Shop Therapy

And then this happens. #bestpatioever

Coziest spot in Lamont County

Her heart was a secret garden and her walls were very high ... I love the idea of sacred space. My sister and I whipped this patio in shape just in time to listen to the thunder run in.

Lip the photo bomber. #farmhousequilts #barnwooddecor #reclaimedwood #catsofinstagram #shoptherapy #rustic #toomanyhashtags

I took a personal day yesterday because racism is very personal to me. I was a captive victim of it till I was old enough to teach them. I had to teach my bus driver, teacher, coaches, parents, friends and yes family. Dirty little Indian. Nice little nickname given to me by my grade three teacher in Mundare, Alberta. I will hang this in my home as a reminder of how far we still have to go. #racism

Happy Birthday dad

Kitchen confidential 4ish? So here’s my cutting board in all her glory. I thought it looked familiar. Also I’m now understanding all the.... she cut a lot of cheese on that board.... just makes me want to slice a loaf.... the whole family had used it..... I firmly believe that my family would have let me believe that this was a special family heirloom if it wasn’t for my husbands fear that I would use it for one of our many charcuterie nights. So this toilet seat lid, (yup yo...u read that right) used to be installed in my Gramps basement bathroom. When they bought a new one my uncles plan started to fall into place. He mailed it to my other *thinks he’s funny* uncle. The one with some serious carving skills. He’s the one that literally sanitized and carved a vintage cutting board out of a toilet seat lid. So not fair because I’ve seen his other work. I had no chance. Then it was mailed back and planted for someone in the family to find. So at the end of the weekend I was one of the only ones left so it ended up in my care......... Now it’s my favorite thing ever and it’s staying in my kitchen. Jokes on you uncs! #cuttingboardstories #cuttingboardart #familyheirlooms btw check out the picture of my 10 year old soon to be uncle. He’s always been up to no good! #afishstory See more

Kitchen confidential part I think 3? So last week I had a surprise zoom with the family. We had a fun chat. Then my hubby brings a chair into my craft room and sits with me. This is already weird for me. He then started to direct the call. Now it’s super weird. ... It’s not often I’m not in the middle of anything happening in my family. Someone had an announcement and Mark was spearheading it. I got extremely nervous. What can it be. Is someone having a baby? Is it us? I just don’t know. Then he starts by talking about my kitchen and how he’s so proud and he wanted to let everyone see it and that’s when I find out.............................................................. my cutting board is not a cutting board. And I’m still lost....... #cuttingboardstories #vintagecuttingboard #familyheirlooms #kitchendiy

Kitchen confidential part 3. So I have three triggers when it comes to collecting family heirlooms. Signatures, wood and photos. This had two of the three so it was an easy choice to keep and find a special place to display it. I pictured it being a fixture at the cabin I spent my summers visiting. It’s starting to look familiar. Still can’t pull a memory attached to it but if it’s important to my uncle I’ll keep it safe and maybe it will come to me. I flip it over to see and sure enough there’s her signature. I love it. #cuttingboardstories #familyheirlooms

Kitchen confidential part 2. Rewind over a year ago. We all gathered in Flin Flon, Manitoba. My gramps decided to downsize and we all went up to help empty the house and find homes for all the important items. It was a long couple of days. It was I little emotional in a good way because we all have so many memories from a lifetime of visits to our happy place. It took all hands on deck to get it done in three days. After most family had left and I was busy packing my uncle pu...lled out this cutting board from the top shelf. I hear a big sigh and he says......Nan (my great grandma) sure cut a lot of cheese on this board..... I have so many memories of this board...... It’s always been around...... Look at how it’s worn...... Oh look she signed it like she did with everything..... I can’t believe no ones taken this..... It should be saved..... So in my truck it went while I was trying to pull a memory from a deep place..... it will come to me. I am the family genealogist after all. #thecuttingboard #familyheirlooms # kitchendiy See more

The kitchen confidential part 1. So this happened. It took nearly two years. I’ve always wanted to have open shelves in my kitchen to display too much junk. I want to see all my spices, dried goods, wooden spoons, keepsakes and my growing cutting board collection. I even made a few new boards to fill some space. I gathered all my treasured pieces. Installed my shelves. I’m in LOVE! With everything. #thecuttingboard #familyheirlooms #kitchendiy #spices

A cute little corner to store my yoga mats and another chance to display some family treasures. #familyheirlooms #vintagephoto #coolrocks #oldbottles #familybible

Covid has had its challenges but I am grateful for the pause. It gave me a chance to look at my own space and spend some time blending my treasures with my many family heirlooms. #oldrecords #teacupsofinstagram #vintageembroidery #barnwoodquilt #farmhousesign #bohodecor #familyheirlooms

Hey friends! So I’m finally up and around. I’ve been out of the shop for what feels like 2 months. Between our trip to Mexico (self quarantining), unexpected passing of my auntie (self quarantined from her funeral and family), and 9 days of symptoms from cleaning up black mould without my reading glasses (thought it was dust. It was NOT). I’m a total mess over here. But life has to go on. I’ll be out of the shop for two more weeks due to being sick. I’m 99% sure it was from... the black mould but to be sure I’m out. There’s simply no way to clean everything especially my product. Some small businesses rely on this income to put food on the table. I’m fortunate enough to be able to get by so I can push pause. And let’s be honest pretty things are not essential, like my hair. I’ll be getting back to messages over the next few days to make a plan. Feel free to pause or cancel orders, we can revisit when this is all a little more manageable. Stay safe friends. Here’s to my daily headaches maybe going away? Maybe not but I just lost 5lbs of hair so there’s the silver lining. Now to find a snack..... more stretchy pants and not a bra.

If you have any links to some free yoga please share!! Mental health is just as important as our physical health. This is one of the ways I manage both.

Sorry but I’ll need to take some time. My family needs to pull together at the moment. Not sure how long but I still think about all the kindness I was shown when I lost my dad and I hope to be able to do the same. Heaven has gained another angel. Not sure how this all works but I pray that my dad is there to meet her and welcome her back into our family, show her around and reunite her with all our loved ones. I like to think this is how it goes, that one day we will all meet again. #ducharmelove

If you want to watch a newbie, too long, unedited, video tutorial about a doormat, you are in the right place! I mean I made many mistakes but I just can’t take another take. I mean how do they do it? This is real life around here. I really just wanted to share a glimpse of my work shop and what I do along with one tiny little tip if you can get through it. Enjoy!