Sneak Peek

I'm painting a new chair ~ yay!
It features an entirely new theme.
Here's a sneak peek ... wanna take a guess what the theme might be this time round?

Blog Interview #1 of 2010

Because of an overwhelming response to the blog interviews

featured on my blog in 2009,

I've decided to conduct more blog interviews over the next little while.

Please welcome Laura of 52 Flea.

Thank you for doing this interview, Laura.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself ...

I have been happily married for an incredible number of years to my one and only...and we have a wonderful son who just graduated law school and a beautiful daughter

who is a model as well as a talented artist.

I recently left the corporate world where I was Director of Human Resources for a privately owned mid sized company for many, many years.

Since retiring, I am finding my way, loving having the time to pursue my passion for all things vintage and exploring my creative and artistic side.

I have been a collector and decorated with antiques and collectibles for decades!

Why did you begin blogging?

I decided to blog in February 2009 after being encouraged to do so by my girlfriends. It has become my creative outlet and a means to share all my collections and decorating ideas.

52 Flea is an interesting name for a blog. What's its significance?

There are 52 weekends in a year...that means there are 52 opportunities to go to the flea market! The flea market is my favorite place to be...

Do you prefer to blog with words, pictures or both?

My posts are primarily pictures of my collections or adventures flea marketing or occasional travels...with a few words or short stories to accompany them.

Have you met people through blogging; if so,

please tell us about these friendships?

Many, many wonderful people! We took a trip to Italy in October 2009 and made a side trip toLucca in order to meet up with Valentina from Les Cotrions. We had a wonderful visit over several days and correspond regularly now. I also met up with Zita from Mlle. Magpie when we traveled to Montreal this fall. She is a delightful person and I hope to visit again.

Did you design your blog or did you have it professionally done?

My blog is all me....very simply done.

Have you ever been featured in Artful Blogging?

The editors of Artful Blogging asked me to submit an article which I did and then they decided to publish it in Somerset Life instead...the winter edition 2010.

What does your "About Me" read on your blog?

A new beginning... Having recently left the corporate world and while getting used to an empty nest...I am finding my way...trying to figure out how best to share my collections and passion for all things old, antique or vintage...

What is your favourite blog feature?

I love taking pictures and sharing them on my blog.

Is there anything on your blog you'd like to change?

I am always on the verge of taking the followers button off because I find it intimidating. I leave it there because it makes it easy for people to find me if they want to follow along.

Do you ever blog when you don't "feel like it" ~ and if so, why do you?

I never, ever blog when I don't feel like it. But I love to blog so I do it a lot!

What themes would best describe your blog?

flea market, junk, antiques, collecting, art, decorating, travel, gardening, crafts

Do you have any interesting directions you want to take your blog in,

in the future?

I just want my blog to continue to be fun, a place to express myself artistically and creatively...and a place to make connections with kindred spirits...

Do you sell your artwork through your blog?

No, not at this time.

Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers?

I love meeting new people through blogging and I enjoy the camaraderie of our blogging community. It is so delightful to become friends with people who have similar interests.

Visit Laura's beautiful site ~ 52 Flea.

Weddings and Tea

We had a tea for my niece, Thina,

at Leduc's Dr. Woods Museum, yesterday.

The museum's current feature is

Bridal Fashions Throughout the Years.

Isn't it unusual to have both

a wedding gown and bridesmaid's dress (this dress was amazing!)

still in perfect shape from 1959?

What a treat.

I loved this gown.

Circa 1920s

Intricately beautiful headpiece.

I couldn't help but wonder if there is fruitcake under the sepia icing.

I think these shoes would have fit me ~ they were so cute ~ I really wanted to try them on!

Simple, crisp, pretty.

This gown had an exquisite design on the dress ~

unfortunately it doesn't show up in the photo.

These two gowns were some of the oldest in the show

from the early1900s.

Discussing wedding fashions

Thina with a bottle of Mrs. Stewart's Bluing.

Her maiden name was Stewart, so she had to have her photo taken

with the likeness of her mother :)

Another pretty headpiece

What a splendid way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Whimsy

Whimsy has struck again!

Here are 3 more Wide Eyed Portraits I completed lately


Keyano


Mateaka


Matt

What do you collect?

There are many things I enjoy collecting...

Original ART
China Cup and Saucers
Souvenir Spoons
Van Gogh themed items
Box Cameras
Salt and Pepper Shakers
Vintage Advertising Art
Vintage Suitcases
and now ...

Pretty Cream and Sugar Sets!

My rule of thumb usually is: If I have 3 or more of an item, I collect it. Hmm ... guess that means I collect lava lamps too, but that is a whole other discussion.

What's with my latest collection? I have discovered that I simply adore cream and sugar sets. What good is a set of cream and sugar? Most people simply put a milk carton on the table and a bowl with sugar on the table when they serve tea or coffee. Call me old fashioned, but I love using cream and sugar sets for their intended purpose. However, I also enjoy find other uses for these beautiful items. I think they make perfect bud vases for a flower or two, don't you?

Leave me a comment and tell me what you collect.

Garlic

We discovered some fascinating info on garlic today ...


The American Psychosomatic Society reported testing 50 families and that those families had 8% more positive interactions and 22% less negatives ones.
Apparently garlic promotes healthy families
and
helps ward off vampires!

New York New York

Here's the New York City themed chair that I recently completed. The owner of the chair, Thina is sitting in her chair (thanks Thina for sending me this photo ~ it's always great to see the chairs I paint in their new environment!).

Notice the cool skyline dress Thina is wearing. I think she bought it in New York City.


King Kong atop of the
Empire State Building
(in B&W, of course)


Statue of Liberty and a Deli Sandwich
(how very delicious!)


The beautiful Bethesda Fountain (Central Park)

Reminds me of my dad ...

I came across this poem by Canadian poet, Edna Jaques today. It stirred some happy memories of my dad (1912-2005) who was always an early riser.

Growing up, his cheerful voice was always the first thing that I'd hear hear every morning. Often, he would sing a little ditty about the greatness of getting up in the morning, and how good it is to stay in bed. By the time I'd drag my sleepy self to the kitchen, he would have his cup of tea (always in a china cup, because he insisted that there was no other way to have a good cup of tea), and breakfast would be ready on the table.

EARLY RISER

He rises in the still and quiet dawn

Before the trucks and buses start to run,

Sweeps off the sidewalk ... sprays a little bush,

Turns his old face and watches for the sun.

He sees it rise beyond a clump of trees

And something in his heart is strangely stirred,

As rosy tinted clouds bedeck the sky,

And morning news is passed from bird to bird.

He starts the fire and puts the kettle on,

Putters around the kitchen, dries a cup,

Brings in the paper ... listens to the news,

Calls up the stairs for others to get up.

The peace of night is still upon his heart,

The fragrance of a dream is with him still,

The mystery of half remembered sleep,

Like purple shadows on a distant hill.

All these are his ere other folk arise

A fortress in his heart, serene and strong,

A spring of water softly welling up,

That feeds his thirsty soul the whole day long.

***

Love you Dad.

Miss you!

How to melt away 30+ years

Isn't it a beautiful thing when you can get together with someone after more than 3 decades and still connect like a day hasn't passed?

That's exactly what happened recently when I visited my hometown and stayed with my high school friend, Marnie at her Bed and Breakfast. The hospitality of her, her husband and son was outstanding, and I would highly recommend their Bed and Breakfast, Wyndhaven Cottage Bed and Breakfast if you are ever travelling through Clearwater BC. Oh! and tell them that Dawn sent you :)

My only complaint was that our visit was far, far too short. However, I did encourage Marnie to start blogging while I was there, and I think she's hooked ~ she has just started blogging; (her blog is called Crumpled News) so we shall stay connected through blogging for now, and maybe she'll visit us someday. Sooner than 30+ years, I hope!

Announcing: My New ART Blog!

I've added a brand new blog

featuring my fine art

which has either been sold, or is up for sale.

Fear not! I will be keeping this blog up and running.

The new blog, entitled Art and Life

will tell the stories behind my work,

the reasons I choose to paint what I do, etc.

Think of it as a sort of behind-the-scenes look

at my artistic process.

I hope you will check out the site and

please leave comments as well

because I very much appreciate feedback.

The weird things that pop into your head

Memories.

They show up unannounced.

Today for instance, I was thinking about my son's choir who has just arrived in England for a tour. That thought turned into a memory of when I was on tour during my college years. That thought took me to eating time, and I remember our group singing a silly song at the end of each meal that was provided for us.

It went like this:

(sung to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it")

We thank you for the food that we have et,

We thank you for the food that we have et.

It was yummy, yummy, yummy,

And so pleasing to the tummy ~

That's the reason for this little minuet.

This tulip picture doesn't have any relevance to this posting, but aren't they beautiful? And yes, they grew in our garden this year. Dare I say that spring has truly arrived?

We have a winner!

Yes, I know I said a winner would be announced yesterday, but I was otherwise occupied ...

So! this morning is the time to draw the name for the Tree Hugger Bookmark.

Thank you all for your fun art disaster and werewolf (!) stories.

Since it's my draw I can make my own rules,

so I put in all your names twice.

So without further delay,

THE WINNER IS ... (drum roll here) ...

Kim!

I'm thrilled that it was your name that I pulled out of my favourite fuchsia hat, Kim!

You need to know that it was your sweet giving spirit that was one of the reasons

I started thinking in the first place, about leaving my Tree Hugger Bookmarks

out there in the big wide world.

I hope that you and everyone else who happens to come along

and pick one of these bookmarks up, will be blessed in some small way by receiving one.

Oh, and Kim I love your Spring Walkabout Apil 13th post photos of you with your art ~

hope you don't mind that I snatched the photo here to announce your win.

It made me smile, when I saw the photo of you literally hugging a tree,

but I liked the photo here because of your beautiful smile.

One other thing ... the New York fine art chair is completed ~ yay!

It's being delivered tomorrow to its new home.

Before it leaves my house,

I will take photos and share them with all my lovely readers.

Re-purposing, Disasters AND a Giveaway

As many of you know, I'm always re-purposing and recycling materials of all sorts in my mixed media art. All the fine art chairs I've painted so far, are 2nd hand or gently used, if you prefer that term. I've been painting over the past month on my latest chair. It's a commission with a New York City theme ~ more about that adventure later. Because I've been working almost exclusively on this chair, I needed a little break. I felt I needed to do something completely different.

This is what I made. They are hand drawn bookmarks with pretty fibres ~ I call them Tree Hugger Bookmarks. They are all made out of pre-used cardboard. I am leaving them here and there in my travels for some unsuspecting person who comes along and happens to discover them. I hope whoever happens to discover them will enjoy using them.

About my New York chair. I have a funny story for you about something happened earlier today as I was painting. I had a major paint explosion! There I was, peacefully painting my chair, when I unexpectedly lost my balance. It has been said by some that I'm unbalanced, but this was ridiculous! Off balance, I knocked my water and paint brushes over, then my foot came down on some red paint and the tube exploded all over ~ all over the kitchen floor, table, drop cloth, my arm, shirt, apron and foot. This could explain why some artists actually have studios to paint in!

In honour of the "amazing" paint day I've had, I am going to have a giveaway. I will send the winner one of my Tree Hugger Bookmarks. Just leave me a comment. I'll make a draw from all the names of everyone who leaves a comment. Tell me about one of your art disasters, and I'll put your name in the hat two times! Let's give it until Sunday to make the draw. I wish you better luck than I have had today. Isn't that photo of my foot scary?

ART Friends

Friendship is born at that moment

when one person says to another,

'What! You too?

I thought I was the only one.'

~ C. S. Lewis

As an artist, it's so difficult to be surrounded by those poor unfortunate souls who "just don't get it". But what a joy to find those rare kindred spirits who do!

I am thankful to have a few folks who share in this art journey we call Life!

You are a blessing.

Elephants and Roses

Besides looking for wonderful treasures, when I wander through a 2nd Hand Shop, one of my favourite things to do is to find the gaudiest, silliest, awful-est item possible and take a quick snapshot of it. Unfortunately the other day when we went to the antique mall, I didn't take my camera with me. So I can only describe the nastiest item I found that day. It was a brass elephant. Not only was it a brass elephant which is bad enough in itself (I've never been a big fan of elephant ornamental items) but it was also a rotary telephone. Had to be one of the tackiest things ever ~ and I didn't have a camera to capture the horror! Sad, sad me.

Learning my lesson, on my next outing to a local 2nd Hand Store, I took my trusty digital with me. And there it was in all its beauty! One can only imagine the creative individual who thought that this was a good idea.

Feast your eyes on the amazing Rosie ~ the latest in the Barbie line.

Uh, I didn't purchase her, in case you're wondering.