Re-creation

It has always been my passion;

re-birthing/re-creation /re-purposing ...

turning something that is

old, tired, ugly

into something fresh & useful.

I've been doing that long before it was invented as a 'thing'.

Mostly because I am thrifty.

I think also because it's a deep part of my heritage, 

having been raised by a mother who lived through the depression.

I have a 'hoarder' gene.

I came across this little purse at Value Village.

$4.99

It is brand new.

Handy little spaces inside for a phone and other necessities.

It's got a long strap and a loop where you can attach it to your belt.

I really hate carrying a purse when I'm out and about on a mission.

I generally stuff things into my pockets so I don't have to.

This is small enough, light enough and useful enough

that I think I will give it a shot.

But it is UGLY.

Seriously, downright ugly.

Harvest gold from the 70's.

Scours.

Not speaking to me.

I bought it anyway.

Step 1: Gesso

Step 2: Think ... what colour does it WANT to be?

It's actually even uglier in real life.

I'm surprised that the gesso has still allowed it to be supple.
I'm going to give it two coats so that the palette is fresh and bright
to welcome some new colour.

CREATE

Three ... yes, 3 ... posts in 2015. 

That's pretty well as pathetic as it gets.

It's indicative of my entire year of

artistic endeavours.

My 'word of the year' for 2015 was

WRITE.

I did, a fair bit.

And published a book.

This year it is

CREATE.

That will be my intention,

my focus,

my challenge.

My intention is also 

to remember that I actually HAVE this blog,

and post more regularly.

Encased

The other thing that I have been working on

has been a big delight for me.

Something that I have wanted to make for

years and years.

I have one at our home in Newfoundland

and love it.

These frames are filled with

colourful pieces of glass, 

weathered sea glass,

pretty china

and other tiny little treasures.

They hang in your window

and the light dances through the

glass collage.

They are the Stonetown Arts Show

in St. Marys this weekend

and one will be on

display at The Emporium in St. Marys.

This should be hanging in a window ... it will be one day - not sure where.

This one is painted with antique white chaul paint. It will hang soon. I do know where. It lives in Stratford.

Brush Folk

I didn't truly do it again, but sort of.

Forget that I had a blog to share my creations.

I guess the more accurate truth is that

there hasn't been that much 'creating' happening.

I was glad to get back up to my studio

and mess around with paint and glue and wire and jewels

as the new community of 

Brush Folk 

were born.

They were created 

because I needed something to take to the

Stonetown Arts Show in St. Marys.

It was a wonderful excuse to get

playing again.

They had to get to where they were going

before I got a chance to name them.

That was really hard for me,

to send them off into the world 'nameless'.

"Sybil"

Sybil came into being for the simple reason that I am colour-crazy.

And fiber crazy.

It's always SO hard for me to make the decision of 

WHAT COLOUR?

There's so many too choose from.

So, I did half and half.

She's my pin cushion

and I think it kind of creeps people out

that she seems like a voodoo doll.

But she's not.

But I guess she could be.

Brush with ... losing my mind.

Yep ... sometimes I wonder about my head.

Is it just too full or is it getting worn out?

I was reading up on market tools & it talked about putting them on your blog.

I thought: 'Great idea! I should start a blog.'

It took me days to remember that I already have one.

Seriously.

That's likely the reson that I haven't posted all year.

So ...

I have a blog to promote my creations.

This is it.

I had 18 Brush Folk

12 found homes

6 are looking.

These are the ones who are still available.

Wavy

Midge

Ethel

Rosa

Gerta

Sally

Back in the Ark Business

Twenty five years ago last month I finished my first Noah's Ark.

Two and a half decades and more than a thousand arks later

I'm at it again.

This is the first for 2014

22 inches long by 13 inches high

Noah & the Mrs. and 12 handcarved animals...

giraffes, zebra, lions, donkeys, pigs & sheep.

All handcrafted from pine.

The cabin is painted, crackled & antiqued.

The bottom opens up & there is a ramp as well.

$495.00

#2 has a solid bottom.

It's just a little shorter - 21" x 11"

Noah, Joan and 12 animals all handcarved.

The cabin is made from 100+ year old lathe.

$450.

The story behind my years of building Arks

is on my blog - EVolution.