Labour Day

To me Labour Day is the official day to start work for the One of a Kind Show. I have actually been working on patterns since July but today the pressure starts. I have been looking at rolls of fabric since mid summer as has Derek with his rolls of annealed wire. The wire is for Art Nests, Peanut Feeders and a newly designed Hummingbird Nectar Feeder.

In July I was asked to run a workshop on Shibori dying techniques. At 10 on a Saturday morning I had 6 women set to learn how to create their own beautiful scarves. After the workshop I decided that I would add scarves in a big way to my collection of items for sale. Way back, years ago when I was at Art School I spent time learning all sorts of fabric dying techniques. From that history I decided that the Arashi Shibori technique was the one I would focus on and have since created many scarves. In Japan, the earliest known example of cloth dyed with a shibori technique dates from the 8th century. The cloth is wrapped on a diagonal around a pole. Then the cloth is very tightly bound by wrapping thread up and down the pole. Next, the cloth is scrunched on the pole. The result is a pleated cloth with a design on a diagonal. “Arashi” is the Japanese word for storm. The patterns are always on a diagonal in arashi shibori which suggest the driving rain of a heavy storm. I took my new scarves and dresses to Summerfolk Festival mid August and not only sold them but won honourable mention, second prize for a dress, scarf combo. I was beaten by a beautiful handmade guitar.

The Wearable Art Show

This weekend, October 25 and 26, I will be participating in a great new to me show. The Wearable Art Show features unique creative works by Canadian artists with wearable art the exclusive focus of what is exhibited and sold at the annual event. The intention of the show is to support and build a sense of community among professional Canadian artists working in the field of wearable art. Featured artists appear in the show each year on an invitational basis.

This post is very overdue but I've been working on many different things. I'd like to say that I have been traveling in Europe, but sadly no, just busy at home in my studio. The sewing machine has been my instrument du jour for the past month. My favourite from that period is this ivory linen dress which was featured at the One of a Kind Show. Over part of the month of March and into some of April came the "roll up to win" again this year. I did my best to win that car pictured on the cup but alas did not win a thing. No coffee, no doughnut, no nothing! So... to pay homage to Tim Horton's I created this pin. Please Play Again

There's a new show of British Artists at the Art Gallery of Ontario which I am going to see. Here is my pin for that journey.

The Secret started off its life as one of my beloved Nancy Drew books. Not reading them for many, many years they have become interesting additions to my sculptures and sculptural pins.

To get all of this work done one needs a space of their own, and this is mine. Work in progress, many stages of progress, covers my desk at all times.

2 Weeks in One.

Last week I did not get a pin made so this week there will be 2. And why didn't I get a pin made? Well.... my time spent in Jamaica was used up by sitting on the beach, sitting by the pool, sitting at the table eating (the food was really good) and sitting on the big, beautiful veranda reading. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. My nephew's wedding on the beach was beautiful and the weather was perfect, nice and hot with a breeze. To celebrate being in the tropics my week 6 pin is a sterling silver bird of paradise flower. I was surprised at how many of these plants were in bloom at the resort. Week seven's pin was inspired while I was at the yoga studio. They had just gotten in some new headbands and a woman was trying to decide which one to buy. She really struggled over her decision. After indulging in all of that delicious food and no exercising I am back to my yoga schedule.

Postcard from Paradise

My nephew is getting married and I'm going! I wasn't going at first because the wedding is Jamaica and we just couldn't squeeze a couple of plane tickets out of our family budget. As it turns out my Nephew's other Aunt, who did buy a ticket can't go. So..... she graciously asked me if I would go in her place. How could I say no. My pin this week is of a postcard sent home from Jamaica.

Last night's trunk sale was a great success. I want to thank everyone that came out.

The Zen of Knitting

To me, knitting fits into life itself as meditation, creative expression, a way to connect to others, and a feeling of home. It also gives comfort which comes from repetition and continuity. My brooch this week celebrates these feelings with sterling silver knitting needles and variegated silk yarn.

I am starting a knitting group which will meet once a week at Bliss Yoga in Barrie. This is not a class but a meeting of like minded people. It will be a time to learn from others, exchange ideas, motivate ourselves and have fun. Experienced as well as beginning knitters, even those that don't knit at all are welcome. We don't discriminate you crocheters can bring your embroidery friends.

Three

Here is my third weeks brooch. The stone, called Sonora Sunset was purchased in Arizona as a large slab. Derek cut and polished the stone and I set it in the sterling silver bezel frame. I chose the stone this week because of it's name. I don't know about you but I've noticed a couple of sunsets over this past week. Since November the sun has been setting without me even noticing. The daylight would just disappear and and all of a sudden it was dark out and usually before I had finished work for the day. The sun is now on the upswing and setting later every night. Last night Derek and I were out at 6:20 and there was still a little light in the sky. The sun had set but in the sky there was colour . I find that so uplifting at this time of year. I know there is still a lot of cold weather left to endure but Spring is now on the horizon.

Week 2

Over the last 3 days we here in Southern Ontario have had some beautiful weather. The temperature was above freezing, the sun was shining and the snow was melting. All of those things that we long for mid winter. It felt like spring was in the air and I started looking around for those tell tale signs of that wonderful season. (Silly me) Here it is only the second week in January and I'm looking at buds on the trees. We still have two and a half months until the end of March and there is no guarantee that it won't snow in April, in fact it usually does snow sometime in April. In fact when I was a teen I got a new horse which was delivered to the stable April 2 and on April 3 I couldn't get over to the stable to see him because of the snow. It was a true snow day, school canceled, roads closed and my Mum refused to drive me. So.... to show my daydreaming in a brooch I have cast an apple twig, in bronze, with the buds waiting for the real Spring weather to open up.

Cast Bronze Stick Pin

A Brooch a Week for 2014

I wanted to do something special this year to keep me making jewellery. Lately my efforts have all been in my sewing room so this will keep me moving in two directions. I plan to use a variety of materials for this project which will push and stretch me out of any comfort zone I might have had. The first several days of this new year here in Barrie it has been alternating between very cold weather and snow blizzards. To celebrate the wonderful winter weather (I'm trying really hard to embrace winter even though I would much rather be complaining about it), my first pin will honour the rabbits which we see just outside our kitchen window. Every night 2 rabbits come around and have a nosh on my quince branches. Unfortunately for the rabbits the snow has now covered all of the medium sized shrubs. The temperature here is suppose to rise towards the weekend with a possibility of rain so that should take down the height of the snow.

Fill Your Wishes

Derek and I hope All your wishes are fulfilled this Holiday Season.

Derek's dream Christmas tree. All the Best... Tracey

Always..... New skirts, tops, dresses in linen and cotton will be featured in my Trunk Sales. Also on the cutting table bamboo yoga clothing.

The Show is Going Great

Here we are half way through the show and it has been very busy. Thank goodness because we are here to sell and you need people through the doors in order to make sales. I know my customer and she is showing up at the sale. Lucky for us that urban woman often likes Derek's metal work as well. His new peanut in the shell feeder has been a received enthusiastically, less than half are left. My new suit has been in the fashion show daily which has resulted in many women coming directly to my booth after the show to check out my other pieces.

The Countdown Has begun

The One of a Kind show starts a week from today. November 28 at 10am. There will be over 800 exhibitors from all over Canada at the show.

Here's where all of the sewing happens. It's getting rather crowded in here and typical of any 3 year old, my grandson Tyson, chooses spots in my sewing room in which to hide. Between the furniture and the bolts of fabric, it's playhouse heaven. I often find hot wheels cars "parked in it's garage" under piles of cut pattern pieces.

Derek's sparking up a storm. Just don't look at the bright light while he is working.

Save Money and Come See Me

Use this link to order tickets and save money. https://www.microspec.com/tix123/eTic.cfm?code=OOAKX13&promo=ASDrgfm

Here are a couple of pictures of one of my new pieces I will have for sale at the OOAK show.

Rocks and Sculpture

There was a great party for the unveiling of Derek's sculpture on Saturday. The Gilroys, pictured with Derek, commissioned Derek to build a sculpture that would hold a door which they purchased in Morocco. Derek's work which has always been very architectural in flavour works beautifully with the door.

Nick Eyles, Professor of Geology at the University of Toronto, was there to take us on a tour of the rocks which have been collected and displayed on the site of the Gilroy's home. We learned about the history of the rock specimens, how they were formed and how incredibly old they are.

This siltstone rock is from the Ottawa area and shows the beauty of the weather worn surface.

Ice Cream

There is so much involved when selling art. People want to see where you live, how you live and what gives you inspiration. We have always been here to answer those questions as well as others and tried to make people feel welcomed. We have been able to treat people to the sight of art, the soothing sounds of the birds, the fragrance of the blooming flowers and now the taste of great ice cream. We have rearranged our shop and brought in a freezer which will hold many flavours of ice cream made by Kawartha Dairy. From art to ice cream is it that big of a leap? It's not really from art to ice cream it's art and ice cream.

What does one wear to a wedding held at Toronto's Old Fort York you ask.

Well after a little research, an outfit that is reminiscent of the Fort's Officer's uniform and the Sgt. Pepper's album cover. The first show of my season is the Beyond the Valley studio tour and there will be uniform jackets for the fashion forward fashionista in all of us. www.beyondthevalley.ca

Repeat Customers

The robins are back and nesting in one of our sculptures. Here is an example of coexistence and mutual appreciation. There are only a few ways to make a completed sculpture more interesting and this is one of them.

Busy Days at Gallery 111

It was a busy weekend at Gallery 111. The Barrie Spring Art Tour brought many through the doors. Spring really is upon us now and it's about time. Not that I'm anxious or anything...... well yes I am. New season, new art, come check it out.

Ruby Diego on TV

That's the way it goes, hurry up and wait. I got to the studio nice and early so that I could dress the two girls who host the local show, DayTime on RogersTV, and then I sat and waited. I always bring work with me so I got some sewing done in the greenroom. Just before the show we were ushered into the studio where we sat and waited again. OK it's my turn. How do explain what your clothing design business is all about in 5 minutes? I have an assortment of jewellery on the table behind me but we never got to it. I could have talked about my designs for an hour but I'm happy with what we did. Show's over, picture time and we say our goodbyes. The two hosts look great in the clothing I provided for them. Thanks girls.

Buttons

I couldn't believe this when I saw it. A jar of Haunted Buttons. I thought I was the only one that was scared of, repulsed by and fascinated by a jar of buttons. I am a sewer and have been making clothing since I took home ec in high school so how can I be afraid of a jar of buttons. I have a vivid memory of sitting on the stairs going down to the basement in my childhood home and staring around the corner to my Mother's sewing area and that big jar of buttons. I must have been about five or six at the time. I don't know why they bothered me but a jar of buttons can still do it to me. In my adult life I have very rarely worn anything with buttons on it. No button down shirts, it's always been pull-overs for me.