Cows, Friends and Screaming Heads

A week ago, I enjoyed a great day with some of my friends from work. The sun was shining, the air was warm and the day just lasted and lasted.

It was just a small group of us; Tyler and Cam, Dave and Laura, me. The first place we visited was a store, the Circling Hawks Centre in Burk's Falls. I've only ever been a few times, but if you're ever in the area, it's worth a visit. http://www.circlinghawkscentre.com/

It's one of those new agey sorts of stores filled with trinkets and instruments, jewellery and books, various religious articles for various religions and all kinds of things for your general spiritual well being. There's tons to look at and it smells great. There's a bird named Chester and a cat wandering the garden in the back, which is worth a look too. Lots of plants, flowers, a fountain, a big beautiful tee-pee and a small stone labyrinth. There's also an art gallery, but we didn't stay for too long as we had lots to see. I bought myself a gorgeous harmony ball necklace -- it tinkles and chimes quietly when I move--and then we were on our way.

Next, we went to Cameron's parents' farm to see the cows. Dave wanted to pet them; he and Laura had never really been up close to cows before. I spent a lot of time on a farm growing up, and I'm familar with a few different barnyard animals. But not cows. They're much larger and more intimidating up close than you expect! But with Cam's dad there, they were calm and gentle enough.

After visiting with Cam’s parents, we carried on to our main destination, which was the Screaming heads, also in Burk’s Falls. I’d been twice before with my Gramma, but it’s always worth going back. The artist, Peter Camani, owns a farm which has become an ongoing art project. His house is like a castle, peacocks roam freely, there are gorgeous gates and heavy walls and the fields are filled with concrete sculptures of large, white heads, eyes and mouths agape. We walked around and took pictures of the art, each other and the scenery in general, which was beautiful too. http://www.mmage.com/screamingheads/

After seeing the heads, Tyler suggested we check out my Grampa’s memorial park, which was nice as I had never been there. It turned out to be a simple little spot with pretty rapids running through it, which I thought was perfect for Grandpa. He always took us out for paddles in his canoe and went for a dip in the river behind his house pretty much every day. Being there probably would have made me think of him even if the spot hadn’t been dedicated to his memory.

We finished the day with pizza and a movie and a visit with Alex and Nicky, a pair of cute brother cats. We spent that time in a small town I used to pass through several times a week, but hardly ever visit anymore. Just being there on the steps of the pizza place made me feel very comfortable and homey and close to my roots, somehow. It was a nice feeling.

If there was one day all summer that gave me the ‘summer experience’ feeling I hope for every year, it was probably this one. Summer’s not over just yet, there’s time for more. But if this was it, I’ll be content.

Great Day

Who would have guessed that the smallest show I did all summer would be the best?
Yesterday, I participated in the Fesitval of the Arts Art Walk in River Mill Park downtown. I did the same show last year and had a lot of fun, but this year was even better, I think, in part, due to the new location. Lots of people wandering town happened by and the set up was more of a circle than a line, so I was able to see the other artists there. There was drumming and dancing and a fairly good crowd, so yes, much better than last year.

My mother helped me set up my little booth, which was wet work as the ground was spongey and moist from all the rain the day before. My feet got soaked, but as it didn't rain, that was my only complaint all day long.

Lots of people stopped to chat at the booth; some cute kids asked lots of questions. As this was more of an exhibition/demonstration than it was a sale, I had my sketchbook and my samples on display for people to leaf through. Many people were interested in the design process and it was fun explaining my techniques to them.
My sketchbook display and work area took up one whole half of the table. Therefore, I had to downscale my finished jewellery set up quite a bit. The above photo is about everything I had out. It's a little windswept, but I still made some sales, which was great.

The other artists were pretty cool too. I met quite a few locals which was nice, as I'm still getting to know the arts community around here. The gentleman next to me, Terry Gill, was demonstrating his watercolour technique. There was a bit of a lull around the time that Seguin brought me lunch, so I went over to give it a try. It was very fun and freeing, he encouraged me to paint in the same way we were taught to develop our samples in school; that is, don't think, just go and let it happen.


This is a photo of the resulting painting. He also gave me a print of one of his pieces to take home. They're quite a bit more finished than mine...as I understand it, he kind of lets the paints do what they want and then develops a landscape out of what happens. You can check out his work here. https://www.impressionsofnature.ca

The show was only three hours long and the time passed so quickly. But almost the instant the last few items had been packed into the car and we all got in, the rain began to fall, hard. It was as if it had been waiting all day for us to finish up. With the rainy summer we've had, I couldn't believe our luck.

So overall, a very positive experience. I'm keen to do it again next year. Just one more to go this summer; Sunday, August 16th, look for me in Annie Williams Park in Bracebridge for a second Canlove International festival. More details as the time draws near.

High Hopes

As 2009 approaches, I find myself feeling more optimistic about my future than ever before. It's probably just that psychological clean slate thing, but I'm feeling very hopeful for all I'm going to accomplish in this coming year and all that's going to happen.

The fixed time where one year ends and another begins is just something we made up, I understand that. But frankly, the timing couldn't be better. It comes shortly after Xmas, just when everything we've been building up to for the last month or so is over and we're settling down and thinking 'what's next?' It gives meaning to a month that is otherwise grey and dull and a little empty. And yes, while I acknowledge that we could thrust our fists into the air and say, "I'm making some changes for the better!," any time that we wanted too, there's something about that established once-a-year time where everything officially starts fresh that's terrifically motivating. During this time, it's somehow less difficult to put our pasts behind us and focus on the possibility our presents and futures hold.

So what is it I'm feeling so darn hopeful about? Creatively, many things. I've got grand plans for a big new project (or maybe two) I'd like to start soon, as well as many more little ideas for my current work. Seg's got a super fantastic camera coming in the mail, so I'm hoping with his help I can get some great photos taken of my work. And with those photos, a website should be in the works as well.

It's not all fun stuff though. I also intend to keep getting better at treating this creative stuff like a job. Learning to focus on my work when I'm producing at home, to take it as seriously as I did when I was in school is still something I'd like to get better at. It's easy to convince yourself it's not that important when no one else seems to take it very seriously, but why should they? It's up to me to show everyone how important it is, not the other way around.

More than anything, thinking about my youngest brother the other day made me realize how much I've got left to do. It occured to me the other day that by the time he's 18, I'll be 30. Not that old, really, I realize. But if I reach that age and still feel like I'm waiting to grow up, it would be a bit of a blow, I think. I want a home by then, I want a car and a bit of security. I want to have established myself as an artist and a designer. I want to feel less like I'm just standing and limply flailing my arms about.

I've got other goals I'll need to attain in order to make this happen, some financial, some organizational, some spiritual. But mostly, I want to keep developing as a creative person with a creative career, because that's what I want to build most of that other stuff around.

I'm curious to hear if any one else is setting goals or making resolutions or just has plans. Tell me, tell me, if you want to. And check out this website too. It's all about making a list of goals, seeing who else hopes to achieve the same things, getting encouragement and tips from others.

Good luck friends, see you all in 2009!

http://www.43things.com/

Some Lovely Things from the Last Few Days

First of all, LOOK!!! Poor Seg and John had to leave for work at ten to seven this morning to get this all cleared out of the way for people's feet and cars. I'll have to leave for work 15 minutes early so as not to be late (snow slows me down) but otherwise I think it's beautiful.

I love when cats and humans pose the same. It's one of the best things. Just like this old favourite.

Penelope is great. I find she is just like a baby in that I cannot stop taking pictures of her; the only thing is she moves so fast all the time that I can hardly get a picture of her in focus. It's a bummer because I miss all sorts of great moments, but it's neat as well because I catch so many great shots I never intended.




My favourite little family came over last night for Rockband and Scattergories. It was good fun, and really nice as one of the things I like doing most in the apartment is having friends over. Takes it from a house to a home.




Speaking of families, Loki is the sweetest adopted dad I've ever seen.

A friend of mine has me creating a set of wrist pieces as a gift for someone. It's beading, beading, beading. It's been a while since I've done any proper beading, but I'm getting the feel for it again. After I go back and fill in the gaps, I think it will look pretty nice. I'll post the finished pieces as soon as I'm able.

Christmas is coming. This year it's gotten into my head and won't get out. I'm not even bothered by the way all the stores are decorated up already and how you can already hear Xmas carols playing. (Normally that drives me nuts--oversaturation!) But I'm pretty stoked.

That's all. Off to make rotini and bracelets!

Feeling Pretty Stoked

Yowza. Just came from downtown. It's funny.....just when it seems I'm starting to run out of stimulation, when I think I'm not getting what I need from this place anymore, I go downtown and recieve so much good stuff that I feel completely the opposite. It's awfully nice.

I was speaking with a gallery about possibly displaying/selling some of my work (went pretty well I think, fingers crossed!). When I came out, I was feeling completely abuzz with excess energy. I'd been really nervous beforehand. I didn't feel entirely ready to present my work, but I knew I would never feel completely ready, and it was getting me down a bit. That lack of confidence can really make one question the validity of what they're doing. But I had a really nice talk beforehand with a woman here in town who's acting as a driving force behind my career and she gave me a lot of motivation and inspiration that I needed. The positive feedback and general exposure to other artsy folks in the gallery helped me touch base with that side of myself a little bit, reminded me that an awesome arts community does exist here. A nice phone call to my mother and genuine conversations I had with two people I ran into on the street afterwards (a casual aquaintance and a best friend) really served to remind me of the other big reason I am still in this town; the people and how great they make me feel.

Yeah. Sometimes if I get too stuck inside routine, work, the house or myself, it's easy to forget why I've chosen to live in the place I do and in the way I do at this point in my life. It's awfully nice to be reminded of why this works, where it's leading, why I'm here.

=)