On Our Bookshelf: The Specific Ocean

               Every once in a while during the long wet, grey days of January we Vancouverites catch a break- a few much needed rays of sun and a pause in the rain! Obviously one must take full advantage of these gifts and head outside to do a bit of reading. One of our favourite books all about the Pacific Ocean is a book by the title of The Specific Ocean- a touching story of a family trip to the sea shore. Illustrations by Katty Maurey and words by Kye Maclear.

          As with all the books that make my list the illustrations in The Specific Ocean are beautiful- sensitively executed to accompany a rather esoteric moral. We relate to this story on so many levels- as Coastal People we love everything about the sea and often wish to possess it for our own- collecting small bots and pieces to bring into our home.

         I think for us this book is relatable on so many levels- the kids love the family portrayed as there is an older brother and a younger sister. They enjoy the light sarcasm and all the imaginative elements. As a parent I love that this is a story all about trying new things and respecting the environment- win win in my books!

P.S. if you get a chance check out Kye Maclear's blog- lots of inspiration as well as the story behind the story!

Crafternoon: Digital Printing

         My girl has started showing a real back for photography- on a recent trip to Bowen Island she started collecting handfuls of buttercups, leaves and grass. When we stopped for a short rest she decided to style her little bouquet and take a few pictures on my big camera. Many parents would balk at the idea of letting their five year old handle an expensive DSLR camera- by teaching Miss Lo to handle it properly she will have the tools at her disposal to take wonderful photos.

             This girl of mine has a real eye for setting up a shot- I of course could not be a prouder Momma! Watching her stye her little bouquet with such care- she was so excited about the pictures she took. So it was only natural that I would get her photo printed for her. Opus Art Supplies has a wonderful digital printing service- ordering prints could not be easier or more affordable. It was so great handing my girl a professional quality print of her photo. Digital printing is just another medium for our Littles to explore- so intuitive for them.

           I think that it is so easy to look at children's artwork as basic or rudimentary but I just don't see that- digital photography is a medium that allows for glimpse at the world through a child's eye. In addition to allowing further creative expression digital printing is such a natural extension of our children's lives- their worlds are filled from the beginning with technology. In my opinion the photos my daughter takes and I get printed are no less creatively valuable that her wonderful paintings and drawings.

Crafternoons

         Summer vacation is just around the corner and with this in mind I thought I would share some of our favourite crafting resources. First up is the Get In Art books- we have the Animals volume and it is so very inspiring. The idea is the book is both an art history lesson and an art project rolled into one was lesson. Taking a famous piece of art and talking about the artist and then translating that into a very easy to follow- family friendly project. Quite simply put we love this.

          Recently- one afternoon with The Boy at a friend's house- my girl and I set up in our favourite spot for creating- out on our deck in the warm breeze. We carefully looked through the book and eventually settled on a lesson about Edward Bawden- an English painter and graphic designer/ printmaker.

         Known for his illustrations of birds this project is based on the fabulous feathers represented in many of Edward Bawden's fine fowl! A mixed media piece- we started out sketching a peacock on a nice heavy piece of water colour paper- heavy paper is needed for projects like these- I quite like student quality watercolour paper. Once our birds were sketched out we started to fill in our drawing with oil pastels- creating a resist for the acrylic paints in the next step.

           This reduction technique is so much fun- magical to small children but equally fascinating for seasoned artists. Once our drawing was fully coloured in with oil pastels we took acrylic paint and painted all over our entire drawing- covering all our beautiful colouring work. Using a popsicle stick we removed paint from specific areas in the drawing- creating a pattern of feathers and outlining details of the bird- revealing the colourful oil pastels underneath.

            I so love hanging out one on one with my Littles- it doesn't happen very often making our time together even more special. My girl declared that her favourite thing to do with me is make art- this is of course something that warms my heart!

         With the dogged days of Summer just around the corner I would highly recommend Get Into Art- Animals. My kiddos love the animals- might remember something about the famous art artists I talk about- they will definitely remember hanging out on the deck with Momma in the shade creating fantastic works of art!

Keep It Simple Silly- Valentines

  Keep-It- Simple-Silly! Having children in school has taught me a number of things- first and for most that parents love to show their affection and dedication to classroom life through providing treats and prizes at key holidays- Valentine's Day being one. As much as I love the massive influx of holiday themed pencils, crayons and smelly erasers I don't feel we need to add to the flotsam of classroom treats- trust me when I say that we will never need to buy another pencil again. It was with this in mind that my Littles and I gear up for tomorrow's festivities- we wanted something SIMPLE- heart felt and easily recyclable.

         I have long wanted to try the Suminagashi Marbling kit- we purchased ours at Opus Art Supplies but it's readily available here. This kit does not call for much- a butcher's tray or shallow dish with which to hold about and inch and a half of water - a stir stick or like we used a plastic fork- and of course a sturdy paper- we used Opus Watermedia paper but any watercolour paper will do. This little project comes with easy to follow directions and once we got everything set up it didn't take long before the kids were pulling marbled paper on their own- which of course meant a few minutes of P&Q for Momma!

           Once our papers were completely  dried I took the time to quickly cut out enough hearts for everyone in both classes- yes the kids could have done the cutting but they had quite frankly moved on at that point- the excitement of marbling was enough- they were busy playing Lego. Once all the hearts were cut out my prodigies were back for the stamping bit- any time there is an ink pad and stamps to be used they are game.

           Because our cards were based on nice sturdy watercolour paper these little hearts can take any additional media quite nicely- we stamped a simple "Be My Valentine" onto each card and the Littles laboriously wrote out their To- Froms. This was such a great way to unwind on a rainy day after school- a craft with a purpose- sending our love out to all our friends.

 
            Realistically I know these Valentine wishes will end up in the recycling- or scrunched up in a backpack and then maybe under a bed. Children do not need much- this I know to be true- I think as parents we sometimes over complicate the matter when all that is called for is a simple- easy heart- a kind word. All that they really care about is how many cards are in their Valentine "mailboxes" at the end of the day- so save the cupcakes- save the pencils- just Keep It Simple Silly!

**just a note- the marbling ink does stain so do not use a tray or regular fork that you will be sad to get damaged- we used my butcher's tray which is my pallet and a plastic fork**

More Knitting For My Small Being

         So much making went on in this past month- it was difficult to show much of it off as most went off as gifts- secrecy was paramount- and so a modicum of online silence was necessary. One small bit of knitting that I was desperate to finish was for my Girly- I had visions of a snuggly warm vest covering her back as we iced through the forest of Christmas day- but it just didn't happen. I knitted on our way to the Okanagan- I knitted through out our holiday and then I knitted on the way home in the car as well- super simple garter stitch- just knitting back and forth. Still this small bit of snugness was left in pieces until just last night.

          Once stitched together and the ties added on my first hand knit garment was complete- this is almost but not quite a sweater- that is next onto the needles for the Boy! Miss Lo was so pleased to wake up this morning to one last Christmas gift- it fit perfectly and nicely matched her new Holiday dress from Mabo Kids. My little city elf is all set for a chilly winter in an old school- which tens to be either overheated or crafty- depending on which room you find yourself in- layers are important in Vancouver!

          With this small garment I have gotten a bit more  confidence in my knitting ability- I feel confident to cast on that sweater I have been dreaming of- Ok well I have two sweaters I'm itching to knit- but one thing at a time! I here by declare 2015 the year of the sweater!

P.S- also how is my little Miss getting so darn grown up? Every time I turn around she has grown another inch!

Nature Babes: Admiralty Point

          Recently our family headed out to  Admiralty Point in Belcarra Regional Park- we had never explored this part of the Lower Mainland and were excited to check out a new to us area. In addition to the weather knocking it out of the park that day our Littles were in a particularly good mood- we thought to take advantage of the situation and try for some family photos worthy of our annual Christmas card. The conditions could not have been better- getting these two hooligans to co-operate was another story though as they were obviously more interested in exploring that photo taking-  and understandably so!

         With so many great spots to check out Belcarra Park is a real hidden gem- popular with crab fishers and boaters as well as picnickers- even on a freezing cold day in November the picnic shelters were booked and the park was abundant with families enjoying the non- rain weather. We first explored the pier as well as the adjacent tidal pools and beach- the water was crystal clear and we could see crabs scuttling across the floor of the ocean.

          It was soon established that the photo taking on the beach was not going to happen- it was windy and very cold so we headed for one of the many trails- we chose the Jug Island trail- which turned out to be much longer than anticipated! The Littles did it though- with plenty of flora and fauna to keep their attention we hiked the 6 kms out to the beach at Jug Island. After a short rest and some snacks we headed back towards the car- another 6 kms but the kiddos managed it under their own steam.

           Miss Lo has decided she might like to be a blogger like Momma and is now obsessed with taking pictures- I think her and I stopped every five feet to photograph the abundant mushrooms growing near the side of the trail. Side note- on my wish list is a book on mushroom identification- I had no idea what any of these were called and my answers to her questions were severely lacking!

         By the time we got back to the truck we were all totally done- the hike combined with the fresh, cold air was just what we all needed. Somewhere along the trail we all let go of our worries and just soaked in our surroundings- the quiet- the colours- each other. As our little family gets busier we need days like this desperately- like the air that we breath -we need the forest.

PS- a big thank you to Anna from Kids Unplugged for blogging about this gem of a park!

     Friends it is Friday again- if you aren't too busy Elving it up then I encourage you all to get outside and explore- adventure is out there! Much love- Happy Friday Friends!

Makers Series: Kids Unplugged

          The next local in my Makers Series is a new line of "active wear" for Little's on the go- Kids Unplugged- many local fibre folks will recognize it's creator Anna from her popular yarn shop Baaad Anna's on East Hastings. With in the past few months Anna has branched out with her latest venture Kids Unplugged- "Practical yet playful clothing for kids who like to explore". This statement in a nutshell is what attracted me to Kids Unplugged- an adventurous and wholesome view of a childhood spent outdoors- in nature- learning and exploring.

In Anna's own words:

Kids Unplugged is a locally made line of outdoor wear and accessories. Inspired by my two young sons and our adventures in the forests, parks and beaches of British Columbia. The practical was inspired by the type of clothing I wanted for my kids during adventures in the forest. The playful was inspired by my boys who always want to 'choose' the fabric, be it mushrooms, astronauts or superheroes. All items are handmade in Vancouver, BC. Every order is custom made, you can choose your canvas colour, your interior fabric and zippers or snaps! 

        Over on the Kids Unplugged blog you will not only find links to all the wonderful products in the online store but you can also follow along on fantastical forest adventures- learn about local mushrooms and witness Littles doing what Littles are naturally inclined to do- explore and learn as they go. seeing the Littles in Kids Unplugged using and wearing their gear is the greatest testimony possible- all set against the best possible backdrop ever- our beautiful BC countryside!
     

          I know a couple of Littles on my Holiday shopping list that would love the Nature Tracker Bag- perfect for all those rocks and treasures that kids are constantly collecting! My Boy has already clearly let me know he would love an Adventure Vest- it's on his wish list- buying well made, locally sourced gifts makes shopping easy for me. Even better is when those gifts aid in my children's active- outdoor life- simple and easy- just the way childhood should be!

-Be sure to check out the Kids Unplugged Instagram feed as well- so much goodness there! @kids_unplugged

-Also be sure to check out the Kids Unplugged blog- follow along on their adventures and see all the great gear in action! http://kidsunplugged.ca

-Finally shop locally at the Kids Unplugged Big Cartel shop!   kidsunplugged.bigcartel.com

Thrifted Thursday

           Today's Thrifted Thursday is a little bit thrifted and a little bit crafty- truly the best of both worlds- made all the better because it came in the guise as a gift from a dear friend. I have been meaning to write about this for quite some time but honestly so much has happened this summer that I just haven't had the time to write about yet! At the end of July we were paid a visit from my dear friend Sarah- who incidentally wrote a guest post for me last summer which can be read here- she and her family were visiting from Wisconsin. Sarah truly is one of my kindred souls- we bonded in University over beer and thrifting- some things really never change!

          So anyways Sarah and her sweet family stayed with us for a few days and of course she and I both had a few gifties for each other- I almost died laughing when we essentially exchanged wool! Into my yarn stash went this dreamy, soft neutral skien- from a local Wisconsin mill- Blackberry Ridge- the perfect base for one of my natural dyes. Along with this yummy little treat was this wee maroon satchel- purse to you non fashion types! I used this diminutive little bag only a handful of times before my little Miss declared it perfect to tote around her treasures- so I feel I may never get to use this bag again- shades of things to come!

         In other news as much as I am desperately trying to hang onto these final gentle days of summer I can see and feel fall creeping in. The mornings now hold a crispness that simply wasn't there last week- soon it will be boot and sweater weather. The nights come quickly now and the beach toys have all been packed away- I'm reassessing our rain gear- patching jeans- starting to think about soups and baking bread again. The Littles are still out of school- which feels a bit strange and yet totally right- their nature collection is growing daily as we wander and explore our way through our city- easing out of our summer skin and on into fall.

Weekend Hike: Brandywine Falls Provincial Park

           This past Saturday found us headed up the Sea to Sky Highway once again- into the mountains that make our hearts happy and our feet itch to get moving. We sped past our favourite camping spot- Porteau Cove- made a quick stop for lunch provisions in Squamish and continued up into the hills towards Brandywine Falls Provincial Park. Just off the side of the highway lies an unassuming looking rest stop and picnic area- however the scores of tourist busses are a sure sign something spectacular is near by. The falls themselves are a short 300 meter stroll from the parking lot and are sure to impress- hence all the tour busses- folks hopping off- taking pictures of the falls and hopping back on their air conditioned luxury coaches- they have no idea what they are actually missing out on!

           While the falls are a must see- at 70 meters tall how could they fail to impress- the real magic lies deeper in the forest. A number of hiking and biking trails were recently added and the park expanded to over triple it's size to include habitat for a previously endangered frog. Pick and number of trails and you will not fail to be disappointed- away from the crowds we headed out through lush forest towards the Calcheak Suspension Bridge along the Cheakamus River. Pausing at the look out and gazing down the valley towards Daisy Lake was positively vertigo inducing- bringing me back to the reality that we are all so tiny and in the vastness of the mountains and the world in general- we are really just specks on the globe- humbling.

        The wind blew hot and dry up on the ridge- bringing to mind the Thunderbird who reigns the skies flapping his wings- as we continued on up into the power line cut the sun showed no hint of knowing it's the end of summer. While we didn't make it all the way to the suspension bridge the Littles did really well- it was really hot and they just weren't digging a forced march- so as soon as hiking stopped being fun we just turned around and headed back to the van.

          Both Littles collected their fair share of rocks on the hike- immediately noticing the chunks of lava along the side of the trails- much speculation about weather or not we were on an old volcano was bandied about. The were right- we were all interested to learn that the valley walls are compromised of at least four basaltic lava flows-almost 34,000 years old- amazing!

      With the hot sun beating down on our shoulders and the warm summer winds blowing down the valley it's hard to believe summer is coming to a close. Each time we head out in the sunshine from now on is like a gift- we can never be too sure when the rains will return. This hike was such a treat- so much of this area is unexplored by our family yet- so many hikes so little time!

Crafternoon: Eco Printed Bunting

        If there is one thing I have learned about my kids it's that they like picking flowers and smashing things with rocks- simple truth here folks- I'm raising highly evolved beings. As brutal as the delivery sounds the results yielded are quite pretty and ephemeral. These simple Eco-printed flags look great outside as a garden accent or brought indoors as a reminder of sunnier days!

        To start this project you will need to gather a variety of deeply hued flowers- we found geraniums worked very well as did lavender and petunias. Cut squares of fabric for your flags- I used pinking shears to give a decorative zig zag cut on the edge of the fabric- make your squares about 8"x 10"- they can always be trimmed down later. Find a rock that feels good in your hand for the smashing.

     Lay your fabric out on a hard surface- we worked on a board that had a bit of give to it- place your gathered flowers out- I tried to do a bit of a design- the Littles were completely random in their placement. One option is to just take the rock and start gently mashing the flowers into the fabric- another way is to place a second piece of fabric over the flowers and hammer on that. Gently pound or mash the flowers until they start to bleed into the fabric- the  flower's pigment will stain the fabric. Carefully peel away the ponded flower remains. Set your fabric aside to dry completely- I put ours in the sun to heat set but you can also iron to heat set.

     You can use the fabric for a multitude of projects- unique throw cushions, tote bags or as we did a festive bunting for the garden. To make the bunting simply take your printed fabric and sew onto a piece of webbing- a simple straight stitch on a machine will do but so will hand stitching, stapling or hot glue!

       What I loved about this little project is that the Littles were able to engage in something similar to the eco bundling I did a few weeks ago- they were ever so curious and so this enabled them to be a part of that process. Working along side my Littles is so fun- nothing like an afternoon spent out in the garden at Mommo and Poppa's!

     Friends it is Friday again and the long weekend- we are halfway through summer holiday already! Hard to believe but true- we have some heavy duty plans that include hitting the beach and hitting the beach! Happy Pride Vancouver and Happy Friday Friends!

Silver Spurs Trails: A Horse Adventure

        Last week- while still on our Okanagan vacation- my Father In Law came to us with one of his plans- he had booked the Littles their very first riding lesson. So we packed up snacks an headed out past Lumby towards Mable Lake to Silver Spurs Trails- a slice of paradise just outside the city! Silver Spurs is a full on working Dude ranch- the property includes two tee pees which can be rented out for a weekend or a week. Other activities- besides horses- include hiking, fishing and in the winter snow shoeing through the pristine wilderness of the BC back country.

          Upon arrival the Littles were introduced to Starling- the ranch's quietest and easiest horse- they were shown how to say hello- brushed her coat and then learned about putting the blanket and saddle on. This very gradual introduction to the horse helped the kids get comfortable around the big animal-  when the time came to go for their first ride both kids were relaxed and excited at the same time. The staff were so in tuned with the horses and engaged in what they were doing that it naturally drew the kids in and got them interested- although The Boy might have been more interested in the barn cats!

         As much as I was watching my kids I also had an eye on my Father In Law- in his youth he worked extensively with horses- in Germany he was an Olympic Equestrian rider- so it was only natural that he was having a really proud Opa moment watching his kids take their first ride. Both kids were so blown away by being up on the horse- they really loved everything about the ranch though- from the ranch dog Trapper to helping feed the other horses and pick cherries!

        Silver Spurs is such a beautiful spot- fields of daisies surround the property- making everything all the more magical. Surrounded by mountains and close to Mable Lake this would be the ideal spot for a family getaway. The Boy has requested we return and stay in the tee pees and Miss Lo wants to visit her friend Starling again.

Finding The Beauty in January

            It can be hard to believe some days but there is beauty to be found in January- in puddles and small feet stomping- in the fog swirling about- in the stone grey water of an ultra high tide at the shore. Beauty is all around us we just have to stop and look up for a minute or two. I find that after the New Year folks are so full of focus and determination that often this first month of the year goes by in a blur- I know I am guilty of putting my head down and getting on with my "to do" list- neglecting to enjoy the beauty that is going on around me daily.

       Here we find ourselves at the end of January- the first month of 2014 almost put to bed and I realize that there are changes happening all around me- the days are noticeably longer- we now have day light after school in which to hit the park for a quick scooter ride. The bulbs- planted by city workers months ago- have awoken and are poking through the soil - reaching for the sun and seasonal glory. The sap has started to move in the trees- turning the tips of branches red and forcing new buds to appear. All is this the magical promise of Spring- longer, warmer days.

      So too can I see changes in my children that I might have missed had I not looked up from my tasks- pants too short at the ankle indicate they are each in the midst of yet another growth spurt. The Boy- who is almost 6- is starting to be more aware of the larger world at hand- currently interested in flags and countries- coming to me with statements and questions that I am shocked and amazed at. I am only shocked because to me he is still a blond two year old with a soother sticking out the side of his mouth- I understand how Mothers tend to treat their adult offspring like children. It is still so surprising to me that a few short years ago he was a brand new babe and now he can get snacks for himself and his sister, pour milk with out spilling(sometimes), make his own bed, speak French, write his name, take apart a door frame- amazing to think that how quickly children grow and learn. Science is cool.

     January may be grey, foggy and rainy- there may be no big spectacular Holidays to celebrate- but there is something spectacular and beautiful happening all around right now. Things are waking up- children are growing- the days are getting longer. Beauty is all around us- so lets celebrate just because and make the days a little brighter!

   

Crafternoon: Mini Puppets

         Around these parts we are big fans of Washi tape- I know for sure some folks will be asking what on earth is Washi tape- Mom I'm thinking of you! Washi tape is colourful, patterned, low tack masking tape- I like to use Washi to tack up the kid's art work around the house as it is non marking. Washi tape is available in practically any colour or pattern you can wish for and adds cuteness to any project- big or small. For this little craft my Girly and I chose to use Washi tape as "clothes" for Popsicle stick puppets.

         For this project all you will need is a couple of different colours of Washi tape, markers and large sized Popsicle sticks. Select one colour of Washi tape for the bottoms - skirt, pants, bikini ( Miss Lo made a bunch of puppets in bikinis), simply wrap a small piece of the Washi tape around the Popsicle stick. Next select a colour of Washi tape for the puppets top, wrap the top of the Popsicle stick to create the shirt. Once your puppet is clothed you can add it's features on with marker- hair, eyes, smile, glasses- we also gave a few of our puppets Washi tape hats.

        The nice thing about using Washi tape for a small project like this is that it tears very easily- scissors are not needed- unless you have an insistent four year old who likes to cut things into tiny pieces- then by all means use scissors! This is a great little project to take with you for travel or to a restaurant- it's a project that once set up the Littles can just work away on their own . In no time at all you will have assembled a motley cast of puppets- perfect for any sort of imaginative adventures!

        Friends it is Friday again- although it might be foggy right this second we are for casted to have a beautiful, sunny weekend- so if you need me just look to the farmers market, hiking trails or beaches of Vancouver- that's where we will be! Happy Friday Friends!