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.

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!

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!