I managed to sneak away from my studio for a bit to do some gardening. I had planned to dig up the asparagus bed, because the last time I checked nothing was coming up.
Imagine my surprise when I approached the bed, trowel in hand, and saw this:
I've not had much luck growing asparagus, so I was very happy to see these new shoots. So happy, that I was dancing around the garden! A little happy dance of gratitude. I think I might cut a very few of these precious shoots and cook them up for supper. A little bit of green gold, just to celebrate.
Do you have any luck growing asparagus? I'd love to hear any hints you have on helping it to overwinter.
A mixed media pendant created from sterling silver, copper from my scrap box and a broken agate I found in a box of odds and ends while spring cleaning my studio. This design stretched my skills quite a bit, but I thoroughly enjoyed the whole process. Interpreting a painting in metal was the perfect marrying of the artist me and the metalsmith me. I can definitely see myself developing this challe... Continue reading...
I had a very productive day in the studio yesterday, working on a piece for the Aspiring Metalsmiths' April Design Challenge . For this challenge, we are to design a piece of wearable art with a favourite artist or style in mind.
I have many favourite artists and styles, but I chose to focus on Lawren Harris, a Canadian artist who was one of the founding members of the Group of Seven. I love the lines in his abstract landscapes.
Unfortunately, the photos I took of my work in progress didn't t... Continue reading...
It's hard for me to believe that almost a month has gone by since my last post! Things have gotten a bit crazy here at the Brook, and I'm finding it hard to keep up. Spring has finally arrived. I noticed this lone crocus in my garden while I was hanging out the laundry. Crocuses are one of my favourite spring flowers. Such hardy little things.
I have a lot of news to tell you, but it will have to wait for another day. I'm going out to play in sun! Continue reading...
I know I must seem obsessed by spring. After several months of being house and studio bound due to a cold-related health challenge, being able to go outside for more than two minutes makes me a bit giddy. I feel like a caged bird that's been set free!
One of my favourite things to do as the warmer spring weather melts the blanket of snow is to walk around and see what is uncovered.
The other day while out exploring with the dogs, we found the long lost Dora the Explorer ball.
While walking up to my studio yesterday, I saw my first flock of geese flying north. There have been robin and killdeer sightings, too, but not yet by me. These are fairly good indicators that spring is truly on its way, although it is not unusual to see robins looking for worms under the snow.
Getting back into my studio to work on the backlog of portrait commissions and other projects feels wonderful. Even though I was fretting the whole time I was away, thinking about all the work I had ... Continue reading...
A couple of weeks ago I attended our local Rock and Mineral Show. As always there was a good turnout of vendors selling rocks from all over the world.
Not all of the rocks were ethically and sustainably mined, but by doing a lot of digging (through boxes of rocks, that is) and asking many questions, I was able to find a good selection of fair trade (most found by small independent rock hounds) stones.
I always find myself more attracted to the rough cut slices of rock, rather than the polished... Continue reading...
It was finally warm enough that I could get out for a short walk yesterday. A sure sign of spring!
I took my camera with me, on the hunt for other, more subtle signs that spring is well and truly creeping in. Some things I found:
Leaf buds on trees
Paw prints in mud
The huge snowdrift at the top of the hill is shrinking so that the road is just over one lane wide instead of the less than one lane it usually is all winter.
We are supposed to have a week of temperatures above freezing, which h... Continue reading...
We were fortunate to have a clear evening for viewing the "Super" moon last Saturday. My husband set up his camera and tripod on our front porch and captured these unusual photos of the moon as it rose behind a hawthorn thicket.
Doesn't it look like a great ball of fire? Like some magical, mystical sorcery is brewing.....
The grass has not riz, and I know where the birdies is - they are chowing down at our feeders, trying to keep warm on this snowy first day of spring. Winter is not yet letting go in my neck of the woods, and will still be hanging around for another month or more.
I do love the cold beauty of winter, even though by this time of year I am looking forward to seeing some green. The ground is covered in a soft white blanket, but other things we don't see the rest of the year are exposed. One of m... Continue reading...
I'm a full-time artist and metalsmith living a creative life inspired by nature, and fueled by tea and dark chocolate. When I'm not in my studio slapping paint around or pounding metal, you might find me trying to tame my jungle of a garden, or playing a rousing game of Chuckit with the dogs.
Catch Me at Riverside Farmers' Market from 8 a.m. to noon
I'm a full-time artist and metalsmith living a creative life inspired by nature, and fueled by tea and dark chocolate. When I'm not in my studio slapping paint around or pounding metal, you might find me trying to tame my jungle of a garden, or playing a rousing game of Chuckit with the dogs.
