Long Time, No Post!

It's been ages since I've update and you're probably wondering if I fell off the face of the earth. Almost. I am hanging on by a thread. I became quite ill just over 9 weeks ago and have been either in bed or off having specialist's appointments, MRIs and blood tests ever since. This week alone I had 6 appointments in 3 days. It's still up in the air what exactly is wrong and how it's going to be treated and no one is more anxious to get this figured out than me, so I can recover and get my life back. This is the worst attack I've ever had, whatever it is and it's been brutal.

 As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans."

Let's talk about other things, shall we?

Okay so here are the things that are rocking my world right now:

Listening To:

Spotify! First of all, why didn't anyone tell me about this!?! You guys have been holding out on me! I am late to the party, but I am loving it. It replaces what was Pandora for Canadians. (I had Pandora years ago till some bright light decided to block it in Canada. We still don't have access.)

My go-to play lists include the wonderful Mandolin Orange. Worth checking out if you enjoy mandolins and folk music. (I love both.)

Little Words

 Rounder

Jump Mountain Blues

 Of Which There Is No Like

Wake Me

 Clover Tune

Haste Make

 Bird of a Feather

Daylight

Little Worlds

I will be adding more of their music when I get a spare minute because honestly, it's all wonderful. Great tunes to make art to. I listen on an endless loop and never get tired of it.

I also love acoustic guitar and there just happens to be a play list called "Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals" that I've subscribed to. That one is also really good for getting into my creative groove. When my husband heard one of my other play lists that I compiled myself he said "You were meant to be born in the 60's." I laughed. He's right. 60's & 70's music is what I tend to listen to the most. Probably not too surprising, since I was named for a Donovan song.

Artsy Inspiration:

I've known about Brian Andreas' art for some time now, but lately, I've rediscovered it through Instagram. He's been posting such beautiful, uplifting work in the face of all the ugliness that's we've been bombarded with as the world seemingly goes off the rails. If you need a break from all that, I recommend following his feed.  (@brainandreas) It will make you feel better. We need more people like Brain in the world. Love needs to be louder. Let's get LOUDER people!!

Brian posted about this project he's started where you order a print of Help Wanted and he will also send you small packet of 3x3 mini prints to give away, as a way to put some love and inspiration out into the world. When I saw the print, it spoke to me so strongly. It was the perfect way to commemorate my 40th year of volunteering. I totally understand what this magic is he's talking about-when you open up your heart and say "YES!" to the ways in which you can serve, the universe will keep presenting you with amazing opportunities. It's the law of attraction. I have experienced this over and over throughout my life. Volunteering has both enriched and informed my life in countless ways.

Yesterday, I covertly gifted my first mini print to one of my specialists who has been working really hard to advocate for me. I put it on her desk and then just tucked it under a bit of her paperwork so she wouldn't find it till after I was gone. I want to leave one for her receptionist who has been very kind to me too, but I didn't get the chance to leave it secretly yet. Next time, hopefully!

I need to see if I can get my hands on some of Brian's books. I'll have to see if our library system has any of them.

Dawn DeVries Sokol has a new instructor video out via Creativebug. I watched it the other day and I just loved how she not only talked about, but showed all the colours, shapes and textures she encounters in her every day life that inspires what she creates as an artist. The video is so infused with colour and I thought it was a really smart way to share what she does.

Later that day, I had time between appointments, so I popped into the big book store downtown and came across three of Dawn's books on the shelves. I always like to try and get photos of friend's books in the wild. I know if I had a book out there in the world, (someday!) I'd love to see it on shelves in cities far away. I also "face" the books, if they are spine out on the shelf so others will notice them. (Shh! Don't tell! I volunteered in the library growing up, so old habits die hard.) It was nice seeing they had a copy of Artists' Journal Pages, which I have work published in.

I had a $20 gift card which was was a thank you gift for consulting on a study UBC is doing about patients who have participated in the medical grant review process. I didn't expect a thank you, so it was a very nice surprise. After seeing Dawn's video, I was inspired, I treated myself to Year of the Doodle. It's got a sort of zine-like vibe and I think it would be a good thing to keep in my bag to help pass the time when I am sitting in the waiting room for medical appointments. All I need is a pen of some sort and I'm good to go. I'm just going to jump in at this point in the year and carry on. It cost me a whopping 94c after the gift card. That's a deal any way you slice it!

Watching:

Since I have been stuck in bed for weeks, I've watched a lot of good stuff on my iPad. The list is long...here goes:

Game of Thrones-The last two episodes were jaw dropping. It was more like watching a movie than a tv show and it deserves all kinds of awards. It was absolutely epic. The music, the story lines, the multiple moments of shock. WOW! Tyrion made me cry. He is my absolute favourite because he just tries so hard and there is always that sense of him feeling "less than". The vulnerability of that character played so beautifully by Peter Dinklage tears at my heart. If George R.R. Martin ever kills him off, I'm DONE.

Orange is the New Black-I watched the newest season, but somehow I can't remember parts of the previous season, so I need to go back and review. A few of the story lines had me confused about what came before. The snoring girl cracked me up and all the references to current TV programs were killing me. They made a comment about Monopoly that had me in stitches.

Wentworth-It's like an Aussie version of OITNB, but not funny-it's very dark in the most delicious way. That's all I'm going to say about it. Watch and see.

Wayward Pines-This is a post-apocolyptic series that is filmed right here in Coquitlam and also out in the Fraser Valley. One of the places they film at, Riverview Hospital is a place I drive by regularly. It's a decommissioned mental hospital, which is used in all kinds of TV and movie filming.The driver of the Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary medal bearer van, (whose blog I started following back then and then eventually met) is a driver (teamster) on Wayward Pines. He's been blogging about the series here. (There's a bunch of posts.) The premise of this show is interesting, especially in season one where they have you wondering what's really going on. M. Knight Shyamalan is the producer.

Alone: Seasons 1&2 were filmed on the northwest end of Vancouver Island. The premise is they drop 10 people off, each on an isolated beach with film equipment and they have to survive and film at the same time. There are bears, cougars and wolves. There is also weather. Weather is always a factor in Canadal The last one wins half a million dollars. Season 1 was hilarious-the whole time people are complaining about the rain. People! You are in a temperate rain forest in the late fall. Of course it rains. I guess no one told them. They really should have named it "BC Weather Kicks Butt"! 

The Last Alaskans-This is filmed up in the northeastern corner of Alaska on a wildlife reserve where there are only a handfull of families whose cabins have been grandfathered in until the current owners last child dies. The people are really interesting.

Port Protection-Another Alaska series about a remote port where the community members rely on one another. 

Bering Sea Gold-Mostly guys and one woman prospecting for gold on the sea out of Nome, Alaska. I watch to see how someone is almost going to kill themselves every episode. It's pretty silly.

Life Below Zero-Yet another Alaskan series set in Northern Alaska. (Are you sensing a theme here?) Everyone lives off the grid and subsistence hunts. There is an Inuit family on the show and I enjoy seeing how they are passing down their traditions to their children. The girls are all learning how to hunt and trap. It's really cool that this young girls will have survival skills most of us will never have. 

The Amazing Race Canada-Because I love TAR and the Canadian version is just as good. Plus it's hosted by Jon Montgomery, 2010 Olympic Gold medallist in Skeleton and a fellow Manitoban.

Master Chef (US version)-Because Gordon Ramsey amuses me and I've watched every season since it started. I am glad the grumpy chef isn't on there anymore. 

 I haven't watched too many movies in the last while-I just don't have the energy to stay awake for them at the moment, but I did see Concussion which was unbelievably good. I will never watch football or any contact sport the same way again. It explains a lot about how much brain damage athletes are suffering and many of them don't even know it. It sure opened my eyes. Well worth watching. (I rented it via iTunes.) I have rent The Witch and I need to watch that one in the next couple of days. A couple friends have seen it and enjoyed it. I love creepy movies!

Tomorrow my best friend and I are going to see a new Viggo Mortenson movie, Captain Fantastic. It will be good to get out for a bit for sanity's sake, hang out with my bestie and of course eat popcorn! It looks like a really great movie. 

Reading:

Reading has been tough. I am having both blurry and double vision from side effects of the medications I am on, so most of the time, it's pretty impossible. I have small windows of time where I can manage. Right now in the queue on my bedside table are Robert Dugoni's In the Clearing and Linda Castillio's Among the Wicked. I am hoping to be able to make my way through both of them before they are due back at the library. The last pile I had, I had to return unread. I've put them back on my Goodreads "want to read" list so I don't forget about them. 

A number of people have suggested audio books, which I am authorized for at my local library, but to me, reading is an active, not a passive thing. My brain likes to read, not to be read to. I did try it out the last time this happened and I find sometimes the person narrating can be really annoying, which is distracting. In a perfect world, Harrison Ford, Morgan Freeman, John Corbett, Jeffery Dean Morgan would narrate books for me. (Harrison Ford would always be my first choice!)

Okay, I think that's it for now. I have art to share-yes, I've actually been working on some art when I've felt up to it and doing some photography in my travels.
I'll save that for my next post. 

10 Years Come & Gone!

Creating:

Right now I am working on a top secret project, which I will be able to share with you come the fall. It's a good one!

I whipped up some more envies over the long weekend using pages from old Stampington publications and I posted them to Instagram. Stampington saw them and invited me to submit them for publication. I'd better get on that! It's been awhile since I've written an article for them or submitted art. No time like the present!

Speaking of publishing, Vancouverite author, artist & instructor Leanne Praine's new book Strange Material: Storytelling Through Textiles is due out in October. I just saw the cover and I'm excited to get my hands on a copy-it looks yummy! I am so pleased to have a small written piece included in this book.

Watching:

My friend Deb and I were chatting last week and she asked me to check out this new HBO show called The Leftovers. It's a really odd show, edgy as most HBO shows tend to be, but strangely compelling. It's hard to describe-it takes place after a post apocalyptic type event happens and the people left behind (the leftovers-hence the name) struggle to make sense of it. I would recommend checking out the official website and watching the trailer first because I don't think it's for everybody. It's pretty hardcore and graphic in places. (Typical of HBO series.) That said, I am enjoying it because you really don't know where it's going and I love all the twists and turns.

Oh and here are a couple screen captures from the show I was in. One from my one-on-one interview clip. (I am speaking so that's why my mouth looks funny.) 

The other is a shot with me with the cast in Ft. Langley. We did a ton of location shoots over 5 days.

I am also pleased to share that I will be doing some more filming for the UBC Faculty of Medicine's new program, which I have been consulting on. It's for medical professionals already in practice to learn about patient-centred and collaborative care. I did some filming for these courses back in January and I'll be filming as a presenter for the module they are working on now. 

It's really rewarding to know that this will have a direct impact on the future of health care in our province. I love advocacy work-it feels good to be making a difference and I learn so much about myself and from others in doing it. I'm also going to be doing some interviews for the Health Mentors Program over the next couple of weeks.

Listening:

I recently downloaded James Taylor's version of The Water is Wide. It's a favourite of mine for sentimental reasons and his cover is beautiful.  I love James Taylor.

I also saw the movie Begin Again with Keira Knightly. If you saw Once, you will enjoy this one. I downloaded A Step You Can't Take Back from the Soundtrack. It's my favourite track from the movie.

And lastly, before I sign off for now, it seems only fitting to note that as of August 1st, this humble blog turned

10 Years Old!

Hard to believe it's been that long or that when I began, most artists didn't even have a blog. So for those of you who've been along for the ride, whether in part or for the whole 10 years, thank you for your company, your comments and your friendship! Here's to keeping the home fires burning for another 10!

The Best Intentions...

A whole week has whizzed by and I didn't get this posted, despite my best intentions. I had errands to run on last Saturday, down town. When I got back to the car, my husband pointed out the graffiti/murals in the laneway near where we were parked and then proceeded to drive down it slowly, so I could snap some photos. It was really cool! I'll have to go back sometime on foot and take better photos.

Some of my errands were at Granville Island. We had lunch there and did a walk about. This kind of amused me-graffiti outside Emily Carr. Those darn art students are *so* destructive! I actually enjoy finding their art work here and there around the campus. I purposely look for it.

I shot this photo of Indy eating peas fresh out of our garden. It cracks me up! Blur, crazy eye and teeth! It must be said though that Indy is the gentlest and most polite dog and no fingers are ever hurt when giving him treats. He's so good I've let babies feed him cookies or freeze dried fish. 

It really was a busy week-I delivered friends to the airport so they could fly off to Iceland (envious!), I had a Won with One board meeting and I also watched the episode of TV show I was on. This is the show I spent 5 days shooting last year-it finally went to air. I was very nervous about it because it was "reality" TV and it was a very odd experience. I can officially say I've been there, done that. 'Nuff said.

Here are a few token photos from the 5 day shoot. I didn't take too many because our schedule was pretty hectic.

The Producer on the bus PA giving us the break down of what the day's shooting is going to look like.



One of the locations we went to had this beautiful old barn. You can't tell from this angle, but I did get some pretty shots from the front, which I am saving to use in a project at some point. I adore old barns.

Selfie on the bus on the way home. I think this had to be day 3. We were all exhausted. I was suffering through a steroid treatment (pills) which was pretty awful. I must have been out of my mind to be doing tv while having an attack and taking major amounts of steroids which made me quite sick, but when I want to do something, I *DO* it. By day 4, I just wanted to be home in bed and on day 5 I spent the whole day reminding myself it was almost over.

I am about to launch into working on a secret project, which I will share more about in the fall. Meanwhile, speaking of steroids, I'll be spending 3 days next week at the hospital having infusions again. Not pleased, but if I want to keep using my hands and my left leg, I have to go do it. My summer is being taken up with hospitals and specialists and tests. Fun times! It is what it is. Autumn can't get here fast enough!

A Funny Thing Happened To Me...

A few weeks ago, I entered a photo contest. The idea was to post a photo that made you think of home and to write a short piece about "Home is...".
So I submitted this photo:

...and didn't even give it a second thought. A few days later, however, I had an email from the Knowledge Network who was hosting the contest. They said they had a question about the image I submitted, as there was talk that was a copyrighted image. They said it didn't look like a photo that was taken by me, that it had come from somewhere online and could I confirm where the photo was taken? They were concerned that I had just gone to "images" in Google and downloaded it. Yikes!!

To say I was stunned, was an understatement. I have never had someone imply that work I've submitted wasn't mine. So I emailed them back and assured them that the work was indeed mine-the photo is a selfie I shot up at one of the lakes where I often walk Indy, so it doesn't get any more personal than that. In fact, I sent them the link to the blog post where I first shared it.

I also sent them photos of the progression of editing the image and another selfie, this time shot out at UBC with me wearing the same shoes, socks & jeans:

They believed me, thank goodness. I can't imagine someone submitting a stolen photo to a photo contest. That would just be foolish-it's so easy to check something like that out. I told my best friend about the whole thing and she thought it was kind of awesome. I suppose it is, when you think about it-apparently I create real commercial quality images...I think I'll take that as a compliment.

Anyway, the upshot of it all was that last week, I got an email saying I'd been chosen as one of the winners! My prize was two tickets to an advanced screening of Take Me Home which features 36 BC artists, athletes and personalities sharing what home means to them and a reception afterwards.

Last night my husband and I went to the advanced screening and had a great time. The MC, as it turns out, is a fellow Winnipegger. As I was listening to him talk about where he calls home (the North End of Winnipeg) I was smiling and nodding-home is that intimate knowledge of where you come from and the common experiences of that place. I not only heard his words about my hometown, I connected with and deeply understood them.

 The series of films for Take Me Home were so beautifully shot. As an artist, I really appreciated the care taken in crafting of each piece. They were all, in their own ways, visually stunning. The people who they chose to feature were incredibly interesting. There were poets, (like my all-time favourite, Shane Koyczan) Paralympians (Josh Dueck and Donovan Tildesley) authors, astrophysicists, hockey players, Olympians, landscape architects, singers/songwriters and more. What I really loved was seeing just who calls British Columbia home. It's so inspiring to know you are surrounded by a community of creatives and dream chasers.

Afterwards, there was a reception, which we attended very briefly. On our way out, we crossed paths with Donovan Tildesley and had a really nice chat with him. We traded business cards and he was amused by my Moo card-he could tell right away, it was different!

If you get the Knowledge Network, I highly recommend watching the 3 part series that premiers November 14th at 7:30 p.m. (PST) 

I'll be tuning in. I hope you will too!

What's Going On

Hello again! Well, the *secret project* has been completed. I know a number of you are dying to know what I've been up to but I can only tell you this: I spent 5 days shooting for a TV show. Everything else is hush-hush for obvious reasons, but I'll let you know it's going to air, when the time comes.

Glad to be home now, as I am in the middle of having treatment again and it's pretty miserable. I've been in bed the last few days just trying to get through it. On a positive note, I mentioned last post that I won tickets to see Shane Koyczan (whom I adore!) at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival so I'm looking forward to that on Sunday. I'll go even if I have to drag myself there. I'm not missing that for anything.

I'm finally getting an MRI on my wrist fracture today. It's been 3 1/2 months since I broke it. I am still wearing the splint to protect it. It's not healing. I have no idea when I'll get to see the surgeon though. Good thing I'm not in any pain!
{cue dripping sarcasm}

I got an email this week that I won a two hour scooter rental for two from the good folks at Cycle BC, so a friend and I are going to embrace our inner scooter girls and have an adventure when I am feeling a bit better. I've always wanted to own a scooter so this will be a good chance to see if I actually like riding one. For years, I've had visions of driving an orange scooter (the colour of orange crush!) with a side car for Indy. (Because as you know, dog is my copilot!) I could totally see him wearing doggles. And yes, some of my ideas are a little "out there" but who cares? I embrace the wacky-it's what makes life interesting.

Lately

Creating:

Sadly, I haven't been terribly creative the last few weeks. We've been so busy dealing with his and hers medical stuff that I haven't really had time. I am slooooowly working on some more houses like these in collaboration with my friend Lisa in New Zealand. They are coming along.

Reading:

I've been eating books for breakfast again. After suffering through four optic neuritis attacks since February, reading is a luxury I won't ever take for granted again. 

The best book I've read recently is It's Not About the Medal by three time Canadian Olympian, Leah Pells. Her story is a beautiful testament to the resiliency of the human spirit. It's heartbreaking in so many ways, but also ever hopeful and definitely inspirational.

I'm diving into The Devil's Elixir by Raymond Khoury now. If you like Dan Brown, (The DaVinci Code) you'd like Khoury's novels. I've read everything both men have written.

Watching:

Bearing Sea: Under the Ice, which is a crazy show. Essentially it's about a bunch of miners in Nome, Alaska who are dredging the Bearing Sea in winter. Every episode is a Russian Roulette game of "who's going to have a brush with death in this week?". On a recent episode, one of the divers was on the bottom of the ocean and suddenly he was asking himself "Why am I smelling smoke?!?" Next thing you know, he's panicking and coughing like crazy because he's having trouble breathing. There was a fire on the surface in his operations tent and the smoke was being sucked down his oxygen line. Nothing like nearly dying of smoke inhalation on the bottom of the ocean! Every week it's something crazy like that. I can't stop watching!

Ice Pilots NWT, which is a favourite. It's one of the best Canadian shows on television. It's about an airline in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories that flies WWII-era planes. The planes are gorgeous and there's always some crazy adventure happening to the crew. The holiday cliff hanger was fantastic!

Listening:

Let Her Go by Passenger. There's something I really love about this song. I think it's the wistfulness of it. 

Anticipating:

New projects, new opportunities in the new year. No idea what's around the bend, but I'm ready for it! Bring it on!

Dreaming:

Oddly enough, I am dreaming about spending a day at the movie theatre. I want to see the new Anthony Hopkins film, Hitchcock. I was so amazed when I saw the trailer that I didn't recognize him at all, other than his voice. Whomever did his makeup was brilliant! 

Olympic Giveaway Winners!

Why are the mascots celebrating? Because EVERYONE who entered the giveaway is a WINNER!!

Yes, all 6 of you: Melanie, Ariane, Edmontonjb, Blogmaster, Tedtopping and G please email me (tatterededge {at} shaw {dot} ca) your snail mail addys so I can send you your swag! 

 In the interests of not ruining the surprise you won't know which goodie you won till it arrives!

Thanks for playing everyone!

***

And if you haven't seen my CTV 1 year Olympic Anniversary segment, here it is:

I am hoping those of you who are outside of Canada can see it. I'm not sure if you can due to copyright laws, so let me know!

The Magic Mailbox, Olympic Anniversary Edition

(Copyright Brian Williams & CTV)

A couple weeks ago, when I was communicating back and forth with Tracy, the producer of the upcoming CTV Olympic 1 Year Anniversary special, I mentioned that I'd long admired Brian Williams. It just so happened that she works with him and forwarded my email to him with the nice things I'd said about him in it. The next thing I know, she's asking for my snail mail addy because he wanted to send me something. Yesterday, this signed photo and a lovely card arrived.

Yes, my fandom includes a certain Canadian sportscaster. I am sure that surprises alot of people, but there are alot of quirky things that make my world go round and Brian Williams is one of them. Here's why: He made me fall in love with the Olympics.

My whole life, he's been the voice of the Olympics. He's covered 13 of them in fact, which is kind of mind boggling, really. Anyone who knows me, knows that when the Olympics are on, there's no point in calling me or asking me to do anything for the duration. I'm glued to the tv, night and day and if it's on in a difficult time zone, then I'm taping while I sleep and watching during all my waking hours. Everything stops in my house for the Olympics.

Brain Williams is what makes the whole Olympic experience special. When he talks to our athletes, his warmth and caring comes across. You can tell that the Games are his passion, not just some job assignment. He is warm and kind to everyone he interviews and he presents the story in such a way that even if you're sitting home in your pyjamas, you feel like you're there and a part of it. He represents Canada in a way that makes us proud. (And I am especially proud that he comes from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winnipeg has had some mighty fine exports over the years!)

It's because of him that I grew to love the Olympics and that love grew into a dream of someday participating in the Games. When the Games landed in my own backyard, it inspired me to apply to volunteer and that led to the best experience of my life.

I got to see and do things other people only dream about and ultimately, I got to carry the Paralympic flame, which was beyond anything I had ever envisioned. I have story, after story, after story of my memories of the Games and I have him to thank for it.

The fact that he was moved to send me this gift underscores what a sweet and caring person he is. It was unexpected and much appreciated. So thank you Tracy for setting this in motion and Mr. Williams for your thoughtfulness. I will be framing that photo and hanging it in my studio, where it will make me smile every day.

The Olympics; The Gift That Keeps On Giving!

Just over a week ago, I came across a post online, about a call CTV (Canada's national TV network) had put out, looking for people to share their Olympic experiences. As you know, from my previous post, I made a submission. What I did not tell you was that I got a call from a producer in Toronto (hi Tracy!) asking me if I would be willing to participate in the 90 minute, 1 year Olympic anniversary special. Would I?!? Who loves the Olympics more than I do? Of course I would!

After several phone calls and emails back and forth, I was scheduled to meet with a camera crew to shoot my clip on Monday. Monday, turned out to be a wash-literally. We had a record rainfall (practically a monsoon!) and the outdoor location we were planning to use was impossible. It would have been like Shamus O'Toole doing the Vancouver version of News from Away and surely, I would have needed a nor'easter! Tracy called me and saved me the trip in. We rescheduled for Wednesday.

So this afternoon, I headed downtown to Jack Poole Plaza to meet up with David and Jeff. When I was waiting on the platform for the skytrain to take me into the city, some Asian tourists came up, asking for help with directions. Clearly, the Blue Jacket has made an impression-it means something to people around the world. I'm kind of proud of that.

See how beautiful the day was? And yes, that is a "pixilated" orca, an art installation at the plaza with the beautiful North Shore mountains in the background.

This is where the outdoor torch is. It's going to be relit on February 12th to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the Games. One thing that cracks me up is that lots of people refer to it as "the cauldron". It's kind of odd because there's nothing bowl-like about it. It's a torch, formed in the same shape you make to start a campfire. But still, people call it a cauldron.

When I arrived, David and Jeff were just finishing another segment. We chatted for a few minutes about how the light had pretty much gone from this location. It's bordered on the land side by high rises, so as soon as the sun starts getting lower in the sky, shadows start to fall on the plaza. I mentioned what a shame it was that the weather had prevented us from shooting at the other location, which would have been spectacular. They thought about it for a moment and then asked if I had time for us to go there. I sure did! We hopped in their car and whizzed over to the other side of the city.

David looking at the raw footage

Where did we go? To the big Inushuk* on English Bay! There's a panoramic view of the ocean and mountains there which is why I was more than happy to make the trip if it meant I could have that as my backdrop. It's so beautiful and there was still plenty of light.

The only thing was, there was also a noisy bit of construction going on right bedside the monument. *rolls eyes* David set his camera up while Jeff scared the lone seagull off his perch on the inushuk's head. I got wired for sound and then we began shooting. Or tried to. Just as I began to speak, HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK!!! A dump truck decided to move on out and let the entire neighbourhood know it. There was nothing to do but laugh and wait it out. It seems that once you intend to film, you attract all manner of loud, random noises.

Once things settled down a bit, I got a few takes in, then it got noisy again and so we had to wait, again. David changed up the shot and we did a few more takes. He and Jeff were really lovely about it-they said they weren't satisfied till I was satisfied with what I'd done and they were both great cheerleaders. I have to say that shooting outside is alot harder than shooting in a studio. It's easier to concentrate on a quiet set, as opposed to being outdoors with city noise and people stopping and staring at you. I did my best and I hope Tracy's pleased. David and Jeff seemed happy with what we'd done. (YAY!)

I got to have a sneak peek at the raw footage and I know it's going to be edited, so it will probably look alot different from how it looks now. Only 16 days till it airs!

I had a really lovely time with these gentlemen. They were very kind to me and it was fun working with them. One of the best parts of being involved with the Olympics was the opportunity to meet all kinds of people. I've had some amazing experiences and this one rates right up there. I've far exceeded any hopes or expectations I ever held for what my Olympic dream was. I got the dream and then some and I'm deeply grateful and appreciative of that. They guys asked me about my experience and when I said it was the best time of my life, I meant it with all my heart.

So...if you're in Canada and you want to see the special, it airs on CTV on Sunday, February 13th. You'll need to check your local listings for the time. I'll be the one in the Blue Jacket (ha! that's a bit of an inside joke) standing on the beautiful west coast of Canada with the oceans and the mountains all around.

Thank you CTV and Tracy, David and Jeff for this amazing opportunity. I am honoured and humbled to be a part of it and I hope I've done you proud.

*Which oddly enough is actually an "Inunnguaq", if you were going to refer to it by it's correct name. I posted about this here after my visit to Canadian Northern House just before the Games.

Wouldja?

So about a week and a half ago, I made a submission to CTV (which for those of you not living in Canada, is our national TV network.) about my Olympic experience and last night I discovered they have it posted on their website!

I would love it if you would pop on over to leave a comment there.

Really, I would appreciate it a great deal.

 Here's the link.

Thank you, thank you!! <3

Art For the Cure Auctions

Photo by Jeanette Janson

So the Cups for Cancer fundraiser is in full swing and this afternoon I got an email from Jeanette saying that my bra had been on TV in South Carolina! Apparently the curator of the gallery took it with her to share on the local news! I wonder if they mentioned it had come all the way from Canada?

Jeanette also sent me this photo of my bra hanging in the show, which was really nice of her, seeing as it would be a bit of a commute for me to attend. *laughs* I did notice that something was amiss though....

The "hope" embellishment has gone astray. I emailed Jeanette and she said she's going to see if she can find it, as it was on the bra when it arrived at her house. Ah well...these things happen! Hopefully she'll be able to find it and glue it back on. Apparently my super duper strength glue has failed me.

On a positive note however, she also informed me that my bra already has bids on it! YAY! That makes me really happy-the whole point of all this is to raise funds for breast cancer support services, so I was hoping it would do well. It's reassuring to know it's off to a good start!

Remember these charms I made for the Ties that Bind ovarian cancer project?

The doll made the cover of Stanislaus magazine, was featured in Art Doll Quarterly (the current issue, on stands now) and also made guest appearances on a couple of TV shows! How's that for exposure? It was finally raffled off and the project managed to raise a whopping $5442!! Isn't that just amazing?

But wait! There's more news!

Remember these charms I made a couple years ago, along with a button bracelet for A Charming Exchange?

Well those charms became parts of these pieces:

And were published it this book:

and now, at long last, many of these lovely pieces of jewellery from the book will be going up for auction on Ebay with the proceeds to go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, benefiting breast cancer research.

If you'd like to have the opportunity to bid or to learn more about this fundraiser, please visit the Charming Exchange blog for more information and links to the auction which goes live today!

You know, I've always believed that art saves lives and I think it's really an honour to be able to use our gifts to help someone else, even if we never see the ways in which that help manifests. I think of it as tithing to the universe. It's been my sincere pleasure to have played a small part in these projects and I hope that if you can, you will go and bid.

Weekend Snapshot

My friend Tara sent me some love in the mail last week. She created this wonderful piece of work, using stencil and spray paint techniques. Each page is different and it was an unexpected surprise.

Tara's a sneaky one-she kept saying she was making a book for a friend while she was working on it and it never occurred to me that she meant I was that friend. When my husband brought the mail in and handed me the package, I was so surprised.

THANK YOU TARA! It's beautiful and so sweet of you to make this for me. I will treasure it!

My best friend Lisa and I went to Seattle on Friday for a medical appointment she had and we stopped at Trader Joe's on the way home. I am a big fan of their artsy reusable shopping bags. My pals Tina and Pip each sent me one about a year ago that's green and turquoise and has a sort of nautical theme to it. It was love at first sight!

This is both side of the current one they have. Love the colours and art on this one too! The best part is they are dirt cheap-$1.99 each! Gotta love that!

We took Indy to the lake for a swim this afternoon. He loves the water and chasing his water Kongs. He's so crazy for retrieving the Kongs that we found that having two works best.We throw one, he brings it in and we throw the second as soon as he drops the first one at our feet. He just goes and goes and goes! I love watching how fast he is. He looks like a seal and you can hear him chuffing as he swims back with his prize in his mouth. Labs are all heart-they will play till you are exhausted.

Umm..anyone want to roast a marshmallow? Not long after dinner, I heard a fire engine coming and honking madly. That's not too out of the ordinary, as we live near a fire hall, but the honking was a bit unusual. There isn't alot of traffic near the fire hall, so I couldn't figure out at first why it seemed so loud. Then I realized the engine was coming down our street and it smalled to a halt right in front of our house.

I flew outside to see what was wrong and there's this car parked about 20 feet from mine with flames shooting out of it, 5 feet high! Wow! There's something you don't see every day!

Turns out our neighbour was driving home and his car started acting funny. As he pulled up near his house, he smelled something and so he pulled up on the gravel and got out right away to see what was wrong. Smoke was pouring out of his car so he ran in the house to call 911.

It ended up he had to call them twice, as at first there was just smoke and then after he hung up, the car burst into flames. It's a good thing he didn't park in his garage or the house would have caught fire! It took the firemen a good long time to get the fire under control and the smoke was heavy-they all had masks on and at one point, I couldn't even see the three guys who were dousing the car-they disappeared in the cloud of smoke that was billowing out from the hood.

Eventually, they got an axe and popped the hood open and you should have seen how burnt the top of the hood was. You could tell it was a very intense fire. They finally got the fire put out and the car is probably a write off. I am just glad my neighbour was able to get out of the car before he got hurt. He seemed to take it all in stride. He had company over for dinner and they just carried on with their evening. I suppose there was nothing he else he could do really.

Other than that *laughs* my wrist is still in the half cast and hopefully healing, though not fast enough for my liking! I am distracting myself by reading Dan Brown's new novel, The Lost Symbol. It's yummy! There's nothing I love more than a good book and this one is as delicious as The Da Vinci Code. (And yes, I bought a hardcover-I couldn't wait!)

I have to post about the special ATC swap that was filmed for a tv show that I was at on Thursday night. I got a sneak peek at the 2009 Richmond Art Gallery ATC show as well and I have photos! It will have to wait though, as it's hard to type in a half cast. Stay tuned though, it's coming up next!

Tales from the North

I didn't have a pic for today's post, so you get to see my pup Indy again! He's growing so quickly-he's up to 50 lbs. now. That's alot of Lab!

Anyway, the TV interview turned out well, all things considered. It's always so weird to see yourself on TV. Weird but in a good way. I enjoy doing TV, though I think live TV is so much easier.The only downside was that they spelled my name wrong-go figure! Thanks again to all the ladies that came out for the Atc swap and filming! And thanks Peter and Gallent for the opportunity. I really appreciate it. It was fun and I learned alot.

This weekend is a long one. It's Canadian Thanksgiving here. YAY! I already have the entire weekend planned with a trip to a local festival (more on that later), the baking of pies and cabbage rolls and the dinner on Monday. I am hoping to have some photos from our outdoor adventures this weekend for a later post.

In the meantime, I haven't done "the list" for some time, so here we go:

Reading: What it is by Lynda Barry. My friend Penn turned me onto this book and through most nights I am too exhausted to crack it open, I am slowly making my way through it. It's a book to be savoured anyway.

Watching: HOUSE, SYTYCD Canada, Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, Heros, Amazing Race and ER. I am waiting for Breaking Bad and Rescue Me to come back on but they aren't due out till January.

Listening: I had almost $100 in iTunes credit so I have been busying songs as the spirits move me. Here are some of the most recent:

Walter Reed by Michael Penn

Sunrise, by Simply Red

The Thrill is Gone, by BB King

You Make it Real, by James Morrison

Blackwater , by The Doobie Brothers

Seminole Wind, by James Taylor

Legacy by Steve Acho

And a whole host of others. I love being able to buy songs one by one. Unless the entire album is stellar, I prefer to just buy what I will listen to.

Drinking: Lately it's been alot of Chai Lattes. It's getting cooler out and it's just so nice to wrap your hands around a warm cup. Oh and the Pumpkin loaf is to die for!!

Anticipating: I just ordered these from Etsy. I am so excited! I've wanted a pair for a long time and can't wait for them to show up in my post box!

Dreaming: Of going to a special place on Saturday and learning something new. I hope the weather is good and I can get some great photos!!

Doing; Trying to get caught up with work here in the studio so I can have a guilt free long weekend off! (Plus Tuesday is the Canadian elections and I am working it from 6 a.m. till 9 p.m. straight so no studio time on Tuesday!)

Creating: I am just starting a couple of projects. Hosting 2 and participating in one. Luckily they are all so different and will be done at different times, so I can juggle them. Also working on some design work and prepping for a class that starts next week.

Okay, I had better sign off and make the most of the work day today. Back with photos over the weekend!

Hello Again, Hello!

Gather 'round everybody! The interview I did last week with SHAW in my studio and on location in Vancouver (with Penelope, Nancy, Jennifer, Angela, Tammy & Joy) will be airing on The Express on Wednesday, October 8th at 6:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

I have no idea how this turned out, as it was a taped segment, rather than live TV like I did when I went on Breakfast Television back in January. The difference between doing taped vs. live tv is huge! Anyway, I hope it came out well and I'll be watching. If your local, I hope you will be too!

Set your VCRs And DVRs!!

Whirl Wind Week

WOW! It's been a long and busy week here! First off, last night was my interview with Peter Kim (seen here with cameraman Gallant in my studio) for The Express. We started with footage taken in my studio, along with an interview.

I was amused by the reaction the guys had to my studio. They had never seen anything quite like it and Peter said he could see why I would find it easy to be creative in here. I guess when you shoot on location, you just never know what you're going to see when you get there. It's kind of enlightening to see your life through someone else's eyes.

Anyway, after the footage in the studio, we jumped into our cars and drove into Vancouver to the Grind. Peter interviewed me outside first at one of the tables and people driving by were openly staring. Then when we went inside, Gallent filme as dwe swapped ATCs and chatted and it was amusing watching people staring but not staring.

I don't know how people who do TV for a living ever get used to the fishbowl feeling. I really enjoy talking on camera and sharing whatever art I am talking about but it's so different when you are not in the controlled, insular environment of the studio. If nothing else, it provided a unique people watching opportunity for me. I am sure they were wondering what all the fuss was about!

I want to say a HUGE thanks to Penelope Harris, Nancy Sherman, (who got some camera time too!), Jennifer Conway, Angela Fan and Tammy and Joy Hamm for coming out to trade and be on tv with me!! You ladies are the best!

Peter said that this story will air some time next week and he will email to let me know, so stay tuned!

Backtracking a bit, Penn and I went to Word on the Street on Sunday, down in front of the Vancouver library. (Which is not only a beautiful, but interesting piece of architecture.) We walked many, many laps around the building checking out all kinds of books and collecting the freebies our purchased book bags entitled us to. It ended up we got so mush free stuff we had to go back to where I'd parked and offload. I swear those bags weighed a good 50lbs. each!

When I got home, I dumped 2 bag's worth of stuff out onto my bed and my son and I divided up the spoils. It was like the literary version of Hallowe'en trick or treating. FUN! I've always wanted to go to this event, but in past years was teaching Sundays. It was great to be able to finally get there! In addition to all the wonderful swag we got, we were also able to pop by and support our friend Alyx who was doing a reading and representing On-Spec Magazine.

And lastly, Saturday night was my 20th High School Reunion. They held it at a pub and this picture about says it all-crowded, too loud to talk and everyone more interested in partying than in catching up. *SO* not my scene so I cut out early.

The funny thing was that what little conversation wasn't
"How the hell are ya?" but "WHO the hell are ya?" Most folks didn't recognize people unless they were in their own little cliques. Add to that that there were people there who left in grade 10 or so, who didn't actually grad from my school and there were alot of unfamiliar faces!

Well, to my credit, I went, I saw, I likely won't do it again. I doubt there will be anymore-after your 20th, who cares? Seriously, I am not as jaded as I sound, it's just that going to one of these things is awkward and not much really changes in 20 years.

Today I am going to ease into the day with a nice long walk with my puppy around the lake a couple of times, followed by some chai from Starbucks. I have some design work for Hannah Grey to get to and then I am meeting up with my best friend to catch up in the afternoon. Somewhere in there, I plan to grab a nap. It's just been go, go, go, but I love that every day is something new.

Speaking of new, over at Artsmiths, our latest Artist of the Month has been posted. You can learn more about the eclectic, free-spirited Sarah Fishburn this month and if you want to catch up on past AOM features, just click on the archives!