A Promise to Post and a New Piece

It's been over a month since my last post, so it's well past time I did this again.  I've made a promise to myself to post on a weekly basis - more than that and I'd be repeating myself - less than that and there's no point in having a blog, so I'm going to try to be a bit more diligent about all of this. It would also be really nice to NOT have to review exactly how to post every time I attempt to post. Okay then.

Crystal

This is Crystal, who passed away about a year ago. She was owned by good friends Pat and Bob and is very much missed.  Pat and Bob have had boxers most of the years that we've known each other, but Crystal was special. She was very bonded to Pat-and Pat to Crystal. The original picture for this was taken by Judy Wood, who does amazing critter photos.

I've never done an animal before, or a person for that matter, and this took quite some time. Eyes are tough so I did them first by hand. No point in spending hours and hours stitching only to have to scrap the whole thing because the eyes were messed up. However, this turned out ok I think. Now Pat and Bob haven't seen this yet, so I hope they like it. I'm always nervous when someone looks closely at my work. You would think I'd be over that by now. Nope. Maybe never!

As always, this piece was done with an ordinary sewing machine - NOT an embroidery machine.  It was stitched free motion on plain cotton.  My process involves many techniques and those change depending on what I'm stitching. Frequently, my backgrounds take more time to produce than the subject of the work.  I've used photo transfer at times and have no problems with doing that. I've transferred a more exciting sky, for example, in exchange for one that's not as interesting. Also I've photo transferred water. It's my practice that if I can't improve it with stitching, then I don't stitch it. Simple as that. 

 I'm going to be very busy for the next several weeks getting ready for March.  I'll be speaking at one of the meetings of the S'toon Quilt Guild, as well as teaching a two day thread painting workshop. As well, I've decided to enter Gardenscape once more and am very much looking forward to seeing all the really great people I met last year. I also have to prepare several pieces for a gallery, and decide on an entry to a large exhibition. On top of this, I'd like to get this blog to a place where I have some pictures posted and all the usual blog stuff that I don't have up and running yet.

I've been asked whether or not I do commissions and/or teach. The answer is yes to both. In fact, as mentioned above, I have a two day workshop coming up on March 1 and 2 that I'm very much looking forward to.
Alrightee! That's it for now. I'm not sure what day I'll be posting on, but possibly I'll aim for Friday. That way I can include anything that I've done over the week, or can complain about what I haven't done over the week. And I don't know about you, but this winter can end any time now! Talk soon.

A REVIEW OF MY FIRST YEAR

Well, it's not actually a calendar year, but it's the end of the show/exhibit season for me.  And what a year it's been!  I've been blown away by the reception my work has received.  I've managed to sell most of what I've produced and am looking forward to starting a whole new series of pictures. 
The past year in SK was incredible in terms of color. When spring finally arrived, it brought the richest bounty of botanical goodies that I can ever recall in all my years on the prairies. An abundance of rain resulted in flowers and plants that I have never before seen growing here. The ditches became resident galleries displaying miles and miles of flowers as you can only see here, on the prairie! In fact, I personally had several near misses when looking at the offerings in the ditches very nearly put me in the ditch. 

This was the vacant lot in the Preston Crossing Mall, just across from Pet Smart. 







And the views on the highways were nothing less than spectacular. Summer was pretty hot, but I managed to get to the Beaver Creek Conservation Area and Cranberry Flats about three times a week to take photos to use in my artwork. I do believe that I have enough pictures to last many many years. And autumn, well what can I say of a season that's already pretty wonderful. This year was no exception, but maybe even more beautiful than usual. 

This was taken at Blackstrap on one of the last few days before the wind blew all the leaves off the trees. It was a gorgeous day.








From all of the photos that were taken on my many outings, I produced what I believe to be my best artwork to date. I had a very successful show at Agar's in September (thank you Judy Wood!) and at Artisan's (thanks to June Jacobs and the Committee) and then at Sundog (thanks again to Diane Boyko for all her organizational work).  I now have work in a great many homes all over this and other provinces and even one that went to London, England. I would like to thank everyone who purchased my work. I can't express how appreciative I am and how much your support has meant to me in this, my first year showing. 

 This piece was Bark and Lichen and was sold complete with the finger prints of everyone who looked at it closely. For some reason, it invited a very close look!

This piece is On the Open Prairie and is for sale at the Boutique at the SK Craft Council in Saskatoon.

I think this is possibly the best piece I have ever done. It was also the first piece I sold at Artisan. This is Blackstrap Autumn Hillside.









 
 The picture for this piece was taken at Beaver Creek by my husband, Adrian, who takes wonderful photos (that I can use!!).  It's called Bend in the Creek and has been sold.

 This was also taken by Adrian and again, is at Beaver Creek. This was titled At the Creek's Edge and is also sold.






 

Cranberry Flats. This was taken just as you leave the entrance and walk toward the river. It's called Trail to the Lookout and I'm keeping this one for myself.

This is called Autumn Birches (even though they are not all birches), and is for sale at the SK Craft Council Boutique on Broadway Ave. in Saskatoon. As well as my usual machine stitch, I've done some silk ribbon hand stitch on the leaves.






I have a few more unsold pieces from this year's work. If anyone is interested in having a look, please just contact me at acdc@sasktel.net.  All of my work is framed.

So, that's it. I can hardly believe that nearly a year has passed since I first decided to show my work at Gardenscape last March. It's been a whirlwind. I've sold a great many of my pieces, have been offered exhibition and teaching opportunities and met hundreds of people. 

On a final note to this post, I would like to offer one final piece. The photo for this was taken by my pal Judy Wood, who I would also like to thank for all her support over the past long while and for being my own, personal Google! 
And to my wonderful husband Adrian, who suffers through frozen dinners, late dinners, (sometimes no dinners!) so that I can work in my studio. If I could clone him, I could be a billionaire!

Meet The Blue Heron:

I'm back - finally.  I hadn't intended to ignore my blog, I just simply haven't had the time. I just finished a show and sale at Agar's and have to say, I had a great time! If you've never been,  you should seriously consider going next year. It's a day in the country, complete with a scenic setting, a nice lunch, and artwork to buy - a very friendly, family-type setting.  Everyone who drove out seemed to enjoy themselves and as a first-timer at this show, I can honestly say that I hope it continues. Thanks to Judy Wood who organizes the event,  to the staff at Agar's and to the other artists who attended who all made this a totally enjoyable experience. And a personal thank you to those who bought my artwork. I appreciate it immensely!

My next show/sale will be Artisan's which will be held November 22, 23 and 24 at TCU Place, Grand Gallery in downtown Saskatoon. Following that on the very next weekend, November 29, 30, December 1,  is the Sundog Arts & Entertainment Faire at the Credit Union Centre. These two are excellent opportunities to pick up Christmas gifts that are hand-made and unique. I hope everyone can make it out and let's also hope for good weather. November in Saskatchewan can go one way or the other, as we all know.

Speaking of weather, it's been quite incredible. Our summer doesn't want to end and it's been very warm and sunny, but with absolutely no rain whatsoever. Living in the country, grass fires are a constant worry. Last week there was a very large fire on the military base that went on for several days. Rain is forecast for tomorrow, but these predictions usually fail to produce actual moisture. Keep your fingers crossed.

I'm going to go now and try and put my studio in some kind of order. I have a lot of work to produce in the next few weeks I'm also going to work on this blog and try and get it looking the way I want. I will post again more often. 

A First Post.....I hope .....

After many months of "to blog or not to blog", I've come to the conclusion that I should give it a go. Now I just need to figure out how to actually make something appear.  I guess the first order of business is to tell you who I am and what I'm doing here.

Firstly, I'm a fiber artist, I live in Saskatchewan in Canada, and have the good luck to live in the country on an acreage. Up until a few years ago, we had horses here, but now have an assortment of other critters, such as cats and parrots and whatever else wanders onto our property. We currently have a den of foxes in one of our pastures who seem to reappear every year, so I must assume they also live here.

I work primarily in stitched landscapes, but also dabble in vessels, books, and I love love love to dye.  I'm fairly well versed in the usual dyeing methods, but am just really getting into the natural dyes, in particular, natural indigo and all it's foibles. A great many of the things in my house are now blue. I also love rust and all things that acquire rust.

I'm a juried member of the Sask. Craft Council, a member of the FibreArt Network, SAQA and assorted online groups. I started out being self taught, as I could find no one in my area doing thread painting, but decided that I needed more, so have certificates from the Gail Harker Creative Arts Center in WA in Art & Design, Machine Stitch and Hand Stitch.  I have taken workshops with Anna Hergert, Gloria Loughman, and others. After my courses were finished, I spent the next 18 or so months learning techniques. I confess to being a techniques junkie and this has proven to be a serious distraction in the past.  It's hard to finish a piece when you're thinking of a half a dozen other ways to do what you're doing. 

I have only just started showing this year. A serious back problem has kept me out of things, but it's as resolved as it's likely to get, so I've jumped into the mix and have enjoyed the show/sales I've been to so far.  I have three more scheduled for this year alone - and that's quite enough! I'll be working around the clock just to keep up. I'm happy to say that I've sold most of what I've produced so far - this shouldn't be interpreted as bragging, simply me being astounded by the fact that people seem to like what I produce. 

Anyway, this is more than enough for a first post.  I won't be posting every day - more like every week.  I hope to be able to post pictures as well, but this will happen once I'm more comfortable with what I'm doing. So, on that note, I'll talk to you later.....that is if anyone is actually reading this!