Friday, December 31, 2010

happy new year!

welcoming in 2011
and wishing everyone a wonderful,
creative and
happy new year

Thursday, December 30, 2010

new orleans, part 3







some of my favorite shots
above : a veiw of the mississippi, the st. charles street car,
st. louis cathedral and jackson square
after 5 days away i need some time to catch up on my sleep
spend time with friends and get ready for the new year

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

new orleans, part 2

strolling down royal street
there is everything from souvenirs to antiques
above, one of the windows cough my eye
when i went in for a closer look i noticed the old syrup bottle

early morning music


st. louis cemetery #1



it's all about the details










Sunday, December 26, 2010

new orleans, day one

my last minute trip has been wonderful so far
the flight was quick, and when we arrived the skies where blue
and the sun was warm
(left: a view of the swamps from the plane and right: our hotel)

we strolled down canal st to the mississippi
watched the riverboat "natchez" float by


wondered along the river


stopped for gumbo and crab cakes



around jackson square




around the gates of the square where local artists
above shanira and her drawing i purchased for a dollar
(i hope i get to see her again, i think i owe here more money)

i also got a "reading" from oscar
but that will be a whole post on its own!!!





cafe du monde
across from the square
famous for their beignet
(or heart attack on a plate!)




holiday spirit






after diner we went on the "ghost tour"
it was fun to wonder the streets at nite
learning the history of many building
each one having a ghost attached to it
on the left our group's feet, i was trying to set my camera flash
our guide told us that 90% of the group will capture some "orbs"
or spirits in their photos
on the right the back of st louis cathedral
and the little bubbles are the orbs!!!!



another view of st louis
no orbs???


Saturday, December 25, 2010

merry christmas




may the spirit of christmas bring you peace,
the gladness of christmas give you hope,
the warmth of christmas grant you love
unknown

----------

wishing everyone a very merry christmas
and all the best for 2011

Thursday, December 23, 2010

counting down

this year i will be traveling for the holidays
getting away on a last minute trip
i'm heading down to new orleans for 5 days
yeah!!!!
-------
above, one of my photos from last winter and
and polaroid transfer frame from shadowhouse

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

time to play

with a few days left before christmas
i actually got a chance to play around in ps
i downloaded a set of 6
snowflake brushes from my friend marie
thanks marie, these are so much fun!!!
i started out with a photo from the top of my street
i used the snowflake as an eraser to remove the hard edge
then with white and blue i alternated sizes, colour and opacity
using my new wacom bamboo instead of the mouse
i found it easier to work with this time
and think i'm really going to like the class i sign up for

Sunday, December 19, 2010

special christmas order

my friend lianne asked if i would make three necklaces
for her daughters (15, 12 and 6 years old)
she gave me some old keys given to her by an uncle
she was going to add some chain
but thought i could do something a little more creative.........

i just started twisting wire and adding their favorite colour
with some beads and a few charms
it nice to be apart of something special
i know mom is really happy and so excited to
give them to the girls

Thursday, December 16, 2010

the gift of warmth

the big day is getting close
time to start crossing things off my list
the first patch of scarves i've been working on
have been wrapped up and on their way

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

save the date

a mixed media workshop event
may 27-29, 2011
this is so exciting,
finally an event close to home
---------
i'll be teaching jewelry and encaustic
other instructers
sandra spagnuolo
lois sander
-----
registration will be starting soon
(get on the e-mail update list)



Saturday, December 11, 2010

new toy

this is my new toy
a wacom bamboo tablet
-------
an early christmas present to me
i'm taking an on-line class with marie otero next month
and need some time to learn how it works
i like working with the pen
and it was fun using the eraser
but it took me an hour to write
merry christmas!!!
i will need more practice before class starts !!!

Friday, December 10, 2010

deck the halls

well actually the front porch
time has flown by so quickly
i haven't had time to get in the holiday mood
i can't believe its on 15 days away
where did the time go?
above my lion urn hanging next to my front door
filled with evergreen, cedar, holly, juniper and berries

i had enough leftover to finish off another container
with the bit of snow today ...............................
its beginning to look a alot like christmas

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

winter has arrived early

not that it wasn't expected
living in canada it is inevitable
but last year was so mild
i was just being hopeful
temperatures have been chilly
and yesterday we got a lite dusting of snow
(nothing compared to my friends just a few mile north)

i really do love the change of seasons
my favorite is the silhouette of a tree

they say
"in like a lion, out like a lamb"
(i think it is only 100 days 'til spring)
until then i will stay in, keep warm and plan my garden




Friday, December 3, 2010

all wired out!!!

i think it's time for a 12 step program
i've been twisting wire and stringing beads
non stop since last week!!
step one: step away from the wire
(my neck is stiff and hands are going numb)
second step: admitting i have an obsession!!!
it's just so much fun
i got carried away trying out alternative
ways of shaping the wire

once they are filled with beads
it sparks another idea
or color scheme


and before you know it
i'm out of wire and i'm jonesing
for more!!!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

all wired up







beads and wire
everywhere!!
and beanie keeping an eye on things


Monday, November 29, 2010

keepin' warm

with the temperatures below zero this weekend
it was easy to stay indoors and keep warm
------
above the start of a small afghan
i had 7 balls of leftover yarn from last year
its a simple "shell" design and really easy
now i need to find more of the same
to finish it

i wish i could be my cat
"beanie"
for a day
she just rolls on the floor
catching the sunny spot
all day long!!!!

Friday, November 26, 2010

one of a kind show

first stop at the show, as always
carmi's booth to say hi
and purchase a few christmas cards

my favorite at the show
toronto artist joanna sipos
i purchased this wonderful belt made of wire and metal


dan bi-- jianzhi artist
from markham 647.588.4168
this tiger caught my eye
i can't image how much patience it would take
to cut out this intricate design out of such thin paper
(i was born in the year of the tiger)



paper collage artist mary karavos (left)
beautiful collages with handmade paper
and sue mcnenly (right)
cute precious metal necklaces


i just had to laugh at this card and buy one for fun
it came with a set of vodoo pins and
the black background is foam
creepy christine




birch poetry by
----------
sunday i will be back to work carmi's booth and
see the second half of the show
 
© The Evolution of Nancy
CoffeeShop Designs