'Tis the Season

Well... it really isn't 'that' season yet.  At least it doesn't feel like it.  I had my coffee on the deck this morning while enjoying the start of a sky that glowed soft pink everywhere!  It's so mild that it hardly feels like December in Saskatchewan, so doesn't it shock you to look at the calendar and realize you have 2 weeks to Solstice / Christmas!?  The only give away really is that the sky changes colour around 9 am, and by 5pm it's pitch black already.

Lastnight, a family picked up the commissione of the little snowglobe for their small boy.  Oh I WISH I could see his face when he opens it!  I've never met him, but he's only 4 years old, and snowglobes are on the top of his list.  How fun!  : )

I just finished up another commission request in time for the holidays...  I was asked for blonde grasses with the spring crocuses to be framed in white.

I'm having a tough time photographing my work in my new studio.  The bright white spectrum of the lights seem to mess up up camera, and I am unable to get a good sampling of detail and depth with the threads because they are so overlit form all sides.  Time to get a proper photo station for the art!  I shall see what I can come up with.

The crocuses in the foreground are hand dyed silk ribbon with teenie French Knots of yellow.  The matting is WHITE - not greyish bleah.  Again, blame it on the lighting.  It looks so very pretty and fresh in the white.

Crocuses Return, 2015 (sold)

I'll be delivering this one Friday after work.

I have two more threadpaintings 'just because' that are nearly done.  Often I get some last minute calls from customers, so I like to have work on hand for them.

TWO MORE WEEKS!!

xo

linking to WIP Wednesday at TN&TN

No Job Too Big. No Job Too Small.

Last week I got a commission to make some art for a 4 year old boy.  No kidding!  Be still my heart.  OF COURSE I said yes.  The grandmother and the mother spied my snowglobes at the sale last week, and the mom asked for specific things to be put in the snowglobe for him.  He likes snowmen.  He likes trucks.  You got it!

You know, the art I put in the globes are barely 1/4 the size of a postcard.  I stitched the teenie little 2x2.5" landscapes this afternoon, and they were pretty fun to make!  Gosh, I hope it makes his day.

Almost done...   I added a yellow scarf and stitched the moon in silver thread.  Tada!  Here's what it looks like in the snowglobe!

French Knots make up all the black lumps of coal for eyes and buttons.  I used 12 weight thread to satin stitch the hat and the scarf.  I love it.

And here is the other side...  vrrrooom vrooom!

The great thing about these little snowglobe gifts is that they are 'shatterproof' (plastic), which is a brilliant idea.  Goodness knows how many times we've broken these sweet little things!

Just out of curiousity, I need to sit down and make a batch of winter cards / fabric postcards to send as thank you's.  If you have already taken the class or make cards already, would you be interested in a stitching afternoon or night to get to work on your own here in my Saskatoon studio with me?  You know: fabric, wine, sewing, chocolate...   It's not intended to be a class; it's a work bee.  Let me know!

Goldenrod at Pike Lake

I finished the most recent commission!  I'm pretty happy with it.  It's getting the sweetest of comments of facebook, I think because I showed the initial stages with the completed photo.  From a couple pieces of batik to the finished threadpainting, it is quite a transformation.

fabrics based on a photo I took

woo boy!  Photographing in the studio on a grey day is rough.  I will have to try again when the light changes.  My studio lights are so bright and all-encompassing that there tends to be no shadow in the photo, making it look rather flat.

And here it is!

Goldenrod at Pike Lake, 2015

I love the sunshine and shadows so much,  I think it's my first time threadpainting Goldenrod.  This is a place full of childhood (and possibly adult)  memories for her.  : )  I love that title.  It's personal, and I wonder how many people will say that out loud before they read the title.

Last week, I had mats cut and ordered a standard frame for it.  It's all ready to go.  My initials are hand stitched in the bottom corner.  Here it is photographed before the glass was put in.  This is what it will look like in it's new owner's home once it's put together and has the hardware added. : )  It will live in Edmonton, AB.

Now I'm on to the next commission which is a gift for a loved one.  : )  Back to the studio...

Friday Finish - Just in a Nick of Time ; )

That's a funny phrase before Christmas - just in a Nick of time.  Anyone know where that comes from or what it really pertains to?

Well, I did it!  I finished my last commission for 2014, as promised.  This was no easy task.  It's a big one full of hand work; a remake of From Humble Beginnings.  A client asked for her own version of it.  I said yes... and later I really wondered how on earth I would create that building again!?  But I did it!  It worked and I am breathing a happy sigh of relief.

commission for the building on Bergheim road

I made the first version of this just before my Winnipeg show 2 years ago.  One of my favourite people in the world owns it.  It was very satisfying to recreate it.  It's a little different from the first in both the sky and the foliage.  The first version has a darker foreground.  This one has a brighter foreground.  Of course, I added those fat honey bees that were hanging off the alfalfa where I was kneeling down for the photo.  ; )

Now to email her the final results, and then I can ship it to her on Monday.  I hope she loves it.

Happy Winter Holidays everyone!  

See you on the flipside.

Another One Down!

I just finished this up!  I'm pretty happy with it.  It's a commission - the last of the small ones I have to do before the holidays.

It's based on a photo I took when the sun was setting to my right, and I was facing the other side of the river bank,  It was September and it was gorgeous at that moment.

There was a little walking bridge that I included.  The water was an orange piece of batik that I touched up with some coloured pencils, echoing the reflection of the darks and lights of the shoreline.  Then I put some of the water ripples in with a holographic blue.

Here's the photo from that very cold evening.  Mine doesn't look quite as dulled & peachy as I had my monitor set a little deeper and brighter to distinguish the colours.

view of Meewasin (beautiful valley) banks of the South Saskatchewan River

I picked my bright threads a little brighter, and my muddy colours a little more vibrant.  Now I get to mount it, frame it, and call the client to see what she thinks.

The next several that I'm doing will be very, very green and summery.  Perhaps that will inspire some winter art after the holidays?  : )

Talk soon!

My Open Studio & Art Sale Saturday

It's official.

I already announced it on Facebook and now people will come.  

Save the date!  My 'Studio Warming' (like a house warming) will be this weekend!

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~ Studio Warming ~

&

Art Sale

at the home of Monika Kinner-Whalen

351 Crean Crescent in Saskatoon

* Saturday October 25th, 2014 *

11am - 4pm  &  6pm to 8 pm

** We will be closing from 4-6pm for our family's suppertime **

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I'm thinking if you want art, you might want to come earlier.  If you want to catch up and drink wine, you could come later.  I really have no idea how busy it will be.  I suppose it depends on the weather.

Please be aware that my new space is down one flight of stairs.  I know that's an issue for two important people in my life.  Also, we have a dog in the house, but he is terrified of stairs and has never been in my studio.  The studio is pet free.

I need to announce here as well that this weekend's Art Sale at my home will replace my December Solo Show & Sale at the Centre Mall Galleries.  It would have been my 5th annual exhibit.  That's a big deal and a little bittersweet.  However, with building the studio over the summer and having stacks of commissioned art to complete before the holidays, I felt this was the right decision.  It's all good though.  I have handed over my December booking at the Centre Gallery to my friend Elizabeth Cuming.  She is an award winning established quilt artist who focuses on historical buildings around the province.  I am sure you will enjoy her work very much.

See you on Saturday - I guess I had better get prepared!