About to Shift Gears

Hello!  Here are more of my minis.  They are very fun.  : )  I brought these into Handmade House when I worked my Friday shift last week.  I'm still just loving it there.

Prairie Minis

I like all the different colours.  Which do you like?  Grey sure is in lately, especially when it comes to home decorating.  I wasn't so sure about it but as it turns out, I really like it.  It's calming and it looks good with any colour it seems.

What else can I tell you?  I've also been busy finishing up a new threadpainting and ended up framing it too.  Shudder.  I do not love framing, but I think I'm getting quite good at it.  I do get someone else to cut the mats though.

This new piece is for a very special summer exhibition at the Saskatchewan Craft Council to celebrate their 40th anniversary!  There are about 50 members each with 2 pieces of art in this show.  It begins Friday and runs for the remainder of the summer.  The stipulation for the artists is that EVERYTHING has to be for sale.  It will have a huge variety of craft mediums together in one room.  Exciting!

You'll see a little bit of everything.  I'll be dropping my two pieces off in the morning to the Affinity Gallery.  The show will be up and running by Friday.

Then I'm back in the studio to sit at my computer and write an article.  That's a change of pace!  I'm feeling like it has to be a more technical one.  It's for an American publication - I'l tell you more later when it's out at the end of the year.  Pretty exciting!

After that, I have one month to complete the stitching project for the Saskatchewan Arts Board Grant and get everything photographed and the final report submitted.  I still have three more pieces to complete and I am really, REALLY in the mood for some handstitching.  I spoke to an exhibition coordinator about showing my work, and he really encouraged me to work more in that medium.  That was nice to hear!  He's right though.  The yarn embroideries are much more artful and less of reproducing scenes perfectly.  And so - more experimentation with that to come...

stay tuned!  I promise I'll take lots of scrumptious pictures. : )

By The Light of the Moon

I felt inspired this week to include the moon in my postcards!  As it turns out, there happens to be a Lunar Eclipse today, known as the Blood Mood because of the beautiful red it will be!  If you've never seen a lunar eclipse, you must check it out.  I've see a few and they are so amazing - but again, you need to be patient.  It's a long process.

As for my postcards, here are a few of my favourites. I'm nearing #300 with these few dozen new ones.  Isn't that amazing!?  They are all signed and numbered on the backs.  I listed a small handful of them in Etsy in my shop.  The rest are destined for the SK Craft Council Boutique in Saskatoon and the Mackenzie Gallery Shop in Regina.  Some will also be included in the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra's fundraiser!  I'll be sending them all off this week.  There aren't eclipsed moons in these, but I do love the delicate while slivers in the sky.  : )

 I am digging purple lately, can't you tell!?  ; )

Snow.  I know.  It's not here yet.  But I think winter nights are beautiful.  That particular scene is similar to the one chosen by the Broadway area MLA for her greeting cards last year.

They really make me happy.  I think you might expect more purple in my upcoming commissions. ; )

I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday @ TN&TN.  You can get to my Etsy shop via the right sidebar of my blog.  The Etsy pics are linked.

Have a beautiful day - and don't forget to moongaze. xo

Things I Love Thursdays (and an announcement or two...)

I love when things work out.  I love when opportunity knocks right at the moment I think I missed out on something.  Take for instance the day I left Winnipeg with a lot of unsold art.  I stopped in at Wolseley's Tiger Lily Quilts and was offered wall space to hang a few of my pieces for sale.  They are on the route of a highway tour soon, which is terrific!  Great luck there!

After Winnipeg, I had regrets about missing out on The Battleford's Handcraft Show that occurs each July.  (That's in my hometown.)  I didn't think I'd have enough art for it and never bothered to sign up this summer.  Now it's too late.  So - I took my mom's advice.  All her life she said, 'nothing to it but to do it'.  I need an art show... so I guess I should just do it!?

The lake!  Sure, why not?  My mother lives 15 minutes north of The Battleford's and a few people that way have purchased my work or were interested in it.  So we've set a date. 

Sunday, July 7th  

I will be exhibiting my work at my mom's cabin!

SHE is SO excited.  She moved a china cabinet just to free up an entire wall for me to hammer nails into.  She moved it all on her own.  !?  lol  I think this event will be fun and I am really looking forward to it.  I'll put lots of things on display and we'll have some refreshments too.  If you live on or near Jackfish Lake, SK and you're interested in viewing or purchasing, email me at Monika@MySweetPrairie.ca and I can give you more information and directions.  * We've sent a few invites out already.*

Isn't that cool?  So I have one more surprise.  I love surprises!

This Saturday is the Broadway Art Fest 2013.  I missed the deadline to sign up as a vendor.  Well... and I chickened out.  I miss our 'Waterfront' juried member show each June as well because I can't imagine displaying all my art outside...  I chicken out every year.  Every year it either downpours, or there are 50 km/hr winds (minimum).  So in a crappy way, it's a good thing I haven't signed up yet.

As it turns out, I will have my art on Broadway in Saskatoon after all!  A while back, the Saskatchewan Craft Council put a call out for juried items in a particular price range.  Well - wouldn't you know, it just so happens I have a BIG STACK of fibre art cards hot off the sewing table.  lol  They said yes!  So there you go.  Great news that I am very proud of:  My Prairie Postcards are for sale in their new (really new - soon to be launched) SCC Fine Craft Boutique in the back of their Affinity Gallery!  The Saskatchewan Craft Council in Saskatoon will be open during Saturday's Art Fest on Broadway.  That's awesome!  Isn't that awesome?  I think it is.

813 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon

Items in the Boutique were requested in the price range of 20-120$.  They will also have a small selection of some 'high end' pieces for sale as well.  Super cool.  When I dropped off my postcards there, they were changing the gallery exhibit in the front, and preparing to build shelves in the back where their library is.  Busy, busy!  I really look forward to dropping by over the weekend to see how things have shaped up.  (PS. the current Metal craft exhibit in the Affinity Gallery there looks like it will be AMAZING !!)  It's definitely something to check out.

As for the Boutique - I'll keep you posted as to when their grand opening will be.  As far as I know, it will be open for business this weekend.  THANK YOU SCC!

: )
Happy Thursday!
Wherever you are, I hope you are able to get out and enjoy some art.