Winter has arrived

Here is a photo of the latest painting I have just finished for a client.  Winter here on the South Shore of Nova Scotia has been late joining us as has been the case for a few years now since we moved into town from living on the Medway River. I will admit I miss snow for Christmas, many don't but it just seems that much more magical in a cold white way.
 I have been busy starting up my art classes again in this New Year and when not busy preparing for classes I have been working on this painting. Staying warm inside but really wishing for sticky snow so that the Child in me can build a Snow Person with no luck so far. The canvas size of this painting is 3x2' and is oil .It was challenging with all the green but I am happy with the results.
We have been helping with reading mentoring at one of our local Elementary schools again this year and have offered to help as well with their breakfast program a couple times a week. Enjoying doing this,one because we love the Kids and two, we miss our days in Mill Village where we worked with the Village school for I believe twenty plus years even before our son started school there. These smaller schools need so much help ,Teachers at times are stretched thin and any help with anything one can do is much appreciated as well so much needed. Just a simple background check and you too can find a smile appearing on your face from working with some great cute ,funny Children. Days when I return home after having the Children read to me I get inspired to sit down and work on my already started next Children's book. I see the art work in my head and I know it will be a great book for them of elementary age. Even if I must say so myself.I feel it. So saying that and now that I have my commissions finished and Christmas on the back burner again for another year , I will be getting down to writing and sketching and will share more on this in the days to come. I am excited about the illustrations I see for this book. Oh and yes I am practicing with my new Ukulele,but we will leave it at that, I could be doing better.
Here in Liverpool our local Theatre group "The Winds of Change " are now beginning to work on their next production "Les Miserables" yes a full blown Musical with almost ,if not forty people in the cast and even way more behind the scenes. Auditions are about to begin and by the beginning of March the cast will be chosen and things will start . With many Months ahead of hard work which I know will pay off once it hits the stage next November. Stay tuned for more on this as things roll along. I have offered again to help paint the set, which will be yet again another big one as in many plays before but this one may even be more involved. Mark your calendars and visit Liverpool to witness a great play.
Someday I would like to audition for a fun Character part again like in the last play I did. "Riches and Honor" written by Beth George a local playwright from here in Queens County. But to jump with both feet into this play would surely be way too much for a newbie like me, better to leave this one to the pros but I will do what I can to help.
One last thing regarding my art students before I leave you today. We work in many mediums and rug hooking will be one of those mediums coming up . My plan is to have the Children design their own images on the burlap . I was given a large rug hooking frame and am considering having the Children work together in groups  on one long table runner and when finished ,if everyone is in agreement we will then auction it off to raise funds which are very much needed for our local SPCA to help all the dogs and cats out there who are in need. As we did this past Christmas with the children's Santa painted mussel shells and raised almost $100.00 . This way they learn how to hook but I don't need to find more then one hooking frame and the kids get to learn about giving of their time for others in need. I will be sharing more on this as well in the Months to come.
So you can see I 'm not busy enough, but I sure am having fun!

Happy New Year

Well today is the last day of 2012. It was a great year .And, I believe everyday is a great day if we try hard to make it that way ,so today again will be  another great last day of  of a good year. Bring on 2013, I will be fast asleep when the New Year rings in ,wanting to wake to a good first day of another super busy year .

I bought myself a ukulele for Christmas, arriving right before Santa came down the chimney. I got to work on my cording , fingers are getting toughened up and practicing is easier. Sound is good, but my playing leaves much to be desired, I will confess. But at least I am working at it. I painted flowers on my Uke and since have given her the title of "Daisy" Meet "Daisy" above. Over the years since a young Child I have always had a passion for stringed instruments as well of course my many drums. With no great success in playing many of the stringed instruments. I have given up on my Banjo and ended up selling it,but have kept my Auto harp and Dulcimer and now have added my new Ukulele to the list. Being only 48 days from turning 60 years old ,I believe it is time to master at least one of my stringed instruments ,so the Uke will be in my hands as much as possible so that once Summer joins us again for those wonderful not always great hot days I'll be able to share a song or two in the shade of a tree with Dear friends who also play, wish me luck.

I finished my Christmas commissions well before Santa arrived , not being one to procrastinate . I haven't been needle felting over the Holidays but practicing my Uke instead. But right before Christmas I accepted a commission of a King Gnome and here he is. These past storm days with no snow for us but heavy rain and blowing wind  I have been inside watching old movies and needle felting instead of being outside building Snow Persons. Here is King Gnome on his Throne with a Chickadee on his lap. He will soon be on his journey to his new home in a few days.
Well we all survived the threat of the World ending, until next time that is. The World is going to end for all of us soon enough, so seize the day everyday I say!! Ones work never ends.
So tomorrow New Years Day is my Families tradition day ,to get together at my Sisters cottage to ring in the New Years first day, celebrating with much food, cheer ,family and friends. I will awake from a good nights sleep all bushy tailed and ready to have a fun afternoon looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean with waves pounding the shore, it should be another great day in the Maritimes Happy 2013 to all and may you work hard at making your dreams come true this new year. May you sing on a sunny day. May your Hearts flutter with beauty and Love all around, may you heal from your pains, no matter what they are. May you put smiles on faces that need and may those smiles come back to you ten fold. Happy New Year!!!

The face says it all!!!

There are times in our lives where words never can discribe what a smile can. This is one of those times!! Look at this smile. This is one of my Little Art Students, and I really can't say much more then what you see. "Proud" is one word at the top of a list of many adjectives for this picture.

Santa is on his way and he is travelling quickly our way. At my ripe age ,one does not need much and therefore there is    no list here for the old white haired guy. But, sometimes one needs to give a gift to ones self and that is what i am doing for myself this year, we can say it is from my Chu

Young Artists

WOW!!!!

Look at all this wonderful heart felt work ,Talent and Children who are our future.

 These are shots from this past Sunday November 25,2012 Craft Show where there was so much to choose from. But, at these two tables against the wall at the end of the room there you would have found 10 Happy Children sharing their wonderful work with their public ,Family and Friends.

Smiles on faces is an understatement, I myself was beaming from ear to ear and could feel the excitement everywhere.This was something I had discussed with my young Art students  and we all were so looking forward to the day and I am so happy to say it came and went with great success and  attendance. The Children were thrilled as were myself, Chuck and my Elf helper Sabine. As well Parents ,Family and Friend's who came by to share in something very special. Thank you everyone for making some very deserving young People very proud of their creative works. This show is one of only two I will be doing this Christmas season, unlike other years in the past when we were well into our show season ,sleeping in our trailer in parking lots, travelling from one Town to another ,we are older now and stay much closer to home. This show was all about the Kids and nothing about me. Next weekend I will be at the Artisans Show here in Liverpool Nov. 30th next door to Frenchys 5-10 PM and Dec. 1st 10-5 PM. Liverpool with my art ,next door to Frenchy's Friday evening Nov. 30th 5 - Ts

Meet Santa and his friend

Well, this wonderful little Town was all a buzz this past 4 or so days with Nova Scotia Molsons Music week all about town and around. I was told great crowds. Told, because I was here working my little needle felting needle up and down wanting to finish my latest two needle felting characters. Meet Santa and Classy Agatha .

Sometimes when I find special props I have no idea what they will be used on and other times I know right away what they will become.In the case of Agatha I knew right off the bat who would be sitting on this little sofa which actually is a jewelry box, see above picture.
I am aware that I repeat myself and so I will again say "I love what I do"!! Agatha cracks me up and Santa has a wonderful feeling. Today I may start another felted dog Pocket Pet to add to the few I have left, I am trying to get ready for an up coming show here in town "The Artisans Gallery" Nov. 30, Dec. 1st. being held at Canopeum Art right beside Frenchy's  , more on that as the time quickly comes to be. Time does fly. As much as I love music I am happy I got a lot of good sleep and rest this past weekend because the days are flying by and work never ends. Maybe I will beat on my drum to celebrate my hard work today, after I vacuum that is.
I have the most wonderful prop a handmade spinning wheel which I can picture in my head who I want to sit at it  and this may be my next project after a couple of Pocket Pet dogs.
My poor bicycle is feeling lonely and I am missing my warm rides these chilly damp days, other years I would have no excuse and these days I find I am becoming a wimp when it feels cold and damp outside. I better get back to it. My that was easy said, ha ha ha...Off I go to start another productive day.

Taking time to write,

Yes time,A word that can describe so much. Our Summer Season is gone. Ghosts and Goblins will arrive next week then we will be thinking about readying for Santa. Myself now that the latest Winds Of change Play Boeing Boeing is over and the set that I enjoy helping to paint is down and what can be stored away is tucked away safe to someday be added to yet another wonderful set for another fabulous play. Every time I help the end result is so rewarding with Rick who gives so much of his time and knowledge building these sets and dedicated Actor's who give so much of their  talent working on their lines and timing. So much effort on and behind the scene ,but those who see the Plays give us all who work so hard to make this happen wonderful applause and attaboys for all the hard work done. Thank you, I for one am often in a great deal of pain with OA, but what I get from helping is so worth while. Same as when we go to Queen's Manor with our drums and rhythm instruments as we did this past Monday . Oct. 22. All the energy we give is given right back when I see smiles and feet stomping and tambourines shaking by the residents. When I see folks who I haven't seen in years , those who remember me as a little girl growing up here in Town. And sadly sometimes when we arrive there we hear that a Dear friend has passed it makes it very hard to be upbeat but for all the heart break at those times there are rewards, we need at times to look close and feel the Love.
I have been busy with my Art Students who make me laugh, they are so creative and excited with everything they do. When they leave after their lessons I then work on my art which I will admit I need to light a fire under myself to get what I want to get done and right now I have started a Christmas Commission of a Painted Mat which I will not be able to share on here, for it is a surprise for someones lovely wife for Christmas. I will be including all of her favorite things in the painting for her to enjoy. I will share a picture of it after Christmas. I can share what I have finished to sell this Christmas Season here on my blog. This is my latest Needle Felting above titled "Beach Babe's" I have done various Beach Babes, all are different ,one of a kind but they are just that,"Beach Babes" and they are so fun when they take on their personalities, see above photo.

I have been doing Dog Needle Felting commissions and it is amazing what word of mouth can do, People love their Pets and whether it is a beloved Pet who has passed or a gift of a Pet someone has now, these Little creations put a smile on ones face for sure. And, I Love making them. 
So I will get ready for another busy fun day, it is a day off so to speak for me. We need to ready for Saturday at the Mill Village school when we will dress up in costume and visit their Haunted school and judge costumes again this year. It is nice to return to this wonderful small school with hard working Parents trying their best to keep yet another small school open. As we did our years when we lived there, it always is nice to visit and see how things are going in the Village, where we raised a fine Man and also Foster Children over the years. These small schools are like home away from home.