a busy bee!

Just over one more week of school left! This week will be a mad dash to finish a number of assignments.

Oh, I don't think I mentioned this here yet: for my last dye and print project we had to propose an idea for a large wall hanging be located in a modern open concept stairwell at the new Sheridan campus that is opening in Mississauga. Everyone in the class came up with a concept, samples, and a presentation board to show their intended idea. On the day of our critique, a panel of judges came in to decide which student would be commissioned to create their idea in full scale for the space. And guess who was chosen? MOI! My idea was to create a large (i.e. 5 by 23 feet) "living wall" (aka green wall, or vertical garden) which will be composed of varying sized panels of green designer felt and many MANY knit leaves and flowers (eventually I'll post a photo so you have a better idea of what it will look like). Anyways, now that I've won I've got a lot of knitting to do once school ends. Lots. In addition to the continued wedding planning/decoration making, Beehive events, farming, etc. I'm going to be bee-sy! Buzzing with activity! A genuine certified worker bee!

family photo friday. clay at the cottage

Ros, Kate, and Will, with clay, '92

In keeping with yesterday's crafty post, another crafty family photo friday for your viewing pleasure. This one is of my siblings and I playing with clay at the cottage.

My grandma is a pretty great potter (something she picked up later in her life), and on rainy days up at the cottage she'd often get her tools and some clay out and we'd sit around making lots of silly things. Sometimes she'd fire them, and we'd paint them. Sometimes not. There are definitely still some funny clay animals hanging out on bureaus and fireplace mantels up there.

breaking news: the debut of the beehive craft collective!

I'm so excited!!! Today is the official reveal of something a small group of amazing people in Hamilton have been working on for the past couple of months! Specifically, The Beehive Craft Collective.

Our mission statement:

The Beehive is a craft and urban homesteading collective. Bound together by a common thread of making things by hand, this collective was formed in 2011 by members of the arts community in Hamilton, Ontario. Focusing on handmade, DIY, and sustainability, we hope to engage and promote a lifestyle of voluntary simplicity.

We have lots of ideas in the works, with both short term and long term goals in mind. SO EXCITED! Our first project? The Beehive Summer Craft Fair, which will take place this summer during the August Art Crawl on James St. North. It will be a juried show, so if you're interested in being a part of it, please apply!!

Check out our website for more information on the group members (all super talented people!), and an application form for the summer fair. And check for regular updates on our blog to see what we've been up to!

Hamilton, you rule.

Photos by Hollie, and our logo was designed by Jenna, both members of the collective!

throw away the key

I got a little cheese-bally the other night (Erick was on call, I was bored and procrastinating). I've seen some cute hanging garlands of quotes on some of my wedding-idea-searching-adventures, so I decided to make one to see if it was something I'd like to incorporate into our wedding decor. I hung it up in the kitchen. This quote was from a little poem I found that went like this:

My heart to you is given:
Oh, do give yours to me;
We'll lock them up together,
And throw away the key.

- Frederick Saunders

I sort of like it. It's cute in the kitchen at least. We'll see if it makes the cut in the end. Right now it's coffee filter poufs for the win.

p.s. I have so much school work to do this week. Can you tell? I'm totally procrastinating.

desk land

Jenna's recent peg board project finally pushed me to make the time to get a peg board of my own to put over my desk. I didn't fancy mine up as nicely as Jenna did though. I love peg boards. Always have, always will. Vertical storage! It's great.



More desk photos:








Sookie's favourite place to hang out is on my desk, especially when I'm trying to do work. Erick calls her a textile designer since she's usually on top of my sketchbook or some fabric.

Once school is done I'm hoping to paint the walls in my craft room/bedroom (it's one big space). Probably a soft pale grey. The shade of yellow on the walls is not my fave. Besides that (and the popcorn ceiling), it's a great space.

family photo friday: craft time!

Ros, Will, and Kate, '91.

Craft time in the backyard on the old fisher price picnic table.