Postcard: 28th January 2011

sending it to Ed Britton in Poland

Postcard: 27th January 2011

sending it to Blandine Chantebel in Paris, France

Today 'Sonia of Cozy Homemaking' Saw

Today I'm delighted to welcome my good friend Sonia Cantie of Cozy Homemaking to Today I Saw. Welcome, Sonia! There's many reasons why I think Sonia is special and here's five for you;

1. Sonia is a wonderful drawer (check out her zine)
2. She is completely inspired by nature and uses nature to dye fabrics and thread the most amazing colours (check out her dyeing blog)
3. She sews the prettiest items (two of my favourites are her acorn necklaces and that cushion!)
4. She's got the got the biggest heart and opens it up to all her readers
5. She shares her life through her wonderful photos on flickr.

Could you tell us a little bit about your postcard and what you have chosen to draw ?

My eldest son was ill & staying home with me, when I decided to prepare a little creative session with him. I took our painting & drawing supplies out, and poured me a coffee. We painted side by side. He chose to paint one of our tea cups. The cup of coffee I've drawn is the one I drank from. It was my subject & my fuel at the same time ;-)

and have you decided who you'll send it to ?

I think I'm going to send it to a dear friend who had a tough month of January. She's a fellow coffee lover so I think she will be happy to get it :)

Sonia, please could you tell us the first thing you see each morning ?

It's my alarm clock, which tells me it's time to get up. But I usually ignore a little bit more.

Sonia, readers of Cozy Homemaking enjoy your hand dyeing projects, your photography and your beautiful hand sewn creations. Could you tell us what you see that inspires you to make the things you make ?

concerning my dyeings, it is of course local nature itself that inspires me.

I love taking photos, both out in the nature, or in my town too. And I also try to find inside our apartment opportunities to take photos. In fact, everyday life is my inspiration for photography. Even the most simple thing can be a very interesting subject.

As for my handmade creations, I find inspiration from different parts. Nature can inspire me once again, but sometimes, it's the material itself. The color or pattern of a fabric, the interesting color or texture combination between two other fabrics. I try to find a new use for materials that were at the end of their current lives. (children clothes for instance)

Today I Saw is a snail mail project. Is snail mail a big part of your life and if so, how ?

Yes, absolutely. I have always loved sending snail mails, parcels, cards & letters. Having friends around the world is just the perfect opportunity to make happy snail mail happen on a very regular basis. Sometimes just because, sometimes because of a birthday, and sometimes to bring a friend a bit of comfort.

Please think of a journey you take. It can be long or short. Describe some of the things you see on that journey.

I've been to the doctor's twice recently, and it's rather close to our apartment. On the way, I walk down a stone paved street, where I usually meet a grey cat who cheers me. Then I cross two streets & tramway railroads. I walk down a very short street & other tramway railroads. I'm very close to a tramway station where I can spot two types of tramways : one is dark blue with swallow white silhouettes, and the other is covered with orange, yellow, pink, green & red very 1970's pattern. And I'm arrived at the doctor's building then.

Could you describe some of the things you see each day that you feel are important to you and your life?

My husband & our two sons, very obviously. Then the apartment where we live. I'm thankful to have a warm & welcoming place to live in. It's easy to forget that many people don't even have a roof upon their heads. I also see sun most of the year, and feeling grateful for that too. I see a good bunch of old trees facing my building, which is rare & precious in the heart of our town. I see birds going in those trees, and the cycle of seasons only looking at these trees.

And finally, please tell us one thing you saw recently which stayed in your memory.

I saw my best friend with one of her cats in her arms. He really looked like hugging her for real. That was so adorable, it made me smile from ear to ear :)

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Thank you so much for taking part Sonia. I particuarly liked hearing about you wtching the birds in the trees and seeing the seasons chamge. I loved reading your answers and your drawing is perfect! I'm sure Today I Saw readers will enjoy it too.

Birthday Gifts

When it's a friend or relative's birthday I like to put together sets of little themed gifts (and sometimes manage). Here's two I made in the last week. The first for a friend ~ tea cosy and camomile tea, with a handmade card.

The second, for my neice who's turning four. It's becoming a little tradition that I buy her a book and a prop to go with the book. Last year I bought The Gingerbread Man and one of Kate Sutton's sewn gingerbread men. This year I found a wooden tiger in a charity shop. I thought I'd share some of the inside pages, as it's such a wonderful book. It makes me want to write and illustrate children's books.

Little Love

Daniel and I are off up North today. We're going to a wedding tomorrow and Daniel is the best man! I have a little post set up for Friday but I will be back with some Today I Saw postcards in a few days. For now, a little sneak peek of something I've been working on which I'm most excited about! It's for that lovely loving time of year (in february) and I really hope to have some available in the shop! Enjoy the end of your week and the start of your weekend. x x

25th January 2011

sending it to Corinne de Vries in Bradford on Avon, England

24th January 2011

sending it to Jordon Roth in BC, Canada

Today 'Melissa of Tiny Happy' Saw

Today I'm so happy and excited to welcome Melissa of Tiny Happy to share her Today I Saw postcard and to tell us about the things she see's in her daily life, in New Zealand. I'm delighted that Melissa is here today as she has inspired me so much, since I started reading her blog. If you aren't familiar with Melissa's shop then you should take a look, it's regularly updated with individual handmade items ~ one of Melissa's draw string pouches is my new favourite sewing bag! Melissa, your such an inspiration, thank you for taking part!


Melissa, could you please tell us about your postcard and what you have chosen to draw?

I went shopping at an antique store the other day, and brought home these little vintage teacups. They were in a neglected condition, so I washed them and left them on the windowsill to dry.

And, have you decided who you will be sending it to?

I thought I would send it to a friend who lives in the North Island.

What is the first thing you see each morning?

Usually it's two small faces at the end of the bed- the children telling me it's time to get up.

Melissa, readers of 'Tiny Happy' love your delightful crafts and paintings. What do you see that inspires you to make these creations?

Thank you, Jill. I get my inspiration from seeing all sorts of things, like what gets washed up on the beach after a storm or artwork made by my children and their friends, browsing through books at my local library or just watching people from a cafe when I'm in a big city.

The thing I find most inspiring about tiny happy and what you create, is the sense that you seem to enjoy everything you make and do . Do you feel this is true and do you have any advice or comments for Today I Saw readers on how to achieve this?

Yes- I definitely enjoy what I do- most of the time. There are moments when it gets overwhelming- and if I have deadlines or a lot of work on at one time I can get a bit stressed with it all. It helps to get out and see friends, or go for a walk or read novels. I like to keep my blog as a kind of scrapbook of the things I really enjoy in my life- so it's more likely I'll write about making a chocolate cake than cooking dinner, night after night.

Please think of a journey that you take often. It can be long or short. What do you see on that journey?

I love going for walks in the evening, just before the sun sets. We live in a suburban but rather rambling neighborhood with lots of old and interesting houses and people around. There's also a conservation reserve running alongside our street, that has lots of native trees and shrubs, but also crazy tangly weeds and wildflowers. The other day when I was walking there were hundreds of wild plums rotting all over the ground. I love walking along there and checking on all the plants.

I often carry a notebook and pen with me, to take note of any interesting sights I see. Do you have any particular materials that you always take with you?

I like taking a notebook and pen with me, too. And often some knitting just in case I get a few spare moments!

Could you describe some things you see every day that you feel are important to you and your life?

So many things! Of course, my children and partner. We're lucky enough to live near lots of our extended family, so I also get to see my grandmother, sisters, brothers, neices and newphews too. My vegetable garden is something I love checking on each day. And then there are all the other, small things I love to see each day and they would include washing hanging on the line, a fresh pot of coffee waiting on the table, snail mail from friends in the letterbox, a stack of books on my bedside table, coloured embroidery threads waiting in my sewing box.

xx

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Thank you Melissa. Your answers have been really enjoyable to read. I loved hearing more about the things you see in your life!

Tea Cosy

I never really thought about the words tea cosy before. They're pretty funny considering how much I like tea and how much I like being cosy. I checked, and this is how I'm meant to spell cosy/cozy in England. I made this tea cosy for my friends birthday yesterday, and I thought I'd share it with you, now that Today I Saw is also crafty! It's padded to keep her tea warm for longer. What more could you need in life : )




Enjoy your weekend everyone. Please do tell me if you see anything interesting. Just leave a comment that starts with TODAY I SAW....

Today I Saw Postcard: 21st January 2011

This week I'm taking part in the Poppytalk winter colour week. Today is the last day and today's colours are silvers and golds. I admit the foxes may not be gold but they where golden : )

sending it to Rob Vanderstraeten in Belgium

Today I Saw Postcard: 20th January 2011

This week I'm taking part in the Poppytalk winter colour week. Today's colour is green. I also wanted to say thank you so very much to people who have purchased the prints which Arounna and I made. As Arounna is dealing with all the sales, I am unsure of who exactly has bought them. I just know that some have sold. So, thank you to those people (if you're reading)!

sending it to Giovana Ruaro in London, England

Today I Saw Postcard: 19th January 2011

This week I'm taking part in the Poppytalk winter colour week. Today's colour is blue.

sending it to Annis Thorn Leeson in The Netherlands

Today I Saw Postcard: 18th January 2011

This week I'm taking part in the Poppytalk winter colour week. Today colour is white. You can see a selection of yesterday's reds here and today's whites here. Or you can join in the fun (anyday, you don't have to do it all week) here in the flickr pool. It's worth looking through the large collection of photos on flickr, there's some really inspiring photos and I've discovered a few new bloggers through it.

Sending it to Mrs Crossley-Foster in Lancashire, England.

I also wanted to say 'Welcome' to people who have just started following this blog. A few people have just found out about Today I Saw (since Geninne sent you over to take a look) and I just wanted to say 'Welcome and thank you for your kind comments. I hope you enjoy it here!'

Today I Saw: 17th January 2011

Don't worry, I haven't gone crazy and decided to start doing Today I Saw in colour! : ) I thought it would be nice to take part in the poppy talk winter colour week. Each day this week, I'll look for something which is that day's special colour. Today is red. I'll scan it in (as it's dark when I get home) so as to keep up with the correct colours on each day. I wanted to join in the fun as a few of my friends are taking part here, here and here.

Sending it to Akane Saito in Toyama, Japan

A big thank you for all your kind and supportive comments yesterday and today. I'm delighted that you like the blog make-over and also that you enjoyed Geninne's interview. Doesn't Mexico sound so beautiful? Great news is that I already have another wonderful interview with one of my favourite bloggers for next Monday. I'm feeling happy and excited that fun things are happening and changing here, but I know that soon I will have to buckle down and get on with those essays! A girl can have some fun, can't she?

Today Geninne of 'Gennine's Art Blog' Saw....

Introducing the new project I told you about yesterday. Drum role please..... I'll be asking other bloggers to create their own Today I Saw and they'll kindly answer questions about the things they see in their life that inspire them! Sounds good, right?

First up, the wonderful Geninne of 'Geninne's Art Blog'! I (and many others) am so inspired by Geninne's colourful paintings of birds and the natural world. It's obvious in Geninne's colourful art work that she has a positive attitude to life and sees so much beauty around her. I often go to her flickr to be transported to her creative and beautiful home in Mexico. The work (and wonderfully positive attitude) of Geninne is so inspiring that I'm honoured to have her here on Today I Saw. Thank you so very much Geninne for taking part.


Geninne, could you please tell us about your postcard and what you have chosen to draw?
I needed a few pretty sheets of papers for a very cool new project I'm working on and it's always a treat to walk by the isles with rows and rows of different papers from which to choose from at our local art supply shot and I guess it was the first image that came to my mind when I was thinking about what to draw on my postcard.

And, have you decided who you will be sending it to?
I'll do a giveaway at my blog and send it to one of my lovely readers.

What is the first thing you see each morning?
My wonderful husband Manolo.

What do you see when you are sat at your computer, working on your blog?
I have a very high window in front of my desk where I can see up the hill, the sky and my neighbor's beautiful cactus garden. At eye level I can see my two handsome boys working away at their desks.

Geninne, readers of your blog love your colourful paintings of birds and wildlife. What do you see that inspires you to use such wonderful, vibrant colours?
The colors of Mexico have always been a huge source of inspiration. This country is vibrant, warm and happy.

Please think of a journey that you take often. It can be long or short. What do you see on that journey?
I see lots of different cactus and succulents, patches of purple lavender, white herons, great-tailed grackles and if I'm very lucky I see a couple of vermillion flycatchers.

I often carry a notebook and pen with me, to take note of any interesting sights I see. Do you have any particular materials that you always take with you?
My camera! and if I'm not carrying my camera I'm always shooting photos in head.

Could you describe some things you see every day that you feel are important to you and your life?
My boy's smiling faces, my husband's loving look and my very happy border collie called Turbo wagging his tail furiously.

And finally, please tell us one thing that you saw recently which stayed in your memory.
A hawk and two ravens fighting for territory outside our house. It was like watching a World War II documentary about fighter jets! The hawk being the Red Baron of course.

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Thank you Geninne. It was a delight to read your answers and to hear about the things you see in your life and your picture is wonderful ~ you'll have a very lucky reader!

She's got a new look!

Hello friends

As you can see I have given Today I Saw a new look. I've styled her up a bit as there's going to be some changes here, that I'm pretty excited about. You can click on the pictures in the side bar which link to my shop and flickr amongst other things. Have a look around and let me know what you think. I'll be adding a few more things throughout the week.

Thank you to those of you who took the time to let me know your thoughts on whether it's best to have one blog or more than one. Your comments where really helpful and I gave the topic some thought. I decided that at the moment I think it's a good to idea to have one blog, Today I Saw.

I'll be sharing all my creative projects on Today I Saw, as well as the usual postcard project. As many of you know I enjoy sewing and making, and I do a lot of drawing and painting in my sketchbooks, so I hope to share that here. All my craetive activities in one space! I know that my studies are going to get extremely busy over the next few months (6 essays, three pieces of course work before the end of March, eeek) and there's likely to be spells when I don't have time for the postcard project, so I'm hoping I'll be able to share my sketchbook drawings and anything else I make during those non postcard sending times.

And lastly, to celebrate the start of this new (sort of) space, I have a brand new project that I will tell you aaaallll about tomorrow. Trust me, your going to enjoy it! See you tomorrow and thanks for listening to this somewhat long post : )

Hope you all had a good weekend and your week starts on a good note!

14th January 2011

Sending it to Shruti and Neha in Harrow, England

13th January 2011

sending it to Fanny Zanotti in London

'The Four Seasons'

I'm so happy and excited to show you that the prints are now ready! Arounna (of Bookhou fame) and I designed limited edition prints which are now in her shop! I designed the drawings along the theme of The Four Seasons and Arounna has letterpressed and hand watercolour painted each print.

Here is the set: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter

A crunchy autumn leaf being admired.

Spring's dandelion being blown in the breeze. I love the pale lemon wash Arounna has added.

Summer is my favourite season and this is my favourite of the prints

Arounna has printed our details on the back and the sets are in edition of 25. Each set is numbered, as you can see. I think Arounna has done such a wonderful job in making the prints look so special, thank you so very much Arounna!

The prints are available here.

11th January 2011

sending it to Kavita Shah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

10th January 2011

sending it to Emma Giles in Houston, America.

A collaboration!

Good Monday Morning friends!

I have a piece of news which I have been waiting to tell you about, and today I can! Do you know the beautiful work of Arounna? Arounna and her husband run the exquisite shop Bookhou and the Arounna has a charming blog called Bookhou at Home which I always enjoy reading. They are based in Toronto, Canada, which is where they have their bricks and mortar shop. And they also have an etsy shop.

Well, my exciting news is that last November Arounna asked me if I would like to collaborate, making some prints together! I was honoured, as I now how well respected she is, creatively, as a business woman and as a friend (to Sonia and Margie). Today Arounna is going to be watercolouring the prints (you can read about it on her blog) and then I will be able to show you what we have created together! I'm so happy and excited to be taking part in this collaboration and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you.

Photographs are of a few of Arounna's other projects (taken from the bookhou website and etsy shop). She a talented lady!

Craft and ideas

Hello friends, I'm supposed to use this space just for my Today I Saw project but I wanted to share with you this little pinecone pouch I crafted this week. It's a necklace that can be worn and used to keep treasure in. I've lined it with Liberty fabric. Do any of you remember the acorn pouch?

I liked having that blog where I could show things I'd made and things I'd seen. But a girl can't have three blogs, can she? I love the idea of having one space to share all my projects and interests but then it is nice to have one space for Today I Saw. I'd really appreciate any thoughts on this. Do you have just one blog for everything? or are your projects split into different blogs? What works well for you? Thank you for any comments on this.

Enjoy your weekend all. I'm to an afternoon birthday party (how very civilized!)

7th January 2010

sending it to Talia Tordjman Weinstein in Israel

5th January 2011

sending it to Joanne Meyer in Scottsdale, America

4th January 2011

sending it to Rebekah in Nova Scotia, Canada

oh and all postcards have recently been sent (except for those which I've done over Christmas break) so if you've been waiting (like, forever) you should get your's soon : ) Enjoy!

Happy New Year

Wishing you all a joyful, happy and peaceful year ahead.
Thank you so much for your support and your kind words through the year.
At the moment, I'm just doing Today I Saw postcards as I have the time. I had some time over the Christmas break and it feels so good to be able to show you some drawings.
Hope to see you soon. Love Jill x x

2nd January 2011

sending it to Joell Gaskill in Contoocook, America

1st January 2011

sending it to Mei - Li Martens in Germany

31st December

sending it to Patricia Vigilla in Pasig City, Phillipines

25th December 2010

sending it to Michel Stone in Cedar Rapids, America

24th December 2010

sending it to Sara Manzaneres Rubio in Spain