"Mama, I want a knitting thing."
"I can see you really like the look of that knitting thing but I think you might find it a little difficult to use. Maybe when you get a little bigger" (fatal error in argument)
"I am already big! I'm a big boy."
"Yes, umm..."
"Mama, I want a knitting thing!"
And so forth...

When I was little we were given a wooden spool with 4 small nails in the top, some wool and another nail to pull the wool over. Charming and simple, also effective. Due to an inability to think well on my feet in the yarn store we now have this.



To make matters worse, instead of my knitting project of the moment, I am the one left sitting on the couch using the knitting thing while he is off doing something else! Ridiculous. I dislike this knitting thing-a-ding.

Jumping on the blossom picture bandwagon. They just beg to be photographed and they're so forgiving, they even look good on my camera! The garden is becoming overwhelmed by violets but I like them so I am being a total pushover (which is probably just as well - they're pretty hard to get rid of!) We're making use of this bounty as dear table companions at mealtimes and, teamed with forget-me-nots (which I love so much) they're just perfect as a wee person-sized posy for a neighbourhood friend, don't you think?







I had to start a spring cotton hat for my little one and I had to sit under the tree to do it this morning. The sky was blue (yes!) as was the yarn and there were little blue flowers that weren't forget-me-nots but that looked like forget-me-nots. Happily we also have flowers that look like forget-me-nots which are forget-me-nots. I never get tired of these. I am also loving very much the huge swath of Lily of the Valley along the path to our house - yes, spring is most assuredly with us.

Neptune's Partay

Your comments were excellent last month - a lot of fun to read. I like the idea of an interactive giveaway - you pick the theme, I make the picture. Might be I'd land myself in a whole world of troublesville as far as deadlines go but we'll see. I'll have to get my thinking cap on and work out how that idea might go. In the meantime here is the GIVEAWAY print for the fair month of May.

Leave me a comment, say howdy! Draw date: 25 May

Poooot! It's the Love Train...

G i v e a w a y still on. Scroll to post below!

A bit late on the old G I V E A W A Y this month but here it is. Sleeping Tree is a new piece printed on gorgeous museum quality Hahnemule German etching paper.

Each month (usually around the beginning of the month, ahem) we play the giveaway game and all you need to do is leave me a comment - this month I'd love to know what you think the subject matter of one of my new prints should be - and you might be the one to get yourself a snazzy print in the mail!

Now that I'm back in good old Canada I get the chance to enjoy a delightful, chilly spring followed by another summer (I've been in the southern hemisphere for the last 4 months) which means 2 summers practically back to back! Sweet.

It's good to be reunited with the old computer and art supplies again, I'm gonna be whipping up a bit of a storm so watch out!

G I V E A W A Y draw date? Oh, let's say a couple of weeks from today shall we.




And I know what you're thinking about this one. You're thinking this should be called Jelly Bean Birds Gone Bonkers or something. Right? It's good and juicy loud. I like me the Jelly Bean Birds. I Like it so much I decided to rework it with an even feistier colourway. Roawrrrr!

Happy Spring/Autumn!

Stay tuned, G I V E A W A Y coming soon...

Victoria Bennett Beyer
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S!
Some Jellybean Birds will be on their way to you shortly...

As always, thank you to everyone for participating in the giveaway game, all your comments were gems to read.

Have a great week...

Late for the G I V E A W A Y but it is still on! I'm running low on things to offer but I do have a lovely "Jellybean Birds" print which needs a good home. It happens to be a big one (13" x 19") so if you have a big bit of boring wall which needs some colour, play the giveaway game!
Just leave me a quick comment and be in to win!

Things I've been doing. Yes, more socks...

A view of Kiwiland

I tried to weave a basket out of flax.

I took a ride on a steam train!

Some green ferny goodness.

My favourite swimming hole.

A bit passed the 15th but C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S Anna Lloyd! Thanks so much for playing the giveaway game.

GIVEAWAY!


I'm really trying to keep up with my monthly giveaway, but I don't know about all this working whilst on holiday business! I kid.

If you fancy this sweet lass and her big weeds leave a comment and I'll do my best to pick your name. She doesn't come framed I'm afraid but a nice frame like the one pictured above can be got for next to nothing from our lovely Scandinavian friends at Ikea. I think you can click on the image for a bit more detail.

I do the draw on the 15th so good luck all!

Okay, back to the beach...

Hey guys! Thanks for your comments and warm wishes for 2009 - this year will be a fantastic one for sure!

We are having a wonderful holiday (so wonderful that we have decided to extend our stay), the weather has been treating us very nicely and I am happily rediscovering that this place rocks! Home really is very lovely, very green and very clean and yes, Anne, all this mood enhancing sunshine is making us feel chirpy and healthy and turning our wan North American skin a lovely biscuit brown.

I'm delighted to announce that Miriam, Martin and their infamous chair collection will be finding their way to Ann and Sam - hope you both enjoy your new friends and congratulations!

You'll notice that stock in my Etsy store needs a bit of "fleshing out" as it were. I hope to do a bit of art stuff while I am over here - lots to inspire - and to restock upon my return.

January GIVEAWAY!

Please excuse all this spotty blogging! My excuse? Being on holiday for a couple of months in the South Pacific. It's a hard life...

If I had a wire thingy to connect my camera to this computer thingy I could send you a picture. I'll try to get that sorted. In the meantime the giveaway print for January is "Martin's Chair Collection."

Say "hi" and win yourself some chairs and fowl.

And, Happy 2009!!!

L y s a, for you, some "Birdland" goodness! I like the giveaway and I don't 'cos I want everyone to win! I love that you all stop by my little blog and say "hello." Thank you, it's always awesome to hear from you.

Ta daaaaaa! Can you see it?!!

I got me a copy of the latest Canadian House and Home magazine so that I could be all overcome by my little Birdabies in print. It's a small thing but it makes me feel chirpy.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Zip on over to the Amnesty International site and take a peek at the amazing results when we fight for human rights for all.



If you're anything like me today, sitting at a computer (possibly eating a piece of chocolate) you can be pretty grateful, we've got it good as compared to many in the world. I get a bit teary when I think about how we humans function, at one moment with such gentleness and kindness and then in another moment with such violence. Even in our own lives we can be so hostile with the one who is most important to us - ourselves. Especially today and especially at this time of the year, I hope we can remember to be gentle and kind.


Snowmen Christmas card by gigiphillips

Arren Williams, a freelance stylist, editor and trend reporter, was kind enough to give me a nice post over on his Design Lab blog on Monday. Apparently my work is "storybook cool." How do you like that!! I'll have to remember that one. For those of you in Canada, you might like to grab yourselves a copy of the January edition of Canadian House and Home and take a peek at the bit about Arren. And, this is for you, mum - I believe there is a little picture of my "Birdabies" print in that piece. Wheeeee!



Birdabies goes out and about in the world and gets itself all famous.

Don't forget to play the GIVEAWAY game below, I'll be drawing a name out of the hat thingy in just a few days time. Details in the post below.