Form Follows Function

And ornament is crime?  Design principles.  Hmph.

In this case, let me argue that the ornamentation speaks to the identity and values of the creator.  Nature, simplicity, yet something a little outside of the box.  There were too many baby blankets and quilts out there with "themes" that screamed "Not me!"  I didn't want any of it.

So to Mitchell's Fabrics I went.  Mitchell's is a hallowed-place of a fabric store.  Huge tables, wide wooden floors, staircases and beams straight out of the 1920s on Main Street in Winnipeg.  Not to mention a killer bargain and vintage section downstairs.

I didn't intend to buy these "baby fabrics" when I was there, but some things just buy themselves.  And now I have two functional quilts ready for a crib.  Today, I added the leafy window-frame to one of them.  Don't look too closely at the binding or check too carefully for the straightness of the quilting.  Better just to admire the fabric (blue-grey herringbone and a solid cream) and rub your cheek against its soft flannelette.  And dream...of a baby.

Strawberry Summer

Doesn't this just scream elfish-forest garden?  

I swear, little people could live beneath that greenery.

Strawberry tops for hats.

This is the first year that I've had a strawberry crop from my lakeside garden!  Even the garlic that I planted behind them came back (I had taken them for dead).  3 cups worth of tiny strawberries and there's more to come (I should check that out today).  We had them with a lemon-zest shortcake and whipped cream, courtesy of Ricardo (I love his Québecois culinary genius-ness).

That's the thing about gardening...there's lots of surprises.  Like the 4-petaled velvety purple flower on a long, spindly stem that popped up in my purple (and red and pink) fireweed and wild-rose garden.  I don't remember planting it, but there it is, right next to the rubble from our newly dug-out foundation.  Hence the importance and fun of maps.  Draw out your gardens, adapt the drawings as you add to and rearrange your plantings.  Oh, the excitement never ends...

Reno, Demo, Addition Update

It may comfort you to know that we keep some livable (and CLEAN!) spaces (bedroom 1 and 2, stove, counter, fridge, bathroom) in the midst of all of this chaos.

 Rooow. Baby.  You can clean my anytime.

Living room to be. 

Current kitchen. 

Used-to-be-kitchen. 

Master bedroom. 

Godzilla meets Clearwater. 

Bringing the outdoors indoors.  Or open concept.  Take your pick, they're only words.

Fleeting Moments

"I like my body

when it is with your body.

It is so

quite a new thing.

Muscles better 

and nerves more."

- e.e. cummings

I wanted to share these photos that Jenny Keller, photographer and editor extraordinaire, took last month when we were out at their cabin at Rocky Lake.  Enjoy!

Mother Blessing

"You have been my friend,"

replied Charlotte.

"That in itself

is a tremendous thing."

-E.B.White

Amazing friends and family are interchangeable.  It's hard to tell the two apart at times.  I've been blessed with friends and family who support me, love me and choose to honour me (and the monster who is about to make its entrance to this world) with good thoughts, prayers, wishes and meditation, all part of a ceremony called a "Mother Blessing".  

As part of the ceremony, each person brought or sent a bead.  This is quite the beaut of a necklace sporting everything from Snoopy to Tiger's Eye, plastic baubles, shells from India and semi-precious stones of different meanings.  It will be close by when I go into labour as a reminder of all those who are part of my web of support (à la Charlotte).

The dress, by the way, comes from my 10-year-old Indian salesman.  Little did I realize it was zeroing right in on the reason for the ceremony.  Mom, Darce and Amanda were none-too-slow to recognize this.  Steve just called me gorgeous.  Truth prevails in both cases.