The End of 2010

This last day of 2010 has warmed up from the last few weeks and we were able to take a lovely walk through Kennsington Market. It's been ages since we've gone for a walk and even longer since we've been to the market. I wish I had my camera. We bought some cheese and raspberry tea as well as some sausages. Art is always on the look out for the perfect sausage.

painted by EGR and Horus; commissioned by the Chinatown BIA

Then we went over to Chinatown. Just north of Dundas is a laneway with this mural. Toronto has some great graffiti and I find it very disturbing that our new mayor is pressuring store owners to rid their walls of it. Well, don't get me started...
Anyway, we bought some coconut tarts and wintermelon pastry from the Kim Moon Bakery. What an excellent way to finish the year.

 I wish all of you a Happy, Healthy and Productive New Year

Works in Progress

For the past two weeks I've been buried in the studio, trying to re-arrange it so it works more efficiently. A lot of stuff was moved out but who would know from this picture?
It's easy to get overwhelmed  by the piles on all my surfaces and when I do I sit in my comfy chair and draw. 

 This Right Whale was the first drawing I worked on since coming home from Montreal. I was so pleased with it although it requires a little refining but it, plus the two unfinished ones below, will be amongst the new screen prints I'm planning.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Everyone

As 2010 comes to a close and I think of all that has happened over these months I would like to thank everyone for all their encouragement and support. That, more than anything, has been the most wonderful gift that I have received. What I read between the lines has more significance than any direct statement, and I am truly appreciative.

I would like to extend my warmest wishes 

for this Holiday Season and the New Year coming 

to all of you. 

City of Craft Weekend

This is one of the many images on Becky Johnson's photo page of the City of Craft weekend.  On the left you can see Sparrow Avenue's tea towels and bags. A big thank you goes to Art  for

 all his support and energy.

This picture focuses on the work of Apa Design's  beautiful jewelry. I wish I had been there to see all the great work.

As well, I'd like to thank all the people who worked so hard to put this show together.

Lastbut certainly not leastI'd like to thank all of the people

who came out to support local and handmadeas it was you that contributedto making the show so successful.

 Meanwhile, in Montreal I was greeted by Sandra Dumais of moonandsparrow. Sandra used to live in Parkdale around the corner from us and worked with Aryn, my daughter, at Mitzi's Cafe. What a surprise to see her as my neighbour once again at Puces Pop.

On Our Way Home

We're on our way home from Montreal. Thank you to everyone who came by the booths in both cities. It was a wonderful turn out and so interesting to see the differences in preference of ideas in both cities. 
Montreal is so beautiful and different from Toronto. Everyone walks about regardless of the weather so we did too. And on the way saw so many different shops and fireworks and music on the streets.
Art looked after Sparrow Avenues's booth in Toronto and told me about so much wonderful reception to my work. 
Now that it's over and we're just about at Christmas, I have so many new ideas I'd like to try. Very exciting stuff. 
I hope to have pictures in the next post. Unfortunately I didn't bring the camera to Puces Pop...we'll see if Art (or friends) took pictures.
kAgain, a big thank you to everyone who came out to support handmade.

Puces Pop

Tomorrow I'm off to Montreal. With all the crazy winter weather that's been happening I'm glad I'll be sitting on a train and enjoying a bit of a rest after all the crazy sewing, printing and packaging.
Having said that I hope those of you in Toronto will come to the City of Craft show this weekend. What a great place to find one of a kind works made by local artisans.
The crowds on the weekend should look something like this:

I hope everyone enjoys their last weekend before the Christmas holidays and that you all find such wonderful things to give to your family and friends.

Closer and closer. Have you begun your frenzy shopping? All I have are 2 so far. One just came in the mail from England today! So exciting but I can't tell you what it is...not yet.
These little snowmen were found on Cartolina's blog. (over on the right is a link to it)
Is crazy snowing all day, after "they" said we'd only get a dusting. Well, that's winter. I have to go back to work.

I received a small commission of a pencil case that I've spent some time working on over the weekend. I had no idea there were so many different styles. But in the end I thought the simplest was the nicest. It's up to the customer of course. This is just a sample from a piece of vintage material I had. The actual one will be made of the gorgeous blue linen I have from Montreal.

Speaking of Montreal, I will be going there this weekend for the Puces Pop show. Hold on now, wasn't she just talking about the City of Craft show this weekend??? Well, apparently I'm doing TWO shows on the weekend. Yep. Now I guess all the crazy busy I've been on about makes sense. TWO SHOWS. I guess I better stop writing and get back to work.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Dancing Bear (Part II)

A little bit further along and I just love how they turned out! Almost like the old glass Christmas ornaments. They will be at   the City of Craft show next Saturday and Sunday at the Great Hall, 1087 Queen St. W., Toronto.
Hope everyone has a wonderful and "productive" weekend.

Dancing Bear

  

  Working on a dancing bear for a Christmas decoration. This is the wax model. I'm thinking of having it silver with a red vest and hat. Everything always seems so last-minute this time of year. Yesterday was a lost day as I was flat out with something, now I'm just left with a faucet for a nose. Well, that's the way it goes. Thank goodness it was this week and not next, is all I can say.

They are playing John Lennon all day on the radio; the anniversary of his death. Where does the time go?

New Collages

It's been a busy weekend and if you ask me what I did, I'm not sure I could say other than cutting, sewing, cutting sewing. I'm working as well on some new collages and then two more sold today.

So now I feel the pressure to get more little panels and madly collage and cut and sew. Actually, there was some printing done in there as well because of another wholesale order.

 










These last four are just a few of the new ones. One day I'm going to learn how to do a collage of images so that they appear as one. If anyone wants to volunteer that info I'd be more than thankful.

One of a Kind

Today will be one of crazy cramming. Between sewing and printing, I'm off to check out the One of a Kind show. Years ago I used to do this show; it was nuts back then with 500 artists. Now it's up to 800. Hope everyone is doing well. I always find new work there that is so exciting.

What? December! It's been raining in Toronto for two days now, not exactly December weather and I'm thankful for that! 
My blue whale tea towel is becoming noticed out there what with a little rush on them in that last few hours.