Dogberry Hill Studio

More Snow!

2012-01-31T14:54:00.002-03:30

Cats And Jewelry!

2012-01-26T13:22:00.000-03:30

Copper spiral earrings with peals

Ricki and Icky on a lazy Sunday afternoon

Tiddles

It's been an excellent week so far filled with friends, swimming, working in the studio, making and mailing orders, time spent with my daughter, and the business workshop, Hello Soul Hello Business with Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nichols. And last night I went to Underworld: Awakening in Imax 3-D. What an experience it was! :)

Above are some images I photographed over the week!

New Jewelry!

2012-01-23T18:31:00.000-03:30

It was a lovely, quiet weekend for me. Finally took some photos of the jewelry I recently made. To see more of my jewelry you can pop over to my Etsy shop.

Another Snow Day!

2012-01-20T12:32:00.000-03:30

Another snow day and all is well! The chickens are in the oven, the kids are safe and snug and warm. I have pages to bind onto journal covers, jewelry to make and a painting to begin. Life is beautiful! Have a happy weekend everyone!

Crows!

2012-01-17T18:30:00.001-03:30

Lately, the trees surrounding my house have been visited by dozens and dozens of crows, all at once. I love crows so I think it's pretty cool. Others believe it's a sign of death and that I better watch out. I believe it's a good thing and I welcome their visits. Today they stayed put while I took many photos.

2012-01-16T14:32:00.003-03:30

Ricki, one of four felines, likes to follow me everywhere

Berry red stone wrapped in steel wire

Hoops made with steel wire

Snow Day!

2012-01-12T17:08:00.009-03:30

I love snow days, don't you? I spent the entire day in the studio making jewelry! In the evening I folded enough paper to make pages for ten journals. Watching my favorite program on tv while folding makes the time go faster and the task seem less tedious. Cutting ten pieces of canvas and painting each piece for journal covers is next on my list.

I am so excited to begin this e-course with Kelly Rae Roberts and Beth Nicholls on Monday. This is exactly what I need in my life right now. I want to grow my business in a big way this year and this will help me tremendously. I know it!

Reading this crazy vampire trilogy now. I do have to take it in small doses because the content is so bleak. Not a good read if you're depressed! The vampires are super creepy and I've had several bad dreams since picking up the first book over the Christmas holidays. Loving them, anyway! :)

A New Year!

2012-01-04T20:23:00.011-03:30

The above image is a watercolor commission that I completed before Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Sneak Peek!

2011-09-19T13:32:00.003-02:30

Here are some of the items that I will be listing in my shop soon. The earrings have been listed and I'm going to the printers to have some prints and maybe cards made of the painting. I have more journals to be photographed and art dolls, of course! :)

Update!

2011-09-15T08:00:00.002-02:30

Still working on getting some new things ready for my shop. John has the camera and is away so waiting for him to come back so I can take some photos. Lots of new jewely ready to be listed. :)

Busy As A Bee!

2011-09-01T19:06:00.002-02:30

I've been very busy getting things ready for my Etsy shop! My goal date for adding some new things is September 14th. I have three art dolls and six or more journals and some mixed media art pieces ready to go. I'm thinking of having prints and cards made as well. :)

Alice Is Finished!

2011-08-22T20:42:00.004-02:30

Alice is almost ready for my shop! I'm very excited to be able to offer my dolls for sale! :)

I'm also working on some journals and original mixed media pieces.

New Jewelry!

2011-08-13T09:36:00.005-02:30

Still waiting for the sun to shine, and wondering if Summer has passed us by completely.

I managed to get some studio time in this week now that things have calmed down a bit. I created a couple of new designs and I added some jewelry to my shop, finally. I have more to photo and add over the week.

I am almost ready to add an art doll to my shop as well. I had two of them in a local shop which caught fire last week and suffered smoke damage. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Today, I hike with John and hope that the sun will shine, which is forecast for this afternoon.

Finished Drawing!

2011-08-08T14:25:00.009-02:30

Here's the drawing of my father that I finished ages ago and never had a chance to post because I've been so busy.

We had a family reunion and saw family that I have never met before now. It's been an awesome experience for me; one that I won't soon forget. Needless to say, there has been nothing going on in the studio lately and I miss it very much.

Our weather here in Newfoundland sucks big time. I've never lived through such a rainy, cold and foggy summer in my whole life.

I'm hoping that I can be more consistent with my blog writing now that things have settled here a bit. Longing to be in my studio right now, but I will have to wait a little longer for that.

Update!

2011-06-01T08:41:00.004-02:30

I did some more work on the drawing of my father. Eyebrows, hair, neck and shirt still left to do, and some fine detail work like eyelashes. I have to lift out some highlights, as well.

Fiona -- Work in Progress

2011-05-31T15:41:00.003-02:30

I have added hair to the art doll I was working on. Her name is Fiona. Looking at her now I see that one eyebrow is darker than the other. Time to go fix it.

Monday Mornings!

2011-05-30T12:42:00.000-02:30

I spent all day yesterday in my studio happily making jewelry for Johnny Ruth. This morning, while driving through the pouring rain and listening to music -- Fleet Foxes, to deliver the order, the brakes went on the car. Yikes! Luckily, I was on a flat stretch with a parking lot close by where I pulled in and called my knight in shining armour, John, and he came and rescued me. :)

With the sun and warm temperatures and the rain, the buds are starting to come out on the trees and everything is lush and green! It will soon be time for fires outside in the evenings and coffee on the deck in the mornings. Can't wait for that.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Here is some new jewelry that I have listed in my Etsy Shop

2011-05-18T10:51:00.000-02:30

Back Home!

2011-05-14T09:37:00.004-02:30

I had the best vacation this year! I got to relax and read books and spend lots of time with family! The weather in Florida was beautiful and I spent most of my time outside by the pool listening to the wildlife that was all around me.

When I got home to the cold and fog, I became ill and spent a week on the couch. I'm all better now and I'm getting back into my studio again. I have several unfinished projects that I want to complete and a load of art work that needs to be inventoried and framed. I have a tendency to paint something and then put it in a pile. I'm going to start adding some mixed media paintings and art dolls to my store over the next month too.

Doll Update!

2011-03-29T15:27:00.000-02:30

My son thinks she looks like Gollum from Lord of the Rings. Lol! He wonders why all my doll faces are kind of creepy. I don't know...that's the way they turn out. I do like creepy, though. Once her hair is on she'll look completely different. Maybe I'll give her a hat and some earrings and a fancy scarf...

New Jewelry!

2011-03-28T18:57:00.000-02:30

I finished painting and varnishing the doll face, hands and feet yesterday. Tonight I work on the body and putting everything together. I'm not sure how she will be dressed at this point. I'm thinking vintage; I want her to look like she's been around for years and years. No name or story yet either.

A Doll in the Making!

2011-03-27T14:09:00.000-02:30

I sculpted the head, feet and hands for an art doll over the weekend using polymer clay. I baked the pieces in the oven and today I will paint the face and make her come alive. Once the doll is done, I'm hoping to put it in my Etsy shop.

This is Alice and she is naughty. She talks in the library and has to constantly be shushed by the librarian.

Alice is unfinished!

Hope you're enjoying the weekend! :)

I'm Back!

2011-03-23T12:31:00.000-02:30

I decided that I didn't like my new blog as much as this one so I came back! This one is much easier to use and loads much faster.

Dad is still in the hospital. He has pneumonia now and the doctor said it would be two to three months before he will be able to go home.

I've been sick and haven't been in the studio for a couple of weeks until yesterday. I spent the afternoon working on an aceo for my dear friend, Stacy. I filled some Etsy orders, as well. Today I spend the afternoon in the studio again. Happy day! :)

New Website!

2011-02-06T00:16:00.002-03:30

Hi Guys, I have a new website and I now can be found here:

http://www.dogberryhill.ca/

2011-02-03T20:29:00.000-03:30

Had lots of snow over night and lots of snow to shovel this morning. It's a beautiful wonderland outside and so cold. It was a very good day to cook a turkey. Also a good day to list some new jewelry in my Etsy shop.

2011-01-31T18:28:00.002-03:30

I finally got around to organizing my studio today. It was very messy and chaotic to work in. Once clean and tidy, I could photograph some new jewelry without having to shove stuff aside.

I've been using a lot of copper wire in my jewelry making lately. It's fun to get out my blow torch and melt the ends of the wire into beads to be hammered flat. And it looks cool when it's oxidized. Steel wire is much harder to melt because it needs a higher temperature and the torch just doesn't cut it.

I'm reading this book now. I started reading Stephen King when I was about twelve and had to stop for a few years because I began having nightmares. I guess twelve was young to be reading books like that, but I was an avid reader and I read whatever my parents were reading. I began reading his books again in my early twenties and I have read almost everything that he has written. What are you reading?

2011-01-27T11:45:00.000-03:30

This week has been kind of weird. I backed my car into a tree and smashed out the back window and put a couple of dents in the hatchback, just for good measure. I felt like the biggest idiot ever.Then I had to call John and tell him what I did. I'll never live this one down. Lol! And it's not easy trying to tape plastic to the window when it's windy as all hell out and minus 5 and your fingers are numb.

Today we are getting a mishmash of weather. 5-10cm of snow, ice pellets and then rain. Add high winds to that and you have a very nasty day. And I get to go out into it. I don't really mind that much. I like driving in the snow. I feel cocooned and safe, oddly enough.

I created some new designs in the studio. I really like spirals and I put them in my art work a lot.

Still working on the drawing of dad. Maybe I'll finish it tonight.

Making Soap!

2011-01-24T15:52:00.005-03:30

I mixed together the olive oil and the lye /water mixture with a hand held

blender until it was the consistency of pudding. I then left it to cook in the crock

pot on high, stirring several times until it reaches the applesauce/mashed potato stage.

This is what the soap looks like when it's done -- that applesauce/mashed potato

stage I was talking about.

I smashed the soap into the greased mold, which is just a plastic

container, and smoothed the top out as best as I could. The

mixture is very thick and hardens quickly so I move fast.

This is the soap a couple of hours after I put it into the mold. It pops

out easily enough. I let it sit this way for an hour and then I cut it

into bars.

The finished product! Many bars of beautiful, pure soap without

any fragrance added. It has its own clean scent which I love.

It lathers up gorgeously and leaves no residue on your skin.

I have been making my own soap for years. I started making it because we didn't like the strong scent of a lot of the store bought soaps and the hand made soap was too expensive to buy. So, I bought a book on soap making at the second hand book store and I taught myself how to make it. It's one of the simplest things in the world to do. Really! I use the hot processed method to make the soap, and it's ready to use the next day.

Work In Progress!

2011-01-19T14:54:00.000-03:30

I thought I would post my progress as I draw this picture of my father. Dad's face is interesting because it has lots of wrinkles and creases; just what I like to draw. I'm using a mechanical pencil with an HB lead and a 4b charcoal pencil. I used a grid to get the placement of the features right and I erased it as I went along. I still haven't finished drawing his shirt. I have loads left to do on it and no one area is completely finished.

New Jewelry!

2011-01-18T18:11:00.000-03:30

Finally, some new jewelry! :)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-13T13:49:00.000-03:30

My goodness, it's been ages since I last wrote. I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays. I thought that Christmas flew by too quickly and I found it hard to get back into the swing of things. January has always been a bad month for me and I hide away. Now it's time to join the world again.

I've just started an online workshop with Misty Mawn and I am having so much fun drawing, which I love to do.

It's a winter wonderland outside today. It's our first major snowstorm and I'm happy. I went into town to pick up the kid's and the roads were very slippery. I love driving in the snow and enjoyed myself very much.

I went outside and took some photos and Gennie followed me and had a little play. She loves playing in the snow and gets quite excited and makes funny growling sounds in her throat as she runs crazily around the yard.

Drawing of Scrooge using graphite and charcoal

Copper and Pearls!

2010-11-29T16:21:00.000-03:30

Monday already! Where does the time go? I had a great weekend, very relaxing. I hope you did too!

New Jewelry!

2010-11-27T16:22:00.001-03:30

I'm sitting here now drinking a lovely glass of local blueberry wine and it's very delicious. I think I may just have another glass of the sweet stuff.

Today has been very relaxing. I love days like this when I don't have to worry too much about anything. My family is here safe and sound, the animals are sleeping in various spots in the house and I have nothing pressing to do except get up and pour more wine. :)

The sale in my Etsy shop has been very successful and I'm going to list several more pairs of earrings today. Thank you all you wonderful people who make it possible for me to keep doing what I love. :)

Sale!

2010-11-26T13:22:00.001-03:30

I'm having a sale in my Etsy shop now until Monday. In order to receive a 15% discount you must type in the code YULE123 in the promo box at the checkout. :)

The Culprit!

2010-11-25T17:19:00.001-03:30

Here's a photo of the culprit who chewed up my slipper. Isn't she sweet...

Christmas Shopping!

2010-11-25T09:27:00.000-03:30

I can't put it off any longer. My sister called me this morning and asked me if I wanted to go Christmas shopping. I said yes. I'm notorious for leaving everything until the last minute including my holiday shopping. I could see the most perfect gift in August but I can not bring myself to buy it no matter what. It just goes against the grain. I will always be one of those people who is still shopping on Christmas Eve and that's part of it for me.

I have started making my hand made gifts in the evening when I'm done work for the day. I really enjoy settling down and getting out whatever I'm working on while my family and I hang out. It's so relaxing until our dog (Gennie) tries to snatch it out of my hand because she wants to play. I found my new slipper, that I had spent an afternoon making, chewed up on her dog bed. I love her! Lol!

I made some earrings this week and now they are completely finished. I'll list them in my Etsy shop tomorrow.

2010-11-24T11:06:00.002-03:30

I woke up to snow yesterday morning. I love snow! And I love my job! I feel so lucky to be able to walk a few feet to my studio to work and to be able to make my own hours. I spend peaceful time in that cozy room making jewelry and journals that I then send out to interesting places all over the world.

There's a lot of work involved. Creating the things I sell being only a small part of it. Supplies have to be bought and reordered when low. Once the steel wire jewelry is made it has to be tumbled polished ( placed in a container with soap, water and steel shot) for hours and then placed in the oven on low heat to make sure it's completely dried because steel will rust if wet. I can also change the color of the wire by heating it at different temperatures for different colors. The copper jewelry is oxidized and sanded to create depth. It's then photographed and the photos have to be downloaded to my computer and edited. Once that's done, I write a description, set a price and list it on Etsy. When a piece sells, I send a thank you note to the customer, print out an address label, package and wrap it, put it in an envelope and head off to the post office. As well, I maintain a Facebook business page and this blog.

So it is a real job that takes a lot of work, but I love it and would not change a thing.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!

2010-11-18T12:28:00.000-03:30

This journal was a lot of fun to make. I never really know what the finished journal will look like until it's completely finished. Once the painting and stamping and splattering and edging is all done, I get out my button jar and my colored threads and I lay different buttons on the journal to see which one I like the best. The color of the button and thread can change the whole look of the journal. When the button is chosen I pick the thread that matches the button. I run the thread through a piece of beeswax that I have to wax it which makes the thread slide easily when I'm binding the pages. It smells good too.

Thrift Stores!

2010-11-17T09:16:00.000-03:30

I dislike shopping very much, but I love going to thrift shops and looking through all the stuff there. I buy used books and Christmas decorations and mini lights. I found a really cool vintage jar and loads of buttons which I use on my journals and in some of my mixed media work. I buy clothes to recycle for the art dolls that I make. I get 100% wool sweaters that I use to make the felted slippers that I like to wear. I buy curtains and candles -- I have enough candles to last me all winter. I bought the coolest lamp yesterday and some sparkly snowflake decorations.

Some people have issues with shopping at thrift stores. I don't. I'll always find something interesting and different. I got most of my storage units and containers and baskets for my studio there, and the loveliest red curtains for my dining room -- brand new.

Last year I found several wreaths there with the electric candle in the middle, like the ones we used to hang in our windows at Christmas time. Ours were long gone so I was so excited to find these. Now both my sisters and my dad have one, and me, of course. All for very little money.

I buy brass pots for my plants and I got the nicest wool coat one year that I still wear. I go to my favorite thrift store at least once a week. I never know what treasures will be waiting for me when I walk in. :)

Here's a link to a site with instructions on how to make felted slippers out of wool sweaters.

2010-11-16T09:59:00.000-03:30

I've been going crazy making journals for Etsy for Christmas. They are a lot of fun to make and I get to paint as well. I make the covers in my studio and I bind the pages onto the covers in the house while I'm watching tv.

I will also be making some jewelry this week for the shop.

I never did finish the watercolor I started. I change my mind from one day to the next on what I want to work on. If I was an octopus I could do everything at once.

Tiddles is a little more relaxed today. Once she gets used to the noises around here she'll be fine.

Tiddles is Here!

2010-11-15T11:39:00.001-03:30

Tiddles is here! She's really nervous and jumpy which is understandable. She bonded with my daughter, Rebecca, and follows her everywhere and sleeps on her bed.

Gennie, Roman and Ickles don't seem to be bothered by her and are going about their business as usual.

New Journal and New Cat!

2010-11-13T18:02:00.002-03:30

Sitting here waiting for Tiddles, our new cat, to arrive on a jet plane. She's coming to live with us and we're very excited! She'll probably be a little overwhelmed when she first gets here because we have two other cats and a dog and she's coming from a single cat household.

Simon, our cat, passed away last Friday and John just happened to wake up as he was dying, so he wasn't alone. I miss him very much. He acted like such a big, tough cat, but he was a sweet heart.

Here's a couple of images of a journal I just finished today and listed in my Etsy shop.

Jewelry!

2010-11-10T14:54:00.001-03:30

New Jewelry!

2010-11-09T15:51:00.000-03:30

I spent yesterday in the studio making some jewelry. It rained and rained while I was in there.

John bought me a new macro lens for the camera and I used it to take these photos. I love it! Thank you, John!

2010-10-30T13:57:00.000-02:30

finally put some fairy lights around my studio window

Bacon and coffee for breakfast in the afternoon, cheesy Halloween movies on tv, overcast, windy day outside, while inside I'm here with my family. It really doesn't get any better than this.

I love weekends, especially Saturdays! Later, we'll go to Canadian Tire and I'll buy some potting soil so I can re pot my spider plant and plant some spider babies that I have in water.

Still no painting finished but I do have a clean bathroom closet and the hardwood floors have been washed.

Enjoy your weekend!

Random Photos!

2010-10-27T16:32:00.001-02:30

Old building in Boat Harbour

John and I take loads of photos. These photos have been taken over the last year, all of them taken, except for the Boat Harbour photo, on one of our many walks.

I have my drawing transferred onto watercolor paper which I just finished stretching. I went to the art supply store today and bought some masking fluid, some new paint brushes because I destroyed all of my good ones doing mixed media work, and a tube of yellow ochre. I know I paid too much for these supplies but I didn't want to wait to have them shipped from Curry's. Tomorrow I begin the painting. I have two drawings ready to be transferred which I will do tonight while I watch The Tudors...

Well, I wrote the above yesterday and I didn't get a chance to send it, and here it is 4:30 and I still haven't touched my painting. I did manage to get out my watercolors and practice a bit on scrap paper because it's been so long since I used them, and I couldn't possibly paint in the mess that I call a studio.

I had the car today and it's a sure thing that if I have the car I'll make three or four trips into town before the day is through. Being in traffic wears me out and pisses me off, so by the time I reach home I have a headache.

I did get another couple of drawings transferred to watercolor paper last night while watching my show, and I went through my Christmas magazines to pick out crafts to make for the upcoming holiday season. I love doing that every year.

Work In Progress!

2010-10-25T13:53:00.000-02:30

I've been working on this doll a little bit here and a little bit there. I have to finish her hands and glue her into the wooden stand after I paint and varnish it (the stand).

I need to practice sculpting faces some more. I can see from some of the photos that her nose is quite crooked and her eyes are looking in different directions. :)

Her face and neck are sculpted from polymer clay. She has a soft body over a wire armature. I hand dyed the cloth for her dress and robe. Except for a little decorative stitching around her hood she is entirely hand stitched. It takes some time but I really enjoy it. Her face and eyes have been painted with oils and acrylics and her hair is made from wool. I have real doll hair in blonde, brunette and red, but I prefer the wool. She stands around 22 inches tall.

I haven't chosen a name for her yet nor do I know her story. It will come to me eventually when I'm vacuuming or washing the dishes.

Last night I started a drawing for the first watercolor I have done in over a year or more. It will become my Christmas card for this year. I hope I still remember how to paint!

2010-10-24T12:10:00.021-02:30

Cleveland

A lot has happened in my life since these photos of our trip to California in August were taken. Some good and some bad.

I haven't had a lot of time to spend in my studio and there are so many things that I want to do in there. Sometimes I think I would like to go away somewhere by myself for a month and just paint.

Two of my beloved cats have died, Hermione and Cleveland, and I miss them so much. A third cat, Simon, a stray that we took in three years ago is ill. Although Roman and Ickles are healthy and well it seems so quiet around here. We have decided to adopt a new cat, Bailey. She belongs to a friend of ours who can't keep her anymore. She lives in Alberta and will have to be flown here. I'm so excited!

Me standing in front of a giant redwood tree

I also made the decision in May to go gray. I woke up one morning and realized I did not want to dye my hair anymore. Here's a great website, Going Gray Looking Great that has made my transition so easy.

I'm looking forward to the cooler days and longer nights and time spent working on dolls and painting and making new jewelry, and nights cuddled in bed with a good book. :)

And we're not moving to Omaha!

John and I on a hike through the redwood forest.

Jewelry!

2010-08-10T21:09:00.002-02:30

Life is very busy! I'm getting ready to take a much needed break with John to San Francisco. We'll explore the coast and relax and drink wine and explore some more. I really can't wait! :)

New Jewelry!

2010-07-24T00:07:00.002-02:30

Have a great weekend!

I'm Back!

2010-07-15T13:34:00.007-02:30

Today I signed up to participate in The Sketchbook Project! You can follow the link and sign up too! It looks like a lot of fun!

The summer is progressing nicely although it got off to a late start. I've been painting, sculpting, making jewelry and sewing in my studio and not photographing any of it or updating my blog.

I've been reading the poetry of Mary Oliver and I am almost finished this book, Sing Them Home. I bought the book because the story is situated in a fictitious town in Nebraska and my family and I may be moving there within the next six months! I also liked the image on the cover. If I like a book cover I will pick it up and read the back and if it sounds interesting I will buy it. I have about twenty books that I am currently reading, fiction and non-fiction.

I just got this treasure of a book in the mail and am working my way through some of the projects. I love getting things in the mail, don't you?

New Earrings!

2010-05-20T21:07:00.001-02:30

Art Dolls & Journals!

2010-05-13T18:00:00.006-02:30

Esme has fed the chickens and is now free to read.

A hand bound journal with tea stained pages with a resin filled frame on the front with text.

Treasury East!

2010-05-09T11:22:00.004-02:30

One of my journals has been included in an Etsy Treasury featuring artisans from Newfoundland. Thank you Julie!

Art Dolls

2010-04-28T19:15:00.006-02:30

This is Brigid and she's a gypsy. She's my second art doll. I sculpted her face and hands out of paper clay. Her clothes have been made with recycled clothing and the bag hanging from her waist is made with tea-stained muslin. Her hair is made from wool and the earrings are made from steel wire.

This is my very first art doll, Morgaine. She's my learn how doll. I sculpted her face out of polymer clay. She's old and had a very hard life which shows in her face. She spends so much time walking in the woods that the birds have made a birds nest in her hair.

I like working with paper clay much more than polymer clay. Paper clay is easier to smooth and can be sanded when dry and air dries. These are my first sculpted faces and I have to say that I LOVE sculpting. I'm totally hooked! I'm starting my third doll tonight.

2010-03-31T21:43:00.003-02:30

Today I spent an uninterrupted afternoon in the studio. What a treat! This morning I dropped my car off for an oil and transmission fluid change, did some errands with John, came home and put the groceries away and cleaned the kitchen. With coffee and laptop in hand, I headed to the studio to finish an order for Johnny Ruth and my Etsy customers. I also made some new earrings for my shop. The jewelry is now in the tumbler where it will tumble all night long.

I'm very happy to have received some new beads in the mail and I can't wait to use them. I have more on the way.

2010-03-29T23:39:00.003-02:30

Happy Weekend!

2010-03-26T16:12:00.007-02:30

I recently started working with copper wire and I love it. It is so versatile! And I don't have to tumble it like I do steel wire. I can make the earrings, oxidize them and photograph them all at once.

With steel wire I tumble it for hours and hours to shine the wire. So I'll make the jewelry and I won't be able to photograph, edit and list on Etsy until the next day.

I really like the way copper looks when it's hammered, oxidized and sanded. So cool!

Here are a couple of new designs.

Hand Bound Canvas Covered Journal

2010-03-23T22:36:00.002-02:30

I have a lot of heavy sailing canvas in my studio that is just perfect for the covers of my journals.

It's stiff enough so that I don't have to gesso the canvas before I begin to paint on it. Anything goes and I get the creative fix I need.

New Work!

2010-03-23T18:08:00.003-02:30

What I'm Doing!

2010-03-19T22:39:00.014-02:30

I've been a very busy beaver this month -- drawing, painting, making jewelry and journals. I never seem to settle on any one thing; I really do want to do it all!

I'm delighted with the warmer weather and the sunshine. I can see the ground through the snow now and that excites me. I can't wait to wake up to the sounds of birds through the open bedroom window. I want to take my camera and go to the beach and take a million photos of the ocean, the endless sky and the beach rocks. I want to walk the length of the beach with my head down looking for treasures that I will take home to my studio and place in a basket for later inspiration.

Cool!

2010-02-12T16:13:00.003-03:30

Jane Adey, the host of CBC Late Night, wore my jewelry -- pendant and earrings -- on the news last night! Yippee!

SALE!

2010-02-12T09:18:00.002-03:30

I'm having a sale on all my bracelets in my Etsy shop until Sunday! Come on over and have a peek!

2010-02-11T17:28:00.001-03:30

Another piece of work with an image of a tree transferred over the layers.

Hello!

2010-02-09T18:09:00.003-03:30

Three Trees

The piece above was created using acrylic paint, ink, image transfers, text, old newspaper and several texturing techniques on gessoed masonite board. The board suits my needs perfectly because I tend to scratch into the surface and use a rough sandpaper on it. The trees were transferred from an image of a photo I took at Bowring Park.

I used brass wire to wrap these beautiful stones. I antiqued the wire to age it and add depth. I really love the look of this wire and I'll definitely continue working with it.

Photos!

2010-01-07T22:52:00.004-03:30

Bowring Park -- we walk here frequently with Gennie.

Gennie looking cute beside John.

John and I with Gennie in front of the tree on Christmas Eve. We take one of these every year. We're pretty tired at this point.

Me and my sisters on Christmas Eve.

A cool tree in Bowring Park

A corner of my studio. This is where I do most of my work.

The living room with the white artificial tree in the corner before the real tree went up.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-28T21:17:00.005-03:30

Wishing everyone the most wonderful New Year ever! May all your dreams come true!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-26T15:12:00.000-03:30

2009-11-25T17:37:00.003-03:30

This is a landscape that I did for the Misty Mawn workshop. I love the simplicity of this scene.

Backgrounds!

2009-11-21T08:18:00.003-03:30

Background with image transfer

Background with image transfer

Here are some of the backgrounds I've been creating in the online workshop with Misty Mawn. I'm having so much fun in the class. Now it's off to teach my own workshop. Enjoy your Saturday!

More Red!

2009-11-13T10:43:00.004-03:30

I just can't seem to get enough of red these days! It has to be because Christmas is on its way and I love Christmas!

I'm so looking forward to this weekend! I'm starting an online workshop with the very lovely and talented Misty Mawn. Her work is so gorgeous and I have admired her for years but could never take a workshop with her because of distance. It's called Painting Layers and it's a mixed media art workshop. So Excited!

Next week I'll be teaching my own workshop on how I create my journal covers and folding and sewing the signatures onto the cover once it is done. It should be a lot of fun!

I Love Red!

2009-11-07T00:39:00.000-03:30

2009-11-04T21:46:00.000-03:30

Some photos that we took on our hike along the coast in Tors Cove.

2009-11-02T16:30:00.002-03:30

Chunky Jade Bracelet

Chunky Jade Earrings

I had a great weekend! John and I went to see the movie Paranormal Activity on Friday night and it was so scary. I jumped in fright a few times. Saturday was spent cleaning the yard in preparation for winter. We also carved our pumpkins and waited for trick or treaters -- we got three. We ate all the goodies ourselves which happens every year. It could be because we have a long driveway and the kids do not want to walk up it. We took a drive downtown around 11:00pm to see all the partyers and their cool costumes. Then we took a stroll through the graveyard around midnight. It was the best night for Halloween.

New Bracelets!

2009-10-28T19:24:00.003-02:30

A Sunday In The Park!

2009-10-20T21:43:00.005-02:30

2009-10-19T15:30:00.002-02:30

Olive Green Serpentine Bracelet

Olive Green Serpentine Earrings With Spiral

Busy Time!

2009-10-16T13:59:00.002-02:30

My week has been spent cleaning house, making jewelry, shipping orders, shopping for groceries, cooking and taking the kids for doctors appointments. I'm very glad of the weekend. All my Etsy orders are ready to be shipped on Monday morning so the weekend is free so far. My studio is in desperate need of a good cleaning and I can't put it off any longer. There's no clear space on top of my workbench at all. The floor is littered with pieces of wire and stray beads and there are empty coffee cups everywhere. Yikes! I guess my weekend is not so free after all.

Circle Bracelet

2009-10-10T18:38:00.002-02:30

Beautiful circle bracelet with hand cut and hammered steel links.

Treasury West!

2009-10-09T19:30:00.003-02:30

My berry red earrings have been included in a treasury on Etsy titled Berry Beautiful.

Blue Turquoise Bracelet

2009-10-08T19:25:00.003-02:30

Blue Turquoise Bracelet

Sick Again!

2009-10-05T21:39:00.003-02:30

Ruby Red Pendant

New Bracelet!

2009-10-04T00:31:00.004-02:30

This is a bracelet I made with 8mm round yellow jade. I love this shade of yellow!

What Am I Doing?

2009-10-03T11:38:00.004-02:30

Turquoise Teardrop Pendant

Sometimes I wonder what am I doing making jewelry when I am an artist. Some people say that making jewelry is a form of art, and maybe it is. Lately I've been wondering if I'm going in the wrong direction and that I should be painting instead of doing what I'm doing. I do love making jewelry and everything that goes along with it, and it's nice when people buy it. I think I have to somehow find a happy medium, but I find it hard to go from jewelry making mode to painting mode. Either I do one or the other. It's a constant internal struggle for me....

Frosty Pearls!

2009-10-02T19:51:00.002-02:30

Frosty Pearls

New Jewelry!

2009-10-01T19:30:00.004-02:30

Earrings with black cubes and pearls

Carnelian bracelet

My household is still a very sick household; the flu doesn't seem to want to let go its grip. I have been making and listing jewelry in my Etsy shop though, which is good. I have some new pieces to photograph and list tomorrow...

Nature Walk!

2009-09-26T17:03:00.002-02:30

I'm still sick and I have spent the last two days crashed on my recliner watching episode after episode of Durham County! I've made some jewelry while sick but I haven't had the energy to photograph or list it on Etsy.

Above are some altered photos that I took while out for a walk with Gennie before I got sick.

Sick Day!

2009-09-24T11:46:00.003-02:30

Turquoise Birdsnest Pendant

I'm spending the day inside making some new jewelry. I'm not feeling too well. :(

Home Sweet Home!

2009-09-23T15:46:00.002-02:30

Sweet And Simple Pendant In Black

It is so good to be home in one piece after battling the crowds of the city today. I'm not very good in traffic and I stress out easily. My head aches and my heart pounds until I am on the straight stretch of road to home. I so welcome the quiet of my studio where I can think clearly and make things.

Nesting!

2009-09-21T16:13:00.005-02:30

Birdsnest Pendant with White Speckled Eggs

I made a macro photo studio yesterday and I do like the results. I don't want to be limited to taking photos of jewelry only in the daytime, especially with the days becoming shorter, so this is my solution.

Lavender's Blue

2009-09-20T19:18:00.005-02:30

New Earrings

Today was the best kind of day to stay home and putter in the studio making useful things and cooking and baking in the kitchen. Now I'm sitting here by the fire with Gennie beside me eating my second piece of apple pie with my family around me. Does it get any better than this...I don't think so.

More Carnelians

2009-09-17T22:38:00.002-02:30

Golden Whiskey And Sunshine

2009-09-17T14:57:00.004-02:30

What a beautiful day! I went out this morning and did a few things before meeting John for lunch. One of my favorite things to do is go to the used goods store and hunt around for interesting things for my studio and to buy books. I found a really cool shelf with a shutter door on it today. It will hang on the wall and hold all of my bottles of paint therefore clearing up space on my workbench. I'm very, very quickly growing out of my studio and I need storage solutions.

Here are some earrings that I have listed in my Etsy shop.

Sweet And Simple Pendant

2009-09-16T14:02:00.003-02:30

Sweet And Simple Pendant

Today I photograph and list some jewelry that I made last night and clean house. I like doing the first thing but not the latter.

Chunky Carnelian Bracelet

2009-09-15T18:05:00.004-02:30

Available for sale in my Etsy shop

I love that the days are getting cooler and the nights longer. As much as I enjoy the Summer, I love Autumn more. It's time to get cozy in the studio and make lots of jewelry, and maybe some art if I can find the time.

Gennie is doing very well and life is starting to settle down into a normal routine. The cats will not sleep in our bedroom anymore since Gennie started sleeping there, and I miss that. She loves long walks and sleeping on my lap when I am watching tv or reading.

I love this gorgeous and substantial bracelet that I made last night. The weight of it feels perfect on the wrist. I had these pieces of chunky carnelian for a while and I didn't know what to do with them because they are too heavy for earrings, so I decided to combine it with the smaller, round carnelian and this is the result. I do believe I see more bracelets in my future. :)

I hope everyone is doing fine. I have not been commenting on any of my favorite blogs lately although I do read them. I go into hibernation mode sometimes, and I find it hard to come out of it. I wish you all a lovely, peaceful Autumn!

New Jewelry!

2009-09-08T19:22:00.004-02:30

This morning was spent getting last minute things for school for Rebecca and gifts for John Andrew's 18th birthday tomorrow. This afternoon I spent making and photographing jewelry. This evening I hope to relax and go for a walk with Gennie. Above are some images of new earrings available in my Etsy shop.

2009-09-07T10:09:00.004-02:30

Gennie, our new dog.

Cleveland, my cat, is outside the window staring in at me wanting to come in. But he will not come in when I open the door. He's been like that since we got Gennie a few weeks ago. I will have to go outside and pick him up and bring him in. The other cats seem to have accepted the newest addition to our family more easily. We brought Gennie home from the SPCA and she is very sweet. She loves walks and she likes to sleep between John and I at night. She's a wee little dog so she doesn't take up much space in bed.

I've been experimenting with resin lately and the result is the pendants pictured above. I'm very pleased with the way they turned out despite how messy it is to work with resin.

The Summer went by very quickly and I'm anxious to get busy in the studio when the kid's go back to school. I will have lots of photos of new jewelry I will be making so stay tuned....:)

Carnelians!

2009-08-04T21:43:00.002-02:30

Pendulum Earrings With Carnelian

Spiral Earrings With Oval Carnelians

New Jewelry!

2009-08-02T21:59:00.003-02:30

Turquoise Teardrops

Turquoise Ring

Black Wire Wrapped Ring

New Jewelry!

2009-07-27T18:25:00.003-02:30

Circle Necklace

Circle Earrings