Saturday Afternoon on the Water

As great as Summer in the the city can be, I tend to leave the hustle and the bustle on the weekends and head up to my parents' house. We only have so many nice warm months here in Canada and I need to take full advantage of them, so that when January rolls around and my eyelids are frozen open I can remember why I live here.

Summer mornings are spent sipping coffee and eating fresh muffins on the back porch.

Afternoons are spent walking down the hill in the backyard to read a book on the dock.

I don't care how great it is to have nightlife and culture in the city...it just doesn't equate to this.

In two seconds we're off down the river in our own version of the River Queen.

A boat ride on a Saturday wouldn't be complete without BBQ'd hot dogs with mustard and Cheese Whiz, and on gingham napkins to boot. (Is there really any other way?)

For the lazy ride that we take down the river to the lake, I like to just lay on the back swim deck and watch the world go by.

As a kid, we would go out in row boats, canoes and paddle boats, pretending this was our Amazon River, with treasure hidden under the water.

We always see a variety of wildlife such as turtles, fish, Canadian geese, the occasional beaver or muskrat, and these beautiful Blue Herons.

Most of the time they are standing perfectly still, but every once and a while they take flight and silently glide over the water.

This, my friends, is why I don't like staying the city of weekends during the Summer. I'd never get to see this in downtown Toronto.

interview and giveaway with katie daisy of the wheatfield!

Today is a good day. I am so excited to share an interview I recently had with Katie Lombardo of Katie Daisy! Katie is the mastermind behind Katie Daisy and her Etsy shop, the Wheatfield. Dabbling in watercolors, acrylics, and mixed media, Katie creates her own illustrations and typography in the form of posters, fabric patterns, note cards, and other prints.. many of them bearing bright messages to live by, all of them unique.

I grew up near Katie in Northern Illinois. We went to the same high school, which meant whenever the time came for a school art fair, I was lucky enough to catch Katie's talented creations. I didn't know at the time that she'd grow to be such a beautiful and wildly inspired artist, living and breathing art in her idyllic country home in North Carolina.

Hey Katie! Tell us a bit about who you are and what you create.

Hello! My name is Katie Daisy and I am an illustrator and daydreamer currently nestled in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. I am so happy to say that I make my living as an artist and love every second of it! My main goal in life is to make art that helps others realize their dreams and "soul" purposes. When I paint, I consciously put that message into each piece. I hope that this way, I'm sending a higher vibration to anyone who sees my work. Life is too short to put our dreams on hold... the time is now! Do what you love.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find my inspiration in absolutely everything, but particularly nature. I could spend hours walking in open fields and hiking through the woods. I'm also greatly inspired by the ocean and all the little treasures it washes ashore. Apart from the natural world, I swoon over vintage linens, cookbooks and signage. I am in a state of bliss when sifting through antique stores.

How has your Illinois upbringing influenced your work? I know you recently moved to North Carolina.. any new Asheville influences?

I was raised on a farm in Lindenwood, Illinois, and have to give that little town pretty much full credit for all of the work I have created to this day. I believe that Lindenwood possesses some type of a magical atmosphere… there is truly no way to explain it. It's outside of space and time! The whole time I lived in Lindenwood, it felt like an afternoon-lit daydream ripe for creativity and imagination. I will forever hold that country town dear to my heart, and perhaps move back some day!

I just relocated to North Carolina two months ago, and this place possesses a very similar magic quality as my hometown. The landscape here is divine -- mountains, open fields, waterfalls… I found a lovely little home in the woods and now overlook wide open pastures and mountains when I paint!

The city of Asheville is so alive - everyone is so kind! I feel at home everywhere I go around here.

Tell us about the beginnings of the Wheatfield, and what pushed you to pursue an Etsy shop.

I believe it was my third year at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design when I started The Wheatfield. While in school, I had an epiphany (or rather, a "freak-out" moment) about what I would be doing after I graduated. I remember visiting Etsy and seeing other visual artists with over 1,000 sales… Instead of being intimidated, I thought - "Why can't I do that too?" Although I was swamped with school work, I was still committed to running a successful Etsy shop in preparation for "the real world."

Out of all of your lovely creations, do you have a favorite?

That's a tough one… my favorites change with the weather! I really enjoy my "Someday Cottage" painting. This piece was created from a dream house in my imagination. Perhaps someday I'll find it and live in it!

Any new art you've been dreaming up?

Yes! I'm also going to start doing more work with fabric and collage… stay tuned!

Do you have any words of wisdom you'd like to share with Etsy beginners?

Be kind to your customers… Really show your gratitude for their business. Send shipping confirmations, thank you notes… free goodies! I also spend a lot of time on my packaging. Some of my customers have said that receiving their purchase was like opening a gift! Nice packaging really does make a difference.

Also - know your market! As business operators, it is our job to market our products to the right folks. I advertise on numerous blogs that are geared toward my specific market. I also share my work on Facebook & Flickr. Exposure is very important!

Aside from creating for Katie Daisy and the Wheatfield, what do you enjoy doing?

Well, art really does take up most of my waking hours, but I also enjoy many other things! I think I've mentioned that I'm quite a nature fanatic. I love canoeing, hiking, camping, swimming, stargazing… I also enjoy browsing thrift and antique stores, finding new treasures that make my heart skip.

Where would you like to be in 10 years?

Honestly, I hope to be doing what I'm doing now. This has been the most joyful time of my life, and I want to seize this moment for as long as possible! At some point in the next 10 years, I would love to build a sweet little yurt near the sea… and perhaps a smaller yurt for a studio? :)

Thanks, Katie!

Because she's that awesome, Katie is offering everyone a chance at winning any 8x10 print in her shop! To enter the giveaway, simply comment on this post letting us know something that inspires you. The giveaway lasts until Thursday, August 19th, when I will choose a winner at random.

In the meantime, check out Katie's adorable store and website!

Sunday Neighbourhood Stroll

This morning the warm sunny weather was just too much of a temptation, so Whiskey and I headed out for a little walk around the neighbourhood.

I took a little peek in my neighbour's backyard to see how her garden is going. I sometimes see her out there with her little boy digging in the dirt. I would love to have a little garden like this behind my place, with a nice little patio set to sit out and read in the sunshine.

The lilac bushes are in full bloom all over the city. The smell is intoxicating :)

How gorgeous would these look clipped and arranged in a nice glass vase.

Bleeding Hearts

One of the adorable postage stamp size lawns in Little Italy. They really do take impeccable care of their little gardens in this area of the city. It makes for a nice walk home.

One of the last tulips that hasn't finished blooming. These little pops of colour everywhere make me smile every time.

Funky and fun flowers too.

Not all of the lawns are prim and proper, some of them have been left to grow more naturally, which is just as nice in contrast to the concrete jungle downtown.

More lilacs, right next door. My neighbour let me cut a few of them and Whiskey went crazy smelling them :)

And whats in the garden outside of my house? A sad worn out lawn and overgrown peonies.

I'm hoping to plant some more flowers in here in the coming weeks. Its my third summer here and my landlord never does anything, so I think its time to pretty the building's front yard up a bit myself and keep up with the neighbours. Something small, and nice to come home to!

Now I'm working on some odds and ends sewing projects I keep putting off and watching Bull Durham. I needed a little Kevin Costner fix :)

Springtime Walk

This morning I walked out of my house to see this Forsythia shrub in full bloom and I decided to take my camera on my walk to work and see all the beautiful signs of Spring that are popping up in the city.

Green shoots and leaves with promises of something more to come.

I wonder what these will be? Does anybody know?

A beautiful blossoming tree across the street.

One of the adorable postage stamp yards that my neighbours have. Those little old Italian ladies may not have a lot of space, but they sure do know how to use it.

Springtime :)

Magnolias! I love these almost as much as I love Steel Magnolias. I could watch that movie a million times over. "Ouiser, you sound almost chipper. What happened today - you run over a small child or something?"

Our favourite dog park (surprisingly with few dogs in it right now). Usually it is packed all day long. Whiskey is always meeting new friends in here.

I can't wait until all of these trees are in full bloom. The whole park turns into these great bold greens.

These ridiculously bright petunias were hanging from a basket outside the local corner store. The basket was absolutely massive and the flowers were just spilling out of it. Gorgeous.

Fresh Herbs! I'm hoping to plant my little herb garden in my kitchen soon, especially some fresh basil.

Cute little purple flowers. Whiskey couldn't stop sniffing these ones.

Well, now I'm at the office and working away, but I'm looking forward to walking home afterwards and seeing what else is popping up in the neighbourhood. Hope you all have a great day! :)