resurrection fern

hurray for pompoms

 

my latest little distraction

Main Entry: ¹pom–pom 

Pronunciation: \ˈpäm-ˌpäm\

Function: noun

Etymology: alteration of pompon

Date: 1873

1 : an ornamental ball or tuft used especially on clothing, caps, or costumes
2 : a handheld usually brightly colored fluffy ball flourished by cheerleaders

There is something strangely exciting about the moment when you cut the edges, pull the drawstring tightly together to reveal the pattern you have unknowingly (well almost) created.  In my mind this makes me thing of protein folding and embryology. One day I hope I have some time to describe why if anyone is interested. For now I only have pretty pictures of my very low tech pompom making method. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't you love the little guardians of the pompoms or perhaps they call them pompons since these are Parisian owls made by Mathyld. They are already world famous, having made it to explore on the weekend. 

Main Entry: pom·pon 

Pronunciation: \ˈpäm-ˌpän\

Function: noun

Etymology: French, from Middle French pompe tuft of ribbons

Date: 1751

1 : ¹pom-pom 1
2 : a chrysanthemum or dahlia with small rounded flower heads

During my brief research I discovered another sort of pom pom. Wouldn't it be amazing if this would shoot beautiful colorful soft pompoms instead of bullets. 

Don't be surprised if you see these colorful creations turning up just about everywhere this holiday season. We have plans....

Hope to see you tomorrow where the BIG SECRET PROJECT will be revealed!!!!

my day

My day started gardening with Edgar.

I think he thinks of this as the kitty version of a hot stone massage.

We found fern tucked under the lavender plant.

He has made a new friend.

Fantastic day for hanging clothes on the line. I finally got around to washing the treasures I found in Austria a few weeks ago.

My daughter's made the most wonderful lunch of corgette carbonara a la Jamie Oliver,  baguette with garlic butter and to top if off a key lime tarte.  The entire meal was so delicious. The tarte tasted far better than the one I had at Demel's in Vienna. 

The table was decorated with tiny flowers in small repurposed jars and key limes.

My son who unfortunately couldn't join us today sent me the most wonderful poem by email. I will share it with you later in the week after I find some pictures to complement it.

To top it off the magnolia tree was in full bloom. A pretty perfect day I think.

I am trying to keep my promise of an etsy shop update for tomorrow, May 11th at 7 pm. but I must admit I had forgotten today was Mother's Day and I am more than a little behind in preparations. We will just see how things go.

Salix Caprea / Pussy Willow

I love my mom. As we were changing her decorations from St Patrick's day to Easter she was inquiring as to the derivation of the name Pussy Willow. The quick answer was that they looked like little pussy cat feet on the willow branch but I was a little puzzled as to why the latin name had more to do with goats than cats as the literal translation is Goat Willow.

I came across this little story that I will share with her on the phone today.

"According to an old Polish legend, many springtimes ago a mother cat was crying at the bank of the river in which her kittens were drowning. The willows at the river's edge longed to help her, so they swept their long graceful branches into the waters to rescue the tiny kittens who had fallen into the river while chasing butterflies. The kittens gripped on tightly to their branches and were safely brought to shore. Each springtime since, goes the legend, the willow branches sprout tiny fur-like buds at their tips where the tiny kittens once clung. "

They really do look like little paws hanging onto the willow branches.

If you live somewhere where you don't have access to fresh pussy willows you could always make some as I did last spring . All you need is some scraps of twig colored wool , small amounts of wool roving, a pipe cleaner , a needle and thread. I used a machine washed and dried piece of a vintage cashmere coat that you may have noticed in other projects last year.

1.  Cut a strip of your wool fabric about 2 cm wide and as long as your pipe cleaner. 

2.  Sew up the long edge with blanket stitch or whip stitch. 

3.  Insert the pipe cleaner inside the fabric tube and then sew up the ends.

4. Make small petal shapes out of scraps of the wool fabric and in each one place a tiny amount of roving and sew the end shut with a few little stitches. and then sew this onto the willow branch .

5. Add as many as you want to the branch using a picture of a pussy willow branch as a guide for placement.

6. These make pretty little additions to your spring baskets or gifts.

What's New for Spring on the Catwalks of Canada

The latest news from the catwalks of Canada is that the must have accessory for spring 2009 is vintage hankies. Here you see top cat models Arwen, Byron and Edgar modeling them in style. 

Aren't they just adorable? As my youngest daughter would say, "real boys" wear pink. Edgar already seems to have lost his pink one so this morning we went with lavender and yellow.

It is a beautiful sunny morning here and I am so happy that I got most of my housework done yesterday so that I can get out and enjoy some of the day.

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Don't forget there will be a little shop update at 10 am .

The Sound of Birds and Colorful Noise

The sound of birds stops the noise in my mind.

-   Carly Simon

Look very closely and you will se two lovely robin redbreasts in the tree. When I first spotted this the tree was actually filled with robins but after safely pulling over to the side of the road and getting my camera out only two remained. I was very surprised to see them since it was about minus 10 degrees C this morning. Mornings in that last week or so have been filling my ears and mind with wonderful bird songs and for those moments at least the otherwise colorful noise in my mind seems to pause and listen. 

Here are some images of the colorful noise that is coming from my mind in these past few days.

I notice a certain playfulness in my photography this week.  My stones are begging to be played with ( Ishi would know what I mean) and I am answering their pleas. 

What happens when you turn a merfish upside down?

He or she becomes a merbunnyfish. 

And what happens when two curious little kitties discover how to open the closet under the sink?

A marinated in catnip mouse party ensues. 

Mr Feathers

Mr Feathers ( otherwise known as Edgar) was really keen on helping me arrange the nature objects as long as it would include his beloved feathers.

I rarely see feathers in the snow and even rarer still is frost that looks like feathers. 

That picture was taken by lisa ( my fantastic assistant in the office) . Recently we have both decided to bring our camera's to work, just in case :) Is it just me or are you seeing a great many beautiful feathers being hand crafted, printed and painted . For the aboriginal people of North America feathers (especially eagle) are a symbol of spiritual strength , something we could all use.  I can't believe it is friday already and only two days away from the Love and Rummage Sale. If you live in the Toronto area please drop by and say hello. 

the adventures of the three sylvesters and the red tweety bird

I'm a sweet little bird in a gilded cage Tweeties my name but I don't know my age I was feeling like the little old lady in a tweety bird cartoon the other day when all three cats in the house, Edgar, Arwen and Byron were all after the red felt bird at different times in the day. I always wondered based on that classic song why tweety never knew his age. He was obviously a young bird. Maybe there is a psychoanalytical explanation for this. Supposedly the original tweety was actually a wild bird that had two cats interested in him in the first cartoon short from 1942 titled "A tale of two Kitties". I guess I could call this one the Tale of Three Kitties. Finally when the red tweety bird was removed from their reach, they just started wrestling each other to pass the time. ,b. After all , cats will be cats.