Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!! It's Christmas night and I hope that you are all cozied up with your families, sharing memories and lots of good feelings.  Have a great holiday season and stay Merry! Here are some pics from my walk in the woods yesterday.  The trees were glistening with snow, the brook bubbling under it's frozen surface. It was magical.  I might not believe in Santa Claus but I definitely believe in the magic that surrounds me.  

 

 

 

 Where are my children you might ask?  It is their turn to have Christmas with their father and my turn to stay behind.  I have chose to spend my time in the woods alone but not lonely.  I am up to many things and one those things is felting! This year I am stepping out of my box and going for it.  Below is a picture of a man I am working on.  I am loving watching his personality come out!

What you see here is his head.  I am now working on his torso, arms and legs. The most difficult part so far are the fingers.   I can't wait to show you the finished result.  He doesn't have a name yet.  He doesn't really look like anyone I know. Does he look like anyone you know?



I pick up my beautiful children tomorrow.  We will drive to Corbeil, my home town and celebrate the season with my family.  I am so looking forward to seeing their sweet faces and excited beings.  Merry Christmas!

 My baby turns 7 on December 21rst the first day of winter as he likes to put it.  We had a cake and party on Saturday to commemorate the big day.   When I look at my Owen I cannot believe that he once lived in my womb.  He is so big and grown up!  I love watching him grow and learn and on the same turn I miss his tiny little fingers and tiny little toes.  I miss those days and yet I relish our bigger older conversations.   When my babies were babies people would say appreciate the moment Annie because it goes by so fast.  "Appreciate the moment", those are such big words.  As much as I try I seem to miss the mark because life just seems to be flying by and it is more apparent as my children grow older and wiser.  As the new year approaches I vow to watch every breath and come into the moment.  To cherish every kiss, every hug, every cuddle, to look into their eyes as they speak to me with their clever ideas.  As I age along side my children I feel the vulnerability of life.  I am here and within seconds it can be taken away.  I am here and feel the blessings and the grace of this very moment.  Happy Birthday Owen. Thanks for all that you teach me.

Christmas Gnomes

Last night's gnome workshop put a smile on everyone's face.  How could it not look at these guys.  We loved watching their little personalities come out with each poke of our needle  I love the flow of giving workshops.  At times the room is bustling and conversation.  At other times conversation is silent and the only sound is of needles poking into wool.  It's magic.

It's as though they are speaking to me...

 "Be happy with your life".

Be good because santa is coming

"Have fun with your girlfriends"

What do you think this guy is saying?

Natural Toy and Craft Sale

We all learn in different ways.  I, myself am an experiential learner, get me to do something hands on and it sinks in, I get it and can move forward.  I am assuming that many of us learn in this way.  When we experience something first hand it really sinks in and we learn the cause and effect of our actions.  I saw this first hand this past weekend when Zoe, Owen and I participated in the Natural Toy and Craft Sale in Lady Smith Quebec. The weeks leading up the show we created things with our hands.  Zoe made beautiful felted goodies and cards.  Owen made window stars.  It was nice spending this time together, head to head making stuff.  This step broadened their awareness of how much work and commitment it takes to make things to sell; lesson number 1.

On Sunday morning we packed up the car and drove the 1 1/2 hours into the Gatineau hills to Lady Smith which is but a small town that boasts a cross roads with a gas station, restaurant hotel and community hall where the event was held.  We walked into a beautifully decorated hall with sparkly lights and tables laid down with beautiful crafted works of art.  We were 15 vendors and there were 7 kids tables.  What a great vibe.  Zoe and Owen were quite excited to display their wares.  Owen being excited for his first sale was anxious for his first customer.  He noticed that people came by had a look at his things but did not buy.  One customer said she would be back and so Owen waited for her but she never returned.  That was lesson number 2; people don't always do what they say.

He really wanted to make a sale and decided to take his business by the horns and took the initiative to go around the venue and sell his stuff to the people walking around and sitting at their tables.  As an adult vendor I could not get away with this but as a cute, young boy he got away with flying colours.  His salesman skills payed off and he sold all of his window stars.  Lesson 3: It is beneficial to take initiative in your endeavors. The other children also took his lead.  It was great to see them go around selling their things.  Of course they spent most of their sales buying things for themselves and others.  I guess the next step will be to learn to save a little bit of their profit earned :)

 Zoe at her table hugging a bear, Owen purchased for her.  I wish I had a picture of Owen but he refused.  At times he can be camera shy.

 I love the message written on this shirt by Zoe

 My Annie Bananie table

 Earrings made by Lindsey Ferguson.  You might have heard of her.  She is a local singer from Wakefield.  Her feather earrings are very pretty and I am wearing a pair right now!

Lindsey's new CD release.

 Now check this out. It is a wet felted jacket.  I just love it and plan on learning to make one.  Hannah the artist is a feltmaker from the Wakefield area.  I really liked her and enjoyed our conversations. I plan on going to one of her workshops.

Just Gorgeous!

 

It's a holiday Trunk Show!

December 14th, 2011

07:00- 09:30

Come and join 4 local crafters and a local distributor of farely traded goods from Peru for a Trunk Show at Singing Tree Daycare. It will be a great opportunity to do last minute shopping.

Also on the menu is tea, light snack from the Art is Bakery and wine. 

FREE Workshop
Also presenting a needle felting workshop. Be one of the first 10 to registrants for a FREE ball felting workshop. Leave with a felted ball that you can give to someone you love to put in their Christmas tree or window sill. Workshop will start at 19:30. To participate contacet Annie Bananie at anniebdr@gmail.com
 

Artisans

Another Marvelous Ant (Earrings, Handbags and stones made from leather and recycled materials)

Annie Bananie (Felting Kits and Felted Arts)

Iraku - Farely Traded Goods

Amanda Stevadio from Being Green (Earth Friendly sews)

Judy Stir from Tweail (repurposed clothing)

We look forward to greeting you at the door!

Thanks for supporting your local artisans

Basics of felting a video tutorial

Yeah!!! My first video tutorial.  Click play to find out the basics of felting a felt ball!  It's rough but it is here live for you. Enjoy! Don't forget if you need supplies contact Annie Bananie :)

Babblings

I have so much to say that I want to burst.  First of all I must share with you a feeling that I have been living with for a few weeks now.  It is that of happiness. Yes, happiness.  I can say that I am completely and totally in satisfaction with my life.  I have beautiful children and we are on such a great groove.  Last weekend we spent such a great time together crafting and hanging out with my sister and her crew.  I am so grateful for beautiful healthy children and a wonderful sister who is so there for me.  It is with her that I can open my soul and tell her all that lives there.  I know that she will not balk at my most intimate fears but hold them close to her heart. 

My children are a blessing.  I love them so.  Of course it sounds natural to say as every mother loves her children and would do anything for them.  What I am expressing and admitting to you is that when I was first divorced a few years ago, I felt so stressed.  It felt like the rug had been pulled from under me.  It was the biggest challenge of my life so far.  I began to feel feelings of anxiety and had to remind myself to believe and trust that all would get settled and that me and my children would be fine.  That we would find our grounding and that I could support us on my income and provide a great home, education and lots of love.  Within all of the anxiety and stress I struggled with the joys of motherhood.  Although I loved my children I doubted myself and my decisions.  I must say that water has passed under the bridge and me and my family of three feel grounded and that my faith and trust into the universe paid off.  We are living well.  I love the space, the home that we have created for ourselves and I love spending time with my soon to be 7 year old and 9 year old.  We are having lots of fun learning as we grow, me as a 41 year old woman and them as children with great future hopes and dreams.

I have been a daycare provider for 61/2 years.  When I started Owen was 6 months old.  I am lucky to love my job.  I love the women that I work with. I love greeting parents and children in the morning and I love the space that we have created to help support children in their growth.  I have to say that the daycare vibe is really great.  I am grateful for my daycare family and the income that it provides.  Click here for our most recent daycare happening.

On Saturday I had the pleasure of selling my felting kits and felted creations at Idle Hands one of my favorite Ottawa craft shows.  It had such a good vibe and I met some really interesting people and vendors. I get such a kick out of standing at my table and talking to the people who come by.  Some have attended my workshops, some have purchased kits, some I know from teaching yoga or daycare and then there are the people that I don't know and get to know them a little.  My table was situated right at the entrance which was great.  I had lots of room and the vendors to my left and right were great people.  The vendor to my left sold preserves and she was the sweetest girl.  She does lots of charity work in the city and it so nice. I wish I could remember her name and have a link to her but in my business of the show I forgot to get her card!  To my right was a fiber artist.  Tonia Weber is partners with Laura Twiss and is an amazing artist.  They make nuno felted scarves and clothing, wet felted hats, and flower pins.  They dye their wool into beautiful vibrant colours and both have great vibrant personalities.  I felt very inspired with a chat I had with Tonia and  plan on contacting her for wet felting and dyeing knowledge.

2012 is around the corner and I plan on learning new things and expanding my creative skills. It's going to be a great year!

There is more to be grateful for but I will sign off now. There is warm soup on the stove and a good book to read in the tub.  All the above to say that life is good and I am loving my 40's!  Blessings to you and your family. 

Meditation Ball Workshop

 Come and felt a meditation ball. The evening will begin with a group meditation. This meditation will help let go of our daily stresses and really come into the moment of the felting experience.

We will learn the basics by needle felting a ball. Needle felting is the art of sculpting raw wool roving into beautiful pieces by using a barbed needle. It is fun and addictive.

The ball you will create will be no ordinary ball. At the beginning of the felting process we will set an intention and meditate those intentions into our felted ball creation. Your intention can be anything that calls to you: "health", "happiness" , "prosperity"...Felting really is like a meditation and the wool is natural and healing to work with. It can be an intention for yourself of someone close to your heart. The finished product will a beautiful ball that hangs from a ribbon and can be pleased in a window sill or Christmas tree or a ball for a child to play with.

Even if you have a lot of felting experience this workshop is for you. It is more than a felting workshop. It is a time to connect with that creative part of you and to connect with others in your community. Tea and snacks from the Art is In bakery will be served. Please wear comfortable clothing.

Available spots: 6
When: November 30th, 2011
Time: 07:00 - 09:00 (please honour the time)
Where: Address will be given upon registration
Your investment: $25/includes all supplies and snacks

Waldorf Window Stars

Last year I was given some Kite Paper from 3 Little Monkeys on Bank street.  I knew I wanted to make window stars with this beautiful paper with beautiful colours but never got around to it.  Finally last week I got to work and made  a few.  Although the incticate folds it requires isn't really for small hands the children loved watching me create this star that is now hanging on our window.  I love how the light shines through the paper,  giving it a nice soft glow.  You can find the tutorial here.

Handmade Harvest was nearly a week ago. So many great things happened at the show.  On Friday night I met a couple who have a sheep farm.  Yes, a sheep farm.  For me that is big and very exciting.  I've been dreaming of a local wool provider for a while now and have found one!!! Provided everything goes as planned  my felting kits and felted goodies will be even more friendly for this planet we inhabit.   At the moment my providers are from British Columbia and Albert.  I am happy they are Canadian but would rather they be in my backyard.

 Here are a few of the cuties

I am so looking forward to getting my first batch of wool from these guys.   There are so many things to learn and dyeing my own wool is definitely something that I feel driven towards.  So once again the universe has presented me with what I have been asking for, without me really having to do go looking for it.  Thank you universe!
 

 I was very lucky to be sitting across from Laura Daub a very talented artist.  She makes prints from her paintings.  Each painting has inspirational quotes.  She also makes beautiful ornaments (below) and gives children art classes from her home.  She is  a beautiful person and I loved skipping over to her table for little chats.

All in all the show was a great success. I met great people and left very inspired.  Next you can find me at Idle Hands on November 26th at St. Lukes Church on Somerset.  Drop in and say hi! 

Wet Felting

Last week we got to making some wet felted spaghetti.  We got  some wool, hot water and applied friction to make some spaghetti for our play kitchen.  It was great fun, kids love playing with sudsy water.  

 

I love Halloween.  The kids look so cute in their costumes and I get a kick out of being something other than myself.  I love the walking around the neighborhood meeting people neighbors we wouldn`t usually see, the houses all decked out in their spookiness.  Within all that I do hold a little contention for this ever growing celebration and that is all that sugar that it involves.  Owen who you see above was a ninja and this ninja stuffed his face with candy until he was purple, green and yellow in the face.   

For years I have been trying to consider my strategy on the candy intake.  Do I let them have a couple of candies a day or do I let go of control and let them eat as much as they want so I am not seeing candy for the rest of the year.  They are at the age of candy wisdom now.  It is impossible for me to dump half their loot in the garbage without them noticing.  Garbage throwing tugs at my heart as well,  as it`s such a waste.   I was so glad when Zoe (click her name to see her costume ) told me that her dentist promised to give them $10 for a pound of their Halloween candy.  So there you have it my solution for this year`s candy intake.  Above is my little ninja happily using my scale and weighing out a pound of his candy.  I am behind the camera smiling and happy for this year`s candy solution.   What is your candy strategy.

Today I went for a walk and this is what I saw...

 My Shadow

White clouds and a blue sky

 

 The most beautiful milk pods

 A very big mushroom

 Looking up at the mushroom

 Deep brown mushrooms

 Pine cones

The sky is overcast, merganser ducks float along the shore line,  swimming and ducking their heads in the water.  I could sit here all day gazing out the window but work must get done. Later I might permit myself to go for a cold dip in the lake but for now it's felting and more felting.  
 
There is such a stillness here.  It is a perfect place to find inspiration.  I have been working on some cutesie owls for next weekend's Handmade Harvest Craft Show and having so much fun.  As I felt away with a grin on my face I take pauses to sip my tea and look out the window. There is such beauty everywhere, the trees reflected in the water, the grey branches, naked of it's leaves.

Handwork is allows you to slow down. It's like a meditation.  The mind slows down as does the breath.  I love it's effects on me.

 

 These owls are fun to make.  They are a work of labour and love. I love felting the eyes because once the eyes appear they come to life with a little personality. 

Work in progress.