Ulixis Crafts

My Creative Space

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Thu, 31 May 2012 12:18:00 +0000

I have a stack of old magazines that I occasionally flip through, snipping and tearing out collage material. One afternoon last week I did just that, cutting up three or four of them. Next, I sorted the pieces since I keep various envelopes and folders for ephemera (one each for words, texture, colour, people, animals, etc). These are key for making collages - you never want to have to go searching for that perfect piece when you're in the middle of a page. Plus, when I'm low on inspiration, I'll go through these folders and eventually an idea strikes.

Usually, as I'm cutting, I find pieces that just have to be used immediately. Here are a few of the pages that resulted from my snipping and sorting last week:

This last spread is from a smaller sketchbook:

Which page is your favourite? Why?

If you head on over to my Flickr photostream, you'll be able to check out a few more photos of these pages. And for more Creative Spaces, click here.

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:10:00 +0000

Amateur Photo

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:50:00 +0000

After hearing about it on one of my favourite blogs, Ni Hao Y'all, I decided to enter one of my photos in a contest. My reasoning was the same as Stephanie's: there's an amateur division, so why not? One winner will be chosen by the judges and another winner will be a "fan favourite" based on likes on Facebook.

So, if you're feeling generous, why not hop on over to the amateur group, scroll through the photos and like a few? Definitely check out Stephanie's photo, it's gorgeous. And maybe you'll also like this photo...?

I don't expect to win by a long shot - there are tons of fabulous photos in the group - but it's simply an honour to be included!

Mosaic Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:26:00 +0000

It's Mosaic Monday! I hope you'll join us - it's really easy! Just make a photo mosaic - you can use whatever photo editing software you like, or a website such as the mosaic maker and photos from Flickr - then post it on your blog. Go ahead and pick a theme if you want, but don't feel like you have to. Have fun with it!

Make sure to include a link back to my blog so that everyone can participate. Then come back here and submit a link to your blog post (using the "add your link" button at the bottom). I'll be looking and commenting on each one!

Here's mine for this week: chipmunk - they were in abundance at the Royal Botanical Gardens this weekend!

1. Chipmunk, 2. chipmunk, 3. Chipmunk Eating Thistle, No. 2, 4. Chipmunk

Here's the list of mosaics for this week. Once you've blogged, click the button below to add your blog post link.

Sunday Seven

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 27 May 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Here are a few things I'm grateful for this week:

Sunday: watching fireworks from a lovely empty field

Monday: long weekends! Spending time sitting by the water, watching the swans and geese, reading

Tuesday: finishing a novel and starting a new one right away

Wednesday: sweet and unexpected thank you notes

Thursday: living within walking distance of everything I could ever need

Friday: my CBC mention!

Saturday: emptying the fridge while making a delicious salad

What are you thankful for this week?

Project 52: 21/52

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 26 May 2012 15:48:00 +0000

Week 21 - here's my photo:

This was taken on the steep trail / stairs leading down to the section of the Bruce Trail that wraps around the Devil's Punchbowl. I love hiking in the area - it's quite steep heading down the escarpment (and what a workout going back up!), but that just means it isn't as busy as some of the other hiking trails. I love the calm seclusion of the forest.

Can you spot the chipmunk? The little cutie posed for me, waiting until I got a decent shot before darting off!

I'd love it if you'd participate with me in this challenge! The rules are simple - take 1 photo a week, for 52 weeks. No theme, just a photo of something that sparked your interest during the week. Feel free to use my Project 52 banner as well. Either right click on the image above and save it on your computer, or follow this link and download it from Flickr.

Once you've taken your photo, post it online somewhere and add your link in the submission box below.

Inspiration: Book Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:02:00 +0000

A while ago, I posted about my little notepad of quotes. I love words and phrases (and collecting), so naturally I collect quotes that I find inspiring or speak to me in one way or another.

In the beginning, I filled my book mostly with poems, day-to-day snippets and well-known adages (some of which you can see here). Progressively though, these have given way to more and more "book quotes" - excerpts from novels I've read over the years. I thought I'd share a few of my favourites today.

First, here are some excerpts that make me think (starting with the one above).

A state of chronic powerlessness eats away at a person. - 1Q84 (p.132) by Haruki Murakami

We can all of us be hurt, and no one is exclusively safe from worry and sadness. - The Sisters' Brothers (p.50) by Patrick DeWitt

"Most people are chained to their own fears and stupidity and haven't the sense to level a cold eye at just what is wrong in their lives. Most people will continue on, dissatisfied but never attempting to understand why, or how they might change things for the better, [...]" - The Sisters' Brothers (p.295) by Patrick DeWitt

But what family isn't a ghost story? Sharing tales of those we've lost is how we keep from really losing them. - For One More Day (p197) by Mitch Albom

Other quotes catch my eye because they remind me of myself. These are especially compelling when they refer to some of my quirkier traits. It's reassuring knowing I'm not the only weirdo who feels like this!

He remembers this trait of hers: how she is able to conduct entire conversations without ever once looking at you. - Eden Close (p.86) by Anita Shreve

[...] she felt only revulsion for any kind of religious fundamentalists. The very thought of such people's intolerant worldview, their inflated sense of their own superiority, and their callous imposition of their beliefs on others was enough to fill her with rage. - 1Q84 (p.103) by Haruki Murakami

[...] and as she walked amidst the hum of insects she felt sweep over her that old nostalgia, that almost painful longing which so often took her, a yearning for something which she must seize and grasp with all her strength. - Three Loves (p.73) by AJ Cronin

That barrier was himself: laughter and easy companionship cut off by the curious inhibition of his temperament. - Three Loves (p.124) by AJ Cronin

Fond as I was of individual women - Bree, Marsali, Lizzie and even Mrs. Bug - I had to admit that taken en masse, I found men much easier to deal with. [...] I found men soothingly logical and - with a few striking exceptions - pleasingly direct. - The Fiery Cross (p.334) by Diana Gabaldon

I have many more, but I think I'll end with just one final quote. This one hits close to home - it reverberates through my mind, particularly when I think about the elders I have lost.

[dead] Gone now with all that it had ever known, all that it had ever witnessed. - Queen of the Damned (p.29) by Anne Rice

What's your favourite book quote?

My Creative Space

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:58:00 +0000

Here's an updated look at my SMASH* book. Click here to see already completed pages and the start of some of the pages shown below. Warning: lots of photos coming up!

Doodling on the cover:

Pages 6-7 (now nearly complete):

Pages 10-11, filling up nicely:

Pages 14-15:

I included some of these flowers on a few pages here and there - I think they add a nice touch:

Page 17:

Pages 18-19:

Pages 20-21:

Pages 22-23:

Pages 24-25:

Pages 32-33:

OK, that's all I'm going to show for now, which I think is plenty! Can I just say how much I love this book?! It's the perfect combination of scrapbook / sketchbook / memory book for me! I love collecting little bits here and there especially for my SMASH* book - and then flipping through my book again and again, looking at all the pretty things I've collected.

If you want to see more close-ups plus a few extra pages that are only just started, head on over to my Flickr photostream.

Head on over here for more Creative Spaces.

June Sponsorship

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:06:00 +0000

June advertising on Ulixis Crafts is now open - head on over here for more details!

June is planning out to be fun-filled and sun-soaked! Are you as excited as I am? On the blog, you can expect oodles of outdoor photos from when I go hiking, a couple recipes incorporating fresh summer produce, many peeks into my sketchbooks (including the start of my Sketchbook Project 2013 and a collaborative Sketchbook Project with my friend Angie), some summer reading and possibly a tutorial and a summer outfit or two thrown in the mix!

Want to be a part of it all? Send me a note via ulixis.crafts@gmail.com and we can chat about the details!

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:17:00 +0000

Eramosa Karst (Part 3)

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:10:00 +0000

Here's the last bunch of photos from Eramosa Karst. You can find the first batch here and the second here. These last few are some of my favourite shots of the spring wildflowers and rampant greenery.

Mosaic Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:58:00 +0000

Here's mine for this week: lazy long weekend - hope everyone is having a good one!

1. Lazy doggie, 2. Sula, 3. Lazy Weekend, 4. Lazy Sunday

Here's the list of mosaics for this week. Once you've blogged, click the button below to add your blog post link.

Sunday Seven

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 20 May 2012 14:12:00 +0000

This week had a few tragic moments. Late Wednesday night, my favourite jadeite bowl slipped out of Pat's fingers and shattered on the floor. Thursday I noticed our small bar fridge has defrosted and drenched the bottom halves of a few of my cookbooks. So near the end of the week it was a little hard to come up with something for this list, but still there are a few small things I'm grateful for:

Sunday: my mom

Monday: scheduled blog posts

Tuesday: writing

Wednesday: new art supplies

Thursday: spending a quiet evening at home alone (and Pat returning earlier than expected)

Friday: movie with friends

Saturday: climbing the escarpment

What are you thankful for this week?

Project 52: 20/52

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 19 May 2012 09:58:00 +0000

Week 20 - here's my photo:

This was one of my favourites from Eramosa Karst.

Shattered

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Fri, 18 May 2012 09:29:00 +0000

This ancient tree is bent, shattered, fallen.

Its truck has shattered under the burden of the years.

Shattered under the burden of sustaining life.

Still - bent, shattered, fallen - this tree yet lives.

My Creative Space

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:37:00 +0000

Similar to the Map Project, the Chronicle Project was a free project hosted by the Art House Co-op, geared towards getting everyone excited for the next round of the Sketchbook Project. It certainly worked, because I've signed up again this year - both on my own and in a collaborative project with my friend Angie!

(Let's see how many more time I can squeeze the word project into this blog post, ok?)

The Chronicle Project was simple - chronicle a single day - 24 hours - any way you choose. The only restriction was that it fold down flat to 4" x 6". Needless to say, I signed up in a flash. I love making "maps" of my day in my sketchbooks, so I thought this would be the perfect application for the challenge.

Here's my map - follow the arrows and approximate times to see what a typical day is like for me:

Naturally, like my Map Project, I had to do something to the back of the piece, especially on those sections that show when all folded up. Here's what it looks like folded:

For the wider flap, I collaged some pretty paper and wrote out my title: A Typical Day in the Life of Ulixis. I love the soft mint colour and swirling pattern:

On the smaller flap, I went for a more ornate, art nouveau style (inspired by a challenge Angie is working on and happened to mention to me).

This is probably my favourite part - I absolutely love how the floral border turned out!

I kept the rest of it simple - the inside flaps are blank and I signed my name at the back. If you're interested, head on over to my Flickr photostream for some more close-up photos. And while you're at it, check out My Creative Space for more inspiration!

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Wed, 16 May 2012 09:54:00 +0000

Eramosa Karst (Part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:10:00 +0000

As I mentioned this morning, Pat and I spent a good part of our Saturday at Eramosa Karst. This beautiful conservation area can be found on the edge of Hamilton - Stoney Creek; it's totally free and open to the public with three major trails of varying length. The area is mostly wooded (though there are some open fields) with many karstic features to enjoy.

So what is a karst anyway?

A karst is a geographical area that is formed primarily by the action of water, dissolving layers of limestone, forming underground caves, disappearing streams, blind valleys and more. Eramosa Karst is significant because it displays a large number of karstic features and is considered to be the best example of a karst in Ontario. Follow the link to learn more.

Here are a few of my photos of some karstic features at Eramosa:

Potruff Cave:

A disappearing stream:

A dry stream bed:

Nexus Cave Window:

There was much more, but after a while, I stopped taking photos and just enjoyed the walk. I know we'll be back there again sometime soon!

Eramosa Karst

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:06:00 +0000

On the weekends, Pat and I love to go exploring the many trails and parks in and around Hamilton. Part of the Greenbelt, there are tons of conservation areas and paths to check out, not to mention the Bruce Trail that run along the Niagara Escarpment, connecting Niagara Falls to Hamilton and heading North all the way to Tobemory. Hamilton is also the city of waterfalls, so there's lots of nature to see!

This weekend, we went back to Eramosa Karst (we went last weekend for a short walk late in the day without my camera, so we vowed to go again to check out one of the longer trails). It's quite beautiful, with a number of trails to hike along. It's also big enough that it doesn't seem overly crowded. We passed a few people along the way, but were alone for the most part. The solitude was nice.

The forest was exceptionally lush this time of year.

We stuck to the paths, but it was hard. The forest was easy to walk through; there were plenty of smaller trails leading here and there. It was tempting to just go off and explore.

There were wildflowers everywhere - it was so lovely!

A little later today I'll be posting a few more photos from Eramosa Karst - plus a little more information on what exactly a karst is!

Weekly Forecast

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:50:00 +0000

Last week was a very good, very productive week. I cleaned, I organized, I job searched, I went for walks, I wrote... it was nice. I always feel better about myself when I'm getting things done.

The only thing missing was yoga. I'm not sure why I haven't gotten back into it, but I just haven't been motivated. I do miss it though, so I'm going to try really hard to practice a few minutes each day this week.

Here's what else I'm planning to tackle:

JOB SEARCH: top priority!
daily yoga
go for a walk, maybe check out a few thrift shops
catch up on 366Pages by journaling daily
work on a few ongoing projects and works in progress
catch up on Etsy things

As for blogging, I've been putting my calendar to good use. I have quite a few posts already scheduled for this week. Here's what you can look forward to:

lots (and lots) of photos from Eramosa Karst
a look at my Chronicle Project
a peak in my sketchbook
a new science post or two over at Science Byte

I've been neglecting Science Byte badly... I think I'll brainstorm a few ideas for new posts right now!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Mosaic Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:43:00 +0000

Here's mine for this week: Mother's Day. I hope all the moms out there were spoiled this weekend!

1. hero - mother's day 2009, 2. Mother's Day, 3. Happy Mother's Day! (with poppies? why yes, because I didn't shoot a better photo in time for today)., 4. Hayley & Baxter

Here's the list of mosaics for this week. Once you've blogged, click the button below to add your blog post link.

Sunday Seven

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sun, 13 May 2012 10:43:00 +0000

A few small things I'm grateful for this week:

Sunday: a beautiful sunny day

Monday: having Pat home on a weekday

Tuesday: catching up on some housework

Wednesday: a clean desk

Thursday: crossword puzzles

Friday: new restaurants to try

Saturday: Hamilton's conservation areas

What are you thankful for this week?

Project 52: 18+19/52

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Sat, 12 May 2012 16:32:00 +0000

I missed last week, so here's my photo for week 18:

I wanted to have a photo from our hike last Saturday, but my camera's battery was dead. So cabbage it is!

Next, my photo for week 19:

I was particularly happy with how this one turned out.

Collections: Tiny Dishes

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

I don't think I'm the first person to admit that tiny things are adorable. Who hasn't heard someone squealing over baby clothes or shoes? And baby animals? They're probably the most photogenic things out there!

Naturally, being a collector (not a hoarder... there is a difference, ok?), it's hard to resist all the sweet miniatures out there. I'm especially drawn to tiny bowls and dishes, since I can rationalize collecting them - I mean, dishes are useful! I use them all the time and they're an integral part of my home decor. Plus, they aren't very expensive, especially in singles. So... want to see my collection?

Here they are, all laid out (sets are stacked):

Seeing the entire collection like this makes me happy (apologies to any obsessive-compulsives out there: the square bird plate is crooked and bothers me too).

Here's a closer look at the dishes, plus a little background on where I got them.

These finger bowls are too cute and very handy. The set of four on the bottom were a gift from my mom (she found them in Montreal). I found the other set at the Bay here in Hamilton and couldn't resist adding them to the first set - the colours are so lush! I keep these on the shelf over my kitchen sink and use them for just about everything (baking measurements, dipping sauces, used tea bags, etc).

Here are the rest of my "kitchen" bowls:

I keep these in the kitchen as well and also use them a lot. The vintage green Jadeite bowl (another gift from my mom) is the perfect size for a small bowl of cereal, as are the two clear bowls in the bottom left and off-white bowls in the top right. These four are the same; I bought them at IKEA - they were the beginning of my small bowl collection.

The four white bowls at the bottom match my vintage dishes collection - the pattern is Swiss Alpine by Marcrest. I love the size of these - they remind me of my gramma. She called these small bowls "fruit nappies" and would serve us oranges (cut up in small pieces, sprinkled with sugar) in them.

Lastly, the tiny glass bowl in the middle is vintage - it was a gift included with some of my Marcrest dishes. I love the flowery etchings.

The rest of my collection can be found sprinkled throughout my home, usually serving some purpose, though sometimes just for decor.

The wooden bowl at the top left is handmade; I found it in an unusual Asian shop in Toronto (during an excursion with a couple undergraduate friends). It resides on Pat's dresser and collects coins. The white bowl at the top is another gift from my mom (she certainly knows me well!). I like its odd shape. I keep it on the bedside table to gather jewelry I take off right before bed. The blue bowl (bottom left) is the newest addition to my collection. I found it online in my friend Kara's vintage shop. It's on my desk right now, holding a newly crafted bracelet. The last tiny dish is a souvenir I picked up for myself when I was in Denver last May. It's on the coffee table, serving no function except decoration (though I have used it to hold used tea bags on occasion).

These five leaf shaped plates also came from Kara's vintage shop. I think they may be Japanese? You may have seen them before - the red one is part of my living room decor (holding a stone etched with "believe", some greenery and a few foreign/rare coins), the other four are on my dresser, organizing my jewelry.

Finally, this last set is composed of three purely decorative pieces (on the left) and two more jewelry holders (on the right). The two aqua glass bowls should be familiar - they're part of the glassware display in my living room. I found them at Vested Interest, a cool shop in North Bay.

This lovely little plate has been in my possession for a long time (so I guess the IKEA bowls aren't technically the start to my collection... though they were the first bowls). I think I found it at a rummage type sale in Sturgeon Falls, when I was around 10 maybe? I was drawn to the floral design and colours... and, ok, the size. I've always been a miniature lover! (I remember finding a miniature teapot, tea cup and saucer at the same place; I have a vivid memory of drinking pop with it, despite having to refill the tiny pot multiple times. I just don't know what ever happened to it... I wish I knew!)

Along with the little plate above, this little heart-shaped dish holds some of my jewelry. I've had this heart for a very long time as well, even longer than the plate. I'm pretty sure I snagged it from my mom at some point. It may be my great-grandmother's...? Either way, it's been on my dressers for as long as I can remember and holds a special place in my heart.

Last but certainly not least is this adorable handmade bird plate. I traded with FirstLightGlass for him. He has a place on the shelving under my glassware display (the colours play well together).

So there you have it! That's my collection of tiny dishes, though I'm sure it won't stay this size for long! I simply cannot resist small bowls!

Which piece is your favourite?

My Creative Space

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda) — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:33:00 +0000

My sketchbooks are filled with all sorts of things: doodles, collages, lists, ink drawings... One specific thing I use them for time and again is to sketch out ideas for other projects I'm working on. Lately, I've been sketching specifically for the story I'm writing (the one set in the Republic of Krez, which I mapped out for the Map Project). This process is important for me so that I can better visualize my characters and what they're wearing.

First, I started with a simple pencil sketch of a boy and girl in everyday clothing.

I wanted to elaborate on my main character, Thea, so I sketched her again, in a position I wanted to explore further. She's a bit of a tomboy and a fierce hunter, so an action shot in the woods was perfect.

After a quick sketch, I switched the angle (but kept the same position) and started over:

I finished the sketch by inking in the outline (I didn't erase the pencil because I like to see where I started). Her boots / feet were the hardest part for me. She turned out looking slightly Asian and a bit lop-sided, but I'm pretty happy with her overall.

What do you think?

Head on over here for more Creative Spaces: