Solstice at Spanish Banks

         To me the Summer Solstice or longest day of the year is the actual and true start to my year- it's the time when I feel myself coming alive again after months of rain induced hibernation. The sun is at it's peak and energy flows through my body- it's when I am most productive as an artist. It's only natural then that I am drawn to a place of magic to celebrate this most magical of days. Just as the veil is at it's thinest during the Winter Solstice so to the ancient power of nature is felt on the longest day of the year- a bit too Pagan for some folks I suppose but in a world where little magic exists we need all we can get!

        And so the longest day of the year found our wee family out at Spanish Banks on blankets and chairs- running through grass and feasting with a gathering of friends. Wind burned and sun swept it was the perfect way to spend the day! It was so wonderful to connect with old friends and make a few new ones- see our big kids running up and down the field chasing the soccer ball- watching the newest batch of wee babes explore their world with laughs and giggles.

          Of course a fair amount of time was spent down by the ocean as well- collecting- it was a day for sea glass- any day I am payed in sea glass and shells is a good day in my books! Our children are becoming feral this Summer- they are finally old enough where I can step even further back- settling in with a book while keeping one eye on their play. Not too long ago they were the wee babes up on the blankets in the shade- now they run barefoot over rocks- searching for secret passages and treasure. Time it seems is moving too fast for my taste.

        Watching the sun set that evening our Boy crossed an item off his Summer bucket list- to stay up late enough to watch the sun set- check done. As we sat at our favourite spot down on the beach The Mr. and I chatted while the Littles played around- we reminisced about all the times at this spot with friends over the years- so grateful for the ones we had seen that day- and missing the ones far away. We have been coming to this beautiful place for over twelve years together now- it's always been a magical place- far enough away from the city to bring peace and contentment to our hearts- time and again this place heals the soul- magic.

Craft Camp: Solstice Lanterns

        We love a good celebration around these parts and so of course it is only natural that we celebrate the longest day of the year- Summer Solstice- AKA Midsummer's Eve- which happened some time last night around 10 pm. One celebrating the longest day of the year would also hope that it would be the nicest day of the year- but as we left Spring behind the weather was dark and dreary here in Vancouver- we thought we would celebrate all things bright with lanterns- hoping to encourage back the sunshine!

        These lanterns are ever so pretty and ever so easy- the perfect qualities for a rainy day craft in my humble opinion! The supplies are fairly minimal and most people if they look hard enough will have these on hand.

Supplies needed:

Birthday balloons
various cut up pieces of tissue
modge podge or acrylic medium
brushes (not the good ones)
string
dowelling
borax
 candle

         Blow up Birthday balloon and set inside a cup or tupperware container- this is just to act as as stand and give you two free hands to work with. Gently brush balloon with modge podge and randomly start attaching bits of paper- the idea is to build up a few layers for strength as well as colour!

         Cover the balloon about half way up- Miss Lo went a little overboard and did the entire balloon- but really you are making a basket so only need to cover half the balloon. Keep building up layers by adding tissue and smoothing it down under layers of mod podge- remember the more layer the longer it will take to dry- this is key!

        Once the tissue is fully dried- like after several hours- take a pin and pop the balloon inside- do not be alarmed if the entire project collapses in- all you have to do once the balloon is removed is gently push the tissue lantern back into shape. Trim the lip of the lantern and punch holes for the string to go through.

       At this point I would like to offer up some safety guidelines- if you were to use a candle in the lantern as it is at this stage it would possibly catch on fire- not good. What you will want to do is mix a solution of borax and water together and paint two or three coats on the inside of the lantern bowl- thus making the lantern fire resistant- however this should never be left to burn un- attended. Children obviously should be with an adult at all times when around candles.

       Tie the strings at desired lengths through the holes of the lanterns and then pin the ends of the strings onto the dowelling with a tack or small nail- the longer the handle (dowelling) the taller the lantern will stand. We planted ours in our flower pots to be lit when it finally gets dark this evening- these would look great in place of Tiki torches in a back yard!

Recipe for Homemade Mod Podge

1/2 cup white glue
1/2 cup water

-thin out with more water if you wish
- add glitter like we did here for sparkle!
- whisk in flour and use for papier mache


     Friends it is Friday again- shocking how that just sneaks up on me every single week! Saturday I am looking forward to just chilling out and partaking in some much needed R & R- followed by my screen printing class on Sunday- which is gong to be crazy fun! I hope your weekend has some sunny breaks, laughter and fine boxed wine- weather you share with friends or not is up to you!
   

Let the Celebrations Begin!

     Tonight we celebrate the Winter Solstice- our family celebration of the seasons . As previously mentioned we always try to head home to the Okanagan to be with our family at this time of year- they mean so much and we miss each of them dearly- this journey while important to us means we have rarely spent a Christmas morning in our own home, in our own beds, with our stockings hung in our own special place. 

   When my Mr. and I were first living together we started our first Holiday Season off with a celebration for two down by the ocean by the light of the moon. The weather is usually co-operative with the rain holding off long enough for us to sit and drink a bottle of wine and talk of new plans for our future. The years we were pregnant the wine was replaced with hot chocolate and cheese cake but non the less the tradition ensued. Our celebration has now moved inside and has evolved into more of a feast but non the less it is important to us to have this day to celebrate and centre our family in our home- where ever it may be!

     So I am winding down the sewing- something that is more fun than chore for me- all the making of beautiful things to give to people I love. One of my last projects yesterday was a bit of screen printing this length of fabric to use in a couple of items- no matter how often I use this print it never gets old- one of my favourites! What a treat to be printing on Belgian Linen- Oh how I love this fabric- sturdy and organic with loads of personality!

     Our Littles have been hard at work as well learning to sew- they were thrilled to finally have a needle and thread in their own hands- they have been watching Momma and wishing to do the same for ever so long! Now they know how- and of course these Littles of mine are oh so productive and wanting to do everything "all by myself!"- only coming to Momma when they need a knot tied or more thread.

     Of course The Boy needed to make something- he is very much a linear thinker like his father- he needed a goal and outline of sorts for his first sewing project- and so he drew on a little house to follow his stitches with. I- being the sentimental sort who also loves to make an item- added a little loop of ribbon and quick as a wink sewed this first project of my boy's into an ornament to be treasured.

    Miss Lo was much more free flow in her approach to her sewing project- I have an inkling that this girl of mine might be a natural with a needle and thread. I am in no way trying to brag but I will admit that it thrilled me to watch her carefully pushing the needle in and out of the fabric- oh this girl of mine what you will make in your life time with those hands!

      We have been so incredibly blessed this year- we are surrounded by the love of friends and family that I don't take for granted one little bit- thank you for joining me on my journey! I will be stepping away from this space for a few days- I may be back with a post on Wednesday- Boxing day- although I may also be enjoying a cask of wine with an old friend. For those of you wondering a cask of wine is what fine boxed wine is referred to these days! My wish for you dear friends is that where ever you are in this world may you be surrounded in light and love on this the shortest day of the year- with a cask of the finest wine at your side! Happy Holidays everyone!

Winter Goodness

     I have talked about what big collectors we are several times in this space- our Littles are prolific collectors and year round we enjoy our nature ledge where we display all our treasures brought home from our wanderings. At a certain point though it almost becomes too much- too much driftwood, too many feathers, sticks and leaves- I also feel like really nature should be left for all to enjoy and not hoarded in our home. Enter in the Solstice Garland- a festive winter garland- and homage to the place we live- a way to say farewell to one year's collection and send it back to nature.

      We collected up our feathers, sticks, pine cones and shells- of course the Littles picked out a few of their favourites to keep for the permanent collection. Gathering up a few fallen bits of our neighbourhood to bring home with us on our walk today. A few red pompoms for a hit of colour- the rust of the Magnolia leaves and the grey of driftwood.

     I had a bit of help out on the deck with the bundling of leaves and feathers- Miss Lo was more than happy for a chance to get creative and be outside- something we miss during these days of rain. We quickly strung up our garland across the end of the deck- finishing it off with a few of our handmade tags from a few weeks ago.

      On the shortest day of the year when the earth is sleeping it's deepest sleep- regenerating for a new growing season we will head out to our special place- Spanish Banks and let go of our collection- send it back to nature- and look forward to all the treasures we will find next year!

P.S. I should also mention that only the natural bits will be given back to nature- the string  and pompoms will be removed and the ornaments ( although they are clay) will go into the decoration bin for next year.

Seam Allowance Progress

      Today I thought I would update you all on my Seam Allowance progress- if you will remember from a few weeks ago I pledged to sew twenty five percent of our clothing. I cant lie- it has been slow going- some times easier to buy something at the Thrift store than sew it from scratch. I haven't bought anything new for the Littles- they really are a tonne of fun to sew for!

    This time it was Miss Lo's turn to have something Momma made- and that came in the form of a slightly modified Oliver & S Puppet show tunic. I have made this pattern before- with the collar- but I noticed that the collar sort of annoys Miss Lo and she voiced the need for pockets. Where is a girl to put her rocks?

      So may I present the Puppet Show tunic with pockets and no collar! There is a shorts pattern that comes with this pattern and I simply took the pocket pattern pieces from there and transposed them onto the tunic. The fabric is lovely- it reminds me of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her sisters- it is from Lecien and is called Memoire a Paris. I think the scant leftovers will become the base for Miss Lo's new quilt- it is that pretty- so soft with dusty colours.

    This girl of mine is tough to catch- always in motion- running, marching, exploring- doing everything on her own-testing her boundaries. These Littles of ours are growing so fast that sewing for them is necessary but it is oh so much more fun that sewing for myself! My Seam Allowance Pledge stands- there is something coming up on my sewing pile for me- but first there are pants and a hoody for the Boy and then there is my Mr.'s Solstice gift that needs to get started- and then I will get to my project- I swear!