Author: Clare at CatsEatDogs

Snow on a Monday

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We have had a snowy day today here in the mid-west as the temperatures plummeted from the sunny sixties yesterday straight down into the frosty twenties by mid morning today. I braved the snow and wind to walk down to the YMCA to pilates class, I arrived looking like a snowman and with a slightly damp mat!  I enjoyed the work out though, so worth the wintery walk, and I got to stomp through the snowy woods and discover that one of my winter boots has a hole in the back heel…..ewwww wet cold sock… Apart from the trip out to pilates I have mainly been drinking tea, eating home made gooey butter cookies and doing a little bit of art journaling.  Oh, and I vacuumed the floor!! Hope you have had a good start to the week. Happy Monday x  

I like Friday – trip to see the Ai WeiWei Bare Life exhibit

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I liked the bikes! I went with a friend to see the Bare Life exhibit by Ai Weiwei at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum here in St Louis and it was  well worth a visit. There is so much to see and learn here, and all for free!  If you are in the St Louis area, be sure to see this exhibit. Of course the other galleries of the art museum are worth a look too, I loved this mini hall of mirrors in it’s own tower. Happy Friday x  

Get Messy Season of Reflection week 1

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For this season I explored the Japanese stab stitch book binding technique.  I have to admit that I have always looked past this method as I didn’t think it would be a great journal binding as it doesn’t lay flat readily.  I always thought it looked too bulky to work with the papers I like to journal on and I was right, it would not work very well with a  watercolor paper even though I am sure it could be persuaded to open flat. So I explored some different papers. I followed the advice of the experts and went for the four hole binding to start with and I used a soft unbleached mulberry paper and my trusty waxed linen thread.  It opens nicely and I like the folds at the outside edge of the book. This technique does not require folded signatures, you can use single sheets or folded sheets with the fold at the spine or the open edge.  I am thinking of all the possibilities to be had with this book binding …

Taking Stock November 2019

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It is ages since I did a Taking Stock post, so here we go!  They are super fun so I have left a blank list at the end for you if you want to copy it and fill in your own Taking Stock.  I must say thanks to Pip at Meet Me at Mikes for the original concept. In fact if you just want to browse a fabulous blog, Meet Me at Mikes is one of the best! Ok, let’s get going – Making : Sketchbooks with lovely paper and the Japanese Stab Stitch bookbinding technique. Cooking : Frozen pizza tonight as I am at work! Drinking : Biscuit tea made by Taylors of Harrogate, it is completely delicious even though I don’t normally like flavoured teas. Reading: Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, I have only just started but it is about twins who spontaneously combust and sounds hilarious. Wanting: A good night’s sleep. Looking: At the foggy evening outside. Playing: In my new stab stitch sketchbook. Deciding: What to do this week …

I Planted some Garlic!

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After much research (ok I read an article in a gardening magazine) and waiting for the first frost, I have planted half a pound of garlic. If it all grows I will have a stall at the end of my drive or I can be a French lady with a striped shirt and a string of garlic around my neck (stereotype? Moi? Never!). I even have a bale of hay at the ready for when the ground gets chilly and it needs a straw blanket, I also have a snack if any horses pop over! Happy Tuesday x

Weekend Finds

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This weekend my favourite antique store was open, it is only open for the first seven days of the month, so you have to get there when you can! This time I didn’t see much I wanted (which is a good thing really!), but I did spot this teeny tiny pot.  I have owned a less ornate one before and found it to be ideal for holding small amounts of ink to dip a brush or pen into. Unfortunately it met it’s end when I dropped it on the kitchen floor, so I was happy to see this one. I thought this was an old salt cellar, but on further research it could be a toothpick holder.  Either way it is the perfect size for a puddle of ink and for two dollars, a bargain! Happy Monday x