Using feathers to create hair accessories seemed like a chance to reconnect with a sense of whimsy and create items for gals that enjoy mother nature. Feathers are nature’s original accessory, it seemed they were a perfect fit. I hit the internet, ordered feathers wholesale and I created, but sometimes I noticed the feathers smelt a bit odd. And that smell got me to thinking about the origin of some of the feathers I was getting.

Where were these birds? Why did they no longer need their feathers? I mean it’s not like I order chicken feathers that are a a bi-product of the meat industry.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that some of the feathers were coming from China - and I am sure they come from poor circumstances. I began to feel guilty about supporting such an industry and, more importantly, I felt it was very contradictory to what I am trying to create with my headbands. Many of my specialty feathers like parrot and peacock have come from  safe source. Where the bird molts the feathers annually. I decided that I would like to source the rest of my feathers this way also. I made contact with a hunter who hunts pheasant for food and I  purchased two pheasant pelts, complete with thousands of feathers. Thousands of feathers that I am going to pluck myself for my craft.

I began last night, and let me tell you I have a new respect for the generations of woman before me. plucking a bird is challenging. It takes a while to get into a rhythm, but it’s worth it. I feel great about the cource of these new feathers and the quality of the feathers is unbeatable. I will continue to use up my previous supply of feathers, but my primary feather creation focus will be shifting from head bands in to headpieces =) I hope you will enjoy the unique creations about to come to my Etsy store!

Posted: August 12th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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For many years I truly believed one had to be “good” (with natural aptitude or talent)  at something before he or she should endevor to do more or that activity. Subsequently, I believed that since I was not “good” at art, or a “good” cook and gardener that I should keep away from this activities. Now I realize that no one is “good” at anything right away and that in striving to become better one can fidn a sense of self and discover that there are all sorts of levels of goodness to be discovered. I have taken to sewing, gardening, art and baking and am discovering a deep satisfaction in doing for myself what I used to rely on others to provide.

This past week I followed a recipe for pizza dough in the classically Canadian magazine Chatelaine. It was my first time ever using yeast and making my own bread (other than banana, of course!) Eating the end result was so satisfying. I cannot wait until next year when not only will I have made the dough, but the pizza will be topped with items from our garden.

Simple Pizza Dough

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp (15 mL) liquid honey
• 3/4 cup (175 mL) lukewarm water
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) or 1 pkg traditional yeast
• 2-1/4 cups (550 mL) all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp (4 mL) salt
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil

1. In a small dish, stir honey with 1/2 cup (125 mL) lukewarm water. Sprinkle with yeast, but do not stir. Let stand until foamy, 5 to 8 minutes. Place flour and salt in bowl of a food processor. With machine running, pour in yeast mixture, then oil and remaining 1/4 cup (50 mL) lukewarm water. Whirl, stopping and scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. If dough is too thick, continue whirling and gradually add more water, a tablespoon (15 mL) at a time, until dough cleans sides of bowl and forms a ball. If it becomes too sticky, gradually sprinkle in an additional tablespoon (15 mL) flour through feed tube while machine is running.
2. Form dough into a ball. Place on counter or a cutting board lightly dusted with flour. Flatten into a disc. Loosely cover with plastic wrap. Leave on counter at room temperature to allow dough to increase in size by about one-quarter, 25 to 30 minutes.

Posted: August 10th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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While in Toronto I spent some time on Queen Street West being inspired by the heart of the city, the pulse of creative types and having an opportunity to peer into the garment districts baubles and wears for sale. The availability of beads, feathers and all manner of creative supply was awe inspiring. I could have spent hours in each trim shop and spent hundreds of dollar despite relatively cheap prices. Living in a small city means I source as locally as I can (like my yard!), or purchase online because many items are not available here. Seeing a large city’s resources was astounding and I know there was so much more I did not see!

I did purchase a few great items to use in my upcoming creations and I was definitlly inspired by the people I saw. Despite all the wonders of the city, I found it to be too sterile (even though it was covered in garbage) to be a place I would want to call home. I did not hear the roar of the ocean, or see the ridge of the mountains, and for me, that is what  I need to feel truly inspired.

Posted: August 7th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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  Recently, my my mind has been very focused on visual representation of emotion through collage. I have been trying to keep a visual journal, but I find I do not want to use my words. Instead I want to creat beautiful pictures using the images of others. Sometimes I find it very frustrating because I have flashes in my mind of a creation I want to see come to fruition…but the flashes are only of pieces, and when I try to put the image together I find it sorely lacking from its original inspiration.

Other times (like those pictured) I find it only takes a few images to create something that I find truly captivating and inspiring. I have always kept pictures that I like from magazines and now I am looking forward to giving each of them a purpose within my art!

Posted: June 9th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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I am pleased to say that I have completed 21 paper superheroes, and will soon dive into the world of paper super villains . Three months is quite a long time, but I cut only when the fancy truly stuck thus making each hero is a labor of love. Of the 21 there are three that I am not all together happy with, but am unsure how to make them look any better. The rest I am very excited about. I think htey look great all together and feel like their possibilities are endless. Perhaps I will make notecards, or prints , or even finger puppets…I don’t know! At this point I am still unsure if I want to give them faces and so I am leaving them blank as I move into stage two - the villains. Once the villains are underway I will think a little harder about what to do with so many paper people =)

Posted: April 12th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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  This winter I enrolled in a Chinese brush painting class through my local parks and rec. I have long admired the beauty of both Chinese brush painting and the Japanese Sumi-E styles. Determined that I will one day paint a beautiful bird perched with blossoms I have discovered that this so-called ’simple’ art is very complex and challenging. each stroke must be made with meaning, each image is full of symbolic meaning and once a stroke is made it cannot be corrected. The picture above is my first successful attempt at a pine tree.

This is my first attempt of a bird with blossoms. I actually have not been taught how to paint a bird yet, but decided I would try one from a book that I have.   I am very excited about my progress and plan on continuing to learn this beautiful art. I have registered in the next set of lessons and cannot wait to see where my continuied practice takes me.

Posted: March 14th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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It started out that I was just going to make the original line-up of the Justice League from the Cartoon Network’s original show from a few years ago, but once I had finished these seven I kept going! I have now doubled the line-up! I’m not done yet either. I have been feeling quite inspired to keep cutting and make an “unreasonable” amount of heroes!. I know people are waiting for my Etsy shop to reopen with new headband styles, and it will just not quite yet! Must follow my passion where it takes me!  

Posted: January 7th, 2009 under Uncategorized.
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This is not my picture, it’s just the picture that made my Christmas Cheer meter explode. What a darling image - sent to me by my darling from  www.pixdaus.com. Perhaps because I was raised with Disney films I anthropomorphize animals and their relationships all the time. I can only imagine what is running through their minds right now. I want to blow up fromthe cutenesss possibilities. Likely, the cat is wondering how it could possibly eat both of those giant tasty treats =)

Posted: December 22nd, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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Well the holiday shopping seasons has been a great success thus far. Today was the cut off shipping date for packages from Canada to make it to their US destinations by Christmas and i have been busy filling orders and sending them off to their new homes. I am hoping that they warm the hearts of all those who receive them.

I have put a new offer in my shop that if you send me an appreciation photo of you in your Lotus Lulu headgear that I will provide a discount on your next order. I do hope this will inspire some pictures to come in as I would love to see the headbands in action! In the future,I would love to have someone else or several others model my headbands, as I am beginning to feel a wee bit vain posting all these photos of myself! I feel a little like a single gal on her Myspace or something! Ha.

I will be closing up my shop for Christmas holidays soon so that I can dedicate myself to my Christmas and allow my creative juices to flow to create new looks for 2009!

I wish you all a beautiful holiday

Posted: December 12th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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As we roll into December the sound of sleigh bells start jingling in the hearts and ears of many. Santa, presents, loved ones, trees, decorations, snacks, and, of course, the gifts. Last year I worked hard to keep my gift giving from benefiting large big box retailers. This year, I hope to do the same and have begun the hunt through my pal www.etsy.com.

I hope that my own handicrafts will also new homes this holiday and brighten the heads and hearts of Christmas parties and New Year’s galas. I keep creating, but lag in getting my new creations listed and pictured. I am hoping to have some new headbands up in the next day or so. Wherever you are in your Christmas shopping, I encourage you to think “outside the box”, or at least outside the big box =) Bring Christmas back to its roots and help out your local cottage economies and boutiques.

24 more sleeps!

Posted: December 1st, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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