Ode to my bike

Dear Bike:


Ring a ding.


You are marvelously rusty, your right pedal gets jammed and apparently I have to sink a ton of time and money into you. However, Scotts bike got stolen, and you didn't.

This makes me grateful to have you. You get me to work and home and to various social engagements in a flash, all while providing me with exercise and free transportation and the freedom to park anywhere at any time.
You are dirty, and my coffee cup always tips over in your basket, and your stupid metal pedals squeak real loud and always give me bruises when they slam into my legs as I walk you down the street. But I love you.

I love the feeling we have together. I love your vintage style, fenders, basket and bell that looks like the Grateful dead bear.......kinda.


We have marvelous moments, and I dread the nearing of winter. I will cherish these moments always. And I promise, come winter I will not leave you out in the snow like I did last year. Oh no no, this time you have a mudroom and I will wrap you in a blankie.

All my love and kisses,

Your Master Rachael

Another Inspirational Tap on the shoulder.

I know I know, I already did my inspirational tap, but sometimes, the best stuff comes about twice in a week. And THEN you can count yourself as a lucky ducky.

Before heading home last night, I visited the ye ol neighbourhood vintage shops and found some super fantastic finds.

Firstly I found a vested oktoberfest dress with a big long skirt and I will be *gasp* converting it into a shorts jumper. I wish I knew how to sew so that way I dont have to let the local alteration shop rob me blind...however they are as sweet as pie and I am pretty sure I keep them in buisness.

On list of things to learn: sewing and perfect french.

On another note, along with my dining room conversion, I found some amazing little whatchamacallits to decorate with.

This fantastic cow creamer

These supercute retro porcelan bunnies, complete with feather tails!

This one, I could not pass up. Vintage telephone jewlery box, when you turn the dial knob and open the front drawer, it plays music!

I didnt buy this one, in fact I have had it for years, and thought I would share it as it is one of my prized possessions. It was published in 1912, and this is an original copy. My darling grandmother in California gave it to me. It has coloured plates that are stunning, and each one is protected with a sheet of onion paper. Jealous? :)

And last but farthest from the least, is my darling friend Julia's art work. The woman is talent upon talent combined with humility and creativity. Shes the stunner that just got married this past weekend, and truly everything that girl touches becomes more wonderful somehow. She has an air of kindness and gentleness to her and I love knowing her. She makes painstakingly minature models that take countless days and are filled with the finest detail. Her models are so intricate and she makes them inside such facinating objects like lanterns. You can have the great fortune of seeing her work here

The Death of Red Hen by Julia Hepburn.

xoxoxo

Rachael

p.s: See Gingers super cute blog, Carne Primo, about life and good eats here

Tuesday is No News Day

Good Afternoon,

So seeing as my new art studio is in dissarray, I am confined to working on home projects to get our new place up to standard.

I have a couple of unfinished projects in the works, (sadly I am beginning to think this blog could consist of nothing but projects I hope to finish!) one of which is this yellow zebra looking piece:

On sunday, I was exhausted lack of sleep and too much dancing on the weekend had left me drained and seeking refuge. I rented Out of Africa, with Meryl Streep so I could drool over her outfits, and yet I found myself falling passionately in love with the owl she was given as a gift.

Its called a Boreal Owl, and hot diggity I want one as a pet. Apparently they are fabulously tame and they are teeeeeny tiny!

xoxooxoxoxox

Rachael

ummm p.s Apparently I look like Rachel Menken from Mad men....it may be a Jewish thing, but I will take it!

An inspirational tap on the shoulder

What a weekend!
Me and the boy and some pals all went to a wedding. It was by far the most interesting wedding I have ever been to (somehow my friend found this offensive and feels comparing weddings is a dissapointing thing to do). Thoughts?

The wedding had a traditional First Nations/ Native ceremony. And I have to admit, traditional weddings just arent the same to me anymore. This wedding was filled with ceremonial symbolism and I loved it. There was a smudging and the groom had to light a fire using only sticks and stones and presented food to his bride to show that he will provide for her. The bride had to share a bowl of clean and pure water, to show her purity and gentleness.

Then the bride and groom were bound together after sharing in smoking the ceremonial pipe, at which point everyone faced North, South, East and West while the bride and groom announced their commitment to each corner.

I would have pictures but out of respect we were asked not to take any. But my good pal The Duke of Spook took a real goodie of all of us watching the ceremony.

Yep, thats yours truly !
On another note:

MONDAYS INSPIRATION (and boy do I need it today)

french apartments (somehow even the french make parquet look classy!)

Moor trampin, Australian outbacking, safari boots....yum! Will be gettin these puppies in the fall.



Vintage novelty childrens wallpaper. Not ready for a baby yet, but totally ready to decorate for one. However, some friends of mine (Dave and Joanna) are expecting! Congrats!

Old world apple picking (pretty much the same as regular apple picking but with hair bandannas and aprons).

German Dresses!

Ciao! (messy pantry)

xoxoxoxoxox

Rachael

The Beginnings of the Swan Mural

Good Evening Friends!
Today was a glorious day. I took the day off work to go for an incredibly long bike ride, it was much needed and very refreshing. We stumbled home in a daze of exhaustion and sore legs as the bike ride took around 4 hours.





When we got home, the boy and I watched some of the British Office, and then decided to get to work on some projects.
I was glad to start my mural, I have been very excited to begin this project and I hope you will enjoy following its progression. Dining Room Before

Swans in progress

I am so thrilled to see the before and after take shape. I stopped off at pier 1 in the beaches today and picked up some stunning green curtains with birds and twigs on them for 50% off. I also am slowly on the hunt for white ceramic cute animals, today I found a white cow creamer. Very nice.

Love forever,

Rachael
xoxoxo

Fun Fun Fun

I now realize that in the art world, esentially you are being a big, bratty, messy kid.

I took a very satisfying and expensive solitary trip to Ikea this weekend. I was in search of not only a new duvet cover, but also a variety of inspirations for my developing art studio ( I will keep you posted on its evolution, I know that you may find it tedious but darn it, I am excited!). Lo and behold I was downtrodden at my limited prospects for storage and art solutions.

And then Ikea Childrens department happened.

What a fun art supply storage system, I would choose green bins however.

I really enjoy this dispenser, I can attach it to the top of my workbench that Scott is planning on making, I also got the roll of craft paper that goes with it. I am thinking of getting another one to hold things like ribbon and yarn and such.

And this light is just freakin adoreable:

Bear Hugs,

Rachael

What Makes Me Tick

What makes me tick Friday August 7, 2009

The prospect of getting a sheltie soon:

Listening to this talented stunner:

And of course this one too:

Hook Rugs!

And the prospect of seeing this movie this weekend:

Loads of sloppy kisses,

Rachael

Yawn and Stretch

Good morning!

So Scott and I have been working like crazy monkies fixing up the new apartment bedroom/ studio space. And this weekend, I get all the time in the world to set up the studio and finally unpack!

Moving is the worst...but the new excitement of having all your old things look completely different in a new space is fun!

However, truth be told, I am yearning for the quiet relaxation of the Scottage...the peaceful trees and sparkling water is such a temptation.

Scottage 2009 photo courtesy of Alison VDK

I believe the creativity I channel into a new art piece is just going to have to be channeled into decorating for now, and I will just have to continue to yearn for another couple of weeks.

What are you yearning for today?

Love always

Rachael

Newy Blewey

Good afternoon!

I am sorry that I have been missing in action the past couple of days. It has been a CRAZY couple of weeks here! Scott and I moved this past weekend, and there are rennovations being done to our basement bedroom/ art studio...so as it stands we are transient! We have been sleeping at Scotts parents house 30 mins out of the city, and driving in.

On a positive note, I was able to complete a new work before all the chaos, its a biggie!

Say hello:

Delicate

Oil on canvas. 2009 SOLD