lullaby

This recording was done close to a year ago, but my friend Sean has just recently edited the track and sent it back in my direction (thank you). The song would have been written a few years ago now. I hope to not forget the chord progressions in the future so that i might someday play it for my wee ones.

baby baby

I've started taking some baby portraits to enhance my portfolio. This may be for one of several reasons. 1. baby's are damn cute. 2. baby's are incredibly candid, even their funny faces at the camera are priceless. 3. Seems like baby's are popping out of everywhere.

In a single post enquiry on facebook I received over a dozen enquiries. As of this weekend I've shot portraits for 3 baby's, one only 8 days old... I've got pregnant mamas asking me and parents with kids as old as 4 or 5 that need their pictures taken. Guess why? Because THEIR baby is THE cutest. I never realized it was such a competitive market but I like it.

And yet another creative side project emerges.

Wee Summer at a few months old

friends of flo

One of my dearest glass-family friends is highlighted in the upcoming Christmas One of a Kind show in Toronto - this good sir is Mr. Benjamin Kikkert.

Benji's interview with OOAK can be found here

and for an expansive view of his fine glass goods take a look at his website

When I say "love," the sound comes out of my mouth... and it hits the other person's ear, travels through this Byzantine conduit in their brain, you know, through their memories of love or lack of love, and they register what I'm saying and say yes, they understand. But how do I know they understand? Because words are inert. They're just symbols. They're dead, you know? And so much of our experience is intangible. So much of what we perceive cannot be expressed. It's unspeakable. And yet, you know, when we communicate with one another, and we-- we feel that we have connected, and we think that we're understood, I think we have a feeling of almost spiritual communion. And that feeling might be transient, but I think it's what we live for.

beautiful quote from one of my favourite movies Waking Life

London Calling

Ohhh my goodness its nearly here! Tomorrow Bri guy and I fly to England for 18days of what I expect will be a Grand Adventure living as a Brit in ol' London town!

There are very few rules for the trip, other than to catch as much live music as we can and to document as much as possible in any form that suits. I've purchased a fresh new sketch book and a splurge pencil case loaded with every magical writing device i could hope for. So with that, my new birthday lens, and a little video action we should be well covered. I also hope do a little writing and send some updates on here as time permits.

If it isn't already nauseously obvious, I am uber happy and deeply in love. The skeptic has quickly traded in her feisty cards for those of a romantic... and this whole adventure to Europe seems like it should be written in a chick lit novel where i would normally gag at the end and go.... sure that would happen?! Needless to say I'm very lucky and I hope not to take a second of it for granted.

Alrighty. And with that, Cheerio! - I'm off to England!

sketchbook entries begin...

sketch of mr. clarinet player at kensington market back in april.

re-rooting from the beginning

I’d like to start actively using this space for its original intentions, artistic expression. I created a blog and a twitter account and the facebook page all with a social media, marketing mentality… This is for Flo.

Flo & I sharing a laugh

However, for those who are less in the know, Flo, despite being the name of mine and Bronwens glassblowing business, is the name of my late grandmother Jewitt. She was a tyrant of a woman, strong and passionate about two things - family and creativity. My fondest and most common of activities with her included doing crafts in our exclusive crafts room, where items of every imaginable purpose piled high on their floor to ceiling shelving unit of fun. As a kid, I sewed and hand fabric painted my wardrobe (i promise to find and post pictures of this, hilarious). I knit my neck warmers and mitts. I always had a colouring pad handy in my handmade travel bag. And Lewis Craft was our weekly store outing.

Needless to say, Flo was a very large contributor for where I’ve found myself today. And for lame reasons (no proper photos/no scanner/too busy) I’ve neglected to use this page for its rightful purpose... to post new and random items of creativity that I generally do on a daily basis.
So, let’s start fresh. Yes, this is a method of marketing to the world wide web of flo glassblowing happenings, news and events… but mainly, this is about creativity and sharing creativity and storing all that creativity in one spot visible for whomever is interested in viewing/reading.

Bronwen insists she will be taking part in some blog entries as well, so she will have to add to the list, but for future postings... expect some of the following:

- Sketchbook articling
- Photography Favourites
- Videography and Demonstration videos
- All things DIY (instead of 'do it yourself', I prefer 'design it yourself')
- Creative writings/ lyrics
- Song clips/recordings
- flo glassblowing studio journaling

purpose vs profit

beauty in the bride

Well I've had my first taste of wedding photographer world, what a whirlwind. I definitely enjoyed myself and am fairly happy with a few of the shots but man did i under rate the challenges of that position. For instance.. how do you focus on taking that one in a million photo while sobbing through the ceremony? I assure you, its very distracting.

In addition to taking pics, Katie wrestled me into doing her makeup. It went something like...'ok! who's doing my makeup? i like your makeup, YOU do it!'. My wedding service CV is rapidly growing, along with center pieces, wedding favours, and a summer spent as a wedding singer, id say i could open up a one stop wedding shop fairly soon. 'Could' being the opportune word. I think im happy sitting in as second photographer and keeping to this glass venture I've got going.

I am touched to have been so intimately involved in this couples wedding. The Katie I knew before Julian was a lot like the Melody I know today, self sufficient and a little non-conformist (wicked features in my opinion). But to witness someone you care about soften into this glowing, contagiously happy person whos crazy in love.. well it just makes me happy and in turn has probably done a good amount to soften me and my views on marriage. Not saying I'll ever get married, but it does mean I'll be ragging on it less.

more photos on flickr

friends of flo

Congrats to fellow designer friend Johnny Sabine who's business chromoly is featured in the latest issue of designlines.

He and business partner Adam Pickard created a line of 'New and Improved' furniture for the group showing of Heavy Metal: Cast Objects at the International Design festival this past January. The line reclaims old and broken wooden furniture repairing the damaged area with bronze.

Another equally wicked and a touch more everyday affordable... johnnys also responsible for the creation of ninja tacks. find more on http://chromoly.ca