holding off on the resolutions. do more of the love stuff. part 2

look how mini the mini was when i used her for this product shot in 2009!

of course the winter is here and even though it hasn't hit us in the GTA full force yet, it made me realize that i have a lot of yarn in my crafting space and that i miss crocheting.  i know that i did put it out there that i wanted to learn how to knit, but crochet has to be my first love.  to me, it's meditative, calming, and oh so COOL.  my mom attempted to teach me how when i was a kid, but it never fully caught on with me until about 10 years ago.  i even had opened up an etsy shop with my handmade cowls and scarves, but of course, i couldn't handle running two stores, breastfeeding 24/7, and trying to keep up with housewifey stuff and so the crocheting went by the wayside.  (but check out the photo above of the gorgeous super long pink scarf i made!) so now, i am going to use up some of that yarn and get to making some chunky woolen pretties, so that the mini and i can step out in style once the snow flies. 

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belle chic. i'm hoping that's me.

i am extremely proud and excited to have been chosen as a featured artisan on 'belle chic' - which is one of the loveliest handmade sites ever.  part of the tanga group of websites, belle chic is like an exclusive club for fine art seekers, and i am so happy to be part of their roster!  several of my bestselling designs will be featured there - and on sale at a 40% off discount!  my feature starts on monday, so come by!!!!

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holding off on the resolutions. do more of the love stuff.

the artistic representation of how my legs feel right now. 
in 14K gold filled.

etsy posted a lovely article by fibre artist Cate Fitt, discussing the concept of not making new year's resolutions and instead, vowing to do more of what you love.

i had gotten into a little tradition myself of making "arts & crafts" resolutions - trying new things in order to foster my creative skills.  and while that has served me well (bookbinding! gocco printing! crocheting! cold forging!) i think that right now, i have on deck all the crafting that i can handle.  (except for that pesky learn-to-knit goal.  which i am going to meet.  sooner or later.)

so, my first "do more of the love stuff" was to incorporate more physical activity back into my life.  prior to the mini, i used to go to the gym every day.  EVERY DAY.  i'd pound out a couple of kilometers on the treadmill and then hit the weights.  but, since she was born, i let my gym membership expire and my exercise routine has mostly consisted of chasing after her and carrying her around.  while very worthwhile in an emotional sense, probably not as heart-healthy or as endorphin-pumping as a good run.  in the summer time i am more active (yay, jogging stroller!  yay, iPod!) but wintertime brings with it all sorts of other exercise-related challenges. 

our family gift to ourselves this year was a home gym set, that sits monolithically in our basement - heavy, imposing, and seriously, up to par with any gym equipment i used to use at the gym.  secretly, in spite of the financially crushing price tag, i love using it.  there is something about lifting weights that makes me feel like a stronger person, like a healthier person - and in the long run, hopefully it will add some longevity to my mortal existence on earth. 

however, as i sit here writing this blog post, my hamstrings, thighs and front delts feel like they are knotted up and thrum with the subtle pain that comes after a good workout - reminding me that yes, i did a good job, but also that i have now crippled myself.  even though the workout i did was 2 days ago.  out of shape, much?  goodness.

oh well.  it's all about doing more of what you love, right?  where are those endorphins!  now if i could just find a treadmill that would fit in the basement...

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we are in love. with copper. and brass. and silver. and hearts.

for the first time in a long time, i had no pending orders to fill and nothing to pack up. i know it happens every january - the husband reminds me to not freak out when things slow down as they do at this time each year - so today, i made good use of the down time. (not to mention the potty training triumphs - YAY mini!)

 i've been working on new open hoop designs and i am proudly presenting these lovely lyrical valentine's day inspired ones.  kind of like the lovestruck doodles that you make in the margins of your notebook.  the ones in the first picture above, in warm, raw copper wire, are the first ones i made and are seriously stunning - and very much handmade.  in the second picture is a pair in warm brass - with a little nod to my wishbone earrings.  and of course, who can forget sterling silver...

and yes, i know it's early for valentine's day, but you could give these to your bridesmaids, or your mom, or your daughter....

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happy new year!

i woke up feeling slightly bad because i spent new year's eve in quite a bad mood.  one of those nights where you sort of wish that you were somewhere else.  blame it on exhaustion, PMS, the mini's never-ending cold (and accompanying puke) or the fact that we spent way too much over the holidays, it still all adds up to me feeling bad for feeling bad.  but its the dawn of a new day, and a new year!  my blackberry was full of messages wishing us a happy 2012, and seriously, we still have two days of holidays left. 

so, today, i'm counting my blessings (oh, i have so many!), and working on the resolutions later.  and hopefully not leaving the house just in case i end up maiming someone.

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