Saskatoon Morning

Artists often wonder if anyone ever bothers to read the 'Artist Statement' that we are required to write for applications and exhibitions.  Of course, I was asked to write one for my show, 'Gathering Places'.  This time, I didn't mind because I knew I had a specific story to tell. I just told it like it is.  (It's two blog posts back if you need to see it.)

Leisha Grebinski from CBC was in the library and happened to notice the Gallery.  My Artist Statement is posted there on the wall.  She went in and read it... for real! What she read made enough of an impression that she phoned me up for an interview to share the story with more people. How sweet is that!? Leisha is the host for Saskatoon Morning on our local radio station. I went in last week for a live in-studio interview. I was so very thrilled!

Here is the interview if you would like to listen in!  : )  Thank you so much CBC Radio!

> SASKATOON MORNING AUDIO LINK >

The exhibition is up on the second floor until August 30th. The Frances Morrison Library is wheelchair/walker/stroller accessible and open Monday thru Saturday in downtown Saskatoon.

Prairie Lily
12 x 12"
(Sold.)

Hey, Guess What?

Yesterday was my first day juried into the Artists' Workshop group in Saskatoon!  Officially, I'm number 13.  That's pretty cool I'd say.  ; )

lunch break at Artists' Workshop

I've been 'shopping around' for a group for about a year now.  I wasn't sure at first what I wanted, I just knew I wanted more of something in my practice.  So I started asking around.  Some groups have studio space to rent full time.  I knew that wasn't what I wanted.  I have a studio and wasn't sure about relocating all this fibre and machines.  Some art groups rented individual studio space with not much else in terms of community.  Most groups have public exhibitions or sales events.  That's icing on the cake, but didn't make or break my decisions.  Some groups didn't meet together to work on art at all.

So, I put it on the back burner for months while I trotted along, busy with my work.

As I began to really see great value in drawing and sketching, the more I wanted that as a regular, disciplined practice.  It felt like a hugely creative outlet to do something artistic that had nothing to do with income.  It had everything to do with exploration and self expression.  The more I began to enjoy the practice of bind contour and sketching, as well as oil pastels and paint, the more I found my textile work to become easier to approach - specifically by realistic landscapes.  You can't help it.  Drawing more makes you see more.  The more i work in a series, the more that i see, and the more I discover... resulting in more to create and more to express.  When I came to this understanding, I asked myself, 'now what?  What is it that I need in my life to keep the art flowing and developing and improving?'

I wondered about classes.  I still do.. but most were at times I couldn't commit to.  There was also the factor of fees, and that they are short term.  Some day I will, but now doesn't seem to be the time.  I thought, 'maybe I need a retreat?  I could benefit from a get-away or sabbatical to create and explore'.

The more I work with oil pastels (which I hated at one time), the more I embrace their usefulness.  I can easily whip down some colour and do loose mark making and that turn into an embroidery I love and am proud of.  I want to keep this up, but there just seems to be a big problem with oil paint or oil pastel in my sewing / embroidery studio.  When a smudge or crumb of that stuff gets on a piece of fabric or framing mats, they are stained and ruined.  It became clear that I require a place to work on my sketches, but still maintain my home studio if I want to keep this up.  And I do.

Then I knew.  One of the groups I had checked out meet together to work on their art in a community space for one full day per week. 

P E R F E C T

That was it: an entire art retreat day every week.  That's what I've been looking for!  So I applied to be juried in, and got a YES the following week!  : )  So... here I am!  I'm member number 13 of Artists' Workshop.  They've been in existence for twenty seven years I read, cycling through different members over time.  A couple of the women are original members.  It's a good mix.  There are women who paint, do watercolour, draw/illustrate, there's a Zentangle artist and a batik painter as well.  (I have a link to their profile features at the end of the post.) They do different challenges on occasion, like a still life day, a plein air day, and have group show and sales a couple times per year. Yesterday was my first day!  Want to see what I worked on?  : )

Tobacco Flowers

This first set of sketches I did in the morning.  This middle picture is a photo I took of Tobacco Flowers in the Healing Garden behind the Allen Sapp Gallery a year and a half ago.  I sketched and sketched and sketched it again - trying different styles, levels of detail, and colour of backgrounds.  It was a very useful exercise.

Then it was lunch time.  They meet in the middle of the room to eat and then hold a short meeting after.  (I'm still saying they, but this will change soon. lol).

In the afternoon, I selected a different photo, and did the same thing all over again.  This time I worked on Campanula from the same garden / photo shoot.

similar work on different backgrounds

I was really happy with these as well!  I had fully expected to get stuck, nervous, and really create nothing useful on my first day.  That entirely did not happen.  (WHEW!)  I ended up just loving this one in particular because of the sunshine and shaded areas... I'll have to stitch it up this week with my yarns.  xoxoxoxo  I'm just so happy with all the colours and marks.  : )

won't this be a gorgeous embroidery ! ?   : )  !!

That's my news.  : )  You can read more about the group and the artists involved at their blog here:

ARTISTS' WORKSHOP

Today I'll enjoy another sun-shiny day and packing up my teaching supplies for tomorrow's embroidery class at the Refinery.  See you soon! : )

Things I Love Thursday

Happy Winter Solstice!  We've had a snowless winter so far.  There was still green grass when the November frost came.

raspberry leaves in my back yard

I love to photograph winter light and soft frost covered palletes.

clematis vines in my yard

Then came the Winter Solstice.  It arrived here in Saskatoon at 4:44 am on December 21st.  As is our family tradition, we headed out to greet the morning sun.  These photos were good and late of course, around 9:30 am.

cell phone camera xo

Just like magic, THERE IT IS!  The sun rose up so quietly and the golden light just spilled over everything.  I can't tell you how much I adore this moment.  Unfortunately, it occurred after my kids went to school that day, so just my husband and me and my dog went out.

the tallest grasses catch the morning light first

Winter light is just so incredibly beautiful.  It was so still and quiet, hardly any snow and no wind.  Even our temperatures were above 0 that day.  Every year is different.

We headed back home, cleaned up the house and got the turkey ready.  Once everyone was home after school, we enjoyed a BIG meal - best so far!  And then we waited for the night to open our gifts, as is our tradition.  It was a nice night - a little extra special this time around as we added a seat for my oldest child's sweetheart around our table.  : )  They're growing up!  o my goodness.  It was the first year there were no toys under the tree.  The kids got gifts of makeup and sketch pads, tea and framed art.  Only the family dog hopped around like a happy little toddler.   : )

curly grasses coated in sparkles and sunshine

Later, I sat beside my husband to play a board game at the kitchen table.  Both of us, a little rounder with greying hair and donning our new reading glasses.  I looked at him and admired how handsome he is becoming, and reflected on what a different place we are in now.  I sure love my family.

I hope your Solstice was a meaningful one!  Enjoy your winter wherever you are.

xo

Threadpainting Class

Driving to Innisfree last Wednesday was so wonderful.  It was raining and dark in Saskatoon, but as I hit the border, the sun was shining.  The drive was 4 1/2 hours, and I ended up tuning in to CBC radio to unexpectedly listen to the entire ceremony and swearing-in of the new Prime Minister of Canada and all the cabinet members.  I got to listen live to the aboriginal boy drumming, as well as the two little Inuit girls who performed the traditional throat singing.  My, my.  What an amazing time I had - I felt like I was right there as I flew down the highway.  I sang along, I cheered when the crowds cheered.  I'm sure glad I didn't miss that!  It was incredibly refreshing and uplifting.  I'll admit I'm surprised to having a case of 'Trudeau mania round 2'.  It's quite invigorating.

The ceremony came to a close just before I arrived in Innisfree.  I was a little early arriving, and so I stopped to snap some photos of this gem.  It looks SO solid.  The moss was such a crazy colour!  And yes, we are snowless in November.  That is very out-of-the-ordinary!

I really wanted to go peek in.  The door is open after all, isn't it!?  It is so stately for an abandoned building.  I suppose houses are built a little better than barns and sheds though.  Take this one, for instance.

The drive across the prairie is always fun when you see these squishy looking structures.

The class was a good size.  I think there were eleven women, including the Mayor!  : )  I didn't know that until we all had supper together.  So now I can say I dined with the Mayor too.  I was surprised when I asked the class, 'tell me about your experience with free motion sewing.'  Only one had tried it before.  None of the other quilters had!  So I started at the very beginning with them, and away they went.

We do about an hour of intro & warm up exercises, and then we get straight on to the project.  In my classes, I supply everything so that all you need is a machine and thread.

It's a fairly long class at 4 hours.  Not everyone gets finished, so it's totally appropriate for a full day workshop.  Still, most were pretty close to having it all done.  They did so good at making their machines work for them.  This lady finished, and even added some embellishing yarns for the branches.  : )

How very sweet!  I teach them to work in the way that I do - with the photo nearby.  I think it's important to get past colouring in photos on cloth and trust yourself to look and understand what you are seeing.  Very nice work everyone!  Thank you all so much for the great meal, company, and laughs we shared.  : )

Maybe I'll come back in the spring with my Postcards workshop!  That would be fun indeed.

ps - I can take one more participant for my Saskatoon class on November 17th.  It's not quite full, but almost.  : )  Send me an email if you are interested:  Monika@MySweetPrairie.ca

New Showcase in Saskatoon

I love gettin' things done.  LOVE IT.  Today I delivered a pile of threadpaintings and 40 new Prairie Postcards to the Sask Craft Council Boutique.

813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon

They're stocking up inventory for the you-know-what season.  ; )  I shipped another work of art off to an event.  I delivered some art to customers.  I restocked my Etsy Shop with postcard supplies & art.

Then this afternoon, I hung six framed embroideries on the walls at True Potential Health Services on 8th Street in Saskatoon for the offices of Dr. Jacqui Fleury, ND and her team.

#3 - 1810 8th Street East, Saskatoon SK

I met Jacqui 16 years ago when I was pregnant with my first.  I was a new patient and I thought she was amazing.  We've continued to stay in touch by coincidence, but maybe that's meant to be. She moved her practice not too long ago to a new space 8th Street, in the same parking lot as Dad's Nutrition / Organic Market and Bakery.  We see each other on Facebook, and this summer she asked if I would like to display my art in her offices.  WOW.  Yes, of course!  I went to visit and was thrilled to find lovely colourful walls.   I started to dream up what I would want to put in there and got to getting things framed.  Finally this afternoon, I was able to bring my work in and put it all up.

the front waiting room

Here are closeups of the two fibre art works that I have up over the chairs.  They are available for purchase but not at the clinic.  Anyone interested is asked to contact the artist directly.  Also, I am happy to ship world wide, so these pieces are not limited to being purchased by local folks.  I will be adding them to my website under, 'Available Artworks'.  I can go to the clinic at any time to pick up and ship art, and replace with new work.

click on image to view larger

That was one of Jacqui's favourites.  It's entirely hand stitched, 8x10 inches, framed under glass to 12x14".

The next one was part of the SCC's 40th Exhibition over the summer.  It is also available directly from me, but on display at True Potential Health Services.

And Roadside is still available as well.  It was hanging at Handmade House for the summer.  I had some pouts when I took it out for Jacqui, but it looks so good on her soft brown wall.

The photo doesn't do the art or the space or the wall colour justice, but there you have it.  Here's the close up image of the yarn embroidery, also available.

There are a few more, but they are in patient exam rooms.  So, what do you think?  : )  I feel so fortunate to have been given this opportunity.

I also have little yarn embroideries to add to Handmade House, along with more mini threadpaintings.  I'll be in there for my Friday shift, eagerly anticipating heading to the quilt show right after.  BUSY WEEK, yes indeed.  I will have to go with my littlest to the Prairie Ink Restaurant and listen to some music before bed on Friday night.  That's always a treat for us, and I could use the evening to celebrate.

Have a terrific day.  And THANK YOU again Dr. Fleury!  If you would like to learn more about her practice, she has a WEBSITE with a wonderful introductory video.

Save the Date! There's Twice the Fun!

I am looking forward to Saturday, October 17th very much.  Check it out!

I am so there.  I love lining up in the morning and poking around through all the supplies there.  If you are unable to attend, you can donate a couple days before that.  It's great incentive to destash and help out a good cause.

Later that day...

YAY!  I am really excited to host another open studio.  It wasn't too busy but steady all day last year.  Again, I will have art for sale, from $ to $$$ and everything in between.  I will have cards, threadpaintings, snowglobes, hand embroidery, some prairie postcards too.  There's a good chance my children will greet you with their own handmade sale.  My 9 yr old makes earrings, and my 12 yr old makes leather crafts.  I'll be sure to leave out a guest comment book if you'd like to offer kind words in lieu of shopping.  We'll have munchies and bubbly, coffee and tea, smiles and hugs and music too.  You are welcome to pop in any time between 1pm and 8 pm.

We hope to see you!

More Stitching Needles

I have been working on this one for a long time.  I got a commission to make the evergreens from Gardenscape.  I had a big 8x10 one that sold as it was being set up for that show.  Then I got an email from someone else asking for it via facebook.  Gotta love Facebook.  So away I went to stitch this.  The first time I did the evergreens, it just happened quite effortlessly and it turned out perfectly lovely.  This second one?   I have been stitching this out for a long time on and off.  It went through the longest ugly phase I have ever had to endure.  I was so close to throwing this out and restarting.  I think the problem was that I began with such drastically different colours of thread - brassy orangy green and blueish emerald.  It was a lot of thread colours before I felt I had it appearing blended properly.  Usually I start with medium tones and then add the deep shadows and highlights.  I'm not sure what possessed me to start the way I did this time.  I think I may have just picked my favourite colours first.  (never doin' that again!)

But - I am SUPER HAPPY.  This is done.  It has so many colours in it and it's all done free machine on straight stitch.  There's no zigzag used.  That's all manually manipulated.  It's a lot of threadwork.

9.5" x 7" commission

This will be heading to Alberta - an old friend from highschool has purchased it.  I haven't seen her in years but she's been following my art on FB.  We used to sit in art class together waaaay back in the early '80's.  I think I have a sketch of her and a couple friends still from those days when we had to do some continuous line drawing samples.  (Waving - Hello Mrs. Deptuch!)

: )

Here is a detailed part of the threadpainting cropped square.

And here is the same portion in black and white.  VERY interesting!

A friend of mine is having her art in the paper for Weyburn ArtWalk & Join the Thread.  She had to see which have the most variation in value so that they are still appealing if printed in black and white.  That makes me want to view all my work in black and white to ensure it's not blaaaaah.  Smart.

Okeedokee.  Off to frame & box it up.  I'm so excited for her to get this!  It's awesome - I've been shipping a lot of work to Alberta lately.

linking to TN&TN and yes - I will be stepping away from that if anyone is interested in taking over that blog.  : )

Have a good day!

Commission Complete

This week I was finally able to work on commissioned art.  This one will be joining it's 'sister'.  It's a scene of done a few times in varying sizes.  The first and largest was in 2012 and I only recently had the heart to let it go.  It was real turning point in my work, where i felt like I was painting and not just colouring in or making things up.  It's like my work matured.  Maybe it's because I used a sketch book with this one.  And so, here's the newest version at 5x5".

It's 2 pieces of cotton fused onto a stabilizer, a bit of penciled in guide marks, and I begin free motion work on this blank slate.  Pretty bare bones so far!!

I stabilize pretty well so I don't have to hoop a square in a circular frame.  I teach with a hoop but when I do my art, I feel hoops get in my way.

95% of the time, I spend at least a half a day hand stitching.  I just do not feel it's complete until I have the handwork done.  Some things just cannot be the way I want with a machine.  Some of my canola fields might be an entire week just stitching the French Knots.  But for the most part, the machine work really doesn't take much time at all - usually not more that a day depending on size.  I probably spend as much time selecting blendable colours and changing thread as I do machine stitching.

Here it is... complete.  I hope you like it T.!  : )  I'll have it framed for the weekend.

another fall day at Cranberry Flats : )

Love it!

*** NOW ***  I have to clear our my studio mess and set up some tables and chairs.  I'm having company!!!  I'm having a sewing bee at my place with _________________ !!!  : )  I'll post about it Saturday.  

haha can you tell I'm excited!??

Have a great week,

Stitching for Melfort

Creative time!  There's about 2 weeks until the show in Melfort.  There will be crewel yarn embroideries, tea sets, prairie threadpaintings, vessels, and a few collaborations as well between me and potter Ken Wilkinson.

I can't wait to have the show up.  I'm stitching away.  I have all the scenes picked out and all the backgrounds prepped with the right colours of fabric and I'm ready to go.  I'm matching up colours between his pottery and my stitching.  I have a handful of photos printed out because my laptop is just too dark even on the brightest setting.  (p.s.  Dollarama has cheap Polaroid photo paper packs for your printer.)

my photos ready to inspire

This is all I really start with - two pieces of fabric.  One is for sky, one is for land.  It's that simple.

great sky find - thank you Dahn!  : )

I love batiks and hand dyes because they are so natural looking.  Some I buy.  Dye.  Some I barter for.  I love having huge pieces of dyed fabric and looking for that little tiny section that is just PERFECT for the piece.  Like the threads I use, finding that special piece of colour on a large cloth is like treasure hunting.

I keep my photo nearby and start drawing in the landscape with thread.  This is one I nearly finished this weekend.  It's ready for hand work now.

little peek of a work in progress - still bare bones

My studio is one huge mess between Gardenscape and classes.  I had managed to misplace a Bison.  Ha!  You know it's bad when...  How does one misplace a Bison!?
Well, truthfully, it was a little cloth shape of a bison for a small art quilt.  I found it though!  I'm putting this together for a friend who gifted me teacups and bison yarn.  I don't make art quilts, but I think I kind of enjoy it. : )

Neat, hey?  I'll do the binding in a solid charcoal colour.  It's based on a photo I took of a herd south of the city.  I kind of like this lone one.  Still needs to be stitched in place.

Well folks, back to work.  Enjoy this beautiful WINDY. noisy spring.  xo

Finished it Friday

This is done!  It's big at 8x10".

It's framed - now it's 13 x 16 inches.  

And, it's ...        sold.  

Yup.  Quick as a wink.  Maybe even quicker than that.  (thank you!!)  To top off my excitement, it's like it sold twice I suppose, as a friend from my highschool days just commissioned me to make a similar one for her.  That's incredible!  That's all because of Facebook.  It's my best gallery shop, hands down.

I enjoyed stitching this so much.  The repetitive motion for the entire scene was very enjoyable.  I didn't have to think to hard, though it was a long time in the creation phase.  If you go back to the top photo, you should be able to click on it to view it larger.  Would you believe it was all self-directed free motion stitches?  No zigzag was used.  When I I started it, I was expecting to be able to zigzag that whole thing, but it was ridiculous looking.  So I ended up 'drawing' the pine needled branches out all manually (if that makes any sense).

I sold the crocuses in spring embroidery and a canola  on the first day also.  I have this available as well - you've seen it before.  I've been holding on to this for the Gardenscape sale.

Deep Into Autumn, 2015 (sold)

This was my first time in 5 years I was able to spend the first day of Gardenscape working the floor.  The kids regularly have that Friday off for parent teacher interviews on this last weekend of March, so I never make it.  This year, my husband took over those duties and I luckily got to meet some of my 'regular' and out-of-town shoppers who come to Gardenscape first thing.  It was awesome.  I got to see so many of my 'guildees' too from the Saskatoon Quilt Guild and the Bridge City NeedleArts Guild.  Hugs and laughter and lots catch-up conversation left me feeling pretty grounded.

Available at SK Craft Council Boutique, 813 Broadway Ave in Saskatoon (excuse the glass glare)

Oh, and I have to tell you about this.  I had such a wonderful experience connecting with the half dozen or so very elderly people in wheelchairs pushed by loved ones through the areas to enjoy the flowers and art.  *** I have not met an elderly woman who hasn't sewn.***  Knowing this, whenever a caretaker parked a wheelchair near my area, I would take an embroidery off of my display wall and hold nearer so they could view the art more easily.  Some of the woman weren't able to speak.  But I would say, "look!  It's all sewing.  It's prairies in thread!"  Each woman, regardless of ability, would break into a moment of smile and twinkle in her eyes.  I would hold it still for them until they were ready to move on and then I would hang it back up on the wall.  Over and over, the opportunity presented itself.  I was doing it for them... but oh my gosh it felt so special for me too.  I loved those connections.  I bet it's been a long time since they've been out of the city to see the prairie too.  It was bittersweet.

(woah, pass the tissues!  aaah it's good to cry over happy things though, right?)

Saturday - I have a day of Badminton with a bunch of 10 year olds.  Ha!  Talk about switching gears.  Sunday, I will be back at Gardenscape to see what's left.  If you interested in any art while you are there, simply approach any of the volunteers and they should be able to help you.  If you see a red dot, it's sold.

Have a great weekend and enjoy Spring.  I'm pretty busy for the weekend but I'll try to catch up with you all on Tuesday.