Warm Hearts, Young Money

Forty Days

2012-02-21T15:40:00.000-05:00

Lent starts tomorrow - a forty day journey to Easter. Lent is a relatively new concept to me in some ways. I do remember it as part of my upbringing - starting with a churchy pancake dinner and hearing about how people were 'giving things up' for forty days (usually Tim Hortons), but it's only recently that I've grasped an understanding of how powerful these forty days can actually be.

At Eucharist, we're thinking of it as a climb to the mountaintop. It won't be an easy climb, but I know it'll be a good one. I'll be mapping out these forty days as a journey. Where am I now? How is my relationship with God, with others and with myself? Where do I want to be at the end of this? There are a lot of things heavy on my heart these days, and there are moments and days when I literally feel weighed down in the depths of my soul. This is not how I was meant to live, and I know that God is calling me to something bigger, lighter, more full of life. Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" - so on that glorious Sunday in April, when we celebrate the resurrection, my hope is that I am free to do that, and understand what it means. There are a lot of specific goals and entanglements that go along with this, better shared in person I suppose, but I wanted to share at least this much because this is probably my favorite time of the year, and a lot of people don't know much about it besides the whole pancakes thing.

It starts tomorrow night - Ash Wednesday. If you feel at all like there is healing that needs to happen in your life, or that there are relationships that need to be mended, or that there is hurt that needs to be reconciled, just be open to the idea that these forty days might be the right time for that to happen.

(Top photos taken at the Hot Chocolate Festival in the Dundas Valley on Family Day)

Weekend Fun!

2012-02-13T18:38:00.002-05:00

Well, I just had a lovely weekend!

1. Cute Friday morning sewing project. Got the idea here. Gah! I just love hearts and love and Valentine's Day...

2. Special delivery! Spent the afternoon on Friday handing out gifts to some of my favorite people. Find out more on the Sweet Ice blog!
3. Art Crawl! There was lots to see, as usual. We tried to make it to all our regular stops, but everywhere you turn there are more friends to catch up with! So fun. (The picture on the right is from 'Have I Been Here Before?' by Lenka Novak at Hamilton Artists Inc.)
4. Needlework's grand opening! Kate and Liz's new shop looks absolutely darling...they've done an amazing job so far. Make sure you stop in there sometime soon - they've got lots of sewing notions and they already have an amazing selection of fabric!
5. It finally snowed!

Recipe: Red Pepper & Goat's Cheese Soup

2012-02-09T22:27:00.001-05:00

Here's something different for ya! I made some yummy soup last week, and thought I'd share. Something I realized, in the process, is that if I take pictures while I'm cooking, I basically HAVE to clean as I go, which leads to a very pleasant kitchen experience!

So, this is a red pepper and goat's cheese soup, and in the end, even though there are lots of delicious ingredients, it mostly just tastes like red pepper...so...don't make it if you don't like red peppers, okay? Also, this is a very brief and unprofessional recipe, so if you are at all concerned, you can find my inspiration here...I basically just doubled it and tweaked it to my liking. Here we go!

1. Fry onions until they're golden, and then add wine to pan. Fry until alcohol evaporates - about another 2 minutes.

2. In a large pot, combine onions, peppers (chopped), apples (chopped), basil and stock. Boil 20 minutes or until peppers are tender.

3. Puree in blender, then put back in pot and whisk in goat's cheese. (You can add even more if you LOVE goat's cheese like I do!)

4. Add salt and pepper to taste and then eat the soup.
IT'S SO EASY, GUYS!

This takes about a hour total (to chop, boil, and puree), and makes a big full pot that you can enjoy all week! You can garnish with basil or goat's cheese, and make sure to stop by the bakery to get some fresh bread. Enjoy!

A To-Do List for the Weekend

2012-01-26T19:36:00.002-05:00

Well, it was pretty helpful last time, so I think I'll try it again. Kevin's gone this weekend, so I translate that as 'get as much done as possible so I can spend lots of time with him when he gets back'. Publishing my weekend to-do list helps me plan and stay on track - so here goes.

-visit Nickel Brook brewery for some treats
-vacuum my car (before the snow comes back!) and clean my house; I'm excited about this one!
-hand in application for the Tourism Award that Sweet Ice was nominated for (fun!)
-exciting screen printing workshop at The Print Studio on Saturday with Linds
-crafts and lattes at The Cannon with friends
-put my Christmas decorations into storage, FINALLY
-reorganize my studio - I'm in desperate need of a clean, relaxing work space
-make a big ol' pot of soup for lunches this week
-anticipate my dear husband coming home (he just left yesterday and I can't wait till he gets back!)

Hope you have a great weekend! Do awesome things!

(photo taken in Portland, at Voodoo Donuts)

Hello!

2012-01-24T10:19:00.002-05:00

Happy Tuesday, everyone! It was a bit of a drab weekend, but I do have some exciting things on the go.
Here's a little peek at my past few days...

1) Knit Night at the Brain - learning how to make hexipuffs!
2) Tired of wet feet, so I got some duckies at VV. Also ordered Hunter boots this weekend, so excited about those! I'm going to try to make my own fleece/knit inserts, asap.
3) Filmed a Sweet Ice syrup tutorial video with Lindsay. Still editing that - it's super cheesy but great, stay tuned...
4) Pin curls - my new go-to hair style. Takes about 5-10 minutes, and gives you BIG hair, which is always great.
5) Spent some time making buttons at The Cannon on Friday. Making buttons is so therapeutic.
6) Breakfast-for-dinner and teatime with the lovely Dave and Jenn.
7) A snowy day made me cold and happy.
8) Another nice afternoon at The Cannon with the most amazing latte and the Best Website Ever.

Here's to a brighter week! Kevin is leaving the country for a few days, so that's not nice, but it also gives me a chance to catch up on a few things. Maybe I'll make another to-do list to keep me on track. Have a great day, friends!

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-01T11:30:00.008-05:00

So, it's that time. New Years...the time when we make resolutions, hoping we can keep them, but knowing it's going to be hard.

I want to keep mine, so I'm writing them down in the case that it helps.

I've made resolutions before, and there's only one that has ever stuck. In 2006, I made a resolution that in the following year I was going to be a more genuine person. I was going to pull back the sarcasm and the surface conversations, and make a hard attempt to be more authentic in all areas of my life. This included things like recognizing my own faults and weaknesses, but more than that, it encompassed a life of being genuine with the people around me. It meant initiating real conversation with my friends, even when it was hard. It meant approaching people when there was strain in our relationship. It meant complimenting people when I thought something nice about them...even if that was the cashier in the grocery store and it was super awkward.

It was impossibly hard at first. I struggled through some really awkward silences as I tried to mend some hardened relationships. I made people uncomfortable, because for as long as I could remember, all we had talked about was school and TV. But, as I continued to push through it, I found myself changed. Five years later, after continuing to work on this day-by-day, I can say confidently that I am a genuine person. I care deeply for the people around me, and I try to let them know it in the best way I can. I'm quick to share my feelings, and initiate deep conversation. I let people know the things I love about them as often as I can. Many days, I even find myself holding back as I come close to gushing...and I've got no shame about it. I wear my heart on my sleeve, and while it's not for everyone, it's really working for me.

So, this year. This year I've got a few resolutions. I'll start with the simple, clear-cut, black-and-white ones, because, well...that's just easier.

1. Pay off my school debt. There's about $16k left, and I think we could do it in a year. It'll take some changes, for sure, so we'll see how that goes. Maybe I'll update here every few months about that one.

2. Make my bed every day. This is more of an experiment than a resolution, I suppose. I posted about this on Facebook the other day, and got mixed responses. A few people gave the classic 'Well, you're just going to mess it up again later' opinion, which doesn't hold any weight for me. This experiment is less about the aesthetic or practicality of The Made Bed, and all about the experience of sliding into a haven of tucked-in, wrinkle-free goodness each night. My friend Thea described a made bed as something that provides a sense of calm when everything else in your busy life is surrounding you with chaos. I have high hopes that it will give me a more healthy sleep, and actually make me an all-around better person. Like I said...high hopes.

3. This is the big one. This one involves a huge spiritual shift in my life, which is going to take legions of effort and self-control. It's something that has been floating around in my head and my heart for weeks, but was only realized and put into conscious thought today while listening to my friend Dave speak oh-so-wisely about 1 Corinthians 4. I'll link to his sermon once it's online, but for now, let me attempt to explain this 'movement' I hope to make in 2012 - it's 4-fold and gigantic. 1) Commit where I commit: I want my words and my promises to mean something, and I want to value my own time as well as that of others. Less wasted time, and more meaningful experiences. Taking care of myself and my home, so that I can spend more time committing to the things and people I care about. Discovering even more specifically those few great things I'm called to pour into and making sure that happens this year. 2) Learning to suffer well: We live in a broken world, and we can't wrap our minds around the terrible things that happen. I want to be a person who knows that is true, and who looks forward to God's kingdom being fully realized and everything set to right, but also lives in the tension of knowing that we're not there yet. I want to 'sit shiva' with my friends that are grieving. I want to acknowledge pain, instead to digging desperately for optimism. I want to make soup for people who are sad. I want to cry over broken hearts and broken lives. 3) I want to love with a spirit of gentleness. Taken right from 1 Corinthians 4:11: 'When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat.' This is huge, and still blurry in my mind - more on this in a few weeks. 4) I want to be quick to repent, apologize and admit defeat. I'm a prideful person, and I like to be right and given due credit. I hope, in 2012, I can come to terms with what it might mean to step down and admit that I am ~~sometimes~~ often wrong. I want to be sure to celebrate good things in lives of other people, without concern of how it affects me. I want to collaborate on ideas and on creative living, without feeling a desperate desire for credit and acknowledgement. I guarantee I will discover something very freeing about living this way. That's a huge 'resolution', but I know that if I can even begin to grasp some of the these concepts this year...that's really good movement and change for me.

So, those are my resolutions. All massive in their own way...but all three are possible and all three could be life-changing. I may update on these in a few months, and especially on the third one, as it becomes clearer and more concise.

Thanks for reading, and happy new year to you! I'd love to hear your resolutions if you have some...feel free to post below.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T21:30:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas! Just a bit of footage from our day with Kevin's family. Pyjamas all day, Chinese food, Christmas movies and some really fun gifts - I'm worn out with happiness.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T23:03:00.002-05:00

We had a gorgeous Christmas Eve service at the 270 Sherman building tonight. I love Christmas Eve. It felt surreal, and holy, and quiet, and like family...

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Beehive Christmas Treats

2011-12-20T22:50:00.005-05:00

I spent last evening making really delicious Christmas goodies with the Bees. We made sea-salted caramels and lemon rosemary shortbread. Here's some pictures...such a cozy evening!

It's been really nice to be a part of the Beehive this year. I've been inspired by each and every member of the group, and have been challenged to learn a lot of new things. I've taken part in events and experiences that I otherwise would not have...like seeing the quilt show at the AGH, putting up an amazing art installation at Supercrawl and hosting a really lovely summer craft fair at the art crawl. There are experiences I missed out on as well, like canning peaches and learning to mend knits...just so many fun opportunities! I'm excited to see what next year has in store, especially as two members of the collective are opening a really neat shop on James North (Needlework) in the new year. Keep up with us over at the Beehive blog...

The Advent Video...

2011-11-29T09:14:00.006-05:00

A few weeks back I posted some sneak-peeks of the Advent video we were making. It's done, so here it is for you!

A To-Do List for the Weekend

2011-11-18T09:00:00.008-05:00

I was inspired by my friend Kate to think about what I actually wanted to accomplish this weekend. Her list was more of what she needed to do, but really, these things need to be done too. I've waited too long, especially for the cleaning.

I have every Friday off (it's SO nice), so Kevin and I try to take some time together to do fun things. It usually ends up being a really nice balance of relaxing and productive. Okay, so this weekend:

-go to Cake & Loaf to get a door fundraiser cookie (Who smashes doors in?! Hopefully they have some cookies left!)

-AND get a latte with my amazing husband (two birds, one stone!)

-go to this yummy place to get something for tonight's wine/cheese night

-go to White Elephant to sign a card for a special someone

-clean my craft room

-clean the basement (last night's flood is spurring that one on...)

-Saturday afternoon coffee date with my rad new friend Katie and Linds

-do 6 million loads of laundry (oops)

-finish draft for a super-special-top-secret Sweet Ice project

-make soup for the week (Sunday morning soup-share-group!)

-get a good start on my handmade Christmas presents (they always take longer than you think!)

*Kevin read this and wanted me to add this one:

-watch my man play a video game he's been waiting five years for (Truth is, I'm pretty excited. I remember lining up outside the store with him for the last one when we had just gotten engaged. He's awesome.)

I think it's going to be a good one!

(photo: taken in Montreal by Jonathan Peters)

A First Time for Everything

2011-11-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

On Friday I did something new!

And I've gotta say - it really hurt! But in a bit of a thrilling way...

Jason from Cottage 13 did a great job, and was so patient with me as I adjusted and readjusted the location of the ampersand. Yippee, I'm so pleased with it! Now Kevin and I match (finally), and it doesn't look like he's in this alone! ;)

As Advent Approaches

2011-11-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

Tonight we're filming a video for Advent at Eucharist. It should be pretty fun...we've been prepping the supplies for the last few days, and everyone involved is pretty excited. Here's a little sneak peek - basically it involves white Christmas decor and neon paint:

Saints & Sinners

2011-11-14T09:00:00.001-05:00

A new week! Happy Monday, friends.

So, we installed the Saints & Sinners piece on Friday afternoon for the Art Crawl, and while we were still putting it up, we had so many people stopping to look and ask us about it. It seems like art and religion are both things that people are interested in and feel comfortable talking about. There are just so many perspectives when it comes to either, that it provided opportunity for really interesting conversations to take place.

We heard from all kinds of people - some who had had really terrible experiences with the church, some who grew up 'religious' but had walked away from their faith, some who were Christian, some who were of other faiths, some who had a lot of anger towards God, some who appreciated the statement as an art piece, some who thought it was funny and interesting, some who said it made them uncomfortable; like I said - really interesting conversations. It seemed that everyone had an opinion, and with the piece being so public and communal, they were willing to share those opinions. Another thing I noticed - almost everyone who walked by could point out one (or more) people in the piece that they knew. It was fascinating to watch people learn that their barista, or their waiter from Mex-i-can, or the guy who sold them shoes...was part of this statement.

All that to say, it was a wonderful (albiet cold!) evening, and I'm excited to see the other ways this talented community continues to interact with the vibrant arts culture in the core of our city. Good on ya, Eucharist!

Above: We're soooo cold! You can see the rest of the pictures here, as well as the artist statement (in the album description...)

Photo Credit (for these photos as well as the installation): Meagan Tutti-Peters

Art Crawl Tomorrow!

2011-11-10T22:51:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow night is Art Crawl! One of my favorite nights all month! This month's art crawl is especially exciting because my community at Eucharist has put together an art piece that we'll be installing outdoors.

It's called Saints and Sinners - here are a few sneak peeks. I'll fill in more about the piece after Friday night, but I'm excited to see how it goes. People from Eucharist are engaged with the city in all kinds of ways, but this will be the first time that we speak communally from and as Eucharist - should be interesting. Come by and check it out - you'll see it on the fence between Vasco da Gama and Acclamation.

Quilts!

2011-11-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

We went on a Beehive field trip last night. The AGH let us in for a private view of their quilt exhibit - it felt like we were so important, going in after-hours like that! The show was amazing. All the quilts are from one couple's collection, and are mostly from the 1800's. The intricacy was mind-blowing, especially when you realized that most of the quilting was done by hand. There will be a lot more details and pictures about the show on the Beehive blog later on, but if you get the chance, you should really go check out the show - it's running until January 15th.

Above: 1852; Cotton, plain-woven, appliqued, quilted, hand-sewn.
Above: 'Crazy Quilt'; c 1885; silk, velvet, satin, pieced, embroidered, hand-sewn

Top photo via Hollie Pocsai

Latest Project: Alphabet Sampler

2011-11-07T20:29:00.000-05:00

I started this pretty project recently - a crewelwork sampler from Alicia Paulson. I'm only a few letters in, but I think I'll have to take a break until my Christmas presents are made. You can see more pictures over on the Beehive blog...

Hiking

2011-11-04T15:58:00.000-04:00

Back to blogging! We went to Dundas Valley for a hike today. Amazing city we live in...totally urban, but with the added benefits of hiking trails and waterfalls.