HAMILTON, YOU'VE ARRIVED!!!

Okay, to I have been talking a LOT about Hamilton in the last few months.

You see.....I have done a couple shows there, and met some really great people.

Some artists, some foodies - and some swell business owners!

These people are trying to convince me that I need to MOVE and set up shop in the Hammer.

These are top quality people......people who love their city....and honestly, it is contagious!

I am honestly considering a move!

So...because I move in the direction that inspiration takes me, I give you this new painting!

I am gonna show you my progress on this piece with a series of photos -- my husband claims that when I do this, it makes the process look EASY! 

DOES IT??????

IT AIN'T!

It all starts with inspiration.......in this case..... it was this photo....

The Art Deco Style of the Hamilton Centre GO Station

and this inspiration......

So then I did a series of drawings - that look AWFUL - so I won't show you those!

Then I start to paint:

First......blocking in the building.....and get my 

Building up the colours - so it gets a more 'watercolour' effect....

Add in the people! I love how they look like they are marvelling at the building!

A bit more detail goes in, and a blue circle........

Adding in the GO train!

REPAINTING the circle border so that it is less distracting......
....but it is still not quite right......
AND THEN it occurred that there was something wrong....

I painted her arm wrong - OOOOOPS!
I also pumped up my colours.....and my shadow work......
I also put in a starburst to draw your eye back to the building...
.....and a bunch of washes of colours!

FINAL IMAGE!!!

YAY!

Well? What say you?

I think it is swell!!

(AND YES.......there will be merch - stay tuned for that!)

WW194: MILDRED'S TEMPLE KITCHEN, KIMMY SCHMIDT and Harry Potter Remixed....

Okay.....I KNOW that it is not Wednesday, but I just couldn't get this together fast enough.....so......here is TERRIFIC THURSDAY!!!

1.) Mildred's Temple Kitchen.

Okay, I went here for brunch a few years ago, and truthfully, the pancakes were not my favourite......but then we went back last week......for dinner and MAMA LIKE!! Here is why:

Buttermilk fried (boneless) chicken thigh with crisp rye waffles, rhubarb gastrique & sour cream. -- and a side of coleslaw!

OH

MAH

GAWD!

SO GOOOOOOD! And yea, all the meals that my companions ate that night were also DEEELISH!

It is a very chic urban vibe....if you like that kinda thing:

So, if you are looking for a nice treat, go and check it out in Liberty Village!
It isn't the cheapest dinner ever, but it was top notch nom nom nom!!!!!
Check ou their site - their tweets - and on the book of faces.

2.) Blossom Dearie. I keep hearing her at my chiropractor's office and each time - i love her!

Blossom Margrete Dearie (April 28, 1924 – February 7, 2009) was an American jazz singer and pianist, often performing in the bebop genre and remembered for her light and girlish voice. One of the last supper club performers, she performed regular engagements in London and New York City over many years.

The album I keep hearing is "May I Come In?" but they all seem to pretty awesome!!!! Check her out:

and this MEGA post of songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrklFJ25z2w

Great huh?

3.) Jeremy Miranda. Found him on the Jealous Curator. His work is haunting. Don't you think?

Ok...so his website tells you NOTHING about him, but you still need to GO CHECK IT OUT at:

http://jeremymiranda.com

or his blog at: http://jeremymiranda.blogspot.ca

4.) "The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" YES! It is race-y and yes it is quite inappropriate.....but I LOVE IT! If you liked 30 Rock....you're gonna love this one too!!! Bless Tina Fey!!

(or https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=34&v=mNKEKlXY3Z4 )

I love Ellie Kemper in this, and ALSO love Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane and Jane Krakowski! Great casting. Honestly, so good! AND I CANNOT GET THAT THEME SONG OUTT MY HEAD!!

(or go here if it doesn't load)

LOVE IT!!!

So get your Netflix tuned into this one!

SO DARN FUNNY!!!

5.) This is a suggestion from my hubby today......enjoy nerds......I especially like the use of the Harry Potter theme.....midway through the song.....

(or go here! - if you can't see it)

Check out the other parody songs from https://www.youtube.com/user/KFaceTV

WW191: MELISSA ARENDT, CAFE FIORENTINA, and muppets

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
After MONTHS away, I give you Wonderful Wednesday!!!!!
Yes.....here are 5 things I love this week!
Sometimes these things are NEW NEW NEW and sometimes - these 5 things are just new to me, and I need to share them!
So, if they aren't new to you......sorry you're so DAMN informed.....GEESH!
(yikes - already a bit aggressive in this post...Buckle up!!!)

1.) Okay, it in NO SECRET that lately I have been feeling a bit down, and I have been looking for laughs in my television schedge (schedule in hipster). Unfortunately, "The Big Bang Theory", "Mom" and "Looking" have all had dead parent sub-plots THIS MONTH......and let's face it, there are NOT a lot of laughs on "The Walking Dead"....that is why I thank the Lord for:

Broad City. Season two...is so G.D. good!!!!!!!!



Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson are brilliantly funny! You must must MUST watch this show. It is so offensive and wonderful!!!!!  Catch up by watching it on demand - or on MUCH!

Here's a sneak peak of the (almost over) second season:

Big laughs.....EXACTLY what I am looking for!

NOT FOR KIDS. Seriously, yo.

2.) Remember when you were a kid, and your folks would take you to the Marks and Spencer store in the mall, and you would think....um......this store is so boring (yes, a lot of that had to do with being a 7 year old in ANY store that didn't sell toys).....BUT THIS IS NOT YOUR MOMMA'S MARKS AND SPENCER! I give you these MUST HAVE socks from M&S (yes....that is the new name...hip...right?):

MUPPET SOOOOOOOOOCCCCCCKKKS!!

(that was a squeal of joy - I got a set for Xmas, and I cannot wear them enough!)

Thanks Mark and Jeff and Marks and Spencer.
Go order something from them now....free shipping to the Colony!
;-)

3.) Have you missed my reviews of pancakes? Have you? Well last week I had some yummy brunch at Cafè Fiorentina......

Yes.......it's small.....but the food was yummy....as were the sweet treats we took home!!! Try them for dinner or lunch or YUM YUM brunch!

 Here are more deets:

Check them out on
Twitter and Facebook too!

4.) ....and now for something ART-Y........Melissa Arendt has delightful work that brings a smile to my face. It is nicely designed and DRAWN and painted and such!!!!! Go and check her art out....here are a couple that grabbed my eyes.......

Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!
Check her site HERE...
Like her on the Book of Faces 
and buy her work!!! DO IT!

5.) FINALLY........this is so great. I LOVE Conan, and I also love Billy Eichner.......here is why....

(or go HERE if this didn't work)

WW189: RAPHAEL VERONA, TOMORROWLAND, and FRUIT NINJA!

Here are 5 things I want you to love this week….
OH….also….I want to ESPECIALLY thank husband for his continuing contributions to this weekly post (that I evidently do NOT credit him with enough).
THANKS DAVID! ;-)

1.) There is something hypnotic and stunning about Impossible Bottles…..a series of animated gifs by Berlin based illustrator/animator Rafael Varona….just look at these:

See more at https://www.behance.net/gallery/17932945/Impossible-Bottles
See more from Rafael at http://www.rafael-varona.com

(thanks to The Verge for being so cool!)

2.) Got some time to waste?? Well I give you…...Fruit Ninja….GHOSTBUSTERS SPECIAL EDITION!!!! I am SOOOOOO addicted to this right now……

(see this LINK if the link above doesn't play!!!)
Go download it….NOW!
F - U-- N!!!

3.) …and speaking of nerdy pursuits…….I CAN'T WAIT for Tomorrowland. Yes…..it is still MONTHS away….but I have been looking forward to this one….just look at this promotional material:

…and I have been salivating looking at the retro-sets that they have been "building":

and the ACTUAL future-y locations that they filmed (like"The city of the arts and the sciences". The filming will begin this afternoon in Spain):

And then…….just look at this teaser trailer:

Looking forward to this one!!!

4.) Jerk balloons. These are perfect!!!! Shauna Luedtke has created these wonderfully jerky latex balloons…….they come as a set of 25 with five different designs….featuring typefaces by Neil Summerour, Ale Paul, Stephen Rapp, and Mark Simonson. Fill them air or helium or with water -- for an extra treat! ;-)

Buy your set at
http://www.fairgoods.com/products/jerk-balloons

5.) Thanks John Oliver for this….it made me laugh…..and I am not a huge animal lover………it is really good…….If you are not watching Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - you are seriously missing out!!!!

go HERE for video - if it doesn't work!
(Extra thanks Cindy and Dale for this one!)

WW188: JULIE MADLY DEEPLY, WAFFLE TATERS, and JUST ONE JOB

Happy 'Wonderful Wednesday' to you!
So here are the 5 things that I think you should LOVE this week!!!

1.) This one is for my friends who love show tunes - like I love show tunes……
      Julie, Madly, Deeply. I am so happy that I got to see this show!!! It was super fun!

If you like cabaret - if you like musicals - if you like those crazy Brits - most of all if you like Julie Andrews - THIS is the show for you!!!!

Yes, it is 105 minutes of delightful tribute to Julie - from her SUPER FAN Sarah-Louise Young!

SUPER TALENTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here is how Mirvish describes the show:

Adored by millions, Dame Julie Andrews is a genuine legend of showbiz around the globe. This charming and cheeky musical show features songs from The Sound Of Music, My Fair Lady,Mary Poppins, Victor/Victoria and many more.

Julie’s incredible career is celebrated by a true super-fan: the award-winning singer, West End actress and international cabaret star Sarah-Louise Young, who has been named by Time Out as one of London’s Top Ten cabaret performers.

The brilliant songs are linked by stories and anecdotes about Andrews’ own life, from her beginnings as a child star to the recent challenges of losing her famous singing voice. What emerges is a delightfully funny and candid love letter to a true show business survivor.

Don’t miss the show’s North American premiere in this strictly limited engagement, direct from a sell-out West End season and UK tour. Singing along is not compulsory but few can resist!

Honestly, it was such a fun night out! Sarah-Louise Young was super funny.

So go get tickets…...BUT GET ON IT FAST!!! 

There are only 3 dates left!

Thu Oct 16, 8PM
Sat Oct 18, 2PM
Sun Oct 19, 7PM

at Panasonic Theatre, 651 Yonge Street, Toronto

2.) This is for my peeps who like great architecture……or who love nature……or BOTH! Let's all go to Sydney, Australia and marvel at ‘One Central Park‘:

It is ‘the world’s tallest vertical garden’. It is designed by Jean Nouvel in collaboration with PTW architects. Now check out this cool cantilevered reflector installation with motorized infrared panels, designed to redirect sunlight to otherwise shaded areas of the plan. It also becomes a cool LED light at night!

I like that there is greenery on EVERY UNIT of this apartment building! The plants help reduce energy consumption with leaves that trap carbon dioxide, emit oxygen and reflect less heat back into the city than traditional fixed shading. BRILLIANT!!!!!!

SO LET'S GO!!!!!!

photographer murray fredericks, courtesy of frasers property and sekisui house

THANKS TO DESIGN BOOM for this one…..there are more photos on the Design Boom site!

3.) A is for ADORABLE! Anna Kövecses, made this fantastic book for her four year old daughter!

 “This book is the result of a very personal project aiming to introduce a little girl to the 44 letters of the Hungarian alphabet. Illustrations were carefully designed so that every subject that appears in this book is something she’s currently very much interested in. So in one way this book is not just a tool but also a diary documenting a four-year-old little girl’s world in the summer of 2013 on an island in the Mediterranean Sea…”

WOW! That is amazing. So sweet! But I also love these retro-y very graphic art pieces!

Anna self-published this book on Blurb.
So let's all learn the Hungarian alphabet and buy her delightful book!

(thanks to The Jealous Curator for finding this for US!)

4.) WHO'S HUNGRY?? Darn you Cheeky Kitchen on Tablespoon.com

JUST LOOK AT THIS REVELATION!!

Tater-tot waffles:

OMG!

MUST TRY THIS! (and tell Husband that I thought it up myself! ;-)

Remember to check out other great recipes on Tablespoon.com

5.) Thanks to Deb….I now have a favourite Twitter feed……..it is "you had one job" or @justonejob (as the kids say)….it chronicles the failures of people and the things they create as part of their jobs…….let me show you some recent tweets:

I LOVE THE CHINESE FLAG!

…...TOTALLY uncomfortable with this failure…...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Prime…..

Racists who hate juice….it is so unapPEALing
(get it - like pealing a fruit - for juice…)

See more from @justonejob HERE!