Vintage Cameras

I’ve got one of my dad’s old film cameras from the ‘60s in my closet, waiting for me to learn how to use it. In the meantime, I was inspired to paint some colorful vintage cameras.

Now available in the shop!

More Than Honey

Last week I watched a documentary called “More Than Honey” on Netflix. While I knew that the world’s bees are at risk, dying at a very rapid pace due to mainly human causes, and while I knew that we humans depend on bees far more than most of us realize, it was still very eye opening. It inspired me to do this illustration, now available in my Etsy shop.

I’ve also decided to create a line of artwork featuring species at risk and donate 50% of the proceeds from each sale to either the David Suzuki Foundation or the World Wildlife Fund. If you love animals and all the other creatures that we live with and depend on, check out my shop and see if there’s anything that strikes your fancy. You’ll get something pretty and the creatures will get some support. Win-win

For more about bees check out: David Suzuki Foundation - solving the mystery of dying bees

For more about More Than Honey: More Than Honey

What Would An Astronaut Do?

For the last week or so, I’ve been tucked into Chris Hadfield’s new book, An Astronaut’s Guide To Life and I’m really enjoying it. As an earthbound, scaredy-cat, wimpy sort, I’m in awe of what he’s done and is willing to do in the name of science and like many Canadians, I followed along with his eloquent tweets and breathtaking photography while he was Commander of the ISS in 2012.  Since reading his book, I like and admire him even more.

In the book, Commander Hadfield talks about watching the moon landing at the age of 9 and deciding on the spot that he would do everything in his power to become an astronaut, regardless of the fact that at the time, it was impossible for a Canadian to do so. No matter, from then on every decision in his life, big or small, was made based on whether it would take him where he wanted to go. He asked himself things like, would an astronaut stay up late and watch TV or go to bed early?  Remarkable foresight for a 9 year old, and 34-year-old me found it incredibly inspiring.

I often struggle with decisions after I’ve made them: why did I have a third glass of wine last night resulting in this morning’s headache? Why did I choose to veg at home instead of even taking a quick trip to the gym to get some exercise in? You get the idea, we all do it. However, in this season of renewal and commitment to change, I’ve decided to try and etch Commander Hadfield’s words in my brain and ask myself questions before making even small decisions. Since what I yearn for most days is a little bit of peace in my brain, I’m going to ask “what would a peaceful person do?” Would she stuff her face with treats that will make her feel bloated and gross just because she had a bad day at work? Would she yell at her kids or stare at her phone while they play in front of her, missing out on precious moments with her babies? Would she procrastinate over and over and over, knowing it just leads to more work and stress in the end? Would she relax instead of tidying up, knowing that a clean house makes for a calm mind? Would she put off writing and painting, knowing that she doesn’t feel whole unless she creates something regularly?

I’ll never be an astronaut but I am hoping for a bit more peace and simplicity this year, to show myself and others a bit more kindness, and to ensure my choices are made mindfully. I’ll leave you with the infographic I posted last year by zenpencils, which I think does a great job of capturing Commander Hadfield’s message:

Simplify 2014

 

We are on a road less travelled, a path less glitzy than those chosen by many of our peers. We’ve spent the last year and a half watching our values slowly shift and now? Now we’re ready to get down to the nitty gritty and really change how we live. Why not really examine our values, particularly at this time of year when our perspective has been skewed by glossy marketing campaigns and an insatiable need to buy, buy, buy. Why not choose to reject so much of what society has taught us is necessary, desirable, important. Why not hold ourselves accountable and quit making excuses for not achieving our goals, for not living the way we really want. Why not just choose less, just the most important things, and leave the rest.

These are the questions we’ve been pondering over the last year and a half, even more so in the last few weeks. I really think we can choose to live in a way that’s just different. Maybe less convenient and less “fancy” but perhaps more fulfilling. We have some financial goals we’d like to reach by this time next year and reaching those goals will require a fairly radical shift in our spending and saving patterns. I’m excited about it, actually. Its going to be challenging in many ways, but we’re up for it.

So the word for the coming year is SIMPLIFY. Strip it down to the essential and enjoy that.

My first order of business has been to evaluate my Etsy shop and this blog. I love painting, I love writing. I don’t love selling. I love sharing my work but I don’t love all the time and money that has to go into an Etsy shop in order for people to see it, never mind to generate actual sales. When I think about why I want to sell my art its so that I have the motivation to paint more, its to share it at an affordable price, to be a part of a culture of local, handmade and unique art. I like my work and I think others like it too, but I’m not willing to slave away at a computer for hours every day in the hopes that I’ll get a few sales here and there.

So, I’m going to strip it down to the essentials. Just this blog and my Facebook page. I’ll share my new work, the story behind it and the price and people can order directly from me. So much better.

Since I’ve already got quite a few items listed on Etsy, I’ve decided to offer a discount on all items in the shop until the listings expire or everything sells out. Just enter the coupon code SIMPLIFY2014 on checkout.

Here’s to a year of simplicity and loving what really matters.

All I wanted was a book, and Christmas threw up on me..

 

image source

I ventured out to the mall last weekend to pick up a last-minute birthday gift for my mom, bracing myself for the inevitable crush of holiday glitz. Sure enough, the bookstore was absolutely packed with people, most of whom looked harried and stressed and some, downright grumpy. “It’s November”, I thought.  What was everyone so frantic about?

In the last few years, as we’ve downsized and simplified our lives and our possessions, our values have shifted. At times, I find myself feeling at odds with the world out there. Not too long ago, I too would have spent hours at the mall from early November until Christmas Eve, pushing through throngs of bustling shoppers to find the perfect “stuff” to buy for my family and friends. It was what the holidays were about. Now it just seems silly to me. Are those frowning people really thinking about the people they are buying for? Are they trying to meet some arbitrary spending amount so they’ll feel like they’ve given “enough”? Do we even know what this season is all about anymore?

I’m not religious, but I do celebrate Christmas, and it can be hard to find meaning in the holiday season when you’re not focused on either the religious or the material aspects of the time. It was easy for me to be cynical that day in the bookstore. I’m just getting sick of all the crap out there, and the drive to consume all of that crap, and the need to part with our money to do so. Trying to think of lists of things I “need” for people to buy for me when really, I have everything and more that I could ever want. Finding a way to create a bigger meaning for my kids when my four-year-old already states definitively that his favorite part of Christmas is “all the new toys”.

This is the first Christmas where many of the gifts I give will be handmade. Crocheted infinity scarves and homemade foot scrub for the kids’ teachers at school. Paintings for a relative who has just bought her first home, along with crocheted dish cloths (‘cause they are the best dish cloths, everyone knows that!). Those that aren’t made by me will be purchased with care and real consideration for the recipient, rather than with the amount of money spent, mostly from local artisans or shops. This knowledge makes it easier for me to brave the crowds and the jarring marketing campaigns, imploring me to “buy, buy, buy!” Its allowing me to sink into the real meaning of the holiday season which for me, is family and love. That’s it. Simple.

Be careful out there, and kind. Remember that the stuff doesn’t really matter in the end, the people do. And when you do buy, buy local, buy handmade.

Tis the season!

 

Its that time of year again. My self-imposed Christmas moratorium ends the day after Remembrance Day, when I start perusing Etsy for all manner of fun Christmas items. Here are a few that caught my eye this week:

How cute are those hats? Look at the ears!

I love the vintage feel of this card

I love simple wrapping these days. My favourite way to wrap Christmas gifts is with brown kraft paper and colorful twine like this!

I love this sweet advent calendar. Tiny ornaments, little treats, small toys – you can put all kinds of fun stuff in there for your little one.

1, 2 , 3, 4

Happy Friday!

Printables now in the shop!

 

I’m really excited to be offering printables in my shop. Now, instead of having to buy the original art or a physical print, you can purchase the digital file of some of my work.  Each item includes one instant download and you can print it as many times as you like on your own or through a print shop! I’ve purchased printables before on Etsy, and it’s a wonderful and affordable way to buy art. I’m hoping to include some holiday designs as well as cards and tags very soon. Enjoy!