"Thank you Santa"

 This is the title for this Needle felted Santa which  I have been working on this past week was a commission that is headed to Ontario to be added to an extensive Santa collection. Its great to know where they ,the things I make go and even nicer when I have return costumers who enjoy my work as much as I do.   

Another hot day out there and I believe we are headed to sand and surf, to sit at the ocean edge with our feet in the cool water. Maybe I will attempt to get totally wet, I will see once there. To think when we were kids taking swimming lessons in the cold water at Fort Point, there was no excuse ,we had to take our lessons and I don't recall complaining about the water temperatures. And swimming in the Mersey River with eels and other stuff at that time,some of you out there will know exactly what I am referring to. Also swimming at ten Mile lake ,with the blood suckers. A week or so ago on one of those terribly hot days I ventured up to the trestle trail where we swam as youngsters and was going to jump in but only made it as far up as my knees, I couldn't bring myself to head out any deeper, only because I am older and will admit I like a pool where I can see the bottom. Oh this getting older can hold one back from having so much fun at times. I have become a wimp!!
So off I go to ready for a day and hopefully will get cooled off .

Killing time on a rainy day,

I have nothing new in the line of product to share with you  since Leonardo De Mousie. Not that I haven't been busy ,I have been dashing to shady areas on these hot days. Finding appropriate work during the hottest hours. Finishing up some sewing for a friend and today waiting on my first of the week Art Students. So ,I decided to write a tad and kill some time. Speaking of writing, I sat the other day and wrote some more on my next Children's book. I won't get into what it is about right now, but let me tell you that I can see most of the art work in my head and when this happens it all begins. I smile to myself . Almost like a cartoon moving in my mind I see this one particular painting over and over again and it just may be the cover painting. All I can tell you right now is that it is about a very dear ,sweet mouse.
    I have been writing my story on my new used lap top and was going along in the early Spring with such enthusiasm when all of a sudden I lost everything I had written. I somehow ended up deleting it all. Why of course I know and remember my story but sometimes the words or the way it was first written may never return in the same way it was first time. So I was thrown off my so called pins for a bit but feel I have returned and am happy with these latest writings. Hopefully it, my next book will be received as well as my first "Lu Lu Belle the Happy Puppy" I was told just this morning by a friend of how her little Granddaughter who has just turned 1 year old enjoys being read my book and how she gets excited looking at my art work, which so inspires me to do even better next time.
Since I have been volunteering with the school reading program and working with younger Children I have been reawakened to Children's books and how to keep young Children focused and interested in books.
  So hear I sit at the computer on this lovely much needed rainy day, listening to far off thunder. Hearing the grass and gardens  grow after so many overly dry hot days.The farmers are breathing a sigh today, Thank you to the heavens.
  So looking at the clock, I want to share with you one last thought . I received an email this morning saying that my only 4 yr. Art student would not be able to make it to class today . So I emailed back and of course said that's OK I will see her next time. Then I received another email later saying that there again was a change in plans because when she woke this moring her first words were "This is the day I go to Debbie Doodles" So, she will be here today after all. That's my girl, I am Happy she is having a good time and can only again as I have said so many times in the past"inspire them" the World is theirs.

Leonardo D'Mousie (needle felting)

Introducing Leonardo D' Mousie...

My latest needle felting.

 I Love needle Felting!!!this guy cracks me up.He stands on an Antique Oak board which I painted to look like slate stone flooring. His easel holds his painting of a sailing ship while he glances your way for approval. He is 100% pure wool with one wire up one leg for standing.
It has been so hot that the past few days besides an early bike ride mornings I have been sitting in the shade of our pergola and working on Leonardo and as always am amazed with the end result. Like a lot of things in the beginning you would never guess that the finished product is anywhere in there. Like woodcarving ,working with wool is somewhat similar but instead of removing to find the character inside you add wool and sculpt  like you would working with clay but with only a barbed needle poking the wool adding character as you work along. Same with my needle felted dogs, they look like nothing and then all of a sudden there they are. I Love what I do and hope that people feel the Love in the finished product.
I look forward to introducing him to my Students this week. They get a big charge out of the feltings, as I do.
 Today I was going to head to Lunenburg Festival of Crafts with a friend but after getting out of the shower and starting to ready for a day away, I find that yet again today my belly is upset. ?? beats me what I have if anything, but I have decided to stay put and feel better. YUK!!!!! Maybe it has been this heat!!! of late.

Privateer Days and Canada Day weekend!!!!

Wow!! the older I get the harder it is to do what I love to do ,even though we make sure we get our sleep . It still takes me days to get over having so much fun and dressing up . Seeing again People we don't see all year long to again greet them with a smile, handshake or big hug as we meet again year after year on our fine Town Streets during our fun times during Privateer Days/Canada Day. Again this year all was wonderful and hats off as usual to those who work so hard at getting things in line for a great weekend. If only I were a tad younger and could help more, but not the case, so I will continue doing what comes natural to me and that is just what you see in this photo and as always the Man who Loves me( the poor dear at times) he always as you can also see here stands by me and rides the wave with me. Thank you Chuck!!! So here we have Chuck offering his silhoeette for a Little Girl to trace on Friday when we were doing sidewalk chalk with the wee ones. The photo of me was taken by a Friend while I was tending our Basket Maker Friends baskets while he was away for a bit. His name is Cyril Mooers and his baskets are wonderful!! Anyone interested in a basket from Cyril can email me and I will be happy to direct you to him. On Saturday we set up and sold and Sunday the same but with an outdoor Church service in the morning in Pine Grove Park, which is a beautiful hike through the woods to the Mersey River, if in the area I would suggest you partake of it's splender. Well, Chuck and I were to be Pirates and steal the collection plate and then be arrested by our King's Orange Rangers. We kept to ourselves in the back ground as if we were just attending a lovely Church service with the rest of the Dear folk's. After the collection and Thanks was given I was to hold all at bay with my two big fake guns whilst Chuck was to steal the coin, well never leave a big job to two old Pirates because instead of stealing the collection plate he stole the Eucharist, yup, he did. OK, never have I said we were the brightest, but by golly we try . We and a few other's are still laughing about this. But not to worry we were stopped by our Ranger's and the bread was returned. All was well in the funny end. The weather over this glorious weekend could be no better, yes hot ,very hot but considering the storms and rain showers with thunder and lightening we have been having as of late , we have nothing to complain about.
I have started some new classes with Summer Art Students and they are so incredibly enthusiastic young People. We are having fun and I hope to continue inspiring them. I look forward to watching these talented young People grow into fine young adults and I can only wish to leave them with good memories and confidence . My motto is always there is no wrong and everything we create no matter how small is our Art. Never say never, never be afraid and never say "I can't do that" you can do anything you put your mind to.
I am dragging my simple sewing machine out of the closet and will be making my Basket maker friend a couple of new Reenactment shirts in the next few days and thought I would make myself a new circa 17th century dress ,why not? Sewing for a bit instead of needle felting and painting is a change and what is it they say? "A change is as good as a rest" The shirts won't take so long, but the dress will, so I will take you with me on that journey as it begins and finishes.
Enjoy your Summer to all out there. Make hay while the sun is shining!!!

Self Potraits

This picture says it all, but please allow me to share with you how wonderful it made me feel and by these sweet faces and super work done by three of my budding young Artist Students holding up their Self Potraits. Now to start, they did these wonderful works in only one hour and yes ,we have been known to chit chat somewhat, during our sessions. What I did was have a mirror in front of each young Lady and had them look at themselves , at the shape of their faces ,noses etc. I wanted them to study their reflections.This was their first time with water color and I was constantly reminding them to work quickly so the class was in a buzz from the get go. We had fun ! The result is as you see, Fantastic!!Now I was so impressed I had to share this work with an Artist Friend of our's from Vermont who Summers here in Liverpool William Hays      william@theartistsloft.com     William and his Lovely creative wife Patricia join our charming Village of Liverpool N.S. every June to September and I do recommend you drop into his Gallery on Main Street across  from the Perkin's House here in Liverpool. William who once you see his art, and you will be impressed, answered me back regarding the Girl's and their self potraits and I am shareing his comment here with you ..........(."Well I don’t need to tell you that I’m quite charmed by the self portraits. They absolutely must keep them for when they are much older. They are not a bad representation of who each of the little girls is now." )....I agree with him , to be young and to have no such words in their vocabulary as "we can't do that !". This is what I enjoy with what I am doing, and that brings me to another very special day in our lives recently. We did a Multi Curtural event at Queens Manor with our drums which I have already shared a picture of on Face book. Again, same as with the Children, we come to a station in our lives when we let our guards down and again enjoy doing what makes us furfilled and not so concerned in and with what People think.
We must remember ,we need only to impress ourselves at the end, we live in these skins and must try and find what we feel makes us bloom. For we are all roses in our own rights.

Take another look at these faces and understand what I am saying. Isn't Life grand? Even on a bad day , try and make it better, except that smile or hug or just a simple nod from somebody. It works!
This weekend Privateer Days here in Liverpool you will find us on Main Street on Friday working with the Kid's , lots going on and on Sunday I will be in the park with so many more selling our wares and having many laughs, meeting new and rekindling old, Privateer Days in Liverpool is the place to be this Canada Day weekend.

My new nickname!!!

Well I am tickled pink to introduce to you my new Nickname "Debbie Doodles" given to me by one of my young Art students Keegan and seconded by Keifer seen here in this photo with me on their last day of art classes until the beginning of school again in September.  Chuck is going to make a silk screen for me and I will be silk screening my new name on a T Shirt in the near future. 

Today I am excited to be getting two new young Ladies for their first class with me and in a week or so there will be a few more young people joining us for Summer classes. The boys on their last day choose abstract art and there was plenty of paint and laughter flying. I will be continuing with classes throughout the Summer Months and again in the Fall. If any one is interested I can be reached by email debchuck@eastlink.ca or phone at 354-3690. I will be making up a new business card for these classes and I do believe thanks to my boy's my classes will be called "Miss Debbie Doodles inspiring Art Classes for Children" Thanks guy's!!!
I am about to start a new needle felting ,I am thinking of doing a Pirate with Privateer Days coming up very soon. June 28th. There will be selling in the park over the whole weekend and we will be there ourselves on Sunday July 1st. I will be selling my art , needle felting as well as some very interesting unique and silver jewelry and a few very interesting sun hats.
I mailed off my latest commission Pocket Pets and below is an email I received from my client..
"  Hi Deb,


We are thrilled with the pocket pets that arrived yesterday and I know the "owners" of the dogs will be too when they receive them. You have an amazing talent and it is also evident that your productions are works of love."
This is so rewarding when one gets messages like this. About a Month or so ago I got a phone call from a lady in Ottawa thanking me for a gift she received of one of my needle feltings. Thank you all so very much .
It makes me happy when people feel the Love ,because all I do has so much to do with my passions, everything I make and have made over the years always leaves with a small piece of my soul in each and every one. And this brings me back to the Children in my art classes, I can only hope to inspire them, to give them the tools to create whatever their hearts desire. I believe there is never a wrong in anything we make ourselves. Every piece is unique and special.
Summer has arrived and we are seeing motor homes and Tourists as well as our many ,many Summer residents on our streets again ,so nice to have those who love our Little Town returning year after year.Welcome to all of you ,enjoy your visit and make sure to get some of our wonderful white sand between your toes before you head back home.

Meet "Froggy" latest needle felting

Meet "Froggy"

I Love needle Felting in case anyone out there who reads my blog has not noticed already. This piece so makes me smile. Chuck and I say that the Frog and worm are just having their way with the Trout. Both getting a free ride. I have been busy as usual, I keep saying that and shouldn't bother, is there anything but busy? Not in my World, although if I stayed up later at night I may find some time on my hands but we have been getting up with the Birds and milking the Cows for so many years back when ,or then, way back in the way back machine that we have continued with this way of life even without Cows to milk. I find that I throw myself into whatever I am doing during the day therefore after my evening meal I am ready to lie my head down and get a good nights sleep preparing for another exciting day ahead. So whats next for me? I have one more Pocket Pet Dog commission to finish and ship off. And then I am starting some small needle felted Trout. Yesterday my 3 young lady students were here and today the Boy's come,as always they amaze me with their enthusiasm.I am going to enjoy watching these fine young People grow into young Adults. God willing I am still around and I can only pray that I leave them with fond memories of their time with me. Like the wonderful memories I have of some very inspirational People from my past.

Privateer Days is soon upon us starting on June 28- July 1st. I will be on Main Street on Friday the 29th along with many other's . The street will be closed off and there will be festivities for Children and Adults with store fronts selling on the street and I for one will be working with Children and sidewalk chalk. There will be a lot offered all weekend here in Liverpool during our yearly event.My plan is to get in Privateer Days Character and dig the Pirate out in me. We got a call from our Local Seniors home here in Town"The Manor " and we are happy to say that on the 25th of June we will be taking our Drums etc. and energy to visit the Residents there, hopefully they will enjoy our visit like the Folk's at  Hillsview last Month did.   

So this is all for today, I will take the time and write  more soon.