Moving Forward

I know I have badly neglected this blog. In fact, I can’t even remember what I last wrote about or when.  The summer got busy, I was working more intensive weeks, I returned to Sunday markets, Carson needs more attention…all of those excuses would be valid.  Plus I ran out of image memory.  That sucks.  If I can’t add photos, I don’t really want to post.  Anyways, all those things and a major shift for me to get my products out into the retail world has led me to move to a new blog.  Please head over to www.lovemonkeydesign.wordpress.com to check it out.  It won’t be as personal as this was.  I think I am over that for now.  I am sure somewhere down the road I will want to come back to that aspect of blogging but not yet.  For now I will be concentrating on the new blog and on my etsy shop.  I hope you can check them out!  There are some neat things going on over there. 

BIG Boy

So Carson turned two last Thursday and it has been such a whirlwind week I haven’t even had time to post about it  (well, in true lovemonkey style the birthday festivities are far from over.)  Thursday was a nice day, starting with a couple little gifts from Nick & me then off to Tammy’s to celebrate with the little ladies and some homemade sugar cookies.   Then this weekend we had a couple of friends from Vancouver & Squamish around and Carson loved that.  He is extremely social, even giving kisses without prompting.  Today, being Sunday, is the “actual” party (although there will be a second one next weekend with the cousins).   We are headed to the beach for some fun with all Carson’s little girlfriends and one boyfriend.  Next week we head to Vancouver for some celebrations with the grandparents and the rest of the family.  Plus we have a secret day planned for our little Thomas the Train obsessed little man.  Whew, who knew 2 was such a good year??

I am feeling bittersweet about this birthday.  The first year of Carson’s life was so tough that it felt like a long year.  This past year has sped by in a blink and I am so in love with this little guy who is showing his personality with funny little laughs and goofiness.  The other day, while enjoying some yogurt on a bench in the sun, Carson looked over at me and said “that’s cool, mama” for no apparent reason.  And while leaving a store where the salesgirl and Carson had a good thing going, he says “bye baby” to her.  It is just like a fun little show to watch him.  And I could.  Watch him.  All the time.  I guess that is what having kids is all about. It isn’t the struggling of the first year and all the sleepless nights and hard work.  No, it is the joy and laughter they bring to make you forget the rest.

I can’t post anymore photos because I am at my file limits which is too bad because I have lots of pictures as well as some Martha Stewart Kids magazines to give away.  I am thinking of making the switch to typepad…any suggestions on that?

Have a great Sunday!

*mail*

  

Look at all the goodies Kristen sent!  It is so amazing, I can’t believe it.  This is my first “blog swap” and I couldn’t have found a more generous partner.  There were lots of her new tags, which are fabulous by the way and a great book and other treats.  The presentation and wrapping are so graphically pleasing, I loved it all! Thank you Kristen. You made my week!  (and look who also can’t keep his hands off the goods!)

Shop Update!

Two of my original collages are going into my etsy shop today! Check them out & stay tuned for more!

new work

Here is a peek into the totally scattered and unrelated work I have been up to.  It is strange, I can’t keep focused on one thing long before I have a new idea I want to try out.

Collages that are hugely inspired by ShisoMama. She suggested using origami paper and I love it!

A new take on my little ladies using pattern for her dress.  There are a ton more in this series. I will get them posted one day.  The idea is to create kids clothes from these little ladies.

new collage work & shopping trips & birthdays

I am busy working on new collages.  If you happened to have read my post yesterday that included one of them, I took it down because I have started in a different direction.  I am such a mess like that…can’t stay focused in just one place so I keep changing and thinking AHA! this is it, only to hate it the next day.  What I am saying is that I will have pictures to post soon.  Once I calm my obsessive compulsive behaviour and finish a damn piece!   Here is a hugely inspirational art box by Joseph Cornell - which has nearly nothing to do with the collages I am talking about but is inspiring nonetheless.

In Carson worldthis week was a major breakthrough in relationship concepts.  For awhile now I have been saying “so-and-so is Katie’s dad” or “Patti is Lilah’s mommy” and trying to indicate the relationship to the name.  I am sure he got this long before he could communicate it but it was the funniest thing the other night when I asked, “what is dada’s name” and he said “nick”.  Then I asked what mama’s name was and he said “ano” (my nickname for kids).  After all the cheering subsided, he pointed to himself and said “big boy”.   So that is it, now instead of Dada, Mama, & Carson we are Nick, Ano & Big Boy. 

Here is Big Boy & his best buddy Tomi.  Both boys are about to turn 2.  Carson on May 31 and Tomi on June 12.  They have known eachother since they were in our bellies!

 

Other fun news is my mom & I are headed to Seattle for a getaway weekend.  Any suggestions on good shopping?

birthdays

So the 28th was my birthday.  Now I am officially into my 30s.  Wow.  I never really pictured what that would look like, especially when I was a carefree youngster with no responsibilities.  I visualized university, I pictured myself travelling, I hoped to one day get married, but did I ever imagine myself settled down in a house I own, with a husband and a kid?  I doubt I did or if I did I assumed I would be really really old.  When she was my age, my mom had already had my sister & I, worked as a teacher and put her husband through university.  I like where I am at 31.  I like feeling solid in my life, with my husband and watching our sweet son grow.  31 will be a good year I think…after all, Carson gets to turn 2!

Here is a sneak peak into my new art obsession - altered art.  This is little glass topped tin I have used to create little scenes in.  Sort of a spin off on the artist trading cards I was making.  Once I get some decent photos, I will add some to my etsy shop.

 

fun stuff

Look at this great collage done by Kristin of Taylor Made Design.  I don’t think it is great just because it is my stuff that I had sent her, I think it is great because she does these with all her posts.  Genius, I say.  It is a pleasing way to look at the images and to put together a “blog story”.  Thanks Kristin, it was fun to come up with little goodies for you.

Books & Magazines

Exciting news!  Kay from Kite Magazine interviewed me in their premiere issue as the Indie Artist.  Her magazine is filled with ideas about parenting, birthing and healthy living…well worth checking out.  You can read the interview here.  Thanks Kay, I am honoured and I wish your magazine much success.   

Keeping with the reading theme, Carson & I are in the habit of going to the library every week.  Thankfully he loves reading and I am a sucker for books so if it weren’t for the library we would be really really poor!  Anyways there are a couple books I have to share as they are the most recent ones I have fallen in love with.  
 

When you were Smallby Sara O’Leary.  The cutest illustrations and story! 

Ton by Taro Miura - Beautiful graphic imagery and appeals to Carson’s truck/boat/train love.

City 1 2 3 by Zoran Milich - for everyone who loves photos and typography, this is a fabulous book that helps kids to count with photos of New York.  Typography & New York! How could you go wrong? In fact, I bought this one and may just keep it myself.

 I wanted to add photos of the covers in case anyone was interested but I just don’t know how to do that other than scanning each into my computer.  Amazon doesn’t allow me to “borrow” their photos so if anyone else knows a way, please let me know.  I would like to keep updating this list, especially since some of the books are on loan and not mine (oops - Carson’s) to keep.

great mail

I am not feeling so blue anymore.  It was just one of those days… Anyways, I am always happier when I receive great mail or am in the process of sending out packages.  It is a lot of fun to swap with all you talented people out there and it definitely makes me smile.  This print of a deer (isn’t it amazing?!) is from A to Z- their stuff is great so check out their etsy store.  Plus I put together a package for Kristen which should arrive at her place shortly.  I love doing this.  The thought that maybe my packages make other people smile as much as I do when I receive one makes me happy!  And not so lonely!  Reags, yours is in the works too!