LINARstudio

Slice of Life: 3/31

As I sit here at the kitchen table, I can see March is going out like the proverbial lion.

There are whitecaps on the lake as far as the eye can see. It is deceptive. The sun is shining and it's rays are steadily getting warmer. There is not a cloud in the sky. There are only two indications of the potential storm forecast. The wind which is whipping through the cedar hedge; and, the occasional spray of the lake, which is fifteen feet down the slope at the end of the yard, is coming right up into the yard in a big wet arch. A pair of geese have slowly made their way closer to the house and the patio. It must be cold since the kids are downstairs and I can hear them playing Mario Cart on the Wii.

I do hope the winds are simply blowing in warm weather.

Layout: Meeting CZ

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: Basic Grey; Stickers: American Crafts; Ribbon: Stash; Font: Amelie, Arial; Sketch: Feeling Scrappy

Slice of Life: 3/30 It's all subjective

The idea is to put yourself out there. Right?

In the last couple of months, I have listened to my friends (thanks, girls!) and applied for a host of things out of my comfort zone: design teams and publications.

No one likes to hold themselves up for criticism.

What I have done is found a barometer, something measurable to see how I compare with my peers, or not. Though, at the end of the day, I do realize it's all subjective.

It's hard to put it all out there.

So glad I did. Check out why, here: clicky.

Layout: Favourite Game

Cardstock: Bazzill; Printed Paper: American Crafts; Flowers: Bazzill, Prima; Brads: Doodlebug Designs, Stash; Fonts: Amelie, Arnprior, Arial; Sketch: Feeling Scrappy

Slice of Life: 3/29

I have a love-hate relationship with minor hockey and our association. I prefer to dwell in the love.

I realize that many volunteers make for light work for the same 14 who do the work over and over ... and over and over again.

Today was the start of Awards Week. The championship week for our minor hockey association. I agreed to "captain" the Novice division - make sure speeches were done, players got on the ice in the right order, trophies were in place and the right team got the right awards. Awards Week is a huge undertaking.

The whole minor hockey process is a huge undertaking.

To see the looks on the faces of the players, parents, coaches, conveners, when they stand to listen to the national anthem followed by their games is incredible. We had three fantastic games. The first went into overtime. The second a shoot out. The third was not as dramatic but an exciting game nonetheless.

All of the teams from all of the divisions came to cheer the two top teams. It was a great example of good sportsmanship. Something not often enough encouraged. By the last game, there were hundreds of people in the stands. The energy was incredible!

I had all of my kids there with me - from 7AM to 2PM. They watched, they cheered, they helped, it was wonderful. It was what the whole minor hockey process is all about.

What a wonderful morning.

Slice of Life: 3/28

For the last couple of months I have been terrible about keeping my calendar up to date. This has gotten me into a bit of trouble with some double bookings or completely forgotten appointments. I think it has more to do with too many methods for keeping a calendar - Blackberry, computers, paper calendar - and none of them "talk" to each other, than actually not having a method. I have too many. They are clumsy and annoying and something I have been avoiding fixing for a couple months now.

I spent all morning updating my Blackberry, so at least one method is completely up to date. Not only that, but I managed to book all of the summer camps, made travel arrangements for two family trips, hotel reservations and a few other little niggling details.

What a relief! Amazing how a simple thing can make you feel energised. And organized.

I've also been negligent with maintaining my lists. Many, many lists. That is my next project today, put a big list together. Then start scratching it off. The best list is the one with all the lines through it!

Slice of Life: 3/27

A grad dress and a skateboard.

Nothing like a shopping bag filled with opposites!

After a quick trip to the bank to re-activate her debit card, Claire and I headed off to the mall - her favourite place, not mine - for this, her last day of Spring Break. She had a long list all printed off, and colour coded. We picked up necessities like underwear and the grad dress and extras like the skateboard and her 101st hoodie.

She's thrilled. I'm exhausted. Overall, a good afternoon.

Matchmaker, matchmaker ...

make me a match, find me a find ....

Okay, enough Fiddler on the Roof.

If you are the type to get all worried about matching your printed paper perfectly with your Bazzill cardstock, this: clicky, is the place for you! I found it really cool and have just spent part of my morning there! Love Bazzill :)

Slice of Life: 3/26

A few years ago, Louis and I opened a baseball training facility: Frozen Ropes, here in Oakville. We saw a need in the community and filled it. As a result we have a ton of stories: good, bad and ugly, though mostly good, of our past three and a half years and thousands of kids who have gone through our doors.

Today, Louis went to sign a hiring contract with his new employer.

Frozen Ropes, sadly, closes at the end of April, when all of the team contracts expire. Life is all about experiences and this certainly has been quite an adventure!

Calligraphy Junkie

I have always been a calligraphy junkie. I have inks and nibs all over my studio. All packed neatly away.

I haven't thought of them in years. The last time I used them was to address all of my wedding envelopes. Fortunately we had a small wedding, only 50 guests, so the task was not overwhelming, but still it seemed to feed my need for handwriting for a while. It was at that time I got my first PC and discovered the land of FONTS!

I was going through my reader and on my daily blog journey, I stopped by Blah, Blah, Blang and discovered the most incredible idea:

Short Cut Caligraphy Course

Isnt' that BRILLIANT?

While you're on Blah, Blah, Blang, hang out for a while. Check things out. She is wonderful and has links to some equally delicious sites and blogs. Definitely hit the link to the Brightside Project. You'll be glad you did!