Happy Canada Day

Here's hoping everyone has a safe, fun Canada Day weekend. Bruce and I will probably watch the fireworks at the beach. I'm hoping I won't need the PARKA I needed to wear last year!

I'm the guest artist at Black Star Studio Gallery this Saturday. Drop by and say hi!

Get Busy!!

Must paint today!

This little top is a thrift find by Bridgehead. It has a block printed effect on cotton and the small dark squares are hand sewn. I like the artsy style. Sorry for the blurry photo.

Check out Visible Monday:  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/06/visible-monday-52-it-just-has-to-go.html

Art for the day. I very much liked this little red-haired girl playing the flute but I may change the background.

Paint-in at Crazy Ravens Studio

 What better way to celebrate the first long day of summer than a paint-in.

 A few members from the Headwaters Art Society arrived to explore gelatin printing. I made small molds of gelatin (you can see one just in front of Leslie's left hand. We slathered them with acrylic paint, impressed texture items and layered the results.

  A result. Of course, you can make bigger gelatin slabs. I am going to use my prints for collages and art journals.

As usual, I get into my work.

If you are interested in seeing more photos of the paint-in, go here:  http://headwatersartsociety.blogspot.ca/2012/06/summer-solstice-celebration.html

Happy Solstice

Hooray! summer is officially here. So I decided to put up a pic of me in my lovely Solstice headband.

And a green man.

I am going to celebrate by spending as much time as possible outside today..we look like we may actually get some sun. As usual, it has been a very wet June (our rainy season).

I saw an elk cow and an eagle on my morning walk.

The elk came tippy-toeing along the back fence the night before last... a half dozen cows with lovely spotted calves! This is an older photo prior to calving season. I would love to get a pic of those pretty babies. We have seen the big mama whitetail doe hanging close and acting tough but I haven't seen the fawns yet. The magpies and crows are continuing their terrible, raucous war.

One more time

Same jumper, different t-shirt. It was raining so I'm posing in my greenhouse. I quite like the chandelier in there.
Check out Visible Monday:  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/06/visible-monday-51-karina-dresses-make.html

And the painting of the day is

I really like mourning doves.

A little more

Blocking in some colors (which I am not crazy about). Laying in the skin tones/values. Raised the horizon line--like that much better. I just need some time to paint!

Plunge In

I don't always carefully think out where my paintings are going to go. Sometimes, I just plunge in and start painting. I already see that I want to raise the horizon line and alter the line of the beach blanket. How do you like my moccasin? I wish to hell it would quit almost snowing here!!

A New Start

A layout sketch for a 24x24 painting. I liked moving the subject up near the top of the painting. I think it will work well when I get some color and collage worked up on it.

Dirty thirties

I like this little jumper. It is a very light cotton with a 1930"s vibe. I am thinking if I were to hem it an inch or so, it might flatter my legs a little more.

Check out Visible Monday:  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/06/visible-monday-50-bohemian-interlude.html#disqus_thread

And an oldie but a goodie from the painting department. Loved the ladies adventurous spirit.

A nod to the Jubilee

I was pleased to see Canada represented in the Royal Flotilla by a canoe full of voyageurs.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/diamond-jubilee-pageant-in-pictures-the-queens-861223

I reglued this lovely shabby chic frame and put this fine vintage print  of the queen into it. The matt is actually a nice pewter color (not so green!!) She watches over me while I paint. I am too much of an American/Canadian to really appreciate the monarchy (God given rights my arse) but I do love the British splendor. They certainly know how to do it right.

They're Back! --Cowichan Sweaters

Cowichan sweaters were the rage back in the 1970's and '80s. I worked mine up in White Buffalo wool which carried many popular patterns. White Buffalo sweaters were "in the Cowichan style sweaters". They satisfied the knitters need to make the popular item but they are far removed from the original item. I want to make another one and I am desperately searching for the article "A royal Pair, Knit the Cowichans that Charles and Diana wear" circa 1981-2 Canadian Living Magazine. They carried a lovely pullover pattern that I would like to get my hands on. (There is one shown on the Ravelry.com website, but it is alas, missing crucial information.) If you can help me out, please email or leave a comment.

There is no thing like the real deal though. The Coast Salish women developed the concept of the cowichan sweater and still create remarkable sweaters to this day. There is a great documentary:  http://www.onf-nfb.gc.ca/eng/collection/film/?id=33968
The story of the Coast Salish Knitters

 Sylvia Olsen has written a wonderful book "Working with Wool" which also tells the tale of the fabulous sweaters.

I want to make a sweater similar to this--

Check out the fashion fun at Visible Monday:  http://notdeadyetstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/06/visible-monday-49-visible-in-black-and.html#disqus_thread

Cowichan sweater pattern alert!!

Help, help...I really would like to find this pattern from Canadian Living Magazine circa 1981-2. If anyone can help me, please email. or leave a comment. Please don't recommend the Ravelry.com knitsite because That is were I looked and the pattern is lacking a crucial page.