Coastalgirl

Valentine book

Valentine book, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

This was my first attempt at sewing! It took me an hour to figure out why the thread was tangling.....didn't thread the machine properly...duh! I like how it turned out and my little one liked it too. Perhaps now I won't be so afraid of the sewing machine. What has really  turned me off learning to sew was that I hate ironing...you have to iron if you want to make a quilt...I think I can teach myself well, if I can learn to like ironing.There are so many things that would be neat to sew!
Anyhow...I really enjoyed making this book for little Leah and joined in on the fun over at weekend creative from Ali Edwards . Thanks for the inspiration! Ideas for the making of this book are here.

walking in the wood: nature challenge #5

walking in the wood, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

This is a typical scene walking in the wood here where I live. There are pockets of beauty here, you just have to look a little harder sometimes. Unfortunately, the one and only time I went walking in this wood, I came across hunters and heard shots ringing out. Shortly thereafter a beautiful buck ran across my path. I was on a registered nature trail (2 hour hiking loop), but I guess that doesn't seem to matter here. 
My favourite parts of the photo are the yuccas in the foreground with the touches of red and yellow leaves throughout.

Look what I found: nature challenge #4

Look what I found, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

I find these in my backyard and often rescue them from the predatorial nextdoor neighbour's cat. After a wee bit of first aid-off they go under the leaves of the hedges. This little (well...rather big) fellow is called a broad-headed skink and apparently these kinds are quite common in backyards of the southern states. I guess I've gotten use to fireants, lizards, and armadillos too. Nothing surprises me anymore.

unfolding

unfolding, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

This is what we did this afternoon. We finally got around to cutting out snowflakes. Leah had the best time unfolding to see the creations as she hasn't mastered cutting through too many layers yet. The best thing of course is all the cut-out leftover bits that will go into a nice collage- perhaps tomorrow's craft. She also has fun creating virtual snowflakes over at this website.

cat's eyes: nature challenge #3

cat's eyes, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

A lovely foggy morning at the local park had me crawling around low to the ground and wandering through wet bushes to photograph spider webs. The reflection of a metal railing in the drops resembles cat's eyes. The divided gray and black background adds to the composition overall and blurring the background is easy to do with a macro lens when you are shooting close up.

Face painting: Part 1

Face painting: Part 1, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

I have many different implements for trying face painting....so far, the best results seem to be with watercolour pencils(this photo) or watercolour paints in a tube with a very fine paint brush. This one isn't that good, but she wanted a teddy bear and it HAD to be blue. The great thing is that it comes off easily and you can try again AS long as the little one stays still! Leah finds these little bits of rough art on her face rather exciting! Yey for me!

winter rose: nature challenge #2

winter rose, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

This is a winter rose photographed at a local park on one of those balmy afternoons that rose to over 70 degrees. In the background blur is winter pansies, rosemary, and lavender. This little garden is surrounded by a thatched house with shutter windows and a stone walled amphitheatre that my daughter loves to jump from row to row. It's a quiet place to relax and reflect while missing the snow and pretending to miss the cold.

dandelions: nature challenge #1

dandelion seeds, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

A new challenge for me starting today while I await our big move in 5 months time, is to post a nature photo every day. It could be one I process that day or it could be taken from my archives. It will be a photo that brings me happiness for its simplicity, beauty, pattern, and texture...you name it.
Today's post is a dandelion photo I took on a summer trip to Nova Scotia. There were millions of these extra tall jumbo dandelions gracing the fields above my mother's farmhouse nestled in the Cobequid Mountains. The seeds were blowing in the wind and I recall that the black flies were vicious. This particular dandelion head was backlit by afternoon sun. It looked like a small bit of brilliance.

strawberries and heartbreak

This is one of the few books that originally drew me in by the front cover. I loved this story of heartbreak, sojourns through the woods for solitude and healing, and great friendship. I liked that it took place in Sweden, NZ, and a little in Japan. I disagree with many reviews on Amazon that compare Linda Olsson to Ann Tyler and Jodi Picoult...she is much more refined that than for a debut novel and rides above the fluff  and predictability of supermarket fiction. I had many unanswered questions when I finished the novel, but I liked that. I was so taken with this story, that I couldn't start another novel for several weeks.

woolly sheep

woolly sheep, originally uploaded by coastalgirlimage.

Another dreary, rainy, and damp day here today, but it makes the perfect excuse to do crafting with little Leah. This idea comes from the kids craft weekly website newsletter -issue 26. This is a great thing to let a 3 year loose with...cotton balls, glue, tissue paper, and googly eyes. It's always about the process...NOT the result. Leah called the sheep, "Mommy, Daddy, and Leah." It could be worse, we could have make cows or pigs!!