hello again!

I had so much fun this weekend coming back to my studio! To my paints! To my oystercatcher photos! To a new batch of these cheerful black birds coming to life on my painting table! I have not finished them, but they really wanted to say “HELLO!” to you all….especially my blog friends that are participating in an Earth Day Art Challenge this weekend!

chatting oystercatchersHere’s a few more pics to see how they came together….come back soon to see them all finished, with their bright orange beaks ready to chat some more!

sketching

getting startedso juicy!a bunch

And here is where the magic happens, surrounded by trees and so much spring green! Hummingbirds and swallows zooming outside my window!

Earth Day in my studio

Since this blog challenge was all about art inspired by nature, I have to share a little something my ten year old daughter made on Earth Day (for a friend’s birthday).  Isn’t she sweet?

needlefelted fox made with love by my girl

After the wee fox (and my oystercatcher sketches) were complete, we went out and enjoyed a walk in the forest and found the perfect picnic spot next to a stream.  The sounds of the water flowing and children giggling filled me up more that my yummy organic sandwich could and when the rain started to fall gently through the canopy my heart swelled with the perfection of the moment!

Happy Earth Day everyone! I am so grateful for all that our home provides every day – nourishment and life and so much BEAUTY!  I hope you have done something special to honour your connection to the Earth this weekend and I hope that you will check in to Melodye Shore‘s blog to see how others are expressing their gratitude to the Earth in her Earth Day Art Challenge.

now you can WEAR MY ART!

Polarity Necklace

I am so excited to share this news with you! You can now WEAR MY ART on a gorgeous locket made of recycled steel! How cool is that!!?  There is an amazing maker on Etsy who offers a whole range of wearable art from her Polarity shop!  Necklaces, bracelets and rings – all made to fit interchangeable magnetic ART covered lids!  I have always wanted to order a set and was thrilled when Cat Ivins responded so positively with my request that she consider adding my art to her shop!  Now Polarity carries two sets of my art (each set includes 3 different lids with my art and you always get one free bonus lid…you get a custom stamped initial charm too). Of course, if you want to order them, I would request that you order through MY etsy shop!  If you prefer to order a bracelet, ring or a different necklace option (check out the sweet leather options!), please contact me for a custom listing, see more samples in the Polarity shop).

Have a look and spread the word, maybe there is someone you know (like you!) that would love to get a sweet locket set made with some of my favourite paintings!

Check out the first set (words, wings and water)….

dragonflyrain meets the seabe true

And another set (feathers, whale and oystercatcher in hot air balloon)….

osytercatcher in hot air balloonwhale tailfeathers and party flags (so good together)

P.S. I ordered the smaller size lockets for my girls (and shorter chains, see options in my shop listings)…..they LOVE THEM!!! Tomorrow (for Valentine’s Day) they will be getting a few new lockets with designs by some of my favourite etsian artists (like Cori Dantini and Shira Sela…did you know Shira is from Montreal!?).  Polarity really does create a whole lot of art fun for your every day! Speaking of fun, here’s a peek at some of the Christmas day joy these necklaces brought!

happy teenfiguring out the fun lids

 Note: All photos (except for my girls of course) courtesy of Cat Ivins from Polarity. Oh, and I took this one too…doesn’t the whale tail compliment my sister’s horse scarf and bear shirt perfectly!? 

bird wears my whale tail with her bear shirt and horse scarf

time for new calendars

As we draw towards the end of another amazing year, it is time for me to get my 2015 poster calendars ready for you!  They make great holiday gifts — just roll up, tie with ribbon, and pass along with your love and best wishes for the coming year.  

My calendars are big and bold (12 x 18 inches) and printed locally on 100% recycled paper (good for you AND the earth) and are available in my etsy shop, at Artzi Stuff in downtown Nanaimo, or at the Pier Gallery Christmas Sale here on Gabriola on December 13 and 14th.  Or contact me directly to place an order (I offer bulk discounts so let me know if you want a bunch).

Which one do you like the best?  Perhaps you cannot decide….if so, just get a couple and make sure both your home and office have a fun calendar on the wall.

GOOD DAY 20152015 GOOD TOGETHERHAPPY FEAST 2015

and introducing a slightly different style for the new year (with the help of some cheeky oystercatchers)….

2015 OYSTERCATCHER with BREAKFAST2015 at a Glance OYSTERCATCHER TALL 12x18

Here’s hoping 2015 is full of happy days for you and yours!

P.S. which is your favourite 2015 design?