Tattered Edge Mercantile

Just a quick post to let you know that I have restocked the Blank ATC books in the Tattered Edge Mercantile. These little gems are flying out the door!

*If you are looking for something specific, let me know and I will see what I can do!

Let the Fun Begin!!

IT'S HERE!! IT'S HERE!! At long last, my Artfest confirmation package has arrived!! Man I can only imagine the scenic route it took to get here, especially since my friend Penn got hers a whole week ago!! The ironic part is that because I am Canadian, I am one of the first people to get to send mine in and here I am probably the last one to get confirmation. I point a finger squarely at the postal service!!

Anyway, regardless of how or when it got here, I am just happy it did. I am also really jazzed that I got all my first choices of classes!! Here's what I am taking:

Thursday: LK Ludwig's Mixed Media Naturalist.
I am excited about this because I love going on photo shoots with my son and I think it will be really cool to learn how to use some of those photos in my art. I am going to use a mix of my photos and his-it will be a cool thing to have a book made with both our work in it. His photos are amazing.

Friday: Nina Bagley's Pocket Book of Parlour Questions.
This one got my vote because well...it's Nina, one of the most gentle, sweet spirited people I have ever met and it's a book. Love books! Any shape, any size. MMMM Books!! Now I just have to get some cool cab cards to use in the book. That should prove interesting.

Saturday: Kristen Steiner's Tool Box of Creativity.
I have learned that on the last day of any retreat, your brain is pretty much fried from seeing and experiencing so much and from a distinct lack of sleep so it's always best to take something that is within your comfort zone. (Well at least for me personally.) Kristen's class looks like so much fun-like some little secret present for yourself. I love the idea of making a special box full of goodies, to be taken out and savoured at a later date. I think this is the perfect way to wrap up all the goodness that is Artfest and take it home with me for inspiration on those days when the creative well feels like it's running dry. I can just go into the little box and find the magic all over again. How great is that?

I also see in the info packet Teesha sent that on Thursday night there are parties listed in the evening. Plural. With an "S"! More than one! How will I decide which one to go to?!?! I wonder if you can party hop? *grin*

Last year I went to the Journal Bonfire Party down on the beach. There is this big beachhouse down there and there was music playing and people were sitting around making art in each other's journals. You just plunked yourself down, introduced yourself to everyone and then people would ask if you wanted to make art in their journals. I loved that! It was a great way to meet people in a bit of a quieter atmosphere than the dining hall. Also there were drinks and the makings for S'mores and hot dogs. There was a nice bonfire going outside on the beach so you could roast your marshmallows or weiners. I actually ate a hotdog-something I have not done in years (They usually make me ill.) and it was *SO* yummy! I also got to work in journal 172 of the 1000 Journals while I was there, which was cool. TIP: If you click on the header that says "Production Blog" and then click on the archive for March (on the left handed column), you can read about the film crew's experience at Artfest. The crew is making a film about the journal project and followed two of the journals to Artfest. Perhaps I will be in there somewhere, ever so briefly, if I don't end up on the cutting room floor!

Anyway, the countdown to AF can now officially begin for me. You know one of the things I love best about AF? 361 days of the year I am someone's wife and someone's mother and don't get me wrong, I love that I am both of those things. but for four magical days of the year, I am just ME. The purest part of who I am. Artist, creative, authentic me. It's so freeing to be able to take that time away from my daily life, all the responsibility I shoulder and just do something to feed my soul for the pure joy of it. That is why I go. Okay that and to meet all the other great creative spirits that "get it".

It's about 6 months away and I know that time is going to fly by! ONE HUNDRED, SEVENTY EIGHT DAYS AND COUNTING!!

A Fish Tale

This is a piece of art I created this morning for a calender RR I am in. It's funny what sticks in your subconcious and comes out as art. After I created this, I realized I have had alot of fish related things pop up in my life this week-discussions about the ocean, about things that seem fishy, eating fish and chips in the park, one of my dear friends calling me "Tuna" all the time...(long story as to what that's about, but she means it in the most sweet and loving way.)

I am always amazed at what comes out when I just shut off the thinking part of my brain and allow whatever wants to be created appear. I think that is creativity in its purest form.

Techie Love!

Reason #54829384 why I love my husband:
Yesterday he bought a laptop computer just for me.

Yup, I am now the proud owner of a cool new laptop. This means that if I ever need to be away from home and working at the same time, I can. Last summer when we had our house disaster and had to spend 6 weeks in a hotel, I was so stressed out because our house was such that I couldn't be there-there was toxic dust everywhere and the computer had to be turned off to save the fans from sucking it in and cloging up my whole system. I had all my hardware draped with 2 layers of bedsheets to protect it. In the meantime, I had no computer access and I had mixed media classes I needed to write. My husband remembers me lamenting that if only I had had a laptop, things would have been much easier.

So, now I can be among the pretentious and go to Starbucks and have a chai latte and surf the net while I people watch. Ahh, the possibilities! I am married to the sweetest man ever!

In other news, I nearly had a disaster this morning when I slipped in the shower. Luckily, I was able to avoid smacking my head and knocking myself out, but I do have a lovely bruise and very painful shin to show for it. My non-slip mat SLIPPED! I guess the bottom wasn't suctioned onto the tub or something. You can bet I will be super careful about stepping into the tub next time!

I also got my order from Papier Valise yesterday- a whole bunch of cool orange and black stuff and some purple rhinestones that are simply gorgeous! Had I known they were that pretty, I would have ordered them long ago. I am looking forward to making some journals with my purchases. I am also hoping the crow rubber I ordered in August turns up soon-I would love to add some of those images to the journals.

Still waiting on my Artfest confirmation package. I swear I am going to be the last one to get theirs! Our mail is so slow from the US! Pony express? I think not! LOL!

In the Spirit of Friendship

Dear friends, I have something to share with you. My friend Katie Kendrick has a grown daughter named Heather. Heather is 8 weeks pregnant and very sick. She is having wicked morning sickness (hyperemisis) that never lets up and has just been admitted to hospital to try and get it under control. Having been through a pregnancy like that myself, (15 years ago) I know how utterly miserable it feels to be ill like that. It not only wears you down physically, but mentally too. Add to that that Heather has a wee daughter who needs her and you can imagine how stressful this must be for her.

That said, I would like to humbly ask that if you feel moved to help, please make some small piece of artsy goodness and mail it to Heather. I am sure having a card or an ATC or something small like that come in the mail with your well wishes would certainly lift her spirits. I know for me, one of the hardest parts of going through a rough pregnancy was being stuck in bed and feeling cut off from the rest of the world. It gets you down, even on the best of days and it feels endless.

Katie said she will send me Heather's mailing addy by tomorrow, so please email me at tatterededge at shaw dot ca to get it if you want to send something. And thanks in advance for your kindness for Heather. I know you will come through for her-it's just what artsy friends do.

Urban Escape

So as I mentioned the other day, I did managed to find time to go into Vancouver today with my guys and enjoy Stanley Park. It just happened to be the AIDS walk today along the seawall and several of my friends were singing in the park. I managed to get there for the last two songs, which was such a treat as they were in fine voice, as always! This is a rather bad photo of the choir, but there was nothing I could do about it-the sun was just in the wrong place. Nice backdrop of the city though, isn't it?


And what is this you may ask? It's hundreds of Royal Canadian Mounted Police, queuing up for a ceremonial march through part of the park. Today was the day on which this march is held nation wide to honour officers who have been lost in the line of duty. There were about 1000 law enforcement officers from all over BC along with a small American contingent. There were even police on horseback, in the air (helicopters) and on the water. (Harbour patrol.) It was amazing.


Vancouver City Police.









Police pipe bands.























Members of the RCMP handsomely turned out in their red serge. Is there anything more beautifully Canadian than that?

Afterwards, we drove around to the high point of the park-Prospect Point Lookout and had fish and chips for lunch and ice cream for dessert. While we were standing by the lookout, peering over the cliffs at West Vancouver and the ocean, my son spotted a baby raccoon that had climbed up the cliff. He got a good picture of it. (My camera's battery had run out at that point.) I will get him to post it to his photo blog tomorrow. He also took some lovely photos of the trees there.

The park is just beginning to look like Autumn. Leaves are starting to change colour and fall. I plan to go back in about 3 weeks to take more photos. It was 22C today-a gorgeous day to be out getting some fresh air. I truly live in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

My Great Escapes

This is one of my favourite photos I took in Stanley Park, Vancouver a couple autumns ago. Tri-coloured trees-gotta love it! AUTUMN IS HERE!!

I am playing hookie today after working really hard all week. Sometimes I just need to give my creative brain a break. I was thinking about the ways I recharge my batteries. Today it entailed a trip to the mall werein I bought the new Indigo Girls CD "Despite Our Differences". I came home, popped it into the computer (so I could transfer it over to my Ipod) and curled up with a chai latte and a zine that came in the mail this morning.

Sometimes I recharge by going to the movies. I love sitting in a dark theatre with a big bucket of popcorn and getting lost in a story for a couple of hours. I find that really relaxing, even if it's a horror movie. There's always been something magical and comforting about going to the movies. What's really great is my son loves to go as much as I do and we tend to see alot of horror movies together. Talk about mother-son bonding. LOL!

Another great escape is reading. There's nothing I love better then climbing into bed with a cup of tea and a good book. It's the perfect way to end a long day and unwind before turning the lights out. When I was a kid, I think being able to escape into books probably saved me. I used to take the bus downtown as often as I could and spend hours in the library with stacks and stacks of books, thumbing through and finding the best ones to haul home with me. The library was a safe place and books were my refuge. In hindsight, I know I read strange things for a kid. The beautiful thing about the library was that nothing I wanted to know about was off limits. I read poetry by Maya Angelou. I read just about every book they had about the halocaust. I read Lucy Maude Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables Series. I read Judy Blume. I read travel books about places I want to go. I think books are probably my first and greatest love.

My final favourite way to refresh my spirit is to go to Stanley Park. It's a huge forest in the heart of Vancouver. I love walking the sea wall, smelling the briney ocean, watching the people and feeling the wind on my face. It's truely the jewel of the city. I have loved that park with all my heart since I was a little girl. The trees are so tall and everything is so green. It's a wonderful place to take photographs and get some fresh air. It's especially beautiful in the fall because there are these huge deep piles of gloriously coloured leaves to kick up and crunch underfoot as you walk and you can feed the squirrils peanuts. In fact, I think that's where I am going to go this weekend! Me, my guys and our cameras. Stanley Park, out for lunch and then over to Denman for gelato at Mondo Gelato for dessert. Now that's the way to spend the weekend!

How about you? What helps you recharge? Do tell!

NEW stuff!

Just a really quick update folks. I have been under the weather. I managed to get 3 new journals and 4 blank ATC Book Kits uploaded to the Tattered Edge Mercantile this evening. If you are interested, go have a peek!

In other news. I tried to get the brand new Indigo Girls CD, Despite Our Differences that was out yesterday. Unfortunately, shipments to Canada have been delayed a week (oh the horror!) so I had to be satisfied with buying John Mayer's new one called Continuum. All I can say after listening to it this evening is it's by far his best one yet. It's classified as blues and it's just a great album to sit down and listen to while making art. Very relaxing. I love it! I know it's one I am going to wear out.

Still waiting on my Artfest confirmation package. From what I hear, it's cool! I can't wait!

Okay, that's it for now. My head is killing me so time to go find some tea and advil!

No Tricks, just Treats!

Just in case you weren't paying attention, AUTUMN is my absolute favourite season and OCTOBER is my favourite month of the whole year. I look forward to the changing of the leaves, the cooler days and seeing pumpkins all over town. It's such a joyful time of year and it's the perfect time for us Canadians to celebrate Thanksgiving. (Which in Canada is a celebration of the harvest, in case you were wondering.)

Anyway, the only other person I know who is equally crazy about the same things is Janice of Papier Valise. In my email this morning was a heads up there were Hallowe'en/ Fall themed products to be had!! Of course I went right over to see and sure enough, I have been tempted! I have a whole list of goodies just too wonderful to resist.

The other thing that has me excited is the unveiling, as it were of design work done by her Artists In Residence. Jenny Crossley, Celine Navarro and I have the pleasure of working with Papier Valise and you can see what we've been up to in the brand new gallery! *Just be sure to hit your "refresh" button on each page to get the newest version of the site.

If you want to stay "in the know" and get updates about what's being offered by Papier Valise, you can join the Yahoo group. It's the best way to keep up with what's new and make sure you don't miss out on any of the cool, limited quantity goods that Janice brings in. Sometimes, once something is gone, it's gone!!

So what are you still doing here?!? Go! Look! Treat yourself!! *grin*

As If By Chance

Waiting

Serene I fold my hands and wait,
Nor care for the wind, tide or sea;
I rave no more 'gainst time or fate,
For lo! my own shall come to me.

I stay my haste, I make delays,
For what avails with eager pace?
I stand amid the eternal ways
And what is mine shall know my face.

Asleep, awake, by night or day,
The friends I seek are seeking me;
No winds can drive my bark astray,
Nor change the tide of destiny.

What matter if I stand alone?
I wait with joy the coming years;
My heart shall reap where it has sown
And garner up its fruits of tears.

-John Burroughs


Messages from the Universe are delivered in the most unexpected ways. Wonder and magic are all around us, if only we can slow down long enough to allow ourselves to be aware of it. I was tidying up my desk this morning and inadvertently stopped to read this beautiful poem which just happened to be on a page of ephemera lying there. It's especially meaningful to me at this moment in time.

I know with unwavering certainty that all is indeed very well.

Hot Off the Press!!

I had an email from my friend Jan this morning. Her new book is now out! I am really excited for her. This is book number 4 that she has written. You may remember The Art of Fabric Books and Board Book Basics and Beyond-I had the pleasure of contributing art for both these books.

Jan just did an interview with World Talk Radio about her new book and you can listen to it here if you want to know what it's all about! Scrapbooks on the Go is available through Amazon or you can order it directly from Jan's website.
Congratulations Jan! This is wonderful news! I can't wait to see it in person!

Happy Mess

This morning I rolled up my sleeves and got working with paint. I never thought of myself as a painter (I still don't) but I do enjoy playing with colours and seeing what I can create.

I don't use fancy paint-90% of what I have is either 99c at the dollar store or one of my $8 boxes of watercolours from Loomis. I do have several tubes of Golden acryllics that were gifted to me by two very generous ladies who didn't want to tote them home to California after Artfest, but in general, I stick to the cheap stuff.

I decided to create some ATC for Paper Artsy using some of their new border stamps. (The paint tube isn't from their line-it's actually a stamp my friend loaned me.) I really like this border though.

This is another stamp from their new line. I was goofing around with paint technique and came up with this background. It's amazing what you learn when you just start playing. I am actually going to use this technique when I teach Laying it On Thick in Vancouver next month.




See what a cool background this makes?!?

You should see how much paint is all over my hands. I maintain that you're not having fun till you're making a mess! I always wonder what people think when I go to the grocery store or the bank and they see my hands all stained with paint and ink and charcoal. In June I went to have a manicure and pedicure done as a treat. The girl asked me how often I had my nails done. I just laughed and explained that since I am working full time as an artist, I never have my nails done. What's the point? It would be the most high maintenance thing ever if I were worried about the shape my nails were in all the time. I would be applying fresh polish nightly! Who has time for that?!?! Not me!! No acryllic nails for this girl either! Can you imagine? The thought just has me laughing my face off.

Ahh..someday perhaps I will aspire to be frou-frou, but not today. Today, I am happy being messy, creative me. These hands are working hands. Hands I am proud of.

This n' That

Another September 11th anniversary come and gone. Yesterday was a tough day. My mind was on my friends in NYC and I spent the day reflecting. It tears at my heart to know so many people are still in so much pain but I have hope for their healing because I know so many people care. As long as we remember, the healing will continue.

I chose this picture because it makes me happy. I took it in my garden about a month ago. I'm sure this pumpkin is probably much oranger now. I just love pumpkins. Sometimes, in the fall, I buy 2 or 3 just to have around the house. I love their shape and their colour. The Autumn is such a beautiful time of year and by far my favourite season. I love everything about it. We celebrate Thanksgiving next month, my Grandmother's, husband's and Father-in law's birthdays. There is also my wedding anniversary and Hallowe'en, which was my beloved Gramps' birthday. October is so special.

I have posted some new blank ATC book kits at the Tattered Edge Mercantile. They are the same size as the Crown ATC collaborative book I posted a couple of days ago. Click the link to find out more about them if you are interested!

Oh and check out the spiffy new banners for Paper Valise and Paper Artsy on the sidebar! Click on through to the other side! :)

Okay, off to get some work done!

September 11, 2006

This morning, I make this post in honour of Kenneth Charles Ledee, who was lost in the WTC on 9/11. Ken was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, an uncle, a cherished friend. He was a man of faith and integrity and he is deeply missed.

This also in honour Ken's family, especially his parents, my dear and precious friends Carlos & Anna. Our friendship is a true miracle and I am grateful every day for having them in my life.

I met the Ledees through an international quilt project to honour the victims of 9/11. It took alot of research online to find even the tiniest piece of information about their son, which was an article written by a minister at Princeton who was Ken's childhood friend. I wrote him an email, telling him who I was and that I wanted nothing more than to know a bit about who Ken was so I could create a quilt block to honour his memory. I never dreamed he would pass this email on to Ken's family nor that they would answer it.

About a week later, I came home late from the crisis line and was unable to sleep so I logged onto my computer and checked my emails. There was one there from Ken's family and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever read. It talked about Ken's life and it was clear to me how deeply he was loved. The next morning, I reread the email and it was only then I realized that it had come from Ken's father. (I had mistakenly assumed that C. Ledee was Ken's mother.) Suddenly that letter became all the more poignant. In my experience, it's rare for a man to be so raw and honest about his love for his children and here Ken's dad had shown me quite clearly how deep his love for Ken was. That letter was the very beginning of our friendship, one that would transcend all kinds of differences between us and lead me to travel to NYC in the summer of 2004 to finally meet Ken's family. Our time together was precious and life altering for me.

And so today, my thoughts turn to the survivors of 9/11, those left behind to try and pick up their lives and carry on. If I have learned anything from the hundreds of emails that have gone back and forth between the Ledees and I, it's about the resiliency of the human spirit and the power of love and faith. I know that for the survivors, the pain will never go away but by sheer virtue of remembering with them, each one of us helps to strengthen their spirits.

I wanted to share with you some of the quotes I chose to put on the back of the quilt I made in the days that followed 9/11 to help me to cope with how I felt about what was happening. This quilt hangs in my home as a tribute to all who were lost that day.


"How wonderful the way in which, with quite ordinary folk, power leaps to our aid in any time of emergency. We lead timid lives, shrinking from difficult tasks till perhaps we are forced in to them and immediately we seem to unlock the unseen forces. When we have to face danger, then courage comes, when trial puts a long-continued strain upon us we find ourselves possessed by the power to endure; if when disaster ultimately brings the fall which we so long dreaded, we feel underneath us the strength of everlasting arms. Common experience teaches that, when great demands are made upon us, if we fearlessly accept the challenge and confidently expend our strength, every danger or difficulty brings its own strength-"As thy days so shall thy strength be."
~J.A. Hadfield



"Hold onto what is good, even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold onto what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold onto what you must do even if it is a long way from here.
Hold onto life even when it is easier letting go.
Hold onto my hand, even when I have gone away from you."
~Native American Prayer



"Sorrow comes in great waves but it rolls over us and though it may almost smother us, it leaves us. We know that if it is strong, we are stronger inasmuch as it passes and we remain."
~Henry James



"We pray for the power to be gentle;
The strength to be forgiving;
The patience to be understanding;
And the endurance to accept the consequences
Of holding what we believe to be right.
May we put our trust in
The power of good to overcome evil
And the power of love
To overcome hatred.
We pray for the vision to see
And the faith to believe in a world
Emancipated from violence,
A new world where fear
Shall no longer lead men to commit injustice,
Nor selfishness make them
Bring suffering to others.
Help us to devote our whole life
And thought and energy
To the task of making peace,
Praying always for the inspiration
And the power to fulfill the destiny
For which we were created."
~Unknown


"O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted on us, remember the fruits we have bought, thanks to this suffering-our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all of this. And when thjudgmento judgement let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness."
~Unknown

"Let us not look back in anger or forward in fear but around us in awareness." ~James Thurber



*Photo taken in Middle Village, NY, summer 2004.

Another One for the Books

So here is my summer project. I decided to host an ATC collaborative book with "crowns" as the theme. It is chock full of lovely little ATCs. The finished books just went postal yesterday so I can't share the pages with you-the participants haven't even seen them yet! So...all you get to see for now is my cover, which was lots of fun to make. I am absolutely in love with this particular scrapbook paper. It's vintage aqua, with cream colured polka dots, outlined in red. I think I bought about a dozen sheets of this stuff I liked it so much.

I printed the little guy from a vintage photo I bought at an ephemera store in Pike Place Market while I was in Seattle on vacation. I colourized his outfit (love the overalls!) and then when I glued him down, I wrapped the perle cotton string around his hands. I also added the wee star and made his crown from a yard stick paper I had. I love making book covers.

So these adorable little books are headed to Lynn Adams, Penelope Harris, Michelle Parnell, Janice Rusnak, Heather Simpson-Bluhm, Liz Smith and Deb Trotter. Thanks Ladies for you wonderful contributions!

Speaking of Deb Trotter, CONGRATULATIONS to Deb on being published in Lynn Perrella's new book, Beyond Paper Dolls. It's so exciting and so very well deserved!! Your doll is beautiful!

I have mailed off my registration and I am waiting on pins and needles to hear which classes I will be taking at Artfest. I am looking forward to taking another "birthday trip" in the spring and hanging out with friends. It's 6 months away, but I know the time will fly.

Okay, I got up early so I could get some work done before I have to head to the hair dresser's this afternoon. If only it didn't take a 2 hour chunk out of the middle of my day! While I like having new hair, I hate sitting there doing nothing for 2 hours. Maybe I will take my Somerset magazine and read it while I am there. Believe it or not, we just got them in here in Canada. It seems silly that it's been out for a month in the US and we are just now getting our hands on them. They take forever to ship and it's old news to the rest of my friends by the time I first see it. *sigh*

Have a good weekend everyone!

Experimenting=Learning

Oh lordy! I think I am kind of addicted to this digital collage thing. I'm enjoying taking a vintage photo and revamping it so the original backgrounds are gone. It's fiddly and precise, but it's fun. This little girl gets used alot in my Altered Book class. Look at that adorable knitted dress! I am also enjoying doing monocromatic work-it's interesting to explore layering a single colour in different shades to make it work. This is digital collage attempt #2.

The only thing is that it seems a bit weird to make something and then not have a hard copy in my hand when I am done. I really do need to get some decent paper so I can at least print them off as postcards. I was at the office supply store yesterday and totally forgot to get the paper! I guess I should also get a new black ink for my printer too since it's running low again. Where are my art elves when I need them?

Thanks to everyone who either posted a comment or emailed me to say such supportive things about my first efforts at Photoshop. I hope to improve-I have Photoshop for Dummies on order! In the meantime, I will just keep playing!

Learn By Doing

Yesterday I had Photoshop CS2 installed. Now I know nothing about using it, but with some fiddling around, I managed to edit a vintage photograph (completely removed the original background, leaving only the girl) and add some cool details and I created this postcard! While I am not sure if it's any good (technically) I am kinda pleased with my pseudo techie little self. Not I just need to find some halfway decent paper to print it on so the colours don't look so flat. (I printed it off onto regular cardstock and I am not too impressed with the lack of crispness.)

I have ordered a copy of PS for Dummies from my library for the version I have so hopefully I can learn a few things from reading it. Never fear though-I am not abondoning traditional collage-just adding to my art skills!

More Exciting News!!

These designs, Wee books and Seaside Greetings have just both been made into worksheets (how-to's) for Paper Artsy that will go to retailers to either teach to their customers as demos or classes. I created the designs and then wrote the instructions and made step by step images to go with them. Leandra, who owns Paper Artsy, then creates the finished product. I now have 4 designs that are worksheets! It's exciting and I am loving doing this work. Oh and in case you didn't know, Paper Artsy has brand new rubber-4 plates for Xmas!!

I have more news to share, but it will have to wait-I am heading off to our big flea market shortly to see what treasures I can find! (We want to go before it gets smokin' hot like it was yesterday! 30C-too darn hot for me!! C'mon Autumn!!)

Faster Than The Pony Express!

Today the mail came, bearing my order from Papaya! Anahata had these wonderful grab bags and I just couldn't resist. I ordered on Monday morning (by phone because I am in Canada) and here it is Friday and I have my order in my hot little hands-can't beat that!!

This photo is just a smidge of artsy goodness that was in my grab bag. Everything was beautiful and I am really going to enjoy sending snail mail off to my pals now. I also got the famed Signo pen. I haven't had a chance to test it yet, but that's on my "to-do" list. From what Anahata says, you can write on just about any arted up surface, which is why I thought I would get it. It will be fun to experiment with.

Tomorrow I am heading to the PNE with my guys tomorrow. My son has a friend coming along so while the boys ride all the rides, my husband and I will have a date! I am looking forward to seeing the Super Dog show. I will be taking my camera so I should have some photos to share on Sunday. I hope to get some good ones of the midway all lit up. It's supposed to be smokin' hot tomorrow though- 30C! Hopefully we can find some shade and cool drinks to keep us happy.

I wish everyone a safe and fun long weekend!