Check out the Ramen Party! A project to introduce preschool kids to food, music and fun! Come meet Mr. Ramen and his charming friends and join the party.
Learn more about the project here and check out their catchy music video.
Here’s my sweet Shoyu package for supporting their indiegogo. An awesome tote bag, signed print and stickers!
Had an excellent and delicious weekend a few weeks back hosted by C&D. So many great graphics and yummy foods. We were schooled in the Eastside vs. Westside tastes in barbeque, sampled some shrimp and grits, and all the other great things the South has to offer.
Chicken and waffles were the first things on the menu at Dame’s Chicken & Waffles. Pictured is the ‘Light Brown Leghorn’ – 4 chicken legs on a classic waffle drizzled with caramel and cashews and a hazelnut Schmear. “Schmears” (don’t you love saying it) are Dame’s own flavoured butters, a dallop on the side of each waffle.
While looking for popsicles, we found instead the Parlour ice cream shop which had a display of art from Dave Alsobrooks.
We did eventually find those popsicles at Locopops! My mango chili popsicle was perfectly refreshing for the balmy Durham weather. For our barbeque experience, we went to The Pit for ribs, pulled pork, mac & cheese, biscuits and one of the best corn breads I’ve ever had (served in a piping hot skillet with maple butter). We rounded off the weekend with tacos and sweet tea at Chubby’s. A pretty perfect weekend says my belly!
Getting into the Christmas spirit with some paper lanterns! Found the tutorial online and thought of trying it out. It requires some patience in cutting and folding, but it’s pretty easy to put together. I used 90lb. sketch pad paper for the smaller star which was easy to fold and cut, but relatively sturdy enough to attach to the string of lights. The larger star was made of dollar store bristol board which also worked well, but the holes are a little harder to punch.
Here’s the tutorial with template. I doubled and quadrupled the measurements for my requirements: http://www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com/paper-star-lantern.html
And another simple star to add to the mix: http://annekata.com/2010/11/tutorial-super-simple-paper-stars/
Turned out pretty good!
Hello Sweatshoppers! It’s been a while…rack it up to laziness and malaise. ..maybe we’ve been enjoying life too much!
As we enter the winter season with less daylight and my late hours, I finally made a light box so I could take photos of items for my shop. I wanted something cheap and collapsible that I could easily stow away so I checked out some tutorials for ideas.
I decided to follow the basic idea of the cardboard box solution, but constructed my own box shape with pieces of foam core and matte board leftover from old school projects. I figured out which was the best way to fold it up and hinged the edges with packing tape. White plastic tablecloth from the dollar store was perfect for covering the windows on the top and sides, and there’s plenty leftover if you ever need to replace them.
Works quite well for $1 and salvaged materials. I still need to play with the levels and colour balance of the images after in photoshop, but I think this will serve my purposes. ~ Lurgs
My love affair of Falconwright began back in the winter edition of City of Craft 2011, when I hemmed and hawed over a xmas gift for my friend, finally settling on a hot pink zig zag and cream change purse. Then a month later, I came across their website somehow and it was game over.
Sandi (Deadweight) and Danielle (Caboto) are talented in their own right, so combining their skills together was kind of a game-changer. And on top of it all, they are friendly ladies.
My obsession is warranted. I love prints, colours, and pouches. And these ladies serve it up in spades. I’ve bought 6 so far. 2 gifts for others. and 4 for me! I’ve also managed to spread the love to my friends and family. C’mon, you know you want one! Shop here.
They are getting lots of blog love and so here’s mine… ~yy
*all photos from Falconwright
My friends and I had a beautiful Victoria Day weekend at Niagara-on-the-Lake. We went specifically went for the Food Truck Eats event at Peller Estates and it was a blast! Before I get to all of that other fun stuff. I wanted to post about this picturesque winery that was our last stop before we headed home. After dropping into a few wineries (with no restaurants), we wanted to hit up some food. Good Earth Winery was recommended to us by two of the wineries we went to…so it had to be good. What a sweet discovery! Lovely food, service and a man playing soft cover songs on his guitar. What more could you ask for?
Good Earth Winery has also started dinner hours so very exciting stuff.
Aaaaaand they have cooking classes! Plus, a little shed with homemade preserves etc: with a sign like this…
Please do make it a point to drop in to Good Earth Winery if you get a chance! ~yy
I just finished watching Series 1 of BBC’s Sherlock series, a modernization of Sherlock Holmes. Only 3 episodes per season, but 1.5 hrs. long each, it’s still not enough. More Sherlock! Itching to get my hands on the Series 2 DVDs. Aside from the brilliant crime solving and Holmes-Watson comradery, there is some beautiful wallpaper. I’d love to live in 221B Baker Street, though rooming with Sherlock…hmmm…”You make the tea! I made the tea last time! and move your magnifying glass!”.
The main sitting room wallpaper is from Zoffany called Navarre. The Finches also caught my eye in the front hallway. It’s a print by Sanderson.
Above: ‘Dandelion Clocks’ also from Sanderson.
Holmes and Watson investigating murder, with a lovely tree print in the background.
I’m so happy 30 Rock is back on the air and I quite like Liz Lemon’s TGS tote bag. Just saying, NBC, it could make a few bucks. Better than the stuff you have in the shop now…I mean who uses mouse pads anymore?
~ Lurgs
I had the chance to see 2 great plays this week, both of Asian origin and on the themes of family, history, forgiveness and love.
Red Snow by Diana Tso is the haunting story of Isabel as she journeys to find what happened to her family during the holocaust in Nanjing during WWII. The play brings to light this horrible event in history, that is often overlooked, and the need for forgiveness and reconciliation. You can see it at Theatre Passe Muraille till Jan. 28th. For show schedule check here.
Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi, is the funny and touching story of the Kim family and their Convenience Store in Regent Park. I could identify with a lot of the feelings of growing up in an immigrant family. Kim’s Convenience plays at the Young Centre in the Distillery District till Feb. 11th. Click here for schedule.
Knowing Diana and following her updates, and actually having been to one of the readings for the fu-Gen playwriting unit where a few scenes from Kim’s Convenience were performed many years ago (though I don’t remember much), it’s so great to see the fruition of all their time and effort. Congratulations to both on their inspiring work!
** I also really enjoy the illustrations Brian Rea in the Soul Pepper program, like the one above for Kim’s Convenience. Check out his work here.
Montreal, so much yum. Montreal, you froze my bum.
That pretty much sums up the last few days. Although lots of shops and restaurants were still closed for the holidays, we endured the face-slapping freeze and still managed to find many delicious things. Thanks to S & B for the fun little trip.
For the foodies, here’s where we went:
Marché De La Villette for the french onion soup and tourtiere. La Banquise for poutine. Reservoir for lunch, I had the beef…it was delicious! Drawn and Quarterly for the books and comics. Montreal Museum of Fine Art for the art…it’s free at the moment! Schwartz’s for the smoked meat. Au Pied de Cochon for simply loveliness – Duck in a Can, Foie Gras and Boudin (blood sausage) tart, Magret Canard (more duck). St. Viateur for the bagels. Shezelles to sleep.
