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.

The Courtyard Gallery has been a busy place lately. The art is all in, the task of placement is now in order.

The grand opening is 

Thursday, April 25 7-9 PM

104-907 Belvedere Street, Enderby BC

Hope to see you there

Showcasing the original works of local artists.

Hats, Hats and Hats

Hats have been on my mind lately,  they are much smaller to work with and fit in a big box to be transported to and from home and markets. I had fun with Steve's old worn out jeans designing a landscape around the worn knee. My next project is for the ARTBEAT of Enderby, for more information on the art show fundraiser click on Artbeat. 

Cloche with Garlic scape detail.

Medieval inspired with bleached and painted cotton knit and a rocket on top.

The Bee.

Floppy patchy.

Aviators helmet.

This was a special order for The Healthy Chocolate Company.  This symbol is the Mayan symbol for Chocolate.

The symbol on this side is the Mayan symbol for Healthy.

All together, in the foreground are Celtic belt/headbands, and the big dragonfly hat in the back I am still working on.

Had to have something for the Red Hat Ladies.

Cloche with grape vine tendrils. The fabric was dyed and painted by Anne DeVerteuil.

If you have any hat ideas for your own head let me know..............

Salmon Are Swimming Around Our Fence

The small fence getting it's first coat the primer.

Finally I finished painting the small hay bale fences. For two years I have been fretting and worrying about what I would paint on the fence. I had a few ideas, but the fence is so big I was a bit overwhelmed at the prospects of painting a mural  on the fence. The biggest fear I have to overcome is believing in what I can do. It's one thing sitting up in my attic room sewing or painting but the fence is so public. I really enjoyed talking to people as they passed by and made positive comments on the Salmon.

The Shuswap river is the main attraction in Enderby and the Salmon give life to the river. The Salmon have been feeding humans, bears, eagles for thousands of years. Human greed is causing the Salmon to decline. For more information on what is happening to the Salmon read Alexandra Morton's blog she has been studying fish for a long time. Alexandra is a Salmon Hero. The Norwegian fish farms on the BC coast line are giving the wild Salmon lice, viruses, and creating a toxic sludge under the nets. Don't eat farmed Salmon. I stopped eating the Salmon, it is more important to the Aboriginal, bear, and the Eagle than is is to my diet. River Days are September 30TH what are you doing that day? Respect the rivers they give us life.

This is the first fish I painted on the inside wall of the small fence. 

First color is painted, second color started.

Waiting for the final touches.

Salmon swimming around the corner on our fence.

Alexandra Morton

What's New?

The Fox "N" Star greet you as you approach the new location for the Farmers Market on Cliff Avenue off of the highway. 

The Enderby Farmers Market has moved the last three markets have been on Cliff avenue. Each time they have set up in a different way, last Friday was in my opinion the best. They set up down the center of the street back to back, it was easier to get around and the businesses on Cliff were more visible. It was also wheel chair accessible. We had a big storm on Friday and the Market got wet around tear down time. It poured and the wind wanted my umbrella, I just ducked into the Museum for a brief visit with Naomi the new curator. 

Green Croft Farms

Dalarose has some elegant hanging baskets.

Fun Buns tasty too.

Music of the country

On July 21 Grindrod had a Music and Arts Festival, they set up two stages a main stage and an open mic stage for the 15 minuets in between acts. A variety of music was performed on the stages.  

I set up a booth for the Green Party and brought art stuff I had crowding the corners of my sewing room, to do crafts with the kids. They made pins for Mom, rings, hair doodads, necklaces, dolls, and had a great time. some of them kept finding things to make

The sky's have been interesting lately.

The artistry of the dugout canoe  in front of the Chamber of Commerce is a welcome inspiration.

The traditional Splatsin dugout canoe was carved by Tony Antoine , the rock work was built by Fred Koenig.

Thank you for this historical, finely crafted attraction, adorning our park and Chamber office.

Casa Bella Line Black and White

Princess Reanna in black cotton knit, long two tiered skirt with ruffled detail and versatile ribbed knit waist band. Tank with ruffled detail around neck and armholes. You can not go wrong with a comfortable long black skirt and matching top.

Casa Bella Hair salon at 706 George Street in Enderby BC. My line of clothing will be in the shop till July 27TH. If you see something you like but it's not in your size and I still have the fabric I can make it for you. Here we have the lovely Reanna who works at Casa Bella's modeling a few of the pieces. 

White cotton tank with ruffle detail. Black and white cotton, rayon gored skirt with pockets lined with invisible zipper closure. Reanna loves her pockets.

Black cotton tank with black and white gored skirt, matching purse slung over shoulder.  

Black tank with black and white skirt, matching purse with lots of pockets for all your needs inside and out plus a hook in a convenient place for your keys.

White tank with black and white gored skirt.

Also at Casa Bella's you will find black cotton knit 3/4 length sleeved tops and yellow cotton tanks with ruffle detail.

I am working on new items for the Arts festival Saturday July 28TH in the Maud street parking lot and Garlic related items for the Grindrod Garlic Festival Sunday August 19TH. Hope to see you then. 

Oh yes I will be making hats and head pieces, more garments and whatever gets done. Come with your ideas.

Arty Awards

April 22, 2008 The Abbotsford Arts Council presented the Fifth Annual Arty Awards. People started arriving an hour before the pre-show. By 7:00 the walls of the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium were vibrating with the solid beat of the Blues band Deception; Art Panchisin on lead Guitar and vocals, Gary Huntbatch on drums and vocals, Steve Fultz on bass and vocals and Helen Kahlke on saxophone. With fifty nominations for the ten categories the 360 seat auditorium was close to capacity. I was impressed to see our new Solicitor General John van Dongen among the humble and happy artist's and art lovers.Dana MacMillan Abbotsford Arts Council President opened with an introduction to the Master of Ceremonies, Charles Wiebe, we laughed at all of his jokes even if we were Scottish or politicians. Next on stage were The Bhangra Dancers swirling and stepping with a blast of bright colored costumes and interesting wooden percussion instruments, the smiles on their faces and the enthusiasm in their steps showed the gratification these young men had in their traditional harvest dance. And the winner is; For Outstanding Artist in the Performing Arts-Theater-Sponsored by LINC, David A. Hunt. Outstanding Visual Artist-Sponsored by House of Fine Arts, Myrtle-Anne Rempel. Next up for entertainment was sweet young Country singer Kristal Barrett singing her single "This Time Next Year". And the winner is; Outstanding Artist in the Performing Arts-Music-Sponsored by Web Net Communication Ltd., Sweeny Singers. Outstanding Artist in the Literary Arts-Sponsor Neighborhood Bugel, Robert Martens, "I am from a Mennonite background, I don't deserve this, I'm feeling really guilty." That sums up what has been Abbotsfords attitude for the arts. Outstanding emerging Artist-Sponsor RBC Insurance, The band Good Thief. Karen Lee Batten was back for a second year to wow the crowd venturing from her comfortable country into jazz with "Peel me a Grape". She should venture more. And the winner is; Outstanding artist in the performing Arts-Dance,Yevshan Ukrainian Dancers, three young dancers all dressed in appropriate costume accepted the award. Outstanding Arts Sponsor Award-Sponsor-PCL Construction Westcoast Ltd., Abbotsford Printing Inc.. Last on the program for entertainment were the Abbotsford Children's Theater . They showed great enthusiasm for the fifth birthday of The Arty's and read about famous artists of Canada. They also sat close to the side stage to give the awards as needed and were helpful at the door. And the winner is; Outstanding Arts Instructor or Mentor-Sponsor Q Steak House, the humble Susan Reilly her words of wisdom "practice". Outstanding Arts Volunteer-Sponsor Vancity Credit Union, Liz Carter. And lastly, Outstanding Arts Advocate-Sponsor the MSA Poets Potpourri, Christine Caldwell. "In the past five years we have had more awareness in the arts and culture than we have had in the past twenty years. We are at a cusp of new beginnings with the new arts and cultural center opening soon. Its up to the grass roots to get out and support their kin." Afterwards we all crowded into the foyer for schmoozing and goodies provided by Q Steakhouse. The Arty awards have been instrumental in bringing forth the artists and giving them a face and name, showing Abbotsford we have Art and we are going to grow so look out and step aside the Arts are here!