Grog finished.and Birdhouse 2.

In the above picture is our Little Guest house and our get away we call The Bird House. It use to be one 3/4 bed ,this past weekend I turned it into 2 single beds, easier then crawling out over the one in the front as it was before. We as well as Summer friend's ,Children and Adults alike enjoy this little cozy spot out back. Not so cozy in Winter but warm weather when there is a fire in the fire pit, this makes a great get away in the back yard. Our Back 40 as we refer to it as here in town. After living for years with a river and 20 plus acres,we needed something fun.

And...meet Grog, I had to stop and get him down off my easel,sometimes paintings can easily be over worked and watercolor not being my most worked with medium I had to force myself to stop. I am happy with it myself and Chuck has juiced me and Grog has yet to see it.

I am still waiting on my wool order and when it comes I have a sweet antique looking miniature wooden cradle I found in a local Shop and I am going to needle felt a Baby for in it..I see it in my mind and it's accessories and am excited to start. Doing volunteer work this afternoon with Children and reading so I won't be starting anything today but tomorrow is another day. This past warm spell found us outside biking and taking in the fine days. Now things are some what back to seasonal temperatures and back to seasonal Tourist Season work for me.

Grog...not a drink..and Pocket Pets..

OK, the weather has been balmy here in good old Nova Scotia lately,yes not a word used a lot in this part of the World,especially in March. Global warming indeed is with us. We all know this but I will have to admit this Winter was strange to say the least and does concern me. But we will survive and keep on truckin and will not complain while we are sitting in the sun soaking up all we need to put into our bodies while we are careful not to over do it with burn, maybe too soon for that.

I have been hard at work outside making hay as they say while the sun is shining, raking and cleaning up the yard and thinking about Summer . Needle felting dogs when I am inside, see the picture above of those who are in stock and looking for good homes, they are 100% wool needle felted with Love and are Child friendly. I will be making Bunnies soon for Easter ,all at $20. each, the Bunnies may be less ,depending on their size. I am trying to keep my prices down as much as I can with the way our economy is. So get a Pocket Pet at a very good price. They are one of a kind and I do requests. Here also is a picture of my friend Grog, his reenactment name. This sketch I did of him has been on my easel for a few days now waiting for some paint. The sun over took me and Grog is still waiting to come to life, maybe today if the wind stays down I may take him outside and paint on the deck and we will see what happens. I must start thinking about my Summer Season with Tourist type product. We no longer do shows and if we do they are only local art shows so anyone who is interested ,please stay tuned to my blog or Face Book page and touch base with me with any questions or suggestions. I have Chuck back to painting now that he is retired and well ,he is a busy man with many books to read but with my nagging ,stayed tuned for his first Master piece. I do know with his help ,I may get a chance to take a breath or two and a bike ride .

I joined up with a group of artistic Actor's and once a week am on stage laughing and having fun with some improv...everyone should try it, no lines to remember, all you have to do is to listen and have a chuckle with what comes out of our mouths.No pressure:-)

Here in Liverpool we are waiting on a new Craft/Art supply shop to open early April,"Canopeum Art" it will be right beside our Frenchy's used clothing store, she will be carrying whatever we need in the line of supplies and will get in what Folk's want and need as time goes on. But I needed wool for my felting right away so I ordered from "Living Felt" and am waiting on my parcel to arrive. Like a kid I get excited when I know I have wool coming and they are the best company ever to deal with. Check them out .

Fun Funk Jewerly

Above are pictures of my "Fun Funk Jewelry" All pieces are made from bits and pieces of found treasures, some very old . Antique jewelry,old watches and found reclaimed odds and sods of this and that. These pieces look great on any special chain or ribbon and are all reasonably priced at $25.00 each.

Reading for Seniors

Here is a picture taken the day I was at Hillsview acres reading my book"Lu lu Belle the Happy Puppy" to the residents there. This had to be one of the most heart warming moments in my life. They were all so sweet .We took the two dogs with us ,both stars in my book, Lu Lu Belle herself and Miss Laura our Diva who we doggy sit on a regular basis. You can just imagine how well these dogs were received there.
It was a wonderful sunny day to do something so rewarding. I am about to begin writing my new story which is running in my head daily, but will wait until after The Full Monty at the Astor Theatre Feb. 10-12 ,17-19 I have been helping with the set, which is very involved indeed. You won't want to miss this play ,the work not only with the very involved set but the work by the Actors ,Directors and Crew it should be a great show!!! Because I have been very busy painting at the Astor, any art here has been on hold. Usually in years past I would be locked up inside a warm house watching it snow outside while I paint away . These days on the South Shore of our Nova Scotia one day is like Spring ,next day cold and back again to Spring. There is so much always to do inside and out,I sometimes wish I could split into two and get more done.
The other day poor Chuck was beside himself ,I had the day off from the Theatre so decided to tackle the upstairs here, our home is tiny compared to our old farm house we left 7 years ago now and I must be creative at making this smaller space work for us. We don't have a spare bedroom and one night I kept Chuck awake with my coughing so I thought and thought and have made a space for a single bed so one or the other can get away and sleep somewheres else to give the other a peaceful nights sleep.
Regarding future product, I have been collecting some very interesting pieces for a couple ideas I have for benches or what I call boot bins. These will be worked on come finer weather and I hope to have a few new things come Spring, never ending ideas . My boat part paintings are all sold and I must get into the shop and prepare some new surfaces for painting. The boat parts are harder to find these days but I still have some very interesting pieces which I have had for sometime and I look forward to seeing them done, for they are very unique pieces that have been waiting to come to life again.

Fond rekindling and first Winter Snowman..

The early New Year brought us a nice surprise , we received 3 disks of photos and music in the mail from cyclists Mary Ann and Dave from Ontario who we met in 2010. They were traveling for 121 days photographing and documenting their adventures . They stopped here one incredibly rainy stormy day to take a picture with our dummy fisherman we had outside that Summer just for the fun of it.

What a lovely couple they were and are, so brave of them to challenge themselves to such a ride and camping along the way at that. They were so wet as you can see from the photo above . Mary Ann even has on kitchen rubber gloves duck taped closed to keep the rain out. Trust me these people knew what they were doing and if I may say so,they were no Spring Chickens, they had snow on the roof if you get my drift? We offered them our bunk house to sleep in and a hot meal and cloths dryer,but we didn't have enough room for them to set their tent up to dry so we then sent them on to a close by Motel where they got to dry out and relax. We followed their blog while they continued on their journey and then we all got on with our lives but did think and talk about them often and then this package arrived this New Year. There are photos of all the wonderful ports and towns they visited ,with captions and photos of scenery and People they met on their way, we were included in these photos as well as shots of my art and we are honored to be remembered and thought of in their fond memories of the friendly Maritime Provinces.So, reading their lovely note and looking at their Cd's and hearing their news of being new Grand Parents last Summer ,we today sent them a signed copy of my little book "Lu Lu Belle the Happy Puppy"for them and their grand babies. Thank you Mary Ann and Dave for being sent our way and us having the privilege of meeting you and leaving a mark with you ,for you left a wonderful mark with us.

Now meet my snowman, first one this Winter, I always love to play in the snow and really living here in the Maritimes South Shore does not give me the bit of snow I like to see. Driving in it is another thing, but one can always find some joy in playing in it, so meet my man..the only hat I had for him was my Saint Paddy's hat, he wears it well.Actually we may not have this snow for long, not to worry if you hate snow, for tomorrow it may be gone but I hope my snowman lasts a few days .

I have been slack regarding starting any much needed painting this year so far. I now have a lap top just for writing so this past few days I have been writing my first draft of my next Children's book which is about a Mouse, I may share more as I write, we will see. It is coming along nicely ,in the way that I can see the art work for the book as I write, that can be a good thing. I like it when things just happen to flow. It is hard to believe but I am also thinking of the Summer Tourist Season,scary but from years of doing shows one has a tendency like preparing for Fall in the Spring, such as wood piles etc. .Remember the old saying? "Make hay while the sun is shining?"Well that is what I am doing,wow!!!my head hurts I need a break!!!just kidding, I will survive...Ha Ha...could be a song...LOL ,Oh I am funny today.

So get out and build a snowman or woman...why not?Eh?

Happy New Year

This guy above is still available

..

After 10 years, my collection of Sea people is complete, thanks to the kindness of Deb Taylor, the artist, who took the time to read my daughter's request and to create the Sea "Ladies" in order to surprise me at Christmas. You can see from the photo that it worked. Thank ;you so much Deb."

Well Christmas is over, we are ready for 2012, bring it on already..welcome to a new day and year.

I am pleased to say that all my hard work before Christmas paid off, I have been given some great feedback from Clients and recipients read above, Thank you all so much, you have no idea how wonderful it is to hear good things about what you make for others, it makes it all so worthwhile, while paying a few bills as well. But, to be totally honest I get more of a charge from creating that special something then so much the selling, don't get me wrong, the selling part is great, but,my heart overflows with joy at putting a smile on faces.Here is a photo of one such person who received a surprise from her daughter who tracked me down before Christmas and worked with me to make her Mom a couple of our Sea People figurines also see above which are now added to her already collection which she bought on her travels a few years back in the Maritimes. Lovely when this happens.

Most of my Needle Felted figures are sold as well, this interesting fellow above is still here, as well as a Mermaid waiting on a new home, I was surprised he didn't go, maybe he is here waiting for YOU!! Soon I will have to start preparing for Summer ,hard to be thinking about that when we have not had any snow yet but a fact none the less. I am sure we will get hit with some snow this season some time, we always do but with Global Warming our South Shore is just that, very South in climate these past few years.Before Christmas I had a lot of Dog needle felting commissions and again Happy to say that I have received great word at how well they were received as gifts, Thank you all again for your patronage.

My bike has been put away for the Winter, well I should add I had her out for a ride on Christmas Day, it was a nice sunny day and I enjoyed my regular route with only slightly frozen cheeks. These days I have to take the car to our new fittness center which is way further then the old one for me, the old one only being 2 blocks from my home ,which made taking my bike everyday last Winter long easy. The new fitness center is wonderful!!!with stat of the art equipment that is so user friendly it makes your workout I believe easier. I am enjoying it all and do believe it is best for my old tired body.

Santa brought me a Lap Top computer and as soon as I get her up and running, I will be starting my new Book, I will share more about this as I begin to write. My book"Lu Lu Belle the Happy Puppy" was very well received and I just recently had more copies published so anyone interested call or email me for a copy @$12.00.

Many plans are in mind regarding this coming Summer Season, sometimes I wonder why we go to bed so early,it might be because I never stop,I am fortunate to be able to create everyday and do what I LOVE. Thank you my Chuck for that, for he has always inspired and supported me as well as worked along with me all these years. When I think back of all the shows we did over the years ,all the wonderful people we worked with and sold to and just met and shared warm chats and hugs with,Wow!!!life is good. Thank you life!!

Happy New Year all you out there,be safe and Happy, make everyday count, let your hearts sing and rejoice with every breath you take.

Merry Christmas

Here is an up to date picture of us cleaned up and ready to hit the Town the other evening, of course evening for us these days is from 6:30 -10 PM ,then home to some mindless TV before bed to wake early the next morning as always. The other picture is of a Handmade Ceramic Santa set I am selling for $40.00 ,a great gift for that Santa collector in your life. I have a couple commission pieces to be picked up this week and have no other requests for the week. I can still do felted dogs or with in the next day or two if anyone out there wants one other then that I do have about 5 needle felted dog Pocket Pets left here,a Squirrel and two needle felted Fairy Elves and a Mermaid and my Children's Book for $12.00 as well of course paintings mostly on canvas. Anyone interested in visiting my studio/gallery can call 354-3690.We are in the last leg of this Christmas race and I am happy to say we have not been any further then this Town to shop, I dread to even think about what Bridgewater looks like these days.Soon the Jolly old Guy will be visiting all those excited Children young and old out there. And then it will be all over again until next year. Christmas should be everyday don't you think? Remember when we were young? me being just over 30 :-o a tad bit. When ribbon and hard candy in the buckets were a sight always seen, box's of Chocolate rained from the sky. Fruit cakes have been made for a couple Months and lay soaking in rum.We hung our personal socks instead of special store bought stockings, I remember when I finally graduated to an over the knee sock,hoping to receive even more inside it. Then Mom had a neighbor crochet us Christmas stockings one year and I still today have two of those socks and will always treasure them, but could never afford to fill them these days. Every Christmas it seemed we would receive a sleigh from Santa and would be able to go sledding on Christmas Day. My job yearly was to decorate the tree after Mom put the lights on it and putting the icicles on one at a time to then get tired and not really care so much but to just to get it done. I miss the old thicker icicles compared to the thin ones today.There was always one doll or a truck for the girl and boy in the family as well as a game for all to play.Another one of my jobs as a child growing up in our home was to wrap all the gifts that were being sent all over from us to Aunties and Uncles from away. Mom would buy all the tags ,Christmas stickers,ribbon that I requested .I so enjoyed wrapping these very simple gifts such as socks, underwear, slips and gloves in the finest fancy paper,when back then the paper may have cost more then the gift, can you imagine? Everyone sent out cards and I still did up to this year, it had to stop with all that is going on in the World and the paper ,paper and more paper being wasted. I only sent to a few that are not on the Internet,it is just the way it needed to be.

The sun is bright today and the air is crisp, I rode my bike to Town today to do a bit of last minute shopping and when I got home I put her,my bike in the barn for the Winter, she is parked and is now waiting for Spring ,when the Daffodil's will be blooming and the Black flies will awaken along with us after a Long Winters nap under a warm blanket. Missing our wood heat would be an understatement, I don't necessarily miss the wood splitting or lugging it in but if someone were here to do it for us, I believe I would remove some favorite furniture to make room for a wood stove. But enough of that dreaming, I don't think Santa will be bringing us a wood stove anymore. Which reminds me of the year that Chuck gave me a milk Cow for Christmas, a live Cow I might add, a big cow as well as a mild wonderful Family Cow, my Katie. She was so gentle that I could milk her one side while teaching a child to milk sitting on the other side. Going to the barn every Christmas eve to read the Christmas Story with the Animals all up and paying attention as if they were listening, and I believe they were. What a wonderful feeling to go out to the white washed warm ,clean barn on those evenings ,leaving the house in the wind and snow to then open the barn door and take your coat off to the warmth and wonderful smell of the Animals. We would joke when it was Chucks turn to cook nights I would disappear off to the barn and would rather be there then in the kitchen. Well my darling Katie and all her Farm Friend's kept our blood pressure down except when chasing them through the woods when we would have what we called fencing failures. A lot of times our fence would have spots where a deer or bear would knock down a small section of it in the woods. There was work to be done and exercise came naturally which brings me to today and the fact we here in Liverpool have a new Fitness center with a lovely Arena and gym ,walking trail etc. etc. I am signed up and looking forward to it. Staying alive or trying to at least.

So I will be off to sit and do nothing, did I say that? Me doing nothing? I am sure I could find something to do,but why not take a break and smell the roses or should I say Poinsettias.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2012 to all who read this.