast says..............................Rain.