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..............

Where's My Discipline When I Need It?

The Path

16"x8"

The sun is out this a.m. and it looks like we are in for some milder temperatures over the next few days which is just fine with me. Although I must admit I have enjoyed skiing with Kelly and Joan on Sundays. Rather a nice ritual we have going!

We have a couple different routes we take just to mix it up. Unfortunately last Sunday I suggested the lake route and poor Kelly had to really do some serious trailblazing since the path hadn't been packed down yet. Sorry Kelly!

On the studio front I've still not been as consistent as I would like to be. What happened to my New Year's resolutions? Fallen by the wayside I'm afraid. It's that damn Facebook which I check out every morning to see what everyone else is doing when I should be concentrating on what I'm doing. Where's my discipline? And while we are on the topic of discipline............if there was ever anyone I could take lessons from it would be Lisa Call. I've been following her blog since long before I started mine. Here's a woman who holds down a full time job, religiously updates her blog on a regular basis, has children, is a single Mom, is in the middle of house renovations and sells and markets her work to perfection. Just reading what she's up to and watching her home come together exhausts me. But I'm sure if I asked her where her discipline comes from she'd probably tell me to just "get in there and do the work" which would then mean the ball is back in my court. Check her her blog and take a look at her beautiful textile paintings.

And hey Lisa, slow down a bit cause your making me look bad.

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.

Starting Out

We headed out early Sunday morning in what appeared to be a torrential downpour. I am a nervous driver at the best of times so I was glad John decided to drive. Destinatination: The Brewster Inn in Cazenovia, New York. About three hours into our trip the right windshield washer almost flew right off the car........don't know the technical term for what it is attached to but let's just say it was hanging on by a very thin thread. Luckily we pulled off the 401 highway safely but this continued to happen every hour or so before we reached New York. Welcome to a Roadtrip!



When we were an hour from Cazenovia we found this great rock station out of Syracuse. I knew it was great because every song they played, I knew. Unlike most of the music my kids listen to.......oh no, I do sound like my mother. When ELO started singing "Blinded By The Light" I just had to chime in as did John. The horrified looks on our kids faces said it all. They were cringing and begging us to stop what our oldest called "cruel and unusual punishment in a confined space". That in turn encouraged John and I to sing louder and longer.



We arrived at the Brewster around 4:00 pm and it was just lovely. After all the driving we didn't feel like heading out to eat so we ended up having dinner there.



The next day I headed off to class which I will openly admit I was a touch nervous about. Seeing the campus reminded me of high school which was not one of the most memorable times in my life. I found it all to be extremley clicky and exclusive. I spent much of my time drawing, listening to music and feeling the angst of being a teenager. Perhaps somebody should have told me to snap out of it....oh wait, I think my parents did but at the time I just didn't think they knew anything about being me. How very self indulgent!

In a nutshell, Carol Shinn was a fabulous teacher. Her work when you see it live and in person is not only inspiring but so very complex. Due to copyright laws I can't post any of her work here o but you can catch it on her website. The piece "The Blue Bench" is mind boogling to take in. You would never know that the entire canvas is covered in thread. You would think it was a painting until upon closer examination you saw the teeny tiny stitches. Much of her technique relies on layers and layers of thread. We used to joke in class after we finished two layers..." only 15 more to go and were done". On Thursday the class attended a lecture she gave in the auditorium and someone from the audience asked her how long it took to complete one of her pieces. She replied that an average piece of about 20"x18" would be 1-2 weeks working 8-10 hours a day. Now that is true commitment to your craft.

To be continued tomorrow...................I feel I've been droning on far too long.

Copper Road

Work in Thread, Silks, Metallics and Wools

Fields of Red

Fields of Red

Work in Paint & Thread

Sold

Off to the Silverbridge Gallery to drop off some work. Will post this afternoon.

Much Rambling About Nothing......

Not a whole lot new to report. The girls have had exams all week so I've had to put on my chauffeur's cap. When you have teenagers that thing is glued to your head. It seems every moment one of them "just has to go" somewhere. Since we are "country mice" as opposed to "city mice" driving is just a part of our life experience. Since most of girl's friends live nearby we are always looking for other parents to carpool with and I must say most of the time it does work out that way. With the price of gas and the impact on the environment it has to.

My sewing machine has been sent out for servicing which they tell me will take two weeks so I've been playing around with the oil paints I was given awhile ago. Now I truly don't know much at all about oil painting but because I work mostly in acrylic I do love the buttery strokes that are achievable in oils and the soft edges I'm able to produce. I've been using M. Graham paints which I highly recommend with the walnut oil medium which I like because it's non toxic. I do know the fat over lean rule but other than that I've just been experimenting. So I was fooling around with this little 6"x6" last week and quite liked the way it turned out. Unfortunately when oils dry they kind of dull out and there are some spots that are oilier than others. So I had to find a way in which to bring those colours back and at the same time protect the piece. I went online and read about varnishing but was surprised to find out you have to wait six months or so. What? How do oil painters sell their work if they have to wait six months for the piece to dry. So I went to an expert........I emailed Tracy Helgeson who gave me some good advice regarding varnishing. Thanks Tracy for your time.
Now I'm interested though in how other oil painters deal with this issue. If you have a moment please let me know.

Well, I'm off.........my yoga mat beckons and there are dishes waiting to be washed. Have yourself a great weekend.

A Common Thread Opening Night

Yesterday I spent about five hours at the gallery with Carol and Pamela Allen. Looking at all those blank walls and trying to visualize how the show would hang was daunting to say the least. My stomach is still doing the butterfly thing but I'm also excited.......I think. John has been away all week in Toronto so these past seven days have been a bit overwhelming. All in all things did get done and now I'm ready. I just dropped off three small pieces for matting this morning to my framer Diane (have I said I love my framer.........I do). The small pieces which I posted on this site are doing unbelievably well at the gallery and the show hasn't even opened yet. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that the price point is so good. Makes it perfect for people who have just started collecting art and are looking for something smaller.

The Barn on Rowanwood Lane

Last fall I was picking my daugher up from a sleep over and on my way there came across this barn. It was late in the afternoon and the way the sun was shining it almost looked purple. I stopped the car took the photo and knew I would use it one day. The barn reminds me of the amazing work by my favourite painter Tracy Helgeson and her beautiful barns. I've long admired her work and I do think I'm her biggest fan. Oh no, wasn't that what that psycho Kathy Bates said to James Caan in the movie Misery. Yikes! She's going to think I'm a crazy now. Hopefully she won't read this. Ok, back to the piece as my nerves are causing me to ramble incoherently. The barn, sky and road are painted in acrylic but the trees and grasses are completed in thread.

Sisters

This piece was another inspired by the beautiful greenspaces around where I live. John and I sometimes go walking through the Simcoe County Forest on a Sunday afternoon. Lots of opportunities for inspiration and photos. These two trees seemed to appear out of no where as we rounded a corner but their proximity to each other was fascinating to me. Another piece in which a snapped a photo and knew I would use it for one of my artworks.

Well, let me just take a moment to thank everyone who reads this blog for your kind comments and email messages regarding tonights opening. Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated. If any of you are in the Midland area tonight between 4pm and 10pm, please drop into the gallery to say hello. I'd love to see you.

I'll be back on the weekend with lots of updates and photos.

Taking a Mini Vacation

Benched 11"x14"

Work in Paint & Thread

I'm off to Toronto today to spend some much needed time with my Mom and my sister. We won't do a whole lot but right about now that sounds perfect to me. Probably rent a movie tonight, order some yummy chinese food, sit around and laugh and be silly. When the girls headed off to school today they wore rather confused looks on their faces as to why I wouldn't be coming back home tonight. They are so used to having me around.......who else knows where their green socks are or where they put page 4 of that math project that is due tomorrow? John is an amazing father but he too seems a bit confused when I'm gone as to where everything in the house is located. One day when I was driving my oldest to work at 6 a.m. (yikes) in fog that was as thick as pea soup...... I was almost in tears as I am terribly frightened of driving in bad weather........yes, Kelly I said it. When we finally arrived my daughter took my face in her hands, stared at me in all seriousness and said "Please drive home carefully, if anything happens to you our whole house would fall apart". Oh..........to feel needed.

A Painting A Day

GoldenSOLD

Image Size 4"x3"
Double Matted 8"x10"
$100.00>

Spring

Some amazing weather has just begun here in Ontario and I for one couldn't be happier. Everyone I run into just seems to be in a better mood seeing that the long, cold winter we've just experienced is drawing to a close.

I picked up my artwork this morning for the Carriage House Show and I just couldn't be happier. Diane took each one out to present to me and I felt the chill start at my toes and eventually work it's way to the top of my head. I just couldn't believe the work could look that wonderful. I'm not going rattle on again about framing as I did that in my last post but suffice to say.........I am one happy girl.

Below you can find the before and after of "The Village". It started out with a plain white mat and a brown wood frame. Here is before minus the frame because I couldn't find a shot of it........just imagine that there is a brown wooden frame around it. The size was originally an 8"x10" but is now a 16"x12". It goes without saying a photo can never take the place of seeing it live.....besides I'm not a great photographer either as you can see by how lopsided the photo is.

Sure Signs of Spring

Seeing laundry on the line has always been a sure sign of spring to me. This is my neighbour's laundry but John put up our line today so come tomorrow, which I hear is going to be warm, you'll find me outside with my wooden clothespegs hanging clothes. We have been experiencing some fabulous weather lately.........this past winter was one of the longest I can remember.

We now even have a cleared path to the compost which may not seem that important to some but it was a real slog making your way down there with all the snow. Looking at this photo does remind me that we desperately need to stain the deck this spring......yuck!

Meanwhile on the art front, I am posting another piece in progress as the last one I posted got tea spilled on it. When will I learn to ever learn not to bring drinks into the studio and place them on my work area? At least I wasn't that far into it. So this will be the piece I'll be posting in various stages of progression. Right now it is just basic roughed in acrylic on cotton. I think the only section of this piece I'll not threadpaint will be the sky that way the trees will seem quite three dimensional against the flatness of the blue. Hope everyone's having as warm a weekend as I am.

See ya!

Stillness

SOLD Work In Acrylic Paint & Thread

Image Size 3"x3" Double Matted & Framed Under Glass 6"x6"
$100.00 plus $12.00 S&H

This piece is finally back from the framer. As always, all art looks better live and in person especially textile art as a jpeg can't capture the texture and three dimensionality of the artwork.

I'm really pleased with how this piece turned out. The reds show brilliantly against the black bark of the maple tree and the creamy white of the birch.

I'm currently working on a fairly large piece for the "Carriage House Gallery" show. It is a landscape with plenty of trees in the foreground as well as the background surrounded by a field of lavendar. It is just in the beginning stages but I'm working on it fairly steadily now so I'm hoping to be done in a couple weeks.

I saw the optomitrist this morning for an eye test and new glasses. I chose a pair I really liked which the guy who was helping me called "edgey"....yeah, that's me....edgey. No, wish it were but can't say that is the word that best describes me.

Still snowing here.........................

Sleepless Nights, New Ideas, Great Dinner Parties

Last night I tossed and turned for what felt like hours. My head was just buzzing with new ideas and possibilities for work which was of course good just not at 11pm. So as I lay there I tried the "deep relaxation breath"...nope, still not feeling tired after 82 of them. It crossed my mind to try counting sheep but come on.....does that really work? When I eventually got around to trying to visualize the only visualization I could summon up at that moment was me working in my studio so at around midnight I gave up the fight and headed in to work.

I received an email from Carol Currie yesterday at the Carriage House Gallery. A textile collector bought my piece "Two" on Saturday night and would like me to contact her with the possibility of acquiring more work. Fabulous!!!! Carol also wants me to think about either participating in a group show or doing a solo show with the gallery this year. No wonder I couldn't sleep.

I also started thinking about what piece I would enter into the Zephyr Gallery's "International Women's Day Show" which is fast approaching as well as a juried show I'm interested in at the ACA Gallery in Toronto. "Bend, Fold and Manipulate" is an exhibit in which textile artists, through their work, will suggest the possible steps in a plan for how we, today, can be coaxed into turning in a new direction so that tomorrow we learn to lay together and interlace our freedoms to handle and manage and live in global peace. I love the ACA Gallery because of their commitment to change in the world. Much of the commission they collect from sold work goes to support social and egological projects. That is something most of us can get behind.

Next post I'll blog a bit about an "Eat, Pray, Love" dinner party I'm giving for eight of my friends at the end of January. Should be a blast. Whatever you do today........ enjoy!

It's Here.....Get Out The Toboggan

Well it finally arrived last night........15cm of the cold white stuff. My oldest daugher is beside herself as she has been waiting for this moment since November. I could have waited a bit longer but now that it is here I will admit.... it sure is beautiful. The view from my bedroom window this morning was picture postcard perfect.

Tomorrow I am off to "A Spa Day in The Village".........that is not what it is called but it is what I've been calling it. Our friends Bob and Marilyn who are moving to Africa in January to begin another chapter of their lives are having a "spa day" as a fundraiser for their Livingstone Theatre Project. They will be offering everything from a manicure to a pedicure to even something called an Indian Head Massage. A light lunch is provided and then on to the treatments. Can't wait............I'll let you know what that Indian Head Massage entails...............

I really love this piece. Don't know specifically what it is but something about it makes me feel good. Maybe it's because the photo that inspired it was taken on a great weekend in Toronto with John and the girls. The man reading the newspaper on the steps of the Scotia Plaza on King Street in Toronto just seems so unassuming. The red of his hat sets of the potted flowers behind him so beautifully. The entire piece is completed in acrylic paint except for the folliage which is done in thread. I've been giving a lot of thought lately to selling my work online. I am still thinking about it and haven't quite decided but it does deserve some serious consideration. I would like to reach a much larger audience than I have with the galleries that I am with. There is a whole world out there and I would love more exposure. I would probably only sell small pieces which would of course be framed. I'll keep you updated.

I received an email from my friend Carol Currie and Stuart Leggett a couple of days ago announcing the opening of their new gallery "The Carriage House" in Midland. Carol is an amazing artist as is her husband Stuart Leggett. Together they have formed Claustro in which they create sculpted paintings. Absolutely beautiful work. Since they are both outstanding artists I'm positive the gallery will be wonderful also as Carol has a fabulous eye for design. Anyway, I heard from her again today asking if I would be interested in having some work at the gallery for opening night. Of course, I said yes. John will drop it off on Wednesday and we'll just have to see how it goes. This may lead to being part of a group show or perhaps even a solo.
Hope you had a relaxing weekend

The Mess Continues

I went looking for my kettle this morning and after ten minutes of what seemed like a fruitless search..........I found it under my bed. This has been my life as of late. I keep telling myself it will all be over in four days but at this moment it all seems quite chaotic. What was I thinking when I made the decision to put flooring in and paint right before my in laws arrive and the Images Tour begins. You could say I was being optimistic or just plain crazy...........perhaps a fine line between the two.
Today is the dreaded pricing day in which I scratch my head a lot and try to figure out what new strategy I am going to use to find prices for my new work. Yuck! I've found from talking to other artists that this is one of the most difficult things to do. Is it too low? Is it too high? Who knows.
I completed an inventory of all the work for the show this morning even though I was tripping over kitchen appliances and shelving. Unfortunately most of the "stuff" from the house has gone into my tiny studio for the time being until the painting is finished. Anyway, I have a list and now I'll just sit with it for the next couple days.
I was also mulling over my schedule for next week.............Thursday looks positively frightening.
This is the way it pans out..........the painter is finished on Wednesday at dinner........my inlaws arrive on Thursday night. Like I said, what was I thinking?
Thursday I have to try and throw the house together........everything back in it's place, curtains and artwork, all lamps, furniture,pots and pans,rugs, books, and shelving. After that I need to drive to town to grocery shop and pick up the turkey, then over to Gary Brierley's to set up my part of the show, then home to start dinner for the inlaws who will arrive around 6:00pm. I'll be serving a big bottle of red wine with dinner that night.
Be well,

Celebration Part 2

When we got down to the beach all of our friends and family formed a circle around us. John's uncle Jim read a passage that he had written regarding love, kindness and strength. Our good friend Bob spoke about what being "a friend" really means. Both of my daughters read a passage that they felt was revelant. One was from the book "The Prophet" and the other a native blessing. Various people spoke from their heart and at times I was having a difficult time not bursting out into tears.

John's family has a family ring which represents their connection to Lake Superior. Everyone of us has one except for my two girls. When they both finished reading their pieces, John's mom and her husband came into the circle and presented the girls each with the ring. Now I really felt like crying. The ceremony ended with our friends Marilyn and Charlie. He accompanied her on guitar while she sang. Beautiful.

Rather than have our guests sign a traditional book we had them leave a message on one of the rocks from the beach.........this way when we are at camp the rocks will always remind us of what a wonderful day that was..........filled with love, good friends and kindness.

Still Basking in The Glow of Lake Superior

I'm finally back from vacation but I left kicking and screaming. It just didn't feel like we had enough time to "just relax"......but I'm not complaining......it was simply amazing.

We arrived at camp on the 19th on a beautiful sunny day. It felt like a wonderful welcoming from the lake. John left the next day with his brothers for a few days of camping and I spent most of the week working out the details for the party which at this point had grown from 30 people to 86. Much of my help came from my sister in law Rachel who was surely my port in the middle of the storm. On the Wednesday we found out our dear friend Tom, a native Cree elder who was to officiate at our ceremony, had fallen ill. Of course our first thoughts were of him and of him making a speedy recovery but now Rachel and I had to put together another ceremony, one of our own making. Yikes!!!

Our friends began arriving on Friday night at which time we threw together a pot luck of burgers, salads, sausages etc. I don't know how we managed to squeeze so many people into our tiny cottage but we did and had fun doing it.

I woke up Saturday morning to a gloomy day and immediately began panicking........yes, we could move the party indoors at the lodge if it rained but I so didn't want to go there. Our ceremony on the beach was to begin at 2pm and I was praying it wouldn't rain. The sun finally began shining but around 1:30 the clouds came back in again. John, being John, said, "it will be what it will be, we can't control the weather". I hate it when he is so sensible in the middle of one of my "freak outs". The picture I have posted is of the pathway down to our beach. At 2:10, hand in hand, we walked down this path to greet our guests and to celebrate.

I'll post more tomorrow...............

Me on TV????

Isn't this fabulous???Here is my new storage unit for the hundreds of spools of thread I own. It was such a crazy story ........I was picking up a few spools of thread (ok, more than a few but I always tell John a few) at my local fabric shop. As I was leaving I saw this unit sitting outside in the parking lot, looking as if it was destined for the garbage truck. I asked one of the salesclerks if I could have it and she said sure as they had decided not to carry Mettler thread any longer and had no need for the unit. Some very kind little old man helped me load it into my jeep (it was extremely heavy) and off I went. With John's help we set it up in my studio and I am overjoyed. The fact that it was absolutely free is an unbelievable stroke of good luck.

Yesterday I did an interview with our local newspaper for an article they are writing on my work. They did a story on me a couple years ago but the editor wanted to really showcase my new stuff and who am I to argue with free publicity. I also got a call from the Communications Director at the local television station to inquire as to whether I would like to participate in a show called "Woman To Woman". It is in conjunction with the Images Studio Tour and is based on my art as well as balancing family and work. I agreed to do it and come September will post about the experience. I just hope when the camera goes on I don't freeze and start rambling on and on about stuff that makes no sense at all. They mentioned there may be a call in from viewers which I find rather strange.......I can't see there will be many people sitting at home wanting to call in and ask me about thread selection etc. ... but I'm up for whatever they have in mind.

Hope everyone's week is sailing along..............