Photo Friday #13 - Vendredi photo #13

Diesel loves to hide in my reusable shopping bags. And she loves to play with pieces of paper. I could not resist this shot.

I'm going to be busy all weekend with my bellydance show. I'm nervous but excited. Hopefully I will have some photos to share with you, at least of my costumes.

Have a nice weekend!

Diesel aime se cacher dans mes sacs de magasinage réutilisables. Et elle aime jouer avec des morceaux de papier. Je ne pouvais résister à cette prise.

J'ai une fin de semaine occupée avec mon spectacle de baladi. Je suis nerveuse mais excitée. J'espère avoir des photos à partager avec vous, au moins de mes costumes.

Passez une belle fin de semaine!

Photo Friday #1 - Vendredi Photo #1

A lazy winter afternoon.

Un après-midi d'hiver paresseux.

In an effort to use my cameras for something other than my art/craft projects, I will now post photos on Fridays.

Pour faire un effort et me servir de mes caméras pour autre chose que mes projets d'art/artisanat, j'afficherai maintenant des photos les vendredis. 

 

Sketchbook Project: Diesel owns me

The background had been done back in September. I added a photo of my Diesel and some journaling. Nothing fancy.

Le fond avait été fait en Sepptembre. J'ai ajouté une photo de ma Diesel et du texte. Rien d'extraordinaire.

Le texte:

"Je dis toujours que j'appartiens à Diesel et d'une certaine façon, c'est vrai - Je pense qu'elle m'a choisi et non le contraire - Elle savait que j'aurais besoin d'elle dans ma vie - Et c'est le cas"

The March creature completed - La créature de Mars terminée

5 months ago, I started a new stuffed creature with old knee-high socks.

 Il y a 5 mois, j'ai commencé une créature rembourrée avec de vieux bas aux genoux.

 Last weekend, I finally finished it, using an old blanket for its body and felt and buttons for its eyes.

La fin de semaine dernière, je l'ai enfin terminée, une vieille couverture lui servant de corps et de la feutrine et des boutons pour les yeux.

 Meet my new octopus! I haven't found the perfect name for it yet so if you have an idea, do let me know.

Je vous présente ma nouvelle pieuvre! Je ne lui ai pas encore trouvé un nom parfait alors si vous avez des idées, laissez-le moi savoir.

It's quite big. And it's great for hugging. I'm definitely keeping this one for my personal collection.

Elle est pas mal grosse. Et est parfaite pour des calins. Je la garde définitivement pour collection personnelle.

And here's Diesel, inspecting my work.

Et voici Diesel qui inspecte mon travail.

Imperfections

For a couple of weeks now, I've been struggling. Struggling with my art (my muse is playing hide and seek most days.) Struggling with my weight. Struggling with my thoughts and beliefs. Struggling with my choices.

Today, I give myself permission to accept that I am not perfect. And my imperfections make me who I am. I am imperfectly human.

I chose this photograph today because it is NOT perfect. My settings on my camera weren't right and I just couldn't work them out that day. But I love this photo anyway, for all its imperfections. Diesel looks like she is surrounded by light, by a presence bigger than us all. And, well, truthfully, it had been quite a while since I had posted a photo of my baby! (I just checked and the last photo of Diesel was in January!)

Work is starting next Monday. We have a meeting this Friday, in the morning, to get our group list and other important infos to start the school year. Even though I have done a lot of stuff this summer, I feel like I barely made a dent in my to-do list. But that's ok. Tomorrow is another day. ( I did do more sorting/cleaning than I thought I would though!)

Last thing: I'm planning a giveaway for Labour Day weekend which should be when I reach 200 posts.

I went on a date...

... with myself, that is! Ha ha! Got you going, huh?

At the beginning of the week, I had decided that tonight, I was finally bringing my two very full and very heavy garbage bags of clothes to donate to Village des Valeurs (a second hand store.) And after that, I was to go have a nice latte at Second Cup. Well, I did exactly that! Except that while at Village, I decided to look around, see if there was anything interesting for me. I found quite a few things but put a lot back on the shelves including a nice leather carrying case for a camera. What I did buy is in the next picture...


A basket-type bag (been looking for one for a while... will be great to go to the market come summer time), 2 old books dated 1929 and 1931 and a pair of shoes (been looking for a pair like this and could never find the right ones... these are perfect!) And the big total was??? $17.55 including taxes. Not bad, huh? And I even used the bag to carry everything out so no plastic bag for me!

I left my new belongings in the car to go to Second Cup. It was quiet when I got there (a little after 8pm) so there was plenty of room to sit. I got a medium latte and something to eat that the girl called an apple pudding. It resembled a muffin but was heavier and not as sweet. Very tasty. While enjoying my latte and dessert, I doodled and scribbled in one of my journals that I had been neglecting. The coffee shop filled up just before I left so I guess I had good timing. It was fun and I'll definitely try the experience again but next time maybe I'll actually create something more than doodling... It's one of the things I want to work on this year: creating in public and not hiding myself.

Today's art is the Art Card I did last night. I used a piece of Bingo paper, a mini loteria card and part of a playing card. The rest is watercolour, oil pastels and ink, plus a label courtesy of Hanna.
Now, I'll leave you with a photo of my dear Diesel... This one just cracks me up! Goodnight!

Every Day Brings Something New

Here's a look at the journal I'm working in on a daily basis. As I said before, it was inspired by Emily Falconbridge's gratitude journal. I made it by picking 52 pieces of paper, cardstock, envelops and whatever else I had on hand. It's not too big (as you can see next to Diesel who wanted to model it for you!) I stamped the dates and left enough room to journal one or two sentences about what was new in the day. So far, I've written about a new perspective of life, new art and a new restaurant I tried.

I really like how it came out and will probably do more journals like this in the future. My take on it forces me to look for something that is new to each day, however big or small that "thing" may be. A way to focus on the positive.

Here's a look at some of the pages...


















And remember, you have until 10 EST tonight to get a chance at winning some of my art (and if you don't, do not fret... there will be more giveaways in the future.)

Recycle wrapping

This year, I decided to use whatever I have on hand to wrap Christmas presents. On this photo is a gift, wrapped in red-dyed "handmade" paper bought at the dollar store more than a year ago. The ribbon and bow/flower are made out of strips of paper cut in a gift-idea junk mail pamphlet. I got the idea for the flower from Hanna a while back. This particular pamphlet produced two bow/flowers for two different gifts. I loved the results and so did the recipient (one was for a gift exchange at work and the other for CeeCee last Friday.)

The other presents I wrapped this week for my parents and my brother are all in recycled paper whether it be old wrapping paper or scrapbook paper. One gift is even in a box of cereal that I gessoed and then made red and green stripes with electrical tape! I love how it came out. I'll try to post a picture of it tomorrow.

Now... tomorrow is the last day of work before the holidays. Huge sighs of relief will be heard throughout the school tomorrow. As a treat for the kids, my colleague, Anik, and I are providing a special snack in the afternoon. The kids get to decorate their own Christmas cookie and then eat it. (Found kits at Costco that are great!) Even though it's not always easy working with them, they still deserve a little reward.

Last weekend, I got Diesel to sit still long enough with my Christmas hat on to take this picture. Isn't she cute???

Inspiration and life

If you haven't yet, go visit SuziBlu's blog and YouTube page. She rocks. Watching her Vlogs makes me want to buy a digital video cam and shoot my own mini videos or my art and Diesel.

Since I started putting her on a leash and taking her out on the balcony, Diesel has been meowing and crying every morning and after lunch to go out. She doesn't mind the leash at all. I'll have to bring her on the grass before we get snow. Soon.

Once upon a time, I wanted to be a vegetarian. I even wanted to be vegan. You know what made me change my mind? I love LOVE love milk and cheese, well dairies in general. And I LOVE my father's roast beef. So as much as I love animals and want them to be safe and happy and such, I can't be a vegetarian.


Now I'll go create in my journal before watching a bit of television. Heroes is on tonight. I'm addicted.