tania howells

well hello!

Hooray!  This month the 2014 nominees for the Forest of Reading were announced and to my surprise, Willow Finds a Way was nominated for a Blue Spruce award!  I had assumed it was past eligability as it came out in 2013! I really am thrilled and honoured to have been chosen! 

 

 

 

 

 

 Another map recently, Parkdale!

I was contacted by the Neighborhood Arts Network here in Toronto, who give out an award yearly to..." an arts organization that has made a significant contribution in Toronto by working collaboratively with culturally diverse communities, youth and community groups that create opportunities to access, and contribute to, arts and culture."   Its a great thing!  This year the award went to this group - Mammalian Diving Reflex .  It was fun to make this map because it, coincidentally, is also my neighborhood.  I even added my house, my favorite cafe and of course the library.

 

Im lately loving this show - Around the World in 80 Gardens.  It thrills me to listen to people chatting about plants with such enthusiasm!  It is so refreshing and so uplifting somehow.  I can't explain it any other way, I have always adored gardening and I know many others do as well, but to hear it on TV, well it makes me so happy.  Perhaps it is something in the way the host describes things!  Wonderful.  Something for ME.

 

Which makes me happy to have rediscovered Helen Lehndorf again all the way over in New Zealand.  I "met" her way back in the olden days ( 2005?) when she had a blog called Stripey Sock Studio and nowadays she writes alot about (among many other things including her fantastic writing),  gardens and plants and again, I love it!  Every now and then I get a momentary thrill thinking about the joy of discovering a new interest in life.  One you never really paid attention to before but was there in front of you all along.  How freeing to realise, suddenly, it is not the same old routine, there are plants and they look brand new for some reason. 

I've just finished reading The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton and my goodness I could not put it down!  It was a wonderful read and again, about a garden and about women's lives.  I am always hunting and digging for details about other womens lives, about how we all do it.  It is a research project as part of my very fabric, as part of not wanting to feel alone in this journey. 

 

 

book back track

I got these back in May on our trip to NYC!  I thought I had taken a bigger pic of the covers- sorry!
We have , both from the "Heartwarming Life Series" ( l0ve that!),
on the left - Layered one Piece - ISBN978-4-529-04560-5
and on the right- its all in Japanese! ISBN978-4-529-04629-9
And as usual, can't seem to fix this "cutting off images at the right"  problem...

I took these pics last week on the porch, the same time as the Lotta book, as the light is all dappled and summery.  Think of it that way as opposed to it being not great light for photos-;)
I love these books!  I love all the layers and baggy dresses over pants and leggings- So cozy and cute.

• Saw the movie "Away we Go" on the weekend- it was so sweet!  I loved it!  Then on the walk home, Paul bought a hat and I bought a bunch of sunflowers.
• Watching season two of 30 Rock!  Boy all I want to do is watch funny shows and this one is wonderful , but I don't need to tell you that!  It's common knowledge.
• Speaking of hilarious, have you seen The IT Crowd yet??  Oh Ma Gah, LOVE IT.

Ok- I know it's summer. I AM doing more than watching TV and movies, I promise.  Not MUCH more, but I am.  There has been copious amounts of reading on the porch and eating garlic-y olive oil-y tomatoe-y  pasta dishes too.

Book's I have devoured lately:

• Belong to Me - What a great book!  I won't tell you anything about it other than it was a clever, winding tale with an ending I did not expect!  It is a continuation of the lives of the people in her her first book, Love Walked In , which I also just loved.
  
• Circle of Quilters - I just happened upon this book in the library and grabbed it based on the cover and the word "quilt" in the title. Not dissapointed!  It was a really easy and comfortable read. My kind of book, ll about women's lives and bonus, she seems ot have a ton more for me to read.
• Tea time for the Traditionally Built and the Miracle at Speedy Motors - How is this guy so prolific?? I can barely keep up, but I still love to read his books.  I have even caught a few episodes of the new show  and it's just as lovely as the books.
• This Charming Man Do not judge this book by its wretched cover here. ( My copy had this nice cover here ) I could not put it down.  I am a big Marian Keyes fan already and this book had her trademark serious subject matter mixed with hilarious Irish-isms.  Read it!  Quite a chilling depiction of alcohalism and domestic abuse.

faffing about

Friday I had a bit of time to make a stamp, inspired by Orla Keiley and the new Lena Corwin book.
I would like to stamp this in pale pink on natural linen perhaps...
I am attempting to take a picture a day in March, driven by being so grateful February is over.
I am starting to see a pattern.  No, not just in the image above, but in me.  Winter makes me depressed!  What a surprise!  Just a few degrees above zero is enough to make me get out the old tap shoes and start dancing, metaphorically speaking.  Lisa, I don't really have tap shoes though I have always wanted a pair.
It has helped having my brother here to stay for 10 days.  It feels great to have family in our house again.

I just finished The Knitting Circle by Anne Hood and while these books were a comforting distraction, this one I simply could not put down.
It was just so good.  Sad but in a cathartic and healing way.  Something about everyone having something, a reminder that we all have our own cross to bear but we can take comfort in each other ( and in knitting ofcourse!).  Thanks Christen for telling me about it.  I want to read it all over again.

cables

On the weekend I sat down to learn cables and once again, it really was not a hard as I thought!
I *think* the pattern had a typo, but I figured it out.  It said C6 but I think it should have read C3!
About ten years ago, my mum's friend knit her an entire afghan for a house warming gift, made up of squares of different cable patterns. It was stunning!  I love the thought of a whole new pack of challenging knitting patterns awaiting me... perhaps an afghan is in my future -or at least a scarf!

Which brings me to this series.  I started with book 2, 3 and then 4 and just last night finished book 1.  I think that had to do simply with availability at the library but now I am sad they are all done.  I know there is a 5th coming out in May though.  They are loosley centered around a knitting shop as well as along a nice street but they are written as though you are spending time with your best friends and I miss them already.  I know that sounds sappy.  There was a time when I would only read "challenging intellectual literature" but nowadays my main criteria is an easy, comforting read with characters I can imagine being my friends.  I tend to call these kinds of books "airport books" since you imagine grabbing them as a distraction for a long flight.  I, however , grab them now as a welcome distraction from the sometimes long trials of life.  It gives me no end of pleasure to spend a Sunday afternoon ignoring the cleaning and reading good story, cup of tea in hand.  So I am sorry teenaged Tania, I am no longer slogging through Albert Camus or Henry Miller but drifting happily into stories about nice people doing trying to do nice things, while navigating their own sometimes challenging lives.   It's called escapism and I'm sold.

treat

 

I recently treated myself to this awesome book.  I figured it would be simple enough for me and I just love the look of the outfits.  I ordered it from this etsy shop- Pomadors craft cafe.   Thank goodness for etsy!  I could never quite navigate amazon japan easily.  Maybe it was the not speaking or reading Japanese...

I am going to make the item on the left first.  I love the whole jeans and long tunic thing.  I am thinking of getting a nice brown linen to start off.  My inclination is always to get some crazy floral print, but I think I will start neutral and work from there.  That way I can wear my stripey long sleeved tees underneath and not look like a clown.

So cute!

supplies for hibernation

If you are going to hibernate, you will need some books.
Here is what I have been enjoying lately.

The new Moomin comic. I have not actually read this yet as I am saving it for a time when I truely need it. Paul picked this up for me while braving the boxing day sales. Mad, he is! (please excuse my blatently swiped pics with the annoying "search inside!" arrows!)





The latest Isabel Dalhouse book which I was so surprised to see at the store that I grabbed it and bought it immediately despite being a hardback which I never buy. I had to find out what was going to happen next! I saved it till Christmas though and addressed it: "to Tania, love from Santa".






Once I got back to work, I finally treated myself to this book in the sales. It is just so pretty and nice to look at. I even made a tote bag the other night after looking through this which felt good. I will take a picture and show you.


Also, some library visiting turned up Tease which is a cute little book with some potentially do-able things in it and also this little book- Linen Crafts which was just plain pretty and so I took it home. I looked through The Family Home while I was there and I really liked that too. Lots of cozy friendly rooms, but it was far too heavy to take home.

day off!

Today I am taking a day off! I walked west and had a nice lunch while I read my book and listened to interesting people around me discussing environmental issues and race cars. Next, to the hardware store to return somthing ( a paint roller I didn't need after all) and buy something- a handful of paperwhite bulbs! I want to save them for Christmas, but I put one of them in a jar with some stones to hopefully bloom early. The rest are chilling in the fridge.


i ♥ the library
Ten minutes touring through the library shelves resulted in all these wonderful books! When I got home I made a nice cup of tea and the girl cat curled up on my lap. I read the Sabrina Ward Harrison one first. I love her books. She has such an amazing gift for collage. Her work is so lovely.

I was tagged by Lesley for 8 random things. I keep trying to think of something to say but I just go blank! So instead I will do 8 random things about my day off.

1-tonight we are going to an impossibly posh dinner and party- for FREE! My brother designed the tickets and promo stuff for this event and since he is in england we get to go instead! This is our third year going and we get to be all dressed up. No one seems to care that I wear a $20 dress and shoes from Payless.

2-I saw the mocking bird, he's back!! Perched on my neighbors clotheline looking very proud and handsome.

3-People smile at you more in the next neighborhood west. I smiled at 3 or 4 people on my walk and the guy at the hardware store told me to have a great day. I am!

4-I stuck that shrink plastic on the bedroom window this morning while I was still in pyjamas. It is supposed to keep the warm in and drafts out. I had meant to do it last winter but never got around to it. I hope it helps! The bedroom is very cold. I then bought a packet to do 5 more windows.

5-mum has given me 3 felted sweaters and I am trying to think of what to do with them...

6-I am mentally preparing myself to embark on operation basement clean-up. It may not happen for a while, but I am thinking about it. It is full of still unpacked boxes, 4 bicycles, a single bed my mom was getting rid of (an antique which I slept on as a girl) and too much other stuff...just thinking about it makes me a bit exhausted.

7-I am inspired by Sabrina's book to dig out my old camera and take some black and white photos. This coincides with the unexpected return of my enlarger and darkroom equipment from a friend. But where is the camera??

8-I was ridiculously pleased to have such a huge pile of books to take home without spending a cent on them.

food, or at least pictures of it

Thank you all soooo much for your kind thoughts about boy cat. I hope he is sitting on a cushion up in cat heaven marveling at how many sweet aunties he has all over the world who love him. It was heartwarming to hear from all of you!


I found this book on my way in today at one of those remainder book sales and I treated myself to it. The pictures are just gorgeous in the way that many Australian food / decor mags can be, and all the comfort food recipes seemed just what I needed. It never helps buying these things while being actually hungrey though, every page makes my stomach rumble. mm! I crave garlicky toasted breads, creamy goat's cheeses, tomates, pesto, pasta and mozzerella...Instead I am meeting my brother and Paul for Vietnamese after work. We have a great place near home. My brother is visiting from England for 12 days and the timing could not be better. I am never happier than when I have my family in my home and even if mum is not here as well, at least I know she is in Canada too. She continues her downsizing before moving to a smaller place and we may drive out on the weekend to haul back a bed, a cozy chair and various other bits and pieces.

books to keep near

Happiness is a delicious new book, risotto with local asparagus, jazz on the radio and a cool post storm breeze coming in the open back door. That was Friday and this book has been a treat all weekend. I never buy new novels but this I had to have. It is wonderful when the characters of a book become so familiar and well loved that you feel you must own every volume, just so you can visit them whenever you want and share a cup of red bush tea.
On Saturday we ambled around town feeling like we were on vacation, which was a rarity and a relief for me as I always feel compelled to "DO SOMETHING" which is rather boring. We discovered a second BMV books on bloor near brunswick. I give the location because anyone living in Toronto should go and check out the crazy selection of used, vintage and discount new craft books they have there. I have never seen so many retro ones in one place. I was all exited and got two 70's ones for a dollar each from the racks out front. Then upstairs, way at the back were shelves more!

Here is a cute project from one called "Creative Sewing - Things for Children".

books and mysteries

UPDATE! As a few have asked, here are the links to these books-

Apartements d'amoureux a paris
and
Children's rooms London

From there you can link through to many more of these horrifyingly wonderful little books.

Well, how can a girl not feel cheered up with these two books coming in the mail? (click for a bigger view) I can't seem to resist them and these ones are as good as ever. They must be hot off the presses too because I see a few current IKEA things in some of the rooms! That and this amazing email I received yesterday-

***

Hello Tania:

Just thought that you might be instersted that I found one of your
buttons (this one -- the M/F 'waterdroplets' holding hands) today on one of
my power walks.

I'm in the boonies of the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia.
Found the button along the edge of the road. Turned it over
and there was your web site. Just took a look there. Nice stuff and nice
light lyrical approach to your art. Thanks for cheering up my day a
bit.

No need tor respond, just thinking you might be intrigued about the
location of your found pin! Take care.

***

Wow!! How on earth did one of my buttons get all the way out there! It is something to puzzle over. Of course I did respond and give many thanks for letting me know. I love odd tales like this especially when they apply to me.

Have a great weekend!

one for you, 2 for me

Amazon page Amazon page

What is it about Christmas time that inspires a gal to buy presents for herself? Once again, Amazon Japan helpfully emailed me the latest news and I promptly followed instructions and ordered these two beautiful books. They are from Santa. I do more or less have everyone's gifts accounted for so I dont feel SO bad. Last night I wrestled the shelf we had in the hall closet used for sheets and put it beside the bed. I have been dreaming about having a book shelf there for a few months now. The bedsheets are up on the high shelf in the closet now and I finally have all my diaries out again! All 70 of them, yes 70. I have been writing since I was in grade 4 and sometimes I like to browse through old ones to see how far ( or not ) I have come. I am so comforted, being able to look beside me in bed and see my favorite books! Diaries on the bottom shelf, second shelf for a pile of books waiting in the wings ( some kind soul at work has been leaving read novels for people - me- to read ) and the top shelf is for my treasured comfort books like all the above I now have. My collection includes Stockholm Kitchens - my first and most beloved,Stockholm Kids rooms, London Kitchens and Paris Kitchens. Do I have a problem?
Also On the shelf is my favorite book 14 000 things to be happy about, among a bunch of others.

books as medicine

During the stress and mayhem that was the process of moving, I found this book at the library. Seeing it there on a day when I felt all nervous, was like a warm cup of tea. It turned out to be better then I hoped, such a good read and so comforting somehow! I had a few books on the go, and it was the highlight of my days when I could find a stolen moment to sit on the porch and read. Pure pleasure reads were The other side of the Story and Watermelon both by Marian Keyes. I love her books. They are Irish and sarcastic and lot of fun to read. Great escapism. Of course, I have also been carrying around at all times When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron. I mentioned one of her books before- they are down to earth, purely comforting buddist writings and they totally always make me feel better. She writes so well, in a way that is never too intellectual and tiresome and always easy to relate to.