Back from holiday

Prince Edward Point
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
I am back from nearly 2 weeks of holiday in the countryside. It was wonderfully relaxing to visit family and be away from the city for a bit. I didn't miss my computer at all, though I did miss my sweetie who could only join me for part of the trip. Thinking of him, I picked up heart shaped stones along this lovely pebble beach.


Heart Stones
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I absolutely adore the beach. When I was little, we lived just a short walk from a wonderfully rocky beach. The kind that's best for poking about and exploring and turning over rocks to see what's underneath. I can spend ages watching waves curl in and splash, a little differently every time. Something in me, despite having lived away from the seashore for so long, is still inextricably drawn to it. An afternoon at this beach, followed by a picnic on a rock shelf nearby (perfect for paddling one's feet in the water from) was really an absolutely perfect way to spend a summer's day.

Yesterday, my first day back in Montreal, was the usual laundry and errands day that follows a holiday. I bixi'd downtown in the morning, and despite the mostly downhill ride, was melting by the time I got there. Montreal decided to greet our return with the first truly sweltering day this year ... it was 41°C with the humidity. We went to see Julie/Julia in the evening, mostly to enjoy the air conditioning in the theatre (though we both enjoyed the Julia Child part of the film too). We walked home in the cooler evening and paused for some refreshing lemon sorbet. More holiday stories to follow as I upload the rest of my pictures...


Heart Stone
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Better late than never

Fira Box
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I just realised that I posted this picture on my flickr stream, but never mentioned it here. Back when I was still a cube dweller, I bought an IKEA "fira" mini chest of drawers. I never got around to putting it together for my cube, but ended up doing so while cleaning out the cupboard in my studio. I decoupaged on some paper found when I was paring down on the wrapping supplies and filled it with assorted art supplies that I wanted easily accessible.

While these little drawers are super useful, and a perennial favourite amongst IKEA hackers, they were a huge pain to put together. The nails would not hammer into the material well and in my inexpert hammering, I kept bending them. Despite 5 extra nails in the package, I still had to resort to using some of my own. I must admit to calling it a Beastly Box a few times and taking breaks hoping it would be easier each time I came back to it. Now, of course, I'm pleased with the cute result, but I don't think I'd buy another one.

And for those not counting (I wasn't), this appears to be my 100th post. I'm thinking this is only significant because we happen to have a base 10 counting system, but I noticed it when looking at the list of posts to find the cube one and thought I'd mention it. Maybe I'll do some sort of list of 101 things for the next post. 101 cakes? 101 things I find inspiring? 101 links? 101 drawings? Well, we'll just have to wait and see. Yes, me too, I'm typing this as I think about it, so no clear ideas or promises yet.

Pretty things in purple

Thrifty Purple Finds
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Despite the distinctly grey and rainy "summer" that we've been having in Montreal, I haven't been much in the mood for blogging. I've been twittering little nothings instead, extolling the virtues of bixi mostly. Yesterday I finally pulled out my oil paints and got started re-learning how to use them. Today I went to the thrift stores to see about finding a suitable old shirt to use as a smock, but instead I came away with pretty things in purple: A dressy sort of blazer, a purple bobble necklace, and some vintage buttons. I almost got a purple polka-dotted scarf at the first shop too, until I noticed it had some stains.


Vintage buttons
Originally uploaded by allisongryski
The necklace and buttons came from the church bazaar at Mont-Royal and St-Hubert. It has quite a lot of sewing notions and some bins of old patterns. It's also where I got one of the pillow cases that I used in my quilt. And, in a funny coincidence, where I found the skirt that I'm wearing today (for $3). The blazer came from the friperie Retromania just down the street on Mont-Royal. Not as cheap as the church bazaar, but definitely higher quality stuff when it comes to the clothing. It's the usual thrift store trade-off ... if it's "curated", you're more likely to find something nice, but it's not going to be as cheap. The other thrift store I wanted to visit, on Gilford, appears to be closed for summer holidays until August 4. But it's another place I found a great $3 skirt. Perhaps tomorrow I'll check out the Salvation Army on Notre-Dame and see if I can find a smock. Or you know, maybe something else purple.

480 squares is a lot!

Picnic Quilt Top!
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Nearly a year after I finished the back for my picnic quilt, and I've finally finished the top ... all 480 squares of it. Yay! Now to sort out how I'm going to quilt it ....

New cards in shop!

new cards
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I've been working away on some new cards and I've started listing them in my etsy shop. There's some completely new designs, like the zen set and a mix of old-and-new like the choose-your-own cupcake set. And I decided to make a few of the romantic skulls cards. So far I've just listed one on white, but I also made some black-on-pink ones. I've also got some more of the stamped little city cards made, but not listed. I'll continue listing things in the next little while. Custom requests are, of course, always welcome.

Rather a lot of cakes

pretty cakes
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

One of the strange things about engaging in a creative activity, is that sometimes, I feel inspired and compelled to make something without really knowing why or where it's going (if anywhere). Of late, I've found myself rather obsessed with drawing little fancy dessert spreads. I have NO idea why or what I'm meant to do with these drawings. Dear mysterious mind, please enlighten me as to what's going on in my subconscious!


more pretty cakes
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

I tried painting one in watercolours instead of colouring it with pencil crayon. Still no answers. Maybe I should try painting one in oils? I'm feeling intimidated by my oil paints. Perhaps starting with something frivolous like a lot of fancy jellies and cakes is the way to go? So far, this inspiration is highly confusing.


fancy cakes and fruit
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Any other creative types reading this have any idea how to channel apparently random inspiration into something more directed? In the meantime, it's starting to make me crave a fancy afternoon tea...


fancy dessert buffet
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

A card for the morbid romantic?

skulls in love
Originally uploaded by allisongryski

Some dear and unusual friends recently got married and as they have rather non-traditional tastes (their wedding cake was black and red and decorated with skulls), I decided that a shiny white wedding card wasn't going to really be quite right. So in order to make them a special card, I carved a new stamp... a skull with hearts for eye sockets.

I'm quite pleased with how it turned out and I hope the card made them smile. I now, however, have a stamp that isn't quite in my usual style. I'm debating whether or not I should make some similar cards for my shop or if it really was for an audience of two. So here's the question ... would YOU buy a card with a skull that only has eyes for love? You'll find the poll in the sidebar.