Every Island Has A Story, Ours Is Handmade

The show went up and has been well received. :)  All the works are wonderful but I've only included a couple here. 

                                                 Here are full photos of my finished pieces.

These pieces are not for sale as they are too personal but I am am accepting commissions if there is interest.

A little celtic music to set the mood by Alyce MacLean.

Field Rocks by Shari MacLeod.

Felted wool pieces by Catharina and Gillian Lake-Thompson.

Lumiere 2012

It was Lumiere time again last Saturday and it was just as great as last year!

This Shari MacLead and Patricia MacNeil's "Midnight Swim".

A giant whale tail about to disappear below the surface leaving a wake of froth. 

These paintings were by Stephanie Steele and they were illuminated from behind with flat screens and lap tops. 

Lynda-Lou MacIntyre was in her same window again this year but this time she was firing sterling silver with a torch and then dropping it into water for her beautiful custom made jewelry.

"In My LIfetime" was based on the work of artist Robyn Neal. Onlookers interacted with the piece by adding their life goals in colored chalk on the wall.

This mixed media work was by Caitrian MacNeil and Juan Tun Ajuac. It represents scared offerings made by the Mayans in religious traditions.

This year again there was a life size sculpture made out of burrs. Sorry I don't have the name of the artist.

"Great Balls Of Fire" done by Wayne Boucher and Sophie Heath was held at CBCCD.  A continuous video loop slow motion of a fire ball explosion projected across the span of the storefront window. 

Catherine Moir was once again painting in black light.

"Come Paint With Me" by Diane Lewis had captured all the youngest from the crowds to join in the fun.

Elizabeth Burtt, Demmarest Haney and India Haines created "The Fairies of Cape Breton. 

Fantasy woodland homes were nestled among the flowers and shrubs in front of the Civic Centre. 

Tessa Kendrick created "A Lucky Flock" , a chandelier made of 5,740 origami cranes that took over 400 hours of work. It hung from floor to ceiling in a storefront. 

There were many more installations and the night was a great success even though the weather disappointed with soft rain all evening it didn't stop the show. 

Upcoming exhibit, "Every Island Has A Story"

 I've been working a series of three wallhangings for an exhibit being held at CCCB this month. It's to coincide with the Celtic Colors Festival held every October here on Cape Breton Island.

Here is the

I decide to combine the traditional patchwork pieces with the addition of photos and text to show how I see myself as a combination of the two. The traditional craft from my family and my own contemporary style combining to create "An Unexpected Harmony".

These are the beginnings of the three pieces as I chose colors themes, and photos with accompanying text.

These are two of the machine quilting pattern that I designed for the pieces. 

I blew them up to the finished size of 24 x 36 and then copied them in quadrants with thin plastic which I then pinned to the surface and quilted through. The plastic then easily ripped off and I didn't have to worry about removing marking lines, this worked really well and I'd do it again.

Sneak preview of  sections of the finished pieces. 

The exhibit is actually opening tomorrow and I'll post again about the opening and with full photos of the finished pieces. 

Recycled Paper Coasters and Journals

Old pattern tissues, books, napkins etc...all find their way into my paper fabric. 

I paint and stamp the pieces after they are dry and then cut them apart. The edges are now fray free and you can create a lot of different things.

Cutting apart the large pieces.

Stacks of coasters kept in order for sewing.

                                                            Auditioning thread colors.

I zigzag the small pieces on the base and then straight stitch the edges through a bottom layer of cork.

                                                        All tied up and ready for sale.

           
                                   This all started with some journals I tried first.

I Sold My Family!

Not my real family of course, my feathered Family. :)

A lovely mother and daughter from New Brunswick were in the studio this week and fell in love with it and in a matter of seconds it was sold! :D

I loved creating this piece, it was a new experience for me in many ways and I miss it. I'd only had it in the shop for a few days after it was living in a box since the exhibit closed last month. But it has gone to the most wonderful home with the nicest people, I couldn't ask for more. 

Bye bye feathered Family.

Cape Breton Souvenir Cards

Ridiculously behind in posting, begging forgiveness.....ahhh, that feels better. :)

Playing in Photoshop and came up with some cards for the summer tourists to the shop. 

I love the vintage feel and I thought a bit of humour is better than those dry postcards that haven't changed in eons. 

Hard to see but I've added bits of glitter or flowers for a bit of three dimensional effects. 

Grand Opening

Okay, so it's been two months since I actually had my first day open but I only just had my Grand Opening a few days ago. You're allowed to do that when you make all the decisions yourself. :)

It was a wonderful day with lots of welcomed friends and some faces I didn't know which was great.

I truly meant to take a lot of photos especially of friends who helped me out for the day but besides taking a quick snap of the tea table before I opened and I last minute snap of just a few folks milling around......I totally forgot.......oh well.

                                              Tea table......best oat cakes EVER! Thank you again Jeannie. :)

                     My two helpers for the day on the far right, Joanne and Kathy, thank you both so much.

                                      It was a great day, good sales and wonderful company.