Lovely Days

Some snapshots of recent adventures!

We recently had a chance to get away from town to discover a sweet coastal community, Sechelt.

We could hardly believe this beautiful playground we discovered overlooking the ocean:

One sunny Sunday, we roamed around Main Street in Vancouver, were I got lots of new ideas and inspirations for art lessons.

This picture we took of Oliver and Charlotte on the walk astonished me...they are growing so quickly!

Teachers in BC recently took some time out of the classroom to learn a new curriculum.

The Parks Board in our town arranged for various camps to keep the children busy that day.

Oliver and his oldest friend (they have known each other since their birth!) Hudson, canoed the local lake.

Being a stay at home mom (mainly) has its perks;  the local library pulls out their bins of lego on rainy days...we spent more than half a day there recently, building little magical worlds and special memories:

I had the privilege of being invited as guest art instructor at the Rhododendron Festival at the Lake last Sunday.  There must have been a hundred people who tried their best to draw a bee with the graphite pencils we had on hand...I managed to get some photos!

Hope you have all been well too!

Professional Development

I think every art instructor (at least: one I'd respect) should expand their own horizon - to learn a different way of looking at and making things.

Hence: a field trip to Portland for me and my family!


Ok first off:  there were donuts.  And lineups for the donuts.

Alberta Street was crazy fun for me...everywhere I looked, there was another whimsical scene!  (I'm really going to try to use the clothespin inspiration in some way this semester.)

Food is obviously a completely other scene in Portland (we hit the foodtrucks one night...so much fun!).  This sandwich sculpture below by Jessie Weitzel was such a fantastic find.

(Check out my family as germs at the lovely Oregon Museum of Science and Industry!  We spent a wonderful day there too.)

...and more food sculptures, this time in textile form.  Oliver squealed when he saw this knitted roasted chicken at an art shop.

Another great surprise were all the street murals.  I took so many pictures, I can't possibly fit them all in here!

Anthropomorphism was the predominant genre in Portland this summer, visible in the street murals, galleries, coffee shops...it was everywhere!  I'm inspired by some of the greats (and Portland residents to-boot):  Ryan Berkeley, Stephanie Brachmann and Emily Martin to name a few!

Only a five hour drive down the I5 from Vancouver, BC, Portland was a wonderful family vacation.  The city of "beers, beards and bikes" did not disappoint!

Now I'm back and ready to get my art on with all my students...you should all be ready for some Portland-inspired art happening this year!

Forgotten Art and Puppies

In the last little while, we have have celebrated our little daughter turning 4 (!), hidden out at the movie theater as a family for the first time (Paddington...t'was marvelous), and as ever, busy at the art desk...

A back-alley in downtown Vancouver.  Just across from Harbour Center...

Kids in my art class took a crack at being fabric designers.  They painted carrot designs on plain white cotton; then, we turned them into hipster carrot stuffies!

A lovely mosaic on a downtown sidewalk.  Can you spot the iconic sails, bridge, seagulls, cruise ship?

Aw...a puppy portrait I just finished for a special client.

Another view - same alley.  I envision having a photo shoot done here:  me in vintage garb, having high tea at a set table...one can dream!

Have you ever stopped to find the "forgotten art" in your town or city?  I'm glad that I finally made a point to seek it out the last time I was downtown.  I'm looking forward to discover more the next time I'm down that way.

A Weekend Getaway

(Six months ago)

Me:  "Ugh.  I am SO fried.  SO fried!!  I need something to look forward to.  Something bigger than bedtime tonight."

Excellent Friend:  "I hear that.  Hey!  I know!  How about we book a night at my parents' Bed and Breakfast on the coast in another few months?!"

Me:  "Um...that would be too amazing!"

(Fast forward to this past weekend)

Oh what fun we had!  We ambled around the little town, eating, surveying the farmers market, even pondering what we wanted to do before we die, courtesy of an excellent and startling public art installation.

I was welcomed warmly by my friend's parents, Dick and Jean, who run the Sechelt Inlet B&B.  They let us lollygag like a couple of teen girls!  We were thoroughly spoiled (citrus margaritas and fresh salmon + herb spread (made in-house!) during cocktail hour was my highlight.  Wait, no - the amazing orca whale sighting while relaxing in the hottub...that's my hightlight!).  I'll just say, we were successful in forgetting all of the responsibilities at home (effectively dealt with by Mr. Hausfrau in my absence...merci!) and able to recharge to be better family members when we returned home!

I hope you all carve out recharging times like this too.  If you are ever in the Vancouver, BC area, I know a really good place for it...

Thank you Dick and Jean!

Morning in the Woods

One morning recently, we wandered out for a walk.

The temperature was mild - we only needed sweaters.

The morning left me so invigorated and refreshed that I came home and painted the memory of it.

"Walk in the Woods", available here

The Artist's Weekend Away

Recently I was invited to spend the weekend at a friend's home and studio for a weekend retreat.   All the participants emerged more filled than when they arrived, I feel that's safe to say!

1 getting to know one another over tapas + uber-trendy vino
2 my refreshed self in the morning
3 brunch at the neighborhood cafe
4 homemade dinner included an avacado + mango + shrimp salad,  the best orzo salad I've ever had, and a lovely quinoa + herb salad.  Oh, paired with Portuguese rosee!
5 our group pausing to admire wet november leaves on the sidewalk
6 a late morning walk led us to a beautiful old cemetery facing the river

On Sunday, my talented friend led us in a mixed-media-on-canvas workshop in her studio.  I went home with the most amazing loot-bag!

 

 

If there is an opportunity to have such a weekend with friends and discover a new neighborhood, it would be a sin to turn it down.  I encourage everyone to make one happen for themselves!




 

Happy 145th!

To celebrate Canada Day today, we took our littles to nearby Fort Langley, an old HBC trading post-turned-National Park. 

HBC is now an iconic Canadian fashion brand (summer 2012 swimsuits are very oohlala...) with a cult following.  It was interesting to learn more about the company's beginnings.

We walked through the recreated Fort and got to see what life was like, long before the bikini-launch.

The pipe band heralded the mayor who spoke briefly, then cut a huge cake...likely many a mayor is cutting enormous white + red cake across the nation today...

Father's Day 2012

We've come a long way, baby!

This time last year, we were struggling with endurance in the great outdoors.

This year for Father's Day, we attempted a family walk at a nearby beach and the smallest of the walkers endured!

My dad with our little Charlotte.

Nonno handing out a special treat for our Oliver + our little nephew-guy!

Growing all along the path.  They were like little wildflower bouquets planted for all to enjoy...

Mr. Hausfrau + our little Charlotte!

Happy Father's day to all the loving, hardworking dads out there in the world!

The Lake District

We live very near to a small chain of lakes in BC where we like to go with the children on weekends.  There, things make sense...what really matters is all laid out infront of us.

These photos were all taken on our most recent stroll at Burnaby Lake. 

Brilliant March freshness...

'In the faded forest sounds the call of a bird,
which seems so meaningless in this faded forest.'   - Rilke

Looking forward to the week ahead!

Sweet January

Starting the year off with celebrations.

We're grateful for the stunning place in which we live.  Just a coincidence.  We were born here.

Horseshoe Bay, BC

And our little Charlotte.  She turns ONE today!   Raising a glass of Meyer pinot to celebrate a year of raising two...maybe raising two glasses in that case...
 



Charlotte with the doll I made her for Christmas



Westham Island Herb Farm

I love this place so much because I have been to their competition.  The Westham Island Herb Farm does not charge admission, does not have a stage with dancing pumpkins and their companions, does not have hay rides.  You can hang out, check out their fields, pick your own goodies or buy them from their petit market.  SIMPLE.

Lakeside Walk

What a wonderful morning this was.

Surprises included bright wildflower blossoms in October and no whining from anyone in the family.

One of the MANY slugs counted along the way

We returned refreshed and ready for a dinner of chicken leek stew and tomato salad!

The Pemberton Valley

Despite our childrens' lack of appreciation of the natural beauty, my man and I were determined to make the best of our recent Whistler/ Pemberton holiday.  We decided that this was definitely a place to re-visit when C + O are older, and more able to be PATIENT!


North Arm Farm, Pemberton...lovely u-pick blueberries!



The Mile 1 burger, made of all locally sourced ingredients,
(including the potato bun...who needs fries?!)

The garden outfront of our hotel...inspiration for my own garden next year.