Buzz Buzz Buzz

Hi friends! I have not forgotten about May's contest. I will pick two winners on June. I have been working this week too and I'm also trying to finish things for the Stampede Arts and Crafts Show!

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Weaving today...

And Muffin is helping! Or at least getting cockatiel spit on everything :)

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New in the Zazzle Store - Wooden Wagon

The artistic life is full of shoulda woulda coulda moments, and this photo brings back two specific memories. The first one is where I took it, at Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Calgary is a relatively young city compared to others, and in the quest to modernize, many historic buildings have been long torn down and paved over. Calgary used to be called Sandstone City because of the number of sandstone buildings; it's definitely a city of steel and glass now. Fortunately there's Heritage Park, which is a lovely place to spend a day and immerse oneself in Calgary's history. It's bittersweet because it's such a fun place, but at the same time, the idea that one has to visit a park to experience history is a little sad!

Recently while looking for a specific pansy photo, I came across this picture in my 2009 folder and I wondered why I didn't do anything with it. The composition is good, the subject matter appealing. Sometimes it just takes time to realize the potential of a photo, I suppose! I will be placing this wagon on cards and magnets for Christmas sales this year, but you can order it right away on Zazzle.

The second thing this photo reminds me of is a trip to Lethbridge, Alberta, that I took in 2007 with my friend Laureen. It was an amazing trip and somewhere by the Old Man River Dam, Laureen found an old tractor weathering in the tall grass. She came upon it suddenly and there was enough rusty stuff around there to warrant a tetanus shot. Having more of a sense of self-preservation, I hung back while she dived right in. I bet that rusty tractor is still there, and I think I can find it again. But darn, I wish I had been brave like her! Shoulda would coulda...

Beginner

Every week, Illustration Friday tosses out a word for enthusiasts to draw, and just about every Friday my work is not among the entrants. Usually I think of an idea by Tuesday and just can't get it done in time for Thursday night. Maybe I would do better if it was Illustration Fortnight!

Last week's theme was "beginner" and the idea came very naturally - a young bird learning to fly. I didn't have a particular bird in mind when I sketched him, but he came out a sparrow!

Beginner, a photo by Calzephyr on Flickr.

Artist Trading Cards, Yay!

I know most of you are here for the ACEOs and ATCs, so I hope you enjoy this. I made it out to the artist trading card night at the John Snow House, which is the resource centre for Calgary's The New Gallery. It's the former residence of a Calgary artist, John Snow, and a cozy little space to meet and greet other ATC enthusiasts.

I really enjoyed myself. I have traded with most of the other people before and loved catching up. There were also three young ladies there and it was so delightful to trade with them. ATCs are great for young people! And even grown-ups like me. I have to admit I feel very shy testing the artistic waters around town and these nights make it easier for me to get out there by having something in common.

I have two ACEOs left from that night...and these are the ones I brought home:

This is one is my favourite, I have to admit!

And the winner is...

I numbered everyone last night and hopped over to Random.org and it spit it out "4" at me. Who was 4? None other than Sunshine Shelle! Congrats Shelle and we'll be in touch!

I forgot in my last post to link to Craftymoose's Ukrainian Easter Eggs that she kindly reposted. Go over and check them out! They are pretty intricate.