Ho Hum Dum De Dum

Here is some of what I did today...

- Worked on a birthday/thank you cuff for Karin.

- Allowed Memphis to sleep on the couch. He was sick! He's still fragile!

- Made falafals and a loaf of bread.

- Watched Sean silk screen some T-shirts. The intended message of them is I Camp Ontario Parks, but there is a dirty subliminal message also. You can figure it out.

- Transcribed. Listed things on Etsy.

- Rustled up a present for other Karen (with an E not an I), who should look no further if she's reading this because it will ruin her own surprise.

In other news, if anyone can tell me why I can no longer type between photos without having the text appear all over the place in ths published post, that would be awesome. You know what I'm saying? If I try to jibber jabber throughout the post, adding captions to photos, the whole thing looks totally wonky when I hit publish.

WHY?

Photo Wreck

How do you take good pictures? Why don't I have the patience to learn? I am so tired of being so awful at this!

On the upside, I am writing for Canadian Geographic again this month.

Someone else will be providing pictures.

Leather Leftovers

Please find below some nicer shots of the earrings I posted yesterday, as well as a few new trinkets.

Dust Your Ears Off

I was so into bracelets and necklaces I completely forgot about my new favourite earrings.

Made for Hillside. Meant for brave ladies. These feathers measure four inches in length and sweep your shoulders when you wear them.

Besides remembering these, I'm at a bit of a loss today. I have a long list of "to-do's" and can't seem to move on any of them. I blame the snow, which dumped on Hamilton so beautifully last night, but weighs me down today.

I'm going to lay this list out in black and white and hope that seeing it hang in cyberspace will spur me to action...

- Cut leather for my first purse with a strap.

- Finish the feather bracelet I'm making Karin as a thank-you for her enormous Hillside help.

- Clean up this mess of a studio. How did it get to be such a disaster so quickly?

- Put together a look book so I can start shopping leather around to a couple Toronto stores I think might be interested.

Whew!

Memphis is cured! However, since I spent most of the weekend stressing about his recovery (with a break for four hours of intense east end bowling Saturday night), I'm going to have to re-hash some old arts action.

The below photos were taken by Peter Michael Wilson during February's James North Art Crawl. Friends of mine bought an amazing old diner on the street and jazzed it up for the Crawl so people could see the original fixtures and furnishings before they start renovating the space.

I got to live a bit of a dream by serving beer and pie all night in my roller skates and a vintage diner dress I bought years ago that just happened to match the old-man-pants-green of the diner perfectly.

What an awesome night. One of those that goes on longer than you think you have the steam for until you hear birds chirping.

Nothing today. My dog is sick and I am scared for him.

Note This

Pigott Building wallets are now available at White Elephant!

Hillside Inside - The Post Mortem Edition

Here are a couple cell shots my employee of the day (Karin) took during Hillside Inside.

As soon as I figure out how to recover the photos I accidentally deleted from my camera, I'll upload them as well.

In the meantime, the following are...

1) Liz (and Jon) of Peep Design.

2) Extreme close-up of my head, with Peep originals in the background...how did I leave without one of those necklaces?

3) Jon and I talking shop.

4) Window dressing my table.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for chit, chat, or purchase! Extra special thanks to everyone who had a hand in organizing/running/performing/volunteering with the show. It was a great way to spend a February afternoon and a much-needed reminder that winter will end and summer festivals will follow.

Home Again...

In the three years we've owned this house, I've moved my studio as many times. I started out in what was essentially a closet, slowly took over the master bedroom, then sidestepped into a smaller second floor bedroom.

We recently committed to the idea of carving the house up into three separate apartments (and having at least one finished by summer) and have undertaken the grand re-tooling of rooms and furniture so we (see: Sean) can begin renovating.

Since I need a space for my studio that isn't the damp basement and isn't a major thoroughfare for dogs and visitors, the only option is the front room aka the best room in the house - complete with massive windows and original fireplace. I still have to move a few things down, most notably the giant unit that shelves all my canvas, but behold the room mid-move! What lovely light!

I can't wait to have a separate entrance and a sign in the window announcing it as my studio! People can make appointments and browse my wares! I'll serve them tea and delicious cookies!

Party in the Park

Don't you want to kick back under a tree and play guitar with this on?

I thought so. You hippie.

Update - I am Crazy. Carry on.

How quickly the tides turn!

It is now I who eats writing for breakfast. A late afternoon breakfast of belief. Try to break that down writing!

I win. For now...

Boo-urns

Today is a less-than-stellar day. Wherein writing is chewing me up and spitting me out.

It's so bad that I ate crackers for lunch. This is the Seinfeld equivalent, for me, of wearing track pants out in public...which I also did today. For shame!

Oh man let's focus on the things I've finished instead, no?

Here are some nicer shots of the then half-finished straps I posted last week.

Hamilton's Next Top Model

It's been a slow day in art town. Again, the fault of a training run. While 22km is not so big a deal, 22km in a snow sqaull is. Every step forward ends with a slip half a step back.

As a result, today I focussed on performance art - Girl Sleeping on Couch with Hound.

Here are some old shots of my one-time model, Morgan, wearing leather like it's nobody's business.

I trained her up in a day. Wear this like that. Look up. Look at me. No biggie. Take that Tyra.

Finally Fireweed

A couple paintings I'm finishing up today. These poor canvases (canvii?) spent too much time on the bench, thanks to the all-consuming event that was Hillside.

First - Fireweed.

Second - Aurora.

Yukon Ho!

Last week Basia Bulat (who I love) was on Q talking about how her new record was inspired by time she recently spent in the Yukon.

Anyone who knows me knows how my heart breaks for that territory. Sean and I spent the summer of 2006 cycling through the mountains of BC, Yukon and Alaska en route to DCMF, where we volunteered with the festival for two weeks. The whole experience was the perfect mix of people and place and I've been aching to go back ever since. I'm always on the lookout for jobs in the north. I regularly check in with Dawson. I'm desperate for a residency up there. I think about it all the time. And I have a subsequent soft spot for anyone who understands/shares my love for all things north of 60. Bulat's interview inspired me to hammer out the necklace below.

A hand-carved rendering of my favourite corner of the country, hung on a vintage brass chain and weighted with a nice slice of turquoise. The hole in the heart of it is Dawson. The colours are off because I had to take these shots indoors last night, but you get the idea.

I was half going to keep this little lovely for myself, but Bulat played in Hamilton last night and I ended up giving it to her at the end of the night. I feel like I should curb the impulse to do this kind of thing because

A) It makes me feel like a 15-year old fangirl and

B) I always stress that no one ever actually likes the stuff I spring on them and I convince myself that in their heads they're like greeaaaaaaaat...thanks for...whatever this is supposed to be. You nut. PS - Your teeth are black. You wino.

However, I felt like she should have it. I know I go to pieces whenever anyone gives me anything that has anything to do with the Yukon (be it bauble or photo or information) and I wanted to do the same for someone who understands. She was gracious and friendly in her acceptance, so hopefully she did.

Working for the Weekend...Where There is More Work

So today is the last day I've got to get my Hillside shit together. I have a few pairs of earrings to paint, a couple necklaces to put finishing touches on and a guitar strap or four to polish off.

Also have to hit the downtown Hammer in search of price tags and various label-y things.

Once everything is finished (please let it be before sunset) I'm going to take pictures of all the new stuff, so look for that in the coming days.

Everything that does not sell at Hillside will make its way to my Etsy shop over the course of the next week or two, so keep an eye.

All right. I have one lazy hound to walk before I dive into the day.

Wish me luck!

With Hillside, not the hound...

Redux

A few noobs and a few old designs with new, thicker feathers...

Cruise Control

I feel like I'm equal parts enslaved and in charge. All I want to do is sleep, but I keep cracking the whip on myself to do nothing but tool. I can't even count the number of little leather pendants I popped off today.

They are, as yet, unfinished, but check the following out in the meantime...

First up, sparrow on an 18k gold-plated chain. Swinging and singing his way into your heart. Don't deny it. His song will go on. Just like my delerium.

Next on the list - the Cleopatra Collar. I am in love with this. I bought the chain a few weeks ago because I loved the look of it. When it arrived I thought what in hell am I going to be able to do with it? because it is very chunky and wide and really quite POW! on its own without any leather bling.

Turns out a simple peacock feather is perfect. A little loose around the neck - a nice copper collar. Regal. Princess-y, but tough too. I'm all about the beautiful warrior motif lately.

Last in the batting order is a pair of guitar straps. The light brown one has a rearing stallion stitched into it (please keep it to yourself if you can't tell what it is. I was denied a grant today and am feeling very fragile). The dark brown one has a lightning cutaway that reveals a shock of electric blue suede. The side stitching isn't finished on this one, but I plan to do that in the car on the way to Toronto tomorrow. Hillside Inside has a flame-retardant (sorry, sorry flame-challenged) display policy and since my entire display is made of wood, I have to go hit up a couple stores to try and find metal display materials.

Enjoy! I'm off to eat pitas and rock climb the stress away.

Guitar Hero

Can't type, gotta stitch. Here's a sneak peek at one of the straps I'm working on this afternoon.

Hopefully I'll have a three-piece band's worth (a drum machine-reliant three piece band's worth) of straps to post tomorrow.