Tag: fabric

Turns Out I Need a Calendar

Calendars. Perhaps they should be obsolete with all the devices surrounding us that can tell us the date. But I’m a spatially sensitive person who likes everything in its place when it comes to referencing things, like the date, regularly. Turns out I just really love calendars. Actual on-the-wall calendars.

I also love fabric (just to state the obvious). And tea towel calendars are wonderful — kitschy in the best way. I really wanted one this year and was holding back, thinking maybe I didn’t need a calendar for 2013, maybe I didn’t even need a physical daytimer, maybe I should just use the iPhone as intended… I was wrong on both accounts. I’m pretty digitally savvy, or at least functional, but I do love to look at a calendar and to write appointments and notes in a book. My brain likes it, my fingers like it, I feel more grounded and sure with paper and fabric and tangible-ness around me.

photo (6)

So I got my usual Moleskin daytimer and felt a little bit more myself. Which isn’t to say I don’t also use my iCal for appointments, I do, but I don’t trust it totally yet in spite of years of use. And I waited too long on the calendar, my fave was sold out by the time I decided I should do it. So I thought perhaps it was a sign, perhaps I’d try without. Then I saw one of my favourite Canadian textile artists Averil Loreti at the Toronto One of a Kind show and her calendar was so beautiful, a burst of joy in a surprising and pleasing colour palette. But I still held back thinking iPhone and iCal could, possibly, fulfill me.

I didn’t even last a month into 2013. I got the calendar. All is well in the world — I am moored, no longer adrift. Whew.

Hometown, Heart and the Headstrong Baby

12 days ago my dad’s heart very nearly failed him. He lives across the country from me in my hometown of Edmonton and with this hard news came the clarity that I dearly wanted him to meet 8-month-old Gene. So Gene and I flew over the lakes and the prairies and I got to introduce my dad to his second grandchild. Happily, the docs were able to fit dad with a pacemaker/defibrillator and he’s back at home for now, heart ticking along.

In spite of it being an emergency trip filled with apprehension, it was so good to share my wee boy with my Edmonton family and friends. My own heart is overflowing with big sky and the big love of my amazing people there. Gene made some ridiculous strides in Edmonton, standing against things and cruising a bit, crawling for the first time and walking his little legs to get where he wants to go when you hold his hands. He is a ball of determination!

Edmonton was exploding with apple blossoms. I was lucky to catch those magic couple of days when the trees are full of their short-lived pink and white flowers:

I miss the wide Alberta sky. If you aren’t familiar with prairie skies, it’s hard to describe the amazing, shifting endless space. I don’t really miss it til I’m there and then I feel like I’m brimming with the aching familiarity of it.

I learned about chewbeads, silicone bead necklaces that are made to be chewed by babies yet look look like lovely, chunky jewellery, brilliant! My cousin was wearing hers so stylishly while her little guy held onto them with a vice grip, chewing and playing as we walked and caught up.

I went with the aforementioned cousin to the Duchess Bake Shop, a super fancy, high tea looking place, yet totally approachable and momma-with-baby friendly. We  ate and savoured and enjoyed our little boys, who are only 15 days apart in age. This made for an extra special, hilarious visit as we are both firmly in the midst of sleep deprivation, infant eczema, baby food and the glorious madness that is mothering an infant. The Duchess has a great ceiling, it mesmerized both me and Gene!

My cousin’s name is Tamsin, but we mostly call her Tam. And it happened to be her birthday! I opened my mom’s late 70s edition of The Joy of Cooking, found a delectable banana cake recipe and baked it up. Then I had a wave of brilliance and cut out the letters of her name in paper, sifted sugar over them and presto:

Lastly, my cousin adventures ended in a quilting shop. Oh dangerous deliciousness! She is a crafty fabric-a-holic also and we found some prints that simple could not be left behind. Here are my spoils:

And here I am, back in super-hot Toronto, somewhat jet-lagged. Back to my mothering of 2 and my sewing and my regular blogging. Happy week everyone!

Monday delight

Monday morning and we’ve started right with giant pancakes – Rudi elected to have his formed into a train. I sported Saskatoon Berry syrup. Amazing. And I grated 2 apples into the pancake batter so he’s also eaten some fruit already, unbeknownst to his lovely, picky self.

Next thing that happened is that my new Fluevogs — *ahem*  NEW FLUEVOGS — (new Fluevogs deserve caps) arrived in the mail! Oh delight! I am going to be a bridesmaid this summer (awesome) and that obviously called for new Fluevogs (also awesome). Oh, and they were on serious sale (top-it-off awesome). If you don’t know Vogs, you should. Canadian designer, so comfortable, last for ages, unique, I could go on … been wearing them since high school. I’ll share the joy:

Now I should tackle the work at hand … the fabric pile for the new quilt design awaits. Hopefully I’ll have it to share by Wednesday! Happy week folks.