off we go!

On Wednesday we head off for a much needed and anticipated family vacation. We are set to go to Vancouver and Seattle for about 6 days and then from Vancouver we fly to Ottawa for a good 4 weeks.
It will be our first time home since Katia was born and we are so excited for everyone to meet her.
It's been a good 6 months since we last left the territory and anyone who lives here in the North will tell you that after a while it can get hard to be so isolated.
Yes, we are very lucky here in Whitehorse. We have some great little shops on Main Street and we even have some large box stores and chain restaurants, but what we don't have is selection.
It's been a while since I've been to any good clothing stores or even good thrift shops and I am really looking forward to doing some good shopping. It's funny, because I'll be looking for things that people who live down South wouldn't need to think about, like winter clothes for the kids that might be on sale that will fit them next year. And their clothes in the next size up. Also Christmas shopping and birthday shopping for the kids...crazy but it's true! This will be our last trip home until the following year.
Some things that I am looking forward to doing while we are in the big cities:

:: going to a big box book store and looking through the huge selection of books
:: 2nd hand kids clothes shopping
:: IKEA ... need I say more?  Ottawa now has Canada's largest IKEA, so excited!
:: craft supply shopping at Michael's
:: Shopping here in Seattle
:: Going to the Children's Museum in Seattle, the Museum of Nature in Ottawa, the Aquarium in Vancouver and the National Art Gallery in Ottawa

These photos were taken on our last walk on the trails behind our house. I will miss the fresh air and beautiful nature that surrounds us here. This little stream is just a 15 min walk from our house. I wonder what it will look like when we return in 6 weeks.
Ps. Those are some dogs that we met along the trail.
xox

easy peasy

Every year at Christmas time I make some kind of bark to have on hand to give out as gifts.

Bark usually is a sweet treat (chocolate), so I don't put too much in the little bags...just enough for a nice treat. My favourite part of making bark is packing them up in pretty cellophane bags with ribbons and homemade tags.

In the past I have done almond bark and peppermint bark and this year I tried a white chocolate, apricot-cranberry-walnut bark...yum!
I always melt my chocolate in a glass bowl placed above a pot of boiling water. Make sure the water does not touch the bowl. Melting your chocolate this way allows for a slow even melt, so the chocolate doesn't burn.

For some more homemade Christmas candy inspiration check out this lovely set.

handmade holidays

The other day while admiring the adorable felted flower pins that adorn my friend's daughters' jackets I started to feel sad that I couldn't place a little pin on Noah's jacket. For some reason I had it in my head that the only types of pins that could be found were flower pins, and well, I just didn't envision a flower pin on Noah's winter coat.

But then I thought to myself, wait, why not a Christmas pin or sorts and then the wheels began to turn (you know "the wheels"...it's when a crafty person gets an idea in their head and starts running with it).

And so after some poking around shops in Vancouver and looking online for inspiration, I came up with this idea and I quite like it. A snow man pin, perfect for sprucing up a little one's ensemble.

And now that I've made this, I'm thinking of venturing out towards other things like robots and penguins and who knows what else.

Now the only question left is, should I wear a Christmas pin? Too Granny? Or just the right touch? Opinions please.

Happy weekend dear friends !

xox

buy nothing Christmas 2010

Christmas is coming and for some reason I am beginning to get that panicky feeling about it, like I have so much to do and sadly, so much to buy...it's really not a good start to what is supposed to be a joyful and spiritual holiday.
Last year I wrote a post about my desire to let go of the consumerism aspect of Christmas and to focus more on the real meaning of the season- celebrating Christ's birth and giving to those we love (and to the less fortunate). And I'm thinking it may be time to revisit that post again and add to it as well for this year. So I have decided to continue my list from last year and have come up with more ideas of things that someone could make or give that won't cost anything (or very little in some cases).
The idea is to focus more on heart filled giving, spending quality time with friends and family, and not let Christmas become all about the latest and most expensive gadgets that won't even matter in a year's time. Don't get me wrong, I will still be buying a few gifts for my family and loved ones, but I am trying my best to make sure that they will be gifts that will be used and appreciated and not just "stuff" that will accumulate in a junk closet or something like that.

So here we go with my 2010 Buy Nothing Christmas List...

• do a trade of services. For example, I take photos and have been selling them at craft sales. This year I have traded some of my photos for other crafter's products. It's a win/win...I get something different to give and so do they. And it's even better because I am giving hand made gifts to my friends.
• make any of these ideas... soft book, an I spy game, recycled crayons, a pretty knock off, a christmas cd
• host a girls craft night. Get everyone to bring their extra craft supplies like scrap paper, fabric scraps, glue, beads...pile it all together and let everyone have fun making things.
• now that Noah is old enough to be babysat I can't tell you how much I appreciate a friend's offer to take Noah for an hour here and there so that to can have some time to myself. Free babysitting is the best gift ever!
• Last year I read of the sweetest family tradition ( I can't find it anymore). Basically what the parents did was put their kids to bed as they would a normal night (teeth brushed, jammies on) and when the children were in bed the parents would announce that it was time to go on a Christmas light tour. They would all pile into their van, enjoy hot chocolate and Christmas treats and would drive around their neighbourhood looking at the Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music....how sweet does that sound? The gift of a special memory and surprise, sounds lovely to me.
• Give the gift of a helping hand. Offer to make dinner for a friend who is busy and bring it over to their house. Offer to help put up their Christmas lights or to help them pick up a Christmas tree. Offer to take their kids to the park or to take their dog for a walk. Shovel someone's driveway.
• To the person who has everything, give them something from the Unicef Gifts of Magic Shop, it's sure to bring a smile to their face to know that they have helped children in crisis. I personally like giving their gift of art.
• Instead of gift exchanges do a food collection. If you are having a party, ask your guests not to bring a gift but instead a few canned goods to contribute towards the food bank. Make it a challenge and see how much you can collect.
• Every year my aunt buys a large fruit tray from the grocery store and drops it off at the local Salvation Army, where it is put out on Christmas Eve for people to enjoy. She tells us (my sisters and I) about it in her Christmas card and lets us know that she bought it on our behalf, which makes us feel good.
• For children's gifts, think of gifts that can be used more than once and that will encourage creativity. Books and good quality art supplies (paints, crayons, play-doh) are my go-to gifts.
• And of course ETSY is always a wonderful choice when it comes to handmade and vitage items.

I hope that this list has helped you think of a few ideas that you can do to make your Christmas less about things and more about love and giving. And here is a list of even more ideas to help you get kick started. I'd love to hear from you if you have any ideas to add to the list. Merry Christmas dear friends...may your days be merry and bright.

xox

new prints on etsy!

Hi friends happy Thursday and a very special Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends.

A little birdie wanted me to let you all know that there are some prints up on my etsy shop- just in time for Christmas. They all feature birds (surprise surprise) and there is even some special prints just for Christmas. But hurry because after they will just be in the shop for a limited time.

for a soon to be baby bear

You may or may not have picked up on my subtle hints over the past few months that there is a special baby in my life who will be making his grand appearance soon.

No no-it's not me...don't worry I haven't been keeping a secret from you, but it is the news of someone who is very close to me. The parents have asked me (a complete blabber mouth) to keep the news to a minimum and so that's why I haven't gone ballistic with posts about this sweet little baby bear that I can't wait to meet, but that doesn't mean that I can't share with you one of the gifts that I made for him, a taggie blanket, made by me just for him.

Please keep in mind that I am in no ways a quilter or anything of the like, I just sew for fun, and that's it.

So for now I am keeping quiet about this soon to be baby, but you must know that I am just over the moon excited for this little guy's big debut.

When the time comes I will for sure share pictures of him.

xox

holiday handmade gift ideas

I saw this tutorial over the weekend and right away wanted to try to make one for myself. I got so excited about the idea that I decided that I am going to throw a little "Get Your Craft On" party in December with some girlfriends here, where I will lead a little workshop on how to make these. Doesn't that sound fun? I'm pretty excited. We are also going to make these at the party and I will definitely make a sample before hand so that I know what I'm doing when I teach the crowd.

etsy shop update

Dear friends,
I just wanted to let you all know that I have updated my shop with some very pretty wintery/Christmas type photos. These photos can be bought as a 5" by 7" print or you can pick and choose as you like and have them made into a set of note cards (3).
I can just imagine that these prints would be lovely framed and given as a gift for any of the upcoming holidays and the cards would make perfect stocking stuffers or additions to a gift basket.
Hope you'll pop over to the shop for a look.

mail swap!

I just received a comment here on my blog from the recipient of a mail swap that I participated in recently so that means I have the go-ahead to post what I sent her! Yay!

This particular mail swap was hosted by Nadia from La Porte Rouge (such amazing images on her blog) and I was so excited to participate.

We were asked to include a postcard or photo, a favourite book, a favourite quote, and a little something else.....so for my package I included a set of my freshly printed postcards (which will be in the shop soon), the book Red is Best, my favourite quote, a pewter seashell and a recipe for pumpkin muffins.

Favourite Quote:

With beauty before me, I walk.
With beauty behind me, I walk.
With beauty above me, I walk.
With beauty below me, I walk.
With beauty all around me, I walk.

This is my favourite quote because it reminds me to take in the beauty of the world (the natural world especially) around me. It reminds me that I am small and in relation to the grandness of the earth, I should be humble and thankful. It also lends itself to my new found appreciation of the beauty of the Yukon.

Yay for receiving mail! Have you received anything good in the mail lately?

xox

the cutest hats ever!

I just have to pass along the love for my friend Leanne's adorable hat creations.

This particular owl hat was given to Noah for his birthday. Leanne will be selling these hats and more of her creations at the Early Bird Christmas Arts and Crafts Sale on Oct. 23rd.

If you are a Yukoner, you won't want to miss this show!

note cards are in!

Dearest friends!

A little birdie (on a wire) just let me know that note cards are in, in the Birds on a Wire Etsy Shop! These make fabulous hostess gifts for the holidays or great stocking stuffers.

Here's the details....

The packs are $10.00 (plus applicable shipping) and include a set of 3 blank note cards and envelopes. You get to choose any 3 photos that I have posted in my shop (just let me know which ones in the note to seller). They are mailed to you in a cellophane bag and are sent in a bend proof envelope.

Hop on over to the shop to see what it's all about!

xo

wonderful news!

Dear friends! I have some exciting news to share with you. After much thought, I have decided to open an Etsy shop with prints of my fine art photography. The photos that I am featuring are many of the "day to day", every day beauty shots that I post here on my blog. Think cupcakes, pies, flowers, abstracts!

I've just started, so for now there are just a few prints, but I will be adding them daily. Also I have art cards and post cards coming soon!

I hope you'll pop on over to the Birds on a Wire Photography Shop for a little view.

Wishing you all a creative day!

xox

a chill in the air

I may be able to get away with wearing my birks for a few more weeks, but let me tell you, there is definitely a chill in the air here. While my family and friends back in Ontario are still getting warmer temps, here it is going down to 7 at night...and sometimes colder. Folks, I think we have seen summer come and go here up in the Yukon.

It seems that fall is just around the corner and for me I couldn't be happier. Autumn is my favourite time of year by far! With the leaves changing colours, the crisp cool air, my birthday, warm drinks like apple cider and pumpkin spice lattes, and big sweaters...I am definitely a fall girl.

Today I did my first real online shop from llbean and in the back on my mind was that I should be looking for articles that would look pretty, be versatile for the outdoors and be warm. It was fun to pick out clothes that I know will be useful and at the same time will make me feel good to wear.

Also just over the weekend we purchased Noah's winter attire online. We were warned by locals up here to order early to avoid disappointment and I certainly don't want to be disappointed come the beginning of October when it apparently starts to snow here.

But back to the topic of fall, (sorry for wandering away from my original topic), I wanted to show you some pictures from the lovely family walk that we took on Sunday. Just after church we drove over to Long Lake which is about 15 mins away and followed the path around the lake. It was so beautiful there, words just don't give it justice. The perfectly still lake, the fall colours just starting to display themselves, the beauty of the Yukon truly moves me. Oh and to top of our experience that day at the lake, guess what beautiful sound welcomed us upon arrival? Listen to this to hear a version of what we heard....amazing!

Hope you are having a gorgeous week dear friends.

xox