Toronto sings to me!

For years, 6 to be precise... the chimes of the toronto transit system have lulled me into a happy little song that i have happily hummed as i exit into the cool breezes of the city.

Only this week did i give it anymore thought... I read someone elses musing on the little three tone chime (apparently they use the same one in chicago on the people mover) and it got me thinking... WHAT IS THAT SONG>????

(dude, this 'sax shaped trumpet is awesome don't you think!)

So, i scanned and scanned through trumpet voluntaries, sonatas, the whole lot knowing that trumpets must be key (this is my brain after all!!!)

Finally i found it:

Vivaldi, Concerto for two trumpets, C Major, R537.

The three 'chime' notes are the falling A minor Chord. 

 That's the central chord in the concerto and my adorable little mind just extrapolates from there.

Cool eh?

P.s. When i do stuff its usually for some strange mini-reason... maybe this means i'm destined for chicago!?!?

Mixed emmotions

My mummu passed away last week (wednesday) and i went up there to be with family over the weekend.

Being in the sault, (st. Marie) was refreshing in a lot of ways i hadn't expected.  I helped to sort through some of mummu's things in her apartment in the retirement residence and found out how many quirky little 'likes' we have in common.  

I brought back  some momento's of her life, she loved bright colours and bold patterns. Here's a picture: 

One of the things i found was a book of knitting patterns for mittens... they are so detailed that i'm thinking of translating them into 'blackwork' patterns and maybe using them to embroider a new piece.

Oh, and theres a rosebowl that i'm going to use to house a new pet golfish.  its about time i had some company in my little apartment.  I think i'll name it 'Ristimakki' her maiden name. 

To Mummu, who was always pleasent and slyly funny, who stashed EVERYTHING sentimental away, who knew exactly what she liked and went with it, who always had her hands busy (usually knitting but also crocheting lace), who was my mothers mother. 

Everyone told me how 'un-finnish' i looked when i was up there.  

Now i have to go to finland... to unravel this mysterious part of my family history.  To know what it means to be 5o% Finn. 

Apple Pie Muffins!

OH YEAH!

I made two pans of these tonight and could've made one whole pie, but i love the convenience factor of these awesome treats.

I'm gonna freeze them.  Its a good week when my biggest problem is that i'm running out of room in the fridge.

Here's the recipie

Preheat the oven to 350' f

Mix in a bowl: 

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1/3 cup butter (melted)

2 eggs

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup of orange juice or water

cinnamon to taste (I like 1/2 tsp)

2 cups of diced apples (you could substitute pears, strawberries, plums or other dense fruit)

later you'll need

1/2 cup of rolled oats 

-Pour the mixture into greased muffin tins or into a pie pan for a 'crustless pie'

-shake on rolled oats for crispy topping

-bake for approximately 45 minutes or until browned

Let these little sucka's cool. and then dig ins! 

They're a succulent mix of chewy and crisp with tender fruity insides.

Hope you like them!

MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

This magical top hat (as modeled by my freindly 'vasehead') made one five year old boy pretty darn happy! 

I'm so pleased to have 'gotten' him.  He wore it to the grocery store and all through the performance of 'dirty dancing live' that we went to after our christmas lunch.  :) 

I'm exhausted now, and my studio is a MESS.... but i think there's something to this toys thing.  I think i'm going to do some more prototyping and see if i can get it together to apply for the 'toronto outdoor art exhibition'.. i've got things up my sleeve.

Also, i think the reception that my very generic and maybe overly simple 'fleurs' was good enought to encourage some real design r&d.  I'd like to get a batch of them out into a store someplace for a valentines day gift launch.... and then continue producing them into the spring season.

Ok... for now, i take a bath and stay away from the studio for at least a week!