Nickie Things

I am one of the many who lives with General Anxiety Disorder, and Depression. Thanks to the nature of my brain, my challenge has always been to find the positive in things, as I can be the one that sees the glass half empty, or even more accurately, sees the glass falling off the table and smashing into a million tiny pieces!

It seems that these days we are ALL inundated with negativity. Between the world news, social media, or even conversations at the grocery store, these are definitely challenging times. 

Of course, like everyone else, my life has its share of ups and downs. Along with the highs (and there have been lots of those), we have had some lows. We have had our share of losses of friends and family members. Our family has dealt with some pretty serious health challenges .There is never a dull moment at my house, I always say! 

To keep myself mentally healthy, I have to do what I call "the work". This is what I call, the "Nickie Things". These are the things that re-charge my batteries. The things that fill my soul. The time I spend with pens, paints, crochet hooks, and knitting needles. The time spent hugging my grandbabies, or spending time with my friends that support me. The time I spend with my dogs. The time I spend writing the stories of my heart. 

When I stop doing "Nickie Things", it is a pretty strong indication that I am heading towards trouble.

Without doing the work, my brain can start to lie to me. The imagination that is my gift as a creative, is my curse that can turn on me in an instant. I start worrying about everything, envisioning the worst case scenarios. Catastrophizing becomes my jam. It is not good.

Which brings me to this blog, dear reader. I want to try to promote positivity as much as I can. I would like to hi-light the joy in simple things. I want to show how one can connect with one's self, and connect with others through creativity, and with community. I want to share the "Nickie Things" that keep me in the light.  I want to help you, dear reader to see the magic and the blessings in every day life. I know that I am not alone in having these challenges, and maybe what I share, may spark something in you, like it does me. 

Bunnies and More Bunnies!

 Spring has finally arrived here in my corner of the world, and Easter is only a few short days away. A very welcome time of year, as the winters here in Alberta are often very cold, and very long. But without those long winters, you would not see the joy that the arrival Spring seems to bestow on my part of the world.  Everyone seems to have a little more bounce in their step (which my also be in part to the fact that they are no longer wearing heavy snowboots), as they walk their dogs, and get out in the fresh air. Garden centres and home improvements stores seem to bustling with people that are planning projects for the warmer weather and the sunshine to come.

Me? I am in full BUNNY mode. I been enjoying the jackrabbits that visit our front lawn under our Faerie tree, and noting that their fur is starting to be more brown than white - a welcome sign! And, every year at this time, I pull out my yarn, and with a slight bunny-like twitch of my nose, I get started...

Nothing says Spring like knitting and crocheting bunnies! Making bunnies is one of my own spring traditions. And there are so many wonderful designs out there, I thought that I would share some with you.

This is one of the first bunnies that I made, one of Spin A Yarn Crochet's wonderful free patterns, called the Ragdoll Bunny. I added a "L" to her dress for my granddaughter...Miss "L" loves when I add a monogram to her toys!  These Ragdoll patterns are very easy to follow, and they make a wonderfully cuddy toy. I have made several of these bunnies - they make the perfect baby gift as well! Very cute, with a homespun feel. (Just as an aside, I am really glad I cut my hair....yeesh!)

Last year, I made this little knitted bunny, using a pattern I found on Ravelry. (If you haven't joined Ravelry yet, and you are a knitter or a crocheter, you definitely need to check it out!) Be warned, once you go down the Ravelry rabbit-hole (I told you it was all about bunnies) you may never come out!  This pattern is called Dutch Rabbits by Rache Borello Carroll. 

I made this one for my eldest granddaughter a few years ago. This one is the Baby Bunny from Claire Garland, also know as Dot Pebbles. Claire has so many beautiful rabbit patterns, and her designs are like no others. I will admit that this one was challenging, but it was a fun challenge, and I am still really proud of it! I must also mention that when I had a question about the pattern, Claire responded to me personally with help. I was so impressed...

As for this year, I admit things have gotten a little out of control.

These little bunny cups will be filled with treats on Easter morning. You can find a similar pattern here, at Repeat Crafter Me's blog.

I also made this cute little Baba Bunny. Isn't she cute? 

I made several of these Chubby Bunnies from A Menagerie of Stitches. They are fast, and easy, and so, so, squishy! These were a big hit at my craft sale last weekend. I kind of wish I had kept at least one for myself, but I guess I could always make some more...

I worked this little love up in an afternoon, from a free pattern from One Dog Woof. I made mine itty bitty, but as you will see on her blog, you can get a very different look with textured yarn. 

And last but not least, my personal favourite for this year, is a pattern I found on another fantastic blog, All ABout Ami. It is actually a pattern for the Chinese New Year Rabbit. The more I worked on it, the cuter it became. I think my granddaughter will love it. I can't wait to see her face when I give it to her! 

Which bunny pattern is your favourite? I would love to hear if you have created any bunnies yourself, do you have any favourite patterns?  Please share in the comments below...and feel free to friend me (sapphire252) on Ravelry!  

I have always loved making cards. As soon as I could fold a piece of paper in half, I started making cards for everyone that I knew! A card is a lovely, inexpensive way to make someone feel special. And giving cards to friends and family may be something of a lost art, in the world of texts and email, but that just makes giving and receiving a paper card even more wonderful. Now, I sell my handmade cards in a few local markets, and at a local restaurant every couple of months. 

I love to collect vintage images, and use them on my cards. I also like to use old photographs. I have made custom cards with photographs of the recipient, a personal touch for a special occasion. Here a card with one of my favourite photos of my Grandma Dubitz, with two of her younger brothers:

I like to use found items on my cards as much as possible. I love to go to garage sales and find little bits and bobs to put on my cards. I am lucky enough to have friends and family that collect things for me to add to my work...broken jewelery, bits of lace, buttons! 

A friend of mine makes wonderful jewelery using the inner works of watches...but she does not use the faces...so she gives them to me! You would be surprised what you can find if you talk to other crafters and artists.

I take lace, and with a few stitches, it turns into a one-of-a kind embellishment. There are some great videos online that show how to make great flowers and other embellishments. Search "lace flowers" or "shabby chic flowers" on youtube, and you will find a treasure trove of ideas and tutorials. Below you can see an example of how a simple piece of lace can add so much to a card:

                                                   

I like to crochet medallions and add them to the cards. Embroidery floss gives you the ability to match colours perfectly.

                                             

Time in my art room is good therapy for me. It is the best for my mental health in general.  As someone who lives with anxiety and depression, self-care is priority for me, and time in my art room is truly the best self care there is. When I work on my cards, I think about the colours, the images, how all the tiny elements come together to make something beautiful.  My mind focuses on the art, and the monkey chatter that usually happens in my brain quiets. When I work on my pieces, and that creative flow starts to happen, the dark wolf quiets and any negative energy I may have just melts away.

I do not mass produce my cards, I look at each card as an individual piece of art, from start to finish. Although I may use an image multiple times, because of the found items that I am using, the cards are truly one-of-a-kind. It may take me a little longer, but it is truly the process that I enjoy most, and I think that it shows in the finished work. When someone receives one of my cards, they truly receive a gift from the heart. Not just from the giver, but from my artist heart as well.

my set up at Barb & Ernie's

This weekend, I will be spending April 1st at a local restaurant, Barb & Ernie's Old Country Inn. Barb & Ernie's is owned an operated by some friends of mine named Char and Thomas Feuchter. Char and Thomas generously allow me to set up a table in the restaurant and show my art to their patrons on regular basis. It is such a positive experience for me, getting to meet new people, and to show off my art.  

Not to mention the feedback! More often than not, I will have a young person stop at my table, often a budding artist themselves, and we will have a great talk about how you can still make pretty things even when you are an adult! Plus it is common knowledge that Barb & Ernie's has some of the best breakfast in town, so it is a win-win for me!  
 

I have a profile on Facebook, called Nicolette Anderson's Handmade Greeting Cards, where I post my cards, and advertise my sales. When I look at it, I am shocked at how many cards I have created, even in the last few years. Making art may take hours, but it is time well spent. It does my heart, and my head, good. And I hope that some of that good magic stays with the cards after they leave me. 

I think that I will always make my cards. If I didn't sell them, I would just have a room full of them. They make me happy. I hope that they make all of you happy, too! 

For the Love of Barbie

When I was a little girl, I loved my Barbie Dolls - I would play with them for hours and hours.

My dolls had a case full of clothes, which included outfits that had been knit and crocheted by my Grandma Vincent, and also clothes that had been sewn by my mother. Those were always my favourites, the clothes that were made especially for me.  

One Christmas, I received the most amazing present - a collection of wooden Barbie furniture. I was so excited! My best friend and I would alternate between her house and mine - taking over the basement rumpus rooms for days on end as we created our Barbie houses across the floors. 

My tiny german dollies

I had a few miniature german dolls that I have now discovered were Ari miniature dolls from  Germany - they promptly became my Barbie's babies.  For me, my Barbie play was about creating a home, and a family - which was what I dreamed of for myself one day.

When I grew up, my Barbies and the collection of furniture, was lovingly packed up and put away. I kept all of it, and when I left home and started my own family, it came with me, always having a home in one storage space after another.

When my daughter Amanda came along, I was delighted to discover that I had a little girl who loved Barbie like I did! And out came my box of Barbie treasures. 

I have to admit, I was hesitant at first to hand over my treasures...what if they broke? What if they were ruined? But then I realized that dolls are meant to be played with, not boxed up collecting dust. So my dolls became Amanda's dolls. How happy those Barbies must have been, to come out of their dark storage box after so many years, and be back in the hands of a lovely little girl!  The Barbie collection grew, with the addition of Amanda's new generation dolls from Christmases and birthdays.

My little girl in the nineties

Well, time has passed, and my little girl grew up. The Barbie collection was once again boxed up and placed on my shelf. 

Amanda blessed us with our first granddaughter six years ago. And I am lucky enough to have another girl with a love of Barbie in the family! I am getting to play with Barbies again! 

I am also getting to be the "crafty grandma" and getting to fill Mom and Grandma's shoes, by creating Barbie clothes for my granddaughter. Not a sewer by any means (my sewing machine is strictly used for sewing paper these days), I am sticking to primarily crochet for my contributions. 

A couch I made

I have combed the internet for crochet patterns, and have found some amazing sources. However, with different yarns in my stash, and different hook sizes, I have found that I can only use these patterns as a "frame of reference" so that my biggest successes have been with my own "designs". I keep my Barbie model close at hand and try the garments on her as I go.  Keeping in mind that dressing Barbie in her clothes can be a challenge for younger ones, I am conscious of making the clothes easy to pull on and off, and that they have loose sleeves (if any) and sturdy, easy to use fasteners. 

Some of my creations

Most are quick projects, and I get a great sense of accomplishment, and a feeling of mastery each time I complete another addition to Barbie's wardrobe. It answers to the little girl in me, and I get to make one of my favourite people in the world happy as well!

P.S. I have made another attempt at furniture, thanks to this post on youtube:

https://youtu.be/v1vT90VNpa0 

It was fun, and I hope to make more, so stay tuned!

If you create anything for Barbie, please share in the comments below...let's inspire eachother!

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A Tale of Two Dragons

I love to knit and crochet. So when my youngest granddaughter, Evelyn, turned 3 in January, I decided that I would make her a dragon to cuddle. (Evelyn LOVES dragons!) 

I found a pattern online, grabbed my crochet hook and started to make Evelyn's dragon.  I wanted to use some soft snuggly yarn, and so I pulled some of my favourite velvety yarn from my stash.  I had enough yarn to make the head, but not more than that! I thought that I could purchase more of the same colour, but I was surprised to discover that the yarn I had used was discontinued, and not available anywhere. For some reason, this is a lesson that I never seem to learn - always make sure to have enough yarn BEFORE starting a project! 

So I ditched my first attempt, and then revisited my yarn collection. I found some lovely yarn that would do the trick. In about a week, I had completed my project, and added a few personal touches - an "E" for Evelyn and a number 3 to commemorate the occasion.  and I am happy to say that it was a huge hit with Miss Evelyn. She loved "Dixie Dragon".  

A few weeks later, Evelyn was over to visit. As she was searching for "treasures" on my bookcase, Ev pointed out a "dolly" that she wanted on the top shelf. It wasn't a doll - it was the head from my first attempt at making her dragon. She really wanted to see the thing, so in true grandmother fashion, I did not say no, I pulled the sad lump off of the shelf and I gave it to our little girl. Evelyn was quite enamored with this special toy. She hugged it, and kissed the "unembodied" head, with true affection. "It needs eyebrows, Grandma..." she told me with the authority that only a three year old could have. "It needs a body, Evelyn!" was my reply. "I love it, and it's for my home." she announced. 

Well, the head of the second dragon went home with Evelyn that day, and is part of the menagerie that sleeps in her bed at night, along with Dixie Dragon, of course! 

 

I am the QUEEN OF OVERTHINKERS, and this project, like all others involved me questioning whether I had done the pattern justice, and whether it was good enough to give as a gift to my granddaughter.  Evelyn taught me a valuable lesson:

It doesn't really  matter WHAT you make, or how well you make it - as long as it is made with love! 

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Drops of Moments

My husband is currently going through old family photos. As we look at photos in the stacks of albums, we flip past the pages of landscapes and seascapes and tourist attractions. Of course, there are the happy Christmas photos of family gatherings, and school portraits which are wonderful. But the photos that get pulled and cherished the most are ones of seemingly "everyday moments'. A photo of my husband and his brother, not much more than toddlers, having peanut butter and jam sandwiches on their grandmother's front porch. There is another one of the two boys a little older, at the kitchen sink in their childhood apartment, with dishtowels in hand. Little boys standing in the garden, among the peonies. Those drops of moments in that come together to create the ocean of a lifetime, the story of a family. 

So often we spend our days wishing them away. We wish for the workday to end, wait for the weekend, count down the days until vacation. We get caught up in just getting through until the next big thing. Instead of being in the moment, we think that the things we are doing now are insignificant, not worthy of note.

Our wedding day, 1986

Of course, those major milestones are amazing, those life events can truly be joyful and memorable. I remember my wedding day like it was yesterday, I remember when each of my three children were born. Those memories come to the surface very easily. Those memories are truly gifts. 

But just last week, my husband and I drove by a building that has gone through many transformations over the years, and we both commented on how it used to be a  Sir Donut Shop in the 1980's. Long before the Tim Hortons showed up in our part of Canada, the Sir Donut was the place to go. And we both brought up a memory, of a Saturday back in 1984 when we were first together, and we stopped at the Sir Donut for a coffee and a donut. We sat at the counter, on little upholstered  stools that spun around. We had hot coffee in the white ceramic mugs, and I had a maple dipped donut. I had a polariod camera (ah yes, the 80's!) and I actually snapped a photo of my sweetie as we left the building (I came home and searched my photo boxes so I could add it to this blog post!) 

What a cutie!

The vividness of this memory, and how we both could revisit it with such detail, was a delight to both of us. 

The fact that such an insignificant event, a drop in the ocean of a lifetime, could still hold space in my memory almost 40 years later, makes me think about how many of those moments I just push through, without appreciating them. Those moments are so special, those moments of summers enjoying flowers in the backyard, of doing the dishes after a meal of delicious food and shared laughter, of peanut butter and jam sandwiches on the back patio with the grandchildren. I am trying to make a point of savouring those everyday moments. I want to be mindful of those blessed days as they happen, instead of waiting 40 years to remember how beautiful an inconsequential morning at a donut shop really was.

I'm Teaching Again!

I had great intentions when I started 2020. I wanted to dedicate a little more time to my creativity, because it has always been a strong part of personal well-being. Where I live, the winter days from January to April seem to last forever, and so I wanted to focus on some creative projects that would make those days more light-filled. Little did I know the challenges that the start of 2020 would bring to all of us!

learning to draw cute foods

In February, I started a membership with Skillshare, an online platform that provides online video classes in the subjects of art, illustration, creativity, productivity, photography and much more.  Skillshare works a lot like Netflix, it is a subscription based site, so you can take as many of their premium classes as you like, for a monthly fee. (They also have free classes.) With the right link or promo, you can get 2 months free, which I did. I thought I would give it a try, and then see if I wanted the subscription. 

my project from a class I took

I had wanted to start working on my illustrations a little more, and this looked like a great place to start.  There were so many to choose from - my list of courses I wanted to take quickly grew! I took some courses, and shared some of my projects in the community pages. I got wonderful feedback, from the instructors and fellow students. The more courses I did, the more I thought to myself, “I could do that!” 

In the past, when my kids were young, I had taught creative lettering and journaling classes at a local scrapbooking store.  I had also done some presentations at some different local conferences, and really enjoyed it.  Being a stay at home mom, it was a great opportunity for me to do something outside the home, and to continue growing my art and my style. 

When the internet first started, I changed my teaching to an online format, and sold my classes online through a digital format.  Through those classes, I met some wonderful people from all over the world, and made some friends that I have kept to this day. I had always intended to take my teaching to the next level, but like many things, the years kept going by…

So in March, I decided that I would make the commitment to my self that I would create my own class on Skillshare.  I decided that my first class would be an art journal layout.

The choice for a layout was a very easy one.  In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to note the positives. The everyday blessing. The silver linings in the clouds.

So, my first video class is about creating a “Treasures Layout”, which documents the simple joys and treasures at any given moment in time. A Treasures Layout can be  wonderful exercise in mindfulness, and gratitude. And, it can be a lot of fun!

I am hoping that teaching classes again will allow me to reconnect with some of my past students, from the online groups again, in addition to making new connections. And I am happy to say, I am already getting some positive feedback.
If you would like to see the intro to my class, you can follow my link here. Also, if you anyone who signs up for Skillshare Premium Membership through this link gets 2 free months, which is a great way to try before you buy!

I am going to continue taking classes myself, to keep that creativity spark lit! 

And, I am already thinking about what my next class will be.

If you have any ideas of what you would like to see me teach, please leave me a comment!

Four-Legged Angels

These are strange times. Many of us are self-isolating, or working from home.  Even those of us that still have to work, are home more than ever before.

But one thing that I have noticed with any of my family and friends, and in my own household,  is that our dogs (and other animals) are happier than ever.  Instead of spending their days waiting for their owners to come back, we are with them all day long! Dogs are getting walks several times a day.  A friend told me that her dog follows her all around the house.  She said to me in a video chat, "to be honest, I am not sure if she followed me around before - I think I was too busy to notice!" That little pup (along with her other puppy) are a bright light in a trying time of self-quarantine.

For those of us that are working from home, our pets have become our "co-workers."  My office online meetings often have us saying hello to everyone's animals. We finally have had our "bring your pet to work" day!

I know that as someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression, my dogs have given me comfort at times when really nothing else could.  They truly have been the best medicine on many occasions.

I believe that dogs are truly angels on earth. They come into our lives and bring nothing but unconditional love and joy.  And at the moment, during our terrible pandemic, they have been giving their people companionship and comfort at a time of anxiety and fear.  But there is a silver lining in this dark cloud. The drastic measures we have had to take have allowed many to slow down and appreciate these special beings more than ever.  And our dogs are so happy that they get to spend more time with us, because that is all that they ever really want. In a way, we are getting to say thank you to them for their devotion.

Sadly, I am writing this only hours after we have had to say goodbye to our big dog, George.  We had almost 11 years wth him, and now my Molly Beagle is alone with me, a warm heartbeat at my feet.  The tears fall, for another four-legged angel that was with our family for what felt like such a short time.

I am glad that for the last few weeks of his life, he had us all around him. That is what always made him the happiest.

What Does Your Garden Look Like?

Months ago, I took a wellness class through my employer.  In that class, we did an interesting exercise that still resonates strongly with me.  We were all asked to imagine what our dream garden would look like.  We wrote down some notes, and then compared what we had written.

I have been thinking about converting this exercise into an art piece, to frame and have in my art room. So this past weekend, on a wintery day, I decided to pick up some of my favourite art tools (pen and watercolour pencils)  and put it together. It was very calming for me to forget about Covid-19 for a little while, and dream about a summer garden.

My dream garden is sunny, with a gazebo filled with a sofa, and some comfy chairs.  The gazebo is a lovely place to draw knit, and have tea parties with my granddaughters.  My husband and I can sit there and enjoy our morning coffee, rain or shine.  Do you see the coffee cup?

My garden has music playing so that the grandbabies and their parents can always dance in the grass. 

My garden is also full of flowers, favourites that invoke wonderful memories.  There are marigolds and lilacs, like my mom had when I was growing up. She said that the marigolds always reminded her of her grandmother on the farm. There would be pink roses for me and although I did not draw it, there would be a lavender plant that I could take cuttings from. The scent of lavender is my favourite, it reminds me of my Grandma Vincent's perfume. There would be lots of lilies for my husband, they are his favourite to grow. Last but not least, there would be gladiolas like my Grandma Dubitz always grew in her garden.  Sometimes after Sunday dinners when I was a child, she would cut some of them from her flower beds for me, and I would get to take them home and put them in a vase in my bedroom.  

So what was this exercise really about?  It was about identifying our CORE VALUES.  

We had just finished going through a list of values, and identifying which values most closely represented what was important to us.  

While some people chose adventure, entrepreneurship, mastery, and environment, among many other things, my list was the following:

Family

Creativity

Relationships

Tradition

Nurture 

Love

Kindness

For everyone in the class, it seemed that their dream garden really illustrated a lot of the core values that they had chosen. For example, I realized that all my flowers in the garden were about childhood memories, and relationships.  I guess you could say my roots run deep! (Excuse the pun.)

My garden would be a place where I could be creative, and nurture my family, with love and kindness. 

What does your garden look like? I would love you to share it with me!

Who are you?

I have worked in my job for 13 years. I am an Executive Assistant in a Student Services Office at a University, and I love what I do. I enjoy working with the students, and I take pride in the fact that I help my supervisors  in their productivity, and making their work days easier.

But I think of this as my job. It is not who I am, it is what I do. Some people say that this is the difference between your job, and your work. I feel very fortunate that my day job is something that I enjoy, and that I love the people who I work with. We are a great team!  I also consider many people that I spend my days with to be my dearest friends and a big part of my support system.  This is wonderful, because like many people, the reality is that I often spend more time in the office, than I do at home with my family.

I am a creative sort, and a creative is WHO I AM. I like to call myself an artist, although I still struggle with that term, and whether I am worthy of that title. When I was a child, and asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said, “an artist”. I like to think that even though these this title does not apply to my daily job, it is my life’s work.  Creating is what lights me up, and what fills my cup when I am empty.

My office is a nice space. It is located in a relatively new building on campus, with all the modern amenities, and lots of windows and open space. Lots of glass and metal. It is beautiful, really. And wonderful place to do what I do! Scheduling appointments, making phone calls, preparing files, sending letters, booking and attending meetings, and drinking coffee. Lots of coffee!

I realized quite early on in my wellness journey that I needed to have some things around my office that remind me who I was, and what gave me joy.  And our office culture is such that we are encouraged to make our spaces our own, and personalize however we like (within reason, of
course).

One of the main things in my office that I love, is a wall frame that I was able to purchase from Creative memories many years ago. It is magnetic, and I can change it whenever I want.  I have so much fun with it!

I change it with the seasons, and with the holidays.  I have also been having fun making some little garlands with my crochet hook. So cute! I have a list of ideas in my planner, snowflakes, hearts, summer fruits, the possibilities are endless.

It is a great chance to pull out some of my art pieces, and give them some time in the spotlight. And they make me happy. They remind me of the creative person that I am, and when someone first comes to my office, they will see that I am at heart, an ARTIST.