The Gypsy Life

So here I am at the hotel and trying to somehow get settled in. I don't know if that is possible though. We are in a regular hotel room until tomorrow when we hope to be able to switch to a room that is actually a suite. Ever tried to cook a dinner in a 2 ft. x 2 ft. space? The sink is teeny-two plates and two cups and it's full! I am definately learning about doing more with less.

In the meantime, I am trying to continue to meet all my art commiments. I have one more class to design PDQ and that's going to be a challenge sans a computer. (My only access at the moment is in the hotel lobby and all my class stuff is in my hard drive at home, under a tarp.)

I am trying to make do and hoping the restoration guys get cracking tomorrow. It is really stressful not being home and waiting, wondering and worrying about what's going on there. I am definately a homebody. So far they have been running a dehumidifier all weekend to dry the moisture in the floors and the walls. I don't know what comes next, but probably ripping more wall and concrete out. *cringes*

That's the latest in my world! Thanks to all my local friends who have offered their help in a variety of ways. You are all gems and I really do appreciate it. Also thanks to everyone who has emailed with their support. You have really lifted my spirits. xoxo ;)

Disaster

So this is my bathroom. (A picture is worth a thousand words.) Basically what started out as a small leak turned into a Pandora's Box of epic proportions.

What this means is we are now homeless for the next 3 weeks. We spent last night at a friend's house (Thank you Lisa & Lance!) and the remaining time will be spent in a hotel.

The restoration guy says they will be tearing out more wall, part of the ceiling, all of the concrete and god knows what else. It might also extend into the hallway. Minimum of 3 weeks to fix it and make it livable. The house is a disaster-crud everywhere, dust, household stuff. It's filthy. I would cry if I had the energy. This is hugely stressful.

Anyway, I am posting this in case you try to email me and I am slow to respond. I am not sure how often I will be checking email since I won't be home except to grab provisions. I also don't want to run my computer while there is so much dust-I am afraid of the dust ruining it. (And where would I be without my beloved computer? Utterly lost, that's where!)

If you do need to get ahold of me, just email and let me know-there may be a lag time, but I will do my best to get back to you. Please be patient while I slog through this disaster. Thanks.

Welcome to My World

No art has been happening the last two days because I have had a 6'3, Irish clairvoyant plumber here with a jackhammer tearing my bathroom apart. O Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are corroded.... Sound like fun? Not!

When the dust settles, I hope to resume normal programming. Until then, I will give you a topic:

"Altered art-excuse to hoard junk or the ultimate way to recycle?"

Talk amongst yourselves.

Delighted

I got an email the other day from Laura-Ann at Cotton Ginny. I had had a bit of trouble with the colourfastness of an article of clothing. Normally I don't have any trouble with the clothes I buy from CG. I have been shopping there for 19 years. Their stuff is exceptionally well made, comfortable and stylish which is why it's the only place I have bought clothes since I was 15.

Anyway, I emailed the company and Laura-Ann was kind enough to help me sort it out. Sorting it out meant she tracked down a replacement shirt for the one that had been ruined and sent me a gift card to cover the replacement of the one that ran and was no longer in stock.

It was a bit of fiddling to get it sorted out and I appreciated her taking care of it so I made her a small collaged post card (vintage sewing themed) as a thank you and sent it to her. She emailed me to tell me she had received it and really liked it. A couple of her coworkers had photocopied it so they could have it posted in their workspaces. *hee!* I am happy she liked it.

Anyway, if you are reading this Laura-Ann, know that I really did appreciate your help and good humour about the whole thing! *waving to you in TO!*

Looking Ahead

The countdown continues folks-I just checked the calendar and there are only 24 more days till Artwerx!! I am *so* excited to be going. Not only am I going to be taking two cool classes but I will get to spend time with some really great people-friends old and new. (Which for me is the best part!)

I am currently working away at a new class I will be teaching next month on visual journalling. It's coming along nicely and I have to say the process of playing with paint has been fun. I have also been booking classes for the fall. It's a real blessing to be doing what I love.

STILL waiting for Somerset Studio's latest edition to hit the stands here. It was out in the US in mid June and here we are in late July and no sign of it yet. VERY frustrating! Last edition, they only shipped 200 instead of 2000 to Canada so copies were like gold-if you could get your hands on one. I think it's about time I emailed them to enquire what's taking so long. By the time we get them here, it's old news!

Anyway, I must run! No rest for the wicked! (Now that would be a cool art piece!)

For Ken.

"It's not the length of the life
Or the depth of the grave
In the end we'll be measured
By the love that we gave."

Updates!

I just posted some new pictures to gallery 1-some altered bottle caps that I made into "danglies" for a swap I am doing at Artwerx next month. They were fun!

Also, I have posted some Yahoo Groups to my links page in case anyone is interested. I will add more as the spirits move me. You just never know where I will be nosing around.

Hope you are having an artful weekend. I have been nosing around at flea markets and scored some cool vintage stuff for artmaking. Wee!!

Art Lessons #263 & 264

I have learned two things about art this week:

1. You know that saying that is something about genius being tinged with madness? Well I now know that comes from not being able to find a specific art supply when you need it, even after tearing the house apart looking for it. This is how it happens people!

AND

2. You become a starving artists when you get so engrossed in the creative process that you forget to eat or drink anything for 10 hours. (You may also forget to pee, but that may be TMI!)

*hee!

Exciting News!!

I am very happy to share with you that I have just joined the Artists In Residence Design Team for Papier Valise! I am so pleased to be invited and have the opportunity to work with Janice who is one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I discovered her wonderful company last summer at the vendor's night at Artwerx. She had the most interesting odds and ends for art-making; little tiny compasses, gold wings, charms, lockets and so on. At the time I bought a whole bunch of goodies because she was Alberta based and I knew I had to get what I wanted while the getting was good. This year Janice launched a web site for Papier Valise so now everyone can enjoy her wonderful products and let me tell you, she is Johnny-on-the-spot with her orders!

If you want to be "in the know", come join the Papier Valise Yahoo Group. You will be among the first to know when new products are available and to hear about upcoming art challanges.

Papier Valise also has a section for profiling a featured artist called "Artist in the Atelier". The current artist feature is Jeanne Germani from St. Albert, Alberta whose work features very clean lines and a rustic flavour. If you haven't checked it out yet, go look!

Anyway, that is my latest big news. You can look for inspiration from the Artists in Residence at Papier Valise starting in the fall. I can't wait to get started!

It's the Small Things

Yesterday I finally got my hands on a copy of Rage, the latest novel by my favourite author, Jonathan Kellerman. I just happened to read the jacket and lo and behold he now has a website. So I checked it out this morning and there was a place where you could submit comments/email to him. I thought "why not?" and then emailed him to tell him how much I enjoy reading his work. A few hours later, there in my inbox is an email from the man himself thanking me for my comments.

I am impressed-not only a great writer, but also a nice* man who actually takes the time out of his busy life to read his emails and respond. I am hugely impressed. It's good to know there are famous people out there who are kind and humble. I think the quality of humbleness (or is that humility? Ack! I don't know!) is highly underrated.

In any case, I have added his website to my links page if you are interested in checking it out. I own all his novels and I can say I they are worth every penny. So if you are looking for a excellent crime serial, read his Alex Delaware series. There are enough novels in this series to keep you reading through the end of the year if you start at the beginning. (Also assuming you devour books like I do. My husband claims I eat books for breakfast.) Happy reading!

*I mean nice as in Canadian view of nice-here nice is a high compliment!

Happiness is...

..an unexpected packet of goodies in the mail. My friend Jaylene had offered to send me some ephemera for a class I am taking at Artwerx and I totally forgot about it. Apparently she forgot too till she saw it sitting in her studio and mailed it with many apologies. The thing is that I never think of something like that as being late. I think of it as a perfectly timed gift and it was. I was surprised and delighted to receive it today and most grateful for her generosity. These are the things that make my heart smile.

The package that came in the mail today. 

All the goodies! Everything from book pages, to bingo cards to labels to playing cards! 

Art Goals

On January 1st, I made a list of art goals. These were just things I wanted to do this year for my own satisfaction. Seeing as we are now more than 1/2 way through the year, I thought I would look at the list again and see where I am in accomplishing things.

1. I would like to make one shrine. *Not yet!

2. I want to try a beeswax collage. *Not yet!

3. I want to do a circle journal project. *In progress-True Colours Journal RR with friends.

4. I want to swap art with a few friends I have not swapped with yet. *I have done a bit of this, but I would like to do more.

5. I want to add to my art book library. * I have added 4 books so far and a couple more magazines.

6. I want to make soldered slide jewellery. *Not yet! I am hoping after one of my classes at Artwerx I will know how to do the soldering.

7. I want to do more collaborative book projects. * I have worked in 3 and hosted 1. I have another one I am currently hosting.

8. I want to attend Artwerx. *I am going!! YAY!!

Not bad! I only have 3 things out of the 8 that I have not managed to do yet. No, not bad at all! Actually, I am surprised that my list was so short. Usually I have a list an arm's length long that I bulldoze through. Hmm...it's pretty satisfying to know I got this much done!

The Colophon Cafe in historic Fairhaven in Washington State. I just love this area with all the brick buildings with wooden floors. This is where I had lunch on Thursday. 

My beautiful lunch. (Clam chowder, cheddar & Swiss cheese and French bread.) I forgot to take a pic of the dessert I had, but this was delicious and I loved how they presented it on this butcher block plate. 

New!

I finally found some time to create some link buttons for my website. If you would like to have a button to link to Tattered Edge, you can now find one here. There are 4 to choose from. Please right click and "save as" to save to your own hard drive. Enjoy!

For Your Reading Pleasure

I keep meaning to mention that Papier Valise now has an Featured Artist interview posted for your enjoyment. Their first Artist in the Atelier is Jeanne Germani. It's always interesting to read about other artist and see how they came to be artist and what inspires them. I hope you will go check it out!

Update!!

At long last, I have uploaded the pages from the Abecedarium collaborative book project. You will find them on my Friends page. The book came out beautifully, thanks to Penn who hosted and all the talented ladies who participated.

The new collaborative project in the works is called "Thinking Outside the Box" and will be created using photographs of cemeteries, as well as interesting obituaries and epitaphs. As I mentioned before, I have always found cemeteries to be both interesting and beautiful. I have wanted to do a book on them ever since I saw my friend Kelly's gorgeous photos of an abandoned cemetery in B.C. There was lots of enthusiasm for this project and it will include photos taken all over the world. (All original photographs.) I can't wait!!

Weigh In!

One of my favourite magazines, Cloth Paper, Scissors is conducting an online survey about their publication. If you would like to give your 2c worth, here's the link. It will only take a couple of minutes and I am sure they would appreciate hearing what you have to say!

Cemeteries

So this morning I went on a photo shoot in the cemetery in Ft. Langely. If you are wondering why I am traipsing around taking pictures there, it's because I am collecting images for a new collaborative. I have always thought cemeteries are beautiful and interesting. I remember as a kid visiting the grave site of Louis Riel in St. Boniface, Manitoba. It was part of our history class and I loved reading all the headstones.

Most of the gravestones towards the front of the cemetery in Ft. Langley date back to the late 1800's. Some are so old there is nothing left of the engraving. A few have been repaired. I couldn't tell if the damage was due to vandals or just age. One thing I found rather odd was that there were several old graves that were on top of trees. By "on top of" I mean that the headstone was pressed right up against the tree. I wonder if the person who placed it originally didn't realize how big the tree would get and that it would be so close to the stone? It just looks odd.

Anyway, the fun part about taking the photos was that I got to try the sepia setting on my digi cam. I had intended to shoot in black and white, but the sepia actually looked better-it just seemed to be a better fit for what I was shooting.

I have two more cemeteries I want to visit so I can have a variety of photos to choose from for the project. I would also like to do some rubbings of the headstones. I can't wait to get this book together. I know it's going to be really interesting with photos from cemeteries all over the world in it.

July 4th

Happy 4th of July to all my neighbours to the south.

Have a safe and happy holiday!!

Over the last week I have had a couple of wonderful opportunities come my way that I am excited about. I can't share them just yet, but take heart, as soon as I can, I will.

Still waiting for everyone far and away to recieve their Abecedariums so I can post pictures of the book to my website. Wait till you see all the beautiful work!! I keep looking at my book and marveling over all the letters.

Just over a month away from Artwerx. I can't wait. I am so excited to be taking classes with Sally Jean Alexander and Nina Bagley. I am also going to finally get to meet Janice from Papier Valise too! *squee!* I think It's really important to fill the well up every once in awhile. As artists we tend to work in isolation, in our own homes. It's good to be able to get out and commune with other artists, share ideas, look at each other's work, ask questions and learn new things. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to doing just that. I think it will generate lots of new ideas for me. How many more sleeps?!?!

Don't Adjust Your Eyes!

Yes, I have been playing with the look of my blog... again. LOL! I just wasn't entirely happy with how it looked. Then I found this cool template and this is IT! I really like this one and plan to keep it for some time. YAY!

If you are looking for recent archived posts, they will be towards the bottom of the archive listings. This one works with the most recent being listed last. I know that some of the photos I posted yesterday are already on the archives list in case you missed them.

Okay, enough fiddling! Enjoy!

This is a bag made from recycled juice boxes from the Phillipines by a womens cooperative. The juice boxes are not biodegradable so this is how they decided to put them to good use. The bag is virtually indestructable and I have seen them all over the Net. I am so pleased I finally found one! 

Tugs moored near the Quay. 

The view of Downtown Vancouver as seen from Lonsdale Quay. 

Fresh shell fish. 

Oysters. 

Prawns. 

Catch of the day. 

Gotta get me some of that!! 

No Canada Day is complete until you've eaten a Beaver Tail. 

July 1st!!

Bonne Fete Canada! Happy Canada Day!!

Am I a proud Canadian? You bet!!

I am heading out shortly for the day, with trusty digi camera in hand, so hopefully I will have pictures to share with you later today!