Marie Antoinette

I made this "bits and pieces" canvas for Mary Ann -- it is part of the Marie Antoinette Collage Swap hosted by Maria at The Junk Drawer. I've never done anything like this before, but we were supposed to use an 8 1/2 x 11 canvas and put 12 squares with collaged bits and pieces on it. Well, I've never seen an 8 1/2 x 11 canvas, so I used 9x12. I painted the background and then made squares that were 2 1/2 " square. Some people did them with bigger squares, with no canvas showing in between, but I wanted my canvas to show. I used a bit of glitter too (I know that Maija would say that I didn't use enough glitter, LOL)(mary ann, feel free to add more glitter!!!)

Pole art!

I took the knit-up down -- it was looking a bit tired. I was feeling a bit possessive about "my" pole (what if someone comes along and puts an ad on it? Yikes, better get out there right away and re-claim my space!). So I had to make some art to put up. I covered a piece of bristol board with acrylic paint (to seal it) and then rubber stamped a few images and a message. Then I taped it to the pole and hoped for the best. I put it up on Sunday, but the camera battery was dead so I couldn't photograph it until Tuesday (today). And it poured rain all day today. I don't know if you can see, but it is a bit puffy. There is a lot of water between the sign and the post. So it's all squishy. We'll see how long it lasts out in the elements. I have more too (different words, different colours) but I can't decide if I want to put them up around the city, or just save them for my pole. My pole. LOL.

Oh, and just to let you know -- I really am happy to share my pole with anyone who wants to share the space. Just in case you can't find a pole of your own. Like, in case all of the other poles in the neighbourhood are full of posters and art, I won't complain if you want to share mine.......

What if........

the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about? I love that thought. I made this canvas for my friend/partner in "crime" aka teaching partner, Debra. I am really enjoying working on canvas. I have a few more canvas pieces in the works.

Finally, Spring!

So I made a spring apron! I made this apron for Sabina in "The Mother of all Apron Swaps" -- A Canadian art swap group. I love making clothes that don't involve fittings or alterations........
The weather here in Toronto was fabulous today! It is Lauren's birthday (how did my baby get to be 22?), so we went downtown to buy her some Birkenstocks, then we walked home in our shirts, NO COATS! Hurray!
I have taken down my knit up (it kept slipping down with the spring rains) and I will put up some new public art tomorrow (or possibly Monday, as is is supposed to rain all day tomorrow). Stay tuned!!

fort worden knit up

Charms

These are large pendant-like charms -- also great for embellishing books. They are made from bamboo tiles with an octopus image on one side and some stamped text on the other. Then I used some kind of black wire (I don't know what kind -- it said binding wire) to make the wire wrapped loop. I thought that they looked very yummy in this bowl....

journal folder

I like working on unbound pages, yet I like the idea of a journal. I made this journal folder with some super heavy interfacing inside, and I padded it with polarfleece scraps. I'm going to embellish the cover quite a bit more. It's a work in progress!

Another day, another octopus bag

Do you see a trend? I made this one for Heather. I put the chair in the garden to take the picture. When Ray came home later he wanted to know why I was sitting in the garden facing the fence. I told him that I was trying to get a sun tan on the back of my head. I think that he believed me. Really. I really must stop with the smart alek answers.

jellyfish!

Isn't this just the cutest jellyfish? I've been drawing lots of jellyfish lately and I had to make a t-shirt. I'm a bit squinty -- it couldn't be helped.

More bags, more octopi

I made this tote bag is for Ruth and I liked it so much that I made myself a sling bag with a longer strap for myself. I can't wait until it is finally spring and I can stop wearing my winter coat. Octopi and winter just don't mix.