The Story of the Bodhi Tree

six hundred degrees

My brothers partner has recently started up a baking business in Tofino. Her breads are baked in a brick oven that they built. They are organic and some are spelt/kamut. They are delicious! They built their house together (my brother designed it and is a house builder) and they made their garage into a bakery (along with a loft + full bathroom). Jules bakes three times a week and sells her bread to local people, a couple of restaurants and at the Saturday Market. Being a baker is hard work and I have so much admiration for her, especially since I am not much of a baker! Oh, and the embroidery is of her stamp that she puts on her bags. I am planning on making her an apron and adding the embroidery patch to it.

Julie's bread is the best bread I have ever had.... especially her DARK chocolate loaf. Simply heaven.

Inch by inch, row by row

I was able to finally finnish these bibs while we were in Tofino! They are made with dishcloth cotton in a natural cream color with fabric buttons. I have a bad habit of sewing/knitting something and then leaving the last touches for ages (months... years). I love the simplicity of these bibs colorwise with the added buttons for fun.

I also completed a pair of longies for a little one year old that were part of a trade. They were knit with fleece artist yarn which I find is great for longies.

Packaged and ready to mail off.

I also managed to start on this sweater from six and a half stitches. It has been slow going on my part but I am really excited to see the end result. I chose another ball of fleece artist yarn that I have had for a while now.

Nothing like sitting on a beach knitting + watching family surf!

Raw edge

This is a smock style dress with a natural light cotton on the inside and a medium cotton on the outside. The inside part is larger and the edges have been left raw. I double stitched around the dress to reinforce because of the possibility of fraying. I enjoyed making this dress, but it was still time consuming despite the idea of raw edging! I will definetely be making more of these as I love the simplicity (lookwise)! This one is for Fredi but of course Bodhi insisted on trying it on.

Piles of handmade goods

Alright, so I found my camera, thank goodness. It was in the bottom of the stroller (I NEVER put it there). We did have Randy's rain jacket + pants stolen out of our car though. It is a major bummer, but such is the way.

Today my sister and I ventured out to Ikea to pick up some things. I mainly went to go and buy some more linen from there, and they have discontinued it!!! I was sad, very sad, but none the less I still purchased some other fabrics. My stash is growing and growing, but at least I have been sewing steadily these days.

I have been sewing with different materials lately, and of course combining fabrics (cotton, linen, prints, wool, cashmere + cordaroy) and doing patchwork. I feel as though my ideas and creations are all over the place. Some are simple, some are busy, and some are fun. I guess it all reflects myself and how I have always been, depending on how I am feeling in the moment! I know that in terms of design and product I would always choose classic/simple. However, I don't think that much of my creations reflect that side of me... only sometimes.

Here are some glimpses of the baby blankets/play mats. They are a combo of fabrics backed with natural flannel. With the next batch I am planning on incorporating some embroidery and stenciling:

Skirts + tops + apron dresses:

Where is my camera?

Please St. Anthony come around, something's lost and can be found! I have misplaced my camera. I had it yesterday and now I cannot find it anywhere! I wanted to photograph some of the things I have been working on the past while...

This weekend we will be going to see Spearhead with Nicole and Fredi! I have seen Michael Franti and Spearhead quite a few times (5 to be exact) which is funny because I never actually listen to him all that often, but they are great in concert and they are a very conscious/political group.

Next week we are heading up to Tofino to visit my brother and I am so excited! Bodhi and I are going with my mom and sister, and I think it will be lots of fun.

It seem really crazy that Ausgust is almost over! Especially since it has been up and down weather. I can actually already feel that fall feeling in the air.

Whistler

Bodhi and I adventured up to Whistler this week with my mum and had a great time. I always find that B's transition from home to cabin is really smooth. He had fun building houses in the woods, walking on logs (always a favorite) and finding walking sticks.

We also visited this farm where we hung out with chickens, sheep, and two big fat pigs. We also picked yummy organic blueberries, strawberries, and rasberries, and played on the swing set and play tractor. The only bummer was the mosquito factor! We all came away with tons of bites.

Now we are back in the city and eager to see friends and continue on with our regular routine. For all of the trips we do end up doing, I actually am a total homebody. I always feel best when I am in my own space. Not as adventurous as I once was and definetely not as adventurous as my brother and sister are!

Another housing opportunity has come along for us again... well actually it is the same co-op and same place. The people that were going to be moving in have decided to stay in New York. So now we are one of the five familys that will have an interview. To say that I am slightly anxious would be a big fat fib. I feel sick to my stomach because I want this place so badly!!! I feel like we have already been let down twice this summer, so I know it could happen again. I am also trying to just be as optimistic as possible- and whatever happens, happens. Anyhow, lets all keep our fingers crossed!

Process

Every artist has some sort of process that they go through in terms of creating and actually making "art". I am the type of person that really needs time and space to create. I tend to get an idea of what I want to make and then run with it. For instance, with the blankets I am making right now I have been making fabric piles, then cutting squares and from there, everything else evolves. I have never been a dedicated sketcher. I do have a book for ideas when they arise or for measurements and such, but I think because I am a perfectionist I would waste a whole lot of time twiddling my thumbs worrying about my handwriting rather than drawing. I am also the type of person that enjoys doing a project from start to finnish and then getting on to the next thing (this is not totally handy when you are making a bunch of the same thing right???). I know that people work in many different ways and sometimes I wonder if my way is not as efficient in terms of having an assembly line of things happening (this is myself having a conversation with me). BUT if I did it differently then I would feel like my spirit would be crushed and I would not want to create anymore.

Anyhow bla, bla, bla. I feel very excited about the baby blankets I have been working on! I have to make a couple of dreaded trips (one to park royal for flannel and one to roccos for linen and wool) to complete them. It feels great to be able to have some time and energy for sewing again!

Today we headed out to trout lake and had some fun at the beach + park: