The Clean Up

Today is the day for the big studio clean up. I keep walking by, closing my eyes and pretending it is not as messy as I think it is............but it is. All my wools, threads and fabrics that were once sorted are now lying in a tangled mess on my work table and my floor. Simba the cat has begun walking out of there with threads stuck to his tail. Organization has never been my strong suit.

I work out of a very small spare bedroom that really doesn't provide me the room I need but for now it is all I've got and better than the dining room table I once use to work on so I am really not complaining. Ok, maybe just a touch but we all have our moments.

Last year I got a tour of a fellow artist's studio which was built on top of her existing house. I don't believe my entire house is as big as her studio. There were leather couches, big screen televison, stereo system and so much natural light it would make you weep. If it were mine I don't think I would ever leave. But maybe on the other side of the coin it would prevent me from working at all, what with the big screen television, small kitchen, stereo system........it would be tempting to just relax, put my feet up and watch a good old movie until of course the husband and kids found me.

Views from Portugal

We arrived home from Portugal a few days ago but haven't had a chance to post until now. Unfortunately I have come down with the world's worst cold and stayed in bed all day yesterday. Not feeling too sorry for myself though, as I did return home with a smile on my face, an truly inspired heart and feeling quite blessed to have been able to experience the beauty of Portugal.

My husband had won the trip through a sales incentive plan for his job and I felt so very lucky to be along for the ride.

We flew into Lisbon and immediately boarded a bus for Sintra which is where we would be staying. Sintra is approximately 40 mins. outside of Lisbon and is everything you would expect from a quaint European town. It was like magically stepping back in time. Outdoor cafes, narrow cobblestone paths leading up to shops filled with leather goods, ceramics and a variety of textiles (yeah!). I was on cloud nine drifting in and out of all these fascinating shops. I came across a tiny establishment in which the owner had created all of the ceramics in the store. He spoke to me of how much his work meant to him and how his new ideas came from dreams he had everynight, dreams filled with colour and shape. There was such incredible beauty in his face when he spoke of his passion that I was quite moved. I then thought of my friend, the fabulous artist Cynthia Guajardo and knew she too, would be so very inspired by all the work here and how it was so lovingly created.

I felt so priviledged to be able to take in all the various forms of art around me. Being an artist myself, I have the greatest respect for all others who work from the creativity of their souls and produce work that speaks of their life experiences........that speaks of the very essence of who they are.

My next few blogs will focus on some of the sights and sounds of Portugal

Be well,

Friends

A few days ago I gallery sat at the Zephyr Gallery which is downtown. I am part of a group show celebrating "International Women's Day". The theme this year was "Friendship" which is why I entered this piece........... "Good Company".

I think when we reflect back on our lives we find our friends were so instrumental in celebrating our happy moments, encouraging us in times of despair, giving us a soft shoulder to cry on during our "crisis" situations and just generally "being there". There is great comfort in knowing that no matter what life throws at you, your friends will be there to pick you up when you fall.

That being said, it was wonderful to spend time at the Zephyr and to read all the wonderful stories that accompanied each piece of art work. Each story was inspiring and uplifting.

Each friend in our life is truly a gift and if you are fortunate enough to have a great friend who makes your life brighter......count yourself as very blessed.

This was the view from the cabin on our last night on the Lake. As you can see the ice had moved back in creating a strange but silent calm. Sunsets like this one are common on Lake Superior.......anyone who can take one in is awestruck.

I came away from this trip with a sketchbook full of inspiration and the feeling of gratitude for being able to spend a week here. It is truly nourishment for the soul and the spirit

Watch for new work based on my time spent here.

Acrylic Paint, Canvas and Wools

This is a new way of working for me which I'm quite enjoying. I am so passionate about working in fabric and thread but the idea of painting has always intrigued me. Anyway, decided I would play around with the idea and ..........here it is. Since this is a small piece there is no way I would be able to do the main figure in fabric and thread so painting her worked out perfectly.

This piece originated from a photo I took of a young girl on the shores of Lake Superior. We have a small but beautiful log cabin there which we try to spend as much time as possible at. The day this photo was taken was quite blustery but with a warm sun shining beautifully on the water. Just her stance alone drew me in ...what was she thinking about....with her life spread so big and wide out in front of her

The water and the girl were painted with acrylic on canvas.....the border around her is done in textile collage with felted wools, machine embroidery, various theads and wools. This piece was then batted and quilted to create a three dimensional artwork.