Up and Away in Paris

Here's the first of my creations from yesterday.

So sweet and charming.  A little bit of Paris to adorn your neck!

You can find it here in my etsy shop.

Charmed Inspirations

I was so happy when I found these gorgeous verdigris patinaed brass balloon charms this morning. I bought them months ago but they somehow managed to evade me in the last while.  As you can imagine I have alot of beads...but that's another story and one I'll share in a future post as I slowly get my studio in order.  After our trip to Paris two years ago you'll find it is a constant source of inspiration for me.

Today I'm working from my kitchen.  With the windows open and a slightly cooler breeze coming in I can hear the songbirds and the inspiration for another necklace.

I should have these new necklaces listed in my etsy shop shortly.  Stay tuned!

What's so Funny?

A little joke between friends.

Wish I knew what was so funny!

Meeko and Mabel.

Mystery in the Garden

The other day I came home to this. Some of my plants in my front containers had been uprooted.

Using my awesome detective skills I learned while reading mysteries when I was younger, watching the original and early years of CSI and of course being a mom I figured this mystery out.

Upon closer inspection and deductive reasoning (well I actually just lifted one of the plants) and look what I found.  A peanut.  Well that narrows it down.  I have never tried to grow peanuts nor do I tend to hide them for future use.

I know who you are.  I believe you're the same fellow that has recently come to enjoy straddling the pole of my birdfeeder.  You haven't quite figured that one out as well as I watch you reach the top, arms and legs fully stretched out slide back slowly down the pole.  You're left with eating what's fallen to the ground. The sparrows win again.  I know you'll be back but just remember I'm watching you!

I found my new addiction!

My name is Nancy and I'm becoming a stamp addict.  I made this bird after lunch today and the flower and heart yesterday.  My mind is busy thinking of images, drawing and carving out these beautiful stamps.  Playing with the ink is equally as fun.  The best part though is lifting up the stamp and seeing what printed underneath.  It's like opening a present.  

A day with Geninne

This weekend I took a step out of my somewhat routine life and went to the most fabulous workshop.  In fact my sister and one of her daughters drove in from Montreal to attend as well and make it a weekend visit.   The workshop was led by Geninne a talented artist from Mexico.  When I 'discovered' Geninne's shop on Etsy I fell for her work immediately.  Gorgeous, vivid colours, birds and nature mixed with postcard images and lettering. A girl after my own heart.

It was held at Bookhou a bright and gorgeous shop on Dundas Street in Toronto filled with textile work by Arounna. It was lovely to be in the company of such creative women and artists.  For me it was a definite change of pace from jewellery making.  I haven't drawn (except for my constant doodling while on the phone) and I haven't picked up a brush for years except to paint my walls.  It definitely pushed me artistically. 

My handdrawn image is transfered onto a soft block and I'm beginning to carve out the flower.

Experimenting with different coloured inks.

Finished off with a mini lesson of watercolour painting.

A sample of the amazing stamps from the class.

I came away with a wonderful creative energy and my eyes open to new ideas.

Yesterday we picked up supplies so we can make more stamps today. (I think we've become slightly obsessed). With my sister here it feels like I'm on holiday so no worries about the household things - laundry and vacuuming can wait for another day.  Today we're going to pop some tunes on the ipod and sit down with our daughters to make more stamps.

The Season of Rhubarb

Lovely pink stalks with bright green leaves are a sure sign that summer is here.  This week we received our first delivery of our organic farm share.  Eager to use rhubarb for the very first time, I found a delicious recipe for a rhubarb upside down cake.  Not too sweet, not too tart.  The cake is moist and has a light vanilla flavouring and is perfect when served warm out of the oven with it's buttery carmelized topping.  Best of all you can make it in minutes.

Upside Down Rhubarb Cake

Ingredients:

Base:
•2 tbsp (25 mL) butter
•1/2 cup (125 mL) packed brown sugar
•3 cups (750 mL) coarsley sliced Ontario Rhubarb

Cake:
•1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, softened
•3/4 cup (175 mL) granulated sugar
•2 eggs
•1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
•1-1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
•2 tsp (10 mL) baking powder
•1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
•1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) nutmeg
•1 cup (250 mL) sour cream or plain yogurt

Preparation:
Base: In 8 inch (2 L) square non-aluminium baking dish, heat butter in 350°F (180°C) oven for about 5 minutes or until melted. Sprinkle brown sugar and then rhubarb evenly in dish; set aside.

Cake: In bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla. Stir together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Stir into creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, making three additions of each.

Spread batter over rhubarb. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until top springs back when lightly pressed. Let cool on rack for 15 minutes. Run knife around edge of pan; invert cake onto serving plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Recipe from Foodland Ontario.

Other things inspired by rhubarb.

Rhubarb Rose Chalcedony Necklace handmade by Fiveforty.

A gorgeous rhubarb coloured ceramic button from White Clover Kiln.

Delicious rhubarb orange jelly to liven up your morning toast from Bovinebubbles.