Latest Creations

My latest creations are ready for the Arts Festival! They are made with three layers of laminated wood, some are plan, some are macrame with stones and some I painted. Now to finish packing for tomorrow. The festival starts at 9:00 am Saturday July 25th 2015. The rain we have been asking for is upon us, I will embrace the challenge of "vending in the rain". Hope you can make it!

Reasons to Celebrate!

Today's bouquet 

I was on a roll, heading into my 119th day of no seizures, every day was a celebration. The last two years from January to June I have had 8 seizures in those time periods, each. This year 2015 from January to June I've had three seizures, less than half, more reason to celebrate. Friday the 10th of July my friend Angie and I were heading to the Farmers Market, I didn't make it, a tonic-clonic seizure overcame me in front of the church on Mill Ave. My friend Karina just happened to be there and a woman named Kathy came along with water and drove Angie and I to my place, all two blocks that I could not manage with a twisted up ankle, short circuit of the brain and the platform sandals that added to the twisted ankle. Today is Monday and I am still a bit sore, when I have a seizure like that my whole body is tense like a cramp and it can be sore for days. Flailing around on the sidewalk I  scraped up my ankle and elbow, even tho a blanket  and coat were placed under me, with great difficulty I can only imagine.

As I go into a seizure I always have a profound awareness  of something we all strive to understand about life. In those brief moments I can only watch and wonder as I slip away falling in and out of reality. When it is over and I wake from the exhaustion of it all, it's gone, lost to my confused brain waiting for the memories of the last hour to slowly return.

At 41 Celsius for days, my body was stressed and the neighbors love whatever it is that spews forth chemical perfumes which seam to expand in the heat  and permeate my house, meaning I can not leave my windows open at night or I am inundated with chemical perfumes that make me ill. The smell sticks in my nose and it won't go away. The neighbors singing doesn't bother me but most of the time he is cursing what ever is in front of him, yelling for his wife or his son, yelling at the many dogs just being dogs,  he doesn't seam to be able to do anything with out cursing , long streams of potty mouth. Stressful.

The bracelets getting a coat of Varathane.

I have been getting ready for the Art's Festival, working on some wooden bracelets, sometimes my ideas feel like a train wreck spewing out of my brain, with so many ideas I will have many projects I will be working on in a day. The race is now on, what will I finish in time for the Art's Festival? I lost the last three days. Lucky I have a lot of art to fill up my booth not just the bracelets.

http://enderbyartscouncil.ca/arts.html

July 25th downtown Enderby hope to see you there!

Little Treasures Art Show at The Courtyard Gallery

Can you believe November is here. This morning the temperature was below 0, 6 degrees below 0. I was happy to have the hand me down snow pants from my daughter Yolanda. She stopped wearing them when she was 10. They keep me warm, that is what matters.

Sunday the 9th I took a large box of my art work into the Courtyard Gallery 61 pieces, photo greeting cards, small fabric zippered and lined bags, for jewelry, makeup, travel, great for small gifts, watercolors, wood and acrylics canvases. One of the Artist and writer Howard Brown built a tree to hang the glass painted ornaments, I hear it is beautiful, and the gallery is jam packed with small canvases, pottery, felting, glass, wood, books, jewelry, and much more.  

It can take days just to prepare a canvas. This 8 x 10 is being prepared for the small canvases with the dragonfly and flower.

Saturday the 15th is the opening of the show, after we vote for whom we feel is going to do the best job for our community, we plan on hanging out at the gallery. Virginia says she is bringing chocolates, how can I not go. 

The finished work.

This 8 x 10 canvas has many layers of experimentation, creating interesting textures and crackling effect. I painted what I saw in the textures.

4 x 4 canvases. Steve was sitting at the table admiring my small canvases and he started laughing. He said "It's like a totem, that tells a story, went for a sailboat ride, walked on the beach, had a heart attack.
  

I took this picture on November the 11th, In memory of my nephew Ian, this morning the flowers were frozen.

Hope to see you at the show, enjoy.

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. 

"Whimsical Soul"

Marc Ferland with his Guitar case

Marc Ferland, Montreal Born , Enderby Artist, puts “Whimsy and Soul” into His Work.

In Alert Bay, at 25 years of age Marc started an apprenticeship in carpentry. He fell in love with carpentry, it kept him grounded and gave him a comfortable living. He works well with his clients and through his suggestions he has helped them to create wonderful living spaces.

Working motivates Marc to be an artist. At work you are doing what your client wants you to do, but in your studio you can do 100% what you want to do. Wood is one medium Marc likes to study, copper fascinates him, his studio is full of his works in acrylic, soapstone, clay and repurposed old stuff. He is inspired by nature, getting out of town, off the road, paddling a canoe up the river, gives him back the vivid colors of life that you lose when you are surrounded by city walls and noise everyday. Marc loves being surrounded by other artists and music is also an inspiration.

Marc likes to share his knowledge in a spontaneous way, it's important to help the younger people that don't have the judgment and can listen to your ideas with an open mind. He would never want to teach in a structured setting but would like to do workshops, maybe how to do curves in wood?

Marc feels his greatest achievement is his friends. Sometimes he has to pinch himself in wonder at how he has so many good friends, “We spend a lot of time laughing at me.” He also wants to be himself and not to copy someone else; he knows inside he has something that no one else has. “Don't look for treasure in someone else's back yard, find the treasure inside yourself. Don't listen to the voices that say No, you can't do that, you don't have the money, the time, the materials. Art is about doing it.”

“Find the treasure inside of you, and work with what you have.”

Marc is a member of the Courtyard Gallery; for more information on the gallery, go to www.courtyardgallery.ca

His work melts into his hands. August 4, 2013 In the Courtyard of the Courtyard Gallery.

Wow, 300 people walked through the new Courtyard Gallery in Enderby on this full moon evening. Take a deep breath and smile. Thank you all.

It was a long path to get to last night, from years of talk about it, to lets do it, to a lot of hard work and dedication. This is a group effort, the Gallery will be open today Friday April 26, 2013. Displayed is a variety of art, paintings in water color, acrylic, oil and mixed medium, jewelry of glass, semi precious stone and bone, sculptures of once upon a time chairs, paper  mache dragon,  flags of global and ancient water symbols, photography, felting, and more, you must go see. Hours are 11:00 to 4:00 Tuesday to Saturday. But if you can not make it on those days, let us know, we can work something out.
For more info about the artists check out Courtyard Gallery

Hope to see you there.

A small Vertical Garden

I have been inspired and in awe at some of the amazing vertical gardens I have seen on line. I wanted one for my yard and thought I could make a small one. Rummaging around  the second hand store I found a wire frame for making wreathes and a bit of plastic netting. In the shed we had dry moss and soil, up the street in a crevice I found some interesting moss, in the garden I had some succulents and a low growing creeper that crept over from next door.

The wire wreath frame with the plastic net wrapped and wired, ready  for the  garden contents.

A paint tray full of Hen's and Chicken's, moss and the creeper.

The frame ready for the plants. I started with moss and then soil.

This gives you an idea of the size in relation to the paint tray.

Complete.

It sat for a week or so flat, establishing its roots before I hung it. 

After a couple of months it looks beautiful, I even cut some of the babies off of the large succulent.  

The plastic net doesn't hold up so good in the sun, and the whole thing is slowly moving down, but it was a fun project and a lovely small vertical garden that thrived the hot summer. When it gets cold I will put it on the ground and next year I can rearrange it and figure a better wrap.

Art's Council Celebration of 20 Years

Today March 10, 2012 I attended the Enderby & District Arts Councils Celebration of 20 years. Julia Armstrong's harp music greeted me as I walked into the Senors Center. Around the room was art, art of many mediums, done by all ages.

Jeanette Martin was happy to take memberships, Steve and I are now members. The pictures were done by A.L. Fortune students.

The cake was pretty! A celebration isn't complete with out a cake. 

A thirst quenching punch.

I loved the Foot Penguins from the kids at the Schihiya School

We were entertained by the Popoleka Balkan Choir

Stephanie Nakagawa, Soprano & Joni Chan piano, well done performance. Karen's Endless Blooms provided the flowers and plants.

Howard Brown 2012 "When a Chair Goes Bad".

Chest with Painting 

Marc Ferland with his guitar shaped chest

Julia Armstrong with the Harp she built.

Julia and her harp with Marc's chest and Beverly Mitchell's button blanket in background.

"Sticks & Stones Pottery" Sue Saloka the presentation pieces.

Thank you to all the busy folks who put this on and I wish the Art's council many more productive years.

Enderby Arts Council Web page

The Art Social

Mattie after the party was over he flaked out from all the excitment,  and possable droppings of food.



Molly brought Daffodils

  Carrot ginger soup was on, chips were hovering in the bowl ready to be dipped into the hummus, punch was cold with pinapple cocanut Rooibos, cookies were sticky to the plate, art was hung. Folks started arriving.



We had art all over the house including the newly painted bathroom with a new low flush toilet




Art in the hall




Art in the livingroom





Steve's sky painting adding new dimentions to the kitchen




Trading cards. Our neihbour Lewis Zanleou, Greig Crokett our Green Party Candidate, and Don Richmond




Greg Crockett and Molly Bell doing a mock interview with an air mic.




The flowers from Karen's Endless Bloomes

 Eleven people showed up to admire the art, network and eat great food. Barb brought cinnamon buns which went into the oven right away, but once they came out they didn't last long I think it was the hint of Almond. Greig was answering questions and being gentle on his throat, he has done a lot of talking lately and has a lot more to do.

It's funny how a party will end up in one room, at one point we were all gathered in the kitchen around the stove and around the table. It was a good day, and I will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow I go to Vernon to do my volunteer job for the Green Party. Green's need a voice in Parlamont please give use that voice by voting Green. Or just don't vote and nothing will change.

If you were wondering how the sale went for our porch fund, the fund ended up in the toilet. We traded a painting for labour to put in the new toilet. I can cross that off my wish list, and we are saving on water! Thank you Jason.

http://www.okshuswapgreens.ca/