Happy Hallowe'en!

Kozo Studio

Recently, I've started an apprenticeship at Kozo Studio with the very talented, Akemi Nishidera. Akemi is an artist who graduated from Printmaking at OCAD and apprenticed with artist Richard Flavin in Japan for three years. She also teaches in the community and is in the process of creating a beautiful coloring book to raise money for the Printmaking Department at OCAD and for the Artists' Health Centre Foundation. She has a lovely studio on Broadview where various workshops on letterpress, printmaking, Japanese paper marbling (to name a few!) are offered. The space will also function as a gallery, retail space and a place where artists can meet. I feel very fortunate to be able to learn from such an amazing artist!

Here are some pictures I took during my last visit.

6 more days 'til Halloween

I just want to pinch someone's cheeks right now! This costume is so dang adorable - I can't stand it!

And I just had to add these two because they made me smile... (Check out the pooch!! Madness, I say!)

Sweet

All day, I've been craving a piece of delicious cake or a nice cupcake. Don't these look just luscious?!

I love these! Aren't they adorable? I think they would be perfect for a Tiny Tots birthday party or for a work retreat after a session on team building! This is from a recipe called, "Building Blocks Cake" courtesy of Bettty Crocker. Here is the url for the recipe:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/recipe.aspx?recipeId=40759

Guess what?! These little gems are VEGAN and the lovely knitting is made from marzipan! (Don't you just love marzipan? It's a beautiful thing, isn't it?) There's a tutorial available on Vegan Yum Yum at:

http://veganyumyum.com/2007/06/how-to-knit-marzipan/

Gosh, I don't know if I could actually eat Totoro but he sure does look sweet on top of this cupcake! I found this cool cupcake and photo from the blog, Scent of Green Bananas. They are matcha cupcakes with pistachio cream and Totoro truffles. (Can you speak?!) The recipe is available at:

http://scentofgreenbananas.blogspot.com/2005/03/imbb-13-pt-1-matcha-cupcakes-with.html

The Paper Show

Last weekend, the three of us drove to Kingston to visit with J's parents. We always have a nice visit with them and enjoy exploring the little town of Kingston and surrounding area. On our way there, we stopped in Milford to visit with one of J's old friends for dinner. N happens to be interested in bookbinding so she enlightened me with her experiences while I marvelled at her beautiful creations. N told us about an exhibit that would be taking place in Kingston that very weekend called, The Paper Show. (What a coincidence!)

We had a chance to visit the exhibit which was much smaller than I expected but still, very interesting. There was letterpress printing, bookbinding, mask making, printmaking... just to name a few.

Mail goodness!

I love receiving mail and look forward to a visit from the mail carrier - each and every day! (Is it nutty to notice when his car arrives on our street or feel worried when it's not there at the regular time?) In any case, I anticipate his arrival and feel elated when there is something special waiting for me in the mailbox!

Last week was no exception. I felt spoiled when I received the following packages:

This was the package I received for the Vintage Ephemera Swap on Swap-Bot! It was jam-packed with all kinds of little treasures from the past - stickers, photographs, stamps, a tiny booklet, papers, labels... and much more!

This was such a fantastic surprise from one of the people I swapped with. There were all kinds of interesting images and bits of paper. The best part of all was CC's letter with the beautiful handwriting! Thanks so much, CC!

If you aren't familiar with Swap-Bot, it's a wonderful little community which facilitates snail mail and online swaps. There are different swap categories ranging from Accessories to Zines. (My favorite is the Letters amd Writing category.) Each swap has a theme, a brief description, the number of people you send to, a date to sign up by and a date when the swaps should be sent out. Once the sign up date has passed, you will receive an email telling you that it's time to swap. You then get the addresses of the swap partners and can click on their profile name to find out more details about them.

It's quite interesting to find out other people's stories - a real cross-section of humanity. I love how candid the letters can be and appreciate people's willingness to share such intimate details about their lives. Often times, people will include little goodies like bits of paper or stickers or postcards. (This can earn you extra hearts when you provide feedback.) It's fun and if you enjoy mail, it really delivers! :)

Check it out: http://www.swap-bot.com/

This is dedicated to my Aussie crew

During one late night of Facebook-ing (is this a word yet?), I noticed that a dear old friend was online and began bantering with her. Jodie and I were classmates in Winnipeg during elementary school. Her family was from Australia and always had a jar of Vegemite kicking around in the fridge. She was fun and smart and always had interesting things to share with us. My favorite (and most memorable) item shared was us was the book called, "Where Did I Come From?". I can still see all those smiling little guys swimming for their lives. (I don't think I truly understood what was going on in the book at the time but do remember hearing things like, "Ewww" and "Awww, look at those cute little guys with black top hats" during the book unveiling).

Moving on... Jodie and I discovered that we were both on Skype and were soon talking and chatting "face-to-face". It was sooo great to hear her voice again and see my dear old (beautiful!) friend! I also met a couple of her employees who are apparently fans of this blog! (Imagine that?!)

Jodie started the company, Iceberg Events, in 1996 and has been going on strong since! They provide valued clients with successful, well – managed conferences and events by making the planning process fun and enjoyable, providing comprehensive advice and instruction, giving service beyond a client's expectations, and delivering an event which is truly memorable and within budget.

Please check out their website at http://icebergevents.com.au/ for more information.


(Aren't they gorgeous?!)

"Hi Lisa!!! Hi Amanda!!! It was nice to meet you both!! I miss you, Jodie!" xoxo

Elsa Beskow

I love looking at Elsa Beskow's illustrations. She draws teeny, tiny, little mushroom-capped people who roam and busy themselves in the forest. She includes imagery from Scandinavian folklore (depending on the book, of course) such as trolls and nymphs. There is something quite magical about her drawings...

Elsa Beskow (February 11, 1874 – June 30, 1953) was a Swedish author and illustrator of children's books.

"Born Elsa Maartman in Stockholm, she started to draw at an early age, deciding to become an artist. Especially important person for her was her grandmother, Johanna Wilhelmina, who told her fairy tales. At home her favorite writer was Zacharias Topelius. Johanna Wilhelmina died when Beskow was 13. This ended according to Beskow her "happy childhood."

In her books Beskow used her own childhood experiences as a source for ideas. Her own six children also inspired her work. Central themes were the relationships between children and adults and children's independent initiative. The pictures were large, with carefully studied details of nature and bourgeois small town life. Often Beskow combined reality with elements from the fairy tale world - ordinary children meet elves or goblins, ugly witches sulk on the street corners, and farm animals talk with people. The texts were written in verse or in prose. Sometimes Beskow satirized manners, as in the poem about the foreign Mr. Tomato, who is envied by a local cucumber, admired by Miss Parsley, and imitated by small radishes.

Much of her books emphasized the importance of honest work and showed the influence of National Romanticism - a style that inspired many Nordic artists from the 1890s. In the 1960s and 1970s Beskow's work was considered by many critics old-fashioned. Her idyllic pictures, full of good-natured children, animals, brownies, and flowers, were seen to present false ideals. Also her gender roles were seen too narrow: "the father is strong and brave, and the mother is obedient and loving" (from Tomtebobarnen). According to Gunvor H�kansson, Beskow "satisfies authoritative ideals in upbringing a children, but Astrid Lindgren represents more democratic principles."

Beskow published some twenty books. Her works have been translated in many languages."
(http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/elsabooks.htm)

My favorite book is, Children of the Forest.

Did you see my lips move?

I love vintage photographs and ventriloquism. Yesterday, for about an hour, I obsessively searched the web for items related to these two subjects. Here are some of my favorite finds:

Word

On Sunday, Word on the Street was held in Queen's Park here in Toronto. If you're not familiar with it, it's a festival which showcases authors, publishers, poets, storytellers and various vendors selling literary goodness. In addition to this, there are workshops for the aspiring writer and a variety of performers for all ages.





My little person and I had a great time. It's a very child-friendly event (as it should be!) and there were many stations catering to the young (and the young at heart). There was even a stage for the TVO gang, nestled in the trees, with performances going on throughout the day. We brought a little picnic with us and refueled after a few hours. It was nice to sit back and watch the crowds make their way through the festival. I would love to see the festival make its way to Winnipeg one of these days... It's a wonderful celebration of the written word!




One of the highlights of the festival was meeting the lovely Kim of Kim's Suitcase fame (www.kimssuitcase.blogspot.com). I told her I enjoyed her blog and bought one of her cute little calendars!

A clean getaway

DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS STUNT



PS Did I mention how much I love YouTube? :)

I am so over Ralph Macchio

Yesterday was such a great day. The sun was shining, J & I were able to clean the house while Miss H was at a birthday party in the afternoon and we had two very special visitors to our home. (I am now secretly crushing on Schled as he's kind of adorable.)


To wrap up the fun and frolicking, I thought it would be nice to cozy up with two bowls of popcorn and sip on sparkling apple cider (courtesy of Miss Polly) while watching Karate Kid III. About 15 minutes into the movie, I began to feel all nervous and angry. Ralph Macchio's performance was completely over-the-top and annoying. He kept bouncing each time he moved and talked non-stop in this angry, exasperating tone that gave me the shakes. I found myself starting to talk back at the screen. It wasn't long before Polly began to feel as shaky as I did. I can't speak for Polly but I was shocked at how easily Ralph's performance generated nasty terms in my head. Unfortunately, my comments had to be censored (in keeping with good parenting and such) and I was unable to truly express the animosity I felt for Mr. Macchio. Noone should ever have to endure such a horrid performance.

Coincidentally, the movie had a glitch in it and froze during another one of Ralph's irritating hissy-fits.

The day need not be ruined by the horrible acting (and directing), however. We all shared some good laughs over it and found ourselves bouncing around as we said our goodbyes.

This song makes me happy

Years ago, this song would have probably depressed the hell out of me but now, whenever I hear it, I just think of how lucky I am. I guess this is how it feels to be in love.

P.S. I suppose it doesn't hurt that the guy singing is an absolute hunk. (Baahaa)

Obsessing about the 80's

As per my addictive personality, I should have known that the discovery of Square Pegs and the Modern English video would lead to obsessing about the 80's!

I've always loved 80's... the wonderfully, cheesy fashions; the teen, cult classics that were influential on my (non-existent) love-life; the introduction to MTV; Twisted Sister and all the glam rock bands; passing notes in class; my penpals (that's a whole other entry altogether!); hanging out on my ten-speed; teen magazines (BOP, 17, Rockline); slurpees; baseball games in my jersey with a rock shirt underneath and of course, the candies (Black Bart, Flake, Chews to name a few!).

[What I'd LIKE to forget are those turquoise spandex pants that I wore and thought looked so cool! UGH!]

I began to reminisce about the good ol' days - wearing the Jordache jeans and having feathered hair and all. I thought of all of the movies that came out of the 80's and their legacy. To honor this legacy, I've started gathering some of my favorite flicks to save for a rainy day or to introduce J to. Who knows, maybe we'll even host an 80's retrospective where people will be required to wear 80's garb (including an appropriate hairstyle) and feast on party food like munchies, pic-a-pop, Genie's cake, piggies-in-a-blanket (vegan-style, of course) and a selection of favorite candies.

Here is my partial list of movies, thus far:

- Valley Girl (like, totally!)
- Sixteen Candles
- Karate I, II and III (wax on, wax off)
- St. Elmo's Fire
- The Outsiders (my fave was Ponyboy)
- The Big Chill
- Mask (Cher et al)

[I accidentally deleted Pretty in Pink and deliberately deleted Flashdance. I was kind of disgusted by how misogynistic it was but it certainly does reflect how times have changed with what's allowed in movies. Actually... what am I saying?]

I'm sure there are more that I'll want to add like Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (yeah, Spicoli!). For now, I'm satisfied with my little collection.

Melt with you...

This morning, I searched for the show, Square Pegs, on YouTube. Does anyone remember that show? (Gosh, I'm really dating myself here by admitting that I do!) Anyway, it was a show that aired in the eighties and starred Sarah Jessica Parker and was a coming-of-age series (as was the theme of almost everything produced in the 80's). I was happy to see that there were episodes of it available! (Yay! Love YouTube!) Feeling nostalgic, I decided to search for the movie, Valley Girl. I LOVED that movie and must have seen it a dozen times! During my search, I came across that awesome song, "Melt With You" by the Psychadelic Furs which became a hit after it played in Valley Girl. I loved this song so much and still do. I must have played it a million times and wore out that little cassette tape. Thank goodness, I was able to re-record it off the radio!


The video brings back a lot of memories... Sure, they were laden with teenage angst but nevertheless, fond memories. I remember having a copy of the movie on a VHS tape and watching it over and over and over again; quoting all of the Valley Girlisms (trying to be cool). I remember thinking I was something special because I'd been to the shopping mall (Sherman Oaks Galleria) where some of the filming took place. (I was this way, too, when I found out that I had been to the same arcade where the Karate Kid was filmed playing miniature golf). I'll have to re-watch the movie again and see what all the fuss was about (don't quite remember all that kissing that was going on in the video). For now, I'll admire Nicholas Cage and his Flock of Seagulls 'do! Love it! He's so totally rad!


(Coincidentally, Toronto is going through some kind of heatwave right now so the title of this song captures the way I've been feeling during the last 24 hrs.)

Earslopes

Kids are so amusing. I love it when they spit out words that are slight variations of the real thing. Of course, it is done in complete seriousness which makes things even more amusing. Last night, for example, my little person was talking about hair and how it wrapped around people's "earslopes". My all time favorite, however, has to be "cutecumber". (How could it not?!)

In the same vein, children's questioning is always a source of amusement and curiosity. What exactly are they thinking when they ask their questions? (I can only imagine what their creative little minds are cooking up and visualizing. The mind of a child is such a mystery!) My husband began writing down questions that were asked by the little person during our travels this summer. We still talk about the following Q&A very fondly:

"Have you ever seen an ice-cream sandwich on a stick?"
"Nope."
"Yeah, me neither."

The Willard Suitcase Exhibit

My love for ephemera led me to an incredible online exhibit called, The Lives They Left Behind. The exhibit features the contents and owners of suitcases found in the attic of the Willard Psychiatric Center in NYC after it closed in 1995.

The belongings contained in each suitcase provide evidence of a life prior to being institutionalized - one that was filled with family, friends and a sense of normalcy. At the same time, a semblance of deterioration can be seen on the faces in these individuals as you compare the photographs of when they first arrived to that of their "mug shots". The images were somewhat haunting, at times. What is most shocking are the accompanying stories which often fail to demonstrate any attempts at treatment or healing for these individuals and left me wondering what the point of withdrawing these individuals from society was (if not just to segregate them).

If you get the chance, please have a look... It's quite fascinating.

The Willard Suitcase Exhibit

I think I'm in love...

This morning, J and I went to meet the graphic designer that is doing work for the feature film he has in production. Wow... I think I'm in love! Not just with the designer himself (though, J & I both agree that he was cute, extremely talented and also very cool) but also with his amazing designs! It was sooo inspiring to be in his studio and hear him talk about the project and how his concepts came to fruition. Many of the elements he used can be easily applied to the kind of book and cardmaking that I absolutely love to do. He even used a letterpress for some of the printing and some tactile features (such as raised paint used to simulate blood). It was all verrrry exciting! I can't wait for J to hand them out during the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)... Apart from being a really brilliant film, the propoganda associated with it is certainly going to leave quite an impression! Love it all!

We're going back there today at 2pm to meet with the designer again to look at and sign off on the final copies. I can't wait to see what other creative pieces he's included!

Right now, I'm on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto in a cafe waiting for J to meet me after seeing his agent. It's buzzing with activity down here - the lunch crowd is in full effect and those enjoying the hot, sunny day. Earlier, I was on Queen Street and thought about how happy I was to live in this city. While I do miss Europe (and would move there in a heartbeat!), I love all of the little pockets and different neighbourhoods in Toronto. There are so many great things to discover in each... Great little restaurants off the beaten track, favorite shops to buy paper, supplies or wonderful little treasures, cafes offering delicious soy green tea lattes and of course, the best places to people watch for all of the different characters that Toronto attracts. My two favorite places to be are on Queen Street and Kensington Market. At any given time, I am able to find the most interesting and creative cards, vintage clothing, old books and funky handbags. They also boast amazing restaurants (like King's in Kensington Market where they sell the most delicious vegan meals including soy bites & soy drumsticks!).

Yes, Toronto is a great place to live. Won't you be my neighbour?

It never rains in California...

J attended a three day workshop in California on acting for directors in L.A. I tagged along and we decided to call it our 'working honeymoon'. During the day, he would attend his workshop while I explored different parts of the city. I spent the most time in Santa Monica which was great fun. We managed to squeeze in dinners and time with family and friends. My only regret was not actually meeting a fellow blogger that I had originally planned to. (Boo!) Fortunately, I know we'll return so hopefully, I can finally meet this special person...
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is an amazing work of art. It was designed by Frank Gehry and is absolutely stunning. I took a 45 min. self-guided tour and the inside is as impressive as the exterior. The detail that I found most impressive was the lettering used on the walls of the hall. The color and font were chosen to perfectly blend not just with the felt walls but into the felt walls, thus, creating a sense of continuity throughout. All of the lines in the building are continous and flowing and just divine. One of the main concert areas of the hall has been covered with a dark wood so as to mimick its affinity to the instrument that is being played within. It's all so beautiful and harmonious, isn't it?








I spent the afternoon in Little Tokyo where they were having the LA Tofu Festival. The festival, itself, was great... Lots of delicious tofu treats and kiosks of nice things to buy. I picked up a shirt designed by Spicy Brown which I love. Her designs are so adorable and very Japanese. My shirt has little octopus ball guys. So cute! I also wandered around Little Tokyo through their maze of restaurants and stores. At the end of the festival, the Nisei Association held a parade.




Reform School rocks. It's an awesome little shop in Silver Lake that has all kinds of goodies including original prints, handmade/letterpressed cards, journals and wallets that were so hard to resist. Yum!
Giant Robot is one of my favorite magazines. I often daydreamed of one day going to see their amazing shop... and I did! In fact, it was quite close to where we were staying! Yippee! I bought some zines and stickers created by Pearl Esther Watson. I love her illustrations so much! The setting is in the 80's and is based on a journal that she found at a truck stop. Love it! At the back of the store is a little art gallery where I found the art of Camilla Engman!




J's awesome galpal, R, took us to the coolest place called the Cha Cha Lounge in Silver Lake. We had such a great time taking pictures and chatting and soaking up the atmosphere. They even had a selection of free postcards with really great designs that I helped myself to! :)