Flower Focus

First thing to focus on this morning was a small leaf from the weeping birch tree, caught on a blooming echinacea. In the evening, sunflower petals, bright yellow, would not let me pass without playing.

The Voice

Meditating on the sofa at 3 am, I think of my life as being fickle with mediums of various forms. I miss writing this blog, but lately I have felt the need to sing. Music is the silver thread that is woven through my life, starting with my first three months of life, crying at the top of my lungs, keeping the neighbors awake, making my young mother crazy with little sleep. Did I want to be here, was I scared, maybe I was just strengthening my lungs, what better way to get ready for singing? Singing encompasses the whole brain, if I sing everyday will I stop having seizures?

Fathers day has come and gone, Fathers Day, Sunday,  June 15th, 2014 I sang for Dad, myself and my friends. Dad has been gone ten years now, he was my singing inspiration, I loved the concerts he performed with "The King's Men" a male chorus group in Cincinnati. I don't know if they still exist, that was in the 60's and 70's. 

Balkan Chorus left to right Cathy, Mimi, Hillary, Dianne, Jean, Karen and Michelle. Gretchen and Sue were not able to be there. The banner in the back ground says 10th but it was the 13th Peony Tea.

Fathers Day was the 13th annual Peony Tea at the Curly Willow Farm in Grindrod BC. I have been singing with a women's Balkan Chorus, haunting rhythmic a cappella melodies, sizzling around tongue twisting lyrics.  I felt honored to be able to sing a solo, in "Joc De Laegane, thank you for the opportunity to sing out.

The "Peony Tea" is a fundraiser for "Runaway Moon Theater" click here to get to the web site for more info and what "Runaway Moon" is doing for the future. Many exciting and interesting projects to come. Also performing at the Tea was Mimi and her mellifluous voice, Murray MacDonald, Zampopo Flores, and Steve Fultz. The desserts were delicious, I had Dianne's cheese cake with walnuts, yummmmmm. 

Cat, taking donations and handing out scissors to cut the Peonies.

The field of Peonies, the heavy rain the night before spilled some of the peonies to the ground, but there was still enough for all to take home and enjoy an arm load of soft petaled delicate scented peonies.

In the puppet museum this guy stole my attention, with his mischievous, toothless grin.

"June Pole" coordinating the excited and colorful patrons.

Music for the "June Pole" Thanks to Michelle and the rhythm section.

My question is, after 13 years of the Peony Tea why is there still a mud puddle in the middle of it all? Sloshing through the mud of life, Surrounded by the sweet smell of flowers and cake, the sounds of mosquitoes buzzing, energetic rhythmic vocals and guitars, the sights of vibrant swirling colors, energizing the mud that makes us stronger.

Anatomy of a Project

Paper presentation turned into a gift bag.

How does a project start? It's starts with a dream, our perceived wants and desires, a need to make things better. The Enderby & District Arts Council wanted new table banners with their logo and a new splashy design. For my presentation I cut a large piece of paper from my pattern making roll to the size of the table banners, and sketched in a design with colored pencil, an estimate was written up. After the presentation it was rolled up and tucked into a safe place in my attic workshop. Would I get the project? You know how it goes, it all must fit, time passes and finally yes the call comes, let's go shopping for the fabric! 

Karen Desimone was the project coordinator and had specific ideas as to what should be painted on the banners. Karen is a water color artist and her ideas were on small pieces of water color paper with water color paint. Could I expand  her water color designs and turn them into banners on fabric with fabric paint, two very different mediums. Luckily I love watercolors as much as I love fabric painting and understand how the paints work. Next step pull out the presentation and using the other end I sketched out Karen's design to fit the fabric. Next drawing and cutting the many stencils, I keep all the pieces that are cut out, you never know how they many be of use. After the stencils are cut I get to play with the paints and fabric. Karen came over to see the finished sample which I stenciled twice, she loved it. I had to explain, it isn't the real thing this is just a sample. I was happy knowing it was going to work out. 

The three table banners were painted and sewn, each one with it's own character and colors. After all that work the banners needed a storage bag. A friend had just given me a bag of fabric samples from a furniture store and I have been using them. Cutting in half a long fabric tube I glued on the EDAC logo and instructions as to how to roll the banners onto the tube, all rolled up they fit nicely into the bag. At some point I looked at the sample painting and thought it would make a great bag. 

Karen would soon be leaving EDAC as a director, she spent many years working hard to bring art to our community. I felt the bag should be hers as a reminder of what she has done. I look forward to doing another project together. The sample was rather large at 32" by 27", as our friend Virginia Halper  pointed out you could get a large painting in a bag that size. From the sample I created a bag that could be folded and zipped  from the large size into a bag with five pockets a quarter the size of the big bag, a versatile bag for art projects. 

How it would work was a challenge, challenge should have been my middle name. I seem to have a knack for finding them. My grandmother had many sayings, one of them was "Waste not want not." I wasted very little with this project. The paper I used for the presentation was folded into a gift bag to hold the teddy bear for one of the grand nieces. She carried the bag all around the house and slept with the teddy bear. Now I can relax before starting in on my next project which is patiently waiting in the attic workshop.

One of three painted table banners.

Ready to be hemmed, it looks good hanging over the table.

Karen Desimone's design, the new design on the pamphlets and the many stencils it took to paint the table banners. 

The storage bag to keep the banners safe and keep them from being folded, no creases for these banners.

Thanks for the fabric samples, Karen's new bag all folded and zipped.

The two Karen's with the bag from the sample opened to it's full size. As you can see this can hold a large art piece or fold and zip and it holds many small pieces.

As November Comes to a Close

Where has November gone? Being busy getting ready for the "Little Treasures" Art Show is a big part of Novembers demise. My accomplishments are many, yet for some reason I don't feel like I have done much , but finish off series after series on Netflix, get into a morning loop on facebook , get into a morning loop on facebook, get into..the loop. 

The dragonfly's are hung, dazzling the brown wall.

Five dedicated artist spent two days hanging the art show. Saturday the 16TH was the opening and we had rave reviews. The artist at the Courtyard Gallery really outdid themselves for this show. I hope you are able to go and do some shopping for your loved ones at the Gallery. If shopping isn't what you do then I hope you can go visit and take in all that the Gallery has to offer, the inspiration of art.

The cliffs "Winter Cliffs" and "Sunflower Cliffs". Ruth Swenors colorful abstract and Terri Reids "Goats".

The real winter cliffs from our backyard.

It has been cold, by the river the dying grass grows frost in the shadows.

Yesterday I finished a commission that I have been working on for "The Healthy Chocolate Company". When I paint a top I don't paint one I paint as many as I can get on the table. I worked on three. Below are the two tops I painted with the commission. 

Tree Top of random colors, and squash blossom inspired flowers.

Tree Top with expandable paint, giving the tree depth and texture.

Happy Birthday to my Little Sister November 28TH. All the best to everyone, until next time. The road is long, don't forget to relax, and breath deeply along the way.

Peace, Pair And The Dragonfly's

I am loving the colors, the rustle of the leaves, I feel like a child again when I walk through them with glee, the dog avoids me at times of rustling, Come to think of it so does my husband.

It feels good to have my glass ornaments done for the Courtyard Gallery, I like them so much I might have to buy them myself. It also feels good to have the dragonfly boxes done, they are going to look amazing in your house, the hallway perhaps? 

On with the next project, I have a plan, but we shall see what tomorrow will bring.

Mattie is not a poser, but he loves the sun.

Waiting for the finish among the spilled bowl of squash.

From the start.

Peace, Pair and the Dragonfly's.

What Is Your Favorite Art Medium?

 Last night on the way to Armstrong for a Humorous speech contest, I was asked what my favorite art form was. I rattled off, fiber arts, fabric paint, watercolors, foil, wood, acrylics, I couldn't say what my favorite was, but I do like popcorn and chocolate.  Food being slightly off topic, we decided chocolate was an art form, and I will be making vegan chocolate truffles today. I thought I would try them with quince. I forgot to mention photography, I have been busy clicking  flowers still blooming, pumpkins, squash, works in progress. Singing is another art form I love, no favorites, that is why I am the "Master Dabbler" 

I have been busy working with my favorite things, the artist of the Courtyard Gallery are all busy getting ready for "The Little Treasures Show" in mid November,  Courtyard Gallery click the link for more information about the gallery. We had a Monday workshop and hand painted glass ornaments. I have been making rust dyed scarves, painting dragonfly's on wood and sketching for a painting on canvas. Tuesday is Toastmasters, Wednesday is choir practice and the yard is just about ready for winter.

Steve has been busy fixing our leaking car port, It no longer leaks, thank you Steve and his helper Louis.

Small sunflower planted by the birds, the water barrels still need to be drained.

White pumpkin, squash can be so much fun to make into soups, pies, patties and very good for the dog. They make such a lovely arrangement in the kitchen.

Works in progress, wood and foil.

Rust dyed unity scarf, with a view of the cliffs in our back yard.

Lots to do, I just hope I can finish all the projects I have planned. Do you have a favorite art medium? What would that be?

Who won the Humorous speech contest? Enderby's Museum Curator Naomi Fournier. She will be going on to Golden next week, congratulations.

Until December 5 or when we get enough signatures I will be collecting signatures for a petition to hold a referendum to vote on the decimalization of Marijuana. Karina of the Healthy Chocolate Company and I share a booth at the Armstrong and Enderby Farmers Market.  It has been cold in the mornings. 

BC River Days In Enderby

The drummer singing river chants

A big thank you to all the wonderful people who worked at making BC River Days in Enderby a success. Last year I was busy photographing the lanterns and didn't get  to launch my lantern. Cathy Stubington stored about 70 lanterns from the year before and as I was walking around last night I found my lantern from last year and was able to launch it into the river. I loved the drumming and chanting, I had to sing along. It was a happy event with kids laughing and young people on stilts in bird costumes. It wasn't raining.

The precision to the river to launch the lanterns

Fire seams to engulf the grasses

bc