bunny talk: alice

Of course when it comes to bunnies, no one can forget the white rabbit from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I wasn't an enormous fan of Alice as a kid, though I remember the fluffy Disney version that I do quite love simply based off of the work of Mary Blair, behind the scenes. Only recently since I started learning about the real Alice, did I find myself intrigued.

I ordered myself a copy of The Annotated Alice, which really is kind of interesting though some have argued that Alice shouldn't be put under the magnifying glass for hidden context. I don't feel presentation always requires explanation, but it is kind of interesting to read the based assumptions on things. Also, the illustrations by John Tenniel are lovely.

I'm off to go and read some more..

the sound of silence

Yep, I decided to get rid of the -Napa Valley- green. Despite how much I may still love it as a color it wasn't lending itself well on my walls. It was surprisingly very distracting, and it's true that color can effect the mood. I was quite overwhelmed by it.


The new color - or lack there of- Silver Drop, is seriously the most perfect match for my tastes, as I always go back to gray/white for inspiration and relaxation. It really is amazing how much color can change a space. I couldn't be happier, and I have honestly stopped before bed to switch on the light and stare at it a few times. I love love love it.

* Thanks to the lovely ladies who helped me tackle the task.

positivity

It looks like we got another little reminder that we're not in the clear for Spring, as it happens every year yet some are inclined to complain about it. I personally have no problem with a new blanket of snow, but I do understand the frustrations as it means we'll have to experience another round of slush and wet shoes. The positive: more tea to keep warm.

bunny talk: miffy

In continuing my bunny talk, I have to say that I didn't remember this little bunny until I happened upon her by chance in the children's section at the book store. Of course I'm always searching the shelves for a new addition to my collection, and so when I happened upon Miffy, I couldn't help but put her on my list of must haves.


It was kind of neat for me to flip through the pages and recall Miffy because it takes me all the way back to when I was very little, when Mom and I would go on special trips together to the library. I was a big reader back then, and still am, and in many ways I find children's books to be the greatest fuel for both imagination and memory.


The graphic shapes, primary colors, that signature "x" nose are what I absolutely adore about Miffy, but most of all I love the memories she brings to me in recalling my time with Mom. We'd bundle up, walk - for what often felt like hours - to the library, and search the shelves for new discoveries to bring home. I guess in many ways, Miffy is like a little time machine for me. I definitely need to add her to my book shelf.

sunny honey

Well it was confirmed by Mom that George was given to me by the Easter Bunny, which she also added "you should know that." Of course!


Because I don't want to get too carried away with so many bunnies at once, I thought I'd mix it up by throwing in a kitty pic. He's pretty much been this way for days, since the sun started making an appearance.

bunny talk: george

To continue on the topic of bunnies. . . It actually quite surprised me to figure out why I was so drawn to them, as they have been lined across my desk, staring at me for days. The truth is, that bunnies and I go way back.


The bunny in this picture -clutched in my chubby little hand- is my very first bunny, George. I am not certain who I got George from, but I am told that I took him everywhere I went. When he started to look like a bit of a disaster, Mom decided to attempt to replace him with the exact same bunny in hopes I'd want a pretty new white one instead.

Because I created such solid characters out of my toys, even at such a young age, I wasn't inclined to replacement, as George was George and that was that. Instead, the new, pretty, bunny with the pink velvet tongue and shiny, silk, ribbon became George's new - and much younger- wife, Dorothy. A definite Wizard of Oz influence in there. I'll also add that it's kind of funny to put the two together and see how different they are, while they're the exact same bunny.

Dorothy and George is what they became, and to this day is how they're known. To Mom and I, they're just some old couple. It makes me laugh. Actually, I still have them.


the bunny talk will continue . . .

bunnies

Easter Bunnies are here! It's amazing how fast they multiply. Ridiculously cute and fun, I just have a soft spot for bunnies that says we could be in big trouble if I don't slow down.


On the topic of toys, I have to apologize for my current "Toy Store" as I have recently labeled it as 'under construction.' I am not really keen on the approach at the moment, so I'm thinking it's time to make my toys an extension of my website rather than creating a massive sized pdf file for viewing. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger, and I'd rather display things in a prettier fashion.


I have a bit of work to do, to get things in order on that regard, but I figure it is time to start taking my home business presentation more seriously. It has also gotten me back into the habit of painting. . . a little. I'm still too shy to share just yet. In the meantime, let's enjoy the bunnies. Maybe you want one? or two? or ninety? I know I sure do.

polyfil cloud

There was something I quite enjoyed this afternoon while listening to the wind rattle the windows, as a small, lazy cat lay in front of me in a pile of Polyfil; content and still. Enjoying his peace I giggled to myself, imagining him floating on his personal cloud. Such a simple state of happiness.


I love moments like this.

list of love

Lately I have a lot going on in my list of loves, at home. The theme at heart seems to be the elements of nature, as the smells and appearances are such a pleasant reminder of organic simplicity. Considering how particular I can be with many things, due to sensitive senses, I'm pleasantly surprised by our findings.


The first on my list is the loose tea that Ian got me for Valentine's Day, this year. I love a good tea and he certainly did well with his selection, without my opinion. That's very daring because I'll admit that I'm very picky. The Jasmine tea with blossoms (top left) is by far the best Jasmine tea I've ever had. It's aromatic, delicate and also lovely to look at. I guess in a sense I could say that Ian got me flowers for Valentine's Day, as it contains actual dried blossoms. Clever, and so pretty. Tastes delicious with a ginger cookie accompaniment. (Another piece on my list of loves.)


The other tea treat is Lung Ching Green tea, which is very earthy and masculine in comparison to my preferred Jasmine. I haven't been a big fan of green tea in a long time, so this one was a nice way to bring me back into the mix. It doesn't smell all that appealing if you're into floral smells like I am, but for that musty, leafy smell it's fantastic. Nature in a cup. It's absolutely divine. I have yet to find a pairing snack.


Drifting toward the sense of smell, another item on my list of loves is the soap Ian got me in Canmore. Yes, the boy knows how to spoil me. He knows how much I love natural goods so when we went into the Rocky Mountain Soap store, just to look, he insisted I leave with something in hand. We left with plenty; three bars, a scented candle and some bath salt.


The Baby Bear soap is seriously amazing and is also safe for babies. My skin is as sensitive as they come (thanks, Dad) equipped with occasional inflamed reactions to harsh perfumes that are commonly found in stores. It's taken me years to fully understand my skin and in many ways I'm still learning through trial and error, which can be nerve wracking at times. With Baby Bear, my skin has never felt so good. Seriously. I'm amazed! I can actually wear a t-shirt without feeling ashamed of unattractive, patchy skin. A first in my 29 years of failed attempts at happy skin.


The other brand I've tried is the Foot Scrub bar. Holy crap is all I have to say. This stuff is fantastic. Since I moved to Calgary, I've had a horrible problem with cracked heels because of our dry climate, which can prove to be painful if left untreated. Winter season can be horrendous and so thanks to the Foot Scrub, I can run my feet through the bedsheets without hearing that icky noise of scratchy skin getting caught in the threads. I just got goosebumps at the thought. I love this stuff so much I actually look for excuses to have a bath, every day.

My list of love continues . . .

sharing

I never think to share this stuff because I see it sometimes as being unimportant, or totally nerdy because I can ramble about things when given the chance. I've been doing some designing/branding for myself, as I'm beginning to take my home business more seriously. Which at some time caught me off gaurd. It takes a lot for me to take myself seriously.

I remember, as a kid, my sister and I used to find great excitement in creating things for our family. Our greatest joy being found in place cards for the kitchen table. I don't know why but it was just something we enjoyed. The time and care that we put into each one, making it custom to each person. It's very remeniscent to the things that I do today. Must be why I started to brainstorm about making my own little custom tag . . . of sorts. I believe in college we called it corporate identity, I personally like tag of sorts.


This is where I drift into being nerdy, by discussing my sketches. What I wanted to go for was something really simple, organic and clean. I tend to gravitate to sans serif typefaces (fonts without the pointy bits on the ends) clean lines, soft shapes and always seem to linger on those that resemble that of a typewriter. I keep going back to the one above, possibly because it seems more delicate. Decisions are tough.


With the Y as a tree, I'm really quite happy. The story of course to those who know is that my grandma (Libby) once said, before she passed away, that she wanted to return as a tree. That certainly makes me happy. Brainstorming continues. . .