Colour

As of late, I have taken on an unfortunate (but only temporary) job that is taking up all my time.  I have not been making nearly as much fun stuff as I'd like.  I did get inspired by buying a new pair of running shoes (to tempt me to run more)... and this freed up the old pair for something colourful.  I made the new shoe (left) out of my old sneakers (right).  All I had to do was lop off the top of the shoe, dive into my leather scraps and use lots of glue.  Now I have a 'new' pair of sandals...prefect for all those mild days in  March.

Skating...More

I am trying something new today.

Here is a skating video I took last year on the canal.  I love my super speedy speed skates.  It not the world's most exciting video, but think of the possibilities!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvFADQO1eDc]

Skate Cake

Another party this weekend...thus another cake to be made.

For this one, I made a handy carry sack for it, so I could have a skate-cake.

 

Norval Morriseau

As much as I like winter, sometimes it there can be long stretches of grey and wintery wearyness.  It was such an amazing burst of colour to see the Norval Morrisseau exhibition at the National Gallery.  He is the first aboriginal artist to have a solo exhibtion at the National Gallery.  It is on until April, and a Must See show...all that beautiful colour and life and shapes and energy.  Bring a sketchbook and take some time to look at the details.  These paintings will make you want to go crazy with colour.  I know I do not do a Morrisseau any justice, but here's my sketch, with some colour and digital manipulation added with photoshop.  I have to go back just to be near these amazing paintings again...

 

Mascot

My friend Yvette was visiting this weekend.  She's always up for interacting with mascots, and the Giant Tiger tiger on the canal was no exception.  I was trying to find if the tiger has a name, but it seems that the tiger is nameless...  I almost got a job at a mascot company a few years ago.  That would have been fun. If your hunkering to see more mascots go to these places: Facemakers, International Mascot, Sugar Costumes. Mascots Galore!  Thanks Yvette, for finding hilarity in the most unlikely places!

Cupcakes (again)

Yesteday, I attended the baby shower (twins!) for Jenny and Patrick Gordan (framer for the arts community in Ottawa).  I brought cupcakes, all real.  Yum :)  Babies: very tiny. 

Cake Shoes

I have been in a bit a shoe frenzy lately.  Recently I finished these dreamy cake shoes.  I have been working a series of cakes and I always like to push the concept a little father.  Thus, Cake Shoes were created.  How nice is it to think that I can slip on a pair of cakes at the end of a long day?  I can't wait to wear them outside...I'll have to wait for spring.  Its just like when I got a pair of rollerskates for my birthday (January) and could only use them inside for months...

 

I was tagged for 4 things, so here it goes:

4 jobs*
Only 4? I’ve had about 26, and counting...here's some interesting ones:

-construction site worker

-driver to Margaret Atwood’s mother (yes, the author)

-production and design assistant at a belt factory (fancy, expensive ladies belts)

-ceramic elephant maker

*movies I watch over and over*

-Napoleon dynamite

-I have to admit to the Sound of Music

-Cheech and Chong movies (who doesn’t watch those over and over?)

-oops, that's only 3...I'm not much of repetitive movie watcher.

*4 books*
Blindness, Jose Saramango

Orynx and Craick, Margaret Atwood

A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry

The Fountainhead, Ann Rand

*4 places I have lived*

Ottawa

Toronto

North Bay

Milton

*4 TV shows*
not really a show, but the news

Entertainment tonight or some other celebrity gossip dribble

Will and Grace

Jeopardy

*4 vacations*
Tuktoyuktuk, NWT

Newfoundland

Cuba

Scotland

*4 fav dishes*
Sushi

Pho

lebanese

Anything curry

*4 daily sites*
Tania

I heart sensible shoes

Google

CBC

*4 places I would rather be*
At my studio

in a sensory deprivation float tank

on a mode of transportation, getting somewhere: boat, plane, car, bike etc..

in bed

4 Tags

I can only think of 2: Lisa and emilele

Trippen

My friend Lisa was visiting this weekend and reminded me of the Berlin shoe company Trippen.  They make the coolest shoes Ever!  I am drooling over this pair.  Their web page is an excellent way to spend a few minutes dreaming of your new favorite pair of shoes. 

Toronto

Toronto was grey and very un-wintery.  It was like permanent November or March.  Not a speck of snow in sight.  This bright mural brightened up the landscape, off of Queen St.

The flower says:

I also went to the Textile Museum to see the bug exhibit.  It was Cool!
All made of bugs:

Visitors

At long last, Tania and Paul are coming to visit!  we are going skate (the canal has opened for their arrival) and maybe be go bowling.  Too bad the Bingo closed, but that might be one too many activities!  When would we have time to nap? I am going back to Toronto with them for a few days to have some slushy-Toronto winter fun. 

Here's another artist that I need to put in my 'Artists that Inspire' listing: Allyson MItchell.  She makes some cool things and then makes films of them and lots of other stuff!

Cute Boots

Here's some boots I fancied up with some leather scraps.  It makes me feel jaunty in the winter.

Icicles

There are some really lovely icicles hanging from the roof of my buidling.  I almost got impaled by one the other day, but I was quick and jumped out of the way.  Caution: Falling Ice!

Just one word....

 

Rock? or Mitten?

My friend Lisa (post more on your blog, lisa!!!) sent me the best thing for my birthday.  It is a little mitten shaped rock she found at Presqu'ile Provincial Park.  Through the magic of a little photoshop, this is an image of both sides of the rock.  Two textures!  What a treasure!

Birds

There are a few little hiking trails out near Kanata. Jason and I walked around one on the weekend in brrrr.....cold.  Its so nice there because all the chickadees come and sit on your hand to eat bird seeds.  They are so cute, I want to take them home.

Then I had to look up that saying:  "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".  But what does it mean???   

"The things we already have are more valuable than the things we only hope to get".

So I have 2 birds in my hand...I must be very rich :)

Advance Polls

I have been working as a Central Poll Supervisor this weekend for Elections Canada for the Advance Poll.  It has been kind of fun (and a little stresful).  Looks like I'll be working on election day too. Never a dull moment.  Go Vote!

This is as close as I could come to taking pictures of any polling station.  They are very strict about no-photos inside the building.  Oh, the Rules! 

Thanks!

Thanks to tania for brightening a dreary day with birthday month fun!

Napping

It is so yuck and raining and wet and cold out today, it seems like the perfect day to read my napping book by SARK that a friend gave me recently.  I especially like the part about how " the more naps you take, the more money you will make."  It seems that my cat Buckely is enjoying learning a lot from the book.

Skating

The beautiful Rideau Canal opened for skating on the weekend.  I was very excited.  Jason and I did a tour and stoped for hot chocolate along the way.  I didn't go too fast on my speed skates, just taking it easy for the first time out. 

Its getting a bit warmer this week, so I hope the canal stays open.  It seems that Tania also went for a skate in Toronto.  yay for winter fun!

Capricorn

I'd have to say this is one the best horoscopes I've had, ever.  I found it in this week's Express(ottawa's entertainment newspaper).  I rarely read them, but sometimes browse through them.  Hope all capricorns have a good year (well, and everyone else too :) with all the conjuring that will be going on.