Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Memory Blankets

 
This photo of my two main fellas was taken about 13 years ago. When they started to outgrow their clothes I couldn't bear to part with them, nor could I box them up for the moths to eat. Instead I chose to make a memory blanket; comprised of 6 inch fabric pieces in four main colors of blue, red, grey and cream, this was a blanket we all came to cherish. The boys and I would snuggle up for story time, but first they wanted to know where each square, pocket and embroidered teddy came from. "Was that mine?" Over the years the familiar scent of babies has faded, but I can still tell you who's piece of clothing each square came from.
 
 
 
 
After the making of this first blanket, I've gone on to make many memory blankets over the years. Although none of my own baby clothes survived for such a project I did inherit a stack of wool blankets. These blankets were brought over from England by my grandmother before I was even born. The orange one became my childhood favorite. Over the years, the blankets became torn, stained and moth eaten. I was able to cut enough 6 inch squares from four of these blankets to create a new memory blanket for myself. And yes, it is as thick, woolly and warm as it looks!
 
 
I recently started knitting blankets. The memories of these are different; newer. I can look at this thick double knit stripy blanket and remember every sweater whose left over yarn contributed to its creation.
 
 
"Fireside"
wool blanket
$200
 
"Crow" pillow from The Wren House.
 
 
This puffy work in progress is knit entirely from left over sock yarns, making it both colorful and washable.
 
 
The latest blanket I made took over a decade to plan. My husband plays Ultimate and disc golf. The summer I met him he traveled across Canada to attend the Nationals. He loved collecting t-shirts from these events. One of them even pre-dates our 19 year relationship! Oh, how sad he looked whenever he wore one out and threw it into the rag bin. Little did he know, I rescued these t-shirts. For years I collected his tournament t-shirts and his first few hand made father's day t-shirts. This Christmas I sewed them into a giant t-shirt memory blanket backed with thick fleece. It might not be the prettiest blanket in my house but it sure has inspired some epic napping sessions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Tiny Sculptures

 
 
Does my sexiness upset you
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
 
Maya Angelou
 
 
"Live Out Loud" #7
polymer clay on wood
(2 1/2 " x 2 1/2" x 1 1/2 ")
$40
 


Pajama party
Pouncing up, down on mattress,
Who needs sleep tonight ?

Ros Shrapnel
 
 
"Pajama Party"
polymer clay on wood
(2 1/2 " x 2 1/2" x 1 1/2 ")
$40
 
 
 
 
 
 


Friday, December 6, 2013

The Conspiracy of Love

I'm totally one of those people; the kind who is deliriously in love with Christmas. I could in fact watch my favorite Christmas movie (Love Actually) everyday. I will watch any Christmas movie I can get my pvr on. There's something special about Christmas movies, even the cheesy ones. There's always going to be this moment; the sweet spot, the part in the movie where you get goosebumps and go, "There it is". The magic of love.

I love a handmade Christmas from the heart. I spend months knitting, sewing, baking and painting little treasures. You won't catch me in any mall; you won't catch me yelling at someone who just stole my parking spot. You will catch me buying a latte for a stranger, letting the person behind me in the grocery checkout go ahead of me (because I'm never in a hurry). You will catch me buying a hot lunch for a homeless person. Incidentally, I do these little things all year long.

I'm the person you love to hate; the person who on Dec 6 has the presents wrapped and under the tree (yes, already),who has the cards and parcels in the mail, who has the Christmas lights up on the house and who is driving around in my car listening to the Grinch Who Stole Christmas (have been for days now).

But, I love you; I'm thinking of you, and if you see me I will hug you like I mean it.

 
"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world
in a conspiracy of love."
Hamilton Wright Mabi

This week I am featuring digital art created by my 13 year old son, Mason (who is also deliriously in love with Christmas). If you would like to buy Christmas cards from Mason, email me at bdstudio@telus.net, or visit my studio this weekend for our Christmas sale.



 
"The Long Wait"
C.G.I
Mason Menzies
 
 
"Frosty is Peeking"
C.G.I
Mason Menzies
 



Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Perfectly Happy

"Some creatures
just cannot help
but stand
out
from all
the rest."
Tyler Knot Gregson
 
 
 
"Perfectly Happy"
private commission
 
This weekend I open my studio to the public where I will be working on paintings just like this one of Happy. Come by if you can from 10am -4pm for some yummy cookies and a chance to see works of art coming together, to buy that perfect gift you've been searching for, or just to say Hello!
 
 



 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Art In The Palm of Your Hand

"Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you will learn at once how big and precious it is."
Maxim Gorky
 
 
And so it goes with mini art; small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, or on the tip of your nose; small but precious.
 
 
 
I love creating miniature art because of how versatile it is. Take a bunch of them and hang them together salon style to create a fun vignette or sit them on a bookshelf.
 
 
 
Here are some smaller paintings (6" x 6") that I have been painting in preparation for my upcoming Christmas Studio Show.
 
 
"Tuxedo"
$50
 

"Frank And Her Ball"
$50
 
 
"Frank"
$50
 
 
"Echo"
$50
 
 
 
"Cottage Poppy" #1
$50 SOLD

 
"Cottage Poppy"
$50 SOLD
 
 
"The Crow And His Peach"
$50 SOLD
 
 
"The Owl And Her Tea Cup"
$50 SOLD
 
My studio will be open for a special two day Christmas show as part of our Stinking Fish Christmas Show and Sale. Mark you calendars for Sat Dec 7th and Sun Dec 8th 10am-4pm. Hope to see you there!
 
As always, art pieces are available for purchase directly from this blog by emailing bdstudio@telus.net.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween

"The skies they were ashen and sober;
The leaves they were crispèd and sere —
The leaves they were withering and sere;
It was night in the lonesome October"
 
Edgar Allen Poe


 
 
 
It took me 4 hours to carve this pumpkin but I think it was totally worth it! I used wood carving tools to achieve smooth carved edges.
 
 
 
 
My son Matty created this awesome costume entirely from recycled materials: wooden baby gate, tea dyed fabric, a milk jug and a tin can (and with a little help from me and my dad).
 

 
 
 
 
My son Mason also spent 4 hours carving his Halloween ghoul full of mirth.
 
 
 
 
 
I wait all year for Halloween! I stay up late every night in October watching scary movies and I love dressing up.
 
 
 
 
EEEK! Is that my youngest ghastly ghoul Mason? It is!
 
 
Happy Halloween everybody!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Sunday, October 20, 2013

Winter is Coming

 
Last week it hit me that winter is coming. I had been in denial; working late in my garden and refusing to light the wood stove at night in an effort to conserve the meager stack of firewood. And then I decided to hibernate. Just like that. I look forward to my busy household hibernating; to slowing down; to warm woolen knits. But mostly I look forward to my cats.
 
Cats; with tickling whiskers and back massaging paws. Cats; emitting a purring, vibrating soothing warmth. Winter is coming and like me, my cats move from the gardens to the indoors. I will sit curled up with a mug of hot chocolate. I will while away the hours reading good books and knitting with my cats about me. And although Tuxedo chases my favorite yarn balls about the house and King Louie emits ferocious demanding meows, I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
 
 
"Snoopy"
10" x 10"
commission
 
 
"Bree"
18" x 24"
commission
 
 
"Sunday Blu"
SOLD
 
 
 
"King Louie and the Fool"
18" x 36"
SOLD
 
 
"Barn Cat"
8" x 8"
SOLD
 
 
"Ernest"
18" x 24"
SOLD
 
 
"9 Lives"
10" x 10"
SOLD
 
 
"King Louie"
18" x 24"
SOLD
 
 
"Louie"
6" x 8"
SOLD
 
 
"Steampunk Louie"
6" x 36"
SOLD
 
 
"Sherman and Jellybean"
12" x 36"
SOLD
 
 
"Jellybean"
12" x 12"
SOLD
 
 
"The Night Cats"
12" x 12"
Commission
 
 
"Louie"
12" x 36"
Private Collection
 
 
"The Night Cat"
10" x 12"
SOLD
 
 
untitled
18" x 36"
SOLD