Summer's Events near the Grove

Finally, summer and all the fun events that go with it! I have to keep my calendar at the ready to book all that's happening to keep my schedule straight.
Next Saturday morning, I'll be at the Selkirk Waterfront Market and then the following week at one of the Medea Gallery's Tents during Canada Day Celebrations in Osborne Village. I'm looking forward to both outdoors events and I am keeping my fingers crossed for good weather.
I have a ton of inventory in various 'in progress' stages, which means anything from conditioned clay to books ready for binding or jewelry needing to be strung or findings added.
Unfortunately, (or maybe fortunately), I am just not that kind of 'start to finish' kind of worker. I find that leaving things in different stages makes for a variety of work that I enjoy. It means that I don't get bored doing 'production' type work, because after a few repeats of something, I need to move on to something else.
Of course, working like that has another side to it. It means having to to 'locate' all the bits and pieces that are needed, and sometimes that can be a neat diversion. Getting sidetracked often leads to incorporating new ideas along the way, or using something in a way that it was not originally intended. I doubt that any serious artist or work-driven individual would recommend that modus operandi...Thankfully, I am able to pick up my pieces and shift from one project to the next, just hoping that I will get everything ready for the events on time. And if not, there are always other days.
Hope everyone is enjoying a great start to the Solstice!

Bichon "Cotton Ball" Bash tomorrow

Tomorrow is the Big Day for Bichons in our locale. Molly is just about ready for the event...I just need to put a few more rhinestones and things in her Princess crown so she can be the Belly of the Ball.

These items are some of the 'poopie' bag holders I will be donating to raise a few dollars for Community Bichon Activities, National Bichon Rescues, Dog Shows and Junior Handler's Awards. Of course, these bags won't raise that much, but if everyone going was able to raise $50 in support of the above causes, it would help immeasureably.

I imagine there are some other locations that have similar events, yeah, even for other breeds, but since this is 'our' pet (and to quote a certain very famous couple in the news these days) and "It's our life".

I hope the weather co-operates and that there are lots of cutie-patootie cottom balls out there, just like our Princess Mollah-Kowallah. For sure we are going to take the camera!

Bella's Birthday Boutique Coffret

After plunking out what seemed to be 'carbon copies' of my Mothers Day coffrets for all the family, it was time to sit down and make something for Bella and Alex, whose birthdays will be here before I know it.
So, sitting at the clay table this morning with no real intention (sorry Victoria, sometimes things just have to be spontaneous), I found myself with some little curls of scrap clay, and I just figured that a young girly-girl like Bella might prefer something in pink rather than the staid coppery-bronze I've been working with the past while. I made the "stamp" for the image so quickly, I even amazed myself. First TRY! The eyes are a little deep, but I think I can live with them. I used the same method for the box that I'd taught last weekend at Poco. I'll tuck a little something inside and then I'll send it in the mail hopefully in plenty of time for her special day.
As for Alex, his little gift will have to take a little more planning. I do have an idea, but whether it will work remains to be seen. If it turns out, successfully, I'll post it here. If not, well, there's always those cool socks I've already bought that he can wear for his soccer games. (Doesn't seem fair, does it?)

Mother's Day preparations

On Saturday, May 2nd, at Poco Créations, I will be teaching this class for intermediate polymer clayers as a Mother's Day item. It would be a great gift for Mom or some other family member to keep special little mementos of Mom inside. (Thinking...a lock of hair? or perhaps a little photo of the family or whatever.)

This box is a smaller type of the style we'll be doing, but the range of size is about 1 1/4" wide by 1 1/2" tall and can be made up to about 2" by 2 1/2", depending on personal choice. It's all polymer clay, including the transfer. The image here, which didn't show up that well, is one of my late Mother. The picture was taken years ago, as you can tell by the hairstyle, when she was a bridesmaid. I made the copy from a family photograph (the wedding party), printed it out on the Xerox machine and then transferred it to polymer clay.

It's timely, since the class is very close to my Mom's actual birthday (in early May) and I'd like to kind of acknowledge that. Maybe if there's time before May 10th, I'll make several to give to her other children, grandchildren, and maybe great grandchildren.
Of course, I'll vary the box colours and beads for the others, but I think I'll keep the antique look of the ivory frame around the image...

And it doesn't have to be worn as a neckpiece; these items look equally nice hanging on a wall or in a little niche somewhere. I have a little collection of "Mom stuff" in a spare bedroom and that's where I think this will find a nice home when it's not in use around my neck.

Next Class at Poco Beads

We had a great time at the Bead Shop yesterday during the Faux Ivory Class at Poco. All the beads were fantastic, and there were a lot of "improvisations" happening, just what I had hoped. The group was terrific...kudos to all the participants!

As for next week's class, (alas it's on a Saturday too,) we'll be honouring Moms just a week before Mother's Day. I've asked the participants to bring in a small (about 1 1/2 inch square) black and white Xerox photo of Mom, which we'll transfer onto clay. Then, we'll incorporate it either as a little treasure or as part of the exterior in the amulet we'll be making. That will be suitable to either wear or hang as a wall piece. I don't have my class sample worked up just yet, but will have one on a post very soon.

If anyone would like more information about the class, you can contact Poco Creations at 204-219-2528 or email to poco@shawbiz.ca to get the class details. There are samples of the project at the store if you are in the neighborhood and can stop by. If the Saturday time slot doesn't work, perhaps we can try for another day and possibly in another location. I know the shop has a lot of classes going on right now! (Ashlyn...contact me)

I didn't have my camera there to snap a picture when I took the sample there, but will take a scan of the prototype when it gets finished tomorrow or Tuesday. Sorry! Too many things going on in this little mind of mine, not the least of which is getting my income tax completed by Thursday of this week. Yikes, the time goes so quickly!

Faux Ivory Samples for POCO

In between getting ready for sales and doing some teaching, I had a chance to stop by Poco Créations last week to drop off this sample of faux ivory the class will be working on this Saturday. After creating the beads we'll incorporate some fabulous beads from Poco to make the pieces truly standouts. The faux ivory will be textured before baking, but I'll also demo a scrimshaw technique and perhaps a post-baked incision, if time permits.

Speaking of scrimshaw, when I was at the Artisan's Market this past weekend, there was a fellow who did this work in old ivory piano keys. His work was marvelous, and the details were incredibly small...of course he used a jeweller's magnifier, something I have been meaning to get for a while. Even though I have new glasses with much greater magnification, I still have a bit of trouble trying to get the perfection needed for really intricate designs. That's not an excuse, I realize, so I'll have to "bone up" on my ivory or sharpen up my needle points.

Looking forward to a fun weekend. Gotta get some striated ivory made tomorrow in preparation.

Buttons, Quilts and Fort Whyte Alive

Whew! The first of the two weekend events is today! Somehow, between television interviews (not mine but hubby's), teaching and running around like the proverbial headless chicken, we got everything organized. Oh yah, and did I mention two of our access road entry ways to our home are closed due to flooding?

Well, it takes more than a flood to stop some people, but I hope it doesn't stop the folks out there from coming to either of the shows. The buttons pictured here are part of some of the ones I made for Noreen, a member of the Manitoba Prairie Quilters. She's a member of the group that's organizing their International Quilting Event today. Unfortunately, the folks from North Dakota are still experiencing flooding, and their drive here will have to be a circuitous route, but hopefully it won't prevent them from attending the gathering.

Later on today and all day tomorrow, I'll be at the Fort Whyte Alive Centre, amongst the exhibitors at the Artisan's Market. There,I'll have a wider selection of my art work. It's a varied collection, with books, jewelry, home accent pieces and wall art. It is a little cool outside, but then again, cool is good for the flood conditions.

Now, to get dressed and then off to somewhere...