Pressies!

The birthday love continues, right into May! *grins* This week, this sweet little package from my friend G arrived in the magic mailbox. G and I met in our Wading In class and she's wonderful. We have alot in common and she has a great spirit.

Inside was this lovely bracelet she made for me. There are delicate little birds and pretty blue tinted stones and charms that say imagine, dream and believe. It was such a wonderful surprise and I'm going to love wearing it! Thank you G for this beautiful piece of work. I will treasure it!

She also sent me some art making goodies-ephemera and an aqua ink pad and a blank book to alter. Fun! I am *so* spoiled.

In other news, I finished the camera strap cover I wanted to make. It was super quick to sew and fairly easy to slide on. The fabric is a combination of regular cotton and a flannel, so it will be nice and comfortable to wear around my neck. This is one of my all time favourite fabrics-I love the colours so much. I think it's a vast improvement!

When I told my husband what I was sewing (he asked) for once he didn't look at me like I'm wacked. He seemed to think it made perfect sense to want to cover up the giant Canon logo and make it as comfortable as possible. I guess there's a first for everything! Don't get me wrong-he's hugely supportive and proud of what I do, but I know he thinks some of my ideas are a bit off the wall. As he often says, "Sweetie, life with you is never boring." He's a keeper!

The weather is scheduled to be dismal tomorrow and I am pretty bummed about it. We're supposed to have more rain. In April, we had TWO days that were rain free. UGH! It's the one thing that drives me nuts about the west coast. I don't mind intermittent showers, but having weeks on end of non-stop rain is a drag. I guess it's the price you pay for living in paradise.

I'd hoped to be able to go on a shoot with my son and take the new camera for a spin tomorrow, but if it's going to be wet all day, we'll have to rethink that plan. Guess we'll have to wait and see what we wake up to tomorrow. Forecasters have been known to make mistakes. Here's hopin'!

A Rebel For A Rebel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEEE!!!

 Yesterday I finally purchased my new DSLR!! Woohoo!! This is the one I chose, a Canon Rebel XS 1000D.  I got a smokin' deal on it and managed to wrangle a 3 year service plan for the price of the 1 year plan. (It pays to haggle!) THANK YOU to several friends and family who gifted me cash towards this purchase for my birthday. I am thrilled to have my first fancy pants camera!

I chose to go with a kit, which included not only the camera, battery, charger, software and lense, but also a camera bag and an 8 gig memory card. (Though why Duracel doesn't include a protective sleeve for the card is beyond me! I will be writing the company about that. Honestly, what are you supposed to do to protect it when it's not in the camera?)

Today I am going to sew myself a camera strap cover, because let's face it, the ones that come with the camera are ugly and unimaginative. In 10 minutes, I can whip up something bright and pretty. If you want to make one too, just Google "camera strap cover" and a plethora of tutorials will come up. It's pretty simple, so if you have any quilting or sewing skills at all, you don't really need a tutorial. Essentially, it's just a fitted tube that you slide on over your strap. I like the idea of that because not only will it be pretty, but more comfortable to wear around your neck. (And I'm all about comfort!)

I'm a little overwhelmed by the operations manual-it's a whopping 211 pages long! I'm pretty techie though, so I think I can figure it out as I go along. I've been reading the manual in fits and starts. It's pretty dense and I find if I read too long, my brain goes numb. The good news is that I have a couple more experienced friends who also own this model, so I am sure if I need pointers, I can ask them.

My son and I are planning a photo shoot day on Mother's Day. We're going to spend part of the day trooping around together, taking photos and then I think we'll meet up with my husband and Indy for lunch. I am hoping for good weather on Sunday!

I'm still pretty ill with a sinus infection, despite a week of heavy duty antibiotics, so I've got to go see my GP and see what to do next. *sigh* I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I don't have time for this!

Okay, off to sew!

Good Things Aplenty!

First of all, the magic mailbox was very good to me last week. My husband brought me a piece of mail which at first glance, I had no idea where it had come from. After I flipped it over I saw the return address and I couldn't get it open fast enough!

Awhile back, I'd sent a thank you note to Brain Williams for the autographed photo he'd sent me, which was taken at the 2010 Olympics. Turns out, this piece of mail was a thank you note for the thank you note. *laughs* That's Prairie manners for ya! It just goes to show that Mr. Williams is indeed, the nicest guy in television. Maybe someday I'll be really lucky and our paths will cross. You just never know! I do believe that anything is possible.

My friend Pilar sent me this beautiful birthday card, which is from her original painting Goddess of the First Thaw. I just love her soulful work and she is one of the most thoughtful people I know. She's always sending me cards to say hello or to cheer me up. Everyone needs a friend like her-she's a gem. Take a minute to check out her Etsy shop-she has some wonderful work available!

Starbuck's send me a birthday postcard for a free whatever I want. YAY! I'll be stopping by my local shop for a frappe soon. Free is good!

See? I told you my birthday morphs into a month-long celebration! I wouldn't have it any other way! I'm also getting excited as the time to purchase my new DSLR camera with birthday money gifted to me by family and friends draws near. I'm still doing my homework so I can make an educated purchase, but the plan is to have it in my hands by Mother's Day. I am also planning to take Vivienne's You Are Your Own Muse in the fall as well. I figure by then I will have had time to learn the new camera enough to be able to continue my exploration of self-portrait photography. I had such a good experience in Wading In and I am excited to learn more. If you missed my interview with her, you can find it here.

Another thing I am really happy about is that my husband got us tickets to see Little River Band in the fall. We have 4th row seats! It's his favourite band of all time and I like them too. Their music has been the soundtrack of our life together. My husband owns all their albums and we've listened to them a zillion times over the years on our road trips. We were lucky enough to see them at the PNE last summer at an outdoor concert and it was fabulous. Their music conjures up such good memories for us and we're looking foreword to this "date" in the fall.

Meanwhile, back in the studio, my fingers have been flying as I write some articles for a new project I am involved in. (which is why things have been so quiet around here!) I am really excited about it and I'll share the details soon-the unveiling is scheduled to take place next month!

Birthday Love

 So..to the birthday girl go the spoils! Seriously, my friends spoiled me rotten showered me with love and it's not over yet. Traditionally, my birthday lasts about a month. When my husband and I first got married, he couldn't believe how much mileage I got out of my birthday. Now he just thinks it's funny.

The fact that the celebration lasts so long mainly has to do with the fact that my nearest and dearest friends are scattered all over the place-not all of them are local and so birthday goodness comes in the mail and by phone and often everyone's so busy that plans are made for several get-togethers. I am very blessed that way. As I've said before, I have THE BEST friends in the world.

My pal Penelope sent me a gift in the mail. Inside the envelope was a sweet little card that read "I thought to myself "What would Lelainia like? Lelainia would like to choose." and attached was a gift certificate for Regional Assembly of Text, a local store. I love everything in it, so it wasn't hard to choose. I picked this set of Cavallini stamps, Vintage Office that I'd be coveting for some time. I am a sucker for office themed stuff. I love it all and the telephone is so cool. I know I will use this set ALOT!

 I also spotted this paper that was office themed and picked it up. It will find its way into an ROD. This was made in the shop-they do their own designs. You can't tell by this photo but it's a deep vintage gold paper. (The light is bad in the studio today.)

 This was another paper that was calling my name. Penn gave me some fabulous scissor fabric for Xmas, which you've seen in a previous post. I love old scissors-I've actually begun a collection. This paper will also become ROD fodder. THANK YOU Penn for such a sweet and generous gift. It so much fun shopping with gift certificates for art supplies. Very happy-making indeed!

 I picked these up in my travels yesterday too. I've seen them online and finally happened across them. They are quite wet, but as they dry, they have a 3D effect to them, in that the ink is slightly raised. Not entirely sold on them just yet, but maybe if I play with them a bit. I hate waiting for stuff to dry and I didn't know these were so juicy. What made me want them is the colours. They remind me of gelato and are supposed to be really good on black paper. Now I just need to find some black paper! You used to see pads of it everywhere. Now, not so much.

 Friends in NY sent me a birthday card (that made me cry-they said the sweetest things to me. I love them so.) and a cheque. I spent part of it on a few goodies this morning. I had to go to get a re-inker I'd ordered from a scrapbooking store and while there found some odds and ends I "needed". I love this flower shape. Kind of like a pomegranate, but don't quote me on that. Whatever it is, I like it. I bought a stamp awhile ago that is the same flower.

 And then of course, I spotted this ephemera pack and if the labelling didn't entice me, the little bits inside did. Yummy! It's from House of 3/ PinkPaisley.

Lastly, there was paper that I couldn't go home without. (I'm sharing just a small sampling-I am such a paper junkie.) This one had a fabulous selection of bits that I can fussy cut and add to my RODs. How could I resist? This line of paper is by House of Three. (Who have a very cool chair as their logo-gotta love that!) Click the link-they have a really fabulous website full of amazing art fodder.

I don't know how long they've been around, but their products are new here in BC. I'm giving them a big thumbs up! I will definitely be on the lookout for more of their stuff! (Or purchasing it online, 'cause that works too!)

 

 The next three are by a company called Simple Stories. They have some great digital freebies on their blog so be sure and check them out. I got this sheet because I loved the camera. I have plans for it!

 Same with this one-cool numbers. I love numbers and alphabets. It's ridiculous how I collect them. I have a whole drawer full, though I can honestly say that I do use them-I'm not just into the collecting.

 More fabulous little bits. I love the colours in these. 

You know, as I was shopping today, I was thinking about how 8 years ago, I was trying desperately to encourage my local scrapbooking stores to lean even just a little bit towards mixed media and no one wanted to hear it. Now when I go in, there's a tons of mixed media worthy products available. Do you know that a shop owner once told me that 7 Gypsies stuff would never sell? That's insane!

At that time, I was teaching mixed media classes freelance and occasionally I would do workshops at one of these stores. The classes always filled up. Why the owners never got on board, I'll never know. It's kinda of sad-I was ahead of the curve here in Canada (BC) and everyone thought I was nuts. I used to have 5 scrapbook stores within 10 minutes of my house. Now the closest one is 20 minutes away and the other, 1/2 hour away. All the local ones are long gone.

I don't think it's a sign of the times so much as an inability to read the market and respond to it. You have to keep a creative based business moving and growing. People who are crafty or artistic thrive on learning and growing their skills and you need to have something new to offer them. Once you build a following, you can't just keep doing the same thing over and over and expect them to keep coming back. There has to be an evolution of products and classes to keep things fresh and engaging.

In any case, I digress. The point is, I am thrilled that these delightful companies are finding their way into the store I frequent. It's wonderful to see all the cool papers and goodies they're coming out with. I came away feeling really inspired to get busy in the studio, something that's been lacking the last month and a half since I've been so sick. I can't wait to dig in and play with what I purchased today.

Oh and one last artsy thing-Penn also gifted me with these Washi tapes. If you're local, Loomis De Serres is carrying them and they're on sale at the moment for $3/roll. After the sale, they'll be $3.95 I believe. Hopefully these tapes are flying out the door so they'll stock more and continue to get new prints. Here's hopin'! (And thanks again Penn!)

The girls in my MS group gave me a gorgeous bouquet of yellow Gerberas and a card yesterday. It was very sweet of them and I have no idea how they knew that's one of my most fav flowers. (Freesia, Snapdragons and Sweet Peas are the other three. I love poppies too, but you can't pick those and bring them in the house. They are strictly outdoor flowers.)

My friend Karen gave me Water for Elephants, which I devoured in an afternoon. If you haven't read it, get thee to a library! It's so good and the author is Canadian and was born in Vancouver. I liked it so much I've already got 2 more of her novels in the to-read stack on my bedside table.

The rest of my friends who had dinner with me last weekend gifted me with cash to go towards my DSLR camera fund. It was the one thing I really wanted, so that's what they did. I haven't purchased a camera yet. I am still doing research because I want to be sure and get the one that will serve me best. The choices are endless and a bit overwhelming, but I'm in no rush. I'd rather take my time and get something that I will be happy with.

My son rushed into an upscale point and shoot just before the Olympic started and he's had major buyer's remorse. I've given it a try and while I am quite mechanically inclined and good with electronics of all kinds, I HATE his camera. It's not very user friendly and as I am setting up a shot, the lense closes and pinches my fingers every single time! It's enough to make you want to smash the heck out of it. (Which he's mentioned wanting to do as well!) It's worth it to do some research.

I hope to have it in hand by the end of April. That's my plan, so I can have the whole summer to get used to it and then in the fall I'm signing up for You Are Your Own Muse with the fabulous Vivienne McMaster. I learned so much in Wading In and I want to expand on that experience.

This birthday has been an embarrassment of riches, really. I am just so blessed by my peeps. I have the best friends in the world. I'm grateful for them every single day. They certainly know how to make a girl feel loved.

Okay, I am off to shape fresh bread dough into two pizzas for dinner tonight. There's nothing better than pizza made from scratch. MMM! Pizza and The Amazing Race. That's how I'm capping off this weekend. :)

**I'm not affiliated with any of these paper companies, but I sure wish I was!