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Yes, the song by Bonnie Tyler. Except this version is by the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra – and highly addictive:
I’ve been listening to it ALL DAY. I can’t get enough of it. Help!
While you’re at it, check out their live cover of Outkast’s “Hey Ya” – way cool!
If you look closely, you might notice that the second guy from the left is Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame. No wonder they’re so damn cool.
Should’ve known I’d jinx it…mention spring and it disappears immediately. Argh.
Yesterday: 11C (52F) and warm, bright sunshine on a cloudless, carefree day.
Today: OC (32F) and a miserable, slushy snowstorm. Sigh.
To cheer myself up tonight, I’ll be watching a few episodes of these guys:
Flight of the Conchords are my newest obsession – and I don’t even watch TV! However, I’ve managed to watch every episode of season 2 (and a few of season 1) online. And now a co-worker has just lent me her DVD of season 1. Woo hoo – It’s Business Time!
They’re playing at Massey Hall later this month – the show is sold out, but I’m determined to find tickets somehow, somewhere. Got a few tricks up my sleeve yet…wish me luck!
Here’s a little something so make you laugh, by Canadian sketch comedy troupe Kids in the Hall (man, I miss them!)
I’ve run into Mark McKinney (the headcrusher) twice since moving to Toronto – it was quite the experience for me to come across someone I had idolized so much as teenager growing up in smalltown New Brunswick!
I remember when the episode below aired – I was giddy because Perth Andover is so close to where I lived!
So this video has nothing to do with paper arts or bookbinding…except for the cardboard chewing part. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am NOT a fan of engineers (this despite the fact that a few of my best friends are engineers), but I couldn’t resist posting this video – the cat yodelling part had me laughing so hard I was in tears…enjoy!
This Thanksgiving is definitely going down in the history books as being the warmest on record in Toronto; at one point today it was 32 Celcius, not counting the humidity factor. Unbelievable and unbearable! Fall is my absolute favourite season, and I’m starting to despair that it will never arrive. I fear we’ll have a long long long summer, then BAM! Winter. Ugh.
I’ve spent the last few days on the road, travelling to Kingston and Ottawa for work-related purposes. B tagged along so we made a mini-vacation out of the trip. Friday night we stayed with my little brother, where I wasn’t a very gracious guest and fell asleep during the movie we rented (after a week of working madly, while desperately fighting the flu, I was pooped). Oh well. He’s family; he is required to forgive me.
Saturday morning B and I headed to Montreal, where we visited one of B’s art dealers’ new gallery. Wow. Very impressive, and things seemed to have really picked up for him in this new location right in the heart of the touristy art district. Great news for everyone involved.
Despite the short stay in Montreal (about 24 hours), there was much good food and beverages consumed, much appreciation about being served in my native tongue (French), and much shopping done at my favourite store in the world, simons. Sigh. Although my first mad trip there (45 minutes before closing) didn’t yield much of interest, my subsequent trip was much more productive. I bought 8 (!) sweaters in every colour imaginable. They are so comfy (made in part from angora)…although it looks like I won’t be able to wear them anytime soon, if this incredible heat wave holds up. Grrr.
We arrived home last night and I spent a good chunk of today cleaning my craft room, purging anything that I “might” one day use but “know” I won’t really. It felt wonderful. Tonight I worked on some swap projects (for which I’m terribly late) and on a bio for a special project that will soon be published in a national magazine (*blush*). Can’t talk about it just yet, but it’s all very exciting to a publishing newbie such as myself! I’ll keep you posted…
All in all, it was a great weekend. Although the stay in Ottawa and Montreal was much too short, I needed to get away even for a little while. I feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the upcoming week, which I know is going to be insane at work.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I love, love, love this idea! I’m kicking myself in the derrière for not having thought of this first!
Found through SpaceDog’s blog and available on her Etsy shop.
Paper Kitty has tagged me – here goes…
The rules of the game: list 6 weird/interesting things about yourself and then tag a further 6 bloggers (by going to their blog and telling them to check out your blog post related to this) to keep the momentum going. List your 6 tagged bloggers at the bottom of your post.
1. I have a deep fear of cemeteries. I cannot walk by them, in them or anywhere near them. I will take the extra long route and walk all around a cemetery rather than take a shortcut through it.
2. I can lift each of my eyebrows separately. For some reason, many people find this fascinating and ask me to show them over and over again. I’m always happy to oblige.
3. I’m allergic to fabric bandages and first aid tape. I suspect it’s something in the glue. I get these god-awful rashes that take forever to heal, which kinda defeats the purpose of using bandages.
4. Although I have a fantastic memory when it comes to names, numbers and useless information, I cannot retain anything about books or movies. Ask me what last night’s movie was about and I’m clueless. Ask me what my favourite book (Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald) is about, and I’m completely blank. Despite having read it no less than three times.
5. My mother was a Home Ec teacher, whereas I don’t cook, do housework (voluntarily), crochet or sew, nor am I particularly fond of small children.
6. I taught myself to knit. My first project was a turtleneck sweater for B. My mother laughed when I told her, and I decided I was going to finish the sweater no matter what just to prove I could do it. And I did. Three sizes too large.
I’m tagging:
…and you! Since I don’t personally know tons of bloggers, here’s your chance to tell me a bit more about yourself!
It continues to be unbearably hot and humid here in Toronto – I haven’t even looked at my paper or projects this week. I can’t even bear the thought of doing anything more than lying on the sofa in front of a fan or sleeping in our cool basement.
That doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about projects and ideas – there are many stirring around in my little blonde head… I just can’t execute any of them because of the heat…
Since I still don’t have anything to show off to you, here is a little inspiration – hopefully it’s not as hot in your neck of the woods and you might just get something accomplished:
- Cardboard Folding - in case you’re in need of cheap furniture
- Magazine Box Tutorial – should you want a box made of magazines
- Book Sculptures - what to do with all those old library books you forgot to return
- One Little Word - for all those scrapbookers and art journallers (like me) looking for one-word inspiration
- Jennifer Collier’s shoes – because a woman can never have too many shoes
Enjoy – I’ll be back as soon as the weather cooperates!
I love, love, love the Muppets. I grew up with the Muppet Show, and have never tired of watching it. It’s even funnier now that I actually GET the jokes. Here are three of my favourite Muppets (including my all-time favourite, Beaker) performing Danny Boy…
And if that didn’t make you laugh/cry enough, here is Beaker performing Feelings…kinda reminds me of the Carol Burnett version…
Instead, I get to travel twice a day on an overcrowded train filled with smelly, sweaty, crazy and/or obnoxious people. It’s that much more interesting when we get stuck in an underground tunnel for several minutes at a time…
There are, however, a few things that bring a reluctant smile to my face during my (mis)adventures in commuting:
- The entertainment: Today it was an accordion player doing his own rendition of “Satisfaction” – fun stuff
- The subway staff who announce the next stop over the intercom. I swear, some of them are secretly voice-over actors – they sound like that movie trailer guy who was in that Geico commercial too. Some mornings they really crack me up, they take it so seriously.
A few months ago I joined Swap-bot, a site where one can take part in swaps based on one’s interests. Some of the organized swaps are very eclectic and interesting… So far I’ve taken part in 4 or 5 swaps, mostly around the theme of handmade journals and/or handmade items.
I’ve been enjoying it so much that I’ve decided to create a swap of my own. Check it out:
It’s free to sign up, so if you’re interested, join in the fun! Also, check out the other available swaps – they’re very inspiring and there’s something for everyone.
For the last swap in which I participated (Anti-Stress Kit #2) I got a great package that included:
- A fabulous handmade scented eye pillow
- High lather moisture wash soap (ginger and verbena scented – yum!)
- A gingerbread man emery board
- A matchbook of incense
- A Rufus Wainwright sampler CD from Barnes & Noble (we can’t get it here in Canada, and I love Rufus!)
I’m definitely less stressed, looking at my fabulous stash!
Okay, so this has been going around the blogsphere so I thought I’d join in the fun. Here are seven random, little-known facts about me:
1. I have met Prince Charles and Princess Diana. And I have the photographic evidence to prove it. I met them on their tour of Canada in 1983, when I was a Brownie. Just as Diana walked by me, a photographer took a photo and it was published in a souvenir magazine.
2. There’s a Harlequin romance novel whose heroine has the exact same name as me (same spelling too, which is unusual). No, she’s not based on me (I think). The book is called Single, Sexy…and Sold! by Vicki Lewis Thompson. I have a copy of the book, though I haven’t read it (not for lack of trying, though).
3. I have worked with the World’s Strongest Man. I hired Hugo Girard, Canada’s Strongest Man since 1999 (and one-time World Champion), to give strength demonstrations during a Canada Day event I organized a few years ago. Not surprisingly, his activity was one of the most popular that day. During meetings with him, I would stare at his arms the whole time – his biceps are 22 inches in diameter. Amazing. I was even going to help Hugo organize the Canadian Strongman Championships, until the project fell through because of stupid people who didn’t have a vision. (Yes, I’m still bitter about the whole affair, and I’m sure Hugo is too). Hugo is one of the gentlest, kindest people I have ever met, and I hope to one day reconnect with him in my event-planning adventures.
4. I hate getting my hands dirty. That’s why it’s hard for me to eat ribs or wings, or even lobster, my favourite food in the world. I probably also explains why I don’t garden. Even getting glue on my hands while bookbinding irritates me, so I always keep a wet rag nearby so I can wipe them off quickly.
5. I loooooove Kraft Singles cheese slices. (Even though they’re not made of real cheese.) A grilled cheese sandwich just isn’t the same with real cheddar cheese – it has to have the creamy, gooey processed goodness that only Kraft can provide. As a rule, I try to choose natural foods over processed ones, but not when it comes to the Singles. No sirree…
6. I have a horrible memory when it comes to books I’ve read or movies I’ve seen. I have a fantastic memory when it comes to names, faces, numbers, or random, useless facts. But ask me what last night’s movie was about, and I’m completely blank. I couldn’t even explain what my favourite book in the world (Fall on your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald) is about, even though I’ve read it at least three times.
7. I hate clowns. My mother once told me that as a child I was once scared by a clown car that made a loud bang and startled me. Thirty years later, I’m still wary of them. I’ve had to hire many clowns in my career as an event planner, and I’ve always found them difficult to work with. I would freak out every time they showed up at my office IN FULL COSTUME for a business meeting. I’m absolutely convinced that all clowns are insane (to varying degrees).
So there you have it. I know I’m strange. But it could be worse, I guess.
I could be a clown.
This whole weekend has flown by – I’m in a bit of a panic because there’s so much to do before I start my new job in a week. Yikes!
Friday night I attended Urban Scrapyard’s first anniversary VIP reception, where I taught a make & take project for the attendees. These ladies were so much fun – they really know how to have a good time! I’m glad to note that I seem to have converted a few of the hard-core scrapbookers to the dark side of bookbinding! Several mentioned that they were surprised at how easy it was to make the project, as it seemed very complicated to them. Others asked me about my workshops, so I’m hoping to have inspired a few new people to join them… At the end of the evening, the Scrapyard ladies, Angela and Rozanne, gave out individual awards to EACH and EVERY person there – talk about dedication to their loyal customers! As their new resident bookbinder, I received “Urban Scrapyard’s Tightest Bindings Award”, which came as a complete surprise to me! If only they knew how much I appreciate them as well…
I’ve been hard at work making stuff for the past two days -I’m exhausted, but in a really good way. Yesterday I spend several hours preparing six record books (cutting and filing records, folding papers, piercing holes, preparing thread, etc.), and sewed three of them before bed. There’s a variety of music for all tastes: Bay City Rollers, Simon & Garfunkel, Sesame Street, Bee Gees, Luba, and even Frank Zappa!
This morning I sewed the remaining three books while watching one of my all-time favourite movies, The Sound of Music… in French. Since moving to the GTA a little over a year ago, for the first time in my life I don’t speak French on a daily basis. It often feels like every language but French is spoken in Toronto, so I have no one to chat with in my native tongue. I normally would not have watched La mélodie du bonheur (the movie title in French), as I usually prefer to watch a movie in its original language, but I actually quite enjoyed it. It was a nice change, although hearing the songs other than in English was a bit strange…
This afternoon and evening I produced three accordion boxes – these require a great deal of precision and focus, but if done right, are functional AND gorgeous:
Don’t you love when you visualize a project in your head, but the final result is so much better than you could have hoped? That’s exactly how I feel about these boxes…
Thankfully I had chocolate-covered ginger to sustain my energy level! Maybe too much so – I somehow managed to get some glue in my hair, although I have no idea how that happened… Some days I feel like I’m in the first grade all over again, except I don’t eat the glue (anymore).
All in all, a great day with lots done. Hopefully tomorrow will be just as productive and exciting! Off to relax a bit and enjoy the Juno Awards before heading to bed – I’m cheering for my buddy Jim Cuddy to get an award. Go Jim!
I haven’t had much time to produce new books this past week. I’m in the middle of a job search, and between the searching, preparing and interviewing I’m pretty exhausted. But things are looking up, and I have a feeling I’ll be getting some good news in the next few days…keeping my fingers crossed!
B and I spent several hours yesterday walking around Kensington Market and Chinatown. I had a job interview in that area, so we decided to take advantage of our being there and really explore. We’d been in the area a few times, but we were always in a rush to go somewhere or else it was always so cold outside that we couldn’t really take a leisurely stroll in all the shops. We found so many gems and definitely plan on going back when we get a bit of moolah going. We can across an import store that sells large sheets of Japanese-style papers for $2.99, whereas in other stores they sell for $10-20! And journals…and more paper…and kitchen stuff…it was all too much to take in.
The previous evening, B and I had gone for dinner in an area called the Beaches (or the Beach, depending on who you talk to). We decided to walk over to the boardwalk along the lake, and were pleasantly surprised to discover that there’s actual sand on this particular beach! When I think of Toronto, I somehow don’t associate it with beaches and sand…but I’m definitely planning to spend time here this summer.
I really love the multiculturalism in Toronto – having grown up in New Brunswick, which is very homogenous when it comes to cultures, this ethnic diversity is fairly new to me. Ottawa, where I lived for seven years, is diverse, but nowhere near as much as T.O. In fact, B and I had a good laugh a few weeks ago, when we realized that an Inuk (B) and an French Canadian/Acadian (me) were being served by a Mexican waitress and an African-American chef in a Thai restaurant in Greektown in Toronto!
Okay, on to the fun stuff. This afternoon I finally got my butt into gear and made:
Coptic-bound journal
Another ribbon-hinged album
A 3″X3″ mini-album
Coin Envelope Book
I have ideas for several other new bindings and book types – if all goes well tomorrow I’ll try out a few…
And finally, I just finished reading The Petty Details of So-and-so’s Life by Camilla Gibb, which I thoroughly enjoyed although the ending was a bit weird. I’m about to start Stanley Park by Timothy Taylor, which was so valiantly defended by my (imaginary) boyfriend Jim Cuddy during the latest edition of Canada Reads. Can’t wait to get into Jim’s mind and see what he so loves about it!
I missed the television broadcast of CBC’s Test the Nation last weekend, but just now decided to take the IQ test for the heck of it.
Having never done an IQ test before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, so when they asked me to estimate my IQ, I guessed 115 (the average is 110).
Imagine my surprise (and relief) when I ranked at 128! Which was higher than the group of surgeons (avg: 119) who took the test! Woo hoo!
Here’s my score breakdown:
Language: 10/12
Memory: 5/6
Logic: 11/12
Visual Memory: 2/6 (I guess the glass of wine I drank before the test didn’t help in this area…)
Math: 11/12
Perception: 12/12
Take the test yourself and post your results in the comments section – I’ll send a handmade book to the fifth (5th) person to comment…
