Island Projects

In an effort to keep busy and maintain a connection to my studio back home I made a little art kit to take with me to the island. I have to admit, I really enjoyed putting together all the bits and pieces. I tried to include only the things I really love and not worry whether or not they were compatible. I think that if you find beauty in each item, you can't go wrong with the finished product. I was limited by the container ( a little vintage suitcase) so I couldn't go crazy but had to carefully edit. This my biggest challenge (for everything, not just art). I love the way everything looks together all nested and bundled.

Here is my first project: I have been wanting to make a little British flag for sometime. My daughter wanted a pillow but I didn't have enough fabric for that. Instead I made this tiny appliqued work using the "approximate" colors. I had a little frame up here that was not being used.

Now I just have to decide where to hang it. Next trip I will bring some red and white wool for a Canadian flag...we are on PEI after all.

May the Honeymoon Never End

This week my husband and I celebrated our 24th anniversary. We have been an item for 31 years..met at the end of high school and corresponded all through college. I saved every letter and so did he! It is sort of sad to me that we all use electronic means of communication these days and my kids will probably never have shoe boxes of letters containing the everyday mundane details of a long distance courtship. Oh well... we still exchange cards and that is something. This is the card that Thomas gave to me and I swear I almost bought the same exact one because I was pressed for time to make one this year. It says inside: "May the Honeymoon Never End". In the end I was too cheap to buy it because it was quite pricey for a card. My big spender got it instead for me. This is the card I made for him from an old magazine image and a scrap of vintage wallpaper. I really do love making my own cards and it was a weak moment that I considered purchasing one.

This was my gift to Thomas. He re-reads this book at least once a year. He says it relaxes him and he still laughs his way through the chapters. Every book that he reads is compared to Herriot and believe me, nothing holds a candle to them. I have tried to find comparable books but I always get a comment like "it's okay, but it's no James Herriott". It doesn't do any good to tell him that sadly Mr. Herriot is no longer with us and he is going to have to move on. He needed a new copy because his old one was yellow and brittle and missing its cover.

This was my gift: one of our favorite classic movies and my favorite movie candy which I don't have to share.

Back from the Beach

The weather on PEI has been dismal so far but we took a walk to the beach and the dogs loved it anyway. Luna is drawn to the water like a moth to the flame. Flynn had his first taste of the waves and tried out his doggy paddle. Here they are on the deck drying off before tracking through the house. Their paws get stained with that lovely red PEI dirt. Flynn is 6 months old this week and looking almost as big as Luna!

Dad's Big Day

We are currently on vacation up in Prince Edward Island. It is cold and rainy with a high wind pelting the rain against the windows. I love that kind of weather...seriously! Good hot chocolate weather. Yesterday was Father's Day (even in Canada) and here is the card I made for the father of my children. It was funny because just the other day he was saying the part he misses most about the kids being grown up was reading to them when they were little. I found this picture to feature on the front of my card and it is perfect because my son Colin (who will be 21 this year!) has such a delighted smile on his face. Oh how he loved his stories. I can still see him picking out the books that he wanted read to him each night. India is just a baby but she is listening intently. Thomas is a great reader and to this day could probably recite some of the Berenstain Bears stories by heart. I used to be able to recite "The Lorax" by memory. For those of you out there with small children, enjoy these days and don't skimp on the reading. It will be one of your best memories!