Hello Loves,

Happy Wednesday!! Today I wanted to share with you my parents beautiful retreat home. We were over there visiting last weekend and I was in awe of their sanctuary backyard and also in wonder... wonder because I don't understand why we don't get over there more often. It was so RELAXING!

 They have created 9 separate spots throughout the yard where you can sit and enjoy their enchanted garden while sipping a bevie! My favorite part of the backyard besides my moms gorgeous gardens is their patio. One area is their outdoor living room. They have included an outdoor area rug and even a floor lamp decked out with beading but I love the patio off to the side of the house its like your own personal DANCE FLOOR or for some a dining area. But enough of my blab blab blabbing

Their outdoor living room. Love all the beautiful pots of flowers that surround the deck

 

See what I  mean DANCE FLOOR!! pretty gorg right?

 

picture it: you just woke up grabbed a snuggle blanket and a coffee and planted yourself HERE

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lil man helping Nana in the greenhouse

the garden shed painted to match the house. Love the window boxes, the solid colour of impatients looks great
 

beautiful things await at the end of this path

lil man helping Nana



 

Gorgeous right? One day our backyard will be like that!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

XOXO

A

 



In The Lime LIght -The Physically Linked Project

Hi Loves

Today I would like to introduce a new monthly post called in the LIME LIGHT.  Get it “LIME” light …

I know CHEESY.  

Anyhoo  in these posts I will share with all of you lovely peeps,  unique businesses , people and projects I think you would enjoy reading about.

This month’s IN THE LIME LIGHT features 

Vancouver Artist Adi Parker and her project

PHYSICALLY LINKED!

I was able to have a little Q & A session with Adi last week. Where she was able to share with me about why she is so passionate about her project Phisically Linked and how it was conceived.
Alright lets get to it!
 

Here is Adi's Physically Linked video

Adi, can you please briefly describe what Physically Linked is.

Physically Linked is a project where I complete 120 5x7" paintings, 20 in each category- love, happiness, peace, prosperity, health, and beauty. For each painting I send out 3 letters to people I do not know. The letters will be handwritten, beautifully packaged, and ask a simple question related to its category, such as, for happiness: what was the second happiest moment of your life so far? The recipients can go online to view the painting their letter is connected with and opt to post a response. I am curious to see how many responses I get; some friends think we will get a lot, some think almost none! Best case scenario this generates a body of visual and conceptual meditations on each categorical quality.

What inspired the Physically Linked Project?

Physically Linked is a result of my curiosity and an opportunity to collaborate with people I would not have known to muse on qualities important to human life and society. I wondered, if someone received a colorful envelope from a stranger, handwritten and addressed to them by name, asking for input or advice, would they respond? What does this reflect about us as a society? In keeping with this project, since I conceived of it I have tried to make a point of assisting anyone I encountered who needed help or asked for something. The result of each incident has been the warmth of feeling connected.

How were you able to decide which categories to include?

The categories originated as collections on our website, actualpaint.com. With each painting we support charitable projects which create the quality of their category. For instance, in health a painting might supply medical care for a street child for a year in India. The idea is to identify and positively use our connections to others, 'you get what you give' kinda thing. I chose each of the six because as a whole they seemed to define what would be a "good life".

How will you choose the recipients of the letters?

I am thinking I will throw darts on detailed maps to get the towns/ cities, then choose within those areas.

Tell us a bit about yourself? Give us some insight to who you are, what you are drawn to? Were you always creative?

I have been painting since grade school. In high school I attended a magnet program for the arts, then studied at Maryland Institute, College of Art. After that I switched gears a little bit and travelled to Nepal, India, Europe, and throughout North America. During this time I studied meditation, philosophy, Tibetan ritual, organic farming, permaculture, and taught Tibetan instruments. I find myself drawn to working with the physical world, preserving antiquated practices and knowledge, and sharing these with others. A year ago I started painting more intensively again. I want to incorporate the motivation to help others with everything I engage in, so I started ActualPaint for my art.

Describe your creative space

I love to paint around people, even have a movie on, while camping, anything fun and engaging. In college I had a separate studio, and I found I painted less! I have included a photo of my space on the living room floor- my habit to sit on the floor is quite strong! It is also functional as I usually end up with all sorts of materials spread out all around me like a giant fan!

 

What inspires your work? a place, a moment, colour, music

Often just working with the materials themselves compels me further- the way they behave and their relationships with each other, say watercolor with water, etc... And of course colour, all colour, every way it comes. I think I paint largely to indulge in colour. When you love colour without judgement everything is beautiful.

Sausalito 1949 by Adi Parker

 

Go to accessory, lipstick colour, nail polish?

Come what may, I always wear La Bella Nussy mascara. I am a redhead and most "browns" are too dark for me, but they make a lovely nut brown shade. Plus the waterproof one smells like Tibetan medicine, earthy and spicy. http://www.labellanussy.com/geschichte/

What is your favorite paint colour to work with right now?

Cerulean Blue
 

VIA

 

 

Thank you so much Adi for taking the time to answer my questions. I love the concept of this project and  looking forward to hearing about the responses from the recipients of the letters.
Now loves I also wanted to let you know that Physically Linked is a Kickstarter Project. If you are not familiar with Kickstarter here is a little info

 

 Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects.

At this very second, thousands of people are checking out projects on Kickstarter. They're rallying around their friends' ideas, backing projects from people they've long admired, and discovering things that make them laugh and smile.

Every project is independently crafted, put to all-or-nothing funding,
and supported by friends, fans, and the public in return for rewards.

All-or-nothing funding.

Every project creator sets their project's funding goal and deadline. If the project succeeds in reaching its funding goal all backers' credit cards are charged when time expires. If the project falls short no one is charged.

To help support Adi and her Physically Linked Project you can click HERE . As of today Adi only needs $180.00 to make Project Physically LInked Happen!!!  So lets help her out.

I also have to share with you that not only does Adi have exceptional rewards for those who will be backing  Project Physically linked she also is offering delicious homemade cookies to local backers who will not need there rewards shipped! YUMMY

Make sure to also  stop by  Adi’s website ActualPaint  You will fall in love with her work!

Wishing everyone a Fabulous Thursday!!Thanks for stopping by.

XOXO
A

Keeping BUSY

Hi Loves,

Hope everyone  had a fabulous long weekend and that it wasn't too hard to get out of bed yesterday morning.

 This weekend was a busy one at Casa M. Friday night we checked out the farmers market that's held near City Hall. It was our first time going and I have to say it was alot of fun. There was live music,yummy yummy food and even a craft area for the kids.

Birthday Week came to an end on Saturday night by having dinner and drinks with some girlfriends. 

I even put together "loot bags" for my dinner guests!!!

LOOT BAGS = newest addition to Birthday Week!!!

 

For the loot bags

I used a variety of super cute makeup bags as the catch all for the loot:

nail polish

super cute bangles,

a pen (everyone needs a pen)

and of course CANDY and CHOCOLATE

 

 

 

I created "Merci" tags with pre-cut tags I had purchased from a stationary store and stamped them with a crown stamp that I had on hand and used a fine black pen to write my sentiment. I poked a hole through the tags by using a push pin. I finished off the bags by attaching the tags with a pretty black ribbon!! 

I had so much fun putting these "loot bags" together  for my GF's. I am seriously who doesn't love giving their GF's gifts.

Birthday Dinner



Sunday was CRAFT day at Casa M . We had our super sweet nieces staying with us over night  and I have to admit I was a little nervous on how we were going to spend the next 30 hours entertaining a 13, 10  and 6 year old.( Remember I have a 2 year old boy that thinks a stick is the best thing in the world.) How did we do you ask well my youngest niece reminded me that I had promised to teach her how to make tissue paper balls. so out came the art supplies and away we all went

The tissue paper balls were followed by DIY tulle TU TU's.I have to say we had the most fun making these. THe girls looked too cute in their Tu Tu's and it was so great watching each of them create their own designs and patterns.

 After dinner we baked cupcakes and then decorated them with fluffy white icing and 5cent candies. The night was concluded with the watching of a ONE DIRECTION DVD (my heart still belongs to Joey Mac of NKOTB but those 1D guys are pretty cute) and some popcorn!!

 

 

 

How did you spend your long weekend?
Thanks so much for stopping by!

XOXO
A

ps I just wanted to dedicate this post to our Snoop A Loop - we miss you!