Handmade Here - Ottawa 2012

I am very excited to announce that I will be participating in Ottawa's Handmade Here, an intimate house show featuring the work of local artists, that is happening just in time for the holidays.

On Saturday, November 24th shoppers will be able to peruse a host of one-of-a-kind handmade perfect-for-gifting goods, including copper and silver jewelry, pottery, blown glass, decorative cut glass, and kitted and wet-felted fibre pieces (functional and decorative).

While in attendance, meet the artists, learn about Ottawa's artistic and fine crafting traditions and enjoy complimentary finger treats and Bridgehead coffee.

What:  Handmade Here Ottawa

Where:  516 Brierwood Ave (Westboro)

When:  Saturday, November 24th between 10am and 3pm

Nuit Blanche

I am pleased to announce that a few of my works and one-of-a-kind fibre art greeting cards will be on display in the gallery of Flo Glassblowing during Ottawa's first ever Nuit Blanche.  Flo is hosting a series of exciting hot shop activities from 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 22nd, 2012 until 4 a.m. on Sunday, September 23rd, including cooking with glass, goblet-making, trophy mayhem and even an attempt at blowing a glass trumpet!  Keep yourself fueled through the wee hours of the night with coffee generously donated by Bridgehead Coffee Houses.  Full details can be found at:

Flo Glassblowing Studio and Gallery

957-C Gladstone Ave.

Ottawa, ON

(613) 695-3563

http://floglassblowing.ca/

http://fueltheflo.blogspot.ca/

http://nuitblancheottawa.ca/

Production vs. One-of-a-Kind

In a departure from my usual production work (vast landscapes and studies in colour and texture that appeal to common design aesthetics), I created this emotion-driven piece which I entitled "Consumed."  The work is a conceptual representation in handmade felt (wool, silk, bamboo and soy fibers) and hand beading.  It was first displayed at the Patrick John Mills Contempory Art Gallery (http://patrickjohnmills.ca/) last March as part of an International Women's Day visual art exhibit that i co-curated through the NGO Celebrate HER.

Read into it what you will...

When untimely rain forces backyard parties indoors…magical things happen.

In early June I excitedly planned a backyard barbecue as a surprise birthday for someone near and dear to me.  Although heavy rains and thunder storms forced the festivities indoors, the impromptu results were still magical.  My DIY mason jar lanterns turned into a beautiful fireplace arrangement while the generous loan of two 6 foot tables by my next door neighbor Sylvia transformed the living room into a formal dining room.  A big shout out to Melody Jewitt of Ottawa's Flo Glassblowing (floglassblowing.com) who provided hand blown glass ornaments for the event and also to Britt, Kaya and Laughlin who put their artistic skills to good use decorating the place up!

(photo courtesy of Rosalie McGrath)

(photo courtesy of Rosalie McGrath)

New Etsy Treasury List

Check out the latest treasury list I curated on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/treasury/NTUyNjEwOHwyNzIyOTQ5ODgy/my-favorite-things-for-lazy-days-in-june?index=0 - just a few beautiful handmade things that I had to share!

Felt by Design hits Hintonberg!

I am pleased to announce that the latest creation in my series of four seasons pieces is now on display in the front window of Wabi-Sabi, Ottawa's go-to spot for all things fibre, knitting, spinning and weaving.  Entitled "Life Cycling," this is my largest fibre art-work  to date, measuring 6 feet by 1.5 feet when framed in an old storm window.  The piece is on display for the month of March.

Wabi-Sabi can be found at:

1078 Wellington Street West
Ottawa, ON  K1Y 2Y3
(613) 725-5648
www.wabi-sabi.ca


Store hours:

Tues - Friday:     10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday:            10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday:              12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Public Transit:  #2 (stops in front), #14 (stops on Gladstone at Melrose, one block away), O-Train Bayview Station (10 minute walk).

Celebrate HER - Multi-venue Visual Art Exhibits

                                    

Annually, on the 8th of March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences and government activities through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances and more. 

In the spirit of this day, Celebrate HER is hosting a multi-venue, weeklong fundraising and awareness campaign utilizing the performing and visual arts with proceeds going to the Ottawa Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC).  Celebrate HER is an Ottawa-based gender inclusive non-profit organization with a mission to raise awareness of women’s issues and lend support to local programming.  With this series of events, Celebrate HER aims to honour amazing women in the Ottawa area while also supporting the development of emerging, mid-career and professional artists.

The visual artists exhibiting with Celebrate HER address the lived experiences of women from diverse standpoints and backgrounds.  In the presented artworks, viewers will encounter a multitude of challenging themes such as human interconnectivity, notions of the self, the sensual, erotic being,  and complex inner anxieties.  Viewers may also step into ongoing conversation about immigration, urban life and the simple wonder and joy of being.  What ties these diverse artworks together is an undeniable tribute to the many expressions of female power and resilience that we celebrate this week.

The visual art exhibits can be viewed in Ottawa's Hintonberg and Lower Town areas between 2 noon and 5 p.m., Monday – Sunday* at:

1.  Alpha Soul Cafe

1015 Wellington Street West


2.  Flo Glass Blowing Studio

957 Gladstone Avenue

*Closed Sunday - Monday

3.  Le Michel-Ange Café, Warehouse, Roastery  

35 Laurel Street

*Opens at 6:30 a.m. Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday

*Closes at 3 p.m. Monday – Friday, at  2 p.m. on Saturday; closed on Sundays

4.  Patrick John Mills Contemporary Art Gallery                                                  286 Hinchey Avenue

*Closed Monday - Wednesday

5. The Daily Grind

601 Somerset Street West

*Closed Monday