Craft show: Strawberry moon festival

Here are some sneak peaks of what I am selling tomorrow at the Strawberry Moon festival tomorrow in Peterborough on Hunter St between noon and five. Come see me at my booth, La Vida Dolce.

I will also be selling some new products...earrings! Come and check them out.

Family: Father's day 2012

We had a great Father's day with my family. We just love hanging out together. Here are some pics of our day.

My brother Stephen and his son Emmanuel

My awesome Dad, Bill

My brother Michael with his son William.

My brother Mark, chilling now but his wife Jenn is expecting twins in a matter of weeks.

Stephen and Stacy

My Mom and William

All and all a great day. I praise God for my family.

Creativity: White on White

I have been enjoying my Artful Blogging magazine a lot. I noticed that the blogs that I was drawn to have a white on white look. So I decided to try it. I went to St. Vincent DePaul thrift store and searched for treasures. Here are my finds, in total I think they were under $6.

Family: Peek a boo

Yesterday and today I took care of my nephew William. I was on my computer looking at blogs and he starts playing peek a boo with me. It was adorable.

Guest Post: Mel Inglis

I interviewed Mel Inglis from http://www.needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca. She got me into blogging and I read her blog almost daily. She was kind enough to answer my questions.

Laura: When did you start your blog? 

Mel: I decided to create this blog over a year ago....last February I believe. Can you believe I've written 416 posts since then... oy!

Laura: How did you get into blogging? Did a particular blog/ person inspire you?

Melissa: I used to blog years ago (just about the randomness that was my life...) then got bored with it and neglected it for years. Last year I though I should make an 'online portfolio' of all my creative works, and realized that I could use a blog as that online presence instead of trying to wrap my head around a fancy website! Turns out I love blogging again (and just can't shut up really) so I blog daily about my creations, thoughts on life and motherhood, d.i.y projects, etc. There wasn't one blog that inspired me to make mine... but there's a ton out there that I love to go to for inspiration. 

Laura: What is your favorite thing about blogging? 

Mel: I love that it keeps me creating - I get more eager to hatch new projects and share them with others. It also helps me to be more mindful - and more grateful - for the life I have... when I write out my thoughts they seem more real to my own heart. 

Laura: Do you think blogging has increased your creativity? 
Mel: Refer to #3..yes! I love creating, but the blog has helped focus those energies... whether its creating a fun/easy d.i.y. project for my readers, or sharing new creations for my Shop... or any other playful projects I invent.
                            http://www.needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/search/label/d.i.y

http://www.needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/search/label/shop

Laura: I notice you blog about your kids and projects for them. How do you balance being a mom and an artist?

Mel: I posted a vlog in response to this one - and I get asked that a lot. I definitely know that being a mama is my priority right now, and the artist side gets any leftovers from the day. So I sew, craft, paint, design during naps, evenings or any other 'spare' time I can wedge into the day. I just don't want my kids to grow up and think I loved personal projects more than playtime with them!

                                http://www.needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca/2012/05/vlog-1-q.html 

Laura: What would you like to tell young moms out there who are struggling with how to fit creativity into their lives?

Mel: Hmmm. start small! For me its just a delight to start - and finish - a project so that means it has to be fast/easy usually. Use creative time with your kids to start you off if needed... paint alongside them. get messy. have fun! (then sneak it out on a canvas later for your own pleasure). You can find a million projects out there... the key is just keep playing and not fearing making mistakes or messes. 

Azriel and Hudson

Laura: What do you do to inspire you when you are not feeling creative? 

Mel: To be honest, I'm not often 'uninspired'... I'm just manic- creative. I tend to always have ideas fluttering around my brain, and the real challenge and deciding which ones to bring to life! I do roam Pinterest and random d.i.y. blogs occasionally to see if there's another idea I haven't come up with, hehe. 

Thanks a bunch to Mel for this interview.

http://www.needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca

Creativity: My studio space

I moved in February to this awesome town house on a quiet street in Peterborough. The house is great but the best part is that I have an extra room for my studio space. I show you a lot of my work but I don't show you where I work. Here is a little tour of my studio space.

Flowers to inspire...A lovely window to light the way.

A sewing table and sewing machine from a dear friend.

An art table and storage that was once a throw away at a dumpster. 

It has come with me everywhere although I have only had to move it myself once. It's a beast, but awesome for storing supplies. 

Drawers of supplies. I am a sucker for craft supplies. I love having them, buying them, all of the above. 

So there it is my little work space for my company La Vida Dolce. 

You can check out all my work by clicking on the shop tab above. 

Creativity: For the love of Chiyogami paper

I love working with Chiyogami paper. It is beautiful and unique. Here is some background on Chiyogami paper from the www.thepaperplace.ca website:

"Chiyogami, literally thousand generation (chiyo) paper (gami), is meticulously produced by hand. Each layer of colour is silkscreened on individually requiring careful registration of screens.

These exquisite papers were developed in Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1867) by papermakers who were emulating the fashionable kimono textiles being produced in the Yuzen area of Kyoto. These small-scale paper imitations were intended to be used on dolls and tiny household items, such as tea tins. Many of the patterns contain highly symbolic imagery, such as cranes for long life and plum blossoms and pine boughs for beauty and longevity."

It goes through a six step printing process. It is hand-silkscreened in several small family run studios across Japan. Here is the process below. 

I use Chiyogami paper to make cards and jewelry. Here are some examples:

These necklaces are available for purchase. I can custom make a piece for you or you can order one that is already made. Click on the shop tab on the top of the page to view some or email me at lauraannv1980@gmail.com
Each piece is unique and I hope is something you will cherish for a long time. The pendants are made out of Sterling silver plated backgrounds and come with a Sterling silver plated 16 inch necklace. They are $20.00 each but if you are looking for multiples I am willing to make a deal. 


I also see value in bartering with other artists. So if you want a necklace but would like to barter with me please feel free and I will see if it is something I am interested in. 

Inspiration: Being present

I have had some great conversations with my friend Maryam over the last two days about being present. We are constantly being bombarded with information, tweets, facebook posts, emails, texts. It is information overload. How do you remain present to the people you are with when you are being bombarded with distractions?

" Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater amount of intelligent people or gifted people, but for deep people."

Richard J. Foster

 I make room for quiet in my life. I want to develop an interior life and a depth of personhood. I have special places that I go in Peterborough where I can be quiet. I have a rock in Jackson park, a bench by the Rotary trail, a gazebo in the Ecology garden. This is where I go to pray and think.

What do I mean about an interior life. I mean that I think about who I am becoming, about how my life is going. If something is bothering me I take the time to think and pray it through instead of filling in the silence with noise. What do I mean by a depth of personhood? I want to be someone who isn't shallow, who thinks deeply about things.

What does this have to do with being present? I think it has a lot to do with it. If your interior life is in chaos how can you sit and listen to a friend? How can you be present when you are constantly checking your phone? If you don't have a depth of personhood how can you talk about what is really going on with you?

Just some thoughts.....

Design seeds

I have been receiving daily emails from Design Seeds (http://design-seeds.com) since last year. I love opening them up and seeing what this artist Jessica Colaluca creates. I know Mel from http://needleandnestdesign.blogspot.ca has made a couple with her pictures. I am hoping to try it in the near future. 

Here are some of my favorites.....

Here are some brighter ones....

Ok just indulge me. Here are a few more...

    I encourage you to sign up for Design Seeds, it is like opening up a present of color.