Sparrow Avenue at the One of a Kind 2013

Sparrow Avenue at the One of a Kind Show 2013

The first day of the show has come and gone along with a fair bit of product too. As usual, the Moose are a favourite but the Beaver seems to be attracting a lot of attention too and I'm hearing lots of beaver stories that people have up at their cottages. Art and Jordan did a wonderful job helping put the booth together.

Sparrow Avenue Pillows at the One of a Kind Show 2013

 The vintage chair and wagon look great together. The wagon was another find that crossed my path on one of my walks with the girls last summer. I cleaned up the wagon part but left the wheels all rusty and worn. It amazed me that this would be considered garbage.

Have a wonderful last of November

and beginning of December

weekend.

OOAK 2013 Set-Up

The day started off like this yesterday. It looks pretty nice.
The vehicle was already loaded up; there were just a few last minute things to put in and on the way there I remembered everything that I forgot...O well.

As last year, we were able to park quite close to where we needed to set up and these amazing dollies (you can see in the left foreground) were available for transporting everything. The pictures aren't the greatest; the light was terrible and I was too busy flying around, to notice what sort of shot I was taking.

Things didn't go quite as smoothly as we had hoped. There's always some fiddling that has to be done for one reason or another.

This is only a glimpse of one hallway with everyone in various stages of setting up. This is aisle "C", the one that I'm in. But there are as many aisles as letters of the alphabet...so you can see, it's a huge show.

This is my last fuzzy shot before we started packing it up and calling it a day. Some of my stock is out, the rest I'll have to throw together tomorrow.

The Calm Before the ...Show

The calm before the...show.

The booth that has been worked on over the last number of weeks will be set up later today. It is a funny sort of feeling, a limbo, an in-between, like trapeze artists having left one swing but not having yet caught the other. 

This "still life" is just outside my studio door at the top of the stairs. There are a number of favourite pieces on this old oak wash stand. But the "Chameleon" by Art  perhaps symbolizes how I feel at times like these.

Hopefully I will get to take some pictures of the setting up.

Spilling Out

For the last couple of weeks half the booth has been set up in the middle of the house, blocking most of the light and creating a small corridor from one end of the place to the other.

In the past when my work has "spilled out" of the studio (usually due to preparations for shows), there have been grumblings heard about it. I understand that it is difficult to maintain "house beautiful" (if, in fact, that ever was attainable). There are far too many artists/personalities living here to ever hope for, let alone expect, a semblance of orderliness. At any rate, for some strange reason, I have heard little in the way of grumbling...Could it be that it is finally understood that "this, too, shall pass"?

A Bit of Snow

There has been a dusting of snow as the temperature dropped over the weekend although not quite as bad as this image (taken last March). Still, I like the quiet expectation of these two empty chairs leaning towards each other.

Part of my weekend was spent working on the last bits of signage for the show. I work from right to left for the very practical reason that I am left-handed.

Painting on wood is my preferred "canvas", I have been using it for a very long time as it seems to "talk" with me as I work. I don't know any other way to explain it. Last year I had screen printed some of my animals on wood just to enhance the booth and it was a perfect fit. If you come to the show you will see them on panel boards. And of course, I will have toddler t-shirts too.

Bird Watching and Disappearing

From the studio window I can see the neighbour's roof where the sparrows hang out waiting for their turn at the feeder further down. It's not the nicest backdrop but it does allow me to watch them without disturbing them.

The last weekend before the show will find me finishing off last minute stuff. I like to know that everything is ready; I've been told I don't handle stress very well, hmmmm.... Let's put it this way: if I can avoid stress, then all the better. The last few mornings I have been reading "Diary of a Wilderness Dweller" by Chris Czajkowski. This is perfect as it lets me "disappear" from the studio while I'm still here.  To live where she does would be a dream come true.

Have a wonderful

November weekend.

One More Week

Sparrow Avenue Porcupine Tea Towel

Almost everything is packed and ready to go. Next week exhibitors will be setting up. A huge building will be filled with activity and white noise. Everyone will be busy putting together their "homes", I mean booths, for 11 days from November 28th to December 8th.

But in the meantime there are a number of little tasks to be completed. Office materials to be gathered: pens, bill books, business cards, price tags, packaging, the list seems endless.

The One of a Kind Show almost denotes the end of the year and yet there are a few weeks still to go before Winter Holidays.

Don't forget that you can

purchase

discounted tickets

by clicking on the

red OOAK coupon

on the side bar

The Girls and the Show

She is such a funny girl sometimes. She dances when she is especially happy and excited which usually translates to meal and treat times. There are so many words I have to spell just so there are no disappointments. High Park was a particular treat, I have to say, only because of all the new things to smell.

Sonee was more than happy on that walk, however, she doesn't dance. She has been known to "sing" but only when I'm not around. And she still jumps like a kangaroo especially when I come back from somewhere that the two of them couldn't come. Don't you love how her colouring blends in so well with the trees and leaves?

The One of a Kind is coming up pretty quickly. I'm sure if you've been before you are probably receiving lots of notices about it. Don't forget about the give away I will be having at my booth.

Misty November Part II

There is a large off-leash trail to walk along in High Park. There are all kinds of dogs and people. I always like to see the combinations of dogs and owners some of which are a surprise and some of which are a perfectly delightful fit.

 

As we passed each other, he clapped his hands and smiled so delightedly at the girls. His companion was to pre-occupied with his over-sized stick to pay any attention to them.

Misty November Woods

The last few days have been hazy and overcast but warm enough to want to get away. So when I finished a pile of work, the girls and I disappeared over to High Park. I am thankful there is a place to go (so close to home) where I can almost feel that I am far away.

There are trees that speak of faerie tales, you know? 

In a certain light, it wouldn't be difficult to believe that the trees could walk and talk and that strange creatures live within and only come out at dusk.  It wouldn't be difficult to believe that a parallel world lives and breathes amongst these leaves and trees. No, it wouldn't be difficult to believe if you listen carefully.

As we walked along we could quite clearly hear "who...who...",
an owl, 

although, it was hidden amongst the branches and leaves. The Peterson Field Guide points to it being a Long-Eard Owl with "one or two long hooos". Not a heck of a lot to go by except that no other owl's call is described as such.

Sparrows

When I came home from picking up supplies, I saw that the empty dishes that held the potted plants had accumulated puddles of water for the birds to bathe in. So sweet. I had to grab the camera and capture whatever I could.

Have a lovely weekend.

and don't forget about my little contest if you

go to the One of a Kind 

that's coming up really soon..

Autumn Garden Work

Part of the afternoon was spent cleaning up, emptying planters, washing them out and bringing them in for the winter. The leaves were swept up and put where their decomposing would benefit the garden instead of the road and sidewalks. This time of year, I find it difficult to adjust to the cold but being out in the garden and doing this work feels so satisfying and it's so much easier to ignore my cold hands. 

The girls hung out watching me as well as the sparrows.

 

Different Details

This time, a year ago, we were in the throes of putting together the booth for the One of a Kind Show. Not much has changed except that it's is a new booth with different dimensions and different logistical details to work out. This is the final week for working out those details: display cases, signage, lighting, placement, etc.

It has been windy here and outback, the last of the coton easter can be seen against Art's studio.  The colour combination is striking.

Walk On By

There are quite a few neighbourhood cats, some in better shape than others. There are 'possums in the neighbourhood too (not to mention the raccoons and skunks). The cats have learned not to run away from the girls and the girls have learned not to run after the cats but that doesn't prevent both sides from being ready. 
One evening (it was already dark), the three of us saw a shadow up ahead. I thought it was a bag, at first, then maybe it was one of the cats. Roxy poked her nose at it and was hissed at for her trouble. Sonee did nothing. And as we passed, I saw that it was the 'possum which just watched us walk on by.

November Sky

The November sky over the weekend was certainly all over the map because of the winds. Sun, clouds, rain and clear. Typical pre-winter confusion. 

 It is Remembrance Day today. My daughter told us that when she was downtown the other day she went over to a veteran selling poppies. She said he was quite elderly and that there were a lot of medals on his army jacket. She asked him where he was during the war. He seemed surprised that she had actually wanted to talk with him. He answered that he was in Belgium. Knowing her history she spoke with him some more. But came away saddened that no one really seemed to care enough to ask, they just wanted their poppy and to get on with their day.

Sparrow Avenue "Vintage Moose" Pillow Contest

As I had mentioned previously, I am giving an opportunity to win a free "Vintage Moose" Pillow at the One of a Kind Show. If you are coming to the show there will be a box at my Booth, C55, to enter your card. 
I have posted a number of them already and if you are on my list you will probably receive yours next week. If you aren't on my list and you are planning to come to the show, you can print the above image, fill it out and drop it in the box at my booth. You can also fill out a card at my booth (C55) during show hours.
Don't forget to pick up your discounted tickets for the One of a Kind show by clicking on the red image on the right side bar.

Have a wonderful

first weekend of

November

Unexpected Visitors

Clicking and scratching at the window while I'm trying to work. Tapping and pecking...not the squirrel that came by earlier, not the rain that knocks against the glass on overcast days, not even the Blue Jay who stopped by the day before but flew away before I could grab the camera. Not-a-one of them, but a flock of sparrows on the sill. In the past I've seen them on the roof below but they rarely come to my window. I suspect Mr. Squirrel must have left some tasty bits behind earlier in the morning.

Fox and Elm Leaves Pillow

Sparrow Avenue Fox and Elm Leaves square pillow

There was a little road trip out of town to pick up supplies for the One of a Kind show coming in just a few weeks. If you are planning to come, please click on the red OOAK at the side to purchase discounted tickets.  The Fox and Elm Leaves Pillow will be debuting there amongst other new designs.

Spilling Over

This past Sunday was spilling over with sunshine. I love the brilliant contrast of blues and yellow golds.

The gradation of blues in this sky I hadn't even noticed at the time.

Then there are the copper tones...

Sunday was actually a busy day as family were coming over, even surprise guests all the way from North Bay. So we were busy with eggplant Parmesan, sage chicken (inspired by Anna), roast winter veggies, and field greens salad. Then desserts: lemon sponge cake with strawberries, 2 ricotta cheese pies and a bowl of fruit. 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend too.

Linen

Sparrow Avenue 2014 Year of the Horse Tea Towel

Saturday was lovely: all drizzly and overcast, not at all cold or damp like it can sometimes be in November. It reminds me so much of Algonquin, walking the trails in the drizzle means that you can smell the trees and leaves so much better. Then come back to a warm bowl of soup and bread. What could be nicer?

The linen tea towels offer some of that comfort too in that they have a homespun quality to them. Linen is such a perfect material in so many ways. Most people have the misconception that linen is a difficult and fussy fabric but really it's not. Wash it in cold or hot water, hang it to dry in the sun (linen loves the sun), or throw it in the dryer on a low setting (although dryers tend to "set" wrinkles) and remove it while it's still damp so that you can iron at the hottest setting on the wrong side. After ironing it's best to hang them so that any dampness can evaporate. Ironing gives it a fresh and  "new" look but it doesn't necessarily need to be done. 

The more linen is used, the softer and more absorbent it becomes.

Those old linen tea towels that can be found in second hand shops work just as perfectly as the day they were newly bought. In very old times launderers would lay their linens out in the fields for a dose of sun (which can decrease (and sometimes even remove)) stains. Laying them out in the snow on a sunny day also has this effect. If there are stains, don't use bleach. Try lemon juice or white vinegar with salt and lay the linen out in the sun.

"The Flemish Market and Washing Place" by Jan Brueghel

Linen is a natural fibre, made from flax and is the oldest known fabric. Some of it's other qualities are:

-resistance to fungus and bacteria

-non-allergenic

-non-static

-resistant to the effects of UV light

-stronger than cotton

-due to its molecular structure it can absorb as much as 20% of its dry weight.

The Walls Are Coming

Hey! The walls are being built!  Last year at this time there was no booth to speak of and now this year it's a completely different set up; starting all over again because last year's  space was only 3' x 3' (1metre x 1metre); this year it's roughly 5' x 10'. We are still working out the "bugs", but it's coming.

Another busy weekend.

Hope you have a great one.

**just a small aside: if for any reason

you would like to write to me privately,

I can be contacted at my etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/SparrowAvenue