MY Little Clay Monster

clay hand building class with Kathleen Raven

Just got my little monster back!

Oh my what a funny little guy he turned out to be. 

Last month I took a hand building clay class from one of my most favorite 

Clay Artists, Kathleen Raven. 

I have been collecting Kathleen's work

 for the last 15 years or more.

When she announced she was having a workshop 

I couldn't wait to sign up and this is the little guy I created. 

What a fun class it was.

 I can't wait till she gives another.

you can email me here

Whimsey Houses

Just thought I'd post a few pictures of the workshop I may be teaching some time in the future. 

I had so much fun doing it, I can't wait to share it.

Enjoy!

HiP-piTy HoP tO ThE ARt gALLerY ShOP

............DEAD LINE ...... October 24, 2011

I made it!!!!!!!!!

bye bye my sweeties

coasters

more coasters

"TIME" Please Slow Down and Let Me Catch Up!

I can't believe my last post was in August. Wow!

This summer and the beginning of the fall have been a whirl wind of activities - traveling,  socializing, marketing, preparations and departures.

Two of my three children have moved on to new chapters of their lives. Both to further their education and to experience more of the world away from home. Liam, just graduating, off to University (UBC) in the Engineering facility and Alicia, who already has a fine arts degree, but wants to try a new career assisting in the dental industry. A wonderful thing is that they are both in Vancouver and only 15 minutes away from each other.

That leave's Me, Bob (husband) and Megan (middle child, who is not aloud to leave unless she takes Bob and I with her, hehe) left at home. We've almost made it through the week without any tears. hehe!  However, and of course, I am very happy they are able to pursue their journey and have the courage to do it. Hang in their my sweet children!

Liam's room at Res. Same set up on the other side of the room. Cozy!

I have also been preparing for a new chapter. Quit my full time receptionist job last winter and have been trying to organize myself to be apart of the entrepreneur world.

I did a few markets this summer, had my wares in a local Art/Cafe shoppe, and started an Etsy store. I even got myself involved in teaching four workshops this fall with the City Recreation Programs.  I am hoping that there will be enough people signed up so that the classes will go. In between all this I have been making things to sell at the Christmas Craft Shows and The Christmas Art Gallery Store.
(I bet this sounds familiar to a lot of you artisans out there) just a part of our lives!
Oh ya, and I organized a new space for my studio.  I'll go more into that later, that was a huge undertaking.

So that's where I've been and what I have been doing. Now that I got that out of the way, I hope I can organize this blog so it can be a little more useful for you and me!

I haven't forgot about that recipe section I started and I might have some crafty things to show you as soon as I figure out how to make those nifty tutorials on-line that everyone seems to be doing and of course, get some more stuff in that Etsy shop.

Here's a few pictures of my "Wonderful Whirl Wind Summer"

On our way to Vancouver Island  ( me and meg)

It was a gorgeous day for a ferry ride (bob)

Awesome books I purchased this summer. Love them!

Fernie Market

more Fernie market

 one more Fernie Market

last one

Me and my pals at one of our favourite spots. We had the best weather the whole time

Ali and Liam at Liam's graduation.

Me and Liam at grad

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions. 

Albert Einstein 

have a wonderful day!

Trip to the Kamloops Farmers Market

I loooovvvve to go to the Markets! Really, what's not to like about them. Handcrafted lovelies, yummy homemade goodies and everyone is always in such a good mood.

 I don't think I've ever seen anyone there without a smile on their face. 

So YEH!!!! for the Farmers Markets,

We love you!!!

 My daughter Ali and I had the most wonderful day 

taking pictures 

and smelling gorgeous bouquets of flowers.

My sweet daughter Ali

Me doing inspections

Luba Baron of "Soul Fire Pottery"

Luba's Pottery, I love her whimsical expression her pottery has.
It always makes me smile!

Here's Donna Bowie with her gorgeous earth fired pottery 

Me coveting Donnie Bowie's lovelies

Bronwen Grant  of "Fabrico" a very talented lady

These are a few of her wonderful up-cycled creations

If you have the opportunity,

 put a visit to your local Farmers Market on your to do list.

You won't be disappointed!

I Actually Did It!

I can't believe I have finally opened up my Etsy shop. It's 4:10 a.m. and the shop is opened! 

 I wasn't worried if I had to stay up all night to finish it. 

the name of the shop is....  

 caregourleyshop
original eh?!
that's when the cart comes before the horse

crocheted bracelets in my etsy shop

I just started and I said "Self you are staying at this kitchen table until this is done, no more stalling". 

The only things is I only have 3 items for sale, hehe. 

I love those...baby steps, baby steps

There is still tons and tons of reading to do to help your shop be very successful so I will be doing that on my holiday trip to see my family in the south eastern part of British Columbia,  a beautiful little town named Fernie. 

I am planning on doing a few of the markets when I get there so I can't put too much in the Shop until after I have done those,

 (that reminds me, I have to email the lady who is in charge and sign myself up).


  I will only have a dozen things or so for sale to start so I won't
get mixed up with inventory here and there.

 Tomorrow I will take pictures and add the rest of the items.

Now the REAL organization starts.  oh  no...

To bed I will go and tomorrow will be another day.

Night to you all, or maybe I should say

"Good Morning!"
:)

Focaccia and Picnik

Vintage Focaccia with picnik.com

Here is another picture I altered on picnik.com. I used the vintage option because the stone bakeware and cutting board reminded me of the 60's. But the best part is the recipe from Martha Stewart, that I use for my FOCACCIA bread. I have been using this same recipe for many years and love it.  It's also great for pizza crusts. The only changes I've made over the last couple of years is I use

ROBIN HOOD'S BEST FOR BREAD flours.

And Since my family does not want to eat any white bread these days, I found using the Whole Wheat variety very successful. The wonderful thing about this flour is it always rises. I'm not sure about the science of it, but it is different than your typical flours (t's on my list of things to read up on).

Robin Hood best for bread whole wheat

Here's the recipe.............

FOCACCIA

recipe from marthastewart.com

Ingredients

• 1 pinch sugar
• 2 3/4 cups warm water, 100 degrees to 110 degrees
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for bowl, baking sheet, and drizzling
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon coarse salt, plus more for sprinkling
• Fresh rosemary (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir sugar into 1/4 cup of the water, and sprinkle in yeast. Stir well; let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. Add remaining 2 1/2 cups water and the olive oil, and mix well. Add flour a cup at a time, mixing well. Add salt, and knead dough until smooth and elastic, 4 to 5 minutes in an electric mixer fitted with a dough-hook attachment, or 8 to 10 minutes by hand.
3. Form dough into a ball, and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
4. Spread dough evenly onto an oiled baking sheet. Cover with a damp towel, and let rise for 30 minutes.
5. Dimple surface of dough with your fingertips, leaving deep indentations. Cover with towel again, and let rise until doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
6. Heat oven to 425 degrees. Drizzle oil on top of dough, allowing dimples to fill. Gently spread oil over surface without deflating dough. Brush lightly with water, then sprinkle with salt and rosemary, if desired.
7. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven, and slide onto a wire rack. Serve as soon as possible.
   Enjoy!
   
   

Summer Break and Restful Nights

Charcoal sketch edited with picnik.com

Since my "Art in the Park" art fair ended, I have been on an extended vacation of sorts. No real concrete comittments until the fall (I'll chat about that later), only fun and optional ones for the summer. So that gives me some free time to explore a few new thingamajigs roaming around in the universe. One being, the photo editing site picnik.com.  It's a really cool and powerful site with a lot of free photo editing tools with the option of paying a monthly fee to expand those tools.

My first attempt was this charcoal sketch I did a while back. Here it is in it's original state.....

Original charcoal sketch

I know this site has been around for quite awhile, but I just never seemed to have the time (or really knew what it was) to explore it.

BUT NOW......

oh no!  I already spend too much time on the internet...now this! 

I really need to make a daily plan.....

that's what my dear husband says anyhow

 I think he is right and I actually have put it on my to do list 

(somewhere, kinda right in the middle). 

I will do it because I know I need too, especially now without the commitment of that day job I quit back in November 2010

(that's another story). 

Anyhow, I wanted to share this with you all just in case you haven't heard about it and have been wanting to do some editing on your photos but didn't know how to go about it. 

And me, well I am just happy I discovered this "fabulous photo editing tool" so I can manipulate some of the sketches and paintings I have done to use in my jewelry and sewing projects.

I hope you are enjoying a 

restful

 creative

 and 

eventful 

summer.

Practice Run

my new favourite stamp "What I love today"
for a crocheted bracelet

I thought I better do a bit of a practice run today. I was having a bit of anxiety wondering how I was going to set up for an out door show, only having done it one other time about 10 years ago and not remembering much about it. It really did help. 

Nice Dirt bike in the background, eh!   :)

My Pink Stuff

Still have some tweeking to do (like putting on a bit of spray paint on the ugly gold shelve I bought at a flea market) but it seems to be all coming together.

Ugly gold shelf

I've officially stopped crafting today..... Cut myself off..... Done......Two more days to make lists and gather up all the necessary items........can't forget change. I keep having nightmares about that. Weird!

few little crocheted gadget bags

It's so nice having my mom (nana) here visiting again. She's one of  my biggest fans! She loves everything I make, even if she's not sure what it is, hehe!

Thanks mommsy!!!

Count Down

Cards for Art in the Park

It's official, count down starts today. Ten days till "Art in the Park" an outdoor arts and crafts sale that I will be in. I have been busy working for the last couple of months, in between grad stuff, gardening, and of course just life in general. So of course, I have not come anywhere near what I wanted to accomplish by now, but alas, there is ten days left.

I think my biggest problem is staying focused. I tend to be scattered all over the place, with a brain full and swarming with ideas. Oh my....I think I am the best re-grouper ever. I must do it 20 times a day.

Magnet is attached to the card

I love making these cards

Tomorrow I will finish up the necklaces and earrings I've working on, then on to some more sewing.

Bottle Cap Earings

She's not so scary when she's on your ears..really

My little fairy necklaces

I have been neglecting my poor little purses and I must give them some attention. "Hold on little ones, I will see you on day 8."

a little clutch