holiday cheer...

Yup, i too have been caught by it, I find myself whistling carols, thinking about stocking stuffers and helping my mum decorate our fire place... we have decided to go tree-less this year, and it's about time! Our previous fake is now degraded and bent out of shape, from its 15 years of Christmas abuse. Something still grabs me about this holiday plagued with senseless consumerism and sugar. So in light of my relatively surprising spirit i spent half my Saturday making holiday postcards!

The bike is a lino print i made in my teacher college art class... (soo fun!) the snowflakes were cut from Tim Hortons doughnut bags i collected here and there. I made about 22 post cards, (and need about 30) soo tomorrow may include collecting some bags at Tims...

New theme song of the day

Missed The Boat

Another Day, Another Dollar...working our whole lives away.

theme song of the day...

Caribou vs. Reindeer...the age old debate.

Truly thriving in the wintertime, this animal uses it's perfectly designed hooves to dig through snow in search of delicious lichens! Unfortunately, Rudolph and friends are threatened by industrial growth pushing North...mining, snowmobiling, hunting and yuppie backcountry tourists like us!

Living in North Bay

What would courage wolf do??

First heavy snowfall of the year. Lots of motivation to stay inside and write.

The image for this woodblock print was taken from an August bonfire in Haliburton.

With wide paws and long legs, the lynx would do well in the deep snow of North Bay. There have been a few sightings at Nipissing University... here's hoping we run into one this winter!

Rainy Sunday...learning long division is avoided with tea and crafting

Foxes... social, carnivorous animals with both dog and cat-like habits, prized on their ability to hold up to 1 kilogram of flesh in their stomachs...and also an incredibly kind and genuine family from Dundas.

Hope this doesn't get lost on its way around the globe...

"the crotchety elk"

I always think of elk as being angry old men, all pissed off and uncomfortable, wonderful species, lots of loveable misery.

Did you know that Elk have been re-introduced into Ontario, and are thriving quite successfully after being extirpated in the 1800's? According to this map there should be some Elk near North Bay!!!

Lovely Luna's

To the Magnificent Dulcie and Alex! Love Kate

'Everyone loves mixed CD's' by Diana

This luna moth caterpillar was found late August in Palmer Rapids, such magnificent nocturnal creatures! One day we hope to write and illustrate a children's book about them, they live as adults for one week without eating, their only purpose is to mate.

We have yet to see an adult luna in the wild.

"I just went through metamorphosis it sucked, i broke out!"

Tried water colours for the first time in about 10 years... definitely a medium to practice more with... or just stick to acrylics and oils.

Saturday Nov 13th - the creative avoidance of homework continues..

One bleak November morning we realized... HEY, we're always creating elaborate letters, and then sending them away never to be seen by us again!

So if anything, this blog is an attempt to remember the good times we spent drawing luna moths and sand cranes.

WELL what if in the process we motivated others to focus on slow communication, that was thoughtful and imaginative?

WHAT if we could share our ideas with all of our family and friends?

We send a lot of mail, and most of our letters have been carefully constructed.

Envelope appearance seems to be as important as the letters themselves.

We have boxes and boxes full of letters received in return. Now it's time to archive, celebrate Canada Post, and this obsession!

Backside of the sandhill crane letter...