We sold a lot of books when we moved, and we kept a select few, and I am determined to read them! I first read John Wyndham in grade 9, The Chrysalids, and I loved it. Since then, thanks to Jory I have been opened up to a lot of sci-fi, but only tv and movies, I haven't read a lot of sci-fi books. I usually stick to historical novels, fiction, and biographies.

So, sitting there on our shelf were four Wyndham books, and I took them on one by one--Trouble with Lichen, Chocky, The Midwich Cuckoos, and the Day of the Triffids. Pretty much in random order. I really love the simple writing style, it makes it feel less like I am reading sci-fi (which maybe I'm not ready to admit?). I love the older versions of the books we have, the cover designs are really nice (though a bit dated), the only drawback was that they're so old they fell apart half way into reading them. So don't ask to borrow them...

The above cover illustrations are by Harry Willock, done after John Wyndham's death in 1969.

Japan has been on my mind a lot lately--wait, may I rephrase that, Japan is always on my mind. We really enjoyed living vicariously through John and Juli's recent honeymoon trip to Japan (since our honeymoon didn't consist of much, we were pretty jealous), and enjoyed even further an awesome wedding gift from them, a package of things from Cholon!

Thank you to the Shop Bug for making me their Shop of the Week! It's my first time being interviewed (I'm almost always the interviewer!) and so I was quite excited to do so... Take a peek here!

Also, this week I am giving away one set of my 8 plant markers (above) to EVERY customer, until Sunday July 5th. Let's say it's to celebrate my interview at Shop Bug and my first consignment shop in Toronto! (More details to come) Just add to your message the word "gardening" and you will get a free set.

The 8 markers are:
• basil
• oregano
• coriander
• mint
• thyme
• rosemary
• sage
• parsley

PS. All my plants but one are dead (the coriander). I screwed up somehow, haha. I won't need these plant markers, so take them away from me!

The random winner of the last Oh Sweet Woods special edition is #23, Lisa!
Congrats Lisa!

If you didn't get a chance to get your hands on the special edition, you can still get the regular one right here.

Hope everyone is having a lovely evening!

Hello! It's been a while! If you follow me on Twitter, you'd know that I've been without a laptop for a while... But I have it back now and so my whining is over! I really missed the internet and my to do list just kept growing and growing. Yesterday, my sis-in-law Amy and I went out to take some photos of my art and books in the city, in the most nature-full spots we could find (just for fun).

Here's a photo of the Oh Sweet Woods mini book in the industrial wilderness that is my parking lot. Still, I think it looks nice! An update on those, of the 5 special edition versions of the book (with all the nice little extras), 3 have been reserved and I am giving one away (read on for more details)! So there is one left, if you would like all the frills! If you want the no frills version (though I think it's still pretty frilly), I've put 5 up in my etsy shop right here.

(on a park bench)

(on a radiator in my building)

(key, padlock, get it?)

Oh and this! I've printed the collages from my Language of Flowers set in an accordian fold book, there are 8 colour illustrations in all. It's wrapped with a doily and watercolour tape, with a stamped title. I loved taking pictures of this sitting near/in/on/with flowers, it just seems natural—it being a flower-themed book!

I'll be updating my sites in the next few days, so apologies if things look strange!

I'm having a sale on Etsy right now to make room for some NEW nature inspired work! Everything under $50 is free shipping (all but one item). Hope you see something that interests you!

SALE ENDS SUNDAY! : )

Parakeets are beautiful birds.

Some have blue feathers.

Others have green or yellow feathers.

Only birds have feathers.

I've started a journal, which I haven't done for a long, long time. I was inspired by the amazing Keri Smith, who has a little diy project called 100 ideas. I forgot what it was called as I was titling my journal, so mine is called "one hundred things." But you get the idea. Also, I prefer to spell out numbers.

It's probably obvious by now that I like to break the rules.

34. Fill an entire page in your journal with small circles. Color them in.

43. Recall your favorite childhood game.

I've been a little obsessed lately with making paper confetti out of old scraps, books and magazines. Where did this idea even come from? I can't remember. I just think I would love to open an envelope and have my kind of confetti fall out. It's so much more interesting than those tacky little shapes that you usually get. Pretty pretty pretty. And I've been using it in collages, too.

1. I love conversation hearts, and those cheap little chocolate easter eggs.
2. I always say I finish things that I start, but that is the biggest lie.
3. If I am forced to do something, I will do anything but that something.
4. I hate winter, and I think "tepid" is the perfect kind of weather.
5. I am always in my own little world.
6. I like cats more than dogs.
7. It takes me forever to get dressed in the morning.
8. I love chai lattes.
9. I could eat thai food for the rest of my life.
10. I spend a lot of money on magazines, and feel completely justified in doing so.
11. I can draw, but I don't like to draw anymore.
12. I hate going to school (I should actually be at school right now).
13. I love having a job, but I hate getting that job.
14. I want to be my own boss.
15. People think I'm shy.
16. I know I'll be successful, somehow.
17. I want to do everything the "old-fashioned" way.
18. I don't like vegetables (most vegetables).
19. I never have a reason to cry, so I like reading sad books and watching sad movies.
20. I have never been seriously injured.
21. Which is why I'm not afraid of being hurt (physically).
22. I'm a little bit pretentious.
23. I live in the "big city," but I miss nature.
24. I'm not a clean freak (I'm pretty easygoing).
25. I like making things with my hands.

Others are impressed with your inner beauty.

- Fortune cookie

If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.

–Ingrid Michaelson, The Way That I Am

(Necklace I bought for $35 at the Clothing Show in Toronto).

Welcome to my new blog! You may know me from other places but this is a blog about the things that I love/my work/my life. I don't think I'm being selfish, I just love blogging... I hope we have some things in common!

xoxo
aprile