Greetings from the dog days of summer! (July 3rd-August 11th)
I'm finally getting around to writing a new entry to this blog (it's more of a diary I think because I'm not sure anyone reads it. If you do read it maybe send me a sign that someone is actually reading it.) I just re-read May's entry and I have finished that piece I was speaking of and I entered it into the FCA's 2024 Chapter Challenge. It was accepted, it is only an online show which was good because this piece has yet to be framed and it is not for sale. I'll post a picture at the bottom. 
The piece titled, "Favourite Times" was a picture I took of Terry walking with 2 of my grandsons in the farmers field where we took Benji for her walk. The two of them were oblivious to me, they adore Terry. I fell back on our walk and took their picture... I drew this on paper but as with all my freehand work it tends to enlarge as I draw from the reference so I had to use Drafting film that gave me the space to get the sky and the dirt road onto the picture. Drafting film because then I could just put the handdrawn image underneath and transfer with the pencils. I am pleased with it but I have a love/hate relationship with drafting film.
Onwards, since it is summer I have been itching to practice my cyanotypes. I really didn't have a lot of time as it took a while for the sun to peak out long enough to get my gear out. I had a great idea thanks to a friends comment on one of my pieces on facebook. I asked my mom if I did some cyanotypes on fabric if she could make me a quilt! Just a lap quilt, and she agreed! So production of the fabric has been a thing around here also I had an idea using a water colour image and cyanotype background. I'll post those images as well.
.... and then the Blindsiding part of my story.... So years ago, 2015. I worked 5 days a week hairdressing in a Seniors Home. The Gov't decided that hairdressing was a service and we would have to charge GST. So my accountant opened me a business GST account. I only had to pay into it for that first year. My accountant forgot to cancel my account, but he is playing dumb and says he has never seen this account but I do remember talking to him about it way back then. So the Govt. hasn't been recieving anything from me because I forgot all about it because he does my taxes!!! So forward 7 years and I owe GST for 7 years!!! Plus penalties and interest! I called him and he scrambled to get the filings in and apparently he put in a request to forego the penalty and interest part. I called today and it's terrible so if there was ever a time you would want to purchase any of my originals or commission me to do a pet portrait I would be most appreciative.
Onwards, to better days.

Good day! This past week we've had some incredible days, not to hot, not to breezy! May is a birthday month for me.... my two eldest grandsons, my Dad (RIP), me and one of my daughter-in-laws. Not to mention Mother's Day! Tomorrow is my birthday, I think I was born on a Wednesday (Wednesday's Child is full of woe) Yes, sometimes I've been woeful but then I just give myself a talking to and all's good!
We were treated to a magnetic storm(?) and that was incredible! I saw for the first time the Northern Lights! I couldn't see to well with the naked eye but as soon as I held my phones camera up amazing colours appeared! It was very magical, this happened the later evening of my Dad's birthday May 10th.
Art.... I had two pieces juried in to the FCA Arrowsmith's Spring Show held at the MacMillan in Parksville. "Charlie Imbibes" won an Honourable Mention Award and "Dewy Lacecap" SOLD!!! I am indeed honoured to receive this recognition. I'm looking forward to the Fall Show, it will be a 12" x 12" themed show. So I'm thinking of adhering pieces to a gallery depth cradleboard and waxing... we'll see what I can come up with... and hopefully get juried in. I've completed a commission the beginning of the month and now have returned to the piece I was working on before I started the commission. This one is dear to me as it is of a memory when we lived in Alberta and would get to see my grandsons... I'll post the picture in a future post.
I hope this is the start of a wonderful summer time for everyone that reads this post!

Hello! I honestly cannot believe I have not put a post here yet. It's almost the Spring Equinox, lol. Which means it's my loves birthday tomorrow. I will have to be prepared to do something to celebrate, but as I have no idea if he reads my blog I won't be able to tell you what I am hoping to do.
It's been a cold winter for us, a couple batches of snow but I think we've turned the corner. We got most of our yard spring cleaning done, just to turn the garden over and figure out which plants I want to plant this year. I'm not sure why I would plant plants as I'm not eating them.... hmmm But Terry still enjoys some vegetables so I guess I'll ask him what he would want me to plant.
We had a 5 day trip to Vegas with the in-laws, it didn't start or end very well but the middle part was good being with the peeps we love!
So my FCA chapter is having it's Spring Show in April, I have 2 pieces that were accepted. My 'Charlie Imbibes" and my newest piece, 'Dewy Lacecap". I feel like I've won already just being accepted. Both pieces are for sale, I am still working on getting a digital copy of Dewy Lacecap.
I also ordered some new paper to do Cyanotypes on, I've had a little go on them but the jury is still out. I'm thinking this paper might be good for doing little tealight boxes but I'll have to figure out if they can be easily made.
For the summer I'm thinking of ways to sell my art, cards, magnets and anything else I can make. I did make an Etsy shop but last month I was a victim of a scam and long story short, I deleted my account with Etsy. I just don't trust a company that lets scammers in.
We have a roadtrip planned to Alberta in August, we are having our family's golf tournament there this year to celebrate the 25th Year. We're looking forward to seeing everyone in Alberta!
Well, that's about it for this first blog of 2024! Happy Spring Solstice .... tomorrow!

It's that time of year, busy with commissions (meh, not so much) busy getting Calendars organized and Christmas card ordered... YUP! I already have my first order of calendars sent in and apparently they are already on their way back to me! Yay for Vistaprint for such a quick turn around. I'll post a pick of the haul once I get it. I also ordered calendars for shipping direct to my customer... so yeah we'll see how that goes. I have one more commission to do but at the time of writing this it is NFL Sunday and Grey Cup to boot! So it's a little hard for me to focus when the tv is on, but I love being in the same space as my husband and if that means I don't do art when he's home so be it!

​The Christmas season is coming fast, seems earlier every year and it makes me anxious as I think I'm a keeping up with the Jones's kind of gal... but alas, I will collect all my marbles and organize them to calm the anxious feelings. I do this by making lists! Yes LISTS! It does me good to see that I accomplish things in order. My first one is my calendar list... who wants what and making fancy envelopes for them, and figuring out deliveries. Next is my Santa list, no not for me but my Santa Giving List. I have a little less stress with this as most of my gifts are handmade items or ordered items that I've had a part in making. 
But, this can wait until I come back from a quick trip to Alberta that I'm tagging along with my MOM and SISTER... Just one more hug for my boys this year.
Alrighty peeps, I hope you all have a lovely Christmas holiday season and I'd be happy if you check back in in the new year!! 

Summer fun times are over, we've had numerous trips this year and now we'll be settling in for hopefully a rainy fall. The island is dry and our yard is parched, hopefully our plants will recover over the winter. 
Art is happening! I've accomplished a number of commissions this year, all with great success! My summer was also filled with my Cyantype art, but alas with less sunlight at this time of year I put the chemicals away and concentrate on doing a few pieces of art I can use for my yearly calendar. What will my Mom do without her Christmas calendar? The family will be getting all their birthday cards late or not at all...lol. 
I have entered the FCA Arrowsmith Chapter's Fall art show, but at this point I'm waiting to see if I will be juried in with two pieces. I thought it might help my odds if I put two in for jurying...  If I get juried in I'll post the image(s) and results.
I would like to also say, as far as commissions... please if you would like a commission for Christmas, request sooner than later and please have good detailed images.