Happy Hallowe'en

Just a quick note today, to extend warm wishes for a Happy Hallowe'en to you all.

Today I will be cleaning and cooking, preparing a feast before the trick-or-treating this evening. Each year we have a meal at the 'the good table' and set an extra place for any spirits who may want to partake with us. It is a time to remember those who have passed.

Tonight I will sip some wine and reflect on the passing year. I will resolve to remove the negative obstacles on my path and look toward creating a brighter future.

Before bed I will lay the cards and toss stones, and meditate on their meanings, accepting the guidance they provide.

Somewhere in there I'll also make brownies... because I am certain my kidlet will hoard his candy stash from his dear old mum and dad. I don't blame him one bit. ;)

Cheeky Snowballs and Holiday Schedule 2013

The first batch of snowballs of the season are completed! Woo hoo! Yay! Hip hip hooray!

While the regular sized snowballs dry on my mantle, these little mini fellows are already gussied up. I'm sure my house will look like a blizzard has struck by weeks end with all that snowy glittery goodness messing the place up :)

For those interested in my holiday selling schedule: 

The ONLY craft show I am doing this season is at Applefest Lodge in Brighton on November 9th. It's a teeny weeny show with only a handful of vendors but I'll be there with bells on and lots of nice things in tow.

I have an exhibit at Impresartio Artisan Market in Cobourg for the month of December. I ALWAYS have work available here and I love that shop with all my heart (and Rebecca is the bees knees.) Not sure when the 'opening' will be but I'll post when a date is firmed up.

The studio will be open a handful of days in December. Want to come and poke around for holiday gifts at the studio? Excellent. As soon as my schedule is sorted I will post a list of 'open door' days. These will likely be mid-December.

Finally, I WILL be reserving items specifically for the etsy shop. I will post on the blog and on the facebook page when the listings are live.

Smoochy boochies lovely people!

Good Morning: Wishes and chills

It's another chilly morning here. I do like chilly frosty mornings. I'll take them over sweaty, stinkin' hot boilers any day. The dog is MUCH happier too. It's the husky in him... poor thing is miserable in the heat of summer. We're both feeling rather perky today.

The frost is starting to form in earnest now and it's beautiful. Everything is edged and embellished in cold glitter.

Even our BBQ is pretty. Just look at that landscape of ice.

Thank goodness for the abundance of inspiration for the winter projects that I'm working on.

Pleased toadstools

I am smitten!

I've made harvested a big batch of these funny toadstools. They are rather pleased with themselves. I'd be pleased with myself too if I were a red spotted toadstool.

My camera and the weather are not cooperating today, but once I can grab a few good snapshots there will be a couple of these listed in the etsy shop (however most will be heading over to Impresario Artisan Market for sale at some point this weekend).

ETA: HERE are the listings that will be available for the time being. There is one large and one small toadstool listed.

And one last picture for good measure :)

Morning Inspiration: Frost

It's getting nippy. The past few mornings have see a bit of frost on the ground, but I do believe today takes the cake with beautiful little shards of ice covering everything in the shade. It's quite beautiful. That lovely frosty coating and then the sun reflecting off of tiny bits of ice. Some people would say it glistens like diamonds... but I prefer glitter ;).

Getting these shots was an interesting process because as the sun quickly rose and the air warmed those little bits of ice melted... and fast! You could see the melting right before your eyes. Fascinating and sort of sad at the same time. All that hard work Jack Frost put into placing that ice just-so and 'poof!' it's gone.

Sweet Sentiments and Spooky Peek-a-boo tag

Graphic 45 is revealing MORE gorgeousness on their blog today. It's day 8 of their sneak peek at their brand new collection "Sweet Sentiments". Being a big fan of butterflies, flowers and vintage images, I can't wait to get my hands on it!

There are a ton of great projects and eyecandy on the blog today so hop over there!

One of the projects mentioned on the blog (and actually rather spooky, and not sweet at all) is my peek-a-boo tag.

Heck, there's even a viddy tute to go along with it!

And the supply list:

Steampunk Spells

Fanciful Floral

Frightful Folly

Steampunk Spells Banners

Steampunk Spells Chipboard 1

Steampunk Spells 6x6 Patterns & Solids

Graphic 45 Staples:
Regular Tag Album

Ornate Metal Key Holes
Ornate Metal Keys

Scor-Pal

Scor-Tape

Petaloo Flowers and leaves

May Arts Ribbons
Gina’s Design Small Fence and Gate Set

Pottin'

So I tossed another bunch of clay bits into the fire pit. Here's the haul that came out...

Notice how every piece is fine and dandy except for the nice moon face at the bottom... the ONE piece I would have like to have survived. Such is life. *sigh*

I AM happy that those lovely bits at the top left came out unscathed because little hands made them! Here's a better look at what young visitors created when they popped by the studio the other week...

I love the work kids create. Perhaps because it's made with interest and excitement and not toward some unrealistic end. Kids, generally, get true joy from the process of making.

Finally, all those little squares on the bottom left corner are this little city of houses. They are currently standing at attention on my kitchen table waiting for some arty affection. I think they are rather nice lined up in neat little rows. Perhaps they need a town to call their own.


Oh! One last little note. There are three new large mandrakes available in the etsy shop...

 ... and a handful of brand new mini mandrakes too!