Hi Everyone…

So much “life” has happened since my last post here a few years ago! 

I am working on a new website which should be up and running by Spring 2022. I will be changing a few things and adding new content. Hope all is well with you! ‘Til then…

Christmas is getting closer and we are having an evening of snow...not a lot, but it is nice to have a little white on the ground around this time of year. We have had a very mild fall/winter so far.
The decorating has been done for a while now and so I am enjoying the season. I have one more gift to make and then we will be ready.

Working on a couple of painting pieces for a demo this Saturday out at Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond, Alberta. Always love the time spent in the gallery. Such a lovely space, with lots to see.

Must run tonight...a few more things to do before another busy day.

OUR CHRISTMAS POINSETTIA 2015

Wishing you all a happy week.
Thank-you for visiting!

Wow! Didn't think it would take me this long to get back to my routine. I was keeping up...and then WHAM...life!!
Since the last post, there has been a serious family health crisis, which I am happy to report is getting better, although it will be another year before things are completely better...and even then, careful monitoring for awhile. The docs have been amazing and we are all so grateful!

And let me see, there has been a much needed vacation...which was wonderful. I was able to see my  beloved cousin Karen and her husband Rich..They are kind, caring and we are blessed to have them in our family. We are now enjoying the fruits of their farm...homemade Strawberry Jam, Raspberry Jam and Pure Maple Syrup tapped from their trees. Yummm....

We also enjoyed a wonderful visit with my Dad and sister. Dad will be 95 in a couple of weeks...and "time is marching on" as he would say. I don't know how many more visits we will have...but this one was special. And he is still golfing!!

And oh yes, there has been art...lots of art! And oh, I almost forgot...a quilt! I decided to make a Jinny Beyer Block of the Month Quilt this past year. We only have one more lesson in December. I can't believe almost a year has gone by since the classes started. I hope to have the top completed before Christmas.

So much more news to share...for another day. I will leave you with a few photos of happenings around here...

I SAW THREE SHIPS...AT THE LAKE 2015

A LITTLE GARDENING ~ 2015

MAKING PLASTER LEAVES 2015

LOOKING UP! AT THE CALGARY TOWER 2015

THE VIEW LOOKING WEST FROM THE CALGARY TOWER 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The photos below are of one of the latest painting I am working on...the 1st one is the very beginning of the idea...the conceptual stage as I like to say. The second one is the progress. A long way to go...but I can see the piece in a more complete way.

  

Thank-you for stopping by...

Have a happy day!

Hello...
It is almost spring...hooray! We can't complain about the winter we have had here in Calgary. It is has been a mild, dry season with very little snow. I hope we get a moderate amount of rain to get rid of some of the dust. I am also wishing spring comes soon to my friends and family in the east...they have had an unusually cold and snowy winter. A toast to spring!!

Painting and quilting these days. The BOM quilt is coming along nicely..4 of the 13 blocks are done. We can't work ahead with this quilt...only 1-2 blocks per month. I am hand sewing and quilting this one...no machine. It will probably be the only one I hand piece again for awhile, but I am enjoying the process. I used to hand piece everything...but now I want things to go a little faster, with the exception being this quilt.
I am also getting ready for the spring art shows. Working hard on new ideas and ways to present...frames with no glass for some pieces.

This year, I decided to get started in my pursuit of becoming an active member of the Federation of Canadian Artists...first step - I am now a supporting member. 2nd step - Active membership...hopefully by the fall.

A few photos of these past few weeks...

Last week a whole flock of Bohemian Waxwings landed in our Blue Spruce tree. It was so nice to see them again.
I don't know how many of you are familiar with Curling...but it is a pretty popular sport here in Canada. This past week, I had the opportunity to be at the 2015 Brier here in Calgary. Team Canada plays out of the Glencoe Club in Calgary...and so it was exciting when they took home the top prize!!
A wonderful story...Congratulations!!
The photo of the photographers at the brier...they looked like seals on the rocks at one point and then this happened...they were all up and taking pics. The photographer in the middle is one of the best photographers in Calgary...at least I think so. His name is Neil Zeller. (A link to his site-push on his name) I had the honour of meeting him there. I have also had the privilege to paint some of his work...
The last two pics are of the Block of the Month Quilt I am working on...it is a Jinny Beyer quilt. The colors are so pretty...looking forward to continuing on with the blocks in the coming months.

CEDAR WAXWINGS 2015

PHOTOGRAPHERS AT THE BRIER 2015

TEAM CANADA ~ WINNING THE BRIER 2015

BOM QUILT ~ 2015

BOM QUILT ~ JANUARY BLOCK 2015

Wishing you all a happy day!
Thank-you for visiting...

Hello...
January is usually a productive month for me. I like to change things up a little for the new year.
And this year is no different...I have rearranged furniture and now I am tackling my studio. I want to get back to doing more sewing. Can't really change the furniture, but I can make my desk space more functional to accommodate both sewing and painting. I like a challenge and this will be challenging!!
In the meantime...new painting ideas are formulating and I am waiting for fabric to arrive to start a new block of the month. It is a Jinny Beyer quilt through Craftsy. I am pretty excited about this one.
I will share once I get going...

Always love watching the birds from the kitchen...
First pic...this is the female woodpecker. We also have two males that stop by - they have the red crest...but today, she was by herself.

WOODPECKER ~ 2015

NORTHERN FLICKER ~ 2015

The northern flicker is such a beautiful bird. This is the male. We had the female here the other day. They looked like a married couple. She was chirping away...and he was just looking at her! LOL!!

Wishing you a happy week!
Thank-you for stopping by...

Hello...
Counting the days now! The shopping is well, 95% done...still have to pick up the turkey etc.
A little wrapping and we will be ready to have our family on Christmas Eve. It is always a fun day, although I do wish I could have my Dad here. He is 94yrs. now, but stays active and is still driving and at home. He is remarkable for his age!
This year, I decided to do another little painting for my dad...He lives in an area where commercial fishing is still thriving and so I thought maybe a fishing boat. Hope he likes it...he is pretty fussy. I added a touch more yellow in the trees since this picture. This is a plaster on canvas piece. I would like to try this same painting again without the plaster.

CHRISTMAS TREE ~ 2014

Wishing you a happy week!
Thank-you for stopping by...

Hello...

Christmas is almost here! I am just about ready...a few more gifts to buy, a few more paintings to do before I start thinking about what I am going to paint in 2015!!

I am also seriously thinking about this blog and whether I am going to continue on. I have a website, I am on facebook and twitter and so is it worth the effort and time to keep this going too?? Tough question. Blogging seems to be disappearing as people want instant information and don't want to have to read a lot. I have always loved the idea of the blog...and so I am contemplating.
What do you think??

I am now showing my work in Just Imajan Art Gallery. It is a lovely little gallery in Cochrane, Alberta...about 25 minutes from Calgary. If you are in the area, stop by for a visit!

I have also done several pieces for Bluerock Gallery (Black Diamond, Alberta).
I hope to show this work at the gallery in the new year.
It has been an exciting fall for me. I have so much to be grateful for as I look toward the new year.
I will keep you posted!!

                     DEMO DAY ~ JUST IMAJAN ART GALLERY 2014

This picture is of my set-up on Demo Day, Dec. 6th at Just Imajan
Art Gallery. I had a great day painting and chatting with the owner/artist, Janet Armstrong.

CHRISTMAS 2014

The above image was taken yesterday just before we had a dinner party for two
very special people in our lives. We had a lovely, fun evening.

Wishing you a happy week
Thank-you for stopping by...
Nancy