Diamond In The Rough

Diamond in the Rough

Just a quick post this morning to share this image I've created from a photo I shot on the Artful City walk on Saturday. Basically, it was a bunch of posters remnants on a wall. Layers had been created from things that had been hung, ripped down and posted over several times.

Some people see a mess. 

I see possibility. 

A photo, some time spent finessing, doing that voodoo I do and this is the result. I think this is one of my most favourite images yet.

A Bird in the Hand

  

Yesterday I went back to Gather for a second day, to take the workshop I won in their giveaway, Sublime Stitching with Leanne Prain. (Leanne is the one in the center of the photo, standing.) 

I've began my artistic life with quilting and needlework, but I haven't picked up a needle in over 5 years, since I lost all the feeling in my hands because of the damage to my spinal cord from MS. It's really difficult to perform fine motor skills, but I really wanted to meet Leanne and I really had nothing to lose.

Leanne is an accomplished author. She's just released Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery. I've read her first book, Yarn Bombing: The Art of Knit & Crochet Graffiti. It's a great book. Leanne is responsible for the yarn bombing movement here in Vancouver. I love yarn bombing-like traditional graffiti, it brings so much fun and texture to our city. I've even got an entire Pinterest board dedicated to it!

Penn joined me for an afternoon of stitching. She chose a couple patterns that reminded us both of Teesha Moore. As we were stitching and chatting, I was reminded how relaxing it is. (This is something you forget when you get busy doing other things.) Time was I never sat down to watch TV without having some handwork at the ready. I think I need to get back to that-I really do hate wasting time!

I chose this bird pattern to work on. Penn immediately commented on all the tiny lines I'd have to stitch, but I don't mind doing the nickety-pickety bits. Everyone was having so much fun, no one wanted to leave and they actually had to kick us out when it was time to set up for the next class! I think people really feel an affinity for the gentle arts-it's a chance to slow down and relax a bit.

I finished my bird last night while watching the Olympics. Not bad considering I cannot feel the needle in my hands! (Imagine trying to do something like this wearing a pair of oven mitts and you'll have some idea of the degree of difficulty.) I still need to press it and then decide how I'm going to finish it. In the meantime, I'm going to start another piece. I have days of Olympics viewing left yet and I might as well get something done while I watch!

All the patterns provided came from Sublime Stitching Embroidery, which has delightful and unexpected designs. They also have some great embroidery tutorials on their blog.

Thanks Leanne for a lovely afternoon! 

I think it's safe to say a good time was had by all!

Gather!

 A few weeks ago, when I volunteered to help with This is East Van's book launch and gallery open, I crossed paths with Cariann who invited me to an event she was putting on called Gather Pop Up Shop. It's an event that boasts some really wonderful art and unique handmade goods for sale, some great creative workshops plus a daily happy hour. It began on Friday, runs through the end of Sunday and then it's gone!

The venue is at the corner of Carrall and Cordova in Vancouver, on the edge of Gastown.

There are a bunch of brightly altered bikes parked out front, so the place is hard to miss.

Pretty windows!

Love this giant lantern!

These are the pop up girls-they rode around Vancouver on those crazy coloured bikes handing out free gourmet popsicles.

This is a really cool art installation inside the venue.

I signed up for an artful city walk workshop with Gabriel Carbrera. We poked around the nooks and crannies of the neighbourhood, taking photos. Most people were using their iPhones and Instagram. Gabriel shared lots of tips and tricks about using Instagram and a variety of apps.I don't own an iPhone (sadly) so I shot with my Rebel. (Which was fine with me!)

Part way though our walk, we popped into a local restaurant, Nelson the Seagull for a bite to eat.

There were expecting us and prepared most delicious bread I've ever tasted, along with homemade preserves and lemonade served in 1/2 pint Mason jars. I was so charmed by the prairie feel of this place. It felt like home to me. I'll most certainly be stopping by again.

I took a ton of photos, but it's going to be a day or so before I have time to work with them. I'll post some when I get a chance.

Yesterday, I also won a Gather goodie bag and a free workshop for a friend and I so tomorrow I'll be taking a stitchery class. I'll tell you all about it in my next post.