Weekend Snippets

Happy dreary Monday...
urgg.  What an unispiring day we've woken to here.  It's been a very wet and chilly weekend and to be honest, we spent a large portion of it in the house.  We ventured out a couple of times for some paint (a new project for later this week!), food and to look at toys.  It's going to be a very busy week though so no time for dragging around!
My friend Jules Power is having her debut at Toronto Fashion Week tonight, Easter preparations are in full swing (at least in my head), I have a ton of interior work to do but most importantly, Max is turning 10!!

Whew...this is a big birthday. Double digits. I can't believe it!  
I'm getting prepared to make my lists for the week in the hopes that I don't overlook anything!  Wish me luck!!

he's got the itch to go outside!

a new bunny friend almost done...

Easter prep

cat love

more recipes coming this week!!

my trusty boots

new Etsy updates coming!!

Weekend Snippets

Monday is here and another school lunch under my belt!  
We had a pretty relaxed weekend at home just doing some spring cleaning and getting ready to go back to school.  I got out my favourite flats (which Liv has taken a liking to) and some fun green zippered jeans in a nod to Spring!  I also managed to get some work in as well this weekend. I took some shots of new vintage jewellery pieces I've been working on as well as getting a few detail shots of one of my clients custom built-in units.  Oh, how I love a nicely designed and built piece of millwork!! 
I'm looking forward to a great week..check back for more recipes as well as some of my favourite products and ideas to help Spring cleaning go a bit quicker and be a little less painful.

One Of A Kind

I've been really bad at updating my Etsy shop in the past month...I've been working on designs and have even photographed some of them but the images haven't made it to my store yet!

I am determined to get these listed this week but wanted to show you here first.  Here are a couple of one of a kind pieces...I am so thrilled with how they turned out!  

What do you think?

Earrings!!

Just in time for Valentine's (if you are looking for some last minute gift ideas) new earrings at my Etsy shop.  If orders are placed this week I'm sure good old Canada Post will be able to deliver them on time!  

 Enjoy!

Everything is as it Seems

image by Jen Renninger Still Room Studio

You know that feeling when you just have to have something?  Well, that's how I felt when I saw Jen Renninger's 'Everything is as it seems' print.  Naturally, I was attracted to the bird (I do love birds) but it was the sentiment that went with it that really grabbed me.  

I have the print perched on my desk and this image reminds me daily that things are just as they are and it is only  my interpretation that can change.

Jennifer is an amazingly talented artist (and super nice on top of it!!) who's work has been featured in such notable magazines as New York Times, Harpers, O Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens.  There are more but you get the idea, right?  Her full collection of paintings, designs, collage and illustrations are so vast that this post just could not do it justice! Below are a few of my favorites from her site.  The first image is from her much loved Modern Design Deck series.

  Lucky for us, she is selling a selection of her illustrations and prints at her Etsy store.  

If you prefer to wear your art, the above image 'Keep Calm and Ride On' is being sold at Urban Outfitters on a nice v-neck tee! 

Jen seems to have lots on the go and some new projects in the works for the future.  Keep up to date on Jen's work here.

  Thanks for the beautiful images Jen!!

Pretty little things

Hiya!  I just wanted to tell you that I've been working on some new pieces for my Etsy shop...I'm excited!!  

I've been waiting till I had a decent day to photograph all of them but as the skies haven't cooperated again today I thought I'd take a few frames and give you a sneak peak.  I'll let you know when they're listed...

What do you think??

A Little Help

My son came home from school the other day asking what we could do to help the people in Haiti.  My first thought (naturally) was 'let's organize a Bake Sale!!'  I love baked goods, so any excuse to do a variety of cookies and squares is always right up my alley.  This idea was quickly rejected because it is so hard to ensure that items are safe for the kids that have allergies.  So there we were, back to the drawing board.

 I find my kids to be the catalyst for most of my endeavours and this is certainly no exception.
  I had been playing around with some jewellery designs over the past couple of months and this was the push I need to get into action!  I designed a beautifully simple necklace I've named 'Hope' to be sold in my Etsy shop.  $5.00 from each sale of this piece will go to the Canadian Red Cross.  Please visit my new Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/alanalillian to view the items and for further details.


 If we all do a little bit we can really make a difference!