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The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest ~ Sir Thomas Moore ~


hOMe is where the heART is …


Monday, March 23, 2015

Journal keeping supplies ...

As mentioned in my last post,
here are a few of my favourite journal keeping supplies. 
Basics ~ scissors, ruler, paper clips, binder clips, washi tape, paper cutter,
lots of pens ... always experimenting with pens. My most recent purchase was "The Seven Year Pen" made in Switzerland in a cheerful Orange colour.
Stamps & stamping ink, tags and labels to write on.
  I love Glue tape - no mess - archival - perfect for adding snips of paper to your journal pages. 
When traveling, I keep a lot of smaller supplies in my Emma Bridgewater pencil case.
My Epson label maker ... I can't recommend this enough!!
I use it for EVERYTHING - it comes with 2 booklets - one instructions on use and the other is filled with all the symbols and frames you can create! Possibilities are endless (as is the fun)!!
when I was gathering supplies to take a photo I smiled when I realized how much was in my favourite colour green :-)
Even my Epson label maker is the perfect colour ♥
wise words from Pablo Picasso I stamped on a little canvas board
when I started painting again.
Green is the prime
colour of the world,
and that from which
its loveliness
arises
~Pedro Calderon de la Barca~

Friday, March 20, 2015

A treasury for Everything ...

~*~Happy 1st day of Spring~*~
My new journal
created this morning with the help of my hubby who made the holes for me with an awl ♥
I've filled it with 3 lined Moleskine journals ... love looking at the blank booklets just waiting to be filled.
My journal is my constant companion.
It is never far from my reach ...
it is a front porch of solace and retreat
when I am tired and weary.
~Nicole Johnson~
I have been keeping some kind of  Journal/Diary from the time I was 11 years old.
Lately I have noticed a new found surge of interest in them.
  In keeping Planners
and filling them with found treasures and keepsakes.
I think it is wonderful & thought I'd share a few of mine today.
 
My meditation journal
 in my favourite colour
***
Is not the poet
bound to write his own biography?
Is there any other work for him
but a good journal?
~Henry David Thoreau~
My Large planner 
 where I jot down day to day goings on ... a spot for  Holiday's and Birthdays, Anniversary and Special Events, Appointments etc  ... A section for hOMe to keep paint chips and decorating ideas in one spot. Important receipts & warranty information for appliances is kept here.
Lucky pennies in my Keepsake Planner  ... each one with the year of all our births ~ just because ♥
My Keepsake planner
has large pockets to store movie and concert stubs.
One of the things I love about snail mail is receiving a letter with a gorgeous stamp (or if I am really lucky, a few stamps).  One particular friend has the most gorgeous writing and finds the MOST amazing stamps ... I always look forward to her mail and keep ALL the stamps sent!  These butterflies are just one example. 
Journals for Quotes (you know how much I love Quotes) :-D
One for Travel, For the Garden, A small pocket journal for my purse, the perfect size for jotting down notes when I am out that can be written in one of the other journals/planners once home. Much nicer than a purse full of scraps of paper.
 A journal to keep Magazine work related information such as Submission themes and deadlines.
  *I have an upcoming Magazine Article this Summer somewhat related to this topic ... more on that closer to the date* :-)
I have added a new section to one of my planners just for Weaving - my new found passion.
I am loving creating little woven wall hangings.  I hope to add a few to my Etsy shop soon ♥
A place to keep colour theme ideas and a few rough sketches that come to mind.
***
There is a journal for Vintage Sparrow Studio my Etsy shop where I manage my listings, sales, customer information etc.
I found a wonderful handcrafted basket at a Garage sale a few years ago that is the perfect size so I am able to keep all my journals in one spot this way ~ all within reach, organized and available.
And last, but not least {not shown} my personal Diary that I write in every night just like I did as a teenager ... this one doesn't have a key closure however :-)
 
I'll show a few of my favourite Journal keeping supplies such as... paper clips, stamps, pockets, favourite pens soon just in case you might want to create your own journal too xoxo
***
For me, my Diary
is my life,
my comfort,
my second existence
~Ramon Gil Navarro~
My journal is a storehouse
a treasury for everything in my daily life:
the stories I hear,
the people I meet,
the quotations I like,
and even the subtle signs and symbols encountered
that speak to me
indirectly
~Dorothy U Seyler~
 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Maple Syrup day ...

This past weekend was spent at one of our families favourite spot ...
a yearly tradition ...
Maple Syrup day ♥
The entire day spent walking, talking, taking lots of photos, tractor rides, maple EVERYTHING,
pancake and maple syrup breakfast in the barn ... and most importantly ... making memories ♥♥
We look forward to this day every year!

 
And then of course there are the animals ...
 and it's instant love...
watching this precious lamb as he stood and walked towards the sunlight.
His precious little face as he stood with his eyes closed, chin tilted slightly
and just stood ~ taking in the warmth of the sunlight.
Melting my heart with such gentle beauty xoxo

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Kinhin ...

Walking along the water's edge
taking gentle steps
speaking with whispered voice
 the chickadees come to us
anticipating treats
 beauty surrounding us
 calm serenity
 it is our walking meditation ... our kinhin
Every path,
every street in the world
is your
walking meditation path
~Thich Nhat Hanh~

Monday, March 9, 2015

Spring Forward ...

It has been so very long since I've been able to take my camera with me on walks.
I was so happy to bring it with me this past weekend.
As the clocks sprung forward, Sunday brought with it warmer temps
and bright, bright sunshine!
Anyone who knows me, knows that I simply ADORE Winter.
I love everything about it ... nesting indoors with warm fleecy blankets and crackling fires, comfort food ~ baking ~ Wintery home comforts. Snow fall ... oh how I love snow. The first snowfall of the year is always so magical. Walking in the snow ... hearing that crackling with each step.
Over the years, my hubby and I have come to realize that we are in a very small population of people who feel this way :-)
So this past weekend, while there is still plenty of snow left in our favourite Woodland Walking spot... I was so happy to be able to walk with my camera and capture all the beauty surrounding us.
And spotting this little nest from last year still standing strong...
well, it reminds me of the beauty to come with the next season ...
and soon to be
 new nests filled with new life ♥

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Thankful {things I love} Thursday ...

I have been loving the quiet meditative aspect of weaving.
Learning as I go ...thinking up new ideas as I weave along with my basket of yarn and twines beside me. Switching up colours and thinking of patterns.
My yearning to weave had me create my own little loom ... I simply went into my studio, chose a small canvas frame - turned it over - hubby took it to his workshop and hammered in the nails and ta da ...  a loom!
The perfect size to create little wall hangings.
 
Because I live with chronic pain, I always have to be conscious of neck, back and arm positioning no matter what I am doing ... be it painting, knitting, weaving ... even reading a book! 
Pacing and Passion has always been a tricky balance for me ... I so love creating & there were years where it was impossible to do any handcrafts that it almost felt like "catch up" when I was able to begin again.
Taking this into account,  Hubby and I sat and created a design for an "actual loom"  and he is taking that to his work shop. One I can hold and then have  adjustments made if needed :-)
He has some lovely black walnut in mind ♥
We all have our own life to pursue,
our own kind of dream
to be weaving,
and we all have the power
to make  wishes come true,
as long as we keep
believing.
~Louisa May Alcott~