rhya

A Valentine Diorama...

2012-02-09T00:43:00.001-05:00

Hearts in disguise!

A quick post tonight dedicated to the season of love notes! I've been seeing many tutorials over the tubes that show you how to fold a paper heart into an envelope. It turns out that these heart's in disguise are the perfect home for my valentine dioramas!

Surprise...a folded away friend!

piles of sweetness.

Valentine diorama unfolded.

Team Heart Beat!

A love story.

2012-02-01T01:06:00.002-05:00

This week i need to try and finish our invites to this marriage thing we are doing this summer. As a lover of all things DIY, I can't lie, planning a DIY wedding is frankly a hoot! But I do have a tendency to live in my dreams...where every happening is heavily choreographed to swooning pop songs across wide open skies. Bringing dreams to life is much different...

Above is our latest pass at the invites...a little more graphic and a little more simplistic. I still need to design our characters, the robot and the monster and address the font...but I am enjoying this direction. It also is in the vein of the themes that I am hoping to incorporate into my first textile line...so it's a good try two things at once project.

Finally on another exciting note...fabric sampling has begun for the dress making! Bring on the mood board!

Paper Sunshine!

2012-01-26T19:38:00.000-05:00

It's January in Toronto...that means...snow...or well it used to. These days we are flip flopping between freezing skies and rainy afternoons. Either option would be improved with sunshine.

So for my latest mailing project, I created some little bursts of sunshine packed up in the tiniest of envelopes! I am shipping them out tomorrow...so hopefully some familiar friends will have a little bit of extra warmth pass through their hands this month.

Paper Sunshine: inside the a tiny burst of happy!

I am also getting really excited about making some valentines...i have some ideas cooking in my imagination. Next step, put them on paper! Also, my other life's work, the Monster Factory is running an awesome contest/activity for this very love filled holiday. Essentially you write a monster a valentine, and they will write you one back! All the details are available via the link above.

Bear in the snow.

Bear making a million wishes.

The tiny envelopes for the tiniest of letters!

A little letter made out of paper sunshine.

And now back to my blanket fort a.k.a. hibernation station!

January Wind

2012-01-20T00:13:00.002-05:00

The wind twists and ties my memories down
It howls and sparks and would rather I not forget...

January has been such a peculiar month so far. I feel terribly behind in my creative pursuits but yet at the same time energized and excited for the year to unfold. I think it's just been hard to get back into work mode after such a long holiday break. My mind still seems to be focused on boiling large root veggies for stews and curling up in a nest of comforters on my bed and napping hours away.

You leave tiny stab wounds, slivers of small branches.
Leaves flutter around us, an added drama.

To curb these lazy actions, I am giving myself little goals and creative adventures. Sketch for five minutes before I head to work (meaning get up 5 minutes early already...lol). Or next week I have challenged myself to swim at least once. I need to be back in the pool...let my mind wander through lengths of chlorinated blue.

I suppose I have also been a little preoccupied with planning a wedding...kye and I are finally getting married. Anyone who knows us well, also knows that we have been engaged for a very LONG time. It's fairly ridiculous. This is our ten year anniversary year, so it seems fitting to throw a party and get hitched. Of course with a wedding comes invites and decoration and thus crafting! Hello favourite things!

Our theme is robot marries monster. I've been sketching out some ideas for the invites...nothing but ideas at this point...and we have many...I like the one above...and want to colour the tie and head band with pinks and orange, leaving the rest of the line work black. I think that would look sharp.

We are also playing around with some 8Bit imagery...might be a fun take...I like this image...but it's just not entirely there yet.

I am also in love with these lithuanian wedding head dresses...something tells me I will be making these!

My dad has also offered to help construct these hats...they are so crazy...but I kind think they would be a real show stopper!

New year, new journal...

2012-01-10T00:56:00.003-05:00

a new beginning.

Kye bought me a new journal for Christmas this year and I love it! A size change from my last journal...more roomy, and it has a horizontal layout, which makes me feel like i'm journaling on long landscapes...and that makes for many happy pages.

treasures from sewon!

The first few pages i've worked on have included some of the treasures i've received in the mail from my art pen pals. There are a couple collages of small special secrets from sewon, whose blog i absolutely adore following. Her photographs are so lovely and really capture the everyday!

handmade stickers make everything better!

Along with sewon's secrets, there is a collage of handmade stickers that jeannine sent me from the west. They are so fragile and sweet. I had to use them in collaboration with some illustrations.

a trio of owls.

And of course i received a package of sunshine and rainbows from my friend jessica, which included a trio of handrawn owls! I've yet to journal with these wonders, but my mind is racing on how i might...so many possibilities!

rain dancing.

Another creative beginning that I am really excited about is getting back into poetry with the help of one of the most incredibly talented writers I know Lindsay ZV. On the second day of 2012 we ran into each other on our way to work and challenged each other to write a poem or poems each day and send them to one another.

Way back before the monster factory began, i used to write poems and pair them with images and drawings. As the monsters took over, I continued the image making but let the words fall aside...but it's time to collect them again. I feel a bit like a baby deer on wobbly legs falling a whole lot, and writing hilariously bad verses...but hey we all have to start somewhere right! Oh and thank you Linds for bearing with me while i try and find my words again. I've sprinkled some of my first attempts in amongst the images.

a winter collage.

i hear a song
a blue jean melody

and then

worn memories
catching in my chest.

handmade stickers from jeannine...i love the sprinkles...like rainbow snow flakes.

in the cold months
i carry bits of green and sun,
tucked in with bank statements and receipts.
my wallet burns.

our resolutions.

the cotton flowers in the closet
softly mimic
the sounds of summer.

Everyday Party!

2012-01-04T00:41:00.001-05:00

First off Happy New Years Everyone! I really hope that 2012 is smashingly bright and full of sparkles and happy dust! Now onward...

The busy months are finished, my holidays are packed away in the upstairs closet and it's back to regular routine of the everyday. This got me thinking that it is the perfect time for another 'Everyday Adventure!'. So I got to work and made a bunch of these tiny little bunting banners to send around to some friends. The idea is that you can stick them up in a place somewhere in your life that might need some cheering up. I put up mine in a little corner near a window in our house that needed a little something something. Then I put on this song and had a solo dance party...I highly recommend it to everyone!

I took a very LONG vacation from everything over the last couple of weeks, partially due the fact that I got taken down by a silly cold...but now I'm back...ready to start drawing...lots of incoming mail to post up...and a future textile line to create. 2012 feels like it's starting off just right...

Happy holidays!

2011-12-13T01:34:00.001-05:00

Holiday Cards are printed and ready to be folded into envelopes and sent all over to friends in far and not so far places.

These cards are lino cuts. A little tricky to get the hang of but I am fairly happy with the results.

I hope everyone has a very happy holiday season filled with lots of love and good people.

Busy monsters...

2011-12-09T10:54:00.001-05:00

Above is the Monster Factory, One of a Kind Show booth. This is what has been taking over my life as of late. So many monsters!

I can't wait to get back into sketching and illustrating over the break. Some big ideas!

Things are finally starting to slow down some, which is good because I also need to do some major house cleaning...it's hilarious what happens to your home when you are working around the clock for a month straight.

This weekend, I believe I will have a chance to finish my holiday card and hopefully attend city of craft here in Toronto!!!! If you are in this city I implore you to go because it's going to be fantastic!

Paper Memories

2011-11-30T01:04:00.001-05:00

Wow, November has flown by! I can't believe December is almost here. I also can't wait for the holidays, I am dreaming of hot chocolate, hot cider and a billion baked goods...which i am hoping to bake.

I have not had as much time for sketching and blogging over the last few weeks due to all the craziness over at the Monster Factory. Things tend to go a little banans during the holidays. But I am still finding the time to throw down ideas here and there, as I plan on developing my first attempt at a line of textiles for the end of January.

None of these sketches are concrete, more just bits of inspiration on paper, things I don't want to forget, kept for later. I am really excited to get going...don't you just love the beginning stages of a project, when you have so many ideas and then you actually start to see them appear in front of you...it must be one of my favourite things in life!

ps...there are some AMAZING textile designers down at the Toronto One of a Kind show. I met Alison from Lovell designs...she was so lovely and made incredibly inspiring work...check it out!

Breath Out and In - A mail post.

2011-11-22T00:20:00.001-05:00

I have finally found a moment to put together a few letters to let loose into the wilderness. My 'Flurries' dioramas are flying off in these little quiet envelopes. I think they will be cozy enough wrapped in their paper blankets.

These colourful folks are carrying some special surprises for old and new friends! I hope they move quickly through the woods.

I have also been getting a few lovely treats in the mail myself! First my friend Tanya sent me one of her own creations. It's so beautiful, I've been keeping it on my desk and looking at it whenever I find myself craving a pocket of stillness during the day.

I have also been so lucky to have received, not one but two amazing packages from Merissa! I was introduced to her via my friend J. Her calligraphy is out of this world awesome and she shares a love of Elvis with me!

Finally, I'm not even 100% certain how I stumbled on Beebee's blog, but I am so glad I did. We are doing a zine exchange and I received her package first. Holy smokes...it's outstanding. Her Workshop zine is so beautiful! But not only beautiful also crazy informative, full of diy projects, and informative tips about stationery and stationery accessories. Here is a link to where you can get your own copy! I can't wait for our next exchange, but first I must send out her package!

A little DIY gift you can make!

Kawaii sticker sets! my favourite!

Flurries.

2011-11-16T08:48:00.001-05:00

Looking to the sky for clues.

It's a very misty morning. The leaves have been shed and nature has moved to a cool and hazy colour palette. I can feel winter on the tips of my fingers. I made some sketches last night and turned them into these little dioramas. Going to send out some treats in the mail tomorrow. Not much time for too much else. The one of a kind show is around the corner and our office is slowly filling to the ceiling with monsters. I am looking forward some quiet time at christmas, but until then I am really enjoying the rush of the holiday season.

Let's all disguise ourselves in snow piles.

Catching winter.

Textiles...The early stages.

2011-11-10T00:26:00.000-05:00

early stages...mucking around in illustrator.

So when I started to get back into my blog a couple of years ago after a long monstrous hiatus, one of the goals of this project was to make a dream of mine come true: Textile Design. Before I started though, I really wanted to develop my illustration style more and give myself some room to work on a mess of ideas...but now I feel ready. So I have given myself a deadline, and I want to have a line of textiles ready for end of January...fingers crossed I can make this happen. I think my first line will most likely be called 'The Friendly Bears'...it's a hunch I have...

Pocket Sunshine

2011-11-09T00:28:00.000-05:00

I've been buried deep in my sketch book for the last few weeks. Time is thin during the holiday season due to all the monster madness at work, but I've been enjoying my swift and stolen moments with my journal. I've posted most of these little bear drawings before via quick instagram shots, but I thought I would display them again in a bit more detail.

My mail box has also been a flutter of beautiful treats...I can't wait to share some of the posted secrets that I've been keeping. I'm also looking forward to a big mail out myself, I have been a little behind on my correspondences lately, and I've got my own post secrets to ship off to old and new friends!

There is no snow yet here in Toronto...and I am OKAY with that...the longer the snow stays away the longer I can stay on my bicycle....but it will come. Luckily I've been stocking up my music pod with a whole new soundtrack for the frozen months. I am calling it either 'Mix for Snow Stepping' or 'Pocket Sunshine'. Here are my top 5 favourite tracks so far:

1. Lana Del Rey - Video Games

2. Gotye - Somebody That I Used to Know

3. Kavinsky - Nightcall

4. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros - Home

5. Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks - Whenever I Call You Friend

(Please do not hesitate to suggest other tracks)

Into the meadow, following old footwork home.

The last fall flowers.

She keeps secrets tucked deep in her pockets.

A hint of spring through wool and fur.

It's always best to cover your ears in a wind storm.

The birds that stay on are stand out against the quiet winter horizon.

They decorate the branches and telephone wires. Removing some of the stillness from the cold sky.

Envelope Diorama: Winter!

2011-11-05T01:04:00.000-04:00

The snow is coming, so we bundle our hearts in covers.

The two of us dress in wool, our breath tangles, frosty kisses iced with crisp sunlight.

Long walks...sound of feet and crackling snow. it's a happy kind lonely.

I live in the mountains for the cold months.

Ice bergs waltz together at the edge of the world.

Pieces of winter in piles around our feet.

His eyes are the warmest thing about this day.

We close our eyes and hibernate in envelopes till spring.

Greeting Cards Available!

2011-11-02T00:06:00.000-04:00

Party!

That's right it is a party, a greeting card party, and it's happening over at Kid Icarus! They have posted up our greeting cards on their online store and on their esty site! That means if you would also like to join the party and order one or more of our limited edition cards you can! Check out the rest of the series below. I have linked to the store pages.

*All photo credit goes to the good folks over a Kid Icarus

Thank You!

I miss you! (The tear jerker)

I love you! (Personal favourite!)

Happy Birthday! (The blue version)

Happy Birthday (The pink version)

Halloween is My Favourite.

2011-10-31T12:22:00.002-04:00

I Heart Halloween!

I'm a Love Letter.

The Busy Months.

2011-10-26T10:22:00.001-04:00

Memory of a Summer Whisper.

As the holiday season approaches things at my work really start to ramp up. The best way to handle this time is really to just head down and power through, but also to make sure and escape once in a while for some quiet time with just a set of pencils crayons. I've been researching Lithuanian textiles and folk costumes for the last while and it's really been inspiring me. Here are a couple more 'Lithuanian bears' to add to the mix.

Heavy Weave.

Towards the Woods...

2011-10-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

I feel like this guy is telling me to run to the woods this weekend and join in a big forest party. Instead, I will be running downtown and joining in the fun of the Zombie walk! I have never been before, because I am terrified of zombies (irrational fear I know)...but since I am turning thirty something this weekend, I also feel like it's time I start facing my fears! Though, I still not ready to deal with spiders.

Bear and Bear!

2011-10-20T09:38:00.000-04:00

As the seasons trade places...I can tell that hibernation is becoming higher on my priorities list. Also, I have been digging up all things made of wool, that have been buried in closets for the sunny seasons. Oh winter.

Hey Mr. Postman.

2011-10-18T08:36:00.001-04:00

My mail box has been happily supplying me with some lovely things these day, but I am also very happy to see that my friends from all over have been receiving their own gifts from me! So a big fuzzy Thank you to all who shared about my bunny zine! Jaime made a lovely post over on Send More Mail, Jessica from Nature is my Friend also gave the bunnies a great shout out, and Jeannine from Saylor Made just made an epic mail art filled post with a sweet bunny mention! Finally, my new friends from overseas Le Funky Mamas also dropped my little zine a line. Happy fall to all!

Now as for my own treats, I am posting some snippets of the treasures that have graced my letter box as of late. There is a lovely birthday card full of unicorns from my friend Heather in SF. I love unicorns and I love Heather...and I frickin' adore this card!

There is a beautiful stamp pack from Jaime, including a little curling stamp, which made my morning when I opened it, as I am hoping to get married at a curling club here in the city.

There is a letter made up of several postcards from my friend Clare, one of my oldest pen-pal's after Skye. We've been writing letters since High School and I love that the story continues.

And finally there is an incredible wedding thank you card from Airy. Filled with photos of a wonderful day, that made my heart swell when I opened it.

The Simple Stuff.

2011-10-13T00:12:00.001-04:00

Jumping for Love.

A list for October!
Hands down favourite song of the month: Home by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
Inspiration: Sun Sets and the forever blooming fall flowers, especially those dusty rose ones.
Best Colour: as stated above Dusty Rose.
Flavours: Butter Tarts and Caramel anything!
Fashion: Back to my favourite combo - Jeans and Stripes!
Happiness: Slow dancing in the kitchen surrounded by furry cats and fall foliage.

What's your October list?

Kid Icarus Artist Series Cards!

2011-10-12T23:42:00.001-04:00

photos courtesy of Bianca and Mike over at Kid Icarus

So I am so excited about this bit of news I have to share tonight! The greeting cards I collaborated on with the most excellent folks over at Kid Icarus are all printed up and ready for cuddles! If you don't know Kid Icarus, please check out their website, and if you are in Toronto make sure you stop by and visit their store/print shop located in the heart of Kensington Market. These are my first ever greeting cards and I am over the moon with a net collecting stardust, stray sun-rays and bursting with excitement. I have linked to the Kid Icarus official blog post so you can check out more photos and if you are interested in taking a couple of these guys home, just shoot an email over here with a request: info@kidicarus.ca or stop by the store!

photos courtesy of Bianca and Mike over at Kid Icarus

Journal pages.

2011-10-06T08:53:00.002-04:00

cotton dreams.

October is so pretty here in Ontario. Our trees are getting all fancied up for one last big night out before the winter sleep and it's impossible to not want to join in the party. Well, I don't know about you, but I can't wait to break out into this gorgeous day and soak up the beauty...let's go!

all through the night.

lake dreams.

Bunny Zine!

2011-10-02T23:34:00.002-04:00

All piled high and ready to be fly off to new homes.

The Bunny zine is all wrapped up! I am pretty happy with the results, though some of the water colour was lost in translation, or in the copy machine. I will learn from this when making my next zine...any ideas what that should be?

And now i would like to make a little list about the good things from this weekend:
1. All night crafting at the workroom, during Nuit Blanche. Getting to hang with lots and lots of good people...and seeing some old friends and sharing some belly laughs!
2. Butter Tarts...two batches...two emergency phone calls to grandma...still learning.
3. Rainy and cold weekend = long and cozy nap!
4. Good news from oceans away!

Bunnies doing what bunnies do best...hopping.

A bunny sleeping...which is essentially what i did all weekend.

Carrot party, it's a bunny thing.

There are also bunnies on the last page!

A birthday and some bunnies.

2011-09-26T01:38:00.000-04:00

Jumping.

First off, I need to send out a huge thank you to the ladies over at Le Funky Mamas, a modern culture blog for mom of today, for featuring my blog as their blog of the month! Totally amazing to be featured on such an awesome and beautiful place here on the internet! Thank you, Thank you!!!

Mom's flowers!

This weekend my sister and i had a party for my mom's birthday. It was just small and sweet at my place. We decorated with fabric bunting, flowers and I made my first Angel Food cake from scratch (which turned out somewhat right…but i am not sure it rose to the full extent). Essentially we had a mother-daughter slumber party. It was hilarious. We watched Bridesmaids and feasted on take out. But the highlight of the night was our spontaneous dance party. We pulled out some supreme moves. I made note of our play list for those who would also like some awesome tunes to 'shake a tail' to:

Hold On - Wilson Philips
This Must Be the Place - Talking Heads
Cherish - Madonna
How Bizarre - OMC
Pictures of You - The Cure
Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
Ice Ice Baby - Vanilla Ice
River Deep Mountain High - Tina Turner

Process work!

I am getting closer to finishing up my next zine all about bunnies! I have included some of the process images. Essentially these are all the cut outs that I will paste onto the zine pages, to make into little scenes, also adding bits of colorful paper to add more colour, and text and line work to add some more details. I can't wait to finish it off, print some up, fold them up and see what it looks like! I really hope it works out.

Bunny dreams.

The clouds and trees.

Ready for the party.

A lonely cupcake

Finally, my latest macarons! Espresso with caramel buttercream filling! Delicious, though while making the caramel some dripped on to the stove element and things got pretty smoky. Oh the ups and down of baking!

Espresso Macarons with Caramel butter cream filling.

Somewhere in September...

2011-09-19T00:20:00.001-04:00

sending postcards to the one i love.

It was a quiet weekend for me. Lots of puttering and baking. I put the finishing touches on some pistachio macarons this evening and boy are they tasty! I also did some journal pages and started work on a new little zine...hint: it's full of bunnies! I hope everyone else had a lovely weekend as well...any highlights?

catching the last tangles of summer in our hands.

good times.

Friends!

framed in branches and forest light.

pistachio macarons!

Mess ups and Macarons

2011-09-13T00:43:00.001-04:00

one flower.

I cannot believe that it's been almost two and half years since I set my mind back to my journals and really started to explore and develop an illustrative style. It has been an excellent journey up to this point, and I feel that my pen and pencil now speak with a distinct Rhya style... it's all very exciting! That being said, I realize that there is still a long road ahead of me, as I work towards perfecting the translation of the thoughts and characters that frolic through my brain onto paper...or whatever medium they tumble on to.

Bliss' birthday card.

I make many mistakes...and I am queen of erasing. But it's usually from the mistakes that I stumble onto different ideas and or realize how I can make my next image stronger. For example, tonight I made a hand drawn card from my friend Bliss and I am almost happy with the results. My big error was that I didn't do a preliminary sketch (something I usually do) and thus there are elements on the card that I wish I could go back and change. I tend to go a little over board with my work, I am always adding another little detail here and there, yet I think I much prefer my minimal work. Anyhoo...I thought i would post this card up, with some close ups of some of the things I am not 100% satisfied with. Taking a critical eye to your work is always a good exercise...though I try to keep my eye constructive and positive! It helps you understand why you do things and I think it leads to you developing and defining your own process and style.


Here is where I think i really ran off the rails. I wanted there to be some colour under my little character...but I should have tested my materials a bit more, as I am not satisfied with the pencil crayon on this paper. Also, my little character could be higher on the page to help with balance.

Though I really love this style of text and the balloon, I think my scale and spacing was off. It's not really displayed here, but the 'Happy Day' could be moved down into the space below the balloon. But I do look forward to do more text like this!

On a totally unrelated note...i have gotten obsessed with trying to perfect the art of macaron making. I even started a 'macaron' journal! I will get some pics of it at some point. The photo above is from batch #7, where I got brave enough to add food colouring! The ultimate goal is to get good enough at making these so I can have them at my wedding....dreams...I have them!

The First of September's Pages.

2011-09-05T23:03:00.000-04:00

Autumn. The oranges and yellows started me thinking all about the fall. It will be here so soon!

These are the first of my September journal pages. One is made up from things Jessica sent me in the mail and the other is really all about a memory of Kyle and i floating over the lakes in Algonquin...a memory i am going to savor all year long.

Kyle and i floating along.

August's incoming mail.

2011-09-05T22:56:00.000-04:00

a lovely letter arrived from jaime on this beautiful stationery!

My August was full of sunshine, moody storms and lots of wonderful letters in my mailbox. Sometimes I find it hard to keep up with posting all that comes through...and sometimes I want to keep my letters secret. But now it's time to share! Above and below are photos of letter fragments from these most talented and lovely people: Jaime, Clare, Lindsay, Heather and Jessica!

Clare sent me a thick package of many many treats! This one really caught my eye. It's like the dead centre of summer caught on paper forever! I am going to keep it close to my desk all through the cold months.

Heather knows me well. Yes, I am a huge Elvis fan...it's true. She also sent me the most curious lamp...made out of a badminton birdie! It's designed and made by Kiel Mead. Check out the site, there are tons of interesting things...i am also kind of in love with their heartsmith ring! My brother is a major badminton player. I can't wait to show this to him!

What can i say about this...a post card with the letter R and a Rainbow. Pretty much the best thing ever! Thanks Jessica!

I love all the blues mixing together here on the back of Jessica's postcard. There was also a special surprise hidden underneath the ocean of tape and paper.

Lindsay sent me these beautiful hang tags with Jack Layton's words hand written on them, to help spread around the city.

My 6x8 Piece.

2011-08-30T00:55:00.000-04:00

The finished piece...untitled for now.

Back in the early days of summer, i ran into my friend Petra at the Paper Place (one of my favourite shops here in toronto). We got to talking about making things and I explained how I was really getting into working with paper again and she recommended I enter the 6x8 Exhibition. The deal with this show is the Paper Place supplies you with one 6x8 piece of Etchu Hagaki 300g kozo paper and from there it's up to you to make something out of it.

Detail of Wolfy Face.

I just put the finishing touches on my piece tonight, and will be handing it over tomorrow! I decided to build up from the paper, using it as my base and background. I am fairly happy with the final results, though next time I might go a little more minimal. Cutting out all the flower details was really time consuming, but very satisfying...but again I still need to work on my technique. On the whole this was a great project. I got to try a more detailed diorama and explore a whole new world of papers (all found on the shelves of the paper place!). I can't wait to see what the other artists did, I saw one sneak peek here!

The grasslands.

Waiting on the night.

Eastbound.

before ink.

i love the pencil lines...but they didn't read as well from a far...but i may start working more in this medium.

More process work.

two of these little guys didn't make it into the piece...they will probably end up in an envelope or my journal.

Journal Pages

2011-08-22T00:51:00.000-04:00

hibernation.

August is almost closed for business, that is alright I guess. This month has been good, full of woods and fields, trees and wide horizons, not much more a girl can ask for. I think I have knitted enough branches together in my mind to last me through the coming winter. I even buried a bit of my heart in a backyard forest north north of a tiny home beside the highway, it will rest there till next spring. Now it's time for sleep.

a love cluster.

algonquin on the horizon.

Letters in the Mail...

2011-08-17T08:31:00.000-04:00

envelopes fluttering.

small batch of letters going out in the post today. i love making these little packages, little envelopes within envelopes. secrets on soft paper traveling through the air. i am also working on finishing up some projects (a couple mobiles for friends and their new little babies...very excited for them), and a paper piece for the Paper Place show. Summer is still burning, and I love every second of it. I can't get enough of these warm blue skies and sweater-less mornings, I wish I could jar them and store them in the cupboard for use on a cold winters day. Maybe I need to make some envelope dioramas all about summer...

Quiet secrets

Letters in pencil.

Writer's block.

Quiet North

2011-08-15T01:04:00.000-04:00

Life in the foothills, behind the highway.

Sneak Peek - Kid Icarus Collaboration

2011-08-12T01:25:00.000-04:00

photo courtesy of the most excellent Kid Icarus

So here is a quick sneak peek at the project i have been hinting at for the last while. I have been working with Kid Icarus, an amazing Toronto based shop that deals and creates quality handmade goods, to create a line of six greeting cards from some of my illustrations that developed out of all my journal work. The cards will be available via Kid Icarus, and I think a couple may even be on display at their booth this weekend at the Bloorcourt Arts and Craft Festival! I am so excited about the cards, it's totally awesome to see them coming together and to see my woodland illustrations finding a life somewhere outside my sketch book. I can wait to share all six designs, but until then check out more of the sneak peek shots here!

Back from Algonquin

2011-08-10T08:14:00.001-04:00

Kye and I took off for a quick trip up to Algonquin this weekend. We did our first ever portaging trip. We covered four lakes all together and camped on two different camp sites. It was out of this world beautiful! Photos to follow soon. Now it's back to work and city life. I am working on oodles of letters to send out, some special baby projects for friends and hopefully some greeting cards! Stay tuned...also I can't wait to share some of the beautiful envelopes that have graced my mail box this week!

Mail Art Summer...

2011-08-03T08:04:00.000-04:00

A lovely party invite from Kye!

Summer has been a mess of sunshine and goodness, and i have been finding it hard to stay indoors. That combined with the fact that i keep forgetting my camera at work has put me a little behind on updating my blog with all the wonders that I have piled up in my mailbox.

I received four beautiful packages all full of lovely things from a group of awesome ladies all over the globe. I've been meaning to document the beautiful cards from Jessica, the colourful paper presents from Jeannine, the envelope of treasures from Kye, and the pocket full of stars from Lindsay for a couple weeks now but i am moving at a snails pace. But i wanted to send out some gratitude to my friends for their awesome gifts...so I thought i would share some journal pages i've making using some of the things that they sent me in the mail! (luckily i can't leave my scanner at work as it is anchored to my desk at home).

So many stars from my Lindsay.

Paper crane came all the way from Australia! Thanks Jessica!

Beautiful paper sent to me by Jeannine!

For a friend...

2011-07-28T08:36:00.000-04:00

Happy encouragement!

i have a friend who is finishing her dissertation for her phd. it sounds insanely challenging and grueling. she was telling me how she has to go over her paper over and over again with notes...so i thought she might enjoy some happy stickers to put on parts that were done...or at least to decorate it! anyways, they are just a quick sketch for fun...and hey if you need some happy encouragement today feel free to print out and stick to your work.

Weekend Sketches

2011-07-25T00:42:00.000-04:00

a message for the forest.

I've been working on some little illustrations over the last few weeks for an upcoming project. Here are some snaps from this weekends rough sketches. So excited. I also have a big post coming about some lovely mail packages I received in the mail recently. As for my weekend a few things stand out:
1. a long swim under the blazing evening sky.
2. a hazy bbq with so many lovely friends...and then there was that bag full of boxes with black widow spiders...the non-poisonous male kind...they belonged to a black widow spider expert I met that night! So amazing!
3. finding the venue for a very big future event!

Party Sweater.

Lost in a field of flora.

He is lonely.

Mutual respect.

Sneak Peek - Unicorns

2011-07-21T00:52:00.000-04:00

Unicorns are ridiculous and awesome all at once. I am a fan.

I think the bushes are getting sneakier.

Rainbow tears.

Tough Times.

This envelope diorama is not yet complete...but I thought a sneak peek might be fun. I still need to finish the cut outs that accompany the unicorns and the envelope, and then off it goes in the mail...to who, I still don't know...

Desk Notes...

2011-07-19T11:42:00.000-04:00

dance party.

Summer is here...it's hot...and it's good! The weather makes me feel like i am waking around in a dream, sleepy and hazy images float by, occasionally punctuated by bright fresh moments in pools. Getting things done is of course a challenge. I am currently working on some designs which will hopefully be turned into some greeting cards and stationery...woot woot! Doing some more envelope dioramas...photos to follow...but for now...here are some desk notes...a la instagram...i think the hazy filters and soft focus make them look like you are seeing them what I would like to call 'dream vision'.

Also...
I owe a thank you to Rosalie for including some of my work in her happy thoughts post! Rosalie is a most excellent photographer...her work also uses 'dream vision'. And some good things: these stamps...which illustrate my favourite parts about summer! Thanks J!

breakfast dance.

Bunnies!

More happy thoughts.

shifty business.

Wild Hearts!

2011-07-14T01:13:00.000-04:00

Friends found on cottage roads.

Back from the cottage. Sun kissed, lake washed, and full of radiant horizons. I took along my sketch book and camera. Found so many wild flowers along the roads that weaved around our home in the woods. I can't seem to get enough wilderness right now. Oh and there were ducks!

And I must pass on some blog love (i am a little behind due to all the vacation...my apologies!)
1. a big blushing thank you to Crystal from the lovely blog House of Hearts for her post about my Kitten Face blog!
2. thank you thank you to my newest twitter pal Kye, for her post all about inspiration and zines!
3. Jeanine also made a lovely mention of my wolf zine on her Saylor Made blog, which has become one of my favourite places to visit! Her newest post about polaroid week got my brain spinning!
4. Robyn is next, who was the recipient of my Raccoon diorama! Her blog is filled with so much mail art awesomeness it makes your heart swell into the shape of an envelope!
5. Huge Thank You to Simone for her post about the Wolves zine...I heart Simone's videos! Watch them!
6. And finally to Sophie from So Lovely Decoration, a site I frequent everyday to dream at, for her post of my work up on an awesome site called 'Ohlesgirls'...so awesome!

Happy times in the grass. We wear tiny flowers in our hair.

Hiking to the edge of the lake, grass under foot, green stained soles wash clean in water.

Wild flowers, tamed.

Group hug.

The curious one.

Picnics in Letters!

2011-07-05T09:33:00.000-04:00

Picnic Time!

I am so happy that the postal strike is over, because now I can get back to filling envelopes to all my lovely penpal's with mini picnics and many other wonderful things!

We are all friends here!

Canada Day

2011-07-02T01:55:00.001-04:00

Journal stories.

Kyle and I spent our Canada Day sprawled out on a picnic blanket in High Park. The weather was perfect! We sipped on fizzy water, chomped on some delicious pesto pasta, a variety of cheeses, and some blazing fruit salad. It was positively perfect. I hope everyone else had a fabulously Canadian day as well. Oh and of course I took some time out for my journal as well...

A parade of one.

Green Study.

Foxy Fox.

Blue lines.

Random sketches.

Love Letter!

The love letter is thanks to the most wonder Lindsay Zier-Vogel, who gave me a few of these beauties to distribute while I was out and about.

Picnic perfect.

Scruffy days.

2011-06-30T01:24:00.000-04:00

I love to bike...a lot! I cycle to and from work everyday and though I absolutely adore getting lost in my city streets, I could do without my scruffy helmet hair. Unfortunately, style comes in second to safety, so until they introduce a helmet that does not cause me to have crazy tripped out bangs every morning, I will just have to keep rocking my bent up hair do!

Nature walk.

2011-06-28T01:04:00.000-04:00

A bright blue bird who excels at jumping and hop scotch.

So i am back from beautiful British Columbia. What a trip...I attended a most memorable wedding, with a surprise lantern parade that I will never forget, baked pies with my bestie, picked strawberries with my brother, and spent a very relaxing time in Whistler with Kye's family. I am supremely satisfied and ready to attack Toronto life again. While in Whistler, Kye and I took a long nature trek. I was inspired by all the flora and fauna along the way. Here are a few of the sketches that fell out of my journal....hopefully soon to transform into lovely dioramas. And can we also all cheer for the end of the postal strike! Mail art will resume again!

Bunny-ish and full of berries.

Cloud gazer.

Bertie, the talker.

The bashful one.

Home Again!

2011-06-27T17:06:00.000-04:00

Night Whispers.

Windy hours.

Home on the horizon.

On Vacation...

2011-06-16T01:05:00.000-04:00


I think Kitten Face says it the best.

I am off to the west coast! So excited! But when I get home I am hoping that this postal strike will be resolved, and that I will have my next envelope diorama ready for it's blog debut. Until then, happy June to all. Now bring on the mountains!

Found.

2011-06-14T00:45:00.000-04:00

Blossom hunting.

I leave on vacation in a few days. Off to a wedding and to see family and friends! I can't wait to give those big mountains and the ocean a huge 'Hello'! Also, I am really excited to write letters while on vacation and hopefully make a trip to the regional assembly of text. And most of all, i can't wait to have some time to write and journal in another place. It is always exciting to get inspired by a new location...hopefully there is also some time to dedicate towards little Kitten-Face as well!

Falling from trees.

Finally, a few shout outs to some new friends who received their 'wolves' zines in the mail recently and graciously shared it on their lovely blogs:
1. The awesome Robyn!
2. The fantabulous Jeannine!
3. The super sweet Kye!
Thank you so much you guys! I can't wait to see what hits my mail box next:

Post-It Notes.

2011-06-10T00:18:00.000-04:00

Friend Confirmation.

So a few weeks ago my excellent friend and biz partner Bliss, bought us some new post-its for the office. They look just like little miniature letter stationery and are ridiculously cute, I couldn't resist drawing on them! So here is the current collection of my office post-it doodles. Does anyone else doodle away on scraps and post-its? It would be cool to see other examples. I know GR had an entire show dedicated to them which was pretty fantastic!

Next step is to write some mini letters and send them out...three cheers for post-it mail!

Happy Thoughts.

Verklempt.

Are you bear claw approved?

Sketching in Trinity Bellwoods

2011-06-09T00:22:00.002-04:00

Fox Park.

Tonight, due to my lack of organizational abilities these days, I found myself an hour and a half early for an art opening. I figured this was a great time to grab my sketch book and hit the park for a little impromptu sketching! It was beautiful out tonight...Toronto hot with a warm wind rolling around the park. I had forgotten to bring my sketch book with me (bad rhya), so I dipped into a corner store and bought some lined paper and ball point pens for supplies. Here are the results of my sunny sketching session, which I spent on a park bench until I was scared off by some very very very dark clouds accompanied by long and flashy vines of lightening and lots of thunder. I never made it to the opening...instead I raced the rain home on my bicycle.

Mr. Pinecone in a bad mood.

Kitten Face sketch.

Don't worry, the grass will catch you.

Sketching in Trinity Bellwoods, before the storm.

We Are Made of Thorns.

2011-06-08T08:27:00.003-04:00

we are made of thorns.

Experiments with markers. thinking a lot about the thorns in my mind these days. would like to remove them...but then again maybe they add more character? I think these guys certainly wear them well.

A Trout In The City!

2011-06-07T00:59:00.001-04:00

So a couple of weeks ago, the most excellent Jessica from Nature is My Friend, sent me on my own 'mail art adventure'. She mailed me a lovely trout sticker and instructed me to search out an industrial spot that was in the need of a little nature. I finally had a chance to complete my adventure today!

On my ride home I pass by lots of industrial areas that could use a little love, but there is this one apartment building wall that I see everyday that just looks so minimal and bare and screams out for some love! Now I realize it is not entirely an 'industrial area', but I feel like it is surrounded by garbage bins and not much else, and looks really lonely and in need of some nature. So here is where my 'trout' swims, next to a stream of pipes and stone.

This project was really great. It got me thinking all about industrial spaces and especially the abandoned ones. I admit I am drawn to these desolate areas which I believe my dad is somewhat responsible for, as he was always dragging me along on his own adventures through barren places and eventually I fell in love with these lonely lands as well. I like the quiet and the emptiness, the lack of signs and text and the lack of people, left with only minimal flat walls and the sounds of abandon...it is definitely an eerie love affair I hold with these spaces....anyways...just thoughts...

I also managed to finish one of my own 'everyday adventures', the secret fort addition. I made a fort of sugar, and invited my cat Koshi for tea! It was very civilized....

Fox - A Mini Diorama!

2011-06-05T23:13:00.000-04:00

Fox, a mini diorama! Photo courtesy of the love Jaime Maddalena

It has been a busy few weeks. Finishing up our upstairs reno, so much painting! We painted our bedroom 'smoky green'...love this colour name! I feel like I could write several poems all about it...maybe i should challenge myself to make a 'smoky green' titled zine?

Anyhoo, I think that the weather has finally switched into a happy mood! So I can get outside with my mail art project from Jessica! I am really excited to take a cycle/mail art adventure tomorrow night.

A few big thanks to these little friendly's who made some mentions of my 'envelope dioramas' and zines on their very beautiful blog spheres! It's so cool to see how people decide to 'tell a story' with their diorama's:1. Lady J from Send More Mail, who is also responsible for the lovely photo of a 'mini envelope diorama' I made one night all about a fox.
2. The wonderful Tanya, from Snap and Tumble, who received her 'Wolves' diorama and made a beautiful spread with it!
3. And lastly to Ms. N from Pretty Little Thieves, who posted up about my 'Wolves' zine on her awesome blog! I am such a fan of her work...completely inspiring!

Woodland Friends!

2011-06-01T01:12:00.000-04:00

Woodland Friends, envelope diorama.

Latest 'Envelope Diorama' is all about Woodland creatures of a sort...you could call them forest spirits! I thought it might be fun to do something other than an animal and these little critters were the first things to come to mind. Now i just need to figure out who to send this one to? In the meantime, I hope you enjoy their magical adventures.

Hidden magic helps with hiding.

A gathering of forest spirits.

A good place to stow away your secret treasures

The only sounds are the whispers tangled in the tree tops.

Tiny spirits in training.

Lost in the orchard.

It's best to wait in the flowers.

Lightening is our night light.

Morning Blue

2011-05-31T09:06:00.000-04:00

The sun is up, leaving the sky a brilliant blue. I like this. Spring has been so moody this year, constantly weeping. i feel a change in the air. My botty and i have been painting our upstairs bedroom and hallway, it's taking us forever, but the end is in site, and hopefully just in time for the tail end of what could turn into a sunny spring. fingers crossed my dream of a park date will happen next weekend.

Also, finally posted a new Kitten Face! And two new Envelope dioramas coming soon, and some snaps of a sweet project sent to me by Jessica! So much to look forward too. Plus, I dropped a huge handful of letters in the post box yesterday, fingers crossed that Canada Post resolves their issues and there is no strike!

Raccoons

2011-05-25T21:03:00.000-04:00

Raccoon - Envelope Diorama

So I am just putting the finishing touches on one of my newest envelope dioramas. This one has a 'Raccoons' theme. I am an urban dweller and so I am often inspired by the nature that I find in my back yard...hence the 'Squirrels' diorama and now of course 'Raccoons'. There are so many raccoons in Toronto and two in particular live in the trees at the back of our house and they are quite the wily duo. Always trying to break into garbage bins and messing with my garden, and yet at the same time their little faces are so hilarious, I kind of get a kick out of watching them run around our neighbourhood causing havoc. I based these raccoon illustrations on my hometown friends. Now to send this diorama off...

Raccoon Family.

Wandering through wheat fields.

Waiting for rain in the hills.

Staying at home on a rainy night, wrapped in warm flannel floral sheets.

New found friends.

He will meet you by the flower patch.

Blossoms tumble around us in late spring.

Sneak Peek

2011-05-24T00:57:00.001-04:00

Lilac Friends

Quick sneak peek at some new friends that belong to one of my newest envelope dioramas. Also new Kitten Face coming this week! Woot Woot!

Envelopes full of wonders!

2011-05-23T21:28:00.001-04:00

Lovely words from a lovely person!

What a beautiful Monday evening. It just poured rain for a good twenty minutes and now the sunset is out and i can see fireworks fizzling out beyond the trees. Just perfect! The lazy city traffic and the bright popping are the perfect soundtrack for this blog post.

Last week I got a couple awesome surprises in the mail...two letters full of treats! One was from the awesome Jessica Gowling...who i think i have mentioned multiple times on my blog. I am a huge fan of her printed wonders. She sent me a mail art package full of treats! When I opened the envelope the goodies burst out like happy sparks. Here are a few of my favourite peices from pack...I may have added some happy 'rhya' embellishments.

Fun in Norway postcard!

Party time post card...though i think the guy on the right wasn't invited.

My favourite page from Jessica's 'Who? Hoo!' zine.

The best! Hannah Montana Magnets, that match my Spice cam perfectly!

Secondly, I received an awesome letter from one of my oldest friends and penpals, Clare. She started writing to me out of the blue this year when she realized I was writing letters again. I am so excited to be sharing our stories once more via paper and pen and even better her last letter was accompanied with stickers, ribbons and the post card below. I can't wait to write her back! There will be letter presents!

The postcard Clare sent.

A storm of letters...

2011-05-20T08:33:00.000-04:00


So many letters...

It has been so busy this week! My evenings have been filled with tacos, tap dancing and visiting with friends! The weather has not been the best, it's been raining for days. Luckily it has also been raining letters! I haven't had a chance to photograph some of the awesome packages i received in the mail this week...but i will soon. Until then here is a little collage of some of last weeks lovely notes!

Garden Heart.

2011-05-16T00:56:00.001-04:00

I've been avoiding my garden for many reasons, the main one being that it turned into such a disastrous experiment last year that I felt like I needed to take the summer off and let the slugs be kings of their dirt patch again. Yesterday, I finally decided to go outside and take a look at my sad mud square. I took my rake and started to gather up some of the leaves and clutter and low and behold the hosta I had planted the year before had sprouted back! I almost cried! Then I looked over to the left of the hosta and my 'bleeding heart' was blooming! It was awesome! So with a serious attitude adjustment and a new plan of attack, I have decided to put some love into my garden again this summer. First I am going to do some major weeding and then I will plant a few more shade loving plants...it's all baby steps for this green heart.

Final note: My mail box has been filled with beautiful mail this week. Postcards, envelopes full of old memories and ribbons, and lovely letters about time and beauty. I also sent out a whack of mail last week...and my dear mail art buddy Jessica finally received her 'wolves' zine! And she did a lovely post about it here, along with a whole stack of other amazing mail art goodness! Three cheers for mail!

Sketching at the Workroom

2011-05-16T00:33:00.000-04:00

A rose in her hair...it's fancy.

I spent last night tucked away at the workroom with j. we had our journals, and many scraps and fancy stickers and stamps in hand (well more like spread out all over a sewing table). Here are the fruits of the evening. Oh and i can't forget to mention seeing the lovely r, whose smile brightens up an entire room.

To find me check in the burrows of Bloordale.

Vintage stamps flutter in the breeze...air mail and whispers.

Heather's garden in SF.

Acorns and Envelopes

2011-05-10T21:09:00.000-04:00

Envelop Diorama: The Squirrel Edition

Today was lovely. Hot sun, a large latte, journaling at the work room with j and a day at home in the middle of the week. I'm not going to lie, there may have been a mini studio dance party to 'Escapade' with me, Janet and the cats. It also gave me the chance to shoot my latest envelope diorama! This one's theme is Squirrels! I had a great time drawing these little critters, they were inspired by a duo of squirrels in my back yard, that spend their days chasing each other around our tree and feasting on buns left for them by our neighbours. They are quite the pair of roundy munchkins.

Also I have to draw attention to another couple of 'everyday adventures' that were recently completed by two of my lovely blogging friends!

First, Sophie from the beautiful So Lovely blog, built her fort at the beach! I so wish I could just skip over the ocean to visit her and hang out on the beach at her new hide out!

Secondly, Jessica from Natures My Friend, built her fort next to a marmot's burrow. So awesome! I wonder if the marmot was surprised to find the little flag by his door, hopefully he invited Jessica over for some tea!

Also I still have a few secret fort flags left if anyone is interested in building a secret fort of their own!

The entire gang together!

Lost in the pines for hours on end.

Mountain running.

Playing in the grass.

On their tip toes...sneaking about.

Acorn Mountain.

Shhhhh!

More howls in the darkness.

2011-05-06T01:30:00.003-04:00

Cover.

I was recently inspired to try my hand at zine making again after receiving Jessica's Mountains Made of Fur in the mail several weeks back. After making my 'wolves' envelope diorama and loving the little woodland creatures that developed during the process, I realized I was not yet finished drawing these furry little fellows...so I incorporated them into a little zine...titled: (not so original right now)...Wolves! I sent a couple zines out already...if your interested and would like to see one pop up in your mailbox shoot me a message and I will see what I can do.

Other than that it's time for me to send some final howls into the night, one last lonely goodnight to the stars and moon, and crawl under the comforter and hibernate till hopefully what is a spring filled morning tomorrow.

Pages 1 & 2.

Pages 3 & 4.

Pages 5 & 6.

Back Cover.

Wolves

2011-05-04T01:17:00.001-04:00

A few things, first I love the month of May, everything is starting to bloom! Bring on the Spring!

Secondly, amazing post by my dearest friend and most talented artist and writer Lindsay Zier Vogel about how her 'Secret Fort' everyday adventure turned out! Her fort is so splendid and I love that she built it out of one her beautiful hand made books! Take some time to poke around her website...there is so much to discover...especially the poetry and love letter project!

Thirdly, I have just finished two more 'envelope dioramas', one about wolves and another about squirrels. I am having the best time making these! Unfortunately, while caught up in my paper flurry I may have forgotten about my dear little Kitten Face! So I hope to get a KF post up sometime this week.

Here are a few images of the 'Wolves' diorama, it's being sent off tomorrow to a lovely friend in Toronto, who it was promised to many howling moons ago. Can't wait till it arrives in her mailbox!

The Posse.

Wolves write letters too!

Summer Shrubs.

The time spent outdoors is not lonely.

Finding the first flowers of spring.

Some secrets are kept concealed in grassy paws.

Barn watching.

Spring things...

2011-05-01T17:08:00.001-04:00

May is here. I can barely believe it. The first half of this year has blown by so fast, it's almost as if the winds of this blustery spring blew time away along with winter's icy skin. Spring is one of my favourite seasons. I love the muddy rains, the thaw and the first touches of sun's warmth on my face. Shedding sweaters and coats and generally an all around feeling of lightness. The only issue with this year's spring, is so far I still feel frozen. There are many brilliant things on the horizon (hopefully one of them is sunshine...my Ontario friends will know what I'm talking about), but I just can't seem to get to them quick enough....it's very frustrating. So to help warm up my fingers and toes, and get moving again I have been focusing on the pages in my journals, filling envelopes with spring secrets and getting on my bicycle even in the strong winds and heavy rain, just to feel alive again.

Tree tops...

2011-04-28T00:45:00.001-04:00

Over the long weekend I was lucky to catch a ride up to my aunts place outside of Peterbourgh. She lives on a beautiful farm, surrounded by fields and trees and possibly a lonely bear (who i thankfully did not meet on this visit...no offense to lonely bear...i'm just not that great a navigating wild animal social situations).

I took a bunch of photos while we walked through the trails that ran off behind the barn and into the woods, following muddy streams lined with early spring grass and winter baked trees. My favourite images that came out of these nature walks were a series of tree tops i found when looking way up into the sky. I love how the branches just peek up through the frame, startled and still, like wild life on guard and listening...

Owl Life.

2011-04-24T20:41:00.000-04:00

Owls in envelopes.

Newest envelope diorama is packed up and ready to go to the mailbox so a someone special out there. I really loved how this one turned out. Next one's themes...wolves, squirrels or possibly ponies! I hope everyone is having a lovely long weekend. I spent mine on a farm far away from this city, surrounded by chirping frogs and crickets, and a night so loud with nature I forgot to miss the purr of my Toronto streets and slept like a log!

Flight path.

Resting in sun drenched fields.

All lined up with no where to go.

The Elders.

City Spy.

Balancing Owl.

Hidden amongst friends.

She hide in gold days and memories.

Secrets hidden in the grass.

Birds...

2011-04-21T01:29:00.003-04:00

Last week I sent my good friend Jaime from Send More Mail, my second 'envelope diorama', this one's theme being birds. I was so excited to send it out to her, I forgot to photograph it! Thankfully Jaime is a seriously talented photographer and she took some pics for me and is letting me showcase her beautiful skills here! She also made her own lovely post re: the dioramas up on her blog of postal awesomeness.

So please enjoy 'Birds' as shot by Jaime (check out more of her photographs here), and all birds made by me!

Envelope Dioramas.

2011-04-20T00:32:00.003-04:00

I have clearly become a little obsessed with all things mail these days, but seriously it has been so much fun getting back into writing letters and receiving beautiful things in my mail box each week! Tonight I came home to my brand new postal kit freshly stamped and sent from Snap and Tumble and Send More Mail. It is so beautiful, it's going to be hard to use it...as i just want to look at everything all together and never mark up the pages! I can't wait to post pics.

Now of course sending all of these letters had led me to stumble onto a new fun project, which i am naming 'envelope dioramas'. The first of these 'dioramas' came into being when I was putting together a little mail art package for Jessica.

When I was looking through my things, it didn't seem like i had too much to send to her and thought it would be great to make a little themed package all about bears (as she loves bears). The following photos are what came out of this experience.

It's sort of like a package of illustrations, which can be arranged to tell a story, or a little scene....essentially An Envelope Diorama.

I have since made a 'birds' diorama and an 'owls', both sent out to some friends who love these things. I think my next 'envelope diorama' may need to have a wolf theme...

Cool skies...

2011-04-19T08:26:00.001-04:00

endless rain-boot weather and daffodils running wild. it's been a wild spring so far.

Secrets in envelopes.

2011-04-15T08:11:00.003-04:00

Just a couple sneak peeks at some of the things that i have been sending out in the mail...i am waiting to talk about 'the bears' until the actual recepient of this package receives it, as to not ruin the surprise. Essentially it's just a fun little project and i am excited to make more.

This is the next 'everyday adventure'. Inspired by Tanya's lovely cards. Sending a batch out today!

If you want to go on your own adventure, just send me a message.

2011-04-11T19:23:00.002-04:00

Zines...
So i have started doing some art mail trades, which is super exciting. last week i got my first envelope in the mail from Jessica over at Natures My Friend.

Mountains Made of Fur

She sent me one of her first ever zines! Totally exciting! Ages ago, before my life was invaded by monsters I used to spend many hours making zines and books. It was sort of how I found my way into writing, illustrating and developing a creative voice. Along the way I also met tons of inspiring people, most of which I still am awed by on a daily basis (this is a shout out to my Tuesday ladies Lindsay and Jaime).

So tonight i dug out some of my old zines and gave them a scan...and i think i just may challenge myself to dust off my zine making skills and try another this week:

Blister:

Cover

pg. 1

pg. 2

pg. 3

Chemistry:

Cover

pg. 1

pg. 2

pg. 3

Wet:

Cover

pg. 1

pg. 2

pg. 3

2011-04-11T00:13:00.001-04:00

Everyday Adventure #1

A while back i sent out some felt hearts to my snail mail buddies and sent them on an everyday adventure. i asked them to take their heart and stick it to something that required a little extra love and then document it however they wanted, with a photo, a sketch or just a memory. i took my everyday adventure a while back and stuck my heart in my garden...which is a full on sad mess. yesterday though, I looked in the back and lo and behold there was something alive and growing in a small herb pot! Chives! Looks like my little love helped some. Now i just need to conquer the rest of it.

2011-04-06T00:52:00.000-04:00

Flurries of spring...

just playing around with an idea for an illo of my cats...

but now it's time to sleep...curled up in extra comforters tonight to deal with a very cold spring.

2011-04-04T00:13:00.000-04:00

Staying in the lines...

About a week ago I received an awesome present in the mail from my friend Tanya over at Snap and Tumble press. It was my very own geometric colouring book! So tonight I finally had a chance to colour it in...I may of also added in a few of my own little flares! Thank you Tanya, I had so much fun filling it up!

2011-03-29T01:11:00.002-04:00

Road Diaries.

it's strange that i cannot drive and yet i love being in cars. maybe it was those endless road trips we took as kids or all the day dreaming i did out of bus windows that makes me adore blurring fields on the horizon. Or maybe it is all the lonely houses that stare out with open eyes, exposed on the highway, that makes me feel a longing to cure some unidentified heart ache. honestly it's hard to pin down the exact reasons for my love of the road after all these years...there are just too many.

i took these photos after a particularly heart breaking day. i felt like the road and i were having a conversation...yes i realize this does sound a little silly, but it really did feel that way...

at points i could have sworn it was reflecting the emptiness of the day...

and other times it seemed to be trying to cheer me up with a quiet sunset.

it was an ever changing motion and i could have stayed there...moving forever....

2011-03-28T20:14:00.001-04:00

kitten face stationery...

so in the spirit of experimenting i made some mini kitten face stationery last night! it was so much fun putting together the designs and packaging them up. i am planning on taking some of these designs into an actual letterpress format and doing some more robust cards and stationery if i can get my act together. i am really enjoying this type of design right now. there is nothing like having an idea and making it into an actual tangible object. i am also giving away several packs of the stationery, all the details are up on the kitten face blog, make sure to check it out.

2011-03-24T01:07:00.001-04:00

One last winter blanket left on the lawn.

This image from my sketch book seemed appropriate for today as we had 5 to 10 centimeters of snow pour down onto our streets. At the bus stop this morning with Kye, we examined the snow flakes on our jackets, something I used to do all the time when I was younger. I love how precious and beautiful they are and of course how fragile. It seems like a cruel joke at times that I can never just pick them up with my finger tips and hold them forever.

I guess spring is sleeping in.

Until she wakes up, I am keeping busy with Kitten Face and I am thankful for all the beautiful letters that keep fluttering into my mailbox, reminding me that warm days are not that far off.

Daylight.

2011-03-15T01:59:00.000-04:00

Though I dearly love Walter, I am happy for the return of daylight to my evenings. Evening if it does mean losing an hour of sleep.

Flowers on my mind...

2011-03-10T01:19:00.000-05:00

Honestly...all i can think about these days is Spring. Been playing around with floral patterns. I integrated the one above into a new Kitten Face post. Tonight on my way home from work it was pretty much 'slushing' which means rain/snowing/sleeting. I felt like giant blobs of slushie were falling all over me. It was kind of hilarious. Also final note, a big thank you to my wonderful new blog friend Sophie, who included one of my journal pages in a compilation of lovely images. I love roaming through her posts for inspiration and just happiness. Oh and you must check out my new favorite stamp ever made!

2011-03-07T00:58:00.001-05:00

So many lovely letters...

I have been getting so many awesome letters in the mail these days, thanks to all the lovelies that i have been writing with over at the Post A Letter club nights. In the middle of this long winter, bright and warm messages in the mail box make everything snap crackle and pop. Sometimes I don't want to open the pretty envelopes, but that feeling lasts maybe a couple of seconds before I dive in to find the colourful secrets handwritten all over beautiful stationery! So much joy! Thanks to all my superstar penpals for these lovely messages!

2011-03-01T02:22:00.000-05:00

Unraveling the seams of winter...

It is around this time of the year that the skies open up again and we start to see the sun setting and the edges of the sidewalks escaping from their icy tombs. I feel nothing but relief, and hope. I know winter is not my most favorite season, but I guess there is something to be said about moving through it. Bleaching away everything from the last seasons, starting fresh and hungry for more. The landscape breaking out like fireworks, like an anthem at it's highest note. It is exhilarating and I can't wait...and yes, I am totally listening to Cosmic Love by Florence and the Machine while I write this...so much drama splattered against this late late night.

2011-02-24T01:36:00.001-05:00

Kitten Face comes to life...

So i have decided to start a new side project, a blog called Kitten Face, which follows the everyday adventures of a little cat with a big imagination.

This all sprung from doing the sketchbook project and having to work around a consistent theme for an extended period of time. I really enjoyed having a focus and a chance to develop all the ideas that were floating around my head. It also helped me to learn more and refine some of my techniques and skills.

So after this positive experience, I thought that it might be a good idea to maintain some direction in my creative life. I brainstormed some ideas and Kitten Face is what I came up with. The Kitten Face name has been up on my blog for awhile as a title over an old photograph, and I always thought that it would make a good character. Then I noticed that a kitten-like character was emerging from all my sketchbook entries. So I combined them, and voila.

I will certainly still be journaling here, as the song says 'wild horses couldn't drag me away' (such a great image). I am thinking of Kitten Face as more of a secret world tucked away amidst the vast plains of the internet, full of tiny adventures waiting to be discovered.

water time.

2011-02-22T08:03:00.002-05:00

i went swimming this week. blue blue ideas, light and quiet, rolling around under the water with me. i tried to keep up.

2011-02-17T01:34:00.001-05:00

working away when i should be sleeping...but had to try out some new things i learned today. this little one is a new character i am working on, who i am hoping to build a little world around...just something that has been rolling around my head for some time...hopefully will have it finished by the end of weekend...will just have to wait and see!

2011-02-16T09:10:00.003-05:00

Valentine's Day Bunting.

i decorated the kitchen for kyle with the bunting swatch sweet becky gave me at the love and rummage show. it added a little festivity to our night. i've left it up for the week...kind of like an everyday party. I recommend it.

2011-02-15T00:52:00.002-05:00

dedicated to the one i love...

do you ever have those weekends where you just don't want to leave your room. kye and i are renovating our bathroom right now, which means there is a giant hole on our second floor that extends into our bedroom and we have had to move to our spare room to sleep. So far we have been having a great time (once we put the dust bomb that went off downstairs out of our minds) imagining that we are staying in a hotel and that we are on mini vacation every night when we settle for sleep. The new venue is very cozy and we have brought up extra comforters for warmth which has added a more fort like feel to our surroundings. It's like our own little pillow and blanket ark, floating on the third floor, guarding us from that northern beast of a wind that blows past our windows each night...

...essentially we have been hiding.

2011-02-11T19:25:00.002-05:00

winter eyes....

through all this cold and bleached landscape, there has been pops of colour and warmth scattered throughout. I like almost everyone I know have downloaded the hipstamatic app for my iphone. And why not, it is so much fun! I am a huge fan of toy camera/holga/Diana photography, I have a vintage Diana myself, which I love to use. I love the lack of control and the unexpected results that you get in your photographs from these cameras. It is such an enjoyable process. I know that my iphone app is not exactly the same thing...but it does offer a little of that same surprise when you finally see the results of your hipstamatic images all tinted and hazy and framed in an awkward way. It's like winter magic.

a warm night of letter writing. that one sheet says 'criminal lovers', it was the title of a beautiful illustration on a card my friend was sending...and it conjured up many great images...been thinking of writing some poems based on it.

Lastly, Jaime's trunk of vintage stamps at the Love and Rummage Craft show! They were all beautiful and delicate! I can't wait to send off some letters covered in these little lovelies...though i am so torn as I also don't want to use them!

2011-02-07T00:27:00.003-05:00

letter writing...

of course turns into making stationary...can't wait to mail there notes off!

I also stopped by the Love and Rummage show today and picked up some beautiful cards and vintage stamps! If you are interested in receiving a letter, shoot me an email and I will send you some mail! Along with a few new sheets of stationary!

2011-02-02T23:23:00.003-05:00

Snow and lace...

today i watched at least three types of snow fall from the sky. First, large heavy flakes, that glob together and clomp around the streets, like they have heavy feet that just need to touch down. There were also tiny ice pebbles, more like sand, that stung for a second when they whipped at my face, but then instantly erupted into tears on my fiery cheeks. And finally there were those perfect little individual flakes that are like little swatches of lace suspended for a second right before your eyes. Knotted ice, delicate and sweet, dressing the city in frilly elegance. These ones are my favorite.

in a mere couple of months the gravel will show through the ice again and the greenness of everything will once again stain my eyes.

2011-01-31T01:14:00.002-05:00

Sundays are for rest.

January is coming to a close. It's late tonight and I feel a little short on words. I had a weekend full of family and it was good. With brother living a giant plane ride away these days, it's nice to get to spend a whole day with him now and again. Plus he's got me hooked to listening to The Music Ninja, a great place to hunt for new tunes. my mom and sister also came into town and we had a day of delicious Italian sandwiches, board games and of course big belly laughs. Maybe that is why i feel ready to crawl into bed and make a cozy fort out of pillows and sheets.

I probably should have had one of these today, instead i made tapioca pudding and wrapped myself like a taco in towels straight from the dryer. it was pretty toasty and sweet. i recommend this activity on a cold winters day.

2011-01-25T23:58:00.002-05:00

Winter has grown shark teeth...

so last night i tried to ignore winter's sharp bite and i shuffled over to the Naco gallery on Dundas and to check out what Pal-Sac is all about. The Post a Letter Social Activity Club, meets twice a month and the main goal is exactly how the name sounds...post some letters and be social.

I have to say I loved every second! I went with my good friend Jaime, who has recently started a super beautiful 'mail' blog (check it out) and Jaime's buddy Phillipa, who is now my buddy! See it's very social! Actually there were tons of friendly people all scattered about writing, chatting, and sipping on a drink of choice. There was a lovely lady across from us who was writing a GIGANTIC letter! All long hand. It was so awesome...and I was really envious of whoever was going to receive that epic masterpiece. I wrote three letters, and it was so strange...I haven't written a real letter in such a long time. I used to have regular pen-pals, who I shared my handwritten thoughts with on a monthly basis. I especially remember exchanging long rambling tales with Kelsey, a camp friend, and later a life friend. I have to admit I felt very out of practice last night...what you write in a letter is so different from an email or a text...i found myself describing everything around me...my chilly toes and the warm lamp light, and the stormy snow showering down outside. And I can't spell anymore!

I am rusty, but after last night, I am ready to get back into letter writing shape. So send me your addresses cause there could be some mail in your future.

and you know what else letters make me think of...stationary...i'm totally going to design some!

2011-01-21T00:42:00.002-05:00

Cold Snap.

Winter boots, winter hat, heavy jacket, leggings, mitts, scarf, frozen cheeks, cracked lips, hard skin, watery eyes and a runny nose. This is pretty much me every morning as I scuttle along Spadina to work these days. I have yet to tumble on the black ice that hides under almost every step, though I have definitely slipped on my heels for extended periods of time, arms flayling and waving like an aged puffin on the edge of a cliff. It is never graceful, and I am always inches away from tilting too far back and landing in a scattered pile of winter grief on the curb. But winter walks are good for the lungs. Cold and crisp breakfast air, followed by sips of steaming hot coffee.

These walks also help to tire me out for the end of day sleep, which is by far one of my favourite parts of winter. Burrowing and squirming until I have a decent and warm sleeping place amidst our sheets and comforters.

Cold air also equals cozy sleeps.

2011-01-17T23:59:00.002-05:00

Lost in the fields that rustle behind closed eyes.

i have a day dream where i stumble out of the city into the green fields of a long lost home town. Tall grasses, damp with dew hug and lick at my knees as i settle in a nest near the edge of the woods. I make a crown from wild flowers, curl up and have a nap till night. Sometimes i may dig a blanket out of earth. It's very quiet and still.

2011-01-14T00:00:00.003-05:00

All the heavy.

Do you ever have those days where nothing really goes smoothly. Today was a mountain of mess. I don't know if I just woke up out of stride, but it was comically rough. My work computer totally quit, i dropped my entire sandwich all over me at lunch and then proceeded to lose $20, plus there were numerous other bumps in the road which i can't even begin to get into.

Mess i say, one big mess!

So it is now the end of this ridiculous day, and all those frustrations are so easy to see and i'm thinking maybe it's time to look closer and find all the good stuff that was peppered through out that tangle of flubs. First, i went to work and shared my day with some super wicked people, and then Adam did an imitation of me after my computer died which really made me laugh. My sandwich which I spilled all over myself was REALLY good, and after all my anxiety I found my $20 in my pants at home...so it was never lost in the first place. Plus I had a lovely walk to work this morning along Spadina, spying into all the un-open store windows along the street, and then enjoyed a delicious coffee. Finally came home and ate my favorite: left over Indian cuisine! I suppose that though this day may have been a mountain it wasn't all mess.

Outside under the laundry lines,
sheets blow all around me,
cotton prints blurring in my eyes,
soft kisses that smell like Tide.

2011-01-12T00:32:00.004-05:00

The Sketch Book Project: Done and Done!

So tonight i finished my journal for the sketch book project. i have a lot to scan and post before i mail her off. But here is a tiny sneak peak of what i have been on about over the last few months.

Covers on.

Covers off!

You need one of these in the Toronto winter.

sound asleep under a blanket of brambles.

always good to have a travel blanket with you for impromptu mini naps.

a choir sings in our living room,
lazy hymns blanket the walls and floors,
i let them keep me warm.

blankets being quiet.

2011-01-06T09:58:00.002-05:00

Get back to it...

Holidays are over. I've eaten a billion clementines. My teeth are made from Candy Canes and now it's time to come back to reality. My adventures with the Sketch Book Project are almost finished. I can't wait to post up some of the pages I worked on over the holiday here...stay tuned...Hope everyone had a great break! Any good resolutions out there? My goal is to join an amateur concert bank or orchestra. I need to get my music on!

2010-12-14T01:31:00.002-05:00

Jackets and blankets and sheets...the ongoing story of the things that cover us.

how we spent our sunday. everyone should really try the waffle bacon at the Starving Artist brunch/lunch spot on Lansdowne just north of Bloor St. It is the best way to feed a morning tummy.

It rained all Sunday. Kyle and I had to venture out into the winter wet for grocery basics. We both wore our running shoes, which was a poor decision. Also winter jackets don't always double as rain jackets. Lesson learned and banked for future reference.

Dream Jacket.

Which one is yours?

This was a supremely dreamy night. Shut into a tiny hall with sweet tunes and snowy storms bubbling up on all sides. The curtains were the same as they were twenty years prior. Flowers creeping around window sills, frozen in time, frozen to help us remember the warmer days.

2010-11-29T01:09:00.009-05:00

i have put away all my spring and summer jackets. living in a puffy black pillow for the next four or five months. winter is ready to rule.

jack the fancy blanket...no explanation for this...he is just fancy.

getting ready to hibernate. quilts are coming out of the closet. fluffy socks are piling on. eating only stew and starches. i am ready.

i don't see too many snow blankets in toronto anymore, or at least nothing like the ones from my home town, which still invade my dreams, all thick and full, waiting to cover you up all the way to your waist.

trying to replicate the afghan blanket that used to live on my grandmother's couch. it was the worst combination of colours, but was so warm and cuddly.

2010-11-24T09:44:00.004-05:00

Thinking of sky...

tonight i am off on a journal date with my good friend lindsay. i can't wait to cut and paste and scribble about. more to come...