Winter is here!

It was lovely to wake up to snow on the first day of winter.
I finally got to see my planters with snow on them.
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday full of friends, family and cheer!

The Truth 365: childhood cancer

Please go to this link:here and watch this video!
Please help raise awarness for this great cause!!!!!

Mid week break!

Hey Happy Wednesday

Think local this Holiday Season

I just received this e-mail from a friend and it really struck home. Please read:

Christmas 2012 -- Birth of a New Tradition As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Canadians with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of Canadian labour. This year will be different. This year Canadians will give the gift of genuine concern for other Canadians. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by Canadians hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local Canadian hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, Canadian owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the dollars on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway ploughed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Canadian with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the Canadian working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewellery, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining Canadian pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about us, encouraging Canadian small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Canadians, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

BUY CANADIAN - BE CANADIAN - The job you save might be your own.

Happy Halloween

I hope everyone has a safe Halloween!

Owl planter find

Hello Friends!

This past weekend I went out to some yard sales. I didn't have much luck but I did manage to find this fun little hanging owl planter. I thought a quick little paint job and this fellow could be quite spectacular. I got him for a whopping $2.00.

I used this spray paint that I got at Home Hardware for $8.00. I put two coats on the planter and let it dry just over a half hour in between coats.

 

 This is the final product. I think I'm going to use it as a pencil holder on my desk instead of a planter.

 Here it is again!

What are some of your favourite finds?

Summer time crafts and Jewellery

Well I still haven't got into the swing of writing on this blog regularly. I guess regularly isn't quite the word when it's been six months since my last post. I am going to try to post more *regularly* but I can't promise anything.
I am a teacher and have the summer off. I spend my time making and selling crafts and just enjoying the sun. My parents have a place up north by a Lake and it's beautiful to waste your days away.
I have recently made a whole bunch of new jewellery, coasters and pet bandannas. I posted some photos on Facebook so you should check them out HERE!


I will give you a sneak peak at what you might find....

Here is a Sterling silver Love necklace

Travertine tile coasters

Fun flower material necklace

Ceramic tile coasters

Pet Bandannas that the collar slides through!

And lastly a multi strand glass bead necklace.

What have you been up to this summer?

Linky tools

Martha Stewart Stencil on Canvas

 Hello Friends!
I have been away from blogging. I have a hard time consistently blogging because I have a job where my schedule constantly changes! Today I am sharing my ugly abstract paintings I made last year. Here they are *shudder*

My apartment is a beige box! Beige carpet and walls!  So when I moved in last year I wanted a quick, cheap and easy fix to the boring walls. Needless to say they are ugly! So I decided they needed some updating.

  I have a brown sofa and love seat and accents of teal around the apartment. I wanted to keep the colour combo.

 Firstly, I painted the old canvas beige...I know more beige! I needed a plain background for the teal colour. I bought the Martha Stewart stencil package called arabesque. I got it at Michaels on sale for $22 which was fantastic!

 Here is after the first couple of attempts. The Stencils worked great and I was really liking what it was turning out as.

 I used Martha Stewart's stencil brushes and I highly recommend them. They made the task so easy!

 Here is the after photo! I like these so much better than the other ones! What do you think?

Here's a last little close up.