Spread Your Wings And Fly

The front

The back

The stitching on the spine

Here's the latest journal that I have been working on. It's actually a commission for someone. It measures 8 inches by 9 3/4 inches and it has 320 pages. Sewing the signatures to the spine is time consuming and requires a great deal of patience. I really enjoy making these though because I get to use my skills as an artist to make something that is practical and I can be as creative as I want. The cover looks and feels like old, worn leather.

*This journal has sold*

Dream

Here's a much bigger journal that I finished today. It measures 10 inches by 6.5 inches and has 240 pages. I drew a simple line drawing of a house on the cover in charcoal and I sealed it to protect it from smearing.

*This journal has sold*

Another snowstorm rages outside as I write this entry. I can't wait for our trip to Florida in the Spring.

Above are images of a wee little journal that I made from leftover canvas and paper. It measures 1.8 inches by 2.8 inches. So cute! I'm working on a much larger journal that I should have finished by tomorrow. And some earrings made with wire wrapped clay beads.

*These earrings have sold*

Today I've settled myself into my favorite armchair with my jewelry supplies in my lap, a fire in the fireplace and a movie, The Day The Earth Stood Still. There's a blizzard raging outside and there has been since the early hours of the morning. 20cm of snow has fallen with another 10 to 15cm more expected by tomorrow morning. Yikes! John is in Vancouver so I had to snow blow the driveway myself to keep ahead of it.

Above is my newest little journal, 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches. As well, some earrings made with blue quartz faceted heart briolettes wrapped in lots of tumbled steel wire. I love these so much! Earrings are available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Another Journal

Here's another journal that I made. I kept it very simple because I want it for my purse. I'm always looking for paper in my purse to make notes when I'm waiting in the car and I never have any. I hope this solves my problem. I'm working on a tiny journal now. It won't serve much of a purpose because of its size, but it sure is cute.

I'm off to Toronto until the end of the week so I'll see you when I get back...

Hand Bound Journal

The front

The back

Inside


I finished my very first hand bound journal. I made the cover from canvas that I gessoed, textured, painted, and embellished. I also added a photo transfer and some text. I made four signatures and sewed them to the cover using waxed thread. I completed another one today that I will post some photos of tomorrow.

I have been writing in journals for twenty years and I have stacks of them, now I can make my own as well as my very own sketchbooks.

Ruthie

This is a painting of my sister's dog, Ruthie, done in acrylic on canvas. Ruthie passed away a few years ago.

Our fire from last night as we waited for the snow to start and the winds to rise.

And some photos taken today of the trees blanketed in snow. Everything looks so beautiful when it is covered in snow.

New Earrings

These beautiful, midnight blue teardrop shaped faceted stones were wrapped in tons of steel wire. I tumbled polished the earrings to shine the wire and to create depth. I love these!

I did the same with these oval shaped carnelian stones. My jewelry is available for sale in my Etsy shop.

When I go to the beach I walk with my eyes down searching for the perfect beach rock. Any old beach rock won't do. I look for interesting shapes, colors and textures. I have jars and jars of rocks that I've collected over the years. When I choose a rock for a pendant, I choose a dark, plain one so the spiral will stand out against it. I hammer some of the wire and leave some unhammered for interest.

Another Snow Day

I love waking up to a blizzard raging outside while I am safe and snug in my bed. And that's exactly what happened this morning. I lay there for awhile with Roman on one side of me and Simon on the other (my cats) and savored the fact that I didn't have to jump up and get the kids off to school. I took my time and when I was ready I slowly got out of bed and went downstairs.

Ickles stretched off in front of the fire.

The view through the dining room window.

Both pairs of earrings are made with steel wire. The spiral earrings were treated with heat to create a lovely bronze color. The hoops were not treated with heat. Depending upon the temperature you use you can achieve different colors -- black, brown, blue, gold.

I made this necklace using a crystal from a chandelier that I discovered in a second hand shop. The crystal has been wire wrapped using steel wire. It's hanging from an adjustable gun metal chain.

Ice patterns on the window this morning.

Today was a good day. I slept until noon because John and I stayed up so late last night drinking martinis and dancing. We ate a huge brunch and then headed into town to our local cafe for coffee. I bought a fire log and some french onion soup at the market and I spent an hour in the studio while the soup cooked in the oven. Maggie, formerly known as Meggie, stood on my shoulder and ate crackers while I worked. Now as I type in my blog listening to the wind howl down the chimney, Ickles cleans himself on my lap and I am content. Good night!

Portrait of Aspen done in graphite and charcoal.

Earrings

Here are some new earrings the I have made.

Outside my studio window on the day of the snow storm. You can barely see the birdhouse that hangs just beyond my window.

I'm so lucky to have this little corner of the world to do what I love doing. Today I worked on several pieces while Meggie, who happens to be Maggie, stood on my head. She likes to perch there when I let her out of her cage. She's pretty good about not doing her business while she's up there.

Right now I'm working on a graphite drawing, several mixed media pieces and atc's (artist trading cards). On alternate days I will make jewelry.

I ordered this book from Amazon.ca last night and I can't wait to get it. I'm always trying to improve my drawing skills and this is suppose to be a really good book on drawing textures.

Journal Pages

This is a page from my art journal. I created this piece using an image transfer from a copy of a graphite portrait that I drew a few years ago. I love this technique so much....

Sing Sweetly

This little piece with the image of a bird, was created using a sand dollar handpicked from the rugged shores of Newfoundland. Each sand dollar is hardened before I begin the painting/collage process. Two coats of varnish is then applied to protect the artwork as well as to harden it further. Painting, stamping, pieces of vintage newspaper from 1937, images and text were used in the creation of this piece.


It's snowing hard outside as I sit inside cozy and snug. I'm thinking of heading outside to my studio to do a little work. There's nothing better than squirreling myself away in my studio and making art on a day like this.

Stone Spiral Pendants