monopoly. wtf.

so we got the canadian version of monopoly.  and i have to admit, i am not impressed.  while it is very, very cool to see canadian locations rather than the US or British locales, this new fangled debit machine and huge land pricesmake it a little difficult to relate to.  first off, the debit machine that came with our game broke after about 3 minutes and is now probably residing in a landfill somewhere.  and now that we don't have the machine, we can't really play the game.  i've been wracking my brain trying to figure out a way to pay the game with play money instead, but in the meantime, we've been using it as a counting teaching tool for the mini.  needless to say, i miss the vintage UK version that my parents own.

but in tribute to all things canadian, i'm posting this treasury - probably the most viewed treasury i've made in a long time.  guess no one can resist us canucks.  *wink*.

Canadian Penny Ring in Coppe... AutopilotEmpir... $29.00	Toronto Canada HORIZONTAL Su... wordology $199.00	Maple Draple - Canadian Mapl... guccisgoodies $30.00
Laptop Bag - ROYAL CANADIAN ... floorartetc $75.00	Canadian Moose Pillow SparrowAvenue $45.00	Canada Roots Map 11x14 Custo... ChildrenInspir... $40.00
Candle Holder, Driftwood Can... DustDesigns $50.00	Canadian Army Parka, Extreme... ColonelKurtzVi... $89.00	the old canadian post (fine ... kmbphotoandfin... $20.00
Custom Personalized Canadian... MineOverMatter $59.00	Baby. Coat. 5 Colors. Toddle... babywearing $65.00	Small Wood Bowl, Baribocraft... TheSowsEarByAl... $16.00
Vintage 1989 Patons O Canada... MultiPolarity $9.50	Set of Nine Polar Whiskey Ro... polarstones $20.00	New Canadian reversible flag... helkatdesign $75.00
Vtg SOREL Canadian Leather &... JansVintageStu... $68.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

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cultural diversity... what does it mean?

my family is canadian. however, "culturally", my husband is half French-Canadian, one quarter Scottish, and one quarter German. he is fluent in both english and french, loves poutine, Montreal hardcore, and Mitsou. i am of Chinese descent, born to parents who were born in Jamaica, but although we did not speak Chinese, patois was easily spoken and understood. the husband says that it really threw him for a loop to meet my cute little Chinese grandfather who spoke with a Bob Marley inflection - while at first i barely understood my father-in-law's heavy Quebecquois accent. together, we are a cultural melting pot.

so what does this make the mini? i wonder, if like her parents, she will identify with Canadian culture? or will she gravitate towards one part of her "cultural makeup" more than another? or will she embrace all of it? i am hoping that she will speak French like her father, and that she'll be able to whip up a mean pot of oxtail and rice and peas like her mommy. i'm hoping that she won't flinch at eating chicken feet while out for dim sum, and will love going to the cabane au sucre with her nana in Montreal.

when i was at work, our organization was in the midst of cultural diversity training with all staff teams. but what does that really mean? with so many people with rich, varied backgrounds like my mini, do we really need to learn to be accepting? people should be proud that they carry such diversity within themselves - and be excited to learn about the cultural histories of others. my wonderful mother-in-law (the mini's nana) has one basic mantra that i think sums it all up - "BE KIND". and seriously, do we really need training to embrace that?

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Great Canadian Artists - Little Papercuts

I'm deviating a little bit from my normal "Feature" and promoting this awesome artist who NEEDS TO START SELLING IN HER ETSY SHOP!!!!

Presenting... Little Papercuts!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
I’m 33 years old and I’m a stay at home mom to 2 great kids. I’ve been married for 7 years, but my husband and I have been together for 17 years. My family is kinda my life…as cliché as it may sound, but my whole world really does revolve around them. Since my daughter was born, 6 years ago, my life has been filled with lots of laughter, lots of tears, and everything in between. And when my son came along, he turned our lives upside down. He’s a bundle of energy, and I have to admit…a bit of a mama’s boy . Yup, pretty much kids, family and all the craziness that goes hand in hand with both, not to mention trying to run a small business on the side…that’s my life!

2. Outside of your creative life, what else are you up to?
I kinda summed that up in the last question I think. I think my creative life is very much a part of my everyday life. I love looking for papers and embellishments at scrapbooking stores and craft stores, but I know nothing about scrapbooking itself.

3. What made you first want to create art?
I think it was the first time I saw my grandmother redraw the album cover for The Sound of Music. I was only 6 or 7 at the time and I think in my head I thought she was actually the one who had drawn ALL the album covers all over the world, and I thought that’s what I want to do!

4. What do you offer in your shop?
I specialize in children’s customized name art and artwork. Every piece is one of a kind and tailored to each child. On occasion I have created artwork for adults as well though.

5. Without giving away any of your trade secrets, what is your creative process?
Cut and paste, kind of. I usually sketch out the name in the chosen style first and then transfer that image to colored paper. All the cut paper pieces are then layered onto each other and glued down. I’m trying not to give away too much info, but it really is cut and paste…what can I say I’m a mom. I work in the same medium as my kidsJ

6. Where do you create?
Don’t laugh, but I do all of my work on my living room floor, using our old fish tank as a light box/desk with my paper spread all around me. Space is limited at our house!

7. If you listen to music while you make your creations, what is the soundtrack?
Whatever the kids are listening to…lately it’s been Hannah Montana or preschool tunes.

8. What are your Crafting Resolutions for 2008?
Hmm, that’s tough but my #1 would have to be to get a desk, and not to procrastinate as much as I do. I’m in the process of setting up my website, so that’s definitely a huge thing for me. My goal is really to have my website, blog and hopefully at some point my Etsy Shop all up and running.

9. How do you promote your Etsy shop?
I haven’t officially opened up my shop yet, so probably through blogs or forums. So far word of mouth has been my best friend. My family and friends are the best advertising I could ever ask for.

10. What is your most favorite handmade item that you have made?
Wow, I’d have to say it’s a toss up between Seasons Artwork I just finished for my daughter Alison (all the little girls look like her!) and a duvet cover I had made for her that was inspired by paper dolls.

11. What is your most favorite handmade item that someone else has made?
That’s easy, sock monkeys for my kids from Muffin Top!!!

12. What was your best handcrafted "moment"?
It had to be the reaction of the parents who received the first Little Papercuts name art. They were amazed at my work, and it was really the first time that I’ve thought that I could pursue this as a business. That was over 2 years ago!!

13. Top 5 list – list your top 5 favorite movies, books, bands, and foods.
That’s a hard one…lately all I read watch or listen to is kids’ stuff. OK…top 5 movies would be Rent, The King and I, Man on Fire (soooo amazing), The Last Unicorn (gotta love 80’s animation) and anything from the Young and Dangerous series (Chinese subtitled). The only books that really stand out in my mind are ‘Are you there God, it’s me Margaret’ and ‘Blubber’ by Judy Bloom. I think it’s because my daughter is starting to read novels and stuff now. No fave bands, I’ll listen to pretty much anything. Foods, hmm let’s see…oatmeal cookies from Longo’s, zesty cheese Doritos, beef brisket that my mother in law cooks, rice and peas (a Jamaican thing) and ox tail.

14. What advice would you like to give to others on trying to sell their handmade goods?
Find inspiration from everything around you. Don’t give up! Like I said before, word of mouth is very powerful…it can make your business without you even trying if you enlist the help of family and friends!

15. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Let’s see, in 10 years I see myself with one more kid, still married to hubby #1, still making hip art for kids and parents and in a house with room enough for me to have a desk preferably with a glass insert to use as a light box.

16. If you could describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?
creative, reliable, perfectionist, fun, indecisive…wow that sounds kinda boring! Love ya Muffin!!

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Great Canadian Artists - FiveForty

I'm starting a series of posts featuring my favorite Canadian Etsy Artists! The world deserves to know about the amazing talent in the True North.

I'm so happy to showcase the works of fiveforty, who lives and works in Terrace Bay, Ontario. Her etsy shop is full of her handwoven creations and gemstone jewels that are worth taking a look at. Her marvelous use of colour, texture and recycled materials truly make her one of a kind.

I posed a few questions to fiveforty, so we could get to know her a little bit better.

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.

Who am I? Good question, I ask myself that same question all of the time. I live on the north shore of Lake Superior with my husband, my mom, and our 3 dogs and a cat. I am 50, halfway through my life.I majored in weaving (fibres & fabrics) in college, minored in painting and photography. I was a stay at home mom, my two children are now grown and live away.This second half of my life is about me and my creativity. It is time to follow my heart and my dreams.

2. Outside of your creative life, what else are you up to?

At the moment my creative life is my life! I am trying to build a business so most of the hours in my days are devoted to it.I love cooking, I am a foodie, I try my best to follow the philosophy of slow food.

3. What made you first want to create art?

My dad studied at the Ontario College of Art. He always encouraged us to be creative.

4. What do you offer in your Etsy shop?

I am selling one of a kind, handwoven rag rugs, not your usual rag rug, mine are woven with recycled used textile for both warp and weft. Soft and cushy felted wool, sturdy denim or corduroy. I also make and sell one of a kind beaded beach pebble and gemstone jewelry. I love working with Lake Superior beach pebbles, but also love working with semi precious gemstones, fresh water pearls, and of course colour. I have some felted wool cuff bracelets, recycled from my weaving supplies, I think they are a fun and creative way to use my bits and pieces.I have recently started playing with needle felting, I am very much enjoying it. I will be working some needle felted pieces into my shop.

5. Without giving away any of your trade secrets, what is your creative process?

Colour is a huge part of my creative process. I will talk about my rug weaving for example. I order my used textile (say, wool sweaters) by the 75 lb. bale. My supplier ships it to me by the Greyhound. I have no choice in colour of sweaters, I get what I get. Probably about half of the sweaters will be feltable wool, the other half I have to figure out what to do with, I have bags of them.Once I have the sweaters processed, I lay them out across my living room floor and see what colours speak to me! The next task is the cutting, there are a lot of hours work in the prep for each rug. Loom prep comes next, deciding if the colours really do work with one another, then the weaving. I have to be happy in my heart before a rug is finished.

6. Where do you create?

My loom is in my daughter’s bedroom, sharing space with her things. I do call it MY Loom Room now though. I used to weave in our living room when I first started weaving these rugs, but the dust throughout our living space was terrible.Everything else I create is done in the living room or at the dining room table. I can only imagine how wonderful l it must be to have studio space.

7. If you listen to music while you make your creations, what is the soundtrack?

I love music and my play list is ever changing. Here is a sampling of what I listen to every day. Patty Griffen, Regina Spektor, Ray LaMontagne, The Raconteurs, Neil Young, Mark Berube, Feist, Kristen Hersch, Eddie Vedder, Wilco, Cat Power, Yeah, Yeah,Yeahs, U2, Martha Wainwright & Snow Patrol…….on and on it goes!

8. What are your Crafting Resolutions for 2008?

Hmmm craft resolutions for 2008!! I actually have a couple of them. I bought a 75 lb. bale of men’s shirts to try something, an experiment of sorts. At the moment I don’t want to mention what it is, as it is some thing though labour intensive is something I have never seen anywhere.I would also like to incorporate some smaller priced items in my shop this year, so I will be working on that. Trivets, needle felting……oh and I need to work on my writing skills!!

9. How do you promote your Etsy shop?

I use my blog, business cards, Facebook, and family and friends to promote my Etsy shop.

10. What is your most favorite handmade item that you have made?

The favourite item I have made is a huge tapestry blanket I wove on a large frame in college. I am proud that I actually finished it. It does however now live in a trunk in our basement.

11. What is your most favorite handmade item that someone else has made?

My favourite item made by some one else, is a mask I bought in Brazil. I am in awe of the workmanship, skill and resourcefulness of the artisan. It is a gorgeous piece!

12. What is your favorite purchase from Etsy?

My favourite Etsy purchase, I love each and every one I have bought. They are also different, and unique each piece is a favourite!!

13. What was your best Etsy “moment”?

My best Etsy moment just happened recently! I love building treasuries on Etsy! I of course am very pleased when my treasuries make the front page. My biggest hope in my treasuries is that the artisans in the collection sell their work because of the treasury. A couple of weeks ago, one of my collections made the front page, and six pieces of work from the collection sold, and some had other sales they said were a result of the list.One of these very talented artisans is The Felted Garden. She contacted me to say she wanted to thank me by giving me a scarf. Her shop has been one of my favourites since joining Etsy. I admire her work. I tried a few years ago making felted wool scarves myself, and was not very successful. I appreciate her talent and skill. We messaged back and forth and finally came to an agreement, we traded, I sent her a rug and she sent me a very beautiful scarf.

14. Top 5 list – list your top 5 favorite movies, books, bands, and foods.

I don’t have a top 5 list of anything. I like such a huge variety of all things. I do not like fishy fish, organ meats, sea food and cilantro. I actually hate cilantro, I hate the taste of it. I love coriander the mature plant though.

15. What advice would you like to give to others on Etsy?

Follow your heart and have patience!!

16. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Ha!! In ten years I will be 60. I do not want to think of that at the moment. I hope I am settled, in a comfortable place, following my heart…creating!!

17. If you could describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?

Passionate, creative, introverted, quirky, reliable.

Wonderful words from a wonderful artist. You can visit fiveforty at her etsy shop http://fiveforty.etsy.com/ Thanks, five!!!!

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