My other "job" is more like a mini vacation.

I've just come back to my lopsided little house from dog sitting for the weekend in a wonderfully spacious, level floored home. The dogs and cats were fun, the location was green and beautiful, and the library was full of art books. What more could a dog sitter ask for!! Next weekend I am dog sitting in a huge Victorian house which is located in a small town with a great downtown main street. FUN!! As both these homes are owned by artists and the place is full of creative energy, I sometimes even manage to get some stitching done, but not this weekend. I sat there like a lump on a log for pretty much the whole time, vegging out after a hectic week.
However, now it's Monday and I gotta get back to my studio...

I'm having a sewing retreat!!

I am in Toronto at my sister's home for a couple of weeks, ostensibly to catch up on some sewing and to help her at two upcoming shows. The first was last weekend at the Momiji Centre, and I ended up having a table there myself so I wasn't much help to Diane!! The Centre is just beautiful, Japanese decor throughout, with incredible gardens and wonderful people. I didn't sell much but it was such a treat to be in a place like that for two whole days. I told them I would be moving into their retirement apartments when I'm old and decrepit, as it is a perfect spot as far as I'm concerned.

June is here already!!

What happened to spring? Does time really fly when you are having fun!! Everyone I talk to is saying that this year is moving along faster than normal, but I don't understand how that happens. Time is not elastic. A 24 hour day is just that, so how can time seem to zip by so quickly ? There never seems to be enuf hours in the day, days in the week to get everything done. Does anyone have any ideas on this phenomenon???
We still don't have all the plants in but the bugs are atrocious at present, as are my allergies so the plants sit, waiting patiently.
Just so ya know, on the 15th I will have lived here in my wacky old house for 19 years, longest I've ever stayed in one place!!!

I am mailing in my 12 X 12 art quilt donation to SAQA this afternoon for the auction. Watch for it when you check out what is being offered. SAQA and it's staff and volunteers have helped me in many ways so I'm really happy to give back a little. If you are not a member you should really check out their website (see my links list )and see all the goodies they offer to members. Quite the organization for sure.

Artemisia Gallery in Westport

I am really excited to be represented again this year by the increasingly interesting Artemisia Gallery in Westport. They are carrying a great variety of beautiful art and eclectica in their second year of showing local art. I am having a couple of fibre art pieces framed by Georgia, one of the owners, ready for the coming years display in the gallery and I'm looking forward to seeing the improvement of the look of my work.
The Land o' Lakes Artisan Guild is having a group show at the gallery this month, so if you get a chance to be in Westport, make sure you stop by Artemisia Gallery, you won't regret it for sure!!

I finally have some pictures of current work !! Hope ya like them.
#1 is Purple Dusk Golden Dawn 16x20 Embellished felt.






#2 is Spirits in the Mist, 16x20. This one has been remounted and updated from 2008




#3 is KOKOPELLI 24x24 Embroidery

Life is speeding up again!!

All of a sudden I am swamped with art related activities. Not sure how it happened but this month, March, I have a show and sale with members of the Napanee Artisan's Guild plus I am guest artist at the Loaf and Ale in Napanee. Next month, April, I am the featured artist at Artemisia Gallery in Westport and in May, Artemisia is hosting members (including me of course!) of the Land o Lakes Artisan Guild for the month. In June there is Art among the Ruins in Newburgh, and so it goes. Guess I'd better get back to the studio, SOON!!

Challenges

I was at a meeting of the Land o' Lakes Artisan Guild tonight and was amazed at the creativity of some of the members. The challenge theme for February was of course hearts, but the pieces that were shown were just amazing. For instance:
Anne Brandly, a bead maker, had created a beautiful, delicate necklace, with coloured stripe glass hearts she had made, and matching earings. Just gorgeous.
Lisa Moses, a mixed media artist, created a heart with slats of wood which were wired together, and hanging from each slat were small hearts in different media, glass, enamel etc. Really unusual.
Lynn Shwadchuck had cut heart shapes from a trashed watercolour painting she had started. She had decided it was too much like a Liberty print fabric and tore it up.
Ken Waller, a wood turner, had made a ridged wheel shape from a hunk of walnut, which in itself was beautiful, but he then made 1/2 inch slices thru the wheel which then created multiple small walnut hearts. Amazing.
Just one word, and so many interesting interpretations of it. (Of course, I had completely forgotten about the challenge!!)

Next month the theme is water, so I'll be looking forward to seeing what is created and hopefully I will make something myself.