Avalon Myst Creations Journal

Introverts Unite

2011-12-20T19:37:00.000-05:00

Brenda LaRose with her latest painting.

On the multitude of occasions I have found myself thrown between the gears of the corporate machine my experience has always been what I can best describe as "soul-sucking". By the time I leave the office environment, all I have left is enough energy to drive myself home and take the dogs for a walk.

Thanks to my recent encounter with a fellow artist in just such a setting, I have finally come to understand why this happens, and just how much energy contributes to the choices we make when it comes to bonding. Within the first week of starting a new office job, I had the great good fortune of inviting co-worker, Brenda LaRose, for a get know you lunch - and she's opened a world of self-discovery I felt compelled to share with others out there, who may have the same response to their work environment.

During one of our many subsequent lunch conversations, which have served as a lifeline for me, Brenda told me about a book entitled, "Splash: An Introvert's Guide to Being Seen, Heard and Remembered" by Carole Cameron - a light bulb went off in my head, and I finally realized why I was feeling totally drained after every work day. According to Cameron, introverts don't draw their energy from other people, in fact, the exact opposite is the case. Introverts must withdraw from any human encounters, no matter how comfortable they are with the people they're around, in order to fully recharge their batteries. I absolutely fall under that category, and interestingly enough, i don't think it's by chance that I would have been drawn most strongly to Brenda out of the 10 other people who share the same workspace.

When I found out Brenda was a fellow artist AND an entrepreneur in her own right, who co-ran an art shop in Acton for several years, where she taught drawing, I was absolutely elated! Thanks to Brenda, I've discovered a new category of paints that mimic oils, but don't have the drying time, or the need for toxic mixing mediums which I'm going to give a try during the holidays thanks to Brenda's generosity.

Rest assured all you introverts out there trying to adapt in the corporate arena, there is help in understanding how we are wired. Cameron's book is a good step in that direction. Although we represent at most 25 - 40% of the population, introverts represent 60% of the gifted population. I consider myself having been gifted with a friendship like Brenda's.

I have so much to be thankful to Brenda for, on so many levels, I don't how I would begin to reciprocate. Perhaps, sharing her beauty of spirit, with the blogosphere is the first step.If you'd like to read Carole Cameron's book follow this link:

splash carole cameron

ISN'T IT IRONIC?

2011-12-06T21:29:00.003-05:00

When you reach a certain age you become more introspective. Maybe because at that point your eyesight is failing, so looking inward becomes a more probable option. Nonetheless I have always marveled at artists who understand the transient nature of the creative process, and can readily let go of the finished product without thinking about preserving it for posterity's sake. I guess it boils down to what prompts one to create anything in the first place. Interestingly I posed that question to myself when I last stopped at my favorite sanctuary amidst the urban chaos: a bookstore.

At the entrance was an exquisite ice sculpture created by an artist who calls himself simply, "Iceman" This was a promotional gimmick for the new release of a book called "Inheritance" by Christopher Paolini. As you can see by the photo, it is a replication of the dragon that graces the book cover. This novel marks the end of a cycle in a fantasy world, begun in the mind of the author when he was only fifteen.

So here's a progression of art in the form of prose that evolved over several years, being served up as a frozen effigy for the public, only to be consumed by the sunlight in a matter of minutes. The irony of the situation didn't escape me in that moment as I watched the dragon's horns drip into an ever expanding pool of water at the base of the sculpture.

Christopher Paolini has a large international fan base, and is touring his latest offering to his ravenous readership. Iceman's magnificent frozen Draconis Occidentalis was being reduced to a puddle before my very eyes, with only a handful of admirers to bear witness to its transformation.

I can only wonder who gained the ultimate satisfaction as an artist. I felt compelled to give the ice a little more longevity by capturing it in cyberspace with this post. Beauty can be so fleeting, and I as an artist am motivated to share it wherever and whenever I find it.

Crystals are a Girl's Best Friend

2011-06-14T20:56:00.004-04:00

MY CRYSTAL MANDALA

Oh my Lord! I have been so busy creating, I've completely neglected writing about the experience. So let's get right down to it:

I must say that the glorious weather I've been longing for, coupled with longer daylight hours has led to my taking every opportunity to be outdoors. The upside to that from a productivity standpoint is that I derive most of my inspiration from nature.

Long walks with the dogs in the woods by the river are a treasured ritual in my life, and ideas are percolated in this glorious environment without interruption. In fact, I'm pretty much convinced that hunter green will be the color for the packaging in my jewelry collection - after all, branding is part of the process.

Speaking of jewelry ( how's that for a segue ? ) In April I signed up for an incredible class with an amazing lady of Swedish origin who is a certified crystal healer. We gathered on the weekend to create crystal mandalas, and let me tell you the releases that happened during that session were incredibly powerful.

In addition to creating our own healing mandalas from a choice of gemstones that were to die for, we were taught to make talismans from quartz crystals using a technique Margherita referred to as the birdcage wrap. My version is below:

Not only did we drop our baggage and recharge our heart centers, but I learned a lovely wire wrap technique that I can apply to a multitude of stones gifted to me over the years that don't have any drilled holes. I can now create potent pendants for my loved ones.

Doesn't get better than that. For more information regarding Margherita's work you can find her blog at http://crystaldakini.com/

Venice, Leather, and Mardi Gras

2011-03-08T21:10:00.004-05:00

In 1986 I had the privilege of experiencing Mardi Gras in a way only the Venetians can celebrate it, and I have never forgotten the spectacle of swirling brocaded costumes, and intricate masks handcrafted in fine leather.

This year, my own attempt to rekindle that majestic event was sparked through a wondrous class offered by Adam Smith at SITE3.CA. We were offered the opportunity to sculpt leather by dampening it with water. Adam deftly demonstrated this age old technique for us, and by the end of the session I had three masks completed.

Utter bliss being able to bring Venice back into my living room on a blustery March afternoon. Bring on the pancakes!

The Glory of Graphite

2011-01-27T20:57:00.004-05:00

GRAPHITE STUDY OF BUST OF ARIADNE

Most people associate pencils with grade school math: a tool that miraculously erased any errors in calculation with a swipe of the rubber tip. For me, being the daughter of a technical illustrator, pencils were as plentiful as Kleenex. But I didn't calculate with them; I drew portraits.

In recent times, my serious pursuit of portraiture mastery led me to discover just how much calculating is involved in the accurate capture of any three dimensional object on paper!

These current studies have been guided primarily by internationally recognized instructors at the Academy of Realist Art in the Junction area of West Toronto.

The above image is the first in a series of four compulsory Bargue drawings in the first year program. I chose Ariadne, as she was a woman who, according to Greek mythology, assisted the hero Theseus in killing her half-brother the Minotaur, and escaping the labyrinth, only to be abandoned and then married off to Dionysus. I thought it only fair that this amazing figure be given the attention she so richly deserved for her selfless sacrifice.

Understanding the play of light and dark on the form and understanding the same on a deeper level in this woman's story was profound to say the least.

For the Love of Furlings

2011-01-01T14:29:00.007-05:00

I've often had conversations with people who don"t have animal companions in their homes that have presented the argument, that a holiday gift for a pet is a frivolous extravagance. I beg to differ. Having had pets all my life, I can safely say that I can't imagine existence without them. So profoundly has their presence enhanced every moment, that the least I could do is acknowledge this on days when our society celebrates giving and gratitude for gifts of love and sharing.

As far as I'm concerned unconditional love offered on a daily basis without expectation is something we could learn.

SOURCE: http://www.whitehousedesigns.com/images/Igloo/igloofnt.jpg

I bought molasses treats for my horse, a waterproof coat and "igloo" bed from whitehousedesigns.com for Daisy , my Jack Russell Terrier, and clean teeth for my Australian Shepherd, Carmel : A small gesture for what has been given to me by them in return.

Tough Times and Precious Metal

2010-11-15T07:25:00.003-05:00

Silver Coin Pendant

A multiplicity of medical challenges amongst my family members precluded any blog entries for the last two months but I'm happy to say that a clean bill of health has been achieved across the board, and I am once again free to share the joy of my creative exploits.

In actual fact I must admit that working with my hands has been a way to preserve my sanity in any stressful situation, particularly when I feel helpless and can only bear witness to another's suffering. Making beautiful things for others always functions as a salve for me and the recipient in many cases.

As we approach the "gift giving" season here in North America and I frantically prep for three Christmas shows in the next four weeks I can't help but reflect on the past two months and how much health should be a factor in one's daily priorities. My solution to that was getting chiropractic advice on stretches that counteract my hunching over a table doing beadwork or sketching, and attending regular sessions of hot yoga - soooo marvelous for the joints, skin and tense muscles.

There's no doubt in my mind that many people are anxious about the economic stability here as the jobs continue to be outsourced and manufacturing is completely Asia bound on all fronts. People are spending less on personal items as the price of gas soars and the cost of groceries doubles. We here in Canada are being taxed out of existence yet our government sees fit to spend $38,000,000 of those tax dollars on a fake lake during the G20 summit.

I wondered, as an artist and concerned citizen - what do we do about the current situation? Many times the average working person assumes that they can't be the vector of any lasting change as one voice is never going to be heard, but the internet and astute awareness of events shaping can bring people together at light speed these days.

While I pondered global economics, the state of the union, and what I was going to cook for dinner, a gentleman of Greek ancestry stepped into the store I work, and gently handed me a huge pure silver coin minted with a lion and pyramid on one face and a scarab beetle on the other. He asked if I could create a pendant so he could wear this gift from a friend around his neck. I happily agreed and the end result is in the photo above.

I work with precious metals constantly, and it occurred to me that this is one way to hedge your bets when the money game takes a nose dive. Granted, this is no big revelation among the savvy investors who stockpile gold and silver when they smell the market tipping downward. Nevertheless, it's something to keep in mind when buying presents for your loved ones. Thanks Demetri for that "aha" moment, and the link to the place that creates these beautiful coins:

http://goldenlionmint.com/GL/product.php

I wish everyone health, happiness, and prosperity in the new year.

Less is More

2010-09-10T14:59:00.004-04:00

On viewing the probable appearance of ancient statues in full technicolor, I prefer the bleached look.

SOURCE: http://io9.com/5616498/ultraviolet-light-reveals-how-ancient-greek-statues-really-looked?skyline=true&s=i

Original Greek statues were brightly painted, but after thousands of years, those paints have worn away. Find out how shining a light on the statues can be all that's required to see them as they were thousands of years ago.

Although it seems impossible to think that anything could be left to discover after thousands of years of wind, sun, sand, and art students, finding the long lost patterns on a piece of ancient Greek sculpture can be as easy as shining a lamp on it. A technique called ‘raking light' has been used to analyze art for a long time. A lamp is positioned carefully enough that the path of the light is almost parallel to the surface of the object. When used on paintings, this makes brushstrokes, grit, and dust obvious. On statues, the effect is more subtle. Brush-strokes are impossible to see, but because different paints wear off at different rates, the stone is raised in some places – protected from erosion by its cap of paint – and lowered in others. Elaborate patterns become visible.

Infrared and X-ray spectroscopy can help researchers understand what the paints are made of, and how they looked all that time ago. Spectroscopy relies on the fact that atoms are picky when it comes to what kind of incoming energy they absorb. Certain materials will only accept certain wavelengths of light. Everything else they reflect. Spectroscopes send out a variety of wavelengths, like scouts into a foreign land. Inevitably, a few of these scouts do not come back. By noting which wavelengths are absorbed, scientists can determine what materials the substance is made of. Infrared helps determine organic compounds. X-rays, because of their higher energy level, don't stop for anything less than the heavier elements, like rocks and minerals. Together, researchers can determine approximately what color a millennia-old statue was painted.

Ultraviolet is also used to discern patterns. UV light makes many organic compounds fluoresce. Art dealers use UV lights to check if art has been touched up, since older paints have a lot of organic compounds and modern paints have relatively little. On ancient Greek statues, tiny fragments of pigment still left on the surface glow bright, illuminating more detailed patterns.

Once the pattern is mapped, there is still the problem of figuring out which paint colors to use. A series of dark blues will create a very different effect than gold and pink. Even if enough pigment is left over so that the naked eye can make out a color, a few thousand years can really change a statue's complexion. There's no reason to think that color seen today would be anything like the hues the statues were originally painted.

There is a way around this dilemma. The colors may fade over time, but the original materials – plant and animal-derived pigments, crushed stones or shells – still look the same today as they did thousands of years ago. This can also be discovered using light.

Feeling Like Royalty

2010-08-28T21:36:00.003-04:00

CHARLENE RAMSEY"S MAGIC.

They say: " A thing of beauty is a joy forever ". Perhaps that's why I am so passionate about creating affordable adornments that make the recipient feel as special as any celebrity or aristocrat.

Having worked close to twenty years in the film industry, I promised myself, when I had the time, I would make it my mission to create unique pieces of jewellery for honest, hard working people who were not driven by ambition or greed to seek the spotlight of notoriety.

That's why I'm currently employed part-time at a wonderful little shop in Woodbridge, just north of Toronto, called FABUCRAFT http://www.beadsfabucraft.com/home I feed my beading addiction here quite admirably, and the Swarovski prices are well worth the drive.

Apart from gaining access to supplies for my own projects at this lovely shop, I have had the privilege and pleasure of meeting incredibly gifted artisans who are as motivated and obsessed as I am about producing quality handmade items that transform the wearer into a radiant showstopper in their own right.

A perfect embodiment of high artistic standards is Charlene Ramsey. When this lady walks into a room, any diplomat would drop his champagne glass. Her movement and presence commands attention with the quiet grace and dignity of a starlet in the 1930's. That same magic is palpably present in all her jewellery. The photo above is a pair of earrings she generously gifted me with on our second meeting at the shop.

The minute I put them on, I felt like I was floating on air. Two little balls of pure sparkling fire lit up my face, and opened my heart in a way that could very well compete with winning the lottery.

Charlene and I had a long conversation about integrity, ethics, workmanship and refusing to compromise one's reputation by using cheap, poorly constructed materials to make a fast buck. I was inspired, and fortified in my conviction that I wasn't alone in this unwavering need to offer a piece of myself, created with my own hands, that could bring another human being a renewed sense of self-worth and joy in feeling as special as royalty.

Thank you Charlene.

Dancing Us Into the New Millenium

2010-08-08T09:52:00.003-04:00

NDN Girlz: High Heeled Tennis Shoes by Kiowa bead artist Teri Greeves

I read an outstanding article in the August "Bead and Button" magazine, written by Gussie Fauntleroy, featuring Native American bead artist Teri Greeves who's based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Here is a prime example of taking an ancient method of adornment and launching it into the new millenium without compromising the original technique.

Teri's mother sold native beadwork from artists who stopped into her trading post from all around the country. At the age of 8 Teri was taught to bead by an adopted Shoshone aunt and now at the age of forty with two young sons and an artist husband, she has really come into her own as a professional designer.

Having personally worked with native elders for many years on my own path, I can deeply appreciate and respect how effortlessly Teri has married ancient teachings with funky, hip design expressions. What a beautiful example of old and new working in harmony.

Teri's artwork is available at Shiprock Santa Fe; Santa Fe Indian Market; Freehand Gallery in L.A.; and at the Heard Museum shop in Phoenix.

You can email her at nahmoos@msn.com

Botanical Beauty

2010-08-01T23:06:00.005-04:00

Until this year, I never appreciated the true value of a garden. Last May my mother was hit by a car reversing out of a greengrocer's parking lot, and has been physically unable to tend to her indoor plants, let alone a vegetable garden.

The now cliched description of "having a green thumb", actually applies to my mother, and it was this quality that saved her eight siblings during the Second World War.

Now that everything is served on a plate after it's molecularly bombarded with microwaves, the generations that followed my mother's have nearly forgotten where food originates, but I'm happy to say that within my own circle, respect for the earth and plants that nourish us has been totally revived.

Though my mother's mobility has been severely compromised by the accident, she still takes joy in supervising my first attempt at urban gardening - as you can see from the above photos. It irks me that I have to pay the government a fee to grow my own food ( should be the other way around ). But I relish the time I spend watering the tomatoes and peppers, plucking the crabgrass from the beds, and I finally harvested my first salad which was consumed this weekend with much satisfaction.

There is quite a solidarity among the other "tenants" who have rented these municipal spots for years. Several of them have introduced themselves and offered tips like scoring coffee grounds from Starbucks and Tim Hortons and adding it to the soil to break down the clay content.

My fingernails are dirty, and my spirit is lit up by this return to a full appreciation of the life cycle of plants that sustain us all.

During my preliminary research into city gardens I happened upon an organization that bears praising: www.onevillagecare.com. This group has taken the initiative to teach troubled inner city youth an appreciation for these ancient techniques, and here are photos of a project near my home:

Aural Art

2010-06-22T12:34:00.003-04:00

I have a dear friend who is a professional opera singer, and every time I hear her sing my entire spine comes alive with the frequencies she emanates.

The magic and healing properties of sound are only now being given their due, and here is a great example of one artist's accoustical explorations :

SOURCE: http://www.resoundings.org/

Bill Fontana – Artist's Statement

I have worked for the past 30 years creating installations that use sound as a sculptural medium to interact with and transform our perceptions of visual and architectural settings. These have been installed in public spaces and museums around the world including San Francisco, New York, Paris, London, Berlin, Venice, Sydney and Tokyo.

My sound sculptures use the human and/or natural environment as a living source of musical information. I am assuming that at any given moment there will be something meaningful to hear and that music, in the sense of coherent sound patterns, is a process that is going on constantly. My methodology has been to create networks of simultaneous listening points that relay real time acoustic data to a common listening zone (sculpture site). Since 1976 I have called these works sound sculptures.

I have produced a large number of works that explore the idea of creating live listening networks. These all use a hybrid mix of transmission technologies that connect multiple sound retrieval points to a central reception point. What is significant in this process are the conceptual links determining the relationships between the selected listening points and the site-specific qualities of the reception point (sculpture site). Some conceptual strategies have been acoustic memory, the total transformation of the visible (retinal) by the invisible (sound), hearing as far as one can see, the relationship of the speed of sound to the speed of light, and the deconstruction of our perception of time.
From the late 90”s until the present my projects have explored hybrid listening technologies of acoustic microphones, underwater sensors (hydrophones) and structural/material sensors (accelerometers). I have also realized and am developing projects that access live seismic networks to explore the sound energy of ocean waves, traveling long distances underground.

Taking Recycling to a Whole New Level

2010-06-18T13:56:00.003-04:00

SOURCE: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/06/malibu-house-built-with-aircraft-wing-nears-takeoff/1

On a 55-acre property in the remote hills of Malibu, Calif., an old Boeing 747 is taking on a new life as the "Wing House."

Architect David Hertz came up with the idea after his client Francie Rehwald said she wanted a curved, feminine-shaped home for her lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He started sketching shapes and aircraft came to mind. "Why not use an airplane wing?" he recalls asking her. Rehwald, who co-owns a Mercedes car dealership and loves to recycle, didn't flinch.

That was about three years ago, and Hertz says the energy-efficient project -- chosen as "This Week's Green House" --- is now about six months from completion as builders finish interior work. "It speaks to repurposing and reuse," Hertz says of the commercial aircraft, which was mothballed along with hundreds of other old planes in the California desert.

Hertz, who founded Studio of Environmental Architecture, a Santa Monica-based firm, says Rehwald bought the entire Boeing 747-200 for $35,000. She then spent extra to deconstruct it into pieces and transport it to her property.

Because it was so huge -- more than 230 feet long, 195 feet wide and 63 feet tall, its parts have been spread over seven different structures. The plane's wings form the main residence while the cockpit has become the "Meditation Pavilion."

The first class cabin deck is now a guest house, and the lower half of the fuselage, which formed the cargo hold, serves as the roof of the "Animal Barn" intended to house endangered species.

The process wasn't easy. The remote location necessitated a lot of infrastructure work, including an access road. Due partly to the unique nature of the structure, Hertz says 17 government agencies had to sign off on permits, a process that took about 18 months.

He says they had to register the roof of the house with the Federal Aviation Administration so pilots flying overhead would not mistake it as a downed aircraft.

Hertz, who's been involved in green building since the late 1970s, incorporated sustainable features such as an 11 kilowatt solar array. The house also has a cistern for irrigation, plenty of daylighting, non-toxic materials and highly efficient equipment such as a ductless LG heat pump.

"We've created strategic openings to promote cross ventilation," says Hertz, who is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and an accredited professional with the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.

Mother's Day and Metal

2010-05-23T09:55:00.015-04:00

I am so blessed to have a family that treats me like Mother's Day is everyday. My musician son gifted me with a CD entitled " Set Yourself on Fire" by a Canadian band called Stars, which is a perfect present for someone who appreciates the fire within that sparks creative expression.

My own mother and hubby financed an intensive two week workshop in "Old Masters Oil Painting" : techniques which I have wanted to learn since I was eleven. I will post a special blog that shows the stages of the painting I chose to do by Lord Frederick Leighton.

Meantime, I have been taking a weekly evening class in metal and glass work taught by artist Tosca Hidalgo y Teran
Martha and Tosca ( on right)
in her Nanopodstudio, http://www.nanopod.tv/ Her forms of expression are incredibly unique and organic. My fellow students are from all over the globe including Portugal and Finland.

Claudia Faleiro from Portugal

Laura Pulsea from Finland.

Laura's dragonfly created by carving a mold out of cuttlefish bone and pouring molten silver into the mold, as you can see in this video:

Which came first?

2010-04-05T20:38:00.002-04:00

SOURCE: http://www.titanbeads.com/newsletter/newsletter.cfm?newsID=B99B4FC0-5056-897C-B7BC-57D18E2DA1AC#story_15184F2F-5056-897C-B7C5-8191E4ECE56F

Oldest Sculpture in the World Discovered...

...and it is of a very well-endowed woman figurine. who would have guessed?

It is a 35,000 year old carving of a mammoth tusk, found in the Hohle Fels caves in south-west Germany, shaped in what is believed to be a symbol of fertility. The 'Venus' was originally found in several pieces that were then pieced together.

Radiocarbon dating was used to determine its age, which predates earlier finds by over 5,000 years, making it the first from this period depicting a human form. The sculpture actually has a small loop carved into the top, which would allow it to have been worn like a pendant and is roughly 6 centimetres in length.

Artistic ability in early humans is generally considered to be critical evidence of abstract thought, believed to have been a primary contributor to the development of language. Other examples of early jewelry have also been recovered from the caves, including ivory beads, pendants and perforated bird-wing and mammoth ivory flutes (making them the world's oldest musical instruments).

New Life

2010-04-03T17:49:00.004-04:00

This is the time of year when you can feel the life force in the ground about to break through and seek out the sunlight. We have been so fortunate here in Toronto as compared to many other places in the world devastated by snowstorms, earthquakes, and flooding.

During this holiday weekend I have paid particular attention to expressing gratitude for all that I have been blessed with that one often takes for granted: health, family, home, food , warmth.

Art hasn't taken a backseat either, and here are some amazing examples of delicate carvings of eggshells - patience, oh yeah!

Happy Holidays and bright blessings to one and all.

International Women's Day

2010-03-11T19:08:00.004-05:00

The world celebrated women on Monday March 8th but as far as I'm concerned, every day is Women's Day. As women are generally more tuned to the lunar cycles, I thought I'd feature a pattern I'm working on in peyote odd-count which is called "Moonswept".

This design was created by fellow Torontonian Ronit Florence and can be found at the Bead and Button website : http://www.beadandbutton.com/bnb/default.aspx?c=a&id=4233

I decided to embrace this project on Women's Day, because it incorporates the two things I love most in this world, apart from my immediate family: working with my hands and horses.

I'll post my finished version shortly. Will be making a few more for other equine lovers who may be attending the WychCraft Fair this spring.Stay tuned!

Art as a form of Healing

2010-02-14T14:12:00.004-05:00

When celebrating dearly loved ones birthdays and special events throughout the year, I inevitably go to this site for the spirit ecards http://www.omplace.com, as the artists have submitted exquisite images that are transformed into heartfelt greetings you can tailor as you see fit.

I don't know if or how these artists are compensated for the use of their work since these artists should be supported. Case in point: Here's the bio of one contributor whose work is available as Spektyr, http://www.spektyr.com:

I'm a 50 year old homeless disabled recovering alcoholic male with over three years continuous sobriety. Early in 2003, after a 22 year career as a telecommunications and computer technician, I became unemployed due to downsizing. This loss combined with the lingering trauma from the attacks of 9/11/2001, during which I was at my job just 4 blocks away from the south tower, I essentially gave up on life and crawled the rest of the way into the bottle I'd been regularly using as a refuge from a generally unsatisfying life.

It wasn't until the the end of 2004, when I became sure I was going to become homeless, that I chose the path of hope and reached out for help. With the help of Project Hospitality here in Staten Island, NY, I never had to spend a day on the street. Their Recovery Program literally saved my life and helped me build the necessary skills to avoid relapse. My councilor, Mr. Michael Squeglia, went the extra mile to encourage and support me in my struggle to escape the abyss of alcoholism. I literally owe him my life.

It's been a long and sometimes difficult three years since I entered recovery, during which I started to explore my creativity as a self administered form of therapy. Now Ive grown to love my art and its one of the things I live for. I can no longer work due to severe spinal and arthritic problems so I'm in the process of obtaining my Social Security Disability benefits, which is proving to be quite a battle. My physical disabilities often make it difficult for me to sit at my computers to create new images but it is a labor of love for me and I do all I can to endure the discomforts.

I prefer to share my work freely rather than ruin the joy I get from it by asking for payment. At this point in my life all I want is a home of my own and better equipment/software to help me further evolve my creativity. Even though any possible income I can gain from my creative pursuits would be of great help I do not desire fame and fortune. I just want to create beauty and share it with as many people as I can. I hope you enjoy what you see here as much as I enjoyed creating it. I add new images as often as I can so come back once in a while to view my new work. Thank you again for visiting. ;-)

Sincerely,

William \"Spektyr\" Laskorski

Countdown 2012

2010-02-06T14:03:00.005-05:00

It has been such a blessing having the privilege of working with a Mayan shaman elder for the past year, as he has certainly taken the apocalypse out of the mayan calendar hype that media and entertainment imply could mean the "End of Days".

I prefer to embrace Tata Victor's teachings, and choose to dedicate as much of my time between now and Dec 21, 2012 being in joyful anticipation of good things to come.

New beginnings are always preceded by the collapse of things as we know them, and given the current level of suffering and inequality on this planet I say the change can't happen fast enough.

In honor of this transition into what Tata Victor refers to as the time of the "Honey People", I have been working on a gift for him that involves creating a feather keeper for his condor and eagle feathers used in ceremony.

This involves beadwork on a loom, and I drew a pattern the old-fashioned way with colored pencils on grid paper. Choice of color had to do with the combination of three hues associated with the three nagual glyphs associated with Tata Victor's birthday.

Each of us has three glyphs determined by a calculation that Tata Victor has the skills to calculate and interpret for clients. The three glyphs correspond to the energies associated with one's day of conception, actual birthday, and your destiny/purpose, which is the equivalent time forward.

Here's the work in progress:

Best Bang for a Buck

2010-01-11T22:53:00.004-05:00

Artist Lives in Garbage Truck.

Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object using geometric folds and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the paper, and using only one piece of paper.

Won Park is the master of Origami. He is also called the "money folder", a practitioner of origami whose canvas is the United States One Dollar Bill.

Bending, twisting, and folding, he creates life-like shapes in stunning detail.

Bridging the Gap

2010-01-08T09:14:00.004-05:00

Beading is on of those rare activities that transcends culture, race, gender, age and creates a sense of community and well-being that political leaders could take a lesson from in their diplomatic relations.

As those who work with their hands know, giving is not something you frantically try to accomplish once a year before Dec. 25th. I wanted to draw attention to an organization that is working year round to improve conditions for craftspeople in Uganda.

Here's the link and a brief summary of their mandate:

BeadforLife eradicates extreme poverty by creating bridges of understanding between impoverished Africans and concerned world citizens. Ugandan women turn colorful recycled paper into beautiful beads, and people who care open their hearts,homes and communities to buy and sell the beads.
The beads thus become income, food, medicine, school fees and hope. It is a small miracle that enriches us all.

http://www.beadforlife.org/indexb.html

More than was accomplished in Copenhagen this past December. Leave it to the "common" people to do the outstanding work of value. You too can assist the cause.

Celebrations, Resolutions, Donations - ushering in 2010

2010-01-04T17:21:00.007-05:00

My greatest gift this year was the return of my husband after his six month "tour of duty" in Newfoundland, working on a soon to air homegrown TV series called Republic of Doyle.

Needless to say I occupied my time over the summer and fall months by creating jewelery and knitting cuddly covers for family members. Here are a couple of necklaces I've made for dear friends:

The beauty of knitters is that they embody the spirit of giving all year round. While nursing my elderly mother past the physical and emotional trials of being hit by a car this summer, I had ample time to spin fiber at her bedside and the lovely and talented C J Kopec just sent me the outstanding roving below as part of her spinalong, that happens to be a palette that incorporates my mother's favorite colors.

C J put a request out in her blog to help a dear friend with her battle against ovarian cancer by casting on one of her sock patterns. I'm in!

Here's the information:

Lisa will be starting her treatments on the 29th of December and as a show of support I ask that you take the time to cast on one of her sock patterns that day. When I spoke to Lisa about doing this she suggested her favorites: Sedona and Manhattan. If you would like to cast one of these on and do not have the pattern already you can purchase them through her blog A Little Bit of Knit or they are also available on Ravelry from her designs page.

I will be posting a thread on my Ravelry group to post pics and just share some words of support and appreciation for the "Cast On for Yen". If you are not a Ravelry member you can post here. I'm sure she'll stop in and read posts. She has also posted a blog about her recent situation so you could probably post there also.

Ode to Merino

2009-12-12T19:01:00.002-05:00

It's always wonderful to have someone who isn't a knitter expound the virtues of fiber. Here's a great example:

SOURCE: http://matadorgoods.com/i-love-merino-wool-smartwool-baselayers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MatadorNetwork+%28Matador+Network%29&utm_content=Twitter

Mother Nature’s favorite fiber: Merino wool.

Wool is an amazing product. It insulates when wet, wicks moisture away from the skin, and naturally prevents odor from building up in the fibers.

photo: Smartwool

I recently got my hands on the Smartwool NTS Midweight Crew made from 100% Merino wool, and took it out on a day hike up to Mt. Tamalpais, just north of San Francisco this past holiday weekend. The wind was steadily blowing and chilling the air up a bit.

On the 10 mile loop up to Mt. Tamalpais, I began to see the wonderful properties of merino wool. It is soft right out of the box and is ready to stand up to your adventures.

One of the most important aspects of wool is its ability to manage body temperature. It kept the moisture off my back from the heat of my backpack and kept my upper body warm from gusting wind. Even though it was wet from the sweaty hike, it allowed me to hike comfortably even when the wind was blowing.

I wore my Smartwool NTS Midweight for five days straight, finally taking it off after the hike. It stayed odor free and dried quickly from my morning bike rides around the city.

Best of all, none of my friends knew I was wearing the same shirt five days in a row.

Tip: Don’t forget about your feet: Try a pair of the 4-degree fit Smartwool PhD Socks with wool-on-wool technology to reduce abrasion and shock.

Your feet will thank you.

Cost: $75 | Where to buy: Smartwool

Joy To the World

2009-12-06T19:36:00.005-05:00

Markham Village Train Station c 1900

I was so pumped to participate in my first Xmas fair hosted by the Volpe family at the beautiful historical Markham Train Station.

We were blessed with exquisite weather, a beautiful location, and very friendly customers. This was the first Craft Fair organized at this site but it certainly won't be the last.

I sold two thirds of the items I had on display, which surprised and inspired me.

The amazing artist, who had a display beside mine, gave me the "Three Times Rule", namely:

1. Don't have high expectations for your first show in terms of sales. It's a get to know potential customers event.

2. Word of mouth and reconnection brings back the people who were only looking previously, and may have only taken your card. This time they recognize you and talk further.

3. People will come specifically to see you and bring others.

Looks like the stars were in my favour for a first-timer. Keeping my hands busy to create even more for the next opportunity.

From Battlefield to Adornments

2009-11-27T10:29:00.002-05:00

Marilyn Gardiner is my new best friend!

She began with beadwork designs and has found her niche creating extraordinary pieces of jewellery with jump rings, which originally was done to create armor.

I took a class with Marilyn during the Fall Bead Show here in Toronto, the result of which is the above bracelet. This is my first chanmaille bracelet so I worked in copper, which is less delicate and easier to manipulate when your dexterity is impeded by nerves with learning a new method. Next class I take in December will be with argentium and I can't wait to incorporate the lampwork beads I've created.

Here's Marilyn's website. You can be sure I'm on her newsletter email list.

http://www.marilyngardiner.com/index.html

Under the Sea and into the Flame

2009-10-30T11:14:00.008-04:00

I sooo enjoyed taking flame working classes with incredible glass artists Nadia Tasci and Izik Levy,this summer, that I have purchased my own torch, and am in the process of setting up some space to create pieces like those below.

Organic, fluid forms seems to be very achievable with glass when subjected to controlled heat, and marine life is a theme I'd like to pursue further. The seahorse is my first attempt to capture the feeling of fire and water combined.I'm hoping to incorporate this into my fiber work in some way - stay tuned :) TAMURILE

Ephemeral Art

2009-10-22T17:49:00.005-04:00

oftentimes we create beautiful things for posterity's sake so that when we're long gone there is a remnant of our presence on this beautiful planet. Many Eastern philosophies emphasize the transient nature of our existence. Here 's a perfect example of creative expression that is incredible but short-lived.
Stunning sand sculpting in this year's Oregon competition.

Pay it Forward

2009-10-14T11:27:00.003-04:00

We just celebrated Thanksgiving Day here in Canada and I am drawing attention to all knitters and crafters out there who know how quickly winter comes to spread some of that gratitude for what we have to those less fortunate through the work of Streetknit. Here's the announcement from Ryan's blog:

Streetknit launches, once more, its drive for winter knit goods: rousing the knitting communities of Toronto, hobbyists, s n' bs, society yarn-darlings, needle-clackers of all ages to put needles together and knit some warmth into a scarf, maybe some toques with affectionate or somber colours, mitts, blankets, socks, a sweater then see it reach those without home.

While these goods can be dropped off any time at Streetknit Drop-Off Points at any of your better knitting merchants (see below for full list), this year we will be constructing An Enchanted Forest of Knit Goods at City of Craft's Christmas show. Now expanded into two-days in the heart of West Queen West, City of Craft 2009 is an innovative event that shines a spotlight on Toronto’s vibrant craft community. Come support small innovative businesses and celebrate the handmade spirit on December 12 and 13 at the Theatre Centre. For more information on City of Craft 2009, please visit their website at:
http://cityofcraft.com/

Want to coordinate your own winter knits office drive, community club, university group or individual efforts to correspond with an unveiling of Streetknit's Enchanted Forest?

* We need your generous knits to decorate our sad, barren trees, our unhappy little brook,our disenchanted forest house. Just start your knitting projects now and drop them off the day of City of Craft at our enchanted forest location.
* We can also help publicize and laud your efforts and give you your deserved share of knitting celeb: just send a few pics and a word about your group to Ryan at the.social.debt@gmail.com and we can report your story on our sites, giving inspiration to the other forest creatures who shall refurbish our terrible, frightful wasteland with warmth, comfort and goodness.

* Want to volunteer to help enchant the forest? please reach Ryan at:
the.social.debt@gmail.com.

Look at these Melons!

2009-09-29T21:13:00.007-04:00

Amazing where you can find art at its finest.

Too beautiful to consume.

Whalesong

2009-09-13T11:20:00.003-04:00

As the juvenile humpback whale bid it's farewell to us on our whale watching boat tour, a month later I was inspired ( as have been many native Newfoundland artists ) to create the whale tail salute in various media.

I'm opting for flame worked glass pendants to start - which will take some practice on my part. In the meantime I bought labradorite to make earrings and a pendant.

Here are the raw materials and brief video footage of our boat cruise participants all gasping at the whale's retreat.

Coronation Street meets fiber

2009-09-02T11:14:00.002-04:00

I take my hat off to this incredibly creative artist who obviously has a very wry sense of humour when it comes to designing caps. See for yourself:

SOURCE: http://www.knittingastor.com/free-desperate-housefrau.htm

Here's the link for the free download on knitty.com

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATThousefrau.html

Calling All Art Patrons

2009-08-20T18:36:00.002-04:00

Festival Weavers Wanted!

The theme of the 2009 Junction Arts Festival in Toronto on Sept 9 - 13th, is ‘Weaving Mosaics’ and we are looking for a creative and dedicated team of volunteers to help bring together all the magical elements of this year’s event into one seamless art extravaganza. Each volunteer brings a special gift to weave into the fabric of the festival and be sure your piece will be seen and heard by all that come to experience the excitement and magic of the street. It is our aim to make these experiences as enjoyable, memorable, and fulfilling as possible, and we cannot do this without the help of our brilliant volunteers.

We are also looking for charismatic members to lead and usher our exciting “green team” as part of this year's Green Village at the festival. Join us as we answer the call and endeavor to make this a greener and more environmentally friendly festival than any we’ve had before.

Coveted Festival Weaver positions available:

•Reception and Opening Night Gala Hosts!
•Kid zone Handlers!
•Gallery Guides!
•Green Team!
•Know-it-all Info Staff and Access Gatekeepers!
•Technical Support (Roadies)!

Skill Requirements:

-Enjoys creating excitement and fun for self and others
-Would like to smile, laugh and play all day
-Mosaic weaving experience not required, will train
-Dynamic and dedicated
-Passionate about Art and Culture
-Available for at least a five hour shift (hopefully more!) between Sept 9-13
-Be at one of our happening orientation sessions: To be announced (tentative Thursday August 27th, or Monday August 31st at 7pm)

Register by email at volunteer@junctionartsfest.com or phone us at 416-767-5036 and let us know if you would like to be involved in this great community event. If you have services or expertise that fit outside of our listed needs please contact us.

Additional Information:

We invite you to come and be part of this visually stimulating, environmentally friendly, street festival. This year’s festivities starts September 9th with an opening night gala, Junction City Square movie night on the Thursday, Live music starting Friday night featuring Toronto’s own green band, Mr. Something-Something, headlined by Justin Rutledge on Saturday, and full street closure featuring our sensational street performers on Saturday and Sunday September 12th to the 13th.

Here's the website: http://www.junctionartsfest.com/new2009test/index.php

St. John's, Nfld : The Jewel of the Atlantic

2009-08-05T15:54:00.010-04:00

http://www.wooltrends.ca

This summer my husband took on a five month contract to work on a Canadian TV Series called "The Republic of Doyle", shooting in St. John's, Newfoundland. When the opportunity to visit him this week was offered, I jumped on the plane and escaped the stench of piled up garbage finally being collected this past long weekend, after tons of it lay in the sun for over a month during the strike here in Toronto.

Of course I checked online to find the wool shops in St. John's, and discovered a treasure called Wool Trends established by the beautiful and talented Hazel Abbott.

For those of you who are fiber elitists, and assume that only an urban metropolis could afford to stock high end blends - guess again! I found a large selection of top of the line alpaca, angora, merino, silk and bamboo in Hazel's store, as well as the hardy wools that any local knitter would value in a climate that catches winter winds from the Atlantic full in the face.
The inhabitants of this capital city ( the oldest in Canada ) are resilient, fiercely proud, resourceful, and the most hospitable, warm and wonderful folk you could ever have the joy of visiting. Their craftspeople have embraced this rugged landscape and celebrated it in their songs, folktales, and knitting - recurring motifs are whale tales and puffins. I bought a mitten pattern with a moose and puffin motif for the winter of 2010.

If you prefer to explore the handiwork of the locals there are two stores downtown who specialize in offering arts and crafts from domestic artists. Although I was a CFA ( come from away ) at no time was I made to feel like an outsider by these generous people and one week wasn't nearly enough time to explore the majesty that is St. John's.

Origami City

2009-07-13T17:56:00.005-04:00

How can one not be amazed by the intricate workmanship and incredible patience one would need to accomplish this miniature masterpiece?

SOURCE: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/5795356/Origami-city-model-crafted-entirely-from-paper.html

An origami artist from Japan, Wataru Ito, has spent four years crafting an incredible model city from paper - but now plans to burn it down. The entire piece - which measures 2.4m by 1.8m and is 1m high - has been crafted using only paper, which Wataru stuck together using craft glue, an art knife and holepuncher.

After failing a university entrance exam three times he focused on this project, which became so large he had to sleep under a table in his tiny flat.

I can't believe he is going to set fire to it after the exhibition !

Windpower and fiber

2009-07-05T22:26:00.005-04:00

My husband is a fan of all gadgetry even those that relate to the knitting world and he found this incredible link to a device created in the Netherlands that harnesses the wind to do your knitting.

I personally prefer the hands on approach, but this is well worth considering when your wrists get sore :)

SOURCE: http://www.merelkarhof.nl/merel%20karhof/Blog%20merelkarhof/234C1792-CA2E-44F5-9A49-0B9669A9E4DD.html

SHOW RCA Wind Knitting Factory

With the power of the wind, a knitting machine knits from the outside towards the inside of the building. The knitted material is harvested from time to time and rounded-off in individually packaged scarves. Each scarf has its own label which tells you in how much time it has been knitted and on which date.

Bottles of Hope

2009-06-28T16:40:00.004-04:00

I am expanding my toolbox to include polymer clay beads and there is a Guild of artisans that meets every third Sunday : http://sopcg.blogspot.com/

What impressed me most about this gathering was their community minded approach. Particularly noteworthy are the beautiful bottles of hope created by this group in February.

Here's how the whole idea originated:

SOURCE: http://bottlesofhope.org/

Clay Artists' Outreach to Cancer Patients

The Bottles of Hope project was started in 1999 by a very special person, Diane Gregoire, a cancer survivor and polymer clay artist. Diane found a way to use her special talents as an artist to cheer up the lives of cancer patients going through the ordeal of chemotherapy. She used clay to decoratively cover small glass medicine bottles and gave them to other patients as a symbol of hope. Polymer clay, which is sold under the brand names of Sculpey®, FIMO® and PREMO®, is a colorful and versatile man-made clay that can be sculpted, textured, stamped and combined in a multitude of ways to produce unique designs in pieces of art.

In her own words, this is how Diane conceived of the project

Diane Gregoire

I was actually getting a chemo treatment at the Woman and Infant's Breast Health Center and playing with my clay. On the days of getting TAXOL I was there for 6 to 7 hours every week, and I noticed that the nurses threw away tons of small, glass medication bottles. After making sure they were non-toxic, I took some home, covered them with clay and made tops for them. When I brought them back in for the nurses, they LOVED them and so did some of the patients who saw me making them. They seemed fascinated with the clay and the colors, and for a while, they made people forget where they were. I started giving them away to the friends I had made at the center and called them "Wish Bottles".

I told my friends to just make a wish, write it down and put it in the bottle, and it would come true. I don't know why, but we all just believed this... maybe because we just wanted to, or that it was something to hold on to. But they LOVED these little bottles. They brought together - for one moment - women sharing pain without having to speak about it. Now all the staff has them and they are all over! I bring them down and put them on the window sill, and when the patients ask, the nurses tell them about me and the meaning of the bottles, which now have grown into "Bottles of Hope"! Since then, Diane has run workshops at the hospital where the patients cover bottles with polymer clay to make their own Bottles of Hope.

Beadaholic

2009-06-11T23:08:00.008-04:00

Over the past three weeks I have embarked on what is rapidly becoming as much of an obsession as my ongoing lifelong fiber adventures.

When you have the opportunity to be in the presence of a rare individual who has the double gift of being a creative artist and extraordinary teacher, you can't help but produce remarkable results, even in your first efforts exploring a new mode of expression.

I had the joy of working under the tutelage of glass artist Nadia Tasci in an introductory flameworking session offered by the lovely and talented Susan Nagy, designer and owner of "La Perlerie" http://www.laperlerie.ca/home.htm

Here's a sampling of the creativity I reveled in during the classes:

Some of my offerings

You can see Nadia's work at her website: http://www.tascidesigns.com/

Here's my felt flirt

2009-05-28T21:06:00.005-04:00

Loved the felting session on Wednesday hosted by Mary Breen of Wise Daughters with fiber artist Wendo VanEssen leading the workshop.

For more creative fun here are their websites:

http://wisedaughters.com/

http://www.fibreartbywendo.com/test_links.html

Here's my creation who told me her name is Giselle. Voluptueuse n'est ce pas?

In the Works

2009-05-18T22:01:00.001-04:00

I've signed up for a workshop on May 27th to create a felt flirt at wisedaughters.com. Can't wait!

Druid Jewelry

2009-05-18T21:56:00.003-04:00

Best way to celebrate Bealtaine, apart from bonfires and frolicking in the woods amongst pagan practitioners among us, is to create ceramic tryptic pendants. I had a lot of fun with potter and ceramic artist Vera Romoda and brought in the Spring with a handmade neckpiece.

Knitter's Frolic '09 Toronto

2009-05-13T01:12:00.012-04:00

The Downtown Knit Collective hosted their annual spring gathering on the weekend of April 25th and 26th at the beautiful Japanese Canadian Cultural Center.

My only regret was that I couldn't take all the workshops offered as I still haven't fully mastered the technique of bilocating.

I signed up for Debbie New's Ouroboros Knitting class and discovered how you can incorporate the concept of infinity into your fiber art and after making that quantum leap I let my brain settle into the zen of spindling with Lorraine Smith of Spinners' Quarterly.

The eye candy was incredible and although it turned out to be a rather blustery day outside we were cranking up the heat with the excitement of seeing so much fiber goodness in one space.
Here's a little video to whet your appetite and if I could have licked the skein samples I would have.

A shout out goes to the lovely and talented Katherine Matthews who pioneered the DKC and has had her incredible beaded cuff designs accepted in the next Knitty Issue so be on the look out for her "Chandni Beaded Cuff" pattern which is a tribute to Farah Khan's film , Main Hoon Na ( I'm Here Now ) - you certainly have arrived Katherine !

Should you want to connect with Katherine via email you can contact her at info@purldiving.com
If this wasn't enough excitement the Creative Festival was happening the same weekend at the International Center on Airport Road and this encompassed all manner of handicrafts.

I was particularly impressed with the incredible quilting art of Lenore Crawford, from a distance you would never believe this wasn't paint on canvas instead of carefully placed layers of fabric meticulously sewn to bring an image to life.

See for yourself:

Loving your feet

2009-05-04T09:44:00.005-04:00

I have been feverishly taking advantage of all the classes offered in Toronto by the Downtown Knit Collective http://www.downtownknitcollective.ca/index.html and had an amazing time at the Annual Knitter's Frolic held at the JCCC two weekends ago. There will be a slide show and mini videos to give you a taste of that incredible event in the next posting.

I wanted to make mention that in this flurry of activity I finally succumbed to the need to acknowledge that our feet need TLC too and what better way to express that we care about our loved ones than by creating custom-made socks.

Confession: I remember watching my mother darning socks when I was knee high to a grasshopper, and it always struck me as tedious, labor intensive drudgery, but in these economic times when we will start revisiting the notion of reusing instead of disposing it seemed a moral obligation to explore sock knitting and I readily admit with the incredible books and patterns out there that this is going to blossom into an incurable addiction. Can't wait to try knitting two socks at once on circulars, but for now I eased myself into the groove by commencing a pair for my son on DPN using a classic pattern taught to me by the lovely and talented Gloria Williams of Village Yarns.

Here are the books I've just added to my library:

Fleece Fairies offer Harvest

2009-04-19T19:34:00.002-04:00

While walking the dogs this morning in the woods I came upon a trail of fleece scattered throughout the forest floor. I took one of the plastic bags I had on hand for the poop scooping and harvested the magical fiber. Felt like Jason and the Argonauts, only this fleece needs some cleaning before it can be considered golden.

I was wondering what to spin with my Australian Shepherd, Carmel's undercoat sheddings and now I have the answer. Amazing!

Textile Museum of Canada

2009-04-16T19:41:00.005-04:00

Took in the Judy Chicago Exhibit: When Women Rule the World at the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto. Extraordinary workmanship by five artists highlighted.

SOURCE: http://www.textilemuseum.ca/apps/index.cfm?page=exhibition.detail&exhId=280

Exhibition Overview

Living legend of feminist art, Judy Chicago’s place on the landscape of contemporary textile practice is a significant one. Best known for her groundbreaking sculptural installation, The Dinner Party (1974-1979), Chicago has spent decades exploring the possibilities of “thread as brushstroke.” This exhibition surveys some of Chicago’s most important contributions in cloth, highlighting both key and lesser-known works dating from 1971 to present. From macramé to needle point to airbrushed quilts, Chicago employs “technique as content” in her major projects selected for this survey exhibition including the Birth Project (1980-1985), the Holocaust Project (1993) and Resolutions: A Stitch in Time (1994 to present). This exhibition centralizes the labour-intensive nature of Chicago’s textile work as a metaphor for investing in the ideas, values, histories and provocations in her artwork.

More Egg magic

2009-04-12T22:20:00.003-04:00

Stone egg carved and painted.

My own version done with wax and stylus, inspired by Neolithic art.

Egg Mastery

2009-04-11T22:10:00.003-04:00

SOURCE: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/04/0414_060414_easter.html

Move over, Fabergé. Modern master Franc Grom creates and sells eggs that may outshine the 19th-century Russian jeweler's Easter bling.

Shown at work on Wednesday in Vrhnika, Slovenia (map), Grom uses an electric boring tool to drill approximately 2,500 to 3,500 holes in an eggshell. Inspired by traditional Slovenian designs, he has been known to pierce a shell as many as 17,000 times.

Easter eggs were reportedly first decorated in the 13th century. Christian authorities long ago forbade the eating of eggs during the days before the holiday. Eggs laid then took on special significance and came to represent the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as told in the Bible.

—Ted Chamberlain

Baa-studs sheep art

2009-03-31T00:33:00.001-04:00

no sheep were hurt in the making of this art

The Beauty of Glass

2009-03-26T03:01:00.003-04:00

Another contribution from my cousin, Branka Harris which i have placed on display in my home. She created this crane plate for us and my aunt is the proud owner of a polar bear plate created in the same fashion.

On a much smaller scale I tried my hand at fused glass and designed a talisman for my dear friend Tata Victor, a Mayan Daykeeper from Chile. It is called : Fire and Ice.

And Now for Something Completely Different

2009-03-17T16:26:00.004-04:00

Looking for some privacy?

Try knitting this compubody sock by Becky Stern:

Source: http://sternlab.org/index.php?project=BodyTechnologyInterfaces

What you'll need:
-a laptop computer, pda, or other electronic device
-yarn (I used about 10 skeins for this)
-knitting needles (straight, double-pointed, and circular)
-stitch markers
-stitch holders
-yarn needle
-scissors
-a sense of humor

Crafting Can DELAY memory Loss

2009-03-12T10:53:00.002-04:00

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7896441.stm

Engaging in a hobby like reading a book, making a patchwork quilt or even playing computer games can delay the onset of dementia, a US study suggests.
Watching TV however does not count - and indeed spending significant periods of time in front of the box may speed up memory loss, researchers found. Nearly 200 people aged 70 to 89 with mild memory problems were compared with a group who had no impairment.

The findings are to be presented to an American Academy of Neurology meeting.

The researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota asked the volunteers about their daily activities within the past year and how mentally active they had been between the age of 50 to 65.

Those who had during middle age been busy reading, playing games or engaging in craft hobbies like patchworking or knitting were found to have a 40 per cent reduced risk of memory impairment.

In later life, those same activities reduced the risk by between 30 and 50 per cent. Those who watched TV for less than seven hours a day were also 50 per cent less likely to develop memory loss than those who spent longer than that staring at the screen.

“This study is exciting because it demonstrates that ageing does not need to be a passive process,” said study author and neuroscientist Dr Yonas Geda.

“By simply engaging in cognitive exercise, you can protect against future memory loss. Of course, the challenge with this type of research is that we are relying on past memories of the participants, therefore we need to confirm these findings with additional research.” Sarah Day, head of public health at the Alzheimer’s Society said: “One million people will develop dementia in the next 10 years so there is a desperate need to find ways to prevent dementia.

Barter is the way of the Future

2009-03-10T01:05:00.002-04:00

Passing this on from an amazing woman in Toronto:

Hello Everyone!

I am excited to invite you to a free online event for Toronto artists organized on my website. The initiative is called Barter in the Art World. This is an opportunity to trade and showcase your beautiful designs and craftsmanship!

The art world is built on a tradition of bartering, and SwapSity is celebrating that by featuring local artists - painters, craftsmen, beadwork artists, musicians, writers - and providing opportunities for them to barter their artwork and talents with other artists and professionals in the Greater Toronto Area.

Using artistic currency gives you the power to expand your creative practice, whether that means obtaining new skills, tools or professional services. Nearly anything is fair game for trading and could include beadwork designs, one-of-a-kind handmade jewellery, lessons in beadwork in exchange for promotional help; legal services; a therapeutic massage to inspire and stimulate creative flow; website for your beadwork designs or a writer's expertise to formulate an artist's statement.

Savvy artists take advantage of barter to conserve their cash and extend their resources. It's no longer necessary to ask what you can afford with your cash but what your bartering talent can afford for you.

So get creative, open your mind, dig deep and swap what you've got!

If you are interested in bartering your beadwork designs and talents as well as getting more exposure, check out http://www. SwapSity.ca

Sincerely,

Marta

What's on SeraphimGirl's pointy sticks?

2009-03-02T19:56:00.001-05:00

A beautiful hoody for a special niece in the softest pink and cream wool !

Knitting with Beads

2009-02-28T22:03:00.004-05:00

On Saturday, March 21st at 01:30pm we're hosting a hands-on workshop demonstrating work with beads, in which you can use the fingering weight yarn in your stash that isn't plentiful enough to incorporate into any larger project.

Thanks to the good graces of Katherine Matthews of purldiving.com who has created an original design for wrist cuffs, all you'll need is your 2.0 or 2.5mm needles, one DPN in the same size, a big-eye beading needle, and solid finger weight yarn.

We'll provide the beads, the designer herself to walk you through the steps, and a cozy space to create in at 296 Brunswick Avenue in Toronto, Canada. At $20 that's a good deal, even in a recession. Wonder Woman stand aside.

Valentine's Day Handiwork

2009-02-17T23:57:00.009-05:00

My husband,David, being the incredibly considerate and giving man that he is, offered
up the early part of Valentine's Day to my insatiable desire to create with my hands and gifted me with an introductory Chinese Knot Tying Course hosted at BeadFX in Scarborough, Ontario, which I relished.

We then went to see a one man show "Emergency Monologues" by EMS paramedic and friend, Morgan Jones Phillips, which was staged at the newly opened craft emporium Wise Daughters in the Junction, owned by entrepreneur and artisan supporter, Mary Breen.

A glorious day!

Crafts for Charity

2009-02-17T23:02:00.012-05:00

I had the great pleasure of collaborating with Heather at the Bead Junction this past Xmas to create bars of scented soap for homeless and underprivileged women seeking shelter at "Sistering". Here are some photos of the project:

We made forty bars and the room resonated with the scent of cinnamon and candy cane. The true spirit of Christmas filled our hearts and the recipients were thrilled with the gifts!

Mac for Crafters

2009-02-13T00:25:00.002-05:00

I switched to Mac computers since 1992 and I haven't looked back. I've never had a virus and could get anything done pretty much with a click of the mouse. So when I heard there was a charting program for Macs I had to share it with the world!!

Check it out:

http://www.ursasoftware.com/macstitch/macStitch.html

Drop Spindle I Covet!

2009-02-13T00:02:00.003-05:00

Source: Spin-Off Magazine Winter 2008 from Interweave Press

www.GoldingFiberTools.com

Tam

Rumplestiltskin Don't Live Heya. Nosuh!

2009-02-11T10:02:00.005-05:00

I bought the most glorious roving from the lovely and talented Jenny at Fraydknot.
Her Etsy store is: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5059842

The Pacific Northwestern woolies who offer up their fleece are incredibly contented as one can only determine with certainty when you touch the fibers. I was so excited when the bag arrived that I tore it open at the post office and all the way home while driving I had one hand in the bag stroking this alpaca love. I better stop here cause this is starting to sound like knit porn !??

The colours are enough to melt the winter snow!

Out comes the spindle !

Tamurile

Inaugural Post

2009-02-08T00:27:00.007-05:00

It's a full moon and the Aquarian Age is upon us so what better reason to embark on a new adventure: sharing the arts and crafts we, our friends, and family members are currently dedicating their hearts and minds to completing in the dead of winter.

After enduring over two weeks of -20C and gale force winds that nearly had our Jack Russell airborne I can only say I am grateful for this deep freeze as the needles are flying and we're creating many woolens for kith and kin.

Before displaying our personal projects I wanted to share the work of two marvelous human beings who are near and dear to my heart. First, my amazing cousin in California, Branka Harris, had her fused glasswork included in a juried art competition last year which includes two things I love most in this world: horses and the circus.

The piece is entitled, "Balance" and here she is in all her splendor!

And a work in progress that my son, Richard, is feverishly dremelling his way through the long February nights: his first handmade guitar:

TAMURILE