Getting Ready for the Halifax Crafter's Spring Show!

I just received the good news that I'll be showing in this Spring's Halifax Crafters show!




I've been keeping myself busy through these longs winter nights crafting away creating detailed Nova Scotian birds of prey soft sculptures, 3-D needle-felted scenes and of course the odd woolen accessories. 




Also I've been dabbling a bit in wet felting; making marbled wash bars as a part of my preparation for a workshop I'll be teaching in April at Inspire Art school in Windsor.




Another project that has been filling my free time has been creating feather fascinators for  my best friend's sister's bridal party. I took this opportunity to treat myself to a large batch of peacock and other natural feathers and have been experimenting like crazy with elaborate hair pieces and necklaces. I'm really happy with the results and have been looking for excuses to get out and show them off!




As for usual I've accumulated a small selection of cut-up portraits over the last few seasons featuring tributes to characters like the Queen, Yoko Ono and of course the man with Adonis DNA - Mister Charlie Sheen. 




When I'm not cutting, sewing or felting I've been doing research and laying-out designs for  notebooks featuring some of my favorite cut-ups as well as a variety of my photographs as the covers. My Dad gave me a long reach stapler for Christmas which inspired me to  begin collecting images from my own personalized "Favorite Things" note paper.




It's been a crafty Winter and I can't wait to share my creations with you all!

The show will be held Saturday and Sunday April 30th and May 1st, 11am-6pm at the Olympic Community Hall on the corner of Cunard and Hunter Street in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

another busy day in the life of a crafter

Today I was fortunate enough to take part in a Valentines Fair hosted by the Dalhousie Women's Centre and The Vagina Monologues. A great day - and cause!

It may have been a wet fog filled day, but the Dal Sub was a bustling flow of rain gear clad students - oh the beautiful rubber boots that I saw!

Surprising to me, I nearly sold out of my colouring books - and my new felted pin cushion rings were a big hit.

Checking up on the interweb I've just noticed that I was mentioned in Love, Me's latest post:

http://lovemeboutique.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/kiss/

If you're still looking for a last minute Valentine prezzy - that's the place to go!

Craft Show February 7th at St Arnolds Hall

the season for love is fast approaching...

Well 2009 came in with a heavy blank canvas of snow, inaugurating the start of another creative year. I've been fortunate enough to reserve a table at the upcoming craft sale, Saturday February 7th, and have been crafting like crazy since New Years has past



I'm quite excited, the lovely miss Stephanie Nairn and I will be sharing a table as we display and sell our latest creations. Stephanie's line of jewelry and accessories, "Devilish," is highly influenced by retro pin-up art and cinema, featuring whimsical 40 & 50's icons and imagery. We will certainly have an interesting variety of crafts for all to peruse, that is for sure!



Since the craft fair is a week before Valentines I thought how lovely it would be to make special Valentines critters. Taking inspiration from Canadian musician, Born Ruffians, I have started creating little foxes to go along with their quote "foxes mate for love because they're in love."



A long time fan of the little rusty coloured critters, I'm just head over heels with my new fuzzy foxy fellas. Also I have some very special owl'n'pussycat couples I'm working on as well as a few grizzlies to cuddle with too!



Getting a little sore and cramped from the continuous stitching, and suffering a little scissor withdraw since the completion of the YES!+ 2009 calendar, I've started the first of a series of Valentines inspired quotes/portraits.



My first quote comes from the always inspirational Voltaire. This quote seems to be stirring up some additional creative juices... the wheels are turning, visions of brightly coloured felt, stone, feathers and twigs - let's see what happens...



Here's to 2009 being absolutely divine!

is all about the firsts

well I did my first craft show ever, hopefully to be the first of many, on Saturday - and it was quite the satisfying experience. I was actually surprised by the constant flow of people - from the moment the doors opened right through till we left, exhausted, the giant "storecase" in tow - that place was bustling! The area in front of my table was rarely vacant. The crowds majority for the day was wholesome artsy types, with a few handfuls of punks and fellow art lovers thrown in. It was quite interesting to monitor the crowd and see who just came in for a quick boo, and those who floated for hours, revisiting tables many times. I had one young woman who visited my table 3 times, then passed a few more times, sending longing looks toward my "I think like Martha" t-shirt before finally settling on the canvas tote instead.

Overall my magnets and Miss Martha were a major hit! One girl nearly lost it when she saw my Harris poster. She's the first person so far who knew who that image was of. She actually pulled out a brilliant Harris quote of her own. (this is the best I can remember...)

"So what does Judith like for presents Harris?"
"Well Judith is a fan of the scented oils, and quality time with her man"

I threw in a few extra posters for her.

The "figureheads" booklet and calendars were also really well received. The girl at the table next to me tried on one of my wooly warmers and FELL IN LOVE! It was ironic because it was one I was never too proud of while making, the look of the light blue velvet wool never quite worked for me, but I told myself not to worry, someone would love it - how true :)

Overall I am very, very happy with the experience and have my fingers crossed that I can get on the waiting list for the fair on December 6 & 7 at the North Street Church.

Now it's time to do some research and find a few move venues to peddle my wares - wish me luck!

4 days until the Zine Festival!

Pop Explosion - Zine Fair

Come on down and check out a slew of amazing artists!