Happy Halloween

be careful out there tonight...

Happy Friday!
xoxox

"Crow" ~Etsy Search #1~

Something I'm going to do every week is enter a word into Etsy search and see what comes up that I like, or love...
My first word is "Crow" for the obvious and the proximity to Halloween.
I love these black beasts.
I love crow art.
I love these Etsy Finds...

Both above and below are ink drawings by Ingrid Art Studio.
They are original drawings on reclaimed barn wood.
Oh I really need these!

Here we have a contemplative looking Driftwood Crow.
I think he is pondering sadly the state of our oceans...
This erudite fellow is from Woodswise. The driftwood Heron looks a little more hopeful...

As a "Crow" myself I am attracted shiny things and this fits the bill perfectly.
A secretive shiny space. Perhaps a folded bit of inspiration hides in here.
Or a faded old picture of a love.
By Secret Jewellz a black crow on a vintage brass locket, combined with a black crystal.

And now a photo...
Oh a Crow in Snow!
Two of my favourite things.
This capture is the work of self taught photographer Alicia Bock.
She has fabulous 2010 calenders available in her shop too.

A sweet print from the shop of The Little Fox.
The colours she uses are sublime.
These go perfect with my new livingroom paint.

Perfect for my own shop!
A customizable crow stamp at JL Mould Custom Clear Stamps.
Maybe there is one perfect for you there too.

xoxox

Look at these clouds! They are phenomenal!




(sadly, not my photo, from the link above...)

Oh Newfoundland...
I do love thee.
But
I pull on hat and bound out to taste
the first *snowflakes* of the year
and
it is

p
o
u
r
i
n
g

rain.
However I am grateful you never give me earthquakes, tsunami's, hurricanes or floods.
Just rain.
Lots of rain.
:(

***Oh my Goomess !**
** * * * * (a saying I've adopted from my young niece!)* ** *
* * *
* * Yay! * * *
* * * * * * * * *
* ** * *It's Snowing!!!* ** * *
** * * * *I'm going out.* * * * * *
** * * * * See you later!* * * *** *
* * * * * ** *** * *** * * **
* * * * *** *** * * * *

Who?

I look into your eyes, I see that you are wise.
I look into your heart, I fear that we shall remain apart.

I saw this little Owl calmly awaiting an owner.
Sometimes it actually pulls my heart to see the expressions of stuffed animals.
I think I may be filled with down too.
I am too soft.
xo

B. S. T. #16

Beautiful Simple Things #16

Light.

"The Dress She Made Herself"
Andrew's Grandmother's wedding dress

To the Daughter I may never have...

You can always come home.
Always.
Please do not endure pain or discomfort because you "know" that I'll be upset or crabby or sarcastic or say
"I-told-you-so".
Do not settle for less than you deserve because you feel trapped.
If you have ten kids, or dogs, or gerbils, or all the above, bring them too.
You are always welcome where I am.
xo

photo

...Or were you born on a raft?

When one door of happiness closes,

another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door
that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
-Helen Keller

What about when a door of unhappiness closes?

Another door of unhappiness may open before us.
Enter.
Let yourself feel the pain and sorrow for the changes occurring.
It is a temporary thing though.
Because growth hurts.
Even the things that are best for us can squeeze our souls till they bleed.
If you are in pain but are unsure of what is wrong.
It may be that you are growing.
Up. Apart. Cajones. Tomatoes. Confidence.
Your body and psyche know.
Way before your mind does.

You'll be ready when the door of Joy opens for you...
xoxox

Nag one, Nag one...

There has been a wee, inaudible voice added to the bigger and audible ones.

Do you knit? I should learn to knit. Did you knit these? I should learn to knit. Knitting is so easy. I should learn to knit. You can do other things, you can knit too. I should learn to knit. Everyone in your family can knit. I should learn to knit.

If I learn to knit...
I can make those fabulous over the knee socks, that cost a fortune and that I've wanted for years now, for myself. I could use the needles and wool that I always buy at thrift stores. I could make that promised (from last Christmas) scarf. I could find the peace and flow that so many knitters allege. I could supply my knitted hat obsession. I could be one of those cafe goers, that I stare at longingly, who knit as they chat and sip tea (knitting seems to go hand in hand with tea drinking...) never stopping the flow of knitted fabric that flows from their finger tips. I could use that knitting book I bought two years ago...

I am going to attempt this garter stitch scarf.
It is rated as 1 on a difficulty scale of 1-4.

Okay, I hear you universe.
I shall learn to knit. Again. I kind of know how but get so frustrated that I throw it aside after minutes. So here I go. Into the known world of knitting and being desperately annoyed. I will try this again. I will not give in without a fight this time.
Wish me patience.
May the knitting gods be kind. ;)

I looked up who/how and when knitting was invented. There are different answers everywhere. It seems to be anywhere from 3000 years old to 1500 years old and originated around where Turkey is today. There was no one person credited with the process...So if they learned from nothing, surely I can learn with all the resources at my finger tips!

I know here in Newfoundland a lot of men were knitters. I think it may have had to do with mending their fishing nets...Andrew's grandfather can whip up a neat pair of gloves in no time. So cool.

xoxox

xx Mille Bisous xx

Hello! Bonjour!
Going to the bath tub with a glass of French red, a book set in Paris and lavender oil.
It's been a full day.
I am happy my part in it is done.
Now time for a stressed friend.
Me.

Be good to yourself tonight and always...

Good night! Bon Nuit!

Have a Beautiful weekend.
Full of Inspiration.

I have photos to take...
What are you doing this weekend?
xoxox

Bokeh

I am excited! If you know me you know I'm not one to feel that way often.
I found out the name of something that I didn't even know had a name!
My favourite photos are those with a shallow Depth of Field, meaning the intended is in focus but the rest of the photo is blurred. Not only blurred but with Bokeh...Depending on the lens it can be waves or dots or swirls, etc...I love it! And now I know what it is.

Bokeh (derived from Japanese, a noun boke, meaning "blur" or "haze") is a photographic term referring to the æsthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas of an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field. Essentially, bokeh is an aesthetic and qualitative measure of light distortion in the out-of-focus areas of an image, and is primarily caused by lens aberrations and aperture shape.

Here is my photo with it in the background...

...and a couple of my favourites, and better examples, from Flickr...

From C-L-K ~ (Taking a break)'s photostream

From brightdawns' photostream

As you can see the results are fabulous! So artistic. So beautiful.
xoxox

The Joke is 'on' Me

Oh that Mother Nature!

What a kidder.

I am getting pimples

on top of wrinkles...

:)

For Colour Lovers

An interesting site for colour combos and inspiration...
Colour Lovers
I like the Trends section with the magazine covers and the colours used on them.
I was looking for a way to show you the paint colours I bought for the entire top floor. I couldn't find a good representation. Maybe I'll scan the chips?
I think the theme could be "Nautical" or "Beach House" or something along those lines. Entirely unplanned but no surprise.
Have a lovely day.
xoxo

B. S. T. #15

Beautiful Simple Things #15


Colour.

Imagine seeing a world in Black and White.

Enjoy.

Radio Star...a Sad Goat

Did I ever tell you about the time a radio saved my life?

Well nothing so grand as jumping in front of a moving train or pulling me from the jaws of a lovely lion...No it was subtle and graceful and powerful.

I was going through a really tough time. Depression. Anxiety. Trying medications haphazardly. I only left my apartment to walk across the street to an amazing stone hearth bakery. (They made a chocolate, chocolate chip and cranberry bread...Which may deserve an honorable mention as well!) I was creating a lot of art but it was dark and painful and not how I wanted to exist, surrounded by beaten women with tears pooled in their eyes.

I was literally afraid of people but longed for contact.
(radio enters: right)

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
The CBCif i were ever to get a tattoo this would be it

I began to listen with a passion. I had the contact with people I craved without the anxiety of being face to face.
At the time there was a program called "Sad Goat", called so because the host Bill Richardson found that the phone number spelled just that...1 888 SAD GOAT.

It was appropriate, I was a depressed Capricorn.
"The show mixed music with calls and letters from listeners, which were often comic in nature, and feature interviews."
Another program I loved was Between the Covers which read contemporary novels in 15 minute pieces. I found many great novels through this program.
I listened to every program from the time I woke until I went to bed and it made me feel connected again. After a while I felt better, due to a lot of things (food, water, air, novels, parents, biology, radio) but I'll never forget when the radio was my only solace.
A great friend.
I still listen but sadly Sad Goat is gone.
Replaced by a somewhat Content Capricorn ;)...
xoxox

Ghosts of my heart...

These are the things you forget...
choosing a favourite colour
when a boy was just another person on the bus
you went to school with your head wrapped in your best friends scarf, it smelled of her cigarettes and perfume, and it made you brave
standing in line at the grocery store the very first time you bought your own groceries for your own fridge
meeting 'him'
the drive the name the number the events the words
the meaning
the love
the threat and the promises of growing up
of growing old
of being forgotten too


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My grandmother has Alzheimer's and sometimes I miss her so much.
Saying "Happy Birthday" and hearing it back, because I was born on her birthday.
Her home and homemade tarts.
The smell of the wood stove in the morning.
The gray rocking chair.
Knowing I had someone to go to, even if I never needed to.
Someone without demands. Her understanding.

Her love the most.

A Lioness

Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.
The soul that knows it not, knows no release from little things;
Knows not the livid loneliness of fear, nor mountain heights where bitter joy can hear the sound of wings.
-Amelia Earhart

a photo taken in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland the starting point of Earhart's Atlantic crossing...

I am in need of a little courage. I have things to set in motion. Big, life altering things. Probably the reason for my illness, a cold in response to stresses and negative thoughts. I first became a fan when I was 19 and read a novel in which a heroine idolizes Earhart. I have been fascinated by her for years but never really took the time to learn about her life. Perhaps now is the time. After reading this quote today and knowing what I must do to find peace in this only life.
...and so I wish you courage and peace today while I reach for the same.
xoxox

About these piggy's

I am very ill.
My father asked if I've been hanging out with any pigs.
"Not of the barnyard variety"...
Be back soon!
xo

Quotable

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs;
ask yourself what makes you come alive.
And then go and do that.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
-Howard Thurman

Plummy

To pick, carry, store, wash, chop, boil, add, taste, juice, add, sanitize, ladle, lid, cool, label, adorn, photograph, present...

I love it.
xoxox

B.S.T. #14

Beautiful Simple Things #14


Realizing that when things are not so simple...

The sun will set on today
and rise
lighting a new tomorrow

A New Wedding Blog

I received an email about a new wedding blog called Ruffled- Indie, Vintage and Eco-Friendly Weddings. It is really pretty and inspirational whether you are a future bride-to-be, or not. I find the photos the most interesting thing on wedding blogs (aside from the tug the dresses pull on my heart) , so much inspiration and so pretty.



These are just a sampling of the photos found in the posts on Ruffled. So if you are interested in any aspect of weddings you may like to take a peek...