Welcome to the Workshop

Welcome to the Workshop

Sunday, December 30, 2012

A New Direction For A New Year

I can't tell you how long I've wanted to make a mobile. Probably since before I first came up with the original Poppet design. I recently decided to take the time to make one for a friend who had a baby a few weeks before Christmas. Now that I've given her the present I can share some photos with you.
I chose a sky theme and made up some characters, little circles and stars.





Then I added a few sequins, some string and voila! I'm really happy with the finished product, even though there were many hours of work involved. Sometimes it's nicer to do everything by hand.







What do you think? Is this something you would like hanging in your nursery? Should I make some more mobiles for my Etsy store?






P.S. Happy New Year!!!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Finally!

I was planning a post to recap Christmas.
But then it snowed! After such a dry and boring old winter last year we doubted if the snow would come. Thankfully, on Boxing Day night it snowed the whole night through. We awoke to about a foot of snow all around.
It was bin day, so we had to gear up (which takes forever!) and get out there to shovel the pavement so there would be somewhere to put the bins.
Husband and I shovelled whilst Poppet made snow angels. Then we dragged her to the park and went down the slope a few times before returning home for breakfast.




There might even be some more snow tonight. Toronto is so very pretty in the snow. And Poppet has spent most of the day outside playing in it with a friend. This climate is nowhere near as limiting to us as summer back home. As long as you have the right clothing on you can get out and enjoy it! Clearly we are winter beasts.
Hope y'all have had an awesome holiday week, we sure have.



Saturday, December 22, 2012

Happy Holidays

Take one gingerbread house kit (yes, I went for the store bought option, so time poor), two utter perfectionists and some candy. These elements combine each year for a frustrating and argument-filled craft session. The process has never been quite the warm and fuzzy one I've been after.
Each year Poppet and I look forward to building our gingerbread house. And each year we get super-cross with each other as we try to make the darn thing stand up!
The solution was to buy a kit which held four mini-houses. There was a little tension during the construction phase but after that things actually went well. We could each decorate our own house and 'parallel play' like the couple of toddlers we are.






We read a cute book about Santa getting stuck on the needle of the CN Tower during a blizzard. As if!



This is this morning's snow. Already melting. Sniff...


I wandered past our lovely German gift shop the other day and saw and Angel Chime in the window. Suddenly, memories came flooding back of having one in our house when I was a child. I remembered the sweet sound it made and playing with the little angels every chance I got. Had to buy one!


And we are on holidays at last! This final week of school has been exhausting and rushed and just a nightmare. Why on earth we couldn't finish up on Wednesday so there is time for some Christmas Spirit to actually build before the big day is beyond me. We will now attempt to fill our boots over the weekend with baking, lounging, skating, crafting, snacking and wrapping.
Oh, and with some Monopoly too apparently...




Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to you all...




Sunday, December 16, 2012

Wishing Poppets

I've been busy stitching up some last minute Christmas stock lately. This is the last of it. Hooray!
Happily, I delivered the Wishing Poppets to the lovely store down the road from me last week and they have since put them up in the window. Very exciting.
Here's a couple of snaps, beginning with a new Frosty character...



If you'd like to see these Poppets in action you can visit Planet Kid's Facebook page over here. Regrettably they don't ship outside of Canada as far as I know...
I can finally make Poppet a Wishing Angel of her own, a nice little surprise for her Christmas tree.
She can write a note to Santa and ask him for that darn Furby she's obsessed with. "He" is really going to regret bringing one of those into the house. For sure.
And I'm working on something very cute and new, which I've been wanting to experiment with for ages but haven't had time. I can't reveal it until after Christmas, as that would be giving it away. Shhh...



Sunday, December 9, 2012

Tubular

As promised, here are some shots from our 80s night.
We got ready to the sounds of The Smiths and at the party we danced for hours to Ska music, Joy Division and Fine Young Cannibals. Not a "Come on Eileen" in sight. Which was fine by us!
It took a while to remove all that makeup at 2am, husband included, so we're completely exhausted.
Poppet insisted on a little neon too...




And here's a shot of us in our finest black stonewash denim. Nice photo-bombing from the child...




And of course you'll need a close-up of my makeup to really appreciate it in all it's 'glory'...




Poppet told me I looked very pretty. Scary, that.
Here's to a lovely week lounging about in pyjamas without makeup and being in bed by 9. It's even snowing like crazy outside.



Saturday, December 8, 2012

I'm So Sure...

Like, oh my God and gag me with a spoon. We're off to an 80s party tonight.
We've bought some matching stonewash denim and I'm sharpening my blue eyeliner in anticipation. I'm an 80s girl, grew up on Valley Girl and Dynasty (thanks Sis!), lip gloss and mixed tapes.
To celebrate this blessed event, I've set up a fun Pinterest board filled with fun stuff from the 80s. Here's some of my faves...



And you can find lots more over here.
Do you have fond 80s memories? What was your favourite show/movie/outfit/band? I'd love to know.
I'll leave you with this clip from Valley Girl which happens to feature my favourite 80s song too...





Will be sure to take some totally rad shots of us in our finest before we head out tonight. It'll  be tubular!



Thursday, December 6, 2012

Ode to Oscar

The incredible architect Oscar Niemeyer died yesterday. At the particularly ripe old age of 104. I'd like to think his prolific creativity had a hand in that number. You can read a little more about him here, and see more examples of his work here. He was, most certainly, a Brazilian national treasure.
When we lived in Brazil we were lucky enough to visit this incredible church, which is one of my favourites.
 "Igreja de Sao Francisco de Assis"

image via here

And we walked past this one in Belo Horizonte almost every day...


image via here


It should be noted that the stunning park across from this building (and the neighbouring Governor's palace) had some of the only grass in the city, which we were NOT allowed to walk on. It was maintained just in case the Governor glanced out the window to check if it was still green. And still his alone.
I never saw anyone of importance use that park, just lots of families, rollerbladers and beggars crowding the footpaths and casting longing glances at the luscious and forbidden grass. On our first trip to the zoo in Brazil, Poppet was more interested in the grass than the animals. It was time to move on...


image via here

But I was talking about Oscar. And I think his work speaks for itself.


image via here



Brazil is very lucky to have so many of his buildings to cherish and admire. I hope to return one day to see the rest of Oscar's work and to show Poppet this beautiful but conflicted country we once called home.





Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Speechless

I haven't been able to speak properly since Saturday night. Whilst some members of the household might not have a problem with this (I'm talking to you husband!), it's very annoying. Especially when I have phone calls to make.
But the doctor has insisted that I rest my larynx for a few days, so I will spend the day sewing and catching up on Madmen episodes.
I thought I'd take a  moment to share some photos of the Poppets I made for my nieces for Xmas...



Mr and Mrs Claus
Rudolf
Frosty


Aren't they cute? Do they make you feel all Christmas-y?
You realise there's only 20 days left til Christmas, don't you? How's your prep going?
Hope it's ok...



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