The Latest: Reflecting on Past Summers

Yesterday I had what my twelve year old self would have called a "real summer day". I played some video games, I watched Game of Thrones simultaneously with my friend in Scotland (we had first begun watching it together when we both lived in Paris!), watched some CSI, watered the plants, had a nice long shower, cooked a hearty dinner with a glass of wine in hand.... and honestly not much more than that. It was glorious.

I also felt a bit guilty, though. I have a lot of things on my plate and the idea of not doing work towards ANY of it made me feel as though I wasted an opportunity for focused work. But I think I've been focusing for a long time, so a day to myself to turn my brain off was probably exactly what I needed. Today, I woke up feeling invigorated and made a collage first thing in the morning before work. Then I painted at work. And now, I have plans to dive into some reading for my thesis work. And later, dinner with my fella!

It's strange to think back to my younger self who would play Sims and watch TV all day, almost all summer, and never get bored of it. How was that possible!?! I honestly can't imagine. Instead my summers are filled with seeing friends, being outdoors, drinking and eating delicious things, painting drawing and making, going on adventures around the city (and out!), and of course, as an adult - there is still work! It's been like that for years, of course, but for some reason this week I have been reflecting on what it was like as a young teenager. I probably also did some social outdoors things, but for the most part I was a real proponent of doing NOTHING AT ALL, ALWAYS. Except play Sims. I loved the Sims. I used to make cheesy little movies from video captured in the game.... I was a bit of a nerd, ok?

Anyway, I thought I'd also just share this photo of me and my friend's pug Susan. She was such a darling, and ow great of a name is Susan for a pug? Also, she actually wasn't as terrified of me as she seems here - I don't think! My friend Krista (Susan's human mama) is moving to New York soon, so I'm trying to soak up as much Krista and Susan time as I can before that.

What's up with you lately? Let me know in the comments!

Fun fact: I still like the Sims, just a little less obsessively I suppose.... ;)

The Latest: A Whirlwind of a Term

Hello! It's me! I am breathing and thinking and doing life and feelin' good!

The last several months have been just nutty. In the best way, of course, no complaints! But with all the reading (~120 pages a class) and the writing (~20 page papers are my new specialty) and the new city and life n' stuff, I have just not had the brain power to write about it all.

In the spirit of a quick update I offer you a dot-jot list of highlights, with pictures:

• Halloween! All we did was hand out candy, but we still got into our costumes! Frida and Vincent. Channeling Frida was tremendous fun, except when my dad tried to take pictures and I had the hardest time scowling and not smiling!

• My room at school which I love very much

• Living in another city away from this guy has made our little dates extra special, even if they are most often lazy nights watching XFiles. This was when we went to see some Monet and Van Gogh at the art gallery and saw some photography too.

• I saw one of my all time favourite musicians, Chris Cohen, play in Waterloo. He was the opening act, and compared to Toronto the crowd was small... so I got to chat with him for a good ten minutes after he played! The best night of my Waterloo life!

• Applying my art school skills to a research proposal poster design for school!

• Being home for the holidays has been real nice. I got sick with a cold, but still have managed to see a few of my friends including this gal at the Christmas market, when we had our first snow! It was so magical!

I'm hoping to be more blogg-y in the new year, as I would really like to use this space (I still love it very much) and I have some ideas. We will see!

But for now, tell me, what have you been up to?

The Latest: Settling In

September was a whirlwind of new-ness, of novelty, of some serious settling in and easing into a new routine. Moving to a new city has been easier than the last time. Though to be fair, last time was a continent away, this time is just a two hour bus ride.

School is incredible! The amount of new knowledge that has been crammed into my head in just a month is astounding and overwhelming at times! I'm learning so much about research methodologies, recreation and leisure, and disability. The disability course in particular has been pretty mind blowing. Have you ever noticed the under-tones of disability in Disney movies, or the stories that Disney worked off of (Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen anyone)?

I've really enjoyed learning to think critically (as is the goal of most of my courses), and it is really cool to look at my work from a new perspective. I teach art classes and facilitate art projects for persons with dementia, and as much as I have been lucky to work in a setting that fosters an incredible open-mindedness and respect for all our participants, I feel like I am learning something new every time I work. I also feel as though every day I come across something, in some shape or form, that demonstrates a lack of understanding, a fear, and a stigma of disability and dementia. It makes me want to change that, and it makes me so happy and feel so fortunate that I've got a chance to do that through grad school and my research.

On a less serious note - I totally caved and bought something from the second hand store I mentioned in my last post. You know when the stars align and by some fluke you find the exact item you had in your mind's eye (even if it's something as arbitrary as a "navy blue turtle neck sweater that is long enough to cover my bum")? That happened, and they had just put the item out on display that morning. WOO!

Thanksgiving is this weekend (in Canada) so I will be going home again for that, seeing the family, being thankful for all the things, and eating lots and lots of delicious food! Have you ever noticed how much 'orange' we eat in the fall? Pumpkin pie, sweet potato, squash, carrots.... the list goes on.

What's up with you these days!?

The Latest 02

How life flies by!

We are nearing the end of the Summer and it's a big transition time for me, since I will be headed back to school in September and moving out of the city. AH! I am so excited and thrilled to have been given a place in this program and I can't wait to dive right in.

Obviously this means a lot of changes. Life is funny business and I never, truly never, thought I would do any studies beyond a Bachelor's degree. I loved what I was studying (illustration) and was motivated to do it. But then I stumbled upon my work with seniors, and I stumbled further into it and 100% fell in love with it. So, here we go! School round 2!

I've been so MIA from the blogging community in the last month since figuring things out for school and being on vacation so tell me - what have you been up to lately? Any good posts you've shared recently? Link me in the comments!

ps. Check out my lil' aloe family! All of these babies were in the face pot crammed together when I first got the plant - it was a super healthy plant but also a very squishy one in need of more room. It was my first re-potting experiment and I'm super pleased with how it turned out ;)

The Latest 01

It has been a while since I shared a bit about what's up in my life lately! When I get really busy, I find it hard to reflect on that which I am too busy living/experience/getting through.

I recently finished up a big contract job and a freelance magazine design job, just in time to come down with a flu of some kind that completely and totally knocked me out. As in - sleep for 12 hours then nap a few times during the day, kind of knocked out. It lasted about a week and a half, then a short phase of touch and go, and I am now finally feeling like myself again - just in time for more work! Ha! Today I started a mural at a long term care facility that I am so so excited to complete, but man is mural painting ever physical labour. It's okay though - it's not every day that I get a strength work out as an artist ;)

Other than that, I've still just been putting boobs and such on everything. Which is always a fun thing to respond when my dad asks me what I'm working on. (Love you dad!)

My nudie work is now available at Arts Market at College and Ossington - if you live in Toronto! I love the Arts Market gang and it has been really fun so far being a vendor. I'm such a sucker for creative supporting other creatives and being eager to be a collaborative community! I know the art world is competitive, and I'm not rejecting that reality, but I love collaboration and mutual support in the art world too. It's how it keeps turning! It's what I want to emphasize most on this blog, lately.

My nudie tees are also available on my online shop and I will soon put up my stickers, weavings and bowls/ceramics as well. ALL the nudie things!

What's the latest in your life!?

xo

LIFE/ALIVE

Life has been so wild and busy lately!

Recently, I started a contract job with an organization that does a yearly installation/exhibition for children involving lots of cool technology. It's a ton of fun - but also, keeps me super busy given that I haven't given up any of my other jobs and my freelance work has been picking up. 7 work days a week, woo!

I am excited to get to blogging again - it has been a while since I have had time to sit, and relax, and string some sentences together for this blog post. 

I am hopeful that when this contract job ends I will be able to focus a little more on my personal projects, this blog included! House of Ell is dear to my heart and I want it to grow and blossom.

Here are a few tidbits about what I've been up to lately:

- I've been selling my Nudie products at shows, and they will be selling in a retail store at the end of the month!
- At the end of the month I am also doing an exciting mural that I can't wait to get started on
- I went to Chicago for a few days and saw all sorts of beautiful things and ate so many delicious meals. What a cool city!
- Doing some sweet stuff for some bands in Toronto lately, which I will share later!
- Looking forward to summer! I am so sick of this cold - we have freezing rain today, yuck


So, that's me right now. What's up with you? Catch me up!