The little Things

Olek the bibliophile

2010-09-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

They say pets take on the characteristics of their owners. Olek here is my daughter Natalia's kitten. Natalia loves to read. So true to form Olek is also a lover of books

Crochet, my private meditation

2010-06-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

I am always on the lookout for little things to add a touch of warmth to my home. I think you can have a beautiful house with all the very best furniture but if you leave it at that, there's no heart or soul. I think it may be this feeling that has led to me crochet

. I used to look at crochet table cloths in brochures and marvel at their simplicity and beauty. I never imagined that I would be able to do such work myself.

A friend of the family gave me a lesson and it just opened the floodgates. I picked it up very quickly. I guess I wanted to learn so much that it was something for which I only needed a little urging and I was on my way.Now I dabble in all kinds of patterns. Unexpectedly my new hobby came with unexpected benefits. I realized very quickly that when I crochet I forget all of my troubles and I'm completely immersed in the work. Crochet I learned is my private meditation. When I crochet I don't think of anything heavy, I just am and some time later I feel lighter. I would reccomend to anyone as a creative outlet but also as a form of meditation.

Scary monsters super freaks

2010-06-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

There is lots of talent to be seen in those close to me. My daughter, Natalia, and Son, Igor, and his girlfriend Elizabeth created some spectacular gargoyle heads out of paper mache for their school project.

Take a look at these fearsome faces and try to tell me you're not a little bit scared.

Paper mache over burlap base to create an almost stone like effect. Really wonderful.

A forest scene from Jastrzebie Zdroj

2010-06-13T13:55:00.000-07:00

I worked on a pastel painting based on an old photograph I have of the forest region outside the town of Jastrzebie Zdroj this weekend.

Jastrzebie Zdroj is a place in Poland and this particular scene of forest near a small lake took me away from my other concerns. I love to work in soft pastel. The mix of colors that you can achieve is really interesting and the medium is flexible to work with. There is also the feeling of being a child again and using crayons.The colors going everywhere, my clothes and hands.Working outside in close to the group of trees that line my garden was an altogether beautiful milieu for my escapist endeavor.

The painting shows a trees reflected off the lake. In the background there is an abandoned house. In the foreground you can see old jetty that projects out into the water.

Here our my tools, my crayon set if you will.

Pests invade my trees

2010-06-05T23:09:00.001-07:00

I was devastated to find Nun moth larvae on my trees. In Europe these pests cause damage on a terrible scale. I made a bee line for the stores to buy some pesticide but I feel it will not be strong enough to be effective. I don't want to lose my trees. It makes me sad to seem them being reduced to nothing.

Our visit to the Museum of Civilization

2010-05-28T00:30:00.000-07:00

Last week we visited the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa in Gatineau. It is the most visited museum in Canada and with good reason.

From the initial organic design of the building by renown architect Douglas Cardinal it was a place to behold.

Inside the museum dedicated to human history captured amazing scenes from Canada's early history, including an entire hall dedicated to indigenous art that showed some beautiful recreations of totems from Pacific North West tribes

Here are our images of that time.

These next images were of a room that replicated sunrise to sunset right down to all the varieties of colors of lights in the sky in old early settlement cabin. A day that you could see take shape in front of you in a matter of minutes, so ingenious.

The Canadian Tulip Festival

2010-05-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we made the 2 hour drive to Ottawa to our nation's capitol to see the Canadian Tulip festival, the world's largest Tulip festival.

Unfortunately the festival which lasts almost 3 weeks was in its waning stages so it was not all that we imagined it would be. However, the day was beautiful and we also took the opportunity to visit the Museum of Civilization, an amazing display I must say.

Although we missed the height of the festival we did some lovely displays of flowers. The story behind the festival is something remarkable too. It commemorates a remarkable act of friendship with the Dutch royal family. During the last years of World War II Canada had given shelter to Princess Julianna and her daughters. The princess pregnant at the time gave birth to her daughter, the princess Margaret during her time in Canada. This presented a dilemma since royal family members must be born in their homeland to preserve their royal status. Canada declared the hospital a temporary part of international territory thus allowing the newborn princess to skirt the rule. In appreciation for this act of generosity the Dutch government sent a gift of 100, 000 tulip bulbs. The Canadian Tulip Festival was born out of that pact, debuting in 1953 and continuing in full strength to this day.

Ideas for Earrings

2010-05-14T23:45:00.000-07:00

Natalia and I were browsing in Eldorado, a clothing and craft store close to Atwater Metro station in downtown Montreal. She found a set of earrings that seemed the perfect gift for a friend on her upcoming birthday. Here's the image. I think want to try and incorporate the design idea in my own jewelry collection.

I believe Eldorado exports most of its products, mostly from Peru and some other South American countries. If you're ever in Montreal give them a visit. By the way I should say I was not paid to say this. I really do like their stuff. :)

First bloom on Natalia's cactus

2010-05-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

Natalia noticed it there amongst all the needles, a flower. A closer look revealed this little desert rose. Lovely!

Little things in the garden

2010-05-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today I bought some plants for my garden and spent most of the afternoon planting them.

A few little things were out accompanying me. The Emerald beetle above, so beautiful.

Much maligned Mr Fly enjoying the flowers.Why not. It's a free country.

Then finally Mr Bumblebee busy doing his good work.

Working all afternoon and what do you think was my reward. An aching back eased by a tylenol and, of course, a job well done. I think my little friends might agree.

Photographs by Ewa Warchal

2010-05-10T17:04:00.000-07:00

The line between lust and love is sometimes a difficult path to negotiate in a young man's life.

These are among a collection of wonderful photographs that my friend Ewa Warchal has been so kind as to share me me. I share them with you but I kindly ask you not to copy them as that was her request to me.

Angels for a Baptism

2010-05-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

A friend was recently invited to the baptism of a little boy named Matthew. She asked me to create little angels to offer as gift and so...

Pamiatka means memory, Chrzlu is the Polish word for baptism and Swietlego is saint.

A return to action

2010-05-05T15:12:00.000-07:00

So long away from the vigil. The weather is finally settling into seasonal form. For a while it seemed that there was confusion in the air, the seasons unsure if they should proceed or regress. I'll let the photographs do the talking.

As the date shows above the 19th of April was sunny. I was out sunbathing luxuriating in the break of the cold weather.

The flowers in my garden so shy for so long bloomed in the fine weather.

Flowers of different shades emerged, white, yellow and violet but then it all changed like... well like the weather in spring I suppose.

A little over a week later and we were hit by a snow storm. My flowers, my lovely flowers I thought.

We were blanketed in snow again. How long would it last?

Fortunately it was just overnight. Now the warmer weather has returned, in earnest I would say. My flowers are back and so am I to my blogging duties after a lengthy delay

Mazurek Cake: Alleluia

2010-04-08T22:55:00.000-07:00

Tonight my mother invited us for desert to her home. She prepared Mazurek cake, a delicious traditional Polish recipe that can use many different kinds of filling in the cake but is always decorated with chocolate icing and the word Alleluia.

Taste the cake and it is Alleluia indeed.

Little bags

2010-04-07T23:10:00.000-07:00

Here are two little creations of which I am especially proud. They're little bead bags. At a future date I will make them available in my Etsy store. I like to have little trinkets in my possession at all times, almost like good luck charms.

I also take joy in this kind of intricate work so the pleasure is two fold.

A lovely adornment for your feet

2010-04-06T22:05:00.000-07:00

Summer is not far off. Already I can feel the bustle and energy of people out walking on the streets. I have designed a lovely foot bracelet for the change of season.

And now that summer is approaching it's time to wear open sandals.I believe these designs will add color and charm to your outdoor look. Whether you are walking on the beach or promenading in the city these colorful additions will give that stylish finishing touch.

A Foot bracelet crocheted from cotton yarn. Each edge of the triangle that adorns the foot is 12 cm long and the thread that ties around the ankle is 120 cm. I'm really proud of them.

Coloring my Easter Eggs

2010-04-02T23:53:00.000-07:00

I prepared the traditional Easter eggs for holiday as always. It's engaging work that involves preparing a dye to color the eggs. I use onion peels to which I add hot water. Into the colored solution I add the eggs and leave them immersed for about 10 minutes. Then Voilla they are ready. It's tradition to make designs on them. They will come in use on Sunday when we all make our way to church for the Easter blessing.

Elephant Bookmarker

2010-03-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

Here is an Elephant book marker that I'm working on. Elephants are known for their memories and this book marker will remember your place in your book if you let him..

Chicken casserole with homemade fries.

2010-03-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

Tonight we had a friend visit us for dinner. I know his tastes run toward simple wholesome food so I prepared Chicken casserole with cheese. Home made French fries, pickles and a few leafs of Parsley provided the finishing touch.

Blogs I love: Violetwo

2010-03-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a blog I thought I would share with all of you from Poland. Violetwo is run by a lovely woman in Poland who describes herself as a mother, a teacher and a craft lady and someone who could not be happier to play all of those roles. She writes in Polish but her work is a visual medium that crosses linguistic barriers. There are a communities of women the world over who share so much in common, but for the language. Craft is a uniting activity.

She has so much well made craft, all of it original. She has an eye for detail and a precision that I really admire.

Take a look for example at these paper mache dolls, hand painted in such intricate dolls. Simply lovely!

Kotek and the great outdoors

2010-03-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

( Click on image to enlarge)

Bead Necklaces

2010-03-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

Bead Necklaces that I'm working on.

Szarlotka: Apple Cake

2010-03-21T16:26:00.001-07:00

Today was a good day to prepare apple cake or Szarlotka as it is known in Poland. Outside we had snow falling, a spring storm. We were all in need of a little comfort food.

Signs of Spring

2010-03-18T21:09:00.000-07:00

I stepped outside today to an overcast day but there was a glimmer of unexpected light. For the first time this year I saw three flowers begin to emerge to bloom in my garden. Spring is in the air.

Black cats and unseasonal weather

2010-03-17T22:06:00.000-07:00

There was an unseasonal snowfall in Poland recently and this picture appeared in the news cycle. A black cat crossing your path is considered unlucky in Poland as it is in the United States. I learned that it's considered lucky in the U.K and parts of Asia. To each his own I suppose, but has anyone ever stopped to consider the cat's position in all of this.

Take a moment to think how it feels for this fellow caught out in the snow. I bet he thinks he's unlucky.

Kotek: Being the boss is easy

2010-03-16T18:52:00.001-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

The Magic Tree by Igor

2010-03-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

My son Igor created this. I think it's lovely. I must admit though that I have a bit of a phobia about butterflies. It goes back to an experience many years ago when I was observing a beautiful butterfly at close range and it stuck out a long tongue. I was so shocked that I just ran away. Ever since I have been a little wary. Like an impressionist painting their beauty is best appreciated from afar. That is my admittedly idiosyncratic perspective anyway.

Kotek takes his beverages the old fashioned way.

2010-03-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

Kotek our beloved cat is a fussy thing. He has to quench his thirst the high maintenance way, from the steel kettle I use to water the plants. It's a pawful at a time but he much prefers to his bowl - too domesticated for him I gather.

Friendship Bracelets now available on my Etsy store

2010-03-12T19:48:00.001-08:00

Natalia created these friendship bracelets with painstaking effort. They're as good as any I see in stores. She has an eye for detail and a real patience with handiwork. The apple does not fall far from the tree :).

“Cyganskie drogi”- Gypsy Road cake

2010-03-11T20:16:00.001-08:00

I prepared some Gypsy Road cake for desert last night. In Polish it's known as Cyganskie drogi which translates to the same cryptic title as it is in English.I don't know where the name came from but it is delicious. A little bit decadent too but it is nice to indulge every now and then. :)

Earrings now in my Etsy Store

2010-03-10T16:07:00.000-08:00

Here are a new collection of earrings that I've created. They're available now in my Etsy shop.

Here I used yellow cotton yarn crocheted around metal ring frame. There are two frames, one within the other. In the center I have placed a red coral bead. They're 4 cm in diameter, or less than two half inches.

Here I used cotton yarn, again crocheted around a metal ring frame. The design has been varied here but the dimensions are the same.

For this set and the fourth set below I used a similar design to the one above but I varied the color. Again the dimensions are the same for all 4 sets of earrings.

Flowers for Women's day

2010-03-09T14:59:00.001-08:00

Another International women's day came and went this year. Every year on March 8th there is this special celebration for women. In Poland when I was a young girl it was a yearly event. It's a tradition that dates back to 1909. I recall the parade of drunken men walking down the street their flowers held aloft " celebrating" women's day. It was in those days for the men of the community another excuse to get drunk. These days it's loaded with extra meaning. I overheard on the radio here in Quebec that for the first time in North America women comprised more than 50 percent of the workforce. I don't know how accurate that figure is but it certainly speaks to the changes that have taken place since I was a young girl.

Pokraka the Hermit Crab

2010-03-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

Pokraka is the name of son's Hermit Crab. Pokraka translated in the English to "clumsy".

Pokraka is not really that clumsy by the standad of Hermit Crabs. But he is rather ugly. His eyes sit on the end of stalks and he has feelers like an large insect . I keep my distance for now.

A snowman to signify the last winter snowfall

2010-02-23T15:03:00.001-08:00

In the last days of winter we had a snowfall here in Pincourt. It was a last opportunity to build a snowman. I recall when Natalia was in Poland. She had been so ill but we had nevertheless succeeded in building a snowman. It was knocked down soon after. Our snowman in Quebec was left unharmed save for the rising temperatures and so eventually we had to bid him adieu.

Peace Lilly in black and white

2009-12-12T15:39:00.000-08:00

My Peace Lilly came out in different shades. The flowers opened and one can see the light and dark playing off the reflections of the petals.

A Leaf of my Peace Lilly unfurls

2009-12-06T18:21:00.000-08:00

I caught this shot almost as the leaf seemed to be unfurling before my eyes. If I had a time lapse camera I could watch the movement in a literal sense. Perhaps it's best that I don't. Plants move at such a stately pace. It's a little like watching your children grow.

Kotek sleeps

2009-12-05T00:05:00.000-08:00

Kotek our languorous cat is taking a well deserved moment of respite from his hectic schedule. Sometimes a cat needs to get away from it all.

2009-11-30T23:57:00.000-08:00

It looks as if my Epiphyllum is somewhere in the Amazon. The reality is far more prosaic. Outside the temperatures still sit in the sub zero range as a deep snow banks line the streets. My Epiphyllum is safely esconced in my living room showing the residue of water from a spray bottle.We are still in our winter hibernation mode and await the coming of the sun.

Babka prepared by my daughter

2009-11-29T16:51:00.000-08:00

I taught my daughter, Natalia how to prepare a babka just like my mother had taught me when I was a young girl.

Now I would definitely say that the
student has become the master.She does a much better job than I do.

My Shy Muses

2009-11-25T23:16:00.000-08:00

I was in an obsessive mood when I worked on this painting. I started work on a Friday afternoon and I did not stop till it was almost complete. I drew out the design on each of the individual pieces. I had the big picture in mind. Then I started to paint like a fiend. Twelve hours later I hung up each part. They adorn my bedroom wall. Every day I see my shy muses now.

Cherry red doc Martens forever

2009-11-22T00:57:00.000-08:00

In the not so distant past the Doc Marten boot had been type cast as the preferred footwear for the alternative set, new order musicians skin heads and such but long before this radical link docs were a big hit among house wives. This was in the early days when Dr's Klaus Marten and Herbert Funk were just starting out.

Lately the Doc Marten boot has come full circle. The original design made for durability and comfort is again a hit across all demographics. There is something quite wonderful in the trade mark yellow stitching, the acid resistant air soles (decades before the clever people at Nike made it en vogue) and the quality of the upper. I wear mine, in the original cherry leather pictured above, in the same 16 hole midlength style. The original was 8 hole but these days docs come in every variety. To each his own but I like the contrast between the sole and upper so the uniform baby blue, including the sole looks more like a painting accident than a style choice.

Salad Preparation

2009-11-20T22:54:00.000-08:00

The ingredients for tonight's salad are just being released still a little cool. I love the colors that peas and tomatoes create. It's as much a palette as a meal.

My Life

2009-11-20T22:51:00.000-08:00

Those who know me know that I tend to be extroverted. Well, except when it comes to speaking in front of an audience, something I simply detest. So OK I'm extroverted except for public speaking when I am strictly introverted. But in the spirit of my outgoing nature I will sometimes just start talking about my life. It is a subject of which I can call myself an expert. This is just a warning,

Bear remembers dreams of the ocean

2009-11-13T23:33:00.000-08:00

Bear thought he might chastise Hare again but thought better of it. He is young and youth can be that way at times.

" Without further ado the story my dear young hare and of course everyone of you assembled here." said Bear.

I have spoken of the great abundance we all enjoy here in this new land, an abundance we never imagined possible in our old worlds, but I have also mentioned in passing how everything seemed warmer and more intimate in the old places.Why I recall when I was just a cub no bigger than you Penguin or you hare, a little handful of fur and the day when out of the blue I decided that I wanted to go to see the ocean. The trouble was the ocean was miles and miles away and I was so very small. This was an idea that would still not leave me. I had two little friends, little bears smaller than me. I was the leader and I convinced them that we must find the ocean.

They looked at me unquestioningly and agreed " We are with you Bear the senior of us little ones, we must find the ocean.

Early that very morning we set out to find the ocean. We never told our parents because we knew that they would forbid us from leaving,

"weren't you afraid bear" asked elephant who was still a baby himself and was afraid of the world beyond.

" No, my little friend, not at all. Fear is not in my DNA. I am never afraid.

" Yes, I like that about you bear" said lion who everyone knew was never afraid, because as everyone knows Lions are inordinately brave creatures.

( To be continued...)

Guardian Angels

2009-11-07T23:59:00.000-08:00

Decorative angels are often found in the rooms of children in Poland. When children are afraid it is not unusual for their parents to remind them that their guardian angels are watching over them. It provides a reassurance, a symbol of security.

A survey conducted in a recent issue of Time magazine showed that almost 70 percent of people in the United States believed in angels, and half of the population believed that a guardian angel kept watch over them. This may explain the enduring popularity of the holiday classic film It's a wonderful life.

Guardian angels are everywhere. Whatever your beliefs may be, and the guardian angel is certainly a cross cultural phenomenon, there is much good that comes from such tradition.

History and tradition is an extension of our memory, the individual blending with the collective. I often find myself living through traditions old and more recent familial ones. Taking a moment to reflect always is illuminating.

Penguin asks a question

2009-11-04T22:55:00.000-08:00

"Of course you must recall fellow little things, that things were different then and we, that is to say myself and my fellow bears had less of what we all take for granted here." said Bear.

"Less of what? " asked Penguin who always needed things explained. This was not because he was slow but rather that life on the South Pole where he came from was much simpler than other parts of the world. Things that the others took for granted were strange and new to Penguin. Bear understood this and he made the necessary adjustments.

" Well, Penguin when I speak of less I mean to say less of the things that bears like to eat, like fish and berries and honey. Of course, that's not all. There was less space in the old country. We bears would live close to together and at times one felt closed in. All things are relative I suppose. Here there is more space than we could have imagined in those days but now I miss the proximity of my fellow bears.

Hare was impatient now.

" Bear, bear please go on with the story." he said.

Bear chuckled

" Now, now, young Hare we must allow time for any questions. We are all different here. Each of us has a different story. We must be patient with each other if we are to be understood." he said.

" Yes, yes, I understand we must be understood, but could we go on with story anyway" said Hare.

Everyone started to laugh at this and bear smiled at hare.

( To be continued)

Handcrafted Angels

2009-10-31T22:52:00.000-07:00

A particular source of joy is creating my angel collection. Each one is special for me and when I work on them I am lost to the world, in a good way.

I have friends who meditate and rave about the benefits. For me when I work on craft and art I feel the benefits that my friends describe when they talk of meditation.

I suppose it stands to reason. Any kind of creative endeavor requires focus on fine details and as you are absorbed in those details you lose for a time all of your worries and are in the moment.

Amigurumi

2009-10-27T22:58:00.000-07:00

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of creating crocheted stuffed dolls. The first time I saw it I fell in love with what I saw.

These lovely figures that had an almost organic quality to them. I quickly set out to try it myself. I now am able to create all kinds of creatures. It's very involved work. I find it soothing, almost meditative.

Here is Max preparing for a swim.

Style and shoes

2009-10-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, I love shoes. They are my style signature. The other elements matter but elegant shoes catch my glance no matter where I am. Will explain over time.

Design ideas

2009-10-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

I like most people am a tumble of contradictions. I suppose I am modern in my outlook but my taste in home decor tends to run toward the traditional. I love the look of wood. Perhaps this has much to do with my upbringing in Poland. In other things I am more modernist.

I will explore these contradictions over time. The act of exploration and writing is often as much a revelation for the writer as it is for the reader.

Culture and cuisine

2009-10-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

Cuisine is an integral part of any culture. Recipes are passed down in the way that stories are, from one generation to the next. They reflect the geography of the regional landscape. In a modern day supermarket culture people tend to forget the limitations of the past, the old reliance on available ingredients. Much of traditional Polish cuisine is defined by older traditions. Exploring these traditions is as interesting as the act of preparing a meal, I find.

The Gathering

2009-10-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

They had all arrived here recently or not so long ago, as the story went. All of them here in this particular corner of the world, filled with dreams of the home they had left behind and the fears of what lay ahead. yes, they were all strangers here drawn here by the promise of a better future.

Bear was the most vocal of the little things. He would daily take a lead place in amongst the best story tellers as they sat around the fire place.

" Oh yes, things are definitely better here but I recall the good times with my fellow bears in my old home "
said bear.

"Tell us a story of the old times bear" said hare sitting in the back row. Hare loved to listen to bears stories. Hare loved to listen to the stories of the others but bear was his favorite.

Bear paused for a moment, prolonging the moment like any good story teller. " A story my young hare, hmm, if a story is what you wish, a story is what you will have."

He looked around the circle making eye contact with each of the other little things, and they nodded or murmured their approval.

( To be continued) Kasia's Creations