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Here’s another reason why I love living in the city center. Right in our neighborhood is a yarn shop with not only gorgeous skeins and buttons but also a big mama loom where the shop proprietor/ artist-in-residence sits at the window and weaves.

The weaver is very friendly and enjoys having the children come in to watch. When I say “big mama” I mean the loom is the size of a four-shelf bookcase attached to my dining room table.

My seven-year-old daughter decided she wanted to weave something herself, and luckily the Waldorf kindergarten (where my son goes) had a loom for her.

My daughter, the chattiest of Cathies, will actually sit quiet and weave for 45 minutes at a time. It’s pretty astounding. Hasn’t she done a beautiful job?

Speaking of the Waldorf kindergarten, check out this wheelbarrow my son was playing with the other day:

Even the wheel is made out of wood. I think if I’d handcarved this puppy I’d have it on a display shelf somewhere, but my lucky little guy gets to put dirt and grass in it and wheel it around.

This week he’s been completely gaga over the simple bows and (blunt-end) arrows they’ve been making with string and green twigs. His first one broke, but I’ll try to get a pic of the next one.

In other news, I’ve been trying to focus on my revision, which is why you haven’t seen me here much this week. Speaking of which, I should get back to work! Have a great weekend.

Lina Medina - the worlds youngest mother (5 years & 8 months old).
I think I'm finished the piece although I'm going to put off varnishing it until I'm quite sure I'm 100% happy with the results.


Inspired by my husband who mentioned that I rough up my plywood painting surface with carving tools, I spent a good chunk of one day carving out and manipulating the "canvas" until it was a bit of a relief project. I loved the results and think I'm going to try doing this technique on some pieces for my future baby's room.

A great big thank you to everyone (friends, family, clients... and of course fellow bloggers!) for making this year so fabulous! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'll be taking a needed break from the computer world in general so see you in early 2008!


Here's a sneak peak into the "secret studio"...
I tried my hand at carving (my hand wishes I was a more careful carver but I suspect this will come with time)



and I made some ornaments for my family...

I've been creating paintings for the Royal Alberta Museum's Christmas Card collection (for the next five years you might see my work.)

While there's still many secret goings on in my studio there's one thing I can tell you: I'll be at the Guerilla Boutique this Saturday from 1-8pm at the Artery downtown Edmonton, Alberta. It's on 9535-Jasper Ave.

Have you ever wondered what you can do with your old magazines? What can book stores and publishers do with their overstock? It’s easy to overlook the role that magazines play in literacy and the powerful ideas that can be devised by trying to solve both literacy and hunger problems.

Mark speaks with John Mennell, founder of the Magazine Publishers Family Literacy Project. To learn more and even become a volunteer, listen to this interview then visit magazineliteracy.org.

Participate in the conversation by leaving a comment on this interview, or send an email to [email protected].