| Blog Backlog #1 - Third Place!! |
[Jul. 29th, 2010|08:55 pm] |
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I feel like I have hardly been home with the farmer's market, travelling and when I am home, I'm trying to get through virtual piles of photos! Here's one I couldn't wait to re-take - third prize in the colored pencil and pastel drawings, western theme class. First place was a more traditional use of pastel, a portrait of a pioneer man. The second was a calf. When you enter, you have no idea if you have won something, so I was just thrilled to get a ribbon! The framing was chosen for me by Studio Todorovic via Ted Harrison Framing in Art Central, Calgary. Of course, big props goes to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) beybladesabre for the use of Sunny and Sabre's likenesses :-)
What will I do next year? I better think of something quick!!
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| Third Time's the Charm! |
[Jul. 11th, 2010|04:09 pm] |
I have so many things to blog about that I really need to get around to writing them all up! My friend Noela Jewelry finally had a nice day at the Farmer's Market. It didn't rain, and the wind kicked up just a bit. I almost wish I had something more sturdy to sell, like things made out of horseshoes! I could have used a few to keep the tablecloth down. Anyway, it was nice to sell a lot more cards and magnets this time. There was also live music too and a lot more produce available than in June.
Here are some pictures my table before the tent arrived. I still don't have a proper picture of everything...it's just so easy to get busy with customers and hanging on to stuff. The mirror on the far side is something new for me. If it sells, I may make more. Our next time at the fair is July 21st from 3:30-7:30 at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Centre, so come out and say hi if you can! Or just wave from the interwebs :-)
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| Writer's Block: Where I want to be |
[Jul. 10th, 2010|10:55 am] |
My childhood dream was to be a jockey. I never wanted to be a ballerina or a princess or anything like that. Suffice to say, I haven't achieved that dream despite being short enough - alas, I wouldn't make the weight requirement! The last remnant of that dream faded around Grade 9 or 10. Before my family moved to Calgary, I seriously thought about attending Olds College for their Equine Science or Exercise Rider and Jockey program. Alberta has a thriving horse industry and if the new Balzac racetrack ever gets built, it will have two major racetracks.
But my parents favoured career plans that were more practical and less dirty, so I never did have the encouragement in that area either. I practically grew up at Northlands Park, which was my Dad's way of babysitting us when Mom worked weekends or evenings. It was great, if a little odd - we could run around wherever we wanted, there were always fries after the eighth race and there were horses to watch! There was never a shortage of Dad's friends who doted on my brother and I as well. Like bowling, an afternoon at the racetrack seems like an antiquated hobby.
Naturally, I loved The Black Stallion as well. I wish I could find it, but I have a Grade 1 drawing of me riding The Black. It's such an adorable picture - I love kid's art - but it's a picture I keep finding and losing over the years. The next time I find it, I promise to scan it in! |
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| Owl ATC Swap |
[Jul. 4th, 2010|07:19 am] |
This was my first time participating in a group mystery swap, where everyone sent in four cards and received four cards. The medium was papercutting or scherenschnitte. These are the ones I submitted.
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| Writer's Block: The tenth time's the charm |
[Jul. 3rd, 2010|09:09 am] |
It's almost embarrassing to admit there are three movies which I never get tired of and I'm sure I have seen them over 10 times. The first would be Ladyhawke, which I saw once as a child and many more times as an adult. It's comfortable, funny, fantastic and has a happy ending, which is why I like it, I suppose. The part where Ladyhawke gets shot with an arrow always, always makes me cry!
The other one is Romancing the Stone. This was a popular TV staple for many years and like so many movies, I discovered just how many jokes went over my young, innocent mind. I suppose like Ladyhawke, the idea that there's a prince out there and a happy ending for everyone is very appealing. And it was before Michael Douglas had his horrible plastic surgery. I haven't watched it in a couple of years though...I suppose I'm overdue.
And the last one is again kind of out there. ( Take a guess... ) |
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| Elephant ATCs |
[Jun. 28th, 2010|10:18 pm] |
It seems like I just have a bunch of things that are in progress now...but now that the ATCs below have been received, I can post them. I would love to make a larger, detailed pair down the road!
Tomorrow is the drop off day for the Calgary Stampede Arts and Crafts Showcase. I can't believe it's been a whole year almost since I completed Alberta Spirit!
June, 2010 ::: Prismacolor Marker ::: 2.5x3.5"
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| Deluge Deja Vu! |
[Jun. 17th, 2010|06:56 pm] |
It was another watery Wednesday for Noela Jewelry and myself. I have yet to get a picture of the booth. We felt better prepared though - I wore a sweater under a long waterproof coat, the ShamWow and some plastic table cloths. At least we weren't setting up the tent in rain, and Nicole's Mom had an awesome idea to hang clear plastic tablecloths to use as tent sides.
Our next day at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmer's Market is July 7, so hopefully Mr. Sun decides to grace us with his appearance! Thanks to everyone who braved the weather and came out! |
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| Waterlilies, Niagara Falls |
[Jun. 13th, 2010|08:52 am] |
I recently spent a whole week in southern Ontario. I wasn't there purely for holiday, but I spent quite a bit of time exploring London, Ontario and Niagara Falls, Ontario. It was cool being able to see the US just across the way, but the group didn't all have passports so we didn't venture over the bridge. I have a lot of photos from this trip and I'm putting the best ones on Flickr and the occasional one on DeviantArt. Stay tuned!
Water Lilies, Niagara Falls
Christine Bennett
Purple Pony Art
http://www.purple-pony.com |
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| Profile in Courage? |
[Jun. 10th, 2010|05:53 pm] |
Rain, paper and outdoor farmer's markets are not the best combination, but all three came together at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Farmer's Market yesterday for me! At least my friend Nicole, of Noela Jewelry, was able to put her wares on display.
As a Canadian, you can't let the weather control your life. If you end up waiting for the perfect day, you'll just end up becoming a shut-in. We're having a very gloomy, cold summer right now. My wild rose bush is blooming and I just can't enjoy the garden. Anyway, back to Wednesday...
We met up at the community association and I crossed my fingers hoping the rain would stop. Once you got under a tent, it was actually pretty! But then the trick was getting the up! Nicole's husband purchased a Fast Up tent for us and it lived up to its name. We shivered for a few grateful moments under the canopy and then she parked her car closer so we could unpack.
I really couldn't put my cards out. I would rather lose sales than my inventory. The sale started at 3:30 and there were actually customers, even if they were just a few. By 4 I think the rain really picked up and water would occasionally shoot off the canopy. Around 5 it actually stopped, but then the wind picked up :-D After the wind died down, it was just plain cold, and we popped some change into a coffee machine inside the community hall and it actually made some pretty good drinks!
We'll be at the farmer's market again on June 16. Come out and say! The weather has just got to be better then! |
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| The Calgary Rock and Gem Show and More |
[May. 24th, 2010|09:24 pm] |
I can't believe how May is flying by! It's a good thing today is Victoria Day, in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday.
The first weekend in May was a busy one for my friends Noela Jewellery and Lisa Redfern. We went to Free Comic Book Day, a local handmade venue called Market Collective and the Calgary Rock and Gem Show all in the space of five or six hours.
Market Collective was really buzzing - there was live music and the place was very busy. I liked the setup for the venue in the old Ant Hill Fabric store. It has two levels, although the upper level was occupied by a community bike program and some art exhibitions. One exhibition felt awkward to walk into - it was like a performance thing and it felt like we had interrupted them. There was a good mix of vendors.
The annual Rock and Gem Show is one of those events that falls into the "someday" category - the timing is never right or I just haven't gone for some reason. This year was my first year and I was amazed by how busy it was. We squeezed into the last remaining spot!
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The whole community hall was set up with display cases in the middle and vendor tables around the perimeter. The sheer amount of variety stunned me as we shuffled to look at fossils, gems, rocks and beads. I was determined not to spend money, but found a few things I couldn't resist like a shell nazar (left), some blue beads by Inspire Beads (below) and hematite circles.
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I enjoyed handling some of the fossils up close, like nautilus halves and petrified wood. We saw petrified mammoth ivory, which is popular for carvings due to the ivory ban. There were a lot of great artisan pieces there and I wish there was time to see them all. Seriously, it's an all day event! On the other hand, if I had stayed longer, I probably would have spent more :-D
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I really should not have been too surprised by the turnout. Geology is a popular occupation here in Calgary due to the oil and gas industry, and we're close to the badlands of Alberta. It was just so nice to see so much enthusiasm for a part of nature not everyone thinks about. I'm not sure what I'll do with my beads yet. Maybe I'll find something to go with them at the Oasis Bead Show in June :-)
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