My first canvas

I am starting to get photos loaded of all of the projects I have been doing with my Cocoa Daisy Kit. It will be available to order starting tomorrow!

This is the first canvas I have ever done. A little bit intimidating but it was super fun to change it up and work with something different in a different size.
I love this photo of Tiara from last summer thinking she could fly. And we often talk to her about faith helping her through tough times, this is a perfect reminder for her to to hang in her room. She LOVES it!

It was so very cool when this kit arrived..... neat to open this box of goodies that felt like it was custom designed just for ME!
I guess it kind of was :)
It is made up of all of my favorite things to play with,
So for me it is a real box full of inspiration.

There are some fabrics and really cool tins, Making Memories glitter sticker sheets (you can see peeking out under my stamps in the other post) and cool Ki memories lace cardstock. The very cool new thick overlays from Hambly, lots of yummy distressed papers and all kinds of goodies that make me want to create

On this canvas I used the crochet lace wrap from Fancy Pants, the rub -on wings from Hambly ( I love these rub-ons they are silk screened so feel nice and thick like they are painted on your page), a sheet of notebook paper from Making memories adorable noteworthy notebooks ( you get 5 different sheets in the kit) and I used the left over negative sticker from the 7 gypsies label book in the kit as a mask to paint the circles, highlighting them with the super fun silver leafing pen for a bit of sparkle ( I LOVE this thing!!!)

I have been working on detailed instructions with photos of all of my projects so that those who purchase the kit will have a guide to go by if they want to play along. Just a fun little extra goodie. Stay tuned for some more projects I will keep on posting them as I load the pics!

ETA: for those of you that have been emailing me with some photo questions- This step shot was taken at night by lamp light. ( see the big shadows on the paint bottles?)

How is it so bright?

A few things. First I am using an external flash that is pointed up to bounce off of the ceiling so that it spreads out and lights the area but does not create that harsh flash light that happens when it is aimed directly at the subject.

Then I also have my white balance set for indoor lighting so that the photos do not reflect the yellow light of the lamp. I am also using my 50 mm lens ( a new happy toy) which is pretty incredible for indoor low light settings, and I have my aperture set all the way down to 1.8 which is as open as it goes with this lens to let the most light in.

Hope this helps!

There are only so many hours in a day, can't always stop when the sun goes down :)

Look what the mail man brought me today!!!

My stamps!!!!
I am totally excited about these! I have been working on a few fun projects as the upcoming Guest Designer for Cocoa daisy in February, and one of them is these two stamp sets manufactured by Kah-Mei at Fontwerx!!! The alphabet is my lettering that I use on lots of my projects; I have gotten quite a few emails asking where people could find stamps like this so I am really happy to be able to say HERE!

That set is called called "Jellybean toes" and the little set is called "Life Labelz" , just a happy little set for making some little label stickers of your own.
Close-ups below

and this is......

Me working on the project that got my hands so dirty!

I am busy working away on some really fun stuff so stay tuned for more info in the next few days ;)

note to self:

Creating really is for fun, don't sweat the small stuff.
Mistakes are going to happen, we are human after all.

So wipe it on your hand

and try again......



and again........



and again!!!



laughing at myself yesterday; I seemed to have extra shakey hands and no matter how hard I tried I wibbled at the wrong moments. My project ended up working out but I was really having to just push through the momentary ugliness and tell myself that it was ALLLL good, and a happy accident was just waiting to happen :)
So, with clay stuck in my rings and paint under my nails I bid you a very happy Tuesday!
Be patient with yourself, you deserve it :)

off and running!

or should I say climbing, kicking, creating....etc.

We took a very well needed break from extra-curriculars this fall.

When it was time to sign up for dance and gymnastics, music and whichever lessons the girls would be taking...we just didn't.

I took a travel break after teaching in France and we all just enjoyed a little bit of a slower more solid schedule for a bit.

It was great for helping Tiara to settle in to 3 full days of kindergarten and Emilea and I fit in a lot of great reading and good time together.

Little Kaiella just goes with it no matter what we do, so she has been happy as pie no matter what we are doing or not doing.

The breather was good for them, good for us, just the best thing to do for everyone.

And now we are ready to jump in again and get some more going on.

All of the girls are taking swimming; amazing to see Tia doing so well in the water and it just makes me grin to watch Emy ( she's awesome! has always been a real little fish)

Emy is taking rock climbing and LOVING it!!! She LOVES climbing everything in sight, so this is really her thing. She is doing a cooking class too. It is neat having a girl who is getting a little bit bigger and doing some bigger girl kind of things, so much fun!

Tiara has started indoor soccer, Kaiella tried but felt "too little" for now so she colors her little pony book on the side lines ( hee hee, little sweet one)

and the two little ones are doing an Art class together.

Cam and I are quite enjoying watching them all, for us seeing them having fun and being really happy, makes us so so happy. But everyone needs a bit of activity so we are taking care of that for ourselves too. Cam is truly passionate about hockey so we have made sure he is on a team playing for the past couple of winters and I am trying to get back to working out at home at least 3 times a week. It always feels good to be moving.

I have been booking travel again, and classes all over the world for 2008 it will be great fun.

I am excited for the new adventures to come for our family.

It is feeling like the start of a new year filled with the promise of good things for us all.

Thanks so much for the Birthday wishes for Tia she feels so special, and for all of the nice comments on her cake!

have a great weekend

a different kind of art

A BIG Happy Birthday to our little Tiara

Can't believe she is SIX!!!

She wanted a cake with horses on it so this was my attempt...I love to surprise the kids but this year she wanted to help. I can't deprive the birthday girl, can I? so of course I let her go to town...then she sat perched on our kitchen stool watching me add every itty bitty bit of icing. She was just beaming.

You've got to love how easy it is to make a kid feel really special.

I saved the horses for the big reveal though, and my dear girl was as pleased as can be.

She told me it was better than the cakes at store and said

" you sure put a lot of love in this one for me mama!"

Here's to cuteness, licking the beaters and being 6 years old

cookie day in Kindergarten

I had such a great time baking cookies before the Christmas break with Tiara's kindergarten class. The kids were so excited for the anticipated baking day, and the results were just adorable. They each made one for the grade 6 students who often come down to help them open lunches or read with them, and the kids were all so very proud of their careful creations.

Tiara was so pleased to have me there with her, I can remember that feeling when my mom came to volunteer at my little school. She did often which I now understand was pretty cool of her since she was a single mom raising me and running her own business. I thought she was just the coolest mama in the world and was always excited to have her around. ( Thanks mom for all of the time you put in!)

Christmas alive

Christmases have always been special for me; each with it's own general mood and feeling. Some spent close to home and some away visiting my grandparents or other family. But this one was different for me....bigger possibly, yet quieter. Maybe more settled than ever before...more grown up? I am not sure exactly the change but I can say that without a doubt today As we enjoyed our Sunday December 30th together home as a family I was not yet ready for it to end. I think my oldest daughter Emy felt the same as she set up her tiny new precious moments nativity from Memere and Pepere in her room, smiling at the little baby Jesus with his bit of curly hair, she told me decidedly that she wanted it to stay out all year. I chose a favorite Christmas CD to put on for the little girls' bedtime music and read an extra three chapters to Emy tonight, enjoying the freedom of time that comes with holidays home together. I think her and I would have loved simpler times...pioneer days on the prairies, maybe even on this very spot where we live now. We are two of a kind in the way we love life. Simple joys and moments of heart are our greatest riches.

But back to this Christmas; I think that it is quite possible that the true spirit of the season lived in my heart in a bigger way than ever before. It was as if it all came together just right and created a kind of glow, a contented fullness and true joy. I am trying to give words to something that is so hard to describe...easier to feel...almost tangible.

This year was not filled full with all of my usual handmade holiday projects ( a first since...well, as long as I can remember) Our tree was not a wonderful masterpiece by most standards, but a delight to us. It stands here, still spreading its warm glow beside me with funny clusters of carefully placed candy canes, sweet little ornaments that the girls made for us, as well as a very lovely paper chain. There are small teddy bears that have been nestled in the lower branches by chubby little hands, and some Christmas cards have made their way to nest here and there. It was the girl's masterpiece this year and that makes it one very happy tree.

I didn't spend the weeks before Dec.25th in the malls looking for perfect presents. This year instead of Christmas being what I may have thought it should be in the past, I just soaked it all in.

I slowed down to "feel" the true holiday spirit and embrace it. I turned off my computer completely and read 8 great Christmas books that all touched my heart. We took the children to Bethlehem live at a nearby church to take in the sights and sounds of the very first Christmas, and my dear friend Kristie took me to see Steve Bell's Christmas concert with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

This year the impact of baby Jesus was really huge.

Of course we have always known the story; we have grown up making little Christmas crafts in Sunday school, and we can say the lines of the Angel with our eyes closed. But the fact that God came to earth as a tiny baby, just as we all do, and was born in a stable where the animals live. The fact that God came down at Christmas to live among us, well, it is like us going down to live in the mud with the worms, and that is pretty darn cool! I read that comparison in "The Christmas Shoes" as the mother in the story talks to her son about Christmas being a time for Miracles, and I thought it the perfect description.

The significance of that first Christmas seems bigger to me this year than it ever has in the past...more real..more present. And if He could give such a miracle to us, then I felt like maybe we needed to look a little bit farther ourselves, to pass on the love and blessings that we feel all year long. This year we had a special project on our hearts and we did our best as a family to spend the week before Christmas gathering special gifts, baking and preparing everything we would bring to a sweet family in need on Christmas day. I hope they really felt our love.
The girls were just shining as they helped to carry presents and cookies to the door and share their sweet little greetings. I think that was my very favorite '07 Holiday moment. I am feeling like the spirit of this Christmas needs to go on all year, and I think it will. We will eventually take down this adorable tree, and at some point I may not be putting on The Merry tunes for bedtime, but I think that Christmas will live in our hearts every day until next year when hopefully we can experience another season of such beauty and love.

wishes of peace and Joy to you and yours.

Merry Christmas

The time that matters

Just a few thoughts on "time"...

One of the quotes I have written down in my creative notebook as I have been reading through Ali Edwards' new life artist book is "I have the power within myself to stop the stress" Such good good words.

It really is the truth. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to "keep up" depending on what our life holds; to keep up with consistent posts on blog(s), to keep up with the other mom who volunteers 4 times a week and always puts on the coolest parties, to have the kids running to x number of activities like their friends, and be sure to send out the right amount of Christmas cards and complete x number of Christmas projects. This doesn't all apply to me, I have always tried my best to keep in my vision what matters most, but some of it does, and I see it in so many others that I care about.

why do we do this?

For a long time I have kept this quote framed somewhere in my home and held dear these words:
" One Hundred Years From Now
It will not matter what kind of car I drove,
what kind of house I lived in,
How much money I had in my bank account,
Nor what my clothes looked like.
But the world may be a little better
because I was important in the life of a child."
-Forest Witcraft

I love this, it is such a great reminder, because really in a hundred years all of the hustle bustle and keeping up appearances will not matter one bit. It is the love we gave and the time we took to breathe and be centred so that we can offer something great to this world that just might make all of the difference.

peace, and many deep breaths to you dear friends

From Paris

This cool red wheel on the Eiffel Tower just made me happy. Came across the photo today when I was looking for another

taking a break

It was a crazy year in a lot of ways for us 5 Muckoskys.

My new "career" brought all kinds of fun and new adventures and with it a lot of adjustment for us as a family.

Tiara's struggles and amazing journey through all that she has been dealing with has had a real affect on us all ,

and lots of other life stuff has come our way over the last 12 months or so.

So this fall we took a break from the extra activities to just slow things down for a while. We wanted to just breathe a little bit more, we wanted the time to re-group and help the girls get into the groove of where they are at in life right now.

In the past three weeks or so our family has passed around 3 different flus and a pretty harsh sinus thing, so all of My mama lovin' and pretty much all of my time has been needed around here. Waking up through the night to help with a throw up pail or blow a little nose and rub a little back or taking the time I have needed myself to just sleep and get better when it is my turn. Hopefully this means that when it all subsides we will be immune to every possible bug floating around Winnipeg for the rest of the winter??? ( one can hope!)

I have been creating and I do have all kinds of projects in the works but the pace has been slower the past few weeks ,

it has been necessary.

Am I behind in my work? yes,

My laundry pile sky high? oh yeeeah ( I should take a picture it is fairly ridiculous)

The house?

a mess,

please don't ring my doorbell today, I may not answer... might just hide

But we are good. The kids feel loved and valued more than anything else in the world, my heart feels light and good with the knowledge that my priorities are right- for me, for us.

My heart is here at home first and foremost. It always will be.

My biggest and most precious gifts are right here no matter how busy the world may be, I am refusing to get caught up in the hurry worry.

We needed some extra time and love and rest in the last little bit and that is what we have been taking.

Thanks so much for your patience with me.

And thank-you for all of the wonderful emails that we have received in the past few weeks.

May the Holidays and the next year be filled with time that nurtures your spirit and everything that truly makes your heart happy

Tia's gift

My little Tiara was so secretive this week as she rustled around with bags, paper and tape in our dining room. I thought it was cute that she would not let me come in, but I had no idea she was working so hard on a Birthday present for me right from her dear little heart.

So so sweet.

A few years ago we gave each of the girls a 100 picture photo album with pictures that we thought would matter to them; with friends, sisters, themselves, adventures...etc.

Tiara calls it her "scrapbook" and carries it around ALL the time telling us about the photos and sharing her little stories,or just re-arranging things and smiling at her own memories.

So when I opened this adorably wrapped little package and found my own personal "scrapbook" made with lots of tape and Ziploc bags, and filled with her most cherished photos taken right out of her book, I knew that she had given me a little piece of her heart, and she was so very pleased at my teary

"thank-you"

just wanted to post this while I remember clearly so I can look back and smile all over again :)

amazing!

I had an amazing Birthday yesterday.

Having a birthday with little children who love you so much is the best feeling on earth. They treated it like a national holiday and made me feel like a Queen....everyone did actually. The people in my life are the greatest gift I could ever ask for, truly.

It started when my good friend Kristie took me out to a lovely little french restaurant for birthday breakfast; the perfect way to start the day. It was nearby Cam's work so he was able to spend that time having fun with the little ones while Kristie and I got to turn off our mommy eyes and ears and just had a lovely time on our own. This year from my grandparents in Ontario I got White Christmas. I grew up watching awesome old musicals with my Gramie and I still just LOVE them to bits! Once I picked up everyone from school the girls and I cuddled up and watched it together. It is so cool to share that with the girls. when Emy asked me "mama who is the bad guy?" and I answered honestly "there is none!" I realised just exactly why I love those old movies. Entertainment sure has changed over the years.

Cam took me out for a wonderful evening while the kids partied it up with his mom and dad ( thanks so much guys!) and we had such a great time. I also have had a couple of really parties this week with both Cam's and my family and they have all made me feel so very special.

Feeling truly thankful this year for such a great group of people who love me and take the time to show it so very well.

Happy days

The girls wanted to look at my old photo albums this past week and I came across this great pic. So many memories held here. Uncle Petie and I shared Birthday parties every December for all of my little years. Then along came little Sarah and she was a part of the party fun too. Thank goodness for Gramie and her Polaroid camera, she made me such a great album of memories, those little old square pictures tell a story that is totally priceless to me.

Sending out a big Happy Birthday to Uncle Pete and Sarah!

in the light

I just wanted to share a page about my little Kaiella, posted on my CK blog when I was talking about life lessons. It was my take on the challenge to scrap what we learn from the kids. I couldn't get this old DC Talk song out of my head so I used it as a quote. It fits so perfectly for what I learn from her and how I feel.

“I wanna be in the light as you are in the light I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens, O Lord be my light and be my salvation all I want is to be in the light”
-DC Talk

Journaling at the bottom of the page says:

"You live beautifully with all of your little heart. You find joy in creation every day and rejoice in the wonder life holds for you. May you always live in the perfect light of God’s Love baby girl."

The font is my own - called CK Believe

you can see the rest of my supplies Here

She is such a sweetie, mmmmm, how I adore my chubby little brown-eyed toddler!

( most of the time LOL ....she happens to be acting VERY THREE this week- anyone who has ever had a three year old knows what I mean, but this too shall pass won't it?!)

Tiara

She had an amazing time in Colorado Springs.

Finally loading a few photos. Check out those new teeth!

reading Season

Winnipeg is covered in a blanket of fresh white snow, with the windchill it is far too cold to frolic outside. But I Love it, this is home! It makes me smile when I step outside and the cold air catches in my lungs the way it did as a kid. It also gets us doing all kinds of indoor family stuff; puzzles galore, games, Hot Chocolate ( the kids have been drinking Ovaltine and think it is just as delightful...I Love that it is super good for them) and of course cuddling up under a blanket for all kinds of reading.

In my own quiet time this past month or so, wonderful holiday reading has re-awakened in me the kind of reading where you just have to keep going and finish the book all in a day or two. The kind where try as you might you cannot put your book down. It had been awhile since I read like that...read till both arms were cramped from holding up the book LOL


Five special stories worth taking time for:


-The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans ( thanks Kristie!)

-Dancing through the Snow by Jean Little

- The Christmas Promise by Donna VanLiere

-and The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere such a beautiful story and SUCH a tear jerker....this one I have read for a few years in a row and every time it makes me appreciate my life and all that makes me blessed

- The gift by Richard Paul Evans Incredible, touching and inspirational, WOW...this is my most recent read which has me convinced that he is just a truly gifted writer and makes me want another book of his to read right now!

Oh! and Emy brought home The hundred Dresses by Elanor Estes a short book but so so powerful. We were both in tears as it got to our equally tender hearts.

Now I need a new book to get into....any recommendations today?

Do share!!!

GO WINNIPEG BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Winnipeg Blue Bombers are playing RIGHT NOW in the Grey Cup!

Cam and I were at the eastern semi-final game a couple of weeks ago and had a blast cheering our team on in person. They were down by one point and won with :00 on the clock!!!! whew, I love the close wins... so so exciting! It was extra exciting because it was Cam's first time at a CFL game in real life!!! High school football and Televised games are fine but taking part in the excitement in the air right there air the stadium ........RAWKIN! He loved it:)

The kids around the city all wore blue & gold to school, and Cam ( and plenty of other offices) to work, on Thursday and Friday just to cheer our guys on.

So since no one really cares what I wear to work ( here at home) this is my shout out

GO BOMBERS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

note: I'll be back here and over at CK blogging again soon, it has been awhile. Tiara and I just got home from a trip out to Colorado Springs and were both hit hard with a wild crazy flu, I am finally starting to feel like myself again today

ETA: congrats to all you SK Rough Riders fans on the Grey Cup win!!! :)

working hard for Cs

I can remember back in school realizing how blessed I was with almost effortless smarts in some areas. I could pick up anything to do with music, English and sciences, and with very little effort I could pull off straight As. Then I had good friends who worked SUPER hard in the same subjects for Cs and for them it was a total accomplishment to pass with that hard earned C.

We all have our areas of strength, it makes life well rounded and beautiful.

I have been getting quite a few emails from gals who are frustrated with themselves creatively and I just thought that you might like to know how it is for me with scrapbooking. Because I always picture my friend Ali puts out like 4 or 5 things on her scrap table and with her easy "embrace imperfection" attitude whips off a new masterpiece in under 5 minutes before settling in for a fresh cup of coffee. LOL! So if anyone out there is looking through a scrap magazine and feeling discouraged at the effort it takes them for what feels like "cs" or thinking that they are the only ones who have to work hard for what they make, think again. I Just thought maybe I should tell you something about me; Art has always been my passion- and the way that I could bring together everything I loved creating made scrapbooking a natural perfect fit for me. But that only means I LOVE everything about it. It doesn't for one second mean that it just falls into place like my effortless As back in school. Or like my vision of Ali's 5 minute masterpieces :) Scrapbooking has always been for me something I work really hard for. It takes a whole bunch of thinking and heart and time to make it all "work" on the page the way I see it in my mind. Of course there are times that things flow easier than others and those good flowing times are a delight. But most often I am working hard for Cs. It's not good, not bad, it is just fine... just who I am. And y'know what? I am good with that.

The thing is, I love details and telling stories and I seriously enjoy the puzzle of making it all work together on a page. I make what I make so that my beautiful girls will have the stories of their lives, so that they will know how special they are and so that in every detail they will always know how very much I love them. That means that it is always worth my time :)

Challenges make us better when we allow them to make us try harder. Be patient with yourself, you are just perfectly you wherever you are at and whatever your strengths are. I hope you can remember why you create and Love yourself for doing something wonderful :)

Blessings,
C.D.