Koo and Poppet

Sand Art

2012-01-13T19:36:00.001-08:00

This is a very moving video by a brilliant sand artist from the Ukraine. Her performance tells the story of the Soviet Union during World War II. Watch.....

Pretty little things

2012-01-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

On my list of New Year's To-Do's:

Make Lace Cookies:

via here.

Dress cake with almond sliver petals and berries:

via here.

Simple. Gorgeous.

five months. just like that.

2012-01-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

Amelia is gettin' her chub on.

I am hanging on tightly to her babyness, as this second time around, I know just how fleeting a phase it really is.

sure, i still curse the 2 a.m. siren song from her crib as I stumble through the darkness. And of course I don't mean "siren song" as in enticing or appealing. I mean "siren song" as in SIREN.

Last night there was some confusion. The kind of confusion that can only be caused by being the over-tired parents of an infant. Usually by 2 or 3:00, Amelia is sleeping in bed with me. But last night, little Sadie found her way to our room first and jumped into bed. I woke up around 3:40 and heard a baby crying. Scott was pacing our room, half asleep, trying to locate the source of the crying. I became confused. Where was Amelia? What time is it? Scott was clearly very confused. The lights came on. Head-count in bed. Where's the baby? WHERE'S THE BABY?!?!! Oh! Oh. She's in her crib, she's in her room. She's fine, she's fine. Scott please go get her.

So he brings her back to me and we snuggle in. I begin to drift back to sleep. WAIT!! My eyes snap open. Where is Scott? He's not back in bed yet which can only mean one thing......FRIDGE RAID. Except he has a blood test in the morning and is supposed to have been fasting since last night.

"SCOTT!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I yell into the dark stillness of the house. (I don't really even have to ask. I can practically hear his esophagus working).

"HAVING A DRINK OF MILK," comes the reply.

"DON'T DRINK ANYTHIIIIIIINNNNNNG!!!!!!!"

"WHY??............Oh. Dammit!"

In PEI they call midnight snacks "bed-lunch". Scott has been a bed-luncher for as long as I've known him. The way things are going lately, I figure we might as well just become a nocturnal family.

We could have pet owls.

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

Here's hoping everyone's holiday was filled with love, laughter and light.

I'm looking forward to a new year that will include fresh beginnings, exciting adventures, and earlier bedtimes (well I can hope, can't I?).

Here are a few photos of the last month around our house:

Sadie and Amelia checking out the goods under the tree

Presents? For me?!!

Holy spit-up! it's Santa!!

Big Spoon Solitude

2011-12-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

In a rare and startling moment I find myself home alone.

Scott has taken the girls out for dinner and some last minute shopping so I can get some work done. I'm eating a gigantic pink grapefruit and sipping cherry green tea. And listening to this:

Ariel and I were friends in elementary school. We spent many seventh-grade summer days bouncing on her trampoline :)

Now she lives in Boston or New York (I'm not sure exactly), and as you can see and hear is a singer-songwriter at the beginning of what appears will be a very successful career if I'm any kind of judge of talent. I LOVE this song. If you do too, please pass this vid around and help spread Ariel's music!

A blog about a dog

2011-12-15T09:48:00.000-08:00

A dog named Coco(nut) to be exact.

She is our dog, our gentle little whippet.

She came to us from Kamloops B.C., and I drove 5 hours there and 5 hours back to get her, with 9-month-old Sadie and my dad. On the ride home Coco lay curled in the tightest ball in the front seat, and didn't move a muscle. The car deck on the ferry rattled her. The first walk I took her on, she decided to turn into a statue at the halfway point. I had to carry her home while trying to steer the stroller. I received many a sideways glance.

Tomorrow she will be Cara and Darrell's dog.

I know there are a lot of animal lovers out there.....I am one of them. But I have something I am ashamed to admit about Coco the Dog:

She. Drives. Me. CRAZY.

And in order to be a fit mother and wife, I must retain my sanity. Therefore, we made the painstaking decision a few weeks ago to find a great home for our family pet.

No more checking the food and water dish several times a day. No more muddy paws scratching to be let in, let out. No more clicking nails pacing the floor. No more damp snout on the back of my leg, following me from room to room and back again. No more guilt for being gone for several hours while Coco is left in the laundry room (on a comfy bed of course). No more paws on the countertop. No more pee on the rug in the playroom. No more eating her own poop. No more hearing a raised, exasperated tone exit my mouth within earshot, always within earshot, of my girls. No more dog for the MacNeills.

A meteoric burden has been lifted.

I'm sorry, I just don't have the time for you right now Coco. You are a lovely animal and I know your life will be wonderful with your new owners.

Cara and Darrell are a couple with another whippet-cross (named Sara), and Cara is a dog trainer and owns a dog daycare where Coco and Sara will spend their days. Darrell is a runner and Coco will surely enjoy a daily jog. They don't have children; Coco will get all the attention she needs.

I wanted my children to grow up with a pet. But I don't want them to grow up with the impression that a pet is a nuissance, a chore. But, at this point in MY life, that is what this dog is for me. I am spread too thin. I don't have the time. I swore that if and when we brought a dog into our home, it would be for the duration of the dog's life and I acknowledged that commitment. Unfortunately, I underestimated the extent of Coco's neediness. Whippets are an affection-craving, highly sensitive breed. I've learned my lesson.

But tomorrow will be tough nonetheless. I take comfort in knowing that she will have a better life with Cara and Darrell, who love her already. In a way, I feel like they were always her owners, and that we have been serving as Coco's guardians until her perfect people came along.

Has anyone else ever had to give up a pet? I feel awful about this.

Adventures in Baking (kind of)

2011-11-20T11:20:00.001-08:00

Unlike some, being a domestic goddess does not come naturally to me.

When Sadie and I attempted to make cupcakes from scratch, they came out looking like space rocks with the density of a shotput.

But they tasted not bad, and it was all about the decoration anyway, oink oink.

For our second attempt a week later, I picked up some confetti cup mix at the grocery store and decided that I would leave the true baking to the pros, at least for now.

Afterall, as long as they're pink, she's happy....

Where in the World

2011-11-13T22:01:00.000-08:00

Maps are awesome.

Don't you think?

I love some good map art.

Embelish a globe.

Monochrome neighbourhoods.

Highlight several special spots....

or maybe just one.

Copenhagen. Ink. Want to go there so badly.

But there's no place like....

Images via here, here and here.

Tubby Time

2011-10-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

And after Tubby Time comes Bed Time of course. And after Bed Time comes a spontaneous lesson in vocabulary.....

She runs from her darkened room to the top of the stairs wearing nothing but a pull-up.

"MOMMY, DADDY!" she shrieks, "UMMMM.....what's a NEIGHBOURHOOD??"

She comes by it honestly

2011-10-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

Heard of Polyvore?

It's a highly addictive website for anyone who is....mmmm.....shall we say, sartorially inclined.

Basically you drag and drop any garment/accessory/shoe, etc. onto a white background (or a fancy one, 'cause they have those too). The point is to create "looks"/ideas for outfits that you can save on your own profile. You can browse other users' collages and when you hover over an item it pops up who the designer is, what it costs, etc. And if you CLICK on an item you are magically whisked to a spot on the web where that item is available for purchase. I know, it's crazy. Majestically, revolutionarily, prayer-answeringly CRAZY.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about:

september realized by kooandpoppet featuring a racer back tank

me likes.

me owns the topshop cardigan. me dreams of the marc jacobs bag. me loves the boots, but if me gets one more pair of boots, me husband might divorce me.

Anyway, if it is just now news to you that I am apparel-obsessed then you don't know me very well and we should do something about that. BUT, that is not the point of today's post. The point of today's post is that I have somehow, someway, inadvertently spawned my own little Polyvore....my mini me.

I will preface this photo by saying that Scott started this habit by encouraging her to lay her clothes out for the day ahead, and now it is a mainstay in the bedtime routine (nb: Sadie has no idea what Polyvore is. but she does know that to get Caillou to appear on screen "you haffa go to YouTube"):

Girl even accessorizes. Note the multiple hair bows and miniature handbag (which is actually a Christmas tree decoration that has zero storage capacity. All is not what it seems when it comes to fashion as we well know, friends. Kind of like those tops that are meant to APPEAR like they are a sweater vest over a blouse when really they are merely a tragic singular hybrid mess of a shirt. Psyche!!).

And shorts over leggings? Forecasting a trend, naturally.

Milly's Mobile

2011-09-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

The theme of Amelia's nursery, which is yet to be completed, is vintage carnival/circus (minus the sideshow and the bearded lady. Might include the wolf brothers though. just kidding).

I love this mobile that I found on etsy by jacksbeanstalk. If I was a baby I know I would dig this eye candy. Alas, the shop owner is about to have a wee one herself so it's unavailable to order.

So I'm going to attempt to make it myself! I went to the wool shop yesterday for some wool and a felting needle. Because, you know, I don't already have enough projects on the go. I'm pretty sure that filling my plate with too many to-dos is a life sentence! At least I'm never bored.

As for the needle felting, I'm relying on the internet to teach me how to do it, although I don't think it can be that hard. Any experts out there? If anyone has any tips for me, please share!

p.s. what's that you ask? 2 blog posts in 2 days?? I KNOW. this shizzle is off the chain! My keyboard is hot to the touch....

Re-post: Barenaked in Toronto and Vancouver

2011-09-26T23:28:00.001-07:00

*originally posted to the Papermouse blog on June 12, 2008. I am going to re-post some past entries to ever so slowly get back into the habit of regular writing and blogging. Do you think I have time to do things like organize my closet now that I have 2 kids?? Most definitely.....NOT.

I am fit to be crowned Worst Packer of this great wide land. Last night I was trying to fill a suitcase with necessities for a day in Vancouver and two days in Toronto. No matter the destination, the duration of the trip, the weather or the growing limitations as to what clothes can actually accomodate my bump these days, I stand motionless in front of my closet and stare vacantly at an abyss of clothes, shoes, bags, scarves. Scott has warned me that if I keep it up, he will need to refinish the floor at my feet.

I am a clothes sorter. I am a re-folder. I am an organize-my-closet-by-garment-colour-when-the-mood-strikes-me kind of gal. I banish spring clothes to storage in the fall, and fall clothes to storage in the spring. I like this kind of system. It keeps me calm, if not obsessive compulsive.

But packing is my wardrobial tragic flaw. Shoes especially. I usually take with me more pairs of shoes than days I am away. Add two different climates to the formula (a heat wave in Toronto and the perpetual winter of '08 on the West Coast) and I've really got a calculus problem to solve. Find: the derivative of white shorts raised to the power of two heels, multiplied by a maternity top, all divided by rain. I stand. I stare. Flies fluzz by. Chestnuts roast on an open fire.

And inevitably, the morning of my departure is an exercise in haphazardly adding last minute items to my suitcase (and purging four-legged stowaways). Boots. toothpaste. pjs. Shit! pjs!!!

Getting around to it

2011-08-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, friends, I am still here!

And now she is too.

I am back from my blogcation and am delighted to announce the safe arrival of our little Amelia Munro. She was born on July 27th at 2:44 pm and weighed a wee 6 lbs 6oz. She was 5/10 when we left the hospital so you can imagine how ridiculously big her car seat seemed. She's packin' it on though, last week she weighed in at a whopping 7/3! :)

I checked into the hospital on Tuesday, July 26th, expecting my "scheduled" section at 2:30 that afternoon. I guess the term "scheduled C-section" is used loosely around here. I was bumped for a full 24 hours due to emergencies and what I suppose was a lack of available medical staff. Because I had to fast, I was S.T.A.R.V.I.N.G. But finally it was game time and I found myself in the O.R. getting prepped for the surgery. It was a much different experience this time around (when Sadie was born via C-section, I had already been in labour for about 6 hours, it was an emergency, and also 2 a.m. so it was all kind of a blur). But this time, it was just your typical Wednesday afternoon and I was completely coherent, and therefore taking in all the details of my strange surroundings.....overhead operation lights, a clock on the wall, heart monitors, surgical tools, an empty bassinet waiting for a baby, and at first 1.....2....then 3...4...5...6...7...8 masked people filing into the windowless room, prepping various stations. Just before I received the anesthetic, I had to focus on a spot on the wall in front of me to avoid panic setting in!

But I can't say enough good things about the team of people that were a part of Amelia's birth. I am so thankful to all of the doctors and nurses. Thank goodness there are people who choose this line of work and are excellent at what they do!

Scott videotaped the entire surgery and delivery. The first thing he said to me was "lots of dark hair!" Then I heard a tiny little cry and saw our second daughter being lifted out of my body. After she was checked over and brought over to me, the first thing I noticed about her was how perfect and fresh and new her skin was. And that newborn smell, OH that wonderful smell! She looks a little bit like her big sister, but also has some of her own unique features of course, like her "uni-dimple" ;)

And just TINY. Almost intimidatingly so. Has anyone seen the movie Babe Pig in the City? You know when the chimpanzees have those babies? That's kind of what she reminded me of....

Now she's 3 and a half weeks old and we're adjusting to life as a family of 4......more about that later. But I will say that it's joy and chaos all in the same moment!

p.s. Ellen is the winner of the K&P baby pool! you were very close, Elle!

Koo & Poppet Baby Pool!

2011-06-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

7 weeks to go!

Here's how to enter the Koo & Poppet Baby Pool:

Leave a comment on this post, or on the Koo & Poppet Facebook Page with the following guesses:

1. Boy or girl

2. Weight

3. Date

4. Suggest a name

Whoever is closest will win a Koo & Poppet bunny......and there will be a bonus prize if we choose your name suggestion! (p.s. we have NO ideas for a boy's name)

Breakfast of Champions

2011-06-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

A recipe on this blog? This is where I pretend that I actually know how to cook/bake.....

Sadie and I made some deliciously nutritious flourless quinoa bread for breakfast this morning.

It's a little bland, but very moist. I recommend toasting it and topping with butter and organic agave syrup. Popular with the little folk as well!

1 c quinoa
3/4 c buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/4 tbsp salt
2 c quick rolled oats
1/2 c ground flax
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 tsp baking powder

wash quinoa, place in bowl, cover with 2 c water. Cover and refrigerate at least 6 hrs (up to 10)

Preheat oven to 350. Drain quinoa into blender with buttermilk, eggs and salt. Puree until smooth.

Combine oats, flax, baking soda and baking powder. Add quinoa, mix and bland well.

Pour into 8x3 bread pan lined with parchment. bake one hour and cool. store in fridge/freezer.

Try it and let me know if you like it!

The 26 week belly

2011-05-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

I promise one with a head next time.....

Pills to swallow and the April report

2011-04-19T14:02:00.000-07:00

Uh oh. I can't believe it's been a month since I've written anything. Is anyone still out there?

You would think that now that I'm done work and am home full time with Sadie, there would be more time to blog and sew and paint and do all the things I planned on doing. But I haven't even started doing my taxes yet.

Well I guess the best thing to do would be a monthly re-cap.

On St. Patrick's day I was on my way to a site visit with my colleague and my cell phone rang. It was my doctor's office calling. The receptionist said I needed to come in right away and that there were a few issues on my 18 week ultrasound. I asked what kind of issues. She said that "things are just looking really thin down there. Also, you are done work as of today."

So I scrapped the site visit and was in the doctor's office by 1:00. The problem is that the scar from my C-Section with Sadie is very thin and they are not sure whether or not I will be able to carry this baby to term. So I was taken off work and told to take it as easy as possible and we'll just see how everything goes. There is a real possibility that the baby could be born very early!

Here is a photo at 24 weeks...

Then, amidst all this pregnancy stuff, we lost a beloved member of our household.

A few weeks ago, we suddenly noticed that our cat had lost a pile of weight. Then she pretty much stopped eating altogether. I took the poor girl in for a check-up and she wound up overnight in the animal hospital hooked up to an IV. CHA-CHING. They ran some tests but couldn't come up with a diagnosis. CHA-CHING, CHA-CHING. She was dying of an undetermined illness.

A couple hundred bucks, we figured - even without any firm answers.

Think again. Here is our vet bill:

(Allow me to choke on the pint of ice cream I am elbow deep in)

So we were sent packing with that pill to swallow as well as a bunch of white ones for the cat to swallow. Shaaa, RIGHT. Who has ever known a cat who will voluntarily take a little white antibiotic? So the experimentation began. At 11:00 one night, I heard Scott in the kitchen with what sounded like a power tool:

The assortment of scraps you see in this photo include ham, cheerios, white pills and cat treats. Nothing was working so he actually cut a cat treat in half, drilled a shallow pit in each side, and planted the pill flush inside the hole. How he accomplished this with such expert precision is a mystery to me. Then he stuck the two halves back together with some water and a couple of minutes in the freezer. I don't think we should try to cross the border with these anytime soon.

Yes I know.

You are speechless.

So was I.

Have You Ever Heard Of Such A Thing?

Did this experimental method work?

What do you think?

Of course not.

Someway, somehow Val still knew her meds were in there.

So poor kitty was running out of options to recover from whatever was ailing her. Could have been an infection, could have been thyroid problems, could have been cancer.

We gave her all the attention she could get in her last few days and when her eyesight started to fail, we knew it was time to let her go. We had to put her down on Saturday morning. It was so so sad. I miss her so much. Sadie said to me this morning: "You miss the kitty mommy?""Yes", I said. "Don't worry mommy, Daddy go and get her and bring her home to you." Gulp.

(Valentino in her kittenhood)

In Koo & Poppet news, I've shut down the etsy shop temporarily until after the baby is born. But I did squeak in a few last orders, like this "T" tulip pillow and a new piggy named Zoe:

And then of course, there are the on-going home improvements.....here is the current state of the family room....one more week to go:

And one of a little "Rapunzel" (her favourite) for good measure:

And now, while my Rapunzel is still a Sleeping Beauty, I shall have more ice cream....

Stylish Blogger Award: For me? Why thank you!

2011-03-19T13:25:00.001-07:00

Thank you so much to Jenn of the Blush and Bees Vancouver Island gardening blog for honouring me! I have known Jenn since we were seven years old. Many Easters were spent decorating eggs while listening to Paula Abdul, and during the summers we could be found in our Bocas and Vuarnets on the corner by the nearby beach selling fruit from the trees in our backyards. Ahhhh, early 90s....I will always remember you with fondness ;)

Acceptance of the Stylish Blogger Award requires me to list seven things about myself that most people don't know. Here goes:

1. I am a germaphobe. No part of my body ever comes into direct contact with any part of a public washroom. I can hardly handle it if my husband wipes any hard surface with anything other than a paper towel/clean dish cloth and disenfectant. I do not like sharing drinks.

2. My closest friends are my oldest friends. They are the girls I grew up with all throughout high school and, in some cases, even elementary school. As an only child myself, they are as close to being my family as friends can get. I'm referring to about a dozen people. At one point in our lives, we all wanted to be the same person. Same hair, same clothes, same taste in music, same everything. I love to look at everyone now and realize how different we've all become....and yet how close we still remain.

3. I love eavesdropping on lunch-hour business meetings at restaurants or coffee shops. I try to discern what profession or industry is the basis of the discussion. Who is the client, what is the product, how much money is involved, what kind of software is needed. Weird, I know.

4. In another life, one in which I was born with any kind of culinary skill, I might have been a pastry chef in New York City. Or maybe Paris.

5. I used to dream about having a pet pig. I must admit I'm very glad it never came true.

They are cute though.

6. If we're going to play a boardgame, you really want me on your team. We'll win.

7. I HATE listening to or reading instructions. I don't think I've ever read a manual in my life - especially one without pictures. I simply glaze over and become semi-catatonic. I will do it my way, thank you, and learn by trial and error.

And that is that!

So now I will pass this award on to 13 worthy recipients. I'd like to give mention to these people who are not only stylish, but also wonderful writers, artists, parents or friends.

In no order whatsoever...

1. To Beatriz of Lucky14Handmade - Knitter extraordinaire! No shortage of style here.

2. To Carine of Smallest Things - A stylish life in Paris with her wee bubs.

3. To Deborah of The Simonster - Not only a great friend and fellow mom, but Sadie's "second mommy" too! aka "Debwaa".

4. To Beth of Beth Campbell Creative - Beth is a multi-talented local designer with a blog that features the best in architecture, art and cuisine.

5. To Danielle of Momsicle Vibe - My Rocaine dealer and good friend, this girl will have you in stitches. Her writing is nothing short of AMAZING.

6. To Sarah of Sparked Philosophy - Mom to sweet Ember, Sarah is a fantastic writer and friend of Koo & Poppet.

7. To Andrea of Mama in the City - my bloggy friend across the strait, Andrea writes with a voice that is honest and captivating.

8. To Jennifer of A Merry Mishap - a mom with impeccable taste in fashion and interiors.

9. To Dionne of City of Dionne - her blog is a visual feast. Her illustrations are exquisite.

10. To Ivan of Meade Design Group - a great friend and colleague with an un-rivaled eye for the best in design.

11. To Margot of Margot Austin Blog - Senior Design Editor at Style at Home Magazine.

12. Nadine of Walter Helena Photography - a beautiful person inside and out, her writing and photography will leave you entirely inspired.

13. Michelle of Michelle Loewen Photography - I don't know what I'm more envious of - her photographic skills or her culinary skills :)

In other news, you may be seeing a lot more of me here in the months ahead. I've been put off work and on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy (I'm only 20 weeks as it is!!) More on that one to come....

Home Reno - halfway point...

2011-03-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

When we moved into our house in October of 2009, we knew we had our work cut out for us. At first glance, it was difficult to see past the rustic wood siding, stained carpet and marbleized seashell sinks. The house was built in 1979 and it's not hard to tell.

Still, it had a comfortable layout and a great yard and Scott and I saw some potential in this split-level country house. We could picture ourselves living here and we could also imagine digging into some home improvements. We're about halfway there, and have been in construction mode for more than a year now. A lot of the work to date has been mainly cosmetic updates, but a few walls have been built or demolished here and there. We probably have another 2 years to go! But it's been a lot of fun to see the transformation this house is going through.

Most of you have seen the results of "Phase One", my Koo & Poppet World Headquarters ;-),

The office before:

and after:

Split stair before:

Stair after (not quite done yet):

Living room before (yikes!):

Living room after (what to do to add some more interest around the fireplace? any ideas?):

Living room and entry on the day we moved in:

and after:

Dining room before:

Dining room after - just needs some new chairs and a little more colour:

Now we are diving in to the family room downstairs. This room is in dire need of a makeover! The plan is to have this room ready by the time the baby is born this summer. I'll post photos of the finished result soon....

After this room is finished, it's on to the bedrooms upstairs.....I'm dreaming up a nursery design right now....details to follow!

And finally.....the big ticket items: KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS. And we have big 'ol plans for the kitchen. It's preeeetty bad right now. But fully functional, so one can't complain too much :) Sometimes I remind my self that there's no rush for all of this....we have walls, heat and a roof over our heads and really, I'm just grateful for that. And then I re-acquaint myself with those seashell sinks and I'm all OKAY SLEDGEHAMMER NOW, RETRO CHARM MY A$$.

and did I mention that Scott and my Dad have done all this work by themselves? They are superstars.

It's Fabric Selection Time again...

2011-03-05T10:38:00.001-08:00

And I'd love your input!

Which prints do you think I should order for a new kollection of koos?

#1: "I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike"

#2: Now this is happiness!

#3: Candy dots

#4: Snowy blooms

#5: Classic black and white gingham

#6: Woodlands and fancy free

#7: Deer and doilies

#8: pink and orange sakura

Let's put it to a vote!

we whistle while we work

2011-02-28T20:34:00.000-08:00

Some freshly made bunnies, bears and Pig 2.0.

This crew is now en route to my new friends at Kennedy Crawford Design in North Vancouver.

My littlest helper is never far....

Off she goes, onto the next adventure

Beautiful objects for sunny days ahead

2011-02-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

Once again, I find myself browsing the web for beautiful novelties....I invite you to gaze upon these lovelies and become smitten....

handmade map letters found here

Adorable Fabric buttons found here

Orla Kiely Radio: yes yes yes!

Danish Vases from Urban Butik

Virginia Johnson baby quilts

Retro Orla teapot

Chalkboard globe spotted on DesignSponge

TGIF! Have a great weekend :-)

Clearance Sale in the Shop

2011-02-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

Little Toffee Bear "Jessie" is on sale in my etsy shop:

$14

click here to view the listing

Later that day.....

2011-02-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

The light snow brings

2011-02-23T12:28:00.000-08:00

HELLO Snow Day!

We attempted to drive down to Victoria at the usual time this morning, only to find once we reached the highway that traffic was at a standstill and winter is in fact still here. So we turned back for home but not before stopping at a bakery for croissants and lattes :)

Our house normally doesn't get a huge amount of natural light suitable for interior photos, but I couldn't miss this opportunity today.....the white stuff outside brings all the light in!

So Scott is getting some work done at our dining table and I have changed out of my work clothes and into some lulus and I'm just generally enjoying the cozy factor. Sadie and I had some eggs and toast for lunch and now she's toting her doll stroller up and down the stairs. I love how she always picks the safest of activities. Time to sew up some bunnies....and then play in the snow!

(p.s. our coffee table is an old 70s relic that we found abandoned out in our shed when we moved into our house. Resurrection!!! I think it has a Danish mod vibe, but maybe it's actually just hideous.)

Sunday night

2011-02-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

Been a really busy week....wishing I had more time to spend here lately...

But I found this on Pinterest and reminded myself to slow down a bit....

Have a great week everyone.

Love is in the air

2011-02-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

A few pretty pictures to put you in the mood...

Strawberry heart marshmallows by OhYum

Watermelon hearts seen on Pinterest

Pepperoni heart pizza seen on Pinterest

I also love these EmersonMade signature Ts! If I knew I was having another girl you can bet I'd be ordering all three for next year.

Mama size.......

Toddler size......

Infant size.......

cute, cuter, cutest!!

Part 2: Doula Danger continues

2011-02-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

Let's pick up where I left off in the previous post, shall we?

Right. Jan was rubbing my back as I leaned over the hospital bed, resting on my forearms. Scott was on the other side of the bed, holding my hands and encouraging me through each contraction. "You're doing great, just breathe, 10....9.....8.....7....6......5.....4......3......2......1......BReeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaathhhhhhhheeeee....."

Unfortunately his face was a little too close to mine at this time and I had no patience for his not-so-fresh breath. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I hissed through clenched teeth: "YOU NEED A MINT." These are the only words I remember uttering to my husband during the entire labour and birth. HAHA! How messed up is that?! Luckily, I must have put the fear of God in him because he wasted no time tending to his case of halitosis.

At this point I am now on the laughing gas and thinking, okay, screw what I said about a drug free birth - I am seriously reconsidering the Epidural, like NOW. But before it got to that point I was whisked into the operating room for a C-Section. Background: At some point during my labour I announced to the nurses and Jan that "I think my water just broke." At which point they got all excited and had a look and their pleased expressions quickly turned to grave concern. I had, what was later revealed to be, a placental abruption (read: copious amounts of the red stuff). Those of you who have been pregnant before and read anything about major complications, you know this is one of them. Long story short though, everyone ended up happy and healthy. Back to the crazy doula.....

So, C-Section. So, bye-bye doula. I mean, obviously these things can't be predicted, but of course a doula is not even present for the birth if you're having a section. I think she stuck around in the waiting room until Sadie was born, then wished us all well and v a n i s h e d .

Now, based on the obsessive attention she had been giving me up until our baby was born, I truly expected a call from her the next morning to check in. But the next morning came and went, and the next day, and the day after that. (We are still in the hospital at this point, and Sadie and I are having difficulties figuring out the whole feeding thing.) WE NEEDED HELP. Jan had promised us breast-feeding support and yada yada yada. SHE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. Our ticket out of the hospital was dependent on my ability to successfully feed Sadie, or the proof that we had someone who could offer help when needed, ie. the person we had hired to do this very thing. So I was calling her over and over and leaving desperate messages on her answering machine to just show her face to the nurses and pledge that she would be there to help us once we were home. Finally I got in touch. She reluctantly agreed to come visit us at the hospital. Sorry for the inconvenience Jan.

She shows up looking rather disheveled and spacy. She is limping and says she is having hip troubles because of her car accident and will require another stint in the hospital herself. I told her I was not having much success breast-feeding and that my precious newborn was hungry. Her attempts to help me get Sadie "on the boob" were down right ridiculous. I wanted to swat her away like fly. It was really like she had never even seen anyone breastfeed before let alone assisted in the process. I was going MENTAL. The nurses had a baby scale in our room because we would often weigh Sadie to see if she had in fact gotten any milk. At one point it was only Scott, Jan, myself and Sadie in the room and Scott suggested we put her on the scale - an instrument we figured someone who had claimed to have worked in a Mother-Babe ward for 15 years would know how to operate. Too bad, so sad. She had no idea how to work it and Scott ended up figuring it out.

At this point, I am thinking "Jan, your work here is done. Be on your way. The nurses have seen you and are under the impression that you will be there for us, but really - you are no longer of any use to us. GET OUT." Only my problem is I can't actually say things like this out loud to people. I know, I KNOW! I must become more assertive.
Unfortunately, Jan decides to stick around afterall and begins chattering inanely. Scott takes this as his cue to turn on an episode of Deadliest Catch on the portable DVD player and tune out. At which point Jan begins telling me how her daughter was at a Christian youth group the night before and the leader asked if anyone knew of someone they could pray for and sing a song about. Jan's daughter, whom we've never met, apparently says that a little baby girl named Sadie has just been born and could everyone pray for her and dedicate a song about Jesus to her. Jan then proceeds to sing a few verses of the song to me and demonstrate how everyone held up their hands and danced.

Um.

So here I am in my hospital room invisioning a possibly evangelical group of strangers singing a song in honour of my 4-day old child. Sure, some would call it a thoughtful gesture, I mean, I know she meant well. But at the time, in my particular state, I called it wackadoo. Now - before you start thinking I am anti-religion or anything - please don't. I absolutely appreciate and respect a person's right to his or her own belief system. It's simply that religion is not something I grew up with myself. So I can't really say that faith plays a large role in my life. Faith in a higher power, yes. Faith in specific stories about specific religious figures, not so much. What my children decide to put their faith in when they're grown is for them to decide. BUT FOR NOW, at a few days old, I just wasn't comfortable with ANY religion being associated with my daughter. Call me hormonal, or whatever. I don't know. How would you react?
I am trying to get Scott's attention and somehow make it clear to Jan that she may be excused and that I need to rest. Eventually, after what seemed like hours, she was gone.

We never heard from her again, and her doula website has been shut down and her name removed from all of the local doula directories. I really have no idea what happened or what was up with her. A part of me suspects she was a faker and a nutjob, and that she had no real training and thought that this might be a good way to make some money. But another part of me thinks she actually was a certified doula, but that our paths crossed at a time when she was facing some seriously difficult issues in her life that she just couldn't prevent from ultimately invading her professional life as well. If that's the case, then of course I do feel sympathy for her.....but at the same time, I didn't really sign up for that kind of doula baggage. I would have much rather she was honest with us and when the going was getting tough simply explained that due to personal issues she couldn't carry out her committment to us and if we could kindly find another doula that would be appreciated. Hey, NO PROBLEM.

But instead, this is our doula story.
Disclaimer: I still think doulas are a wonderful resource for women who want a little extra support during childbirth. And like any profession, there are good ones and there are not so good ones. Hiring a doula could be the best decision you ever make surrounding your labour and delivery experience.....or it could be, as in our case, one of the worst. Do you have any doula tales to share with me? I would love to hear them! And what is your conclusion? Was Jan a phony?

Doula Danger: A Cautionary Tale (Part 1)

2011-01-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

Okay, so don't be alarmed if this blog takes on a bit of a pregnancy theme over the next few months.....it has in the past, and it is bound to happen again. I'm currently entering my second trimester and although I'm still r i d i c u l o u s l y tired all the time, the morning/all day sickness seems to be easing up.

This time around the lead up to the birth will be a little different.....I'll be scheduled for a C-section so it will be pretty weird to know in advance the exact time that he or she will enter the world. Not to mention that last time the decision to do a C-section happened so fast that I really didn't have time to process the whole "cut open my abdomen and take out a human" concept. THIS TIME, I will have had ample opportunities to play out how the whole thing is going to go down....and know that my projection is (maybe, hopefully) pretty accurate (unlike first deliveries where you think you might have a plan, and honey, you better not bother because that plan has a 99% chance of being thrown out the window). I look back at my naive, post-childbirth self. I really thought I would have a natural, drug-free delivery. Um, SUCKER. I would have had better odds of delivering a flying monkey.

When I was about 7 months pregnant with Sadie I suddenly panicked and realized that maybe my husband was not the only support I needed in the delivery room. I wanted to go as drug free as possible and questioned my own will-power. We decided to interview a few doulas (labour coaches) with the hopes that we would find a good fit - someone who had gone through the labour and delivery experience themselves and would be skilled in providing the mental and physical support to both Scott and I during the whole "episode."

We ended up hiring the first doula we interviewed. Her services promised 24 hour access to contacting her by phone in the weeks leading up to my due date, support during labour and delivery, and post-partum breast-feeding support, as well as light help around the house, if needed.
Let's call her Jan (not her real name). I have to admit that I got a bit of an uneasy vibe from our first meeting, but because we were feeling the pressure of an imminent due date, we maybe rushed into things a bit.

Jan told us that yes, she did in fact have a child herself, a fifteen year-old daughter. So that satisfied our requirement that she could fully understand the sensation of labour and delivery. However, it later became apparent that her daughter was of a different race than she was (which is obviously not a concern in itself, but makes the whole biological parent thing a little questionable). We were a little surprised but figured maybe she was of mixed race. But in actual fact she had been adopted and Jan had failed to elaborate on this detail when we asked her if she had had any children herself. So the intentional misleading in order to get the job was our first red flag.

Then the harassment began. The hourly phone calls. Asking the same questions over and over. "Are you feeling any 'twinges'?" "No, Jan. For the fortieth time, I'm not feeling anything yet. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT ONE." Then Jan started telling Scott and I that she felt really connected to us, something she didn't feel with most of her clients. She also told us that she had been a nurse in the Mother/Babe ward of a local hospital for fifteen years. And of course, she came with all the (supposed) credentials of a certified doula, as well as references (which we never checked, because I am a fairly trusting person).

Scott often tells me that I am one of those people that stranges like to open up to and pour out their soul. I'm not sure why this is the case, but I admit that it has happened several times. I suddenly find myself getting an earful about the general sagas of people I hardly know. Jan began doing this. She called me one day and I casually asked how she was doing and she said, "oh.....you know...." and there was clearly something she was holding back. So I may have said something along the lines of "is everything ok?"

Jan: "Well actually, I was in a car accident and my car is a write-off."
Me: "OH MY GOD. WHAT?! ARE YOU OKAY?"
Jan: "Ummm....well I was in the hospital overnight and I'm pretty banged up. I was thrown from the vehicle and rolled across the road. They had to cut my pants off me and the first thing that came to my mind is 'what underwear am I wearing'."
Me: "OH MY GOD. Is your family giving you some TLC."
Jan: "Well, no, not really."
Me: "Why not? Where is your husband?"

uh-oh.

Jan: "Um, well actually, I wasn't going to tell you this Sarah, but I feel a real bond with you....um....my husband actually just left me a few weeks ago. For my best friend."

[Okay. This is where I realize I am a bit in over my head. I hardly know this woman and we have hired her to provide a service for us. The service of LABOUR COACH. Not the service of TEST YOUR COUNSELING SKILLS ON ME FOR 3 EASY PAYMENTS OF $300. I don't remember agreeing be any kind of sounding board for personal issues that are none of my business, nor do I want to (selfishly) provide a stranger a shoulder to lean on while I am dealing with back pain, sleepless nights, and the waging of a daily war between self-discipline and a pint of hagen daas ice cream.]

Me: (really, how do I possibly respond to that?)

Jan: "Yeah, apparently they're in love (forced, nervous laughter). He's gone. After 15 years, he just left. Ha-ha. ha-Ha-ha-ha."

So I talked to her for another fifteen minutes about her family's crisis situation. Not to mention the fact that she was injured and alone, practically in traction.

I hate to say this but because I was already a little skeptical of her, I had my doubts about parts of her story. Something just seemed a bit off. Maybe everything she told me was totally legit, but the fact remains that I did not expect to become a major confidante for a doula on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

I hope I don't come across as heartless in this situation. I really did feel bad for her...but a part of me felt like I was being taken advantage of.....I felt like her authenticity was suspect. I felt like my anxiety of being a pregnant woman on the verge of giving birth which thus justified the hiring of a third party for help, was trivial, unjustified and paled in comparison to what she was going through. When you are paying someone several hundred dollars to make you feel confident, empowered and in control, this is not really what you have in mind. This is more like collateral damage.

Are you bored yet? There is still more to come. A little halitosis. A little "Oh-my-God-is-that-blood?" look exchanged between a doula and a nurse. A little baby Jesus sing-song.

So ANYWAY......I was thrust into a month long ordeal of listening to all her issues over 45 minute long daily phone conversations. You know when someone is yacking your ear off and you hold the phone away from your head and roll your eyes at whoever is in the room? When she did make house calls she was so out to lunch - proclaiming that I had definitely "dropped" when I was certain I hadn't yet (and in fact, I never did - Sadie never came down into my pelvis). She also offered to do acupressure on me and I would lay there very skeptically as she unskillfully pressed on my ankles like a moron. AWKWARD. Again, I know I sound harsh, but I felt and still feel like I had been had. I SMELL A PHONY.

Back to the fact that she told us she had worked as a nurse in hospitals and that all the doctors and nurses at our local hospital knew her from being witness to the births of many babies up there. Um, no. When we did arrive at the hospital on D-Day, no one had a clue who she was. And she reverted to a scared little pup who didn't have her wits about her. ALL SHE DID WAS RUB MY BACK. THAT IS IT. THAT IS ALL. She had promised all these great things she would do for me during labour. But she really didn't have a clue.

I have to stop here...this is getting too long for one post. The grande finale will follow tomorrow.....

Baby Molly and the Bamboletta Auction!

2011-01-25T13:22:00.000-08:00

Baby Molly

On Christmas Eve 2010, in my hometown of Victoria B.C., the Campbell family was given some very scary news about their 4-week-old baby girl, Molly. At such a young age, she was diagnosed with leukemia and was rushed to Vancouver Children's Hospital where she will spend the good part of a year, if not more, receiving life-saving treatments.

Molly's story has touched so many people. Local businesses and individuals have initiated fundraising events to support the Campbell family as they provide round-the-clock care for Molly and continue to raise their other four children, who are all under the age of six.

One event that I would like to highlight here is an online auction hosted by the wonderful Christina at Bamboletta Dolls. If you don't yet know about Bamboletta Dolls, you might want to! Christina is auctioning off some of her own coveted Bamboletta creations, but in addition, she put out the call to her many fans to contribute their own handmade items for children (or dolls!).

I've donated a Koo & Poppet bunny to the auction (Milly, who else?) so please go and bid on her or any of the other handmade items knowing that all proceeds will be going to a very worthy cause! You can also read Molly's story and make a secure donation on her website here.

A Bamboletta Doll

Take me to the auction!

Wonderful Winter Woolies and Westcoast Waffles

2011-01-17T14:21:00.000-08:00

This is how January feels on the Westcoast:

(collage by ZukZuk)

But luckily, I have found some not-so-dreary Westcoast creations that will warm the body and soul.

My friend Beatriz makes gorgeous hand-knit cowls in Vancouver, BC. I practically live in mine.

To see the entire lucky-14 collection, go here.

Ahhhhh, behold my latest obsession. Also Vancouver-based, Granted Clothing has taken the chunky sweater to new heights. I was doing REALLY well with a new personal conviction to stick to a meager clothing budget. That is, until Granted came into my life. I haven't actually leapt off the deep end yet, but I am oh so tempted....

And finally, to warm the soul:

Strawberry and Banana Buckwheat waffle with Okanagan apple maple syrup

Westcoast Waffles

p.s. That waffle was my lunch today. Special occasion, you ask? A pick-me-up for a case of the Monday/January blahs? No and no.

I will tell you how it came to be my lunch.

A certain kind of hunger has taken over my usually tame appetite. An insatiable hunger that causes even the dormant carnivore in my vegetarian self to emerge, desperate to chow down on some meat! The kind that causes cravings that cannot - MUST NOT - be ignored!! Today it was waffles. Tomorrow it might be Chimichangas. Who's to say? And after all of that topping and syrup.....I was still hungry....

So perhaps the "big news" I alluded to last year now comes as no surprise....

I am expecting a baby!

FEED ME!!!!

Taking a wee vacation

2010-12-15T12:38:00.000-08:00

I have been a naughty blogger! But I promise to be back in the New Year with some big news.

Until then, I'm going to be taking some time off over the holidays for some rest and relaxation.

I hope everyone gets to do some of the same.

I'm finishing up the last of the December orders this week, and I'll be putting my Etsy shop in "vacation mode" as of midnight tonight until the first or second week in January. So anyone wishing to place a last minute order has approximately 12 hours to do so.

Thank you to everyone who helped make 2010 another successful year for Koo & Poppet!

Happy holidays and see you in the New Year,

xo Sarah

Tonight, I bring you: Blog-worthy quotes from a 2-year-old girl

2010-12-03T20:01:00.000-08:00

Quote #1:

[listening to the radio, driving home on Thursday night]

Sadie, semi-audibly:

"Mommy. I want Lady Gaga."

Me, incredulously:

"Wait....no....what? What did you just say Sadie???"

Sadie, very audibly:

"I. WANT. LISTEN. LADY. GAGA."

Quote #2:

[picking her nose while driving home on Friday night]

Me:

"Sadie, don't pick your nose."

Sadie:

"No, I trying get boogie."

When the bee stings.....

2010-11-29T23:36:00.000-08:00

As we bid farvel (as they say in Denmark) to Cyber Monday 2010, here are a few of my favourite (online) things:

Happy Bee Day Cards by ZenBrush

Gorgeous Danish Ormaggio vase by Kahler

Concrete platter by ImpureVessels

Syd and Ria: first two koo ever

2010-11-24T20:27:00.000-08:00

These were the very first koo & poppets I ever made!

You can't see the bear's eyes and there's just something *off * about that bunny's face.....I don't trust him....he looks like a pick-pocket, or some character of equivalent shadiness....

but practice I did, and soon I found the look I was after. my stitches have really improved since then too :)

It's fun to look back and see how they've evolved. These two dinosaurs live in Sadie's room.

They don't have names and they don't have likes or dislikes. So hows about I make those up on the spot:

(bear) "Ria"

likes: auspiciousness

dislikes: bad timing

(bunny) "Syd"

likes: loose change

dislikes: law enforcement

Let's just say that these two are the Bonnie & Clyde of K&P.

Happy American Thanksgiving!

See you on Black Friday - there will be a sale in the shop from November 26 - December 4.

Calling all Facebook fans old and new! Enter to win a Koo & Poppet scarf!

2010-11-23T11:12:00.001-08:00

Are you a fan of Koo & Poppet on Facebook?
Simply visit the K&P page (via the sidebar of this blog or by clicking here), leave a comment on the scarf giveaway post, and be automatically entered to win it. Give it as a stocking stuffer or save it for a windy day!
Stripes and polka dots: they're so hot right now.

A winner will be chosen by a random number generator (random.org) on Cyber Monday, November 29th.

:-)

Pierre the Snowfellow

2010-11-22T20:11:00.000-08:00

view from our driveway on Saturday morning

Sadie applauding Pierre's completion

Showing him some genuine love

You can't tell it, but he's beaming from ear to ear

Koo & Poppet scarves in hi-def

2010-11-17T10:21:00.000-08:00

Better photos, as promised!

My little love was a most cooperative model this time. I said to her, "Sadie, would you wear a scarf and we'll go outside and Mommy will take your picture?" Usually she would have responded with a polite but firm "NO THANK YOU", but instead she said "okAAAYYY!"
As long as I show her the resulting photo on the camera afterward, she's all good. Except she touches it like it's a touch screen (ipone over-exposure) and doesn't understand why you can't browse through the pictures with a sweep of your finger :-)

Gingham, polka dots, and sailboats

Filigree and woodland critters

Modern dots

a colourful stack

This is the moment on ANTM "panel" when TBanks says:

"It's all about the garment. You're really selling the scarf."

And Andre Leon Talley says:

"And yet, there's still a connection with your eyes and the audience. It's like you're looking into our souls."

And Miss Jay says:

"I don't know. This isn't working for me. I love the dimples, but there's something awkward about the tongue."

New sniffy faces

2010-11-16T23:09:00.001-08:00

Bear 2.0 heart version is on her way to "Baby Ruby's house" as Sadie says. I don't normally name them after the children they belong to, but for some reason "Ruby Bear" has stuck! I think it suits her.

I am trying to think of a good name for this sleepy fellow.....any ideas?

And this is Jessie. She likes butterscotch and dislikes cavities.

Who is your favourite?

J is for......

2010-11-11T14:30:00.000-08:00

J E L L Y F I S H

November Scarves!

2010-11-09T22:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, please look past the crappy photo.....but I just wanted to post this tonight....What you see here are some Koo & Poppet scarves in time for the chilly season! I will photograph them properly over the next few days. They will be available in the shop by the weekend :-)

730 days

2010-11-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Re-Inventing the School Photo: Stomping Ground

2010-11-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

Now THIS is what a school portrait should look like:

Photo source: Stomping Ground

But instead, most of us grew up with school photos like this:

Ahhhhhh, the cloudy background. Let us take a moment to revel in its glory.

Yes, that is yours truly in 1985. Woooot! Let's hear it for '85!!

Miss Chubs! Killer bangs, as usual. (and no, I did not go to a private school. I just liked my plaids, okay?)

It appears Renee Zellweger took a cue or two from my pursed smile. Copycat.

Well I am hear to shout from the rooftop that Stomping Ground has really saved the day when it comes to school portraits.

Based in Brooklyn, NY, these peeps are on to something. I love the commitment in these photos! Just look at this warrior's clenched fist. Now that's passion.

Photo source: Stomping Ground

I first discovered Stomping Ground in a summer issue of Print Magazine and I just had to share with you.

Aaron Kenedi writes:

"If ever there was a visual trope in need of an overhaul, the school portrait is it. Perhaps you have overcome the agony, shame and abject horror of having your most awkward years captured for posterity, but 30 years later, I still have not. So when I heard about the photography studio Stomping Ground, my heart swelled for all those kids who will be spared such lingering wounds. The big idea at Stomping Ground? Let kids be kids. Let them celebrate themselves how they choose, in all their goofy, adorable, sweet, funny, and enviable glory. Let them laugh and dance, wearing the Batman costume or the princess tiara. Kids don't get to be kids for nearly long enough - so why not encourage them to enjoy it while it lasts? These are photos you'll acutally want to look at 20 - 0r 30 - years later instead of hiding them away in a drawer."

Photo source: Stomping Ground

Adorable.

Best Baby Products: a BIG FAT HEN sale!!

2010-11-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

Calling all moms and dads of little tiny people! Have you started your holiday shopping yet? How much of it will you do online? If you're looking for a good place to start, I have an idea for you.....

Until November 7th, Canadian-based BIG FAT HEN is having a crazy sale on their organic cotton sleep sacks. You'll get them for 50% when you order off their website www.bigfathen.ca. Yes, 50%! Not to mention, the first 50 people to share the sale on their social media sites and report back will receive a Big Fat Hen gift (click here to follow BFH on twitter). It's win/win!

Plus, I happen to know Miss Emily (BFH's CEO) personally, and I can tell you with complete confidence that these products are of the highest quality and craftsmanship!!

Check out the sleep sack selection here. These are a perfect holiday gift for babies far and wide......

(Sound familiar? You might remember BIG FAT HEN from this collaborative giveaway)

Happy Halloween.....

2010-10-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

Stuffed monster by JUNKERJANE

Today we rode a ghost train and drank hot chocolate.....

Then we carved pumpkins and listened to The Monster Mash.....

Now I'm off to finish decorating for tomorrow and maybe watch a scary movie.....

Have a very haunted Halloween everyone!

Morning has broken....and is unfixable

2010-10-22T13:46:00.000-07:00

#1: I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON

#2: We live about an hour (on a good day) outside of Victoria, where Scott and I both work. Sometimes it takes us 2 hours to commute one way!! I know, it makes me feel sick too.

THUS, I am forced to drag myself out of bed at a heinous hour. An hour in which the land is still dark, no neighbourly porchlights have yet been turned on, no cheerful birdsong has broken the silence. Do you know of this painful hour? Probably not, because, civilized person that you are, you wake up when it is clearly morning, and not when it is STILL NIGHT.

After snoozing my alarm clock for about 40 minutes, I stuggle out of bed and into the shower, where I pretty much continue to sleep. Believe you me, I think the following thought nearly every morning: "I can't wait until bedtime tonight."

Meanwhile, Scott gets Sadie fed and dressed and into the car, bless his patient soul. I try to plan ahead what I'm going to wear but inevitably end up standing in front of my closet staring into space (my friend has coined a term for this early morning expression: "Sock face"). I've written about this topic before, kind of. You can read more about it here.

The coffee's brewing. The clock is ticking. The car is running.

I run through my final checklist:

- teeth brushed

- coffee/coffee-maker off

- Sadie's bag

- coat

- shoes

- 15 lb purse

- lights off

- lock door

Then we begin the drive over the Malahat, through Goldstream Park, and eventually come to a stop when we hit the suburbs of Victoria. Here we inch along in a sea of red brake lights. Here I put my make-up on. Here Sadie starts to lose it in the backseat. I don't blame her. There comes a point when you cannot tolerate a 5-point harness any longer.

Eventually the bottleneck works itself out and we sail into town. This was the view of that part of the drive this morning:

If this looks early to you, remember that I had already been up for nearly 2 hours when this was taken!! I muster the strength to appreciate the sunrise.

That, my friends, is my morning tale. TGIF - maybe I'll get to sleep in tomorrow....

I'm in love with: ANTHROPOLOGIE

2010-10-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

Here are a few items I am longing for over at Anthro right now.....

WHOA. Has Anthropologie always had kids' stuff?!

That hooded cardi is adorable, is it not? I know a dimple-faced nearly 2-year-old who would look especially sweet wearing it!

Fellow Anthro lovers - what is on your wishlist?

Apple Jackets: Really? or REALLY

2010-10-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

I know what you are thinking.....

You're thinking "really? Is an apple jacket really necessary?"

I thought the same thing when I first saw this novel item at the Curiousity Shoppe. I figured it elevates the user one rung higher on the crazy ladder, just above dressing dogs in rhinestones and cargo pants. But then I began to ponder it further and I realized this may actually be a great invention! Kind of like the questionably shaped banana protector? (Sorry, I forgot this is a G-rated blog)

Because, really, I can't count how many times I have taken an apple or pear or some other fleshy fruit (maybe a nectarine - how about a nectarine anorak?) for my lunch at work, only to have it battered and bruised and juiced from being knocked around in my bag all morning. So what is the solution?
1) apples do not fit nicely in most tupperware
2) plastic or paper bags are wasteful
3) get an apple jacket!

There was also the time that I moved to Halifax for university and my dad packed up all of my electronics (stereo, printer, camera, phone.....) in a moving box and shipped it out to me in the middle of August. With the best intentions, he included a bag of pears from the tree in our backyard. He even wrapped them in bubble wrap. Didn't matter. When the box reached me in Nova Scotia I opened it up only to find a temporarily unidentified sticky beige mess in every crevice of every Sony, Panasonic, Nikon and Epson.
Where were the pear ponchos when I needed them most?

So YES to apple jackets, I say! Who says fruit shouldn't be cozy? Plus, I just kind of like saying "apple jackets" ;)

(Designed by Jacqueline Dufresne)

Kollector Koo Daisy

2010-10-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love me some black and white gingham!

This is Daisy. She likes black sheep and dislikes wolves in sheep's clothing.

Daisy is perfectly at home in meadows, pastures and fields of all kinds, but she is entirely skittish in large cities (even her proximity to the San Francisco print in this photoshoot unnerved her).

Happy Time....enjoy the nature and forget the rest for awhile.

Betsy and Ricardo

2010-10-07T13:01:00.000-07:00

Do you know what I love? POLKA DOTS!!!!

You guys, you don't even understand how much fabric I have in gigantic bins at KP world headquarters.....nevertheless, I continue to add to the supply because now and then I come across adorable Japanese linen cottons that I SIMPLY CANNOT RESIST. The Koos need them!! It is entirely justifiable.

These two are also available at Hip Baby, however methinks I will list them in my Etsy shop too :)

Thanks for checking in, more tomorrow.....

He'll steal your heart, for sure, for sure

2010-10-06T16:00:00.000-07:00

Our first new Kollector Koo of October, boys and girls please give a warm welcome to aptly-named Acorn!! I just love the heather grey wool he is made of - it's SO soft. He also has corduroy pants and a dignified acorn crest on his back - perfect for Fall. This cuddly creature is currently residing at Hip Baby on Johnson Street in Victoria, BC, while awaiting his new home.

I have several yet-unseen creations to post this week - exciting! Tomorrow's stage is set for Betsy and Ricardo.....

A Rocky Mountain Fairy Tale

2010-10-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we left our little island home and set out on a road trip through the Rocky Mountains. Our destination was a wedding in Canmore, Alberta, and after an eventful night in Vancouver with a couple of our favourite people, we drove for 11 hours on a beautifully bright first day of October.

Sadie was amazingly well-behaved, although we did stop in Kamloops to buy a portable DVD player. We made the mistake of allowing her to pick the DVD she wanted though, and now the shrill, inane voices of Strawberry Shortcake and her sugary friends are forever burned into our consciousness. On the way home, we picked up Toy Story and it was a MUCH more pleasant ride. We made the usual road trip stops: coffee breaks, gas stations, diaper changes. We marveled at the mountain vistas and lamented our numb bumbs. We also stopped at the Enchanted Forest because we thought Sadie might enjoy it, and she did...mostly. But.....have any of you ever been there?! It is seriously CREEPY. Allow me to post a photo:

AAGGGHHHHH!!! I KNOW - I WAS NOT AWARE THERE WERE DUCKS AT THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER EITHER.
I will spare you the image of the "Chucky"-like papier mache baby head that is resting at the bottom of the pond outside The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe's Shoe. Intentional?? Or an unfortunate and macabre casualty of molded glued paper left to withstand the elements?
The Enchanted Forest is fairy tales and papier mache gone wrong. Gone horribly, horribly wrong.
But, I give credit to the effort that went - and is still going into - making a "magical" place in the forest for children. But I would highly recommend against the use of ANY form of hallucinogen while visiting. To be on the safe side, I'd stay away from even Gravol.
Wait - come to think of it, you might need that one...

The rest of these photos were taken out the window of our moving vehicle somewhere between Revelstoke and Banff, with the exception of the last two, which were taken at Lake Louise on our way home.

With Thanksgiving coming up this weekend (in Canada), I will be thankful for the sun-drenched colours of Autumn and for this wide open wilderness we had the privilege of passing through.

Ingredients!

2010-09-30T14:26:00.001-07:00

I could look at these compositions by Swedish photographer Carl Kleiner all day.
From what I've read, these photos will be used in a recipe book by IKEA (available in Sweden only - oh, Scandinavia, you have such great style so please share it with the rest of us). This is an example of something I love about the internet....coming across little gems like these and posting them here on this blog. Who needs baked goods when you've got eye candy like this?

I love the orange peels in this one:

Do you have a favourite? There is more to see here.

Fox and Bear like sweaters too

2010-09-07T22:03:00.000-07:00

Put away your whites and start sipping Chai Lattés - Autumn is knocking at the door and wants to come in for Banana Loaf (and judging by the amount of brown bananas in my freezer, it's gonna be a LONG season people). The kiddies have stuffed their pencil cases, the forecast calls for rain, and I officially don't care whether or not I have a sun tan anymore.

But you know, I don't really mind that summer has come to an end for now. I like Halloween and pumpkin pie and crunchy leaves too much to mourn the warm season for any length of time. I love that day, the Equinox, when the season officially changes and the sun's passage is marked in the sky. You notice a chill on the breeze, less people at the beach on a Sunday, and a general golden hue. You know a familiar change has come, persistent in its subtlety. An ending dependant on a beginning, and a beginning dependant on an ending.

Welcome Fall, and all your cozies.

The last beach day

2010-08-28T23:50:00.000-07:00

Could this have been our last summer day at the beach this year?

We've been on holidays for a week and on Thursday we day-tripped to Hornby Island. These photos were taken at Tribune Bay Beach. On a sunny day, the water is turquoise and the sand is white and you have to be careful not to step on sand dollars as you wade into the sea.

But this day was cloudy and cool. I don't know about where you live, but here on the west coast the unmistakable feeling of Fall has arrived.

Today we galavanted to a local Fall Fair in the country, complete with vintage tractors, fresh fudge and a litter of piglets (mama pig was the size of a loveseat! I was NOT aware they got so big...)

Here are a few things Sadie loved about the fair:

- sitting bareback on 'Jackson', a miniature pony

- sharing a banana nutella crepe with me

- carrying around a pink balloon

Here a few things Sadie did not love about the fair:

- the operator of a merry-go round kiddie ride (who had to stop it to let the screaming child off. that would be Sadie.)

- the neon bracelet all fair-goers were required to wear ("NO! DON'T WANT THAT!!").

- the fact that she was not allowed to sit on "Bessie", a cow with a head the size of a volkswagen.

I think she mostly loved it though....

Hazy shade of Summer

2010-08-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago the smoke from the forest fires in BC drifted west and created a hazy orange glow in front of the sun. I spotted this moth on my kitchen window one night and instantly thought of this poem:

Design by Robert Frost

I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,

On a white heal-all, holding up a moth

Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth -

Assorted characters of death and blight

Mixed ready to begin the morning right,

Like the ingredients of a witches' broth -

A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,

And dead wings carried like a paper kite.

What had that flower to do with being white,

The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?

What brought the kindred spider to that height,

Then steered the white moth thither in the night?

What but design of darkness to appall? -

If design govern in a thing so small.

Just a photo...

2010-08-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sadie contemplating something at a neighbourhood block party

I'm in love with: Emersonmade

2010-08-12T14:48:00.000-07:00

Pretend someone said to me: "Sarah, you can pick 10 pieces of clothing to spend the rest of your life living in."

I would bee-line straight to Emersonmade and be content for all eternity.....

pretty pretty pretty

Pocket skirt, Hunter boots, hens. Pure New England bliss.

Emersonmade arrived on the fashion scene offering up a beautiful assortment of hand-dyed and hand-stitched blooms, perfect for accessorizing any ensemble.
A husband and wife team, Emersonmade relocated from NYC to greener pastures (the farm depicted in these photos) and launched a clothing line on August 10th, 2010. They do their own modeling, photography and blogging!

These images make me want to move to New York City.....

and New Hampshire.....

Enter the creative and extraordinary world of Emersonmade here.

See a sneak peak into Emerson's farmhouse on Design Sponge here.

Gift Certificates!

2010-08-11T23:31:00.001-07:00

now available in the shop...

Evolution

2010-08-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

There's a new little bear in town......meet Gerald. He likes boardgames and dislikes cheaters.

You can enter to win one of the new bears here.

I've learned that re-invention is sometimes a necessary step in successful design......

....sometimes, but not always.....

....so.....

....which bears do you like better? The new ones or the original ones?

Original bear:

Weekend Wedding

2010-08-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

August is here.....

A show of hands: who can't believe it?
I feel like spear-heading a "Take Back Summer" campaign...

Even so, the month of July ended on a high note - one of my oldest and dearest friends was married.

Saturday morning consisted of primping & pampering, eating pastries and drinking champagne. Saturday afternoon we dressed in our finery, sealed it with a kiss and drank more champagne. Saturday night we toasted and danced and laughed til we cried.

Here are a few photos from the weekend celebration......

One more - Nikki and I back in the day (circa '97):

Goes without saying......

2010-07-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

Stringing Banner pillow: OLIVE

Kids' knee-high socks: JCREW

Girl in the Yellow Suit: KIKI AND POLLY

Green Bow Pillow: IVIEMADE
Deer in Yellow Vines: LGFROG

Run Run Horse Necklace: RINKA

Bow belt: MOJOSPASTYLE

Striped Bathers: KIKI AND POLLY

Giveaway hosted by BLOESEM KIDS

2010-07-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

Presenting Brown Bear Henry and Cute Bunny Portia.

Enter to win this charming pair here.

www.bkids.typepad.com

Merrily, merrily, to Asia we go

2010-07-23T22:00:00.000-07:00

I would like to have a giant world map on my wall and stick a coloured pin at every location a Koo & Poppet doll has traveled to.

Yes, I will most definitely do that one day.

Up until this week though, no Koo had ever traveled to any part of Asia.

But a certain Benedict is on his way to a new baby in Shanghai:

And here is strawberry-loving Riana-Chan with her "Summer" bunny in Japan:

(thank you, Ada, for the photo)

In other travel news, GUESS WHO TOOK A TRAIN RIDE ACROSS CANADA?

None other than our beloved "Milly":

(thank you, Darrell, for the photos)

I just about fell off my chair when these photos were sent to me :)
Milly sure gets around.

Okay Scandinavia, your turn.

For the girls: My Rocking Wardrobe

2010-07-22T02:03:00.000-07:00

I just discovered My Rocking Wardrobe via the delightful Bloesem Kids blog.

Influenced by Japanese and Korean style, these girly frocks are hard to resist!

The online shop is based in Australia but they ship worldwide.
And did I mention the prices are totally reasonable?

Hey Visa card, DUCK AND COVER.

Christmas in July sale

2010-07-21T09:47:00.001-07:00

All Cute Bunnies are on sale in the shop!

Kommunity Love

2010-07-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

Hi peeps!

Here's some info about an upcoming event that Koo & Poppet is participating in:

What: "NEIGHBOURS FOR CHANGE"

2nd annual Fernwood block party in support of the Roger Colwill Fund for the Environment

Where: corner of Fernwood and Gladstone in Victoria, British Columbia

When: Sunday, July 18th, 2-5 pm

There will be live music, food & drink, games, prizes, and guaranteed fun in the sun (even a dunk tank!)

And tucked away in a little corner will be a table full of bears, bunnies and the usual suspects. Come down and say hello if you live nearby! I will also be offering a giveaway :)

for more info, click here

hope to see you there!

Colours of summer

2010-07-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

I mentioned once before that cooking is not my forté.

Lucky for me, some things are simpler than others.

Like this fresh and summery quinoa salad:

(look how organized I am! I'm using little bowls for separate ingredients! progress!)

the ingredients are simple:

- organic quinoa

- cucumber

- mango

- peas

- slivered almonds

- pepitas

- cilantro

- olive oil and lime juice vinaigrette

yum!

Featured Artist: Walter Helena Photography

2010-07-12T12:08:00.001-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, creatures and critters, allow me to introduce to you the phenomonal photographic talent that is WALTER HELENA. The creative mind behind these images is neither Walter or Helena, but my dear friend Nadine. Nadine and I met a decade ago when we were students and working in a neighbourhood pub. Since then we've migrated to different corners of the continent and lost touch temporarily, but as the magnetic force of the westcoast would have it, we have both stumbled gracefully home and connected once again - this time via creative endeavours and creme brulee. In fact, our visits are never without the tastiest in food and beverage, and she is some of the most pleasant company I could ever hope to have.

Nadine has recently launched Walter Helena Photography and I am a huge HUGE fan. I needn't write descriptively about the works because the photos speak for themselves. But I will say that part of their success (for me, at least) is in each image's abililty to evoke an emotional response from the viewer. And because I know the photographer personally, I dare say that I can sense her mood just as the shutter snaps.

The landscapes are subdued...soft...kinetic. The florals are textured...still...vibrant. The urban images are strong...honest...confident. All are ephemeral - and it is this quality that gives each photo a kind of melancholic grace.

But this is of course my personal response to these painterly photographs. I invite you to read the following interview with WHP and allow your own response to surface.

KP: Under what circumstances/conditions do you feel most inspired or creative?

WHP: Dawn and dusk. Anytime really where the light is not directly overhead. Storms. After a glass of red or a tumbler of whisky. After I’ve been quiet for many hours/days. Spending time with the women in my life who are confident and slightly forceful and have grand goals and crass humour. Watching my partner work. Performing unfamiliar tasks. Reading. Wind. Walking new neighbourhoods at dinnertime before curtains are drawn.

KP: What type of equipment do you use?

WHP: For many years I used an ancient Minolta (a gift), which served me well, but its capacity couldn’t support file sizes large enough to print as full-scale as I was looking ahead to do. So I invested in a Canon 50D with a 17-85 lens, a computer with a very large screen, and Photoshop CS4. I keep it simple and my only accessories are a polarizing lens and tripod. While I know there are better, the camera is astounding and serves my purposes for the time being. I may grow out of it one day, but until I’ve exhausted every option and resource it offers, I’m pleased to keep it by my side. Or around my neck, as it would be.

KP: Is there a photographer or artist whose work you admire or are influenced by?

WHP: I appreciate and respect anyone who diligently strays from pretty photographs and commits to a focus and sticks with a theme. I hold dear any artist who stands strong with their creations despite lack of audience. I’m drawn to works that use colour in vibrant and different ways. I have always loved stark black and white and desaturated barren landscapes. I like works concerned with industrial scenes -- anything dilapidated. I love antique photographs and tintypes; I spend a lot of time in antiquarian bookstores looking for orphaned photo albums.

A few photographers that presently interest me:
Lobakov (http://www.labokoff.fr/)
Roy Arden (http://www.royarden.com/defaultee.shtml)
Stan Douglas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Douglas)
Chris Friel (http://www.chrisfriel.co.uk/)
Li Hui (http://huiuh.com/)
Fred Herzog (http://fredherzog.com/)
Lukasz Wierzbowski (http://sequin-covered-swans.tumblr.com/)
Jeremy Kohm (http://www.jeremykohm.com/)
Noa Emberson (http://www.joystain.com/)

As far as looking towards others for inspiration, I don’t outwardly like the idea. To be honest, I find repetition and duplication distasteful. At some level, I’m sure I’m being influenced by a hundred sources outside myself every minute. But the moment I try (and I have) to replicate a look or a style, the product falls flat and it has no meaning to me. The best photographs I’ve taken have been when I’m in a fluid mood and I am not trying for anything in particular. Those hold meaning to me, because they are deeper than mere thought.

KP: Your favourite photograph (of yours) to date?

WHP: This one:

It’s an older work, but I think its age serves it well because I’ve had so many chances to look at it -- and I always see and feel something different. My hope is that over time, all my pieces will be like people and become complex and find home in me.

KP: Where can we see your art in person?

WHP: Presently I’m only showing in one space, a gallery/bookstore in Vancouver. In the past I have shuffled larger stretched pieces around, showing here and there in my home city. Ultimately they were very positive experiences but two matters hold me back from doing much more showing of my work at this time. The first is the cost: to hang a show is rarely met in financial returns. The second is the isolation: it removes me from the process of knowing the people who respond to my work. For the time being, my work is available for viewing and purchase online. I work within Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/walterhelenaphotography/) and Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/whphotography).

While I’m still a grain of sand online (a platform so big I am daunted and overwhelmed), I can’t justify spending more time on sorting through the good and the junk to find appropriate people and places to publicize. Also, I think your audience can find you, albeit slowly, if you let them discover you. But to force your way into inappropriate spaces seems successful perhaps at the moment, but I wonder how it does for longevity. Most likely, I’m just too stubborn to commit to more time spent behind the computer that does not involve editing my photographs with a glass of Bordeaux at hand.

KP: If you were to offer one piece of photographic advice, what would it be?

WHP: Oh goodness, it would feel contrived to offer any actual advice because I feel strongly that photography, like any creating/crafting/art, should come from the core. We all have demons and hopes to explore and how we go about that is so particular and individual. I dislike guidelines (always have) in most arenas, especially with art. The kind of meaningful creating (the kind that changes you and shows you about yourself and the world) gets lost a little each time you adhere to another’s words of advice. So I suppose I would say just that: remove as much advice from your surroundings as possible. Trust in yourself. Lock yourself in a room, field, parking lot – alone – and go with your gut. Make big mistakes. Allow inappropriate dreaming. And keep on pressing the shutter.

KP: If you were given a plane ticket today to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

WHP: Anywhere quiet. With nature. And my partner. And European bakeries. Maybe a farm in France. Or a room in Montenegro. Anywhere that I can feel unknown and freshly optimistic that I don’t know all. The unfamiliar is good for me and keeps me humble.

KP: What does your perfect day consist of?

WHP: Waking early and inviting the animals into bed. Cuddling. Opening all the curtains as soon as I’m up to let the light in. I love the rituals of morning. Making americano. Walking the dogs. The smells of a day. Sitting by the river. Kicking pebbles at the beach. An outdoor market. Cooking a fine meal with my partner with a bottle between us. Laughter. Taking time to be in public with strangers and notice them. Really notice them.

KP: Chocolate, vanilla or strawberry?

WHP: Chocolate. With mint.

KP: What does the future hold for WHP? Creatively, how would you like to see your work evolve?

WHP: Ultimately, I would like to be able to support myself through collaborations and selling prints. But I have to continue to remind myself to forget this hope completely. When a goal, especially a financial one, is awaiting, it blurs my vision. It makes me rigid and takes away the joy of the process of creating itself.

I also tend towards preferring a path coming organically rather than constructing one. I shy away from plans and contrivances. I carve as I go. It can be more debilitating, but also more awakening. I want to be at the ready to be open to anything.

Thank you, WHP.

xo, KP

http://www.walterhelenaphotography.blogspot.com/ (enter monthly contests here!)

http://www.whphotography.etsy.com/ (so much more to see here!)

Summer has arrived in the FOrEst of MiSfiTs

2010-07-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favourite things:

Trios.

Berries.

Gingham.

Linen.

Pink sisters.

Mod.

Happiness.

(for wall art sources, click here)

Home, and a weekend anthem

2010-07-04T22:29:00.000-07:00

I spent an unforgettable weekend on a boat on Sproat Lake and this evening I'm home to my house, home to my family, home to my life as I know it.

But there was another kind of homecoming this weekend on the lake; in the sun, in the song, in irreplaceable company of women I've known since we were girls.

Moats and boats and waterfalls/

Alley-ways and pay phone calls/

I've been everywhere with you/

We laugh until we think we'll die/

Barefoot on a summer night/

Nothin' new is sweeter than with you/

Ahh home, let me go home/

Home is wherever I'm with you

Home is wherever I'm with you.

A quick hello

2010-06-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

Oh dear, I confess I have been on a vacay from Blog land. I will be back soon, but wanted to check in briefly and post a few photos.
Truth is, I have been busy eating, drinking (lemonade) and partaking in general merriment. Summer is here people! What are your warm weather plans?

Orange and Pink

2010-06-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Much to my delight, several Koo & Poppet critters have been featured in Etsy treasuries lately!

For those unfamiliar with Etsy, a treasury is a hand-picked collection of items on the site, selected by any Etsy user. It's basically just a way for a complete stranger to say "hey. i like your stuff. i put it in a group of my favourite things."

suffice it to say, it is a humble honour.

Spy Avril and Piquette in these colourful, if not clashing, treasuries:

visit the curator of this treasury here

and the gatherer of this one here

links to the treasuries (which eventually expire, because all good things must come to an end):

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c168170310f6d916421ba8c/juicy-with-a-hint-of-gray

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c123a570a5a6d91404c772e/squishy-cuteness

Do you remember your life before the internet?

2010-06-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

an early 90s version of Oregon Trail. Who remembers?!

I do.

I was in elementary school. I talked to my friends on phones with long spirally plastic cords. I played "Oregon Trail" on floppy disc (dot matrix display, yeah baby!) and practiced cursive writing in preparation for all those correspondence letters I'd send as an adult. Hey, wait a second....

And get this: my husband grew up in a community so rural that when he was young his family had a "party line", which is a telephone line that is shared by many households, but everyone has a different ring. So the phone would ring in his house, but it might go "bring-br-bring-bring" and be a call for June and Herb down the road, in which case you wouldn't answer. But if it rang "bring-bring-bring....bring-bring-bring" then GADZOOKS, PICK UP. PICK UP!!

I can only imagine the excitement.

But that is neither here nor there (actually it's there). I was talking about the internet. Which I now carry in the palm of my hand. Everywhere. I. Go.

Except today. Today I forgot my precious iphone at home. I just heard your collective gasp. Compose yourself people! My global connection has been temporarily severed and I have been suffering from phantom limb syndrome all day. My colleague at work jokingly allowed me to hold his for a spell, and another person posed the question: "What would happen if the internet just one day.....disappeared?"

Talk about pandemonium. Talk about Y2K/2012 times a Gigabyte!

And then......

No, but seriously, what would happen? Economically, culturally, socially, educationally?

An ancient building form constructed for the storage of "books". Historians refer to it as a "Library."
(Actually this is Louis Kahn's Exeter Library in New Hampshire)

I invite you to paint me some post-web era apocalyptic scenarios my bloggy friends. Or, if you wish, participate in the poll at the top-right hand side of this page!

Mama in the City Giveaway

2010-06-03T12:36:00.001-07:00

Little Sylvie and Bunny Baxter are up for grabs over at one of my favourite blogs, Mama in the City, which also happens to be celebrating its first anniversary this month!

The author of the blog, Andrea, is mama to baby Ben (well not so "baby" anymore....let's face it - our toddlers are growing up!) She is also a Labour/Delivery nurse and lives in the one and only Vancouver, British Columbia. Andrea is a great writer, her husband a talented photographer, and her son is one gorgeous little boy. That's right, all the ingredients of a must-read blog :-)
In fact, vancouvermom.com recently included Mama in the City in the top 30 Vancouver Mom blogs. And it's so fitting that we collaborate on a giveaway, because Andrea was the winner of the first ever Koo & Poppet giveaway last summer.

Oh - and she has coined a term that I LOVE: "Koo madness"

And all you have to do to enter the Koo & Poppet giveaway is leave a comment on her post here.
But make haste - the giveaway is only on for a few more days. But luckily Mama in the City is only a hop, skip and a click away......

good luck!

A squirrel for Sullivan: the making of a Koo & Poppet pillow

2010-05-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

I made this pillow for 5 month old Sullivan. It's the latest addition to his Koo & Poppet collection - he was also the recipient of this mobile.....remember my lesson in physics? Live and learn people, live and learn.

Oh woodland critters - I can't get enough of you!

p.s. if anyone is wondering what the cheap n' easy trick is to appliquéing with stretchy fabrics, it's freezer paper.

Place appliqué against shiny side of freezer paper, flip the whole thing over and iron on the non-sticky side of paper to hold the two pieces together temporarily. Sew to fabric as you would any appliqué (as in the first photo). You can remove the freezer paper by spritzing water along the line of stitching and then carefully cutting a whole in the back of the fabric underneath the appliqué. Then you can easily pull out the freezer paper, voila!

Baby Season (and beautiful Jess)

2010-05-30T11:14:00.000-07:00

If 2007 was the year of weddings, 2010 is the year of babies (in my little circle, anyway). My friend Caroline just had her second - a son - a few days ago, and my friend Roxanne is due with her first in a matter of weeks. And Jess, who is pictured here, is expecting at the end of June. Jess and I went to a local park a couple of weeks ago to take some photos. She's wearing her mom's navy blue knit dress from the 70s and a classic pair of Frye boots. Something tells me that boy or girl, this will be one stylish kid.

I'm really happy about the fact that more of my friends are becoming parents. Now Scott and I won't be the only ones with a 7:30 curfew!

Defeated in the kitchen, and a plea

2010-05-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

This post is so somber it doesn't even have an accompanying image. Rest in peace, fusili.

For my entire life up until this point I have had little interest in the preparation of food. I like to dine, but I do not like to cook. I like to bake a little (around the holidays) but I do not like to plan meals. Now and then I'll get in the spirit and cook something for supper. Afterwards I might as well call the HAZMAT team to come in and clean up the mess. I'm the type that clutters a cutting board with so much stuff that I only have 3 square inches on the bottom right corner for chopping. When I was in university I ate cereal for dinner. When I was feeling wild and crazy, I made rice!

And then three things happened that have begun to change my thoughts on my non-existant cooking abilities:

1) I now have Sadie, who needs to eat healthy balanced meals everyday;

2) Husband who I used to rely on for sustenance because he used to love cooking and used to read cookbooks and watch the Food Network obsessively, is losing his zest for the culinary arts. Read: too many frozen pizzas lately.

3) I have been admiring all the beautiful foodie blogs around the web. Good food photography seduces me and makes me want to learn the ways of the likes of Orangette and others.

About a month ago I had dinner with friends at a great Italian restaurant. I ordered a delicious pasta - fusili with butternut squash, granny smith apples, toasted pecans, arugula and a gorgonzola cream sauce. It was so good that I vowed to try it at home. How hard could it be?

I tried last night. Failed miserably. It tasted like feet.

Then I got grumpy and pouted, which always happens when things go wrong in the kitchen. Once I was attempting shortbread and couldn't get the dough to bind and ended up in tears!

So I'm asking you for help. Anyone out there have a great recipe that looks and tastes impressive but is easy peasy for a rookie? Pray tell, where should I start???? I need something that is nearly impossible to screw up......

Wordless Westcoast Weekend

2010-05-24T19:22:00.000-07:00

China Beach, Vancouver Island BC

Then and Now

2010-05-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

This is what Friday nights used to look like (circa 2007):

Left to right: Haley, Nicole, Sarah, Whitney, me, Andrea, Roxanne

And here is what they look like now:

At least one of us is in heels!

(And note that wine is a fixture, past and present). Ironically, I think the phrase "Put on your dancing shoes" is more applicable to Friday nights with Sadie.

The only photo missing from this essay is one of Scott and I sleeping on the couch after Miss Fancy Feet has gone to bed :-)

Have a great long weekend everyone!

One Year of Koopoppeting!

2010-05-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

Big news, big news! Koo & Poppet turns 1 this month.

[Insert Kooriotous poppet fanfare here]

To commemorate this event, I have decided to make a monumental Koo. One that is the King of Koos, nay, the KING KONG of Koos! It will be so large I will need to use 100 of the 250 bags of stuffing I now have stored in the crawlspace.

No. Seriously now. Let's do something much more practical, but celebratory all at the same time. Let's have a sale! Until June 1st a selection of items in the Koo & Poppet shop will be 50% off. And if you haven't been by the shop in a while, don't miss out - there are several new designs exclusive to 2010. How about Gary? Have you met Gary???

I would also like to thank everyone who has supported Koo & Poppet over the last year. I'm so grateful for the encouragement, the comments, the feedback, the spreading of the word.....and in some cases even the slave labour! *

Sarah

[*Last year, just as I was about to drown in the tidal wave that was the Christmas rush, I called upon my friends and they rallied to help. My parents offered us their empty downstairs room and my dad organized some folding tables and made triangle sandwiches. One by one, male and female, more than a dozen of my closest peeps showed up to assist however they could; cutting patterns, tying ribbon, assembling hang tags. I paid them in licorice and argyle socks. I don't know how I would have filled every order in the month of December without their help (needless to say, I am already preparing for this year). Also needless to say, I have the world's greatest friends.]

Summery Sadie

2010-05-19T17:34:00.000-07:00

Around this time every year, I start to go a bit mad for summer fashion. I can be found perusing local boutiques for smocks and frocks on my lunch break and scouring my favourite online stores for warm weather style. And I'm not just talking big girl stuff. To wit: Sadie made her seasonal sundress debut last weekend in a tiered number from Joe. Rainbows - they're so hot right now ;-)

I'm an advocate for wearing dresses all summer long. I plan to wear them almost exclusively this year.

So here is my pick for a grown-up dress; a strapless floral print from BCBG:

I couldn't resist!

Koo & Poppet at Onlyhuman, Victoria BC

2010-05-13T19:16:00.001-07:00

Well hello there, Gary. Stop your sleuthing around.

I am so pleased to tell you that Koo & Poppet is now available at Onlyhuman in downtown Victoria. Located at 616 Yates Street (the former Design House location) the showroom is a bull's eye for unique design and exquisitely crafted contemporary furniture.
The Koos are so very honoured to be included in the studio's eclectic mix of novelty designer items.
If you're in Victoria, definitely put Onlyhuman on your list of spots to visit this spring.
To read more about the store's philosophy, check out Meade Design Group's interview with owners Chris and Christina here.

Clockwise from top left: Summer, Gary and Christopher (a seafaring bunny)

Esmerelda prefers to keep to herself. Perhaps you can help socialize her?

Christopher and the piggy are fast friends. Good luck separating them. They're like dogs at the SPCA (except much more chic) who form a bond and have to be adopted into a new home together.

All of the new Koo & Poppet designs shown here are also available in the online shop.

My thanks to Chris and Christina at Onlyhuman!

http://www.onlyhuman.ca/

Tastebuds: an ordinary miracle

2010-05-13T13:32:00.000-07:00

Warning: Sadie love-fest to follow

When Sadie was born, I remember being astonished by the fact that she had a nose. In fact, I was totally blown away that she posessed all of the physical features of a human being. This might sound ridiculous I know, and it's not like I was expecting to give birth to a kangaroo, but in my post-partum state I was utterly amazed that my body had grown this little being - and correctly at that! A nose! A perfect nose! How???? (Okay, okay, meiosis, blah blah blah).

But to all the parents out there, you know what I'm talking about, right?

I've had a year and a half to get used to all the little miracles that make up her physical form. As she gets older, it's her language development and comprehension that amaze me on a daily basis. Her new favourite game is "Shhh! Hide!" which she initiates independently and spontaneously, and she has somehow acquired a distinct recognition of the game of hockey, even though Scott and I are far from devoted fans.
She nods when appropriate, responds to suggestions, and pats her thigh to summon the dog. She laughs when things are funny.
One day we picked up Scott from the sea plane terminal and now everytime she hears or sees a float plane she says: "Daddy?" I am facinated by her little brain and the associations it is capable of making.

We have a 45 minute drive home everyday and for the most part, Sadie sits silently in the backseat, gazing out the window at the mountains and the trees. We wonder what she could possibly be thinking about. Milk? Coco? Toys? Mommydadda? The theory of relativity?

I find it hard to believe I've only known her for a year and a half. Where has she been all this time?
I believe that at least some small part of her has been with me all along - in the melodies I've heard, in the sunshine I've felt, in the love that I have found.

Photo: Michelle Loewen

Koo & Poppet World Headquarters

2010-05-07T21:00:00.000-07:00

At long last, my home office reno is complete!

Scott prepping the trim for new window installation (also the answer to the photo riddle a few posts back.....the images were of paint-covered plastic in place of the glass).

I'll post an overall room view when the light allows.

Let's review - here are the before shots:

Just a cold basement room when we moved in.

You wouldn't believe some of the school photos we found in the demo'd walls. Mullets and braces and bangs all a-feather!

Progress.

And after:

Ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Bear calendar by The Sis Crew

Circus prints by holli

bird collage by Pinn Studio

Hazel checking out the view.

Liam gettin' all up in yo' face.

Strawberry girl in the boss's chair.

San Francisco poster: Ork

Paris Metro photo: Irene Suchocki

rain cloud collages: Cabin + Cub

ink sketch: Koo & Poppet

And still, she watches.

Liam goes spelunking

2010-04-29T13:29:00.000-07:00

photo: Michelle Loewen

Can you picture it? Me, sitting at my sewing table, watching a Koo & Poppet thingy come closer to life with every ounce of stuffing, taking a good long look at each one's facial expression before determining an appropriate name. After the naming comes the tricky part: getting their "likes" and "dislikes" just right. In Liam's case, he likes caves and dislikes getting stuck and, in fact, further to that.....

"You read it here first folks, Liam is a serious cave nut. He loves exploring the dark depths of cavernous places. (Well, that's what he told us to write. However, his friends will tell you that the real reason he likes going in caves is because it's a good excuse to wear a headlamp, and Liam thinks headlamps are the bomb)."

Needless to say, these little critters come into being with no shortage of character, even if it only exists in my imagination. So perhaps you can imagine my utter delight when my new friend Michelle, who is also a brilliant photographer, kindly took it upon herself to photograph Liam in his element, headlamp and all.

A photo essay of his entire spelunking adventure (Liam reads maps, who knew?!) lives here on Michelle's blog. Please have a peek and browse through Michelle's portfolio if you're so inclined, I promise you'll be smitten with her work!

:::www.michelleloewen.com:::

Liam's Cave Adventure

Just a quick note to say.....

2010-04-28T10:02:00.001-07:00

.....please visit the Koo & Poppet misfits featured over at Papernstitch this month! It's new territory for them and they would be oh so comforted by a familiar face or two. (Scroll down on the home page and you are sure to spy one!)

To go directly to Koo & Poppet's spot on the site, click here.

Thanks for the support!

photo filter

2010-04-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

Can anyone guess what this is? (there is no Photoshop involved.....)

Illustration Friday: "ahead"

2010-04-24T21:16:00.000-07:00

As in, "a head" (belonging to a whippet)

:::www.illustrationfriday.com:::

It is calling to me

2010-04-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

....and I fear my trigger-happy index finger clicking on my mouse......ADD TO CART....CHECKOUT......PURCHASE.......

should I or shouldn't I?

Miss Popular

2010-04-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

I am honoured to see Cute Bunny Milly featured in another treasury on Etsy!

Thanks to Samy for including her, she is most flattered :)

You can see larger images of the whole collection on Samy's blog here.

A Story Worth Telling

2010-04-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

I would like to invite you all, dear readers, to imagine a story that justifies a photograph of mangled, charred springs. How did they get there? What did they belong to originally? Why do they appear to have survived a fire?

For the true tale behind this image, read on....

Ever since we moved from the city to the country, Scott has really embraced a more, shall we say, "back-to-basics" lifestyle. He spends hours out in the yard every evening, digging, hauling, sawing, trimming. What he digs, hauls, saws, and trims often remains a mystery to me - I just resign myself to the idea that he must be doing SOMETHING, so I carry on with whatever I am doing and don't give it too much thought.

As of late, however, he has become a bit of a pyro. He has been starting fires (safely) in our backyard for the burning of leaves, twigs, and really anything of no value that he can get his hands on. He has adopted an "I-could-burn-that" attitude. Sometimes I peer out the window and all I see is my husband's face lit by an orange glow. Slightly creepy. When he finally comes in, he is a walking campfire air freshener.

He simply loves the fact that we live out in the woods and he can have his fires. "AHA. LOOK WHAT I HAVE CREATED. I HAVE MADE FIRE. I AM HUNTER GATHERER AND I HAVE MADE FIRE."

I joke. (But not really.)

So amidst all this nightly burning, we come to another matter.

It is (was) the matter of an old couch that was taking up space in our family room. It was the couch that I bought as a student many years ago and we just never got rid of it. Recently, it had become the "dog" couch and was more or less in shambles. Not only would no one pay a dime for it, but I don't even think we could have given it away.

We were trying to figure out what to do with it.

"I could burn it," Scott joked. (But not really.)

"Haha."

"Well, I COULD burn it..."

"Yes, I guess you could."

[15 minutes later....]

"Would you help me get this thing outside?"

"Now?! Wait...no...are you seriously.....?"

And so, incredulously, I witnessed Scott lift the old couch at one end and drag the dog-pawed thing out of the house, up the outside basement stairs, across the lawn, and onto the coals. You know what happens next, my friends. Yes, he set it ablaze. Apparently it was reduced to the springs in a few short minutes.

Boys and girls, this is what the country life has done to us. Not only are we burning our old furniture instead of disposing of it respectably, I think we may just be on to a new boonie-ville social activity: "Dude, jump on the 4-wheeler, we're headed to the MacNeill place for a couch-burning!!! Bring your bow and arrow!"

Spectacle as it may be, mission accomplished. Goodbye couch, R.I.P.

"A" is for Adorable

2010-04-10T20:22:00.000-07:00

Some great photos of a happy customer!

This little one-year-old's mama authors a wonderful blog, be sure to visit her here.

Exhibito "A"

2010-04-06T20:42:00.001-07:00

I'm not exactly sure if "exhibito" is the Italian word for "exhibit" but it's close enough and that's where these sextuplets are off to - Italy!

I present to you "Claudio".

Likes: bike rides

Dislikes: flat tires

And yes. Those are linen carrots. On a bunny's tummy. How long do you think it took me to decide I needed THAT fabric? Umm, like negative 2 seconds.

ITALIA! Another Koo & Poppet European Adventure.

"BOLOGNESE and MUSEUMS and GELATO and FASHION, HERE WE COME!" they squeal from within their luxurious bubble mailer. As soon as their voyage is complete, these bunnies will be available online at Ecohandmade.it! I will post more about this fantastic site in the coming weeks.

Catania, Italy

So here you have it, the newest resident of the Forest of Misfits. Claudio has moved into a burrow right next door to Tuesday, and Milly is showing him around. The welcoming committee consists of Elliot, Baffin and Weasel McBeasel. And those of you reading this who are unfamiliar with Koo & Poppet - permission granted to consider the author of this blog insane.

The Koo & Poppet spring collection is well underway, and I will be posting more designs over the next few weeks. I'm so excited to unveil the 2010 fabrics!!

Featured Artist: Shirley Ng-Benitez

2010-04-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Ever since my introduction to the blogging world in 2008, I have crossed cyber paths with countless interesting, artistic, friendly and supportive people. Illustrator Shirley Ng-Benitez is one of them, and I've recently had the pleasure of interviewing her about her work and other fun facts.

KP: What 3 words would you use to describe your illustration style?

SNB: Wow, this is a tough one, as I'm still figuring it out - though I would say, 1) story-like 2) heartfelt 3) warm

KP: Do you have an illustration that is especially close to your heart?

SNB: I have two: La Partie de Thé dans le Bois (http://shirleysillustrations.blogspot.com/2010/01/miette-and-tea-party.html); and "Monsieur Olivet" (http://shirleysillustrations.blogspot.com/2009/10/fallits-here.html). I feel that the first one is special to me because the sketch came from a thought from a lovely friend and I just started sketching the idea out quickly. Miette's face came first and then the party crowns, the tea, and the whole forest scene came to life. I just keep sketching and everything just came out so fluidly...that is something that doesn't happen very often for me. Monsieur Olivet is very special to me because of his expression. This expression just "spoke" to me and he came to life one day. I found the "right" name for him, and he is off on his adventures. It has been such a treat to come up with his friends and story..which is still unfolding, by the way.

KP: An artist/illustrator whose work you admire?

SNB: Oh so very many that I can't say just one..can I name a few? Holly Hobbie, Amy Bates, Lisbeth Zwerger, Maurice Sendak, R.W. Alley. So very many more!

KP: Please tell us a bit about your artistic process, from concept to finished artwork.

SNB: When there is a problem to solve visually, there is an initial period where I have a few immediate thoughts about how to go about illustrating the piece, and so I quickly sketch out ideas on regular bond paper. After I sketch a few ideas, I move on to my daily chores and work-load all the while thinking about the problem. I tend to work on my illustrations at night when all is quiet in the house, and when there's time to think. Each night, before I go to sleep, I sketch. I think this has helped me a lot this past year, feeling more comfortable with just letting the pencil go. I erase a lot, and keep sketching facial expressions, poses and environments until I get to a point where there is a special something that I see in a sketch. Then I get pretty excited, and eager to work through all of the details to enhance the entire piece. Once I'm happy with the sketch, (and hopefully have succeeded in solving the visual problem), I define the sketch more with detail. Not a completely detailed piece, but I add enough detail so that I can then move to the next phase, which is to photocopy the sketch and enlarge it by about 150%. I tend to sketch small, so I blow up the sketch so that when I paint, I can add a bit more detail. Once the copy is made, I turn it over and add graphite all over the back so that I can transfer the copy to a watercolor block. I use Arches Cold Pressed 140lb. currently because I really like the texture of the paper and enjoy the format (12 1/8" x 15 1/8"). Once the pencil is transferred to the watercolor block, I wet the entire area I'm going to paint on with plain water and let it dry. Sometimes I float color into the backgrounds at this stage and leave it clear where I might place a character or animal. Then I start laying in color here and there in light washes. I move back and forth between focusing on the main character, or the background as I find that I like the differences (detail work, and then soft washes). I start adding fine detail with my favorite 00 Winsor Newton Sable brush throughout. I really enjoy the whole process...and it's always hard to know when to stop..but I'm hoping I'm getting better at knowing when. I am still a student, that's for sure!

KP: What have you found to be the greatest challenge as an illustrator? What is the greatest reward/Why do you love what you do?

SNB: Greatest challenge: overcoming self-doubt. I have always loved drawing ever since I can remember. I drew all along the sides of my papers as a kid, and would always scrunch up and cover my work as a child. Even after finding my direction in college, I remember hesitating to show my work to the class for any sort of critique. It was much too personal and I remember feeling that to show my portfolio to anyone was like wearing my heart on my sleeve. It was SO hard to break through that self-doubt and fear of rejection.

The greatest reward is to have my girls respond with a verbal, "Awww!". (Extremely awesome when you're aiming for illustrating something sweet and cute!). I just asked my little one to help with question 1, and she said, "what does that mean?". After I said "what does mommy's work look like to you?", and she said, "it brings you into the forest". Heck, I was just so tickled to hear that because that's what I'm shooting for - bringing people into my work and having them feel as though they've just been transported to a childlike world again..full of innocence, light, and fun. I love to illustrate because it brings me such joy to be able to send a cheerful break to anyone who might chance upon a piece. I believe in living each moment to the fullest, to stop and smell the flowers, and enjoy what nature brings us, so when we can pause a bit in our busy day to relax and ponder, it makes me happy to know that my work might be a part of that levity that we all need.

KP: As a child, what did you aspire to?

SNB: I always wanted to be a veterinarian and own a horse. I now, crazily have a barn but no horses, just a dog, a fish, and lovely family. And up until my first year in college, I thought I was going to be an Engineer, just like my dad. Thankfully he has been so supportive of my quite-the-opposite career direction.

KP: What do you do in your spare time?

SNB: I walk the dog; ride my bike; in the spring through summer I enjoy pretending to play golf; love to bake and cook; read about the illustration industry and about artists, illustrators, lettering-artists, and designers of the past and present; crochet scarves, sketch, sketch and sketch some more. I also love chatting with my girlfriends and catching up with my favorite blog friends and artists!

KP: Chocolate, Strawberry or Vanilla?

SNB: Chocolate - all the way. Especially dark of any kind.

(Love this lil' guy)

Find Shirley's work here (illustration blog) and here (graphic design website).

All images copyright Shirley Ng-Benitez.

A Day in the Life

2010-04-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

I've been back at work for about a month now - back to my real job, one that does not involve koopoppeting. Not that Koo & Poppet isn't real or fulfilling or time-consuming, but it was just time for me to return to the professional world. I must admit, it feels good to wear nice clothes everyday and actually do my hair, as so much of this last year was spent in sweats and sloppy pony tails. It also feels good to show up for work on a regular schedule, put my education and background to good use, and earn an income again. But I have hired someone to help with the Koo & Poppet production, so business moves forward as usual and on task!

This of course means that my REAL real job as Sadie's mommy has taken a time cut by 30 hours per week. I have one day off during the work week to spend with her, and I appreciate our home time together that much more because of this new schedule we are transitioning into. We stay close to home, run fewer errands and take naps together. We eat cheerios and walk down the lane to the mailbox at a pace of her choosing. We try on shoes. We hide in closets and read books over and over and over. I breathe in her smell and realize she is growing further and further from her babyhood everyday.

Our day comes but once a week, and I don't take one second of it for granted.

Bon nuit, little bunny

2010-03-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

Milly gazing out across the streets of Paris

First, Riley traveled to New York, and now Milly has taken up residence in one of my most favourite cities in the world, the unmistakable Paris.

When new mom and talented photographer Carine Tyler sent me this photo, I couldn't quite believe my eyes at first.

"Milly, is that you?? Wait....wait. Full stop. OMG. Milly is that you in PARIS??!?!"
She wears her new city well, by the looks of it.

Whenever I package up one of these little misfits and drop it off at the post office, I imagine the journey that lies ahead: over land (over sea in some cases) and all the points in between. I imagine the small manilla package tossed in a cargo bin, in some random holding place, and then I imagine X-ray vision seeing through the package at the little critter inside.
I imagine the parcel being to delivered to the door of the recipient, and its contents placed in the hands of a little boy or girl.
I imagine this new friend being toted along on trips to the park, the library, the dentist. I wonder if one might ever be left behind, destined to become a stray and lost forever.
But approximately one year ago, around the time that Koo & Poppet came to be, could I ever have imagined that I would receive a photo of one of these bunnies high atop a balcony in Paris, looking in the direction of Sacre-Coeur? Absolutement pas!!!

I hope this doesn't come across as me putting too much importance on these things. Afterall, they are just toys, and they are just things. But it's what these things have come to represent for me. They are a means of connecting with people I've never met (that's you, by the way), a stitch from one place to another, a journey that I would otherwise have never known.

And photos just make my day. Please keep sending them!

Bisou, bisou,
Sarah

Marvelous Mousepads

2010-03-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon these dressed-up mouse pads today....just some gorgeous fabric is all it takes to turn the mundane into a thing of beauty!

There's more beauty to behold at SHIM + SONS' shop.

Illustration Friday: "Rescue"

2010-03-28T19:41:00.001-07:00

Scott is from Prince Edward Island, so when we got married we named our tables after places from his home province (which those of you who are Canadian and paid attention in grade 11 Social Studies will recognize as the birthplace of Confederation. Actually, that had to have been the most boring subject in high school, right? It may have had something to do with my teacher, who was about as dry as stale bread. I'm sorry Mr. Machonachie, but I have to use your name here in order for the next part of this story to make sense. But for the record, I liked you, I really liked you!

Mr. Machonachie was a very nice person, but the poor guy was not exactly known for painting vivid pictures of the past for his students' educational delight. But in his defense, COME ON, Sir John A. MacDonald would not likely have made Barbara Walters' Most Fascinating People list. Anyway, the highlight of the term was when one of my classmates brought in a Chia Head (if you click on one link in this post, may it be this one) and we cultivated it on the windowsill for weeks, affectionately referring to it as the "Machonachia". Back in those days, we could not have cared less about Confederation).

But I digress.

Charlottetown, Little Sands, Cavendish, Beach Point and Flat River, are just a few of the lovely little spots in PEI that we named our dinner tables after.

We included corresponding illustrations on each table card, and the illustration above was for "Wood Islands", the spot where you catch a ferry to Nova Scotia.

And here is "Charlottetown":

And now I am off to make a Sunday night apple pie for that very same husband....

:::Illustrationfriday.com:::

Fright in the Night

2010-03-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

First thing's first: From a random draw, The. Winner. Of. The. Giveaway. Is. JAMAISE!

Both Emily (BFH) and I would like to thank each and every one of you who entered. It is sad that there can only be one winner.... so to thank you for participating, I would like to offer a 20% discount on a future Koo & Poppet purchase. Just mention the code word GIVEAWAY.

Emily and I so enjoyed collaborating on this giveaway. We think we should do it more often!

Now, to a more ghostly tale....

The other night I was taking "after" shots of my office in its fully renovated form (save for the window which is being replaced) and I had that eerie feeling I was being watched....

A set of eyes was glued to me. A phantomly figure tracked my every move. And then, in one horrifying moment, I locked eyes with the backyard being....

Cujo meets Casper meets....Bambi?

(this probably wouldn't be so scary if the window wasn't so Amityville Horror-ish).

Shudder.