Wings reception 2011

The "Wings Over the Rockies" reception was last night. I quite liked the way Jami displayed the Avian alphabet on their own coop.

The theme was black and white and red. You can just see me second painting behind my head. It was a portrait of the Columbia valley's first nurse, Ethel Wood Cleland. Did you spot the bird perched on top of my Wings hat?

On the drive in, I passed herds of deer taking advantage of the new spring grass.

YaaY! ! Canucks

Never mind that I went to bed in sheer exhaustion (learning is hard work) after the Hawks made that last minute goal. I woke up to the good news when Bruce came to bed. Too close boys. Hawks, thanks for a great match.

Revisited

Deep thoughts 16x20 acrylic collage

I went back to this painting because someone pointed out that she was "floating" in space so I added a horizon line to give her a bit of an anchor and oh so slightly lightened her expression. Now she looks to me more like she is scheming than being morose, infinitely preferable, in my opinion.

Now I'm just sad

Doreen's team 24x24 SOLD

The Canucks lost to the Blackhawks last night and the Canadian women's team just lost to the U.S. women's team in the gold medal match. Argh!!

Happy EAster!

Sunset mountain 16x16 acrylic collage

It is a beautiful day here. As soon as I get some of my art work done, I am going to go play in the greenhouse.

For those people who are hopping up and down about the continuance of the tea alphabet, PK say relax.. I just have to take care of the "Wings Over the Rockies Show" this week. The parameters for the show this year where black and white and one color (red) which turned out to be much more challenging than I would have supposed. And I have to stay caught up with my computer studies for my classes. (Typing tutor is way too much fun nowadays!)

Now if I can just figure out how to disable the french accents of this computer I would be very happy. It switches itself from english to french for no reason I can figure out so that when I want to print a question mark, I get É. Argh!!

I have to go work on my wings hat.

Busy

brassica #1 16x16 acrylic

I have been busy this week attending a work program initiative for older workers. They are teaching us updated computer and resume skills. I am having to look for work to support my habit (painting). It keeps me busy. I hope to get some painting done this weekend.

Cleo de Merode

A photo of Cleo de Merode was the inspiration for the bird goddess. I think she is mesmerizingly beautiful and her story is very entertaining.

I found a wonderful blog about this era: http://vintage-ephemera.blogspot.com/

Eggs for Easter

bird goddess 16x20 several years ago

I am quite chronologically challenged. I have a difficult time assessing where I am on the calendar. I always used to be good at honoring holidays when I had kids at home. Now they seem to slide by without me celebrating them which is distressing. But I hope to color eggs this year.

I am so inspired by the article (april 12) on Aunt Peaches site.
Check out Aunt Peaches for amazing cool Easter egg process :
http://www.auntpeaches.com/

Sewing

I was enamored by the pattern Mc Call's 4769, a cute little shirtdress. I had a piece of thrift store fabric that I used as a muslin (actually--a practice piece). Different blogs had warned that constructing the collar was very frustrating and not well-illustrated in the pattern directions but I found a blog that clearly explains the process and slowly followed her directions. I am pleased with the dress and may try it in a different fabric. Not sure where I will wear all the cute dress!

For instructions see:
http://pleasantviewschoolhouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-sew-lapel-collar-classic.html

G is for Gaaa....renovations

G is for gunpowder 8x10 acrylic collage

This is a manipulated photo of a garden statue I took a couple of years ago. I thought she added a nice chinese touch to this collage.

Bruce is replacing my rotten, slow old cooktop with a real stove. My oven packed it in about a month ago. He has been cogitating since how to make the switch. I bought a used stove in nice shape to put in the gap. I will also replace the counter top. It will still be far less than to replace the wall oven and cook top stove. I will be able to do canning now!

Regarding "Brown Betty"

A few people asked why the Brown Betty teapot is called by such a name.

Elizabeth was a very popular 19th century name. Many servants had that name but it was shortened to Betty (if you are shouting for your servent, Elizabeth is rather long)....a Betty served you tea. A nice, cozy, fat, brown teapot became a "brown betty".

It makes me think of the teapot in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" (although she was not brown).

F

"F is for four o'clock" 8x10 acrylic collage

I am always reminded by the spirit of the British people during the blitz. There world could be literally falling down around their ears but they would put on that famous stiff upper lip, have a cuppa and get on with it.

If you would like to learn more about tea, here is a wonderful site:
http://uniquelytea.blogspot.com/

E

E is for Earl Grey 8x10 acrylic collage

I have enjoyed Earl Grey and especially like it in a "London Fog:

a cup of earl grey 8 oz
hot milk 4 oz
vanilla syrup 3 tablespoons

I am learning all sorts of things about tea. In this instance, that the star trek commander favored Earl Grey

D

D is for tea dance 8x10 acrylic collage

I'm rolling along on the alphabet now but I have been stumped by the letter H of all things. Any suggestions?

c is for college boys

C is for chamomile 8x10 acrylic collage

I like a capella singing. It is especially fun when college boys sing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTFh8LCBZeQ

I want to make a video! Who's with me? Hope you like ABBA.

B

B is for brown betty 8x10 acrylic collage

This is the beauty of having a blog. I wasn't so sure about this series but I have had many wonderful comments by my art friends. You guys don't know how much your support means.

A

"A is for Assam " 8x10 acrylic collage

I have begun to regret tackling this project. It is similar to the bird alphabet but will be handled rather differently. It is a big commitment!

Suggestions?

Help! Initially, I called this "Pondering" but that seems rather ponderous. Any title suggestions on this one?

Warning! Be careful with your valued photos

I received a call last week from a elderly man who had tried to clean an old photograph with some water. Please don't ever do this. He ended up with the "bird blob" right on the face of the photo were the old pigments lifted. Someone gave him my name and against my better judgement, I have done the best that I could. I had to keep a light touch so as not to cause more damage. I will try to make that top lip a little less dark but the paint is being very touchy on this substrate. The other thing I hope to do for him is cut a matt so that the photo is not touching the glass as it was when I received it.


If you have photographs that you value, or think you may ever value NEVER, EVER, EVER place them directly against glass. Over time, a little condensation will creep in and stick the surface of you photo to the glass and then your photo is ruined. USE A MATT! Even a cheap paper matt is better than no matt (although a cheap paper matt will leave a burn edge on your photo over time. If you can, use a good acid free matt and never hang a photo or print in direct sunlight. Sunlight will fade a photo and will erase colour pigments over time. If you see sun damaged prints...they are nearly all shades of blue, the yellow and reds have been burnt away. With proper matts and framing, photos of this century should last into the next.

There, that is my free advice from years spent picture framing. I hate to think of the number of time people were moved to tears when they came to me with a photo that had sealed to the frame glass, wanting me to fix it and all I had for them was bitter news.