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!

Things I Love Thursday

: )

My heart is all a-flutter after today.  I visited to 2 groups of Kindergarten children to speak about fibre art, about prairies, about horizons, and about colour.  I showed them images of low horizons compared to high horizons.  (The gasps were marvelous!)  I showed them images of green fields, brown fields, yellow fields.  We talked about all the colours we've ever seen in the sky here on the prairie:  pink, orange, red, black, yellow, blue, grey, white, purple (of course, this was all in French).  And then I reminded them of the prairie art they saw at the gallery last Friday - the strips of cloth used to make prairies in Heather Lair's torn cloth landscapes and Leah Gravell's pieced art quilts.  I explained to the five year olds how making landscapes with fabric is a bit like playing 'I Spy'.  Which fabric will work for this field?  or this muddy road?  or this stormy sky?

I opened my box of fabric strips (thank you Jean!!) and then the magic happened.  : )

They chose their colours thoughtfully, and measured to make sure each would fit on the background. We did a collage-style project with plenty of beautiful batiks and some fuzzy yarns.

she shows me her high horizon, and how she loves the sky fabric

I love it.

she made a winter field with a pretty sunset

I love it.

driving past a field on the way to the farm

I love it.

how can you not love this!?

I love it!

i giggled when a few kids referred to the yellow as a 'granola field'  

I love it.  I love these so much that I could show you every single one.  There were about forty made between the two classes and EACH one is SO fantastic.  They are all in the front entry way of the school.  It's an incredible sight, blazing with colour!

look at his beautiful sky and the little green trees down on the low horizon to the left  : )

Here's one more photo.  I have put a lot more on the My Sweet Prairie facebook page - at least the ones I could post quickly from my phone camera.  It's worth going to take a look!

From the bottom of my prairie heart, thanks so much to Ecole Victoria School and homeroom teacher Mme McCrea for having me in.  I'm in fibre art heaven.

Happy Thursday!

Those Beautiful Ditches

I've been quietly dreaming, and quietly stitching though this busy month.

I've been keeping my distance from blogging.  Here's why.  I have a new laptop and I'm finding it extremely difficult to trust.  The screen is so high res & the brightest one in the shop, but here back at home, it's greyish pinkish even at it's brightest setting.  I have it hooked up to a larger monitor to edit images and see them properly, but what a pain. (Stupid dumb laptop, why did ya have to die on me!?)  The more I read, the more I find that this is in fact what photographers have to do.  I'm still shaking my head at it all, as my last 2 laptops were brilliantly bright and perfectly set for colours.  Why can't I still have it like that?   I thought technology would improve, but I guess it's these thinner screens?

So - I feel like blogging is now one huge chore.  Ah well.  Maybe I'm just getting set in my ways.  lol On my laptop, the light yarns on the left of the above photo look like a dark mustard... maybe a hin of orange in them.  On my big old monitor the same yarns look like a bright chartreuse, almost flourescent lime yellow.  what does yoru monitor show?  And if anyone knows of a good online test screen for setting colours, please share the link.  I can't be the only one needing this.

You know... the old VCR still works of course.  Of course.

Off my rant.  Back to my embroidery.  (Thanks for listening.)

I started this large piece last July at the NB Handcraft Festival.  I worked at it some more in August where my son and I were doing public demonstrations.  It's been a slow go of it.  It's inspired by a ditch of alfalfa.  I was stuck because of not having the right colours.  Since then I've got a few wonderful bundles of yarn skeins and so I thought I should get back at it.

I think it's quite beautiful now.  The colours make me so happy.  I love the background very much.  I used those fantastic yarns from Prairie Lily Knitting - those greens & blues that I put in Where Sunlight Falls.  The foreground and flowers need more stitching, but at lat least now I am past the ugly phase and seeing the potential in this.

I'm so happy with it, in fact, that I will show you the backside.  : )  It's huge by the way, 14" x 8" or so without matting.

Have a great week everyone!

linking up to WIP Wednesday on TN&TN

Prairie Postcard Love

I'm like them here, I like them there, I like them any-any where : )

Prairie Postcards straight up, or flat out...

Some more finished ones...

I hope you had a terrific weekend!

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!

* * * Around the World Blog Hop * * *

Welcome!  Today, I was tagged by a wonderful artist & online friend named Sharron Begg to be part of an artists' blog hop.  First let me tell you a bit about her.  Sharron's blog is "Threadpainters Art".  You can guess I found her by googling 'threadpainting'.  As it turns out, I happened to have fallen madly in love with her ink illustrations that can also be seen on her site.  There's just something about them - they look like stitching as well.  He art inspired me to begin sketching things out prior to stitching my art, which is something I had not done before.  I'm linking to her Blog Hop introductory post HERE, please stay a while and look around.  She does wonderful work with soluble stabilizers.

As for me, my name is Monika Kinner-Whalen.  (pronounced Moe-nee-ka, not Maw-nick-uh).  Welcome to my blog.  I live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with my family of 5.  I've been doing landscape threadwork for almost five years now, most of which is inspired by my deep attachment to the Canadian Prairie.  I was born and raised here, and moving away after university left me incredibly homesick.  Apparently, the Prairies can do that to you.  I had no idea what a strong attachment it had on me.  After setting up house with my husband and having three children, we moved back to Saskatoon; back to the big old flatland.  It was unreal.  It's like my spirit returned.  I could breath again.  It filled my heart to the brim with creative energy.  It was at the same time I had discovered fibre art, and everything just took off from there.  Our poured all this artwork!

I love what I do.  I work full time out of my home studio.  I teach creative sewing classes, but I see myself as an artist first and foremost.  Some of my key pieces are touring Canada (east and west) with juried exhibitions. I have had my art commissioned and sold around the world, including all over Canada, the USA, England, Scotland, New Zealand, Africa, and Australia.  I've won awards and have been extremely grateful to be published in books and magazines over the 5 years too.  Yeah, yeah... brag brag brag.  Well, this is a spotlight moment, right?  : )

So, what is it that I do?

I go on treasure hunts with my camera, looking for things to stitch.  I head out down little dirt roads to places unknown in any season and find beauty EVERY time.  Ditches are my favourite.  You might think the prairies are flat and lifeless - in fact, we are teased often that there's nothing to see here.  But like many of use here, I know how to look and where to look.  I find breathtaking beauty easily.  I look up.  I look down.  I look as far as the eye can see.  It's unrestricted and open, known as the quietest place on earth with some of the liveliest and biggest skies.

my daughter jumping waves on a wild & stormy day

And so, I sew it.  I collage a background with the right fabrics for my subject's colours, and then I bring it to life with thread.  I use a technique known as freemotion machine stitching to fill in the landscape.  I use freestyle hand embroidery to embellish and make my prairies pop.  Here are some examples of my work.  First up, She's Blooming!  This one is touring Canada with Dimensions, a juried collection of fine craft with the Saskatchewan Craft Council.

sideways - detail of canola field in bloom featuring thousands of French Knots

That's what you see in the summer.  Below is a piece that was inspired after a tornado warning had lifted one spring.  Trees at the Turnaround.  There was lots of rain and wind, and the sky began to clear.  This body of water was a flooded ditch lined with bullrushes.

This next one is called, The Skating Pond.  This brings back great memories of growing up on a farm.  I love winter so very much.  I truly enjoy our four distinct seasons here.  The landscape is always changing.

And autumn - lovely autumn when the wind changes yet again.  This was from a local conservation area called Cranberry Flats.  It's named, Autumn Blonde.

So, that's what I do.  Recently I've been experimenting with yarn.  I've played with the idea of stitching things a little closer to the earth but on a larger scale.  It's been really enjoyable.  I love what I do, and I look forward to the growth I see in my art with each new piece.

Awarded second place in Original Surface Design, Needlework.  Focus on Fibre Arts Association

What else can I tell you?  hmmm.  You can find me on Facebook HERE.
You can find my images sorted into albums on Flickr HERE.
You can shop for art, cards, and fabric postcard supplies in my Etsy Shop HERE.

You can also just hang out on this blog and click the tutorials or slideshow tabs at the top.  There's a lot to see here after five years.

I think this answers all the questions I was asked to address.  There was one more: 'What makes your art unique?'  I think my work is somewhat unique in that my threadpaintings are done without tracing, templates, or printing out backgrounds to stitch on.  It really is my own personal and original art.  I use only my own photographs as inspiration - so even right from the scenes themselves, they are my compositions from beginning to end.  They are completely my view of my world so to speak, and  done by hand and from the heart.  ; )

Thank you SO much for coming by!

June Grasses - in progress.  Currently touring with the Focus on Fibre Arts juried show in Alberta.

And now, let me pass the blog hop torch over to my friend Karen D. Miller.  Karen specializes in Hooked Fibre Art.  She lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario.  Karen blends alternative fibre art techniques with traditional yarn hand-hooking to create fresh landscapes and abstract close ups.  She has exhibited in Ontario, Alberta, Newfoundland, Ohio and Vermont and been featured in several publications, such as the forthcoming TextileArt Around the World.  Karen has been selected as an Honourable Mention (2014) and a Finalist (2013) in Rug Hooking Magazine’s annual “A Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs ”.  She blogs at Marzipan Road, and will be doing her blog hop post one week from today.  I'll put up a little remind for you at that time.

And thank you Sharron for including me. : )

Things I Love Thursday

Today, it's not things I love... but rather, folks I love.  I love viewers!  I am so grateful to all those who have been following my blog / Facebook / Flickr pages, my work, classes & exhibitions...  THANK YOU.  So, now guess what!?  I was just informed last night that A Prairie City was awarded yet another ribbon - this time for Viewer's Choice.

This, along with three other pieces of mine were juried into the Focus on Fibre Art Association's 'Prairie' competition which is touring a variety of venues in Alberta, Canada.  That was exciting enough!  When it started in May, we headed off to the reception in Edmonton where I ended up with a second place (Where Sunlight Falls), first place (A Prairie City), and a Best in Category award (A Prairie City).  I was so overwhelmed!  Gee, I had no idea there was a viewer's choice ballot as well.

So to those of you who headed out to see the show - thank you!  And thank you so much for all the votes.  I can't wait for that ribbon to arrive in the mail.  This is pretty special.  Who'd have known!?

also juried in - June Grasses

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH XO  I am so proud to be a part of this beautiful exhibition.  : )

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!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

~ 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 **

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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!