Upcycled Art Case

     I'm completely fascinated by upcycled art...  So, yesterday I stopped by GIRO, Gabriola's Recycling Organization, where I found an old fashioned hard bodied make up case.  My $2.00 purchase was going to be my new travelling art case.  I couldn't wait to get it home, it needed a good clean, bit of bleach, as evidence in teh before picture.  Then I had to much fun with painting layers upon layers, tryng to get a bit of a distressed look.  Of course further embelishments needed to happen so I branded it with my "Knotty by Nature" and well - it couldn't be complete without a bird!

While I've deconstructed the inside and taken out the gold material that adorned this case, I'm now working on creating a distressed white interior - so many ideas for how the inside might be finished, so I'll post back when I get it finished!  My new case will be accompanying me later this month to Artfest , likely will be housing my trades...  Have you upcyceld art lately?  Would love to see what you've been up to...

Good Friends & Valentines

Last night we got together with friends to create some new pillow covers for Valentines...  We had so much fun photo transfering "LOVE" onto the pillow cases, and then started having to much fun with embellishments of scrap fabric & a sewing machine!  While simple these pillow cases were a HUGE success and a super fun and easy project - and what fun crafting with friends who inspire you!

                                                     Happy Valentines!   x0xx0X

More Valentines

Well the girls did such a good job on their valentines that I promised to bake some treats for their class...  I started out with a simple sugar cookie reipe, of course I made multiple batches (had to have enough for my niece & nephews class) and a few extra for the family!

After many batches of cookies were made, I started on the royal icing, there's a GREAT online tutorial and for those who saw last years valentines cookies, you'll know that I was completely inspired by Sweetopia .  I followed the instructions both to pipe and flood the cookies with red icing.  The white icing was just for playing and making several different designs! 

                                                                Happy Valentines  X0XXO

Valentines 2012

     Inspired by Jane & Emma, each year we make our valentines...  This year, we started with doodles that I've been playing with over the past year, we decided to make a few versions; bookmarks, hearts, hearts with wings, labels, and cards.

I then photocopied them onto cardboard.  Jane & Emma were glad to do the watercolor painting on these cards, by doing layers of washes.  We waited till they dried, varnished them, and then cut them out with curvy scissors.  From there we glued them onto cardboard and re-cut them out to make them a little more sturdy.

The girls did a beautiful job finishing them with a gel pen and writing their class mates names on them!  It was a GREAT family project.

We have a seres that we are going to make into cards and will be donating to the Ride to Conquer cancer fundraiser at the Skol Pub, Gabriola on Feb. 25th.  Hope to see you there!

I've inlcuded the link to the Valentines Drawings, please feel free to use them for personal use only.

Just a GREAT idea...

Thanks to a blog I recently read, (and my apologies for not remembering the name to credit), I wanted to pass along a GREAT idea that I came across...

I LOVE decorating things, cakes, cookes, anything edible but this year with a hectic schedule it's been hard to find time in the kitchen.  When I was reading through a christmas cookie blog, one of them suggested buying cookies and just decorating them up - GREAT idea, a real time saver and then I was able to create enough cookies to spread over three classes.

The snowmen cookies were a hit with the kids, lots of icing, and just a small chocolate mint cookie thin.  I'm a little behind on the blog, but am just enjoying Christmas day, and the chance to catch up on some of my crafty creations for this holiday season.

& More Journals...

Each year my sister and I try to make the kids something, as handmade gifts have a special meaning in our family...  This year, it's all about the art journals as all of the kids love art projects, and although I'm completely biased, their work is amazing, so I wanted to give them a special place to keep their art.

I created the "wish" theme for the kids, of course with wishes had to come starts.  I'm loving creating these journals (to bad everyone I know now has one or more)...

Happy Holidays...

The Christmas Angel

A Reid Family Tradition as written by Beverley Reid...

40 years ago a little boy sat with his mother staring at the Christmas tree they had just finished decorating. While they thought it looked beautiful, something was missing. "Oh my," said the mother, "we do need to put a decoration on the top...maybe a star or even a giant icicle."
 "I know, Mummy," said the boy. "How about an angel?"
 "What a good idea!" his mother replied. "Let's see if we can  make one."
Together the little boy and his mother started to search for bits of paper and cloth that might be turned into an angel. From his mother's sewing basket, the boy found some brown yarn and a red ribbon.  His
mother looked in her office and spotted an empty paper roll she thoughtmight work as a body. She remembered a Styrofoam float in the back yard which they could use for a head and a sparkling old Christmas tree that could be taken apart for a silvery dress.
As the afternoon wore on and the sun began to set, the boy and his mother worked together at the kitchen table to finish their Christmas creation.  The boy wanted their angel to have a beautiful  smile and big eyes to see Santa.  They decided that her name would be  "Audrey the Angel" and that she was the most special Christmas angel in the world.
 What the little boy and his mother didn't know, was that Audrey was a magical angel.   In the years to come, when she was brought out of the Christmas trunk, she would have things to say and while she often complained in language that wasn't very Christmasy, she was secretly grateful for her life as the family's Christmas tree guardian and most important Christmas tradition.

This year to honor the 40th anniversary of this magical angel, a new version based on the story was created for each of the family members, so that they would all be able to enjoy.  Emma & Jane thoughtfully put a name to each of the angels, to give them a little more personality...

We then decided to start a new Gabriola tradition, of the "Gabriola Angel" which is to be gifted on Christmas eve each year to someone in the Gabriola community, whose home it should live in for the year, it can be someone inspiring, caring, or anyone who exemplifies the Gabriola spirit, they then get to put their name on her, and next Christmas eve they choose the home that this special angel will get to live in all year long, helping spread the magic...

The Stockings Were Hung...

I'm loving the look of the very natural yet somewhat elegant burlap stockings I've been seeing on display this year, and decided that I needed to re-create them.  I followed this brilliant tutorial for general Christmas Stocking at Make it Love it , and then just went from there to embelish them. 

As burlap tends to be very organic and inconsistent, I did line them, as although I wanted them to be somewhat rustic in appearance, I also wanted them to be functional.

The stockings are going to be part of gift exchange on Gabriola  this year, so the feminine one I've got some of my earrings that I created in, and Tom's been hard at work tying flies for the masculine ones - am loving the idea of wrapping in functional items :)

12 Days of Christmas - Day 12

This is perfect for the holiday season...  What a way to end the 12 Days of Christmas a gorgeous bracelet, in amazing green hues created by the islands own, Lindsay Stocking Godfrey.   Lindsay's very accomplished works are decadent in desgin, and are often found at Artworks along with galleries throughout Canada.

Lindsay shares the love for her work though an apprentiship program - for those lucky enough to enrol, she has taught some of the islands amazing talents.

Thank you Lindsay, and all of the amazing artists for participating in this 12 Days of Christmas Exchange - it's been AMAZING!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 11

I LOVE this little painting...  and what a fabulous message captured by Christy Wilson.  I was very fortunate this year to get my hands on a copy of her very limited calendars each month has a bright and cheery painting of Christy's work.  In additionn she specializes in custom pieces ideal for weddings, baby showers, and just fthe every day :)

12 Days of Christmas - Day 9

Julie Sperber artists extrodinaire behind Yuma designs created this gorgeous "Joy" pendant and magnet.  Spread the Joy she certainly did with this amazing creation.  In addition to gorgeous custom jewellery pieces, she also runs Red Roaster Coffee here on Gabriola. 

Her delightful creations can be found at varying craft shows throughout the year, as well as at the Hen House on Gabriola's South End.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 8

Encaustic Cards!!!



Todays Day was from the very talented Randi Lynch, yes by the last name you may have guessed we are related, she's my mom.  A real treat to open up a beautiful collection of original encaustic cards - the only thing is that they are to precious not to be framed...

Thanks Mom!  xoxoo

12 Days of Christmas - Day 7

"Birds of Happiness."  Love it, what a great idea for the exchange, of course, being such a bird nut in the arts, this piece is definately hanging in my art area!

There isn't anything Diana Bonder can't do, she's been a streamstress, now childs author and illustrator, artist extrordinaire, are only among some of her many talents.  Last year, she helped me to give the most amazing Christmas gift - a commissioned piece of her work featuring Jane & Emma and the tales of Bubba goose, a story the girls have been told since they were wee ones.  Her stories and illustrations are amazing, if you're ever on the island over the studio tour, her studio is a must see!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 6

The "WOW" factor best describes Tammy Hudgeon's amazing glass works, and there is no better way to start the morning, then waking up to open up to gift 6 a piece of original Tammy's glass wear.  I just can't wait to hang up this stunning piece.

Tammy's work is featured at Artworks, in the Folklife Village here on Gabriola along with many galleries, or you can visit her website online, she also has a blog which features some of her new work.  In addition to her amazing glass work Tammy does the most incredible mixed media art - I'm looking forward to adding a piece to my collection.

Thanks Tammy, you are truly an inspiring individual...

12 Days of Christmas - Day 5

Ok...  So, I can't really say I was so surprised, but you know what how great is it to take the time to wrap your own gift - especailly made by you!  Well with the 12 days of Christmas, we each made 1 day, which meant on one of the days we'd be opening up a gift that we created ourselves.

So, today day 5 is mine.  I created these little journals, each was unique here's the link to my Flickr site where you can see all 13 of these creations:  Knotty by Nature Gabriola .

I had so much fun making them, I hope each of the girsl will enjoy opening them as much as I enjoyed creating them.

I have to also put a special thank you out there to Sue, who this weekend did an amazing job manning my booth at the Gabriola Elementary School Craft Fair.  She did an amazing job - thanks Sue.  Now that it's over, I have my etsy shop back online, and will be adding some new items shortly!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 4

I knew there was something very special in this box, I could tell as the smell that permeated from it held great promise.  So what was in this magnificent parcel...

Beautiful soap bars both Ruby Tuesday & Vanilla Coca Butter Luxury Bar, an intricate and gorgeous brown sugar body scrub, and a shower power fizzing bar - all creations of Brenda Reid, (one of Gabriola's amazing additions to the island this year), creator of the Happy Hippy Soap Company. 

Even if your not lucky enough to live on the island, or be able to come for a visit, you can order online through her website, or if you are on the island , she carries her soaps at  Slice of Life Gallery .

Thanks Brenda!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 3

Today's special treat was one created by my dear friend Jane Reddington.  She makes a limited edition of her special owls each year, each one is very different and has a little story.  My special owl's name was Jennifer who likes to make pretty little things - kinda suits, don't you think?

As well as her fabulous owls, Jane is an author and is looking to publish her first book, of course I'll be giving all the details as soon as it's available.

Thanks Jane, for this amazing owl, she's already found the perfect place perched in my craft room!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 2

Ooh-la-la!

Ok day 2 and the WOW factor of these amazing artists on the island is off the chart.  Today's special package, (and yes, evidence is in the details as it was wrapped in handmade packaging), contained an eloquent mosaic necklace.  The beautiful hues and texture of the glass compliment this gorgeous peace perfectly.

This very special gift was the creation of Karen Aaker, Purple Door Mosaics .  Karen is the co-organizer of the "Once Upon a Time" show.  A summertime highlight here on Gabriola, and one of the best art shows I've had the opportunity to attend!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 1

It's exciting to get into the highly anticipated goodie bag filled with all sorts of Christmas Treasures, and what a way to start on Day 1.  A beautifully hand crafted owl mug by the very talented ceramic artist, Mariko McCrae of Feedlot Studio, here on Gabriola.

In addition to her amazing creations, and custom work, she also offers open studio on the island, and gives us all a great atmosphere to come and play with the clay.  Her insipiration & passion for art is truly contageous.

What a Great Way to start out our 12 Days of Christmas gift exchange.

12 Days of Christmas

A collective of 12 island artist Inspired to create, got together with the idea to celebrate the holiday season - handmade.

  The group comprised of a few of the islands many artists, who decided to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, by creating, exchange and sharing our art with each other.  

For the 12 days of Christmas each of the artists will have an amazing surprise from a fellow islander to open up!

Each participant created 13 pieces they were not meant to be big, just something that they have created that puts a smile on their face for having created it & something they want to share, so it could be a pendant, gift cards, a print, or the choice of each artist. 

The reason we are creating 13 pieces is that one set we would all like to donate to PHC as a silent auction fundraiser, the gifts will be wrapped, so they won't be able to see what they are bidding on other than the story about what we are doing & who's participating... 

There is an amazing gift basket of the 12days of Christmas up for silent auction at the Commons, Christmas Craft fair Dec. 3, 2011 with all proceeds will go to People for a Healthy Community. The gift basket would make a wonderful Christmas gift, or perhaps the 12 gifts means all your shopping is done for the holidays, all while supporting a good cause.

I'll be blogging the gift exchange through each of the 12 days featuring an island artist each day. As well I'll be posting the process, number tags, name tags, etc should you choose to set up your own gift exchange, so check back...