New Pieces Hot off the pliers

I've been creating some new jewellery to freshen up my shop, found some great vintage pieces this summer at estate sales that were dying for a makeover.

I  also realized, when I was sorting through my shop, that I had sold all my copper and silver linked bracelets so I made a few new pieces.

It's been a beautiful weekend so I tried to get outside a bit too. I went to a movie with Mom and Sis last night. Have you seen Sarah's Key? I read the book a few months ago and had no idea they made a movie about it until my sister suggested it. I loved the movie... I had no idea that went on in France during the war.

I also traded a wicker bookcase for a dvd storage unit with my mom. I'm using the video storage piece for my paints and ribbons! Good idea huh? Fits perfectly under my long narrow desk.

What is it with Fall

I don't understand why it is that as the summer weather starts to wind down or should I say chill down that I find myself with the urge to pick up my yarns and needles again!
I mean most days it's still hot and sticky and the thought of hairy yarns on my lap makes me shudder but I do sort through my yarns and get them all organized and am usually inspired to create something new.

I learned to crochet a few months back so have been practising that usually with cotton but I made a monkey and lamb hat a few weeks ago. And after a sort and clean up of my yarn truck I was inspired to make this wonderful neckwarmer, scarf wrap. I never know what to call these things... they are so soft and warm and with the addition of some felted wool flowers truly wonderful!!
I couldn't help myself... I posted it in my shop and am making another one just for me!

This is my friend Kate modelling. Kate's a co-worker or should I say traitor. She's leaving our office to follow her career path and grow. Good for her, but I'll miss her like crazy and not just for the modelling!

Finally... More on Sam the Snowman

I'd been making Christmas ornaments to stock up my shop for the Christmas season. I love the Rudolph Christmas special and the narrator snowman character played by Burl Ives sets the scene and raises goosebumps of excited anticipation everytime I hear it. It really sets up the Christmas season for me. Weird huh? Brings out the kid in me I guess.
I finally found the ribbon I wanted to trim these up with, so I finished them off this morning and listed them in my shop.

It's been a busy week, I've busy knitting and crocheting some headwarmers and scarves and stuff for my other shop. I also did a jewellery workshop at work for charity so I had a lot of preparation for that too.

Yesterday I had had enough with always having to sort through my yarn stash when I needed to find something. Needles and half-finished projects were scattered through out my yarn trunk. Mom came over to help me organize it. It was freeing. Doesn't it always figure though, the minute you clean up, that's the moment that the muse strikes. I'm finishing up something I started yesterday that was inspired my stash! Keep posted!

Crocheting with Mom

Crochet often said as "Crotchity"... which is funny actually, because I've been doing both with mom over the past few weeks. I've only learned how to do this a few months ago. The crochet anyway, the crochety-ness I've kind of evolved over the years.

Anyway...I finally figured out how to hold the work and the hook and figure out that there is a pattern to when and how often you wrap that yarn around the hook and how many hoops you pull through at a time.  Who knew?! I used to pretend I knew what I was doing but now that I actually know what I'm doing it's all coming together.
I totally annoy my mom that I now do it better than her. (I sure wouldn't say that!!) those were her words when I started adding a second colour to my work with this monkey hat. I've even felted it.

She's been working on some snowflakes that she wanted to sell in my shop. She's worked so hard on them and when I told her that I likely wouldn't get more than $3.00 each for them she wasn't phased. So we blocked them and stiffened them with Paverpol, took pictures, wrote copy and put them in my shop. I hope they sell, she'll be so excited!
They can be found in either of my etsy shops.

www.littlebitwired.etsy.com
www.nancyperennec.etsy.com

I also made a cute little lamb hat... couldn't help myself... it reminded me of lamb chop and you know I love puppets!

Heaven's Spectacular Lightshow

The Heaven's must have had one heck of a rock concert tonight. Standing outside on my balcony during tonights thunderstorm was SPECTACULAR! It was exactly like being at a concert with flashes going off constantly. I tried to capture some of the fabulous bolts but got nothing but pictures that looked like I'd taken them at 5pm. It was 9:30 pm when I stood out there. I gave up and just pointed my camera at the lightshow and hoped to capture a couple great strikes. I'm about 20 minutes from the CN tower which attracts lightning like crazy of course. So I pointed in that general direction but the lighting was all over the place. North towards the airport and south over the lake, it was behind me to the west and east of me where I pointed. The lightning when sideways across the sky in streaming bolts and shot down from the heavens like a bolt from Zeus's mighty hand!

Luckily the rain wasn't strong on my side of the apartment building or I wouldn't have been standing out there taking these shots. Here's the few shots I captured. I just wonder what that strange orange trailer is? It's almost like that's the extension cord that plugged the sucker in. See how the lightning is like two streams of blue and then the twisted stream of orange. Click on the photos to see them larger. It appears in two shots. How strange? Does anyone know why this is?

RIP Jack Layton

An important political figure in Canada passed away this week. It's very sad, and seems very sudden inspite of the knowledge of his cancer. God Bless his family at this time.

Jack Layton drew young Canadian's with his interest in their well-being. He brought them into polling stations to cast their vote and changed the political balance in this country. His thoughts on the future of their Canada brought Canadians across the country together. He will be missed.

There is thunder and lightning in the air tonight as live through an impending tornado watch, and I watch the taped proceedings of Jack Layton's lie in state in Ottawa. The ground in front of City Hall here in his home town of Toronto are filled with chalk messages to Jack and his family. His body will return to Toronto on Saturday for a celebration of his life. The CN tower will be flooded with orange light to commemorate Jack.
My condolences to his family, his colleagues and all Canadians on the loss of a man so well respected in Canadian politics.

RIP Jack Layton

Exciting News!! SNEAK PEEK!

Fellow members of ADO  (Art Dolls Only) have been working diligently to complete our first ADO E-zine with a wide variety of articles, tutorials, interviews and tons of lovely photographs. 

They are planning to launch at the end of September but a sneak peek is available! 
Click the photo below to sneak a peek at our much anticipated for e-Zine!