Dye, Dye, My Darling!

Today in Dye class, we played with a few different acid dye techniques. I was pretty happy with a couple of them. 

I think the first one looks like nebula! 

I'm actually starting to develop an interest in dyeing, I never felt much for it till now, but today was a whole lot of fun!

This week is pretty insane for the amount of schoolwork I need to do. Actually next week will be pretty insane as well. Heck, this entire semester in nuts! I really need to crack down over the next few days and the weekend, it's so easy to get behind and I really can't let that happen. Must stay committed!!!

The Virtue of Commitment

Commitment is caring deeply about a person, a goal or a belief. Once we discern a direction, we go for it wholeheartedly. We don't hold back, second-guess our decision or hesitate to act on it fully. We set goals and achieve them. We make promises and keep them. We go the extra mile. We are faithful to our relationships and don't allow problems to make us waver. Keeping our commitments strengthens our inner integrity. It deepens our capacity to carry responsibility with grace.

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness...the moment one commits oneself, then Providence moves too."

-Johann Wolfgang von Geothe

The Practice of Commitment

I am discerning about my decisions
I give 100% to whatever I do
I am confident in my choices
I keep my agreements
I am loyal to those I care about
I have the strength to go the distance


I am thankful for the gift of Commitment. It brings passion to my purpose.






Better get back to my embroidery homework and try to get to sleep before 2 am! haha


Have a great night :)


-KB

A Sneak Peek!

rose coloured glass pearls linked with forest green ribbon

Here is a sample o the jewellery I've been working on, amongst a variety of other things!
I cannot wait to start selling my products, I'm hoping I can have enough items ready for mid-February. :)

VOTE FOR BILLY!

Helloooo!

So my boyfriend, Mr. Billy Shea, has applied to the first ever Steve Vai scholarship. The winner of this scholarship will win funding for a diploma in Guitar Studies at the Guitar Institute in London, England!

This is pretty much his ultimate dream and he needs YOUR help to make it come true!

Please take a moment out of your day to vote for him, Billy worked very hard to pull off this last minute video, it would be so greatly appreciated!

The top two people with the highest votes get viewed by Steve Vai himself!

Go here to vote. This website is not the best so here are the easy steps in how to vote for Billy...

after the atrocious loading time, click on 'gallery'

his video is on Page 2
Billy Shea - Harena

if you miss the video, the left arrow doesn't show up until you go all the way to the end. Terrible terrible programming.

Unfortunately there's no way to directly link you to the video, it's got to be done this way.

Who could say no to this face?!

PLEASE AND THANK YOU EVERYONE!

<3 KB

Kooky Knitting

So for Knitting class we were asked to knit with four non-traditional materials.
20 stitches, 20 rows. I chose to knit with sisal, curling ribbon, floss and fishing line.

curling ribbon

sisal

fishing line

floss

It was a little frustrating, especially the floss, but it's interesting to see the differences in texture and shape.


I wonder what else you could knit with? Any ideas?

Pizzaaaaaaaa

Billy and I are up having a few glasses of wine, and we decided we wanted some munch food!


He made these delicious mini pizzas!

They're whole wheat mini pitas starting with olive oil and tomato sauce, red and green onion, veggie pepperoni, yellow peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, eggplant, banana peppers, mozzarella cheese, and topped with cilantro dusted avocado. :) YUM.

Potato Ships DIY - With Cheese or Without!

Hahaha!


I LOVE YOU AMY SEDARIS! YOU BRIGHTEN MY DAY!  


I need to get her book Simple Times, it's a super fun craft book for poor people!


Check it out, it's a pile of fun! :)


<3 KB

I'll Take my Comfort Chocolately!

This is the BEST hot chocolate I have ever had. 100% real Belgian chocolate mixed with warm soy milk. Mmmmmmmmm. I found it at Home on Water and stuffed it into Billy's stocking, but he was sweet enough to share it with me. :)

And check out this beautiful mug! Made by the one and only Miss Isabella St. John, my friend and mentor. Next time you're strolling through The Battery be sure to check out Blue Moon Pottery on Outer Battery Road. A fine selection of pottery indeed. This mug shows Isabella's passion for the land and sea and tradition of the Newfoundland fishery. I just love it. :)




I feel pretty at peace with the world tonight. I had a productive day filled with embroidery, knitting, epic veggie pizza, life planning, Glee, a heart to heart with a good friend and finally, hot chocolate. :) Because of this I've chosen the virtue of Contentment for you to read...


Contentment is an awareness of sufficiency, a sense that we have enough and we are enough. It is appreciating the simple gifts of life - friendship, books, a good laugh, a moment of beauty, a cool drink on a hot day. Being contented, we are free from the pull of greed and longing. We trust that life provides what we need when we need it. Contentment allows us to experience satisfaction with what is. We are fully present in this moment. Being contented does not obstruct our dreams or thwart our purpose. it is a place to stand and view the future with a peaceful heart and gratitude for all that is and all that is to come.


"Love came up to me showing me that a contented mind is best for growth."
- Zoroastranism, The Yasna 43


The Practice of Contentment


I allow myself to be satisfied and grateful.
I trust that I am enough.
I enjoy where I am and what I have.
I resist the craving for more.
I am fully alive to the present moment.
I relax in the trust that life is good.


I am thankful for Contentment. It shows me that life is a gift.




BE CONTENT. 


Good night everyone, sweet dreams.


-KB

Kay Bea Makes

I got my business cards printed today!!!!
What do you think?

I'm hoping to launch the sale of a few products over the next couple of months!
I figured since I'm so busy with school and don't really have the time for a job, that this would be a fun and convenient way to make some extra cash and pay for school. I also need to do mad fundraising for the Arthritis Society since I plan on traveling to Peru with them in August to hike the Machu Pcichu trail.


I'm such a busy bee these days, and I'm loving it!


buzz, buzz.
-KB 

The French Shore Tapestry

Today, for our first Craft History class of the semester we took a trip to the Geo Centre to take a look at the The French Shore Tapestry.

It's a 222 foot long embroidered piece of art and craft that depicts the story of Newfoundland's French Shore through a variety of images and events.  This tapestry isn't the first of it's kind, it was actually inspired by the famous Bayeux Tapestry which was completed in 1077 AD and depicts the Norman Conquest of England.

The Bayeux Tapestry

The French Shore Tapestry was designed in France by Jean Claude Roy and his wife, Christina Roy. The Tapestry was embroidered wool-on-linen and hand stitched by twelve women from Conche, Newfoundland.

I really enjoyed seeing this, as a person who takes 8 hours to embroidery a 7 inch hoop I can only imagine the time it took to make this. I believe it was started in 2007, that's a whole lot of stitching over the past 3 years!

The stories told in the embroidery include the aboriginal history, St. Brendan, The Vikings, John Cabot, and the Western European Settlers, with so many little details stitched throughout.

I highly recommend you check this out, but visit with patience, because there's a lot to take in!

It's exhibited until the 31st of January!

loves a good ol' stitch 'n bitch!

Keeping it Clean

I cannot even begin to explain how much I enjoy bathing with Epsom Salts. For me, it's the ultimate stress reliever.  Especially combined with a glass of red wine, or two. ;)

Epsom Salts are made up of magnesium and sulphate. When the body is stressed it gets drained of magnesium and bathing with epsom salt helps to body to replenish! The salt also calms the nervous system, draws toxins from  the body, relaxes the muscles and reduces inflammation. It's said that bathing with epsom salt several times a week will make you look and feel better both inside and out!

Colourful and fragrant bath salts are essentially jazzed up epsom salt and here's how to make your own, with some cute packaging!

Materials:

- Epsom Salts

- fragrance : essential oils, plant and flower extract, and even petals work great. 

In this case I used Aveda's Personal Blends in the Water Nature Scent.

- food colouring (optimal)

- a mixing bowl

- a spoon for mixing

- a container with a lid. I'm using a mason jar. 

- decorative paper, ribbon, lace, buttons etc.

- scissors

- a pencil

- glue

1. Begin by filling your container with the salt, to measure how much you're going to need, then pour it into a mixing bowl.

2.  Next, add the fragrance of your desired strength and add the food colouring to your desired saturation. I just used one drop of blue food colouring and about 8 drops of my scent. Mix until the colour and scent  is evenly dispersed throughout the salt.

3. Now to decorate your lid by gluing on patterned paper or fabric, ribbon or other accessories.

4. And you're done! This craft makes a great gift, it's cost effective and easy to do!

________________________

When I was in the Harbourside Youth Arts Program part of our daily regime was to read a virtue card from The Virtues Project : a world-wide initiative to inspire the daily practice of virtues. I found that they inspired and challenged me to become a better person. This Christmas, Billy gave me these cards as a present, I'm amazed that he even remembered them and I'm so so happy to have them! :D I think I'm going to start incorporating these virtues into my blog. 

Let's start with Cleanliness....

CLEANLINESS is treating our bodies with respect and care by keeping ourselves clean, fresh and healthy, eating pure foods and breathing fresh air. We strive to keep our spirit clean and our mind clear. We rid ourselves of habits that do not serve our dignity.  We think and speak in ways that honour others and ourselves. Cleaning up our mistakes gives us a fresh start. When we forgive, we cleanse our hearts of negativity. We do our part to care for the earth. Cleanliness around us makes our souls peaceful. Cleanliness within us brings more peace to the world. 

" In ever aspect of life, purity and holiness, cleanliness and refinement, exalt the human condition...Even in the physical realm, cleanliness will conduce to to spirituality." 

- Abd'ul Baha, Selected Writings P. 146-7

The Practice of Cleanliness

- I keep myself fresh and clean.

- I put only healthful things in my body.

- I cleanse myself of harmful habits.

- I am willing and able to clear up my mistakes.

- I forgive others and I forgive myself.

- I am a responsible steward of the Earth.

- I keep my environment clean and beautiful.

I am thankful for the gift of Cleanliness, It frees my spirit.

:) 

Isn't that lovely?

Well I best get to bed, it is almost 7 in the morning! Why am I nocturnal lately?! 

Perhaps another bath will help...

goodnight, 

peace and love,

-KB

Paper Roll Art How-To:

It's great that we finally have curb-side recycling here in St. John's, but rather than putting all those leftover wrapping paper rolls in with the your paper scraps, why not make some fabulous wall art with them!


Here's what you're going to need:


- paper rolls of any kind (wrapping paper, paper towel or toilet paper rolls work great)
- ruler
- pencil
- scissors
- glue

1. Start by flattening the paper roll. 

2. Next, measure equal amounts along the paper roll. I used inches. 

3. Cut along your markings.

4. Start gluing them together in any random order, like so!

5. Hang on a wall using finishing nails or thumbtacks! Voila!

I think it looks super-cute in the bathroom :)

The possibilities are endless with this craft...differences in size, shape, colour and decorations could really jazz this up!

Happy crafting everyone!

- peace and love,

  KB

For Auld Lang Syne, My Dear

Happy New Year!!

Can you  even believe that 2011 is finally here? I personally, feel very relieved and ready for a fresh start. I want to work hard on my many resolutions and writing this blog happens to be one of them!

When I think about the past 365 days and all of the good and bad that has happened I cannot help but shed a tear and trust in fate that the astronomical changes that have happened to me and everyone around me have happened for great reason. 2010 will go down in history as one of the most memorable years of my life. I feel like it has permanently changed me and everything I will do for the rest of time. Let's recap...

I started the year off with a positive outlook and a major goal of getting my life on track. I wanted a job that I truly enjoyed, a comforting home, and I wanted to start my post secondary education. 

I spent the winter and spring feeling lost and confused, working retail and secretarial jobs, daydreaming about what I truly wanted. During this time I applied for the Textiles: Craft, Apparel and Design program at The College of the North Atlantic. Even though I was miserable with my personal and professional life, I had faith that I would get into school and that everything would come together before the year was out. 

Halfway through the year, my life was turned upside down. I felt like the universe was testing me, I guess to make me a stronger more focused person.

On June 1st I began working at Blue Moon Pottery for the lovely Miss Isabella St. John.  Her pottery studio located in The Battery is built into the cliffs of the Narrows with the most beautiful view of the city.

Needless to say, I feel in love with my work instantly, it felt like a dream come true. 

Five days after starting my job tragedy hit. I lost a very dear friend of mine, Eugene Upshall. We called him Genemoney. He was a month shy of his 27th birthday, full of dreams and aspirations. 

He was the greatest man. So much so that my description of him will not even come close to doing him justice, and that I am sorry for. He was wise beyond his years, an old soul. Full of knowledge that he loved to share...a great conversationalist , he could carry-on with any person no matter their age or lifestyle. He was beyond hard-working and he proved that through his academic and professional careers, always planning ahead and dreaming big. He loved his friends and family dearly and spoke of them often, they were his world. He truly made the most of his short life. I admired him so much and still do always taking into considering what he would have done in a situation. I strive to be more and more like him every day, and by doing that I feel that he lives on. 

Since Eugene's death, I have begun to see life in a new light. I am very grateful for what I have. I appreciate the journey of life and look forward to what the future has to offer me. I feel able to better recognize my strengths and weaknesses and to work with what I've got and work on improving those things that I dislike about myself. I see myself as a person capable of achieving any goal I set for myself and I have Eugene to thank for that. <3

After taking a few weeks off to grieve I was very thankful to return to such a therapeutic workspace. I spent the rest of the summer hands deep in clay, making cod fish, platters, plaques and pins while gazing at at the harbour and watching the baby gulls grow.

In mid-August I finally got that comfortable home I was longing for. Billy's (my boyfriend) sister moved out of their parents basement apartment and it was offered to us! We spent the fall painting, redecorating, and accumulating furniture. After a lot of hard-work making it our own, I can honestly say that it feels like my home. I even have a crafting space, and Billy has a music room (which I refer to as a man-cave). 

September came and I started the Textiles program. In my first week our class went on a trip to Upper Amherst Cove for an Artist's retreat. It was a lot of fun despite tenting in the rain. We got to partake in all kinds of workshops and it was a great way to break the ice and get to know our classmates and instructors. The Anna Templeton Center is by far my favourite place to be and I've actually been missing school so much over the holidays, imagine! I feel very lucky to be studying in such an encouraging environment and because it's so great I spend a LOT of time there. I've been sacrificing my social life for good grades, but it's been worth it. I got a 4.0 GPA this semester! I have 5 semesters to go but I already feel like I've learned so much. I'm already fantasizing about our final show!   

On top of everything that I've learned from school I've also formed some great friendships, friendships I'm sure will last a lifetime. It's so refreshing to be surrounded by like-minded people. I look forward to watching everyone blossom and grow. :)

  

In November, Billy and I traveled to Montreal, my first out of province trip in 8 years! It was much needed and we had a fantastic time. We got to see one of our favourite bands  (Blind Guardian) perform, visit the Notre Dame, and do a ton of shopping, wining and dining. I fell in love with the city and cannot wait to return! I'd love to make it  my home away from home.

Oh what a year, what a year!

I ended it all with a fabulous Christmas filled with friends, family, lots of food, drinks, parties and holiday cheer! Highlights being: shopping for gifts, decorating the apartment, stringing popcorn, The Sarah Budden Band, Katie and Heather's Potluck, Bossi on the Rossi, Bonavista Bay with Dad, Uncle Martin and Aunt Irene, and the Genemoney Benefit II.