to do

Projects currently on my shelves, cluttering up my laundry room, hidden in bags or boxes around the house, stashed away in take-along kits hiding in my baby bag, car, purse, stroller. These are projects that have been started, set aside, and are waiting to be finished.

• leopard fabric wall hanging
• flying pig fabric wall hanging
• apple and worm hooked piece
• green fingerless gloves
• embroidered billy goats
• caterpillar altered book
• 2005 scrapbook
• cat mobile
• pumpkin boat multimedia piece

If that isn't enough here is my available supplies have been set aside, projects to be started list.

• 5 clothing articles in my to sew basket
• new colourful curtain for my camper
• prayers and devotions altered book
  
• self-portrait altered book
• tin-foil and plaster sculptures

Ok, I need to stop now. I really should sit down and, oh I don't know, WORK on some of these projects!

DONE: Wind Chimes

wind chimes:2
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

Constructed from thrifted and found silver cutlery and brass lamp bits, as well as beads from my stash. This is a project that O- has been pestering me to finish (with her) for MONTHS and all the pieces have been together for even longer than that!

O, Iz and I all worked together on this one, and we think it's very pretty.

Natural Inspirations

What about your part of Canada inspires you?

French Beach, British Columbia

In the last decade I've lived all over this o-so-very-large country of ours. I started off in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Left for school in London, Ontario, then to Borden, and St. Thomas before getting married, packing up and moving to Halifax, Nova Scotia followed by Sooke, British Columbia the next year when my J- finished his courses and was posted to the HMCS Calgary in Esquimalt. I've been in BC for almost 5 years now.

Shedden, Ontario

All this moving about has given me a somewhat unique perspective. I KNOW that Canada isn't just large in a geographic sense. The environment changes dramatically from coast to coast, the peoples history differs, and the attitude and mannerism of the locals differ. This difference, and the way we have managed to tie ourselves together, despite some sibling rivalry amazes and inspires me.

Pass Lake, Ontario

So what inspires me about Sooke and Vancouver Island?

The massive size of everything. The age of the trees, the *youth* of the Rockies. The daily changes that take place along the ocean shoreline near my home as the tide ebbs and flows. Finally, although I find the mild weather and near lack of seasons infuriating, the early winter storms can be amazing and energizing. A walk along a storm blown beach, nearly washed away by the waves the night before, can be enough to excite and inspire the artist within to PAY ATTENTION and work for months to come.

WIP: ACEO

marker on playing cards
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

Marker on coated marker paper, glued to a playing card, signed and embelished by me. You'll be able to find these in my shops soon.

Why Buy Handmade?

This weeks Etsy Blogger Carnival (hosted by Mrs. Dragon) theme is why buy handmade. I've been mulling this over for a week now and my answer has remained pretty constant, and, well, short.

The reasons you should buy handmade are:
a) You get a unique something
b) that has not been made by child labourers
c) or exploited adults.
d) Many items are made from recycled material.

On a more selfish note:
e) You support the little guy (or somebodies small business).
f) You're allowing for the creative growth of the human race. Sometime the dollars paid for handmade pieces are the only thing allowing an artist or craft-person to continue working.


O, and lets not forget that many handmade piece are practical, useful, beautiful pieces of art you can wear, carry, use and enjoy everyday.

WIP: VAST Autumn Event

VAST autumn event
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

Ok, so I've obviously missed the deadline with these but I am confident that they will eventually get done. The piece on top will be a mixed media piece of a man racing a pumpkin (complete with motor). The bottom piece is really just a background for some unknown something; I think it's a lovely way to use us some extra paint.

WIP: FAST September Challenge

FAST apple
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

The Fibre Artist of Etsy September Challenge is Apple, and this is the beginning of my piece. Not sure if it'll get done in time but I'm loving the rug hooking process, and am feeling very good about making all those rag balls, and saving all those scraps.

WIP: VAST September Challenge

VAST books
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

Visual Artist of Etsy September 4x4 challenge "books".

can you believe

september squash
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

Can you believe there has been signs of FROST in my garden ALREADY. I really need to get my act in gear and process the food in my garden -- early this year.

VAST AUTUMN EVENT

Today is the VAST (Visual Artist of Etsy Street Team) Autumn Event so go to etsy.com do a search for VASTAUTUMNEVENT and check it out! The VASTeam has outdone themselves and there is a wide variety of beautiful pieces being showcased in this event. Here are a few of my favorites, just click on the pic to take a better look.

VAST AUTUMN EVENT 2007

DONE: Whiffin Spit Altered Book

whiffin spit: closed
Originally uploaded by lynxhoney

Months in the making and I finished it for the fall fair. Won 2nd place for mixed media for my efforts to boot. Yeah me! Wish the people organizing the arts section were a bit friendlier though, their generally rude attitude left a bad taste in my mouth.

Go here to see the rest of the set.