The Pauhaus presents: ART CLUB!

there are a lot of things in motion here at The Pauhaus!  i've got a plate full of delicious projects for the next couple of months and i couldn't be more excited.  first things first, i will be hosting a trial run of Art Classes for kids ages 4-6 over Spring Break.  i love diving into arts, crafts and creative things in general with kids because they are blank slates, they haven't had rules slammed into their heads that can often dampen free expression and the openness to make mistakes and just keep going.  week 1 is officially FULL with 6 more spots available for March 21-25 (including Good Friday).  Visit ART CLUB for the details on the class and register now!

xo

 

DIY Light Table

I've been juggling a variety of projects the last few weeks, including a commissioned illustration for my friend Saara.  They will be moving into a new home a few months from now and she wanted to have a family portrait to frame and hang in their entry way.  Long before photography and long before children, I had thought to dabble in illustration and had a collection of prints that I would sell at Craft Shows, a few which she had purchased and inspired her idea to have a family portrait done in the same style.  My illustration process includes piles of sketches that I often have to trace and retrace and retrace, so a light table is really a godsend.  Kevin made me a light table a hundred million years ago which neither of us have any idea on its whereabouts, so he put a quick one together for me the other day.  

Clean, lightweight, and portable with a long long cord and a fantastically sleek LED bulb in place of a regular incandescent bulb which would always heat, melt and warp the plastic over time.  Out of pocket, it cost $7 (Home Depot) for the bulb with everything else being scraps we had laying around the mudroom.  If I wanted to, I would "request" to have these painted in bubblegum pink… or black… or white.  And that gold ring (fixture loop) that the cord runs through I would change that to a flat black or something and obvs that brown cord would have to go… but this was for HURRY UP I NEED TO GET THIS JOB DONE! so i'm all smiles.

Here is a Before and After or rather a With and Without the light table.  I mean, really, I could make out the image enough to trace it but this speeds up the process so much more.  I actually have used my iMac screen as a light table a handful of times, but it's absolutely awkward and uncomfortable.

And another example...

Hoping to have this illustration complete by mid-week… fingers crossed!

Sunday Brunch Sessions with Cinnabar

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Last weekend, Kevin and I were treated to a lovely Brunch hosted by the talented young chefs of Cinnabar: Zach Poole and Neil Hillbrandt.  The two have been composing true one-of-a-kind menus over the past few months including concoctions such as Venison Tartare with juniper and pickled shallots, bitter chocolate, and quail yolk with baguette and desserts like Oolong white cake, flan brûlé with hibiscus juelly, macerated blackberries and edible flowers.  Needless to say, their fan base has grown, so much so that they decided to expand beyond dinners and offer Brunch Sessions.

The current Cinnabar dining space is located in a smoke free East Vancouver loft with a lovely view, accommodating a dozen guests at a time.  Adults and their young ones alike are welcome to try the new and exciting creations. 

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Pastries are available a la carte including fresh croissants baked on-site.

Beverages
 

Caesar / 2oz East Van Vodka, Clamato, Tabasco, Worcestershire, salt rim, spicy pickles

The Cinnabar / 2oz East Van Vodka, Crème de Cassis, Lavender Bitters, Lime, Soda

Kir Royal / Crème de Cassis, Prosecco

Mimosa / OJ, Prosecco

Michelada / Lager, Clamato, Tabasco, Worcestershire, Salt Rim, Lime

Beer / Off the Rail Psyclepath Lager

Coffee / Matchstick Coffee Roasters

OJ / Fresh Squeezed

Nothing like having a day off from your kids to have a delicious brunch with your childless friends from the city.  It is simply THE BEST.

Red Miso, Apple and Ricotta Scones, Asian Pear and Ginger Muffins and the perfectly baked croissants from heaven.  I had a scone and a croissant with my coffee.  

Savory Wild Mushroom Waffles
Sunny Eggs, Root Veg Hash, Bechamel, Piperade

Seared Pork Belly
Potato Latkes, Beer-Braised Apple, Sunny Eggs, Pickled Red Onion

Lamb Merguez
Harissa Polenta, Asparagus Pesto, Eggs Sous Vide

I had been looking forward to this Brunch for weeks and the boys did not disappoint!  I am already salivating just thinking about what they have in store for this month's session!  A huge round of applause to you both for doing a stellar job!  Looking forward to the next Sunday Brunch Session and hoping to join in on one of the dinners.

 

xo

 

 

Easter Fun

This year is a milestone.  Everything that happens this year is going to be memorable because everything that happens will take place 1. with Malcolm and 2. at our new home.  For our first Easter at our new home we dyed eggs!  We did it a few years ago but the kids were much younger and do not remember doing them.

They turned out absolutely amazing and were so fun and easy to photograph with their vibrant hues and textures.  I feel like we might just start doing egg dyeing as a year round fun-thing-to-do so that by next Easter we will be pros.

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I couldn't help myself

My mom came over for dinner on Holy Saturday.  Moving has brought many exciting things to the table.  One of those things is experiencing the natural light of the neighbourhood and of our property as we have been cutting and clearing the 20 years of trees and shrubs that had been neglected by the precious owners.  The other exciting thing is seeing the plants and trees come to life with the arrival of Spring.  We have cherry blossoms lining our street, plus two magnolia trees (one white and one purple) and a giant pink dogwood.  

We could not have asked for a better neighbourhood.  The kids have learned to ride their bikes in our cul de sac where a handful other young families are living.  We were invited to partake in their annual Easter Egg hunt which started at 7:30AM!  I was overjoyed and said we would as long as we were awake that early.  The 2 Fathers head out around 5-5:30am to hide these eggs to make sure animal don't get them first throughout the night.  A deserve a huge applause for that sort of dedication!  Hot coffees in hand, they take in the annual excitement as the morning light creeps up through the trees.

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It is a beautiful life!

Like I said, it's going to be a memorable year for us!