Monday, March 09, 2009

Artfest Preparations

So at long last, some art for all my faithful readers. I have been chipping away at preparations for Artfest. It always amazes me that it takes me about a month to hunt down and gather everything I need for the classes I am taking and get it all organized and packed. I know some folks pack the night before and that leaves me dumbfounded. How do they do that?!?


As it is, I have already had a couple nightmares that I've gone to Artfest and arrived with no supplies. How crazy is that!? The other morning, my son woke me up just as I was dreaming that I was in a class and we were about to learn how to make a book with a wooden spoon as the binding mechanism. I was so annoyed that I didn't get to finish that dream!


Anyway, pictured above are some luggage tags I made for my trades. I did similar collages for the Artfest ATC book. I like the image of the girls that I used. I chose it because I think the curly headed girl looks kind of like me.


For those of you not in the know, this year's theme is "sea monsters". I'm not much of a sea monster girl, so I went with more of an oceanic theme. Living on the west coast, I have a deep appreciation for the ocean. I spend alot of time walking along the sea wall in my beloved Stanley Park and beach combing whenever I get the chance. It's a favourite pastime.

I also made some magnets from some of the ATCs I've made over the years. I didn't make as many trades this year as I have in the past. I've just been too busy.


I've also been working on a housemates exchange that I host every year for the ladies I room with at Artfest. This year we're doing something really cool. I will post it after I get back-I don't want to spoil the surprise.


This is the journal I made for my trip. I whipped it up today and it's Moleskine size. I like the smaller format, as I tend to like to glue things in that I collect in my travels and make brief notes about what I learn in class. I'm not heavily into writing longhand in my journals. I find that my problem has always been that my hand can't keep up with my thought process, which is why I prefer to blog. Anyway, this little book should do the trick. The Octo on the front is something I drew (be kind-I am not that kind of artist!) for an article I wrote for my friend Tina's zine. She creates zines as her AF trade and they are wonderful.


Lastly, this is a journal I made for a friend who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. I have a thing for vintage medicine labels (I own about 300 of them!) and I thought she might enjoy having a place to record/reflect/vent about the experience.

I mailed it to her and she got it late last week and said she really likes it. I hope it will help her cope with her treatments. There's nothing worse than getting news like that. She's being a really good spot about it, but still, it's not the kind of thing anyone ever wants to go through. I hope this will bring her some comfort.



This weekend, Indy, my sweet, sweet boy is celebrating his first birthday on the Ides of March. (The 15th.) He's grown so quickly, though he's not as big as some breeds of Labs are. He weighs in at a respectable 60 lbs. so far. I don't think he's going to grow much bigger, but he'll likely fill out a little. He's solid muscle as we exercise him alot-lots of walks, lots of time playing at the dog park. It sneauxed here this morning and so we took him out in the yard to roll around in it. He loves the white stuff-he should have been a rescue dog.

My best friend loves Indy so much that she and her husband are getting a puppy from the same breeder. Indy's mum was bred this weekend to the same dad as Indy had so soon they will have one of Indy's siblings for their very own. I am excited because it means I can enjoy another Lab puppy without all the work! The puppies are due in late May. I can't wait to see them!

Okay, time for me to sign off. I am so tired I think my eyes are going to fall out of my head. Off to dream about Artfest some more!






2 comments:

Karenann Young said...

Your journal for ArtFest looks great! I had heard that a lot of people were doing ocotpuses (sp?) You did a great job!! The journal for your friend was very touching.

Sherry said...

As a breast cancer survivor I think what you made for your friends is wonderful. You think "what can I get?" "what can I give" and mostly what we want when we are going through the treamtment is love, support, words, laughter, a hug -- just to know others care. This journal has been created with love and it will offer your friend what she very much needs...the opportunity to write about how she feels, questions, concerns, the things that she is grateful for in her life...all of which is so very important. What a blessing you are to your friend! Sending her good wishes and blessings on her journey. I'll be at my 4 year mark since diagnosis in a few months -- it's a one day at a time journey!