Back to School

Red Tree

Work in Paint & Thread

Sold

Wednesday we headed off for the (yikes) mall. As you can probably tell by the previous sentence, I'm not that into the "mall" thing but the girls did need a few back to school items so off we went. My saving grace was the fact that my friend Judy came along with her daughters so while they ran around looking for deals, Judy and I were able to sit and have a chai latte. I must admit I've never had a chai latte in my life but I will say it was delicious and I'm sure very calorie laden. Glad I do not live near a Starbucks.

We arrived at the mall around 9:30 and left around 3:00. I have no idea how they can spend that much time walking around looking at clothes. I was awe struck by the amount of teenagers that were carrying in one hand, shopping bags full of clothing from American Eagle, Aeropostal and Gap and in the other hand they were busy texting their friends. When I was a teenager (I swore I would never say "when I was a teenager" and now I'm saying it....how very sad) I got excited when my older cousins passed along their hand me downs. Times sure have changed!

On Vacation...........again!

Feels like I just got home from New York and today we head off to the Grand Cayman Islands. Wow, sounds like I'm quite the world traveller doesn't it? Well, I'm really not. Just happens that this summer has been unbelievably busy for us which is unusual to say the least. Most summers we just head up to our little cottage on the shores of Superior and laze around. But John has a business/personal event scheduled in the Grand Caymans so off we go.

When I get home I really have to give some serious thought to how better to utilize the space in my studio. It is not a happy place at the moment. Some of my older work is just taking up too much room and may have to go. Where? Not sure. I may post it on this blog and see what happens or maybe Etsy. Actually I do have some new smaller matted pieces that I'm going to put up when I get back. Thanks Liane for your email asking about that. It doesn't help to have a blog that talks about Daily Paintings in Paint & Thread when you don't ever post any. Not enough time I guess.........that will be my excuse.

Hope your all well and enjoying what is officially the last month of summer for us here in Canada. Oh, it does pain me to say that............ See ya next week.

The Kettlebell

I was visiting Kelly a few weeks ago and couldn't help but notice how great she looked. Her arms were especially toned and overall there was some sort of change. She told me her secret was "the kettlebell". I in turn, with a dumbfounded look on my face said, "what?". As I understand it the kettlebell is a traditional Russian weight looking somewhat like a cannonball with a handle. The kettlebell has become a popular exercise tool in the United States due largely to the efforts of strength, cardio and flexibility. So Kelly took me downstairs to the basement and showed me exactly what it was as well as how to use it. The swinging it around part made me a bit nervous (she uses 18 pounds) as I could see myself dropping it on my head or my feet. Anyway, Kelly sent me some video links as well as this cool blog on Gabi from Hungary who apparently used to weight 240 pounds and is now some expert on the kettlebell.

So last week I picked one up and started very slowly working out with it. Now a few years ago Kelly and I were working out with traditional weights on a regular basis but I never found my heartrate really getting up there enough to do anything for my cardio. The beauty of the kettlebell is that not only do you gain strength and overall tone but you are also accomplishing your cardio goal as well. Cardio and strength training all in one.......you can't beat that. Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to workout with this thing on a regular basis right now as I'm leaving for New York on Sunday, back for a week and then gone again. But I'll do what I can in the mean time. Now don't look for my arms to rival Gabi's or Kelly's anytime soon as I can't see that ever happening. I think I have genetically inherited underarm sagginess from my grandmother, you know when you wave goodbye to someone and so do your arms?.......but who knows maybe by Thanksgiving I'll be giving them a run for their money. Ok, for sure not Gabi as I'll bet she doesn't eat chocolate.

On A Roll

Reds

Thread on Cotton

Yesterday went better than anticipated so today I'm on a roll. I've decided to tackle our overgrown gardens. Now John was always "the guy" when it came to taking care of all that but he's been unbelievably busy at work these days so the task has fallen upon me. If you saw the backyard you would know it has fallen on me. So this morning I went out and pulled some weeds and did some snipping of deadheads (I think that's a gardening term). There is still a lot to be done but today is a rather wet one and the mosquitoes are out in packs. I feel bad for our rhubarb though as it doesn't always get eaten. Our friend Jennifer who owns "Apple of My Pie" has a booth at the farmers market in Orillia and she sometimes raids the patch so at least in that way someone is enjoying it.

On the art front I've got a couple new galleries I am interested in but the application may have to wait until the end of summer as this one is just filling up too quickly. Check out OENO as it is one of the galleries I'm interested in.

Back To The Studio

This morning I got into the studio.......finally, and started on a new piece. Since the show opened at the beginning of June I haven't spent that much productive time in there. Oh, I've been in there to tidy up a bit and fool around with some paint but as far as work goes....nada. After every show I almost always feel the burnout settling in.

So this new piece is going to be called "Copper Road". First time I can remember a name coming to me before the piece had been completed. Copper Road will be much longer than it will be wide as that is a shape that has always really appealed to me. The top 1/3 will be blue sky.......I'll use cobalt with a lot of white and the trees will be entirely worked in thread. The bottom 2/3 will be much more abstract. I'm planning on integrating a variety of wools (umbers, mahoganys, deep siennas and of course coppers). It will start almost brown/black at the bottom and lighten in colour from there. I think I may throw some silks in too just to add a tiny bit of shimmer.

Here are a few photos of some of my wools and silks

A Wicked and Wild Night in the Village

This has been just a crazy busy week so far. The first full week the girls are finished school and are just "hanging around" the house. Today I drove to town to pick up my sewing machine...."yeah" then came home and drove my youngest daughter's friend home after a sleepover. After that I picked up my oldest daughter from another sleepover and then drove them both into town for a final end of year school party. They have a much richer social life than I. I need to get out more.

Saturday night there was some real excitement brewing the in Village. Around 7:00pm a huge storm blew in with torrential winds and rain. After all was said and done the creek behind my house breached it's banks and flooded two hundred meters on either side. The above photo is of the creek on a normal day. Below you'll find pictures of what it looked like on Saturday night.

Hope everyone is well and thanks so much to all the great artists who took the time to answer my questions regarding oil painting...........yes, Jean I promise to try and have a bit more patience...probably not my strong suit but I'll try.

New York in July

Next month we are headed to Upstate New York and I am unbelievably excited. I found out this past winter that the amazingly talented Carol Shinn was teaching at Morrisville State College
Since New York is just a hop, skip and a jump from me (ok, maybe not that quick but about 5 hours) I decided to take her class this summer. Studying under Carol Shinn is like meeting with a rock star for me. Her work is about the best you can get for anyone who is working in embroidery. Although we both work in thread, she works in it exclusively which means no paint whatsoever. This will be a major challenge for me as I am used to incorporating both of them into my work. John and the girls are coming along as we've planned on making a vacation out of it. I have heard Upstate N.Y. is similar in many ways to Ontario.....lots of rivers, lakes and green spaces. John is an avid fly fisherman so he should be in his glory........the girls no so much but they are hoping there is shopping near by. I've found a beautiful Inn where we'll be staying and since I'll only be in class during the day it leaves lots of time for exploring the area the rest of the time.

Well must run the laundry is calling. I think all day today I'll be singing the "I Love New York" theme song.........maybe not singing but humming for sure.

A Visit From The Plumber

I had great intentions yesterday of getting many things done but instead spent two hours with the plumber. Last week my oldest daughter mistakenly (I don't know how you can do this mistakenly but she did) flushed the toilet paper roll down the toilet. You know the plastic cylinder that the toilet paper roll fits over? She said it slipped out of her hand while the toilet was flushing. Huh? I spent days trying to plunge that thing thinking I could save myself some cash and perhaps begin a new career but it finally dawned on me that I was making no headway with the toilet. The plumber arrived yesterday and tried to push the thing through the system with something he called a snake but that didn't work either. For some odd reason, he too, kept calling me Mel.

He finally had to take the toilet off and set it outside on my deck while he used a coat hanger to try and get that dreaded plastic roll out of the toilet. At one point he said he had gotten one half of it but the other was jammed in there and we may need to think about getting a new toilet. I could see the money I had made at the show on Friday night going toward buying a new toilet and it didn't make me feel very happy. He said he would keep working on it. Tick tock, tick tock...$$$$$$$$$

After another ten minutes he finally removed it from the toilet, raised it above his head and said proudly, "Mel, I got it". Surprisingly enough that was the highlight of my day yesterday.

Here's a few new pieces.... work in acrylic paint and thread

Purple Fields

Red Tulip

In The Distance

Time To Put My Money Where My Mouth Is

My oldest daughter came home on Wednesday night all fired up about meeting Craig Keilburger and hearing him speak. She said it was one of the most powerful experiences she had ever had. I knew it would be as I've listened to him before and he definitely is a man on a mission. It was fascinating to sit around the table and listen to her excitement as she described what that day was like and what it meant to her. She met him personally afterward and said he was unbelievably kind and just exuded such energy and passion. So after all was said and done I began thinking about what I could do. Yes, I've bought the "Me To We" book, bought their "Be The Change" t shirts to give out as Christmas gifts, talked about the organization but I guess I feel I've talked a good game but when it comes right down to it........time to put my money where my mouth is.

I've made a personal decision to choose one artwork per show (maybe two, we'll see how it goes) and if that piece sells, the money will go to funding an appropriate project through Free The Children. I'm going to contact them tomorrow and get all the ins and outs on how to make this happen. I would like to have a small card beside the piece for my upcoming show at The Carriage House Gallery, which will inform the potential buyer exactly what the money is going to be used for. A tax receipt will be issued to whomever buys the work also. It is a win/win situation for everyone. For me, for the buyer, for Free The Children and ultimately and most importantly for the people whom the money will help.

I'm getting off my soapbox now............thanks for reading
Hope your well,

My One Small Moment of Fame

Yesterday ended up being much more fun than I had originally thought it would be. The idea of being interviewed on television - one on one- was unnerving to say the least. I say that as someone who doesn't even like having her picture taken. Ten minutes after I arrived at the gallery three of the folks from Rogers Television arrived for the shoot (that's tv talk). The stunningly beautiful, tall, blonde, Trish who was to interview me, Karen, I'm not sure what Karen did I just noticed she carried around a clipboard and wore very dark sunglasses and finally, the cameraman who seemed to know exactly what was going on and who kept calling me Mel.

I was very conscious of how dry my mouth was which always happens to me when I'm nervous. I was also laughing at other's jokes too loud and too often which is another lovely quirk I possess when the nerves hit. The Rogers people were so very kind and generous that once things got rolling (more tv lingo) I was feeling much more relaxed. Carol and Stu hung up four of my pieces and I stood in front of them as Trish interviewed me. I truthfully don't remember much of what I said.......I hoped if I was babbling too incoherently they would just pack up and go home. In the end it all worked itself out in the wash, as my mother would say.

Because they were actually filming a show that dealt with the arts community in Simcoe County and not a news interview, they informed me they had to shoot an intro which was to take place outside. It went something like this:

Trish is walking down Midland Avenue talking into the camera about the Carriage House Gallery etc. etc.

I come walking out to the street and say "Hi Trish"

Trish says, "It's Melody Madden who has a new show coming up at the Carriage Hill Gallery". We do this little acting spiel about the show and she says "Let's head on over to the Gallery to take a look at your work"

We both run across the street and disappear into the gallery. A nice wide shot of my butt running and I'm sure jiggling as well. This was the major "cheese" factor of the whole day. Trish's acting was great.......I looked like a deer in the headlights as I couldn't stop looking at the camera. It was that damn light.....it was like a magnet.

So I guess that was my Andy Warhol "15 minutes of fame". When I got home I found that the cat had puked on the floor in three different spots........back to reality.

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.

Spring Morning

John and I were up early on Mother's Day and seeing that it was such a gorgeous morning we headed out for a walk. Here are a few photos................

I've got a full day in the studio today ........ need to get to work on creating some of the smaller pieces I'm going to include in the show.
If you have time check out Hollis Chatelain.......amazing artist. She works on cotton with fiber reactive dyes and thread.

Dumb Little Man

One of my new favourite blogs is Dumb Little Man. I check in every day to see what's been written and what I can learn from it. It is described as follows........."Each week we provide a handful of tips that will save you money, increase your productivity or simply keep you sane". A couple days ago I read the post "Open Your Eyes To Blind Giving". It was so beautifully written and so resonated with me that I had to read it a couple of times. If you get a chance, check it out..........kindness is such a small gift to give but is returned to the giver time and time again.

Hope your well.............

A Painting A Day

GoldenSOLD

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