Threads

“Threads”. an exhibition of textile and mixed media works by Janet Donaghey and Melody Madden, opens with an artist reception this Saturday June 4. Two exceptionally talented artists, both are deeply influenced by the landscapes, forests and colours of Simcoe County where they live and work. It is a real treat for us to put their work together.

Janet’s appreciation of texture and her love of vibrant colour are revealed over and over in her art. "I am inspired" she says  “ by the beauty of crumbling stone walls and weathered wood, the rich green foliage of a rain forest and the red earth of outback Australia. At home in Ontario, I watch the multi-coloured sunsets from my kitchen window and from my studio I look out on densely wooded ravines and in the distance, the fields of a working farm".

Melody says of her work:  “through my work I try to explore the persistence of things. I compare my free motion embroidery to a painters brush using the machines needle to create depth shadow and light … the use of both paint and thread and at times wool and silk is very exciting to me….Within my art glimpses of everyday merge with fragments of memory and personal experience.”

“Threads” opens with an artist’s reception Sat. June 4 from 12 – 4pm.

The exhibition runs to July 6. The gallery is open weekdays 10:30 - 5:30 and weekends 10.00– 5:30.

Looking forward to seeing you here.

Hartley, Robyn, Uta and Elizabeth.

Woodside Pottery & Gallery Craighurst
Home to Art & Fine Craft
2049 Horseshoe Valley Rd,
RR#1, Barrie, L4M4Y8
705-728-3691
www.woodsidepottery.ca
woodsidepottery@gmail.com

Show At The Craighurst Gallery

The past weekend turned out to be much nicer weather wise then was reported so I donned the rubber boots and did a bit of gardening.  When I say "a bit" I really mean a bit.  As much as I wish I was,  I am not anywhere near the gardener that Tracy Helgeson is.  But I did pick weeds out of the spinach patch to which John asked "about 10 weeds?" but according to my back it was much more than that.

I call an email from Hartley Woodside from The Craighurst Gallery last week asking if I'd be interested in teaming up with Janet Donaghey for a show on Saturday June 4th.  Janet is a textile/mixed media artist who was on the Images Tour last year.  So although short notice I think I'll put some of my older pieces in with some of the newer.

   Purple Haze

Tiger Butterfly

Both of these pieces are older works and are created in a method I don't really use much anymore but I thought it would be fun to show them again.

Purple Haze consists of collaged fabric as well as embroidered trees that I've mounted on painted canvas.   It just makes it easier for hanging as I haven't framed either of these.  Framing is always an option if I buyer decides to.  Tiger Butterfly is constructed in the same way, fabric collaged background with embroidered butterfly.

This may be one of the last (never say never) times some of this work will be shown as my paintings have really started to take off sales wise so unfortunately my textile work has begun to take a back seat.  Not to say I'll never create new work in this genre but for now my focus is elsewhere.  Can't do everything.....

Not sure what time the opening of the show is but will post it when I know.

Hope your having as a good a day as Simba is..............

A Moment in Solitude

A Moment In Solitude

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

16"x8"

So I finally finished this piece.........yeah! 

It sat around on my storyboard for what seemed like forever but I finally finished off the groundcover and feel it's good to go.  I had some gorgeous gold and copper thread that I ended up weaving into the bottom since I felt I wanted something that created a highlight depending on which angle you viewed the work from.  This fit the bill perfectly!  Tomorrow I'll take it up to my framers and have it double matted and framed.  I'll opt for a white mat and deep mahogany frame to compliment the chocolatey browns in the groundcover.  I've learnt through trial and error that simple but classic framing is the way to go.

Red Earth

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

So here I sit on a Tuesday night when everyone else is tucked into bed and hopefully asleep. Dishes done, laundry dried and folded, garbage taken out, kitchen floor swept and I'm printing off CV's and Artist Statements. I probably should have done this earlier today but I'm trying to reserve daytime hours for the studio and Jian Ghomeshi on Q and nights for paperwork (yuck). I just finished the above piece this afternoon and have two others on the go.

I'm hoping to put my nose to the grindstone and finish them up by Friday.

Tracy Helgeson put up a great post today entitled.." A Peek Inside My Drawers"..yeah, a great title. I absolutely love seeing the inside of other artist's studios and how they set everything up. O.k. I feel as if I am just continuing to ramble now so think I'll sign off and hit the sack. 6:30a.m. does come early.

'night....

Spring is in The Air

Safe Passage

Work in Paint, Thread, Wool & Silk

6"x3-1/2"

Double Matted 8"x10"

So I've spent some real quality time in the studio over the last couple of days so there's no whining from me today. Thursday I'll head up to the Silverbridge Gallery to drop off some new work and then in the afternoon Ellen from Ridge West is coming by to pick up my artwork for the show. I've really hit my creative groove which is turn making me a very happy camper.

I went out for a walk yesterday and the signs of spring are everywhere. Snow is finally melting, the road is dry and clear and my roof is breathing a sigh of relief after what has been a grueling winter. We've also had a visitor the last few days who seems to have found love with my cat Simba. We initially thought it was a female in heat as she would cry outside our bedroom window at 3 a.m. requesting Simba's presence. We, needless to say did not find this amusing in the least. At one point John went outside with the broom and starting banging on the deck to scare it away while Simba cowered behind the curtains in the house. We found out yesterday that she is a he. I opened the back door and he, in a very bold manner I might add, tried to get in.

Simba may be slightly flattered by all the attention but at the same time he is deathly afraid of his own shadow. I think this cat whom Sierah has named Sheila, which we may now need to change to Sam in light of his maleness, intimates Simba.

He seems totally uninterested in being friends and tries his best to escape from Sam's unnerving stare. Ahh, destined to become a one sided relationship afterall.

Foliage

Foliage

Work in Thread

I came across this piece yesterday while I was trying for the umpteenth time to clean up my studio. I had put it in one of my desk drawers and simply forgot about it. It was one of the demo pieces we did at the Carol Shinn class I took last summer. I liked it when I completed it but having had some time away from it I must now say that I love it. You can't really appreciate the texture of this unless you see it in person. Although it only measures 6"x4" the entire surface is covered in layer after layer of thread. Time consuming but well worth the effort.

On the movie front, I watched one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen a of couple nights ago. If you have the chance to see it.............do. When it is over I promise it will stay with you. Away From Her was directed by Sarah Polley and tells the story with a woman, her husband of 45 years and her onset of Alzheimer's Disease. To me it was a film that chronicles the persistence of love.

Art Appreciation Day in The Village

City Streets

Work in Paint & Thread

Lately I've been working on a local event which will take place in the village on November 22nd from 11 to 5pm. We are calling it "Art Appreciation Day".

Last summer the President of our Community Association approached me with an idea in which we would celebrate the overwhelming amount of talent in this area as well as make a bit of money for the community association. Since I agreed this was a great idea I was put in charge. This is a scary thought because I am not what you would call organized. I think the intention is always there but the end result never quite matches up. This morning I was trying to find an email address for one of the artists which I had scribbled on a piece of paper but then I have about 75 pieces of paper here on the computer desk. Haven't found it yet but I did find a chocolate bar left over from Hallowe'en which was still quite tasty.

Back in the studio I do have two pieces I'm currently working on. Dwellings is a piece I'm extremely happy with. When I first started working on it there were a few times when I thought I might give it up as I just didn't feel it was coming together properly. In hindsight I'm so glad I didn't because I really love it. That seems to happen with much of my work. The second piece I haven't named yet but it is a landscape with a hell of a lot of trees. Believe me all that thread work is time consuming. I'll post when they are completed.

So if you happen to be around our tiny village on November 22nd and are looking for original art for your home, we'll be there.

Up Close & Personal

The Path

Work in Paint & Thread

A few days ago someone I consider to be a good friend and whose judgement I value, suggested that I take a few good closeup shots of my work. She thought it would be helpful for people to really see my stitches up close which would then give them a better understanding of how my art comes together and what it takes to make that happen. She's right of course (thanks Tracy)which then had me helplessly trying to figure out how to take a better photo when I'm much more of a "point and shoot" kinda girl.


Lighting is a key issue in photograpy or so I've heard. The lighting in my bedroom is generally the best especially between 10:00a.m. to noon so I decided to start in there. Not direct sunlight but still nice and bright. So I set up my easel and my artwork and got down to it. The first little while things were rather frustrating but after a bit of time had passed my daughter walked in and clued me into the macro button which is meant to be used for closeups. Duh? Why I didn't read the damn manual when I bought the thing is beyond me. For a split second I considered going to find it but then decided I probably wouldn't undertstand it anyway. Best to take instruction from my fourteen year old who surprisingly enough seems to be smarter than me. So with the clock ticking and more time passing I think I got a few pretty good shots........for a beginner of course. I am and continue to be a work in progress.
So here is a closeup of the piece I posted entitled "The Path". I think it gives you a better understanding of how tiny the stitches are and how many of them it takes to complete a very small area.

Here's the piece Harvest Sky and below are two closeup shots. The ground cover is completed in both wool and silk which gives it a very textured look.

When I did the Purple Hills Tour last weekend I can't tell you how many people thought my work was a painting. It's not until you get up close that you realize the combination of paint and thread. I find the two mediums together quite exciting as texture is what I continue to explore in all of my work. The way in which the two fuse together keeps me in the studio day after day searching for new ways in which to play and to create. My boo hooing days are over and I'm back at work.

New Work

Forsaken

Work in Paint, Thread, Wools & Silks

This morning the girls both headed out the door for their first day back at school. John exited right behind them and I headed into the studio. I feel really energized today which is surprising since the entire summer has not only been a blur but my creativity level has been way down. Perhaps I'll chalk it up to " being too nice outside to be inside." Yeah, that's what I'll say........

The piece above, Forsaken is brand spanking new and left this morning for the framers so they could work their magic. By the end of this week I am hoping to have a similar smaller piece to sell here on the blog. Anything that doesn't sell here will go to Etsy. I'm looking for a bigger market for my smaller pieces so my work can at least been seen by more people.

Decluttering............how much of my life do I spend on this?

Purple Fields

Work in Paint & Thread

Sold

I will spend today doing one of my least favourite things and that is decluttering. It seems like I spend a lot of time on this task only to find out within a week or so that the entire house looks like it did before I started. How can that possibly be? It makes me wonder how many hours of my life I've spent on this. Today I've decided I will tackle John's workshop which is in the basement. I don't know why we call it his workshop as he never does anything in there. Oh, the odd time he goes in there to get a nail or a drill but mostly it just seems to be the room that collects a whole lot of junk. If the girls don't know where something goes they just leave it in there. So the most dreaded room in the house is finally going to get a much needed make over. But I can promise you there will be no before and after pictures. I'll have two bags on the go. One for garbage and the other for Goodwill. I think it's going to be a long day.

Most summers are unbelievably laid back for us which suits our lifestyle just fine but this year seems to be the exception. I don't know why we jam packed so much into a couple of short months but I'm feeling really tight on time these days. Surprisingly enough I did finish "Copper Road" and am extremely pleased at how it all turned out. The wools and silks I used just shimmer in the piece. Can't wait to see what it looks like once it's framed.

Hope these summer days are treating you well,

Gearing Up

Yesterday I headed off to Midland to see Carol and Stu at the Carriage House Gallery to drop off some of my new work as well as pick up some postcards. We spent some time going over most of my work for the show (I still have three pieces that I haven't finished yet). Carol made great lemon/ginger tea and we sat around in the kitchen talking about the "business of art". They are both tremendously talented and have such wonderful insight and exciting ideas that I couldn't wait to get home and start working again. Some people are just like that aren't they? When you come away from your time with them you feel not only motivated but more of yourself than when you got there. Rather hard to explain except to say, it is just this great energy some people exude.....feels good to be in their company. Once again I am digressing. The gallery is stunningly beautiful. They have really outdone themselves this time. They were both very excited about my work which of course is music to an artist's ears. They also loved the small pieces I just started double matting and selling here. They would like to know if I could have ten for opening night..... Yikes. Looks like my butt is going to be in the studio night and day until June the 5th.

Getting Ready for The In Laws

This little guy is a neighbour of my in laws who live on Lake Superior. He makes his home just beneath a rock in their front yard. He is oh so very tame and allows you to come quite close before he makes a dash for his hole.........I call it a condo since from looking at him he seems to be living in the lap of luxury.

Speaking of my in laws, they arrive tomorrow at noon which makes me quite anxious as my house is a complete mess. This is the day in which I freak out and turn into Molly Maid. When I look around, I try not to, I truthfully don't know where to start. Should I wash the kitchen floor, how about vaccumming the cat hair off the couch, the bathrooms need to be cleaned and I still have groceries to pick up.

Having other people stay with you forces you to clean out those drawers that continue to get everything stuffed into them. You know the ones with the old flyers, empty gum wrappers, tops of old tupperware that have no bottoms.... that junk. Now I may not notice it all that often because I'm used to seeing it but when guests arrive it is a whole other ball game. They will be opening all those lovely cupboards and drawers where I hide my lack of organization. I have this cupboard beneath my stove top where I stash all my pots and pans. It is very disorganized but to my credit, I have children. Everytime you pull out one pot, about three others, that someone (teenagers) has stacked on top, fall on the floor in a loud clank. Rather embarrasing when your having a dinner party. Did I say I had teenagers? Don't get me wrong, my in laws are the easiest people in the world. They would never expect me to do anything at all in preparation for their visit. This is just all of my "crazy stuff".

I wish I were more like my father in law, he is the ultimate in organized. The last time he was here he cleaned out my entire car complete with vaccuming. It looked like the day I bought it. Won't he be in for a pleasant surprise when he arrives only to see it has reverted back to it's old self. Both girls are out this morning so I can't saddle them with any of the chores. Weren't they smart to make other plans for today?

Back to that chipmunk.... I bet his condo is spotless. All those peanuts lined up nice and neat in a row but then again I bet he doesn't share his home with teenagers.

A Common Thread

Friends, Karma and Yet Again......Celebrations

The house has been a hub of activity this long weekend. I only seem to catch the back end of both my girls as they race in and out of the house with their friends. Our good friends Bob and Marilyn of the Livingstone Peforming Arts Project had their annual summer party yesterday to celebrate Bob's birthday as well as their ten year anniversary. Lots of food, babmington, horseshoes and later into the evening about 10 local musicians began playing everything from a guitar to a violin to african drums. It was certainly a night to be remembered. My oldest daughter pitched our tent in their backyard and spent the night giggling and "hanging out" with her friends. Bob and Marilyn are leaving in January for Africa to begin a new adventure in their lives. They will leave a tremendous hole in this community when they depart as they have been at the center of everything that has gone on here. To Christmas Music Concerts, Community Clean up Days, Musical Theater Camp.....I could go on and on. They are wonderful friends and we will miss them deeply.

The above photo shows just how disorganized my thread bins are. I have had many people email me to ask me how I organize my threads.....well this is it. I bet you expected nice, neat, stacked spools. For some reason this is how I work best. I have gotten rid of almost all my fabric now which leaves so much more room in my studio. My good friend Marg is going to become the lucky receipient of my stash which I think proves one of my most favourite points which is "everything that goes around comes around".........you know that great belief in karma.

Although my grandmother taught me to embroider by hand, Marg took me under her wing ten years ago and was instrumental in not only teaching me how to use a sewing machine but helping me choose one also. It seems only fitting that she get my fabric.

The piece above is one I just began working on. I have painted my background and have just started to embroider some of the trees. By the time the trees are finished I will have used approximately five to six different browns and perhaps a couple of olive greens to create depth and highlights. I will post the piece when it is completed.

Hope your weekend has been a good one.

Hanging On By A Thread

Yes, this really is the name of this artwork which will be a part of the show I am doing at the Double Doors Studio in June. Actually this piece just about sums up how I've been feeling this last week. Lots of stuff going on with the kids, the husband, the cats........poor Jamoca who is 20 years old is having a hard time of it. I think dementia has set in. She hisses at the wall, the refrigerator, the plant, etc. all the time. Kind of sad but kind of funny too. The girls and I giggle but not when she's around.

I've been particularly busy trying to get finished for the show........always a struggle when your on a deadline. Reminder to self.....more artwork....less housecleaning.

We are putting in hardwood floors this spring so I am debating painting as it is the perfect time to do it. The walls look rather sad and I'm sure would love a fresh coat of paint. We have an interior decorator, Lisa Freeman in town and I have seen some of her work.......outstanding. So she came over yesterday to help me choose a colour. She remarked on one of my pieces of artwork, Cold Wind Blowing (see my first post) and I took her into my studio and lo and behold she loved my work. She will be putting a piece of art and a little blurb about me in her next newsletter. Thanks Lisa

Well, must run.....I have to send off one of my images to the printer for the invite for the show, more laundry needs to be hung on the line, I can hear Jamoca hissing upstairs and tonight I am volunteering to make salad for my youngest daughter's play at school..........oh, and of course the studio is calling. Be well,

Waiting On A Friend

Just a quick post today as I am going crazy trying to find my camera which has magically disappeared. I have searched the house over and it is not to be found. John keeps telling me to calm down but I don't want to hear that when I am freaking out so he has taken to his office just it get away from me. It just drives me crazy when he is so together in the middle of my meltdown.

One of the teachers at my daughter's school came by today with a few of her friends to look at my work. So I did a little show and tell while still thinking about the camera. Oh well, not the end of the world. I am looking for perspective.

Here is a new piece I just finished for my show in June. It is entitled "Waiting On A Friend"......which was inspired by a friend of my grandmothers. She is always so elegantly dressed waiting for her friend to pick her up for lunch.

Textiles???

I had someone ask me the other day why I choose to work in textiles rather than acrylics, watercolours or oils. I guess the easy answer is that I love the tactile experience of working with textiles. I enjoy what it is to explore my ideas in colour as well as texture. To take wools, threads, cottons, silks and to challenge myself to create is the most exciting feeling to me. I haven't been able to find that passion in any other medium.

Which brings to mind one of my most beautiful memories which could also have a lot to do with why I work in this field.

When I was twelve years old and spending the night at my grandmother's house in Toronto, she took me to Woolworths on Bloor Street. It was winter as I remember the snow on the sidewalk and the darkness of the sky. She was an excellent seamstress and I wanted her to teach me to embroider like she did. She bought me a pattern, a pillowcase, an embroidery hoop and some colourful embroidery floss. We sat at the counter of Woolworths, shared a toasted danish and she talked to me about how important it was to work with your hands to create. We spent a few hours together that night at her house drinking tea and embroidering tiny yellow daisies with blue centers onto a white cotton pillowcase.

Sometimes moments really do come full circle. And yes, my nana is still going strong ......we just celebrated her 90th birthday on April 22nd. She doesn't do much hand sewing anymore as she says "her fingers don't seem to want to cooperate" but boy, do I carry around a lot of great memories.