It is fitting, especially today.

Steve’s final words, hours earlier, were monosyllables, repeated three times. 

Before embarking, he’d looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life’s partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them. [my italics]


Steve’s final words were:
OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.

Mona Simpson, delivering the eulogy for Steve Jobs.

Well, boo.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

The temperatures are dropping, and I was on the hunt for a new pair of boots. My old ones expired last year after several years of faithful service.
I found the perfect pair at The Bay yesterday (no chains and zippers and tassels and the kitchen sink -- just a streamlined, warm pair with very good treads). To my delight, they were also 30% off. Timing is everything.

 Are you ready for winter?


Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Friday's child

I've never painted a witch before. I've never produced any Hallowe'en art before either.
But there's a first time for everything...

Life's a witch, and then you fly.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

I'm grateful it stopped raining, and I'm grateful I am free of weather headaches.

This is my current favourite coffee cup. It's beautiful to my eyes, and just the right size, a little bigger than a traditional demi-tasse. I found it a couple of years ago on one of the antiquing forays conducted by my sister when I was visiting her in McKinney. That would be Texas.

The right cup adds to my enjoyment of coffee. At the other extreme is coffee in paper cups or worse styrofoam. They set my teeth on edge. So I don't drink coffee out, unless I have to (you're out with someone who buys you a cup of coffee), out of politesse!

Pause-café/coffee break

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

I find it hard to get going when it's grey and gloomy and wet outside.
A part of me just wants to curl up on the couch with a hot drink and watch old movies on television. Reading would only make me drowsy; my reading is reserved for nighttime.
Another part of me recoils at the very thought and wants to be active: move something, anything.
And another part of me compromises: Have a shot of coffee, then make something.
That's the part I listen to. It always leads to my getting out of the house....

So this piece of wood has been sitting on my table. It's the only one I have, so I've waited for the "right" idea (idée juste?). I don't know if this is it, but I went ahead anyway.

Ma cabane au Canada

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

When vintage linens are too good to cut up.
Arrange the pieces and stitch them together, carefully if, like me, you're not used to navigating big pieces in your sewing machine.
Hang as a [small] window covering, Japanese-style door curtain, or pin to the wall.

Available in my Etsy shop.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Tags.
Objects of my affecttion.
Happy Monday.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Sometimes I feel like this:

If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world. -C.S. Lewis

I've often felt over the years that I must have dropped off another planet/world, so when I saw these words by C.S. Lewis, I immediately knew what he was talking about. For me, it isn't so much about desires as it is about being utterly baffled at the behaviour and state of the world. Which makes me all the more grateful to have the small number of people in my life who accept me as I am.

Anyway, I played with buttons last night. If it involves simple crocheting, I can do it. Anything more complicated, no.

 

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Friday's child

What a design team member does [speaking only for myself, of course]:

Tears open the package and pulls out a sheet of brand-new rubber.
Pulls out various scissors and start separating the images, cutting and trimming the one that leaps out at her [ooh, have to try this one right away].
Tries it out; ideas start flowing.
Readies some backgrounds.
Trims the other ones while waiting for backgrounds to dry.
Then goes to town. [Once I get going I can't stop. By 2 a.m. I had made 5 samples. I will be making more today.]
Last but not least: Enjoying the process very much...

So there you have it. I adore getting new stamps, and I can never wait to try them out. This set is brand-new so I can't show you anything more just yet....


Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Because I couldn't resist this

via Dawn
and via sock dreams

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

A wet blowy day -- but not really cold.

I haven't made anything today [not yet, anyway] because I took the day off.

I had an appointment early afternoon in the College and Bay area, so when I was done, I walked around and found the best Sobey's yet, in College Park; I was told that it opened last Friday. And I thought the best one was in my neighbourhood.... So now there are two supermarkets in College Park, although I have to say that Sobey's far outshines the one in the level below (Metro).

I headed north, stopped off in Curry's to see if I needed any art supplies (I didn't) and continued up Yonge St. until it started raining again and hopped into the nearest subway.

Objects of my affection.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

This project went on and on. And on. But I finally finished it. It went on, because I started with a blank "canvas" and kept adding to it. Little by little, it turned into something. Small steps do work... Essentially it's a book, or a folder since it doesn't have pages inside. When you open it, this is what you see.

The front cover looks like this:

The back cover looks like this:

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Tempus fugit

If it's almost Hallowe'en, Christmas can't be far behind.

I made myself a reminder. Some Christmassy stock has to be made very soon. Just like magazines, this business requires working months in advance. This year, I've decided to stitch words on my ornaments, as well as offer personalized ornaments -- the customer gets to choose the word or name. If this interests you, please contact me through my Etsy shop for more info.

Embroidery on antique French linen.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Silent Sunday

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Yesterday's highlight was a visit to the Topshop flagship store at Yorkdale Mall. I love it -- it has that British fashion edginess and loads of vintage influences. Best of all, there's something for all ages.

This evening my canine friend Jeannie is coming to dinner. Her keeper, too, of course. Must go and get some doggie treats because I fed Jeannie's stash to another doggie friend who visited last week.

Today's painting: Pyramid.

Acrylic on paper, available in my Etsy shop.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Friday's child

Painting lifts me out of the grey skies we have today.

I'm studying the masters of light: for me they are Turner and Hopper.

Lone Tree (c) Colette Copeland

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

At the end of a busy day.

I traded a painting for two hair appointments, and had the first one today. Having my hair cut and styled always lifts my spirits.

Walked downtown to take advantage of a sunny day.

Spent some time in the library losing myself in some gorgeous Turners (two big books filled with colour photos of his paintings), and a chat with my favourite librarian, Sara.

I finally did the deed and tried wholewheat pasta for dinner. I'm not thrilled. The texture is strange -- OK, different --  anathema for a pasta lover. I made a killer sauce for it (puttanesca), hoping to minimize the wholewheatness of the thing, and threw in some chunks of low-fat camembert which melts and turns the tomato sauce nice and creamy.

And I indulged in some black and white painting.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

 Mlle Zita came to visit this thanksgiving weekend, bearing this huge bouquet.

It was a short visit but crammed with talk and catching up, picking up where we left off last year. Good friendships are like that.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

On my table today

Mixed media

.

Stitching: work in progress

Have a lovely day.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Seeing beyond what's there:

It looked like a very big coaster, padded and stitched. It was velvet, faded in parts, very old. I knew I could use it in some way. I threw it in my basket. That's how it works with me when I'm shopping at mantofev's fleamarket, possible the best one online. When it arrived, I took it apart, discarded the padding, and ended up with a nice piece of old, crushed, faded velvet. Lovely.

It didn't take long to put it to good use. I've been wanting to make flowers (with old, crushed, faded velvet), and so I did. I stitched a little fabric tag to finish it off, and a pin on the back.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend, and the weather is more like late summer.
Enjoy the "harvest".

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

The Caran d'Ache love affair continues... smooth as butter. Just applying a wet brush to the colour after I put it down is sheer pleasure. [The Swiss don't just make clocks and chocolate, you know.]

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Thank you for all your good wishes. I had a great day; even the weather was beautiful! and so are you...

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

What I'm doing on my birthday (today).

1. Cast my vote in the provincial election...but that's tomorrow.

2. Go to the AGO to see the Robert Motherwell exhibition

3. Do the laundry...yes, of course I'm kidding. My friend Jc is taking me to the AGO and we'll continue from there....She's the one with all the fabulous ideas.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Today's photo.

Concierge?

Propriétaire of a boutique?

Lady of the night?

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

We have a winner

Thank you for sharing your favourite/favorite words!

I wrote down all the words, rather than the names, on paper strips, folded them and threw them into a hat.

Eyes closed, I picked on folded piece and it turned out to be............ Moxie (ponder that one!!)

Melle Magpie, I will be in touch!

Because the only friend I have whose name is Martha has a terrific sense of humour....

A page from my fictional photo album

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb

Giveaway is now closed

As a thank you.

A little giveaway.

What's your favorite word? 

The winner will be drawn at the close of day Monday. Just make sure I can contact you if you win.

Do not break your shin on a stool that is not in your way.-- Irish proverb