[i] LoveLife

LoveLife #266

Today's LoveLife #266 is up now. Here. Yeehaw. This magical fabric came yesterday in the mail from a friend very far away.That made me wax poetic on the sometimes randomness - always perfectly planned people we happen to meet and collect throughout our lives. That's pretty amazing. Thank you internet for adding to this nest. I thoroughly appreciate how this intricate network has brought so much joy and goodness and connectedness into my life. So cool.

See and appreciate your connectedness.  

Have a great weekend. Spread joy. Love life.

Rollin', rollin', rollin'.

Like a gypsy caravan we gathered yesterday to walk in the forest! 5 dogs. 4 boys. 2 pregnant women and 2 rockin' women. And one forest path. WOW. It was a chilly, but beautiful day and it was a LONG walk with lots going on. I was so pooped when I got home - I napped hard. For 2 hours. (Unheard of for me. I have made it my policy to never nap.)

Fall has set in early. The moment is now if you want to book a photoshoot with me for fall. I will not be shooting at all in December or January - so the sooner the better. There are a few slots left and the colours are setting themselves up beautifully for a classic Canadian Fall.

I got a very cool package in the mail from Chrissy yesterday. FULL OF FABRIC! Thanks - crazy girl! Check out these dots. Sweet. Watch for them to reappear later today.

YOU ASKED ABOUT MY MESSENGER BAG. Well, my favourite bags are these and these. BUT, I am currently sporting an OLD (as in 9 years) Eddie Bauer messenger bag for no other reasons than it was ON SALE, it was BLACK, and it was SMALL enough to allow me to pass through doors without getting jammed, but just big enough to take my Macbook Pro, my Canon, my Olympus, my handcream, my lip balm, my wallet, my notebook and about 30 odd pens. That's how I roll. I'm currently in the market for a STYLISH bag. BUT. When I say stylish - I just mean black. I don't own anything in a print or a colour... that's not a joke - it's probably a deep seeded issue from my childhood.  ;)

Painting progress. After our walk - I picked up Duke the superdog and after some group naps (on the couch!) and more walks and a trip to the dog park - I got a chance to work on my cow painting for a few hours. It's 30 x 40 inches. It's big. It's coming along now. Still lots to do - but, it's starting to take shape.

I WANTED TO NOTE ONE MORE THING ABOUT TOOLS. Paint. I only use Red, Yellow, Blue, Black and White. That's it. I mix all the colours under the sun - from that selection. Why? Well, I just do. It's completely possible and I like that the palette stays rounded and complete. It also saves me from spending bazillions of dollars at the art store or trying to remember if I needed Burnt Sienna or Ochre. AND, it's great practice and a quick way to get very familiar with your paint. The COW is being painted in water-based enamel from HOME DEPOT (Yes, that very stuff that you might paint your lawn chairs with - so what - it works!). I can confidently guarantee this canvas will never rust.

Today: Well. The Dog-brothers-from-different-mothers are snoozing - so I'm going to take advantage of the silence and work on LoveLife for today. I HAVE to. I have some Lucky Dog Biscuit stuff to do this morning AS WELL. I'd love to finish this painting today... I'd love to have another nap and we will most definitely be hitting the dogpark this afternoon so the dogs can get their freak on - OUTSIDE. (They're awfully cute, aren't they?)

Alright - it's the LONG WEEKEND. Happy, happy, happy day. Let's GO!

Tools & tokens.

Aloha. This will be a bit of a random post as I have a couple of things to touch on and then my buddy Crash and I are heading to Bird's Hill Provincial Park to go for a walk with my friends Dana, Lisa and Zach - and his friends Duke and Molly. TREATS for us!

This photo: THESE ARE some of MY TOOLS. These are my tools in the same way that a computer is a tool... that a pencil is a tool. An airbrush is a tool. A camera is a tool. A saxophone is a tool. All means of expression. They can't create without us... Seriously. I've never-ever in all my years had to reprimand one of my paint brushes for painting up something spectacular without my permission. I haven't. Use your tools to your advantage. Use your conscience. Use your imagination. Use your passions wisely.

My tools...

DESIGN: I use a Mac and a PC. I use Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. I use my scanner everyday. That's it. These are my preferred tools of the digital trade.

PAINT: I use the brushes you see here. They are children's art brushes and they cost about $1.77 each. (Oooops, there are a couple of Lowell-Cornell freebies in that shot that I use for detail work) I use the SHIT out of my brushes and the worse shape they are in - the more I like them. I use all kinds of paint. Primarily I reach for acrylics - but, I can do enamels, watercolours, oils, and automotive paints. I have an airbrush that I haven't used in about 15 years. I have high quality paints and canvasses and I have serious junkers. I prefer the junkers because I believe that my art is dependent MOSTLY on me and only a wee microscopic spat on what I'm using.

DRAWING/DRY MEDIA: I will use anything I can reach. MANY of the LoveLife images are created with a blue ball point pen. I use Prismacolor Premier Pencil Crayons and I have since I was 10. I use the yellow pencils with pink erasers. I use Fineliner pens. I use generic oil pastels. I use chalk pastels and conté. I use graphite. I use gouache. I use the backs of envelopes or the insides of paper bags more often than use sketch books. I keep all of these materials in two places: a tool box and two empty pillow cases. Okay there's a third: scattered all over my office, dining room and basement.
*A great pencil crayon question from yesterday: how do you keep the pencil crayon bits from getting on your paper and ruining the white space?? CAREFULLY. Pencil crayons are SNEAKY buggers and the pigment turns to dust and can settle on your paper. BE careful. Once it's smudged in - it's almost impossible to remove without wrecking things. Don't use your fingers. Regularly turn your paper upside down and shake it or BLOW IT.

PHOTOGRAPHY: I use a Canon Rebel XTi. I have a fixed 50mm lens and the one that came out of the box. I also use a CRAPOLA waterproof-shockproof Olympus 720 if I think I might wreck the nicer camera. I don't have a camera bag - I throw them both in my messenger bag and carry them around with me. I use Photoshop to adjust the light and colour to what I want. I use Photoshop to catalogue my files as well. If I was stranded on a desert island I would need Photoshop or I would most certainly die.

This is the paint on the lip of my 'EASEL'. You have to pause slightly and then say 'EASEL' slowly and with your eyes very wide. I've been painting for a LONG time - 20 years - and I JUST LAST YEAR got an 'EASEL'. My friend Jamie made it for me and then Dan adjusted it a bit.  I say 'EASEL' because essentially it's a bunch of boards from Home Depot with holes and really, archaic bolts and butterfly things holding it together. IT IS NOT CLASSY BY ANY MEANS. It's certainly not pretty. Truth be told (sorry Jamie) it doesn't even stand up by itself - it leans on the wall. Okay - sometimes it just TIPS OVER. But, I'm okay with that. I like it and it's good enough for me. I don't think that my paintings would be any better if I had a $500 jobbie from a fancy store.

I worked on a commission threesome yesterday. Three paintings with a theme and a goodness that I can't show you until Monday (when they will be received). They are gifts and this was FUN.

I also got a good chunk of painting started. Dan calls this Cow Pie. I hope to finish it today. I was totally inspired by the cow talk yesterday and after basing in my colours for this piece - I am pretty pleased (eventhough Dan had to ask me if it was a cow!!). I don't usually share my work-in-progresses BUT - I'm trying to get over that little ego problem of mine and let you see the work - in all it's nastiness as it progresses. There's lots to do and I am restraining from listing it out so you don't think I don't know... I have to tell you that it gives me the heeby-jeebies leaving this vulnerable piece up there without my protection... But, I will persevere and get through this.

Today: Heading out to the forest for a walk AND TO PICK UP DUKE. We are dog-sitting this LONG WEEKEND and that starts today. Crash and Dan are FREAKING out they are so excited. I have a commission painting pickup. I have a couple of other meetings and I'm itching to finish the calf painting today. It's Thursday and that means LoveLife tonight. Triple Arm Pump to that.

SINCERE PROPS TO YOU. You guys are rocking my comments lately. LOVE THAT. Thank YOU. All of the diaper links and suggestions were SO helpful. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

This is already a great day. GO.

Look Waaaaaaaay Up.

Okay - last shot of Dan for a while. But, come on - he's a pretty handy guy to have around. He models. He fixes stuff. He BUILDS things. He drives a truck. He can COOK like a mo-fo. He's a laser-smart accountant. He can sign passports. SO cool. I love that guy. This is a shot from the other day with a classic feel.

Wednesday. I have to admit to having about 3 really, really crappy sleeps in a row and some serious-I-feel-like-shit-is-this-a-migraine moments lately. I apologize for lacking zip. I'm happy to report though - that the baby is forcefully on its way to becoming a Dance-Dance-Revolution superstar as he/she has been practicing very hard for a few days. Please make it stop. Please. So, very, very much please.

September is my second favourite month because it feels like new beginnings. I loved getting ready for back-to-school. I loved shopping for school supplies and books and really - I just LOVED gazing at and sharpening all of my pencil crayons. It feels really motivating. It's no longer dreadfully hot. Fall fashions are so beautiful. JEANS and sweaters and boots... oh, my. Love this time.

Fall is also the time when people are back to work and need their stuff. New issues of magazines. Face lifts. Identities. Christmas merchandise needs to be finalized now. I love this season for work, too.

Secrets... I've been telling you about a calendar I've been working on. I can't show you the whole thing yet because it's not final... but, it's a lovely, lovely two-colour wood-cut-looking desk calendar that comes in an amazing collectors tin. Actually, it has a couple more really cool features, but I don't want to give it away until it's released to the public. I will make sure you know all about it. You will all want one for yourselves. I'm sure of it.

A client I particularly like are the WCABP. Western Canadian Association of Bovine Producers. Essentially - a whole bunch of COW VETERINARIANS. I know, it sounds like a SNORE. But, I like underdogs - and I like them. I like the clients that you wouldn't expect to be radically cool - or have cool designs or cool magazines... These guys are troopers. I like their cause. AND. I like cows! (hey - that's given me an idea!) Here are a couple of pages from their new September magazine - designed by me. ALSO, their new logo (designed by me as well) for their upcoming conference in Calgary.

AND here's a sneak-peak at the tip of the iceberg of other things I've been touching on this past week. A lot of ads - as the magazine deadlines are here. Watch for that pretty little Botanical Paperworks ad in the Fall issue of Martha Stewart Weddings.

STYLE CONSCIOUS. Somebody once called my style - CLEAN and CONSCIOUS. When I asked him what exactly he meant by that he followed up by saying it was stylishly simple and clean (which I like) and it was mindful of the client and their message. Which I really liked. That's what they pay me the BIG BUCKS for. My favourite part of my design job is getting into my client's head and figuring out what THEY would be stoked about - and then how the consumers would accept it. Accountants get excited about radically different things and colours than photographers or let's say skin care producers or clothing designers. I like getting into brains and finding answers.

WORK-SCHMERK. Enough shop talk for one day... ODDS and BITS:

Here kitty, kitty. DO YOU HAVE A CAT??? Then get over to the Lucky Dog Biscuits blog. Those guys are SO cool they have posted a homemade CAT FOOD recipe. (Another reason I love them - they CARE about and love all pets... that's how you KNOW they're good people.)

Canadian chocolates. WOW. I had NO idea that the US vs. CANADA chocolate situation was so intense. I also heard yesterday that you Americans do not have ALL DRESSED potato chips EITHER. This is just getting seriously out of whack - if y'all wouldn't a been in such a hurry to get out of British control you would have had BETTER FOOD. ;) Long live the Queen!

Today: I have some paintings to do. THAT means that I'll be in a creative mood and when that happens - I just make all kinds of things. THE CREATING NEVER STOPS!! You never know what will turn up on the blog. I have BOB MARLEY blasting in the background and some coffee to finish before I'm heading into the painting studio for the morning. Baby-MONSTER-Mexican-Jumping-Bean is also VERY excited about this day (STOP. JUMPING. ON. MY. BLADDER. KID!) - so there must be something good in the air.

Happy-just-a-few-days-till-yummy-September - I wish a kickin' day to you all. Let's GO!

Shoot scootin' boogie.

Wow. (Yeah, I KNOW - he lives here.) Dan and I went out last night to scout some photo shoot locations. We found really cool places and it was totally helpful to test out what I was thinking in my brain. Some worked really well (this one). Some weren't as good. Personally, I love this dark grey and it really hit me how the right subjects sort of just know when they're on the right background and the whole thing comes alive. Above: this is my personal favourite from last night... I love the grass/brick contrast.

And this one. Wow. (Too bad he's so homely.) ;)

You asked me how I choose a location for a photo shoot... Just like with design and painting it depends who I'm shooting - and what they're about. I like bold colours, personally, because they add something to a shot - but, I like textures, too. I like people to feel at home. I don't have much of a formula - I go by feel.

This is Crash's PARK FACE. It's a full-on boxer grin. Everyday at about 4pm - we head to the dog park for a  life time-out and some fresh air. I thought this was a perfect 'backdrop' for Crash: his bestfriend Dan.

One more for the road... This is Isabella. I had my camera at the park and was testing myself a little - just to work on my quick focus. I need work on getting the focus where I want it when my subjects are moving. Isabella's always moving - so it was good practice.

Speakig of kids - what can you teach me about diapers? Cloth vs disposable? I've been really feeling for the environment lately - but am not sure if I can handle a full-on commitment to washing load and loads of crap everyday.

I NEED CLARIFICATION: Are you SERIOUS that the United States does NOT have Coffee Crisp? Aero? Mr.BIg? Eat-More? Can anyone confirm this? That's a tragedy right there if you ask me. No Coffee Crisp? Really? Run for the border folks. Run for the border. (It's nice here - and we have health care.) Just poking fun - we also have grizzly bears. ;)

Today: Odds and bits. I'm out of the office in the afternoon so this morning will be full throttle gang-busters. Calendars, dog treat packaging, greeting cards. Drop in on Maile's Daily Relish blog to see the banner changes. LEAVE SOME COMMENTS. Drop in on Heidi's Botanical Paperworks blog and CHECK OUT THE PAPER SALE THAT ENDS TOMORROW (scroll down). LEAVE HER SOME COMMENTS. Let her know what you think of a Botanical Paperworks Design Team.

Spread the love. GO.

Eat the red ones last.

Rock and roll. Let's try this again. I had a delicious post written out with all kinds of goodness and then WHAM-O. Gone. Little Monday glitch and here, but I am not discouraged and starting over. Crapper. Probably just the Universe telling me the first post just was ass POOP.

These are sweet Dan's sexy legs.  He was helping me test out some location shots yesterday and it was so fun! I am in love with these red doors. Typepad leeches a little colour from the image - but, you get the idea.

We took this weekend to just slow down. We went to a movie. We went walking. We went rural Heritage Days adventuring. We had fun and we had laughs and it was so worth it to just slow down for a minute. Okay - for a whole weekend. There are only 2 more free-Mondays until Dan goes back to working a 5-day week... and I guess that means - so will I. Rats. Summer really flew by so fast.

This is Aiden the high-flying Ukrainian dancer. Yes. Check it out. Click to enlarge this shot to see just how high these mighty-mighty guys flew off the stage. So cool. Great show, Aiden! I'm so glad that we could finally make it. It was completely WORTH it. Bravo!

These are some quick shots that I caught of Max (Aiden's little brother) and Keeley (Aiden's older sister). I missed a shot of Devyn (Aiden's oldest sister), but I will get her on the next go around. We had SO MUCH FUN at Heritage Days out in Cook's Creek. We did it all: petting zoo, perogy lunch, dance concert, scarecrow making contest, pony rides, old barns and tractors. So cool. THANKS to the Stewart-Brooks Circus for the invitation.

Top all of that off with a really amazing sunset. This pinkness - needs a little explanation. It was a series of clouds (shown) surrounded by a HUMUNGOUS cloud that looked like a big ocean pipe wave - too big too be shown. It was amazing. AND IT WAS IN THE EAST. The actual sunset was behind me - we were completely surrounded by a rich cotton candy feel and it was pretty intense.

Couple of random Monday things:

Scrapbookers AHOY! Botanical Paperworks has just posted a special on plantable papers on their blog. This handmade - GORGEOUS stuff is Creating Keepsakes certified. CK kosher. Check that out. SHE's HAVING A SALE! You can PLANT this paper and wildflowers will grown. THAT is a lovely, lovely, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY idea. AND. She's posting the creations you make - on her blog. I think it would be fabulously fitting if Botanical Paperworks had a scrapbooking Design Team of their own. What do YOU think? Leave her a comment if you're interested and maybe we can roll this ball. (Leigh-Ann Keffer - I think you could rock this product.)

Sweet! The Relish Photography site has begun it's facelift. It's coming along. There are plenty more changes to come but, it's starting... today - I'm gonna get Maile's blog in line with the rest of the identity. Go check it out to see the BEFORE.

Smarties dilemma. Maile are you messing with ME???? Seriously. She (who hails from San Antonio) sent me this picture. Any Canadians see anything WEIRD about this??? I thought she was pulling my leg. Because, to me - those are OBVIOUSLY Rockets. My favourites... But, Rockets nonetheless.

Here in Canada - THESE are Smarties. They're  delicious candy-covered chocolate that totally melts in your hand. You eat them by the box and although they are silimar to M&Ms - they're a wee bit better.  PLUS, you eat the red ones last. You just do.

Oh, the cross-border mysteries of life. (Like Iced Tea!)

Today: I have a little kick-back work to do (that means I nestle in with my laptop, a blanket and a COFFEE. I've got two website that are in the hand-over stages. I'm going to work on those while Dan builds a workshop in the basement. Sweet! He's building a DOOR on that so NO MORE SAWDUST gets into my painting stuff. Super sweet. We're also heading out this afternoon for a few more test locations for photos,.

Watch for an afternoon post and have a GREAT Monday...

...and GO!

Happiness costs $7.99

That's how much we paid for a cheap (on a less-than-half-price-sale) little waffle iron from Target. It makes sweet Sundays even more dreamy.

Today: We're off adventuring to some new places - to see some good people - and take in some DANCING. Sundays are twice as good when you don't work on Mondays!

Go.

LoveLife #265

Today's LoveLife #265 is up now. Here. Yes, finally. I was pretty taken with the squirrels that live in the Ash trees outside our house. They're moving very, very fast right now as the winds have quickly started to change. They know that winter's coming - change is coming, too. At one point - this squirrel found something he was quite impressed with and held it - gazed at it for quite some time and then took off to SAVE IT FOR LATER. To keep it. To hoard it. That's how I feel right now - life is doubly good and extra sweet and these totally beautiful moments appear like special surprises that I need to REMEMBER - to commit to memory - with winter and changes on the way.

Savour. Save. See.  

Have a radical weekend. Really. Spread joy. Love life.

You can call me Toilet Head.

Friday is normally my favourite day of the week - I LOVE the feeling of just being under the wire and halfway out the door.

BUT. NOT. TODAY.

This morning started with a SEVERE SECOND CHAPTER IN a little story called US VS.THE BATHROOM and the sad part is Dan has obviously joined forces with them. In part one, Evil Mr.Toilet got a good laugh at my expense by whooshing DANGEROUSLY close to the top of the bowl at every chance. Dangerously close in that I couldn't bear to watch what was next, but I couldn't take my eyes off the water that was rushing to the top (and my super-soft white bath mat). After a nasty appointment with a plumber - it seems that the TOILET doesn't agree with my toilet paper choice. (DAN I am NOT flushing face cloths down the tube. How could you even THINK that?) Fine. Because of Mr.PIcky-Pants-Toilet, we have a wonderful brand that resembles single-ply NEWSPAPER with 30% sandpaper added. FINE. But, in the one lovely day of grace when the toilet was not angrily threatening me - THE SHOWER CLOGGED AND WOULDN'T DRAIN. So Mr.I'm-a-Total-Jerk-Toilet thought that was so funny he clogged himself SOLID. And took up marathon running... (you know, the kind that sounds like a far away dribble that you can't find.) When Dan got those two BASTARDS fixed (I wanted to just throw them onto the street and beat them senseless) it seemed like the world might continue to spin on its happy axis for a few blissful days. WE HAD TRIUMPHED over the evil, dirty ugly toilet & shower team. I no longer had to SPEED to Starbucks if I had to PEE. I felt quite victorious as I slept peacefully knowing that I could at-any-time rush into the bathroom (which I do many, many times a night) AND THEN FLUSH without incurring a heart attack or a stroke waiting for the swirling waters to recede.

UNTIL THIS MORNING. I'm pretty sure POSITIVE Dan is in cahoots with the ceramic-duo... After declaring that our new single-ply newspaper/sandpaper combo bum-wipe was not that bad GLORIOUS he accidentally dropped my HAIR BRUSH in the toilet and left the SEAT UP. (Accidentally?????)

I swear to GOD I heard the Mr.Ass-Kissing-Toilet laugh. And although it was EARLY in the morning - I'm pretty sure the jerks in the bathroom did a little high-five touchdown dancin'. BOYS: I assure you I will take more drastic measures in Part 3. Stay tuned.

Today: I have ridiculous amounts of work to do. I have to be in 4 places downtown this morning and in 1 very remote suburb we like to call The Land of Far, Far Away Charleswood. I have a magazine to put to bed. LoveLife to do. Two Tiplets on the go. I NEED TO GO AND BUY A NEW HAIR BRUSH. And a whole bunch of other things that need my attention... There's only one way to come at this kind of day...

A big cup of bring-in-on attitude and BIGGER CUPPA GO. (I'll be back)

Pause.

I KNOW. I KNOW. I promised a Tiplet this afternoon and it's like the 443829 bazillionth time I've promised something and not delivered. I know. I'm sorry. The day was OVERFLOWING. Plus, I wasn't totally stoked about the Tiplet and then I accidentally hit ERASE ALL on my memory card instead of CANCEL and all of a sudden it didn't matter that I wasn't solid on the TIplet - because there wasn't a Tiplet anymore. Poof! That's the Universe at work FOR SURE.

How'd ya like them apples?

(What I did deliver was a LOT of special LoveLife treats to the post office.)