The Pulse The State of the Art and Secret Sunday

If you're a regular reader of my blog then you know that I've been involved in a number of "out of the Box" venues this year. As well as my gallery work, I've been delving into mixed media quite a bit. I've been working with Inner Works on an altered books collaborative which is now winding down and we are each to receive our own books back. My book "Gifts from the Sea" will have pages altered by very talented Seth, Jill, Supria, Roxanne, and Veronica. It's through Inner Works that I got to know Seth, although I was well aware of his blog and his involvement with all things mixed media for quite awhile. So when I heard that Seth was working on the fourth edition of the Pulse - The State of the Art, I jumped right in and wanted to be a part of this online resource.

The Pulse - The State of the Art is a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. This fourth edition has over 200 artists participating. Stay tuned for The Pulse coming soon to The Altered Page. In edition to The Pulse, Seth has created Secret Sunday on his blog the Altered Page. Every Sunday your favorite artists will reveal a secret technique, a secret product, a secret source, a little known website, a hidden shop, an inspiration, just about anything. Bravo to Seth for organizing such a large number of creatives in this event. I'm really looking forward to reading what all the participating artists have to say.

My Etsy Faves Part 4

Mya's Eyes Boutique
Kusudama Ball Christmas Ornament Origami

Yellowgoat
A Perfect Match Matchbox Necklace Silver Edition

Mana Moon Studios
Truth Be Told

Bluebird Lane
Shabby French Tags with Crown

Nahanibluette
La Torur Eiffel Paris Set of Six Gift Tags

Please enjoy my Etsy Fave Shops Part 4. These shops have loads of fun items perfect for gift giving and gift wrapping. Now go shopping!

BoGo in Red Banana's Shop.

I'm having a special event in my Etsy shop this weekend. BoGo or Buy One Get One!! Anyone who purchases a painting from my shop will receive one of the watercolor paintings above as a free gift from me. Each watercolor painting is an original painting (done by myself) and is matted in a soft white mat board. They measure 8"x10" and fit a standard 8x10 frame. You can even choose which one you'd like by letting me know in an Etsy convo or an email. Perfect to give as a gift or to keep for yourself. This event will expire at midnight (EST) Sunday November 22, or while quantities (the 5 shown above) last.

The Evergreen Fair and The Vintage Gardener

I was fortunate to have won a pair of tickets to the Evergreen Fair presented by the Vintage Gardener. Reading so many blogs does have it's advantages as I discovered this ticket give away while reading favourite things blog. I then headed over to the budding gardener blog and left my comment and the tickets were won. Yesterday my friend Gabreila and I went to check it out. The Distillery is the old Gooderham and Worts distillery in downtown Toronto. It's a pedstrian only village and has many galleries and reataurants and shops as well as artist run studios. The Evergreen Fair was in the fermenting cellar, a huge space that's all exposed brick. A beautiful space to hold an event like this. There were venders selling lush greenery all bundled and ready for seasonal decorating. The scent of fir and spruce and lavender filled the room. We watched a demo by Elaine of the Vintage Gardener, and her 2 helpers, her son and Tara Nolan who writes the budding gardener blog. All in all it was a beautiful way to spend the day.

My Etsy Faves Part 3

Half Dozen
By The Altered Page

LUXE Collection Smoke and Blush
By Nest Pretty Things

Small Porcelain Bud Vase
By Stepanka Ceramics

Small Woven Metal Cross
By Art by Dawn Hunt

Mainly White
by Lucy Jewel Seaglass

Hi There. Hope you enjoyed a great weekend. It's time for my 3rd instalment of My Etsy Faves. Here are photos of my favorites, but please explore each shop further. We have some very talented artists here.

A Single Word

A few weeks ago I met my friend Sherry downtown for coffee. It was a dreary, cloudy and wet day so after a little walking we found a Starbucks. Once inside it was cozy with the smell of freshly brewed coffee and pumpkin scones, and we settled in for a couple of hours and as many coffees. (Yay for decaf!) At one point in our creative dialogue, Sherry handed me an open bag and asked me to close my eyes and pick one of the treasures inside. I knew immediately that it must be her bag of "Rock My World" rocks. She had purchased them from the Queen of Arts's shop (aka Kim) and had been sharing them rockette style. Read Sherry's adventures here and how Kim started the "Rock My World" stones here.

I picked the stone in the photo above. I remember that with my eyes closed I could only feel the stones and really liked how this one was thin and long and different from the larger, rounder stones in the bag. Then I looked at it and the word painted on it. Expand. I chose the stone that I was meant to have. I believe it 100%. At the beginning of this year I decided that I'd step out of my comfort zone when it came to my art. I've tried new techniques and new mediums. I've painted new subject matter and I'm participating in new projects and groups. Changing, growing, moving forward. Expand. The word confirms what I know in my heart. I keep this little rock on my dresser along with my perfume from the Gap. It inspires me to keep positive, to do better, and I wonder about the person that found the rock that Sherry left by the tracks. Did that person find the rock that was meant for them??

Remembrance Day

Poppies Acrylic on Canvas 12x12
sold

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Lt. Col. John McCrea 1872-1918