Monday, December 29, 2008

Year in review

to be cliche' about the whole thing....

2008 was interesting to say the least, and there are moments when I wonder if I have been cursed: May you live in interesting times.

We've gone from knowing nearly nothing about David's back problems a little over a year ago to having a grip on the problem within the last couple of months. That's progress. And despite the 'back' he managed to rebuild a car this summer and fall, took longer than he wanted because he got laid up with the 'back' a lot more than planned, but he proved it to me and more importantly, to himself, that it could still be done.

I mentioned in an earlier post about "recycling problems", people and issues that keep coming round, well, had my share of those this year. Here's two: One problem taught me what I didn't want in a business, which also solved another part of the problem, how I really feel about the person involved. Another one, which I thought I had tucked neatly into a box, nicely tied with a ribbon, hidden in the nether regions of my closet (figuratively speaking of course) managed to untie the box from the inside and turn the entire place upside down. I'm still coming to terms with this, but just know that some people will keep coming back, and that's OK when you really like them, and the key seems to be finding a way to let them back into your life even when you didn't really think there was a hope in hell of having them fit in. Not easy, but potentially rewarding.

I realized that I am not ready to go back into a structured wholesale marketplace with a product line specifically for that purpose. I bristle. I learned that I really really enjoy working with shops that want to select from already created one-off items. Now that's rewarding.

I discovered that I am knowledgeable enough about what I do to be able to teach it and make it enjoyable and successful for 99% of the participants and that there is always going to one person who is such a perfectionist that not being able to learn a complex concept in less than 10 minutes is really going to cheese them off, and it won't matter what I do, they will already have decided that it isn't worth doing. Their loss, and there is a reason why the classes are more than 2 hours long.

Also, overcame my hesitation for public speaking too. Rather beneficial when you start to teach really.

I learned that political discussions, in which I have strong opinions, that I can nearly come to blows with post-retirement age Canadian ladies who spend 6 months of their year in California. This clue to some of my hot buttons was intriguing and for goodness sake don't get me started on Afghanistan vs. The Iraq War.

I have finally, with a modicum of grace, accepted and adopted the title of artist, and am happily tagging the word instructor along behind it. It fits and it more easily defines what my objectives really are. Which reminds me, I have a rejection call to make to a business association, they don't fit me.

Also figured out a way to make custom work enjoyable. Bring your camera and document the discussion with photographs of the items they like. Make specific statements: so what you really want is this stone in that setting! When someone says "well, you know what I want based on my description", say "NO" and then make them draw it until it becomes clear what is wanted. That puts some of the excitement back into the work and takes some of the fear and ego out of it.

The good news of the year is that David is just about ready to return to the studio, I am looking forward to that because his work was evolving nicely and he seemed to be finding his niche until the 'back' took him on another track for awhile. After 18 months, he's a bit rusty, but a bit of sandpaper and a new coat of paint :D he'll be fine.

Cheers & hope that your 2008 was happy and that 2009 is brighter than the national papers predict.

--

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Show Season update

We have been enjoying the rush and excitement of the Christmas Arts/Crafts Shows in the region for the past couple of weekends.

The Prince Edward Island Crafts Council provided and exceptional show at the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown. The entire team, all PEICC members, that worked on the show were very warm and welcoming. It was a delight to back on the island after not having been there for several years.

In Halifax, we had an outstanding show at Pier 23, the home of the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council's Christmas Market, again, beautifully organized and produced with outstanding results.

Thanks to everyone, including our regular and new clients who helped make these enjoyable events.

BTW, the music was relatively good both places.

We have three smaller one day events coming up, a 'men's night' at Viktor's Blue Rose Salon in Woodstock on Thursday, a sale at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre on Saturday and then back to Viktor's on the 6th, whereupon we will depart for Ottawa and The Originals Show for the 11th-21st of December. I am looking forward to Ottawa this year. The booth location is in the first isle towards the upper end. Our new booth design which we tested in the spring and has worked well for us at the Council shows should be ideal for this venue. We are also looking forward to reconnecting with old friends in the area and remeeting so many of the fabulous folks from last year's shows.

See you there!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Patterns and Colour

The late fall offers a range of patterns and colours that can be easily missed in the more flamboyant early fall and the garish summer.

This morning is a brisk, but not cold, overcast day, one that compelled a walk with camera in hand for a close look at small beauties.


Tiny cups and saucers are suggested by some of the fungus and the colours of quickly approaching Christmas in the other.



The growth on this decaying log seems to suggest that there is a whole micro-cosmic world of possibility in the small forest. For the insects that run rampant through it on warmer days, I am sure there is the same quest for food and shelter, lust and love, a battle of wills and stories of battles and survival that haunt our larger human world.



Bark always presents interesting colour and patterns and this is of a hole started by Pileated woodpeckers in a large hemlock. It has beat away the heavy bark layer and is now starting to peck away at the wood underneath. This is fresh activity because the wood is still very bright. The woodpeckers hunt for ants and other boring insects.



The slender branches of the wild cinnamon roses are a deep red and the leaves are surprisingly still on the bush, perhaps only now for a few more short days.




Fungi are perhaps some of the most interesting things to be examined. I particularly enjoyed this one that was growing on an old beech tree stump.


It is a banded and cascading thing of subtle beauty.


And perhaps the loveliest of the late fall blooms is the spidery yellow of the Witch Hazel. It waits in ordinary green leaves for the entire summer, and fades to autumn brown before breaking into a dynamic show after the first hard frost.

The hazel is like some people, it must first grow, and appear bland, then with the cruelty of life, the hardening in cold times, they burst open, blooming, exposing themselves for their real self. Colourful but hardy even if delicate in appearance.

For other images from today: http://www.mboot.net/imagetest.htm

© Cynthia Ryder 2008

Monday, November 3, 2008

Fun With O-rings

Once in awhile there is a custom order that really is fun to work on. There is both enough guidance and enough freedom to play and experiment and it is different enough that it shows new possibilities in other items.

Frankly I am not much of a chain person, but I like this one, nice large 18 gauge square wire for the links. It has a nice smooth feel to it. Alternating links have been oxidized creating a soft grey-black effect in the links. The somewhat too tightly linked weave that served as a prototype is my new bracelet. I really like the weight of it.



I have been making these knotted fine gauge sterling silver spheres for a couple of years now as those of you that follow my work know. As above I am back to figuring out a series a links to bring these time consuming little monsters, measuring 8-10 mm each, together into a chain. I am also a hardware/automotive store shopper in that there are good tools that can modified for the bench, and various bits of hardware that are really cool to look at. Bought an O-ring kit sometime in the past year and the a-ha moment happened...



And of course, the left-over rings from the first project had to be used somewhere and the mid-sized O-rings are just so tempting and combined with hematite, both open-eye linked across the O-rings and caged... great earrings.

Enjoy!
--
© Cynthia Ryder 2008
--

Monday, October 27, 2008

Bad music, bad scene

We just returned from a show in the Halifax region, Nova Scotia. Overall it was an interesting event but not highly successful for us.

Not only did we have the purported economic woes ravaging the attendees, but we had to endure psych warfare, a la Barney the Purple Dinosaur plays Iraq. We all know that music affects mood and we know that we will play certain types of music for certain occasions in order to match our own desired mood. The Barney reference stems from Ronson's Men Who Stare at Goats, for those that are curious.

The context for this particular Craft Show is that for the third year in a row, sales have declined, and attendance is nearing dismal proportions, and for the third year, a certain pair of "wailin' ginnys" has performed live at the show along with having their CD's on near constant rotation. I am not saying that music is the only thing that can make a show but I am now convinced that music has the ability to break one.

In this case, the ladies are not completely melodic nor are they particularly perky sounding. The lyrics to their Christmas music goes something like this: I'm happy you are coming home for Christmas (sniff sniff, moan groan) It's going to be a wonderful time (except now I have to cook a turkey dinner) I have wanted you home for so long now (but preferably at home in the graveyard) You have been missed at every dinner before (and I could really stand to miss you again) Welcome home for Christmas (but maybe I'll get lucky and get you with the car) this year..... All of these happy merry Christmas tunes sung to approximately the same melody in 4/4 time that took twice as long to play as it should.

My real issue with non-perky music at a show is that not only is it wearing on us as vendors, tiring us prematurely, but is also wearing on the attendees who have a substantial mood change with sad music. Hands go back in pockets, heads go down, frowns appear and the shopping stops cold. They soon wander back to their cars with morose spirits only to drive home with certainty that this was a bad show to attend, there was nothing worth looking at let alone buy, and the vendors were all cranky and tired, and there's just no point in going again.

So the thought for anyone planning a craft or arts show is that you should try really hard to have a nice upbeat mix of music, no operatic renditions of carols, no religious stuff, and no sad, sad tunes EVER!

The Hello Quizzy Art Test

Popped over to this site this morning for the following test, if nothing else, youi get to look at a series of nice art:

Your result for What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test...

Non-conformist, Visionary, and Independent

16 Abstract, -13 Islamic, -3 Ukiyo-e, 5 Cubist, -14 Impressionist and -24 Renaissance!


Abstract art uses a visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of what may appear to others as visual realities. Western had been underpinned by the logic of perspective and an attempt to reproduce an illusion of visible reality. It allowed the progressive thinking artists to show a different side to the world around them. By the end of the 19th century many artists felt a need to create a 'new kind of art' which would encompass the fundamental changes taking place in technology, science and philosophy. Abstract artists created art that was diverse and reflected the social and intellectual turmoil in all areas of Western culture.


People that chose abstract art as their preferred artform tend to be visionsaries. They see things in the world around them and in people that others may miss because they look beyond what is visual only with the eye. They rely on their inner thoughts and feelings in dealing with the world around them instead of on what they are told they should think and feel. They feel freed from the tendancy to be bound by traditional thought and experiences. They look more toward their own ideas and experiences than what they are told by their religious upbringing or from scientific evidence. They tend to like to prove theories themselves instead of relying on the insight or ideas of others. They are not bound by common and mundane, but like to travel and have new experiences. They value intelligence, but they also enjoy a challenge. They can be rather argumentative when they are being forced or feel as if they are being forced to conform.


Take What Your Taste in Art Says About You Test at HelloQuizzy

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Deer Picnic

The joy of living in the woods is that we moved in with the critters. As in the spring, when the beans get mowed by rabbits, and the roses are pruned by the deer and the Asiatic lilies are lunch for both, the fall brings its own activity.

As of late we have had the chipmunks storing as much seed as possible. The beach nuts have been stripped from all the beach trees by the jays (blue & grey) and squirrels (red & grey) and any sunflower seeds that have been put out in the feeders have disappeared in mere minutes with jays, chickadees, squirrels and the chipmunks.

Like the country critters, we have been stockpiling for the winter too. I always like to get a big bag of mixed windfall apples which are very cheap and great for the freezer. The apple peelings offer another treat for the denizens of the forest as the cores are loved by the squirrels and the peels are grabbed and carried off to the tree tops by the jays in their expectation that they will remember where they left them.

This morning brought the visual delight of 3 deer having a picnic at the old table at the back of the garden where I put the peels yesterday.


It started with two...


and then a third joined in...


It looks as though there was a single and a doe with her fawn judging by the size difference and the fact that the single didn't go exploring the rest of the garden like the two

Enjoy!

--

Thursday, October 16, 2008

recycling

Have you ever noticed how some things just keep coming 'round. People who cycle in and out of your life. Here for a time, gone, back again, gone, back.... and the cycle continues.

Have you ever noticed that that there are times when we have a problem that continues to present itself months or years after the initial problem. It keeps recurring in one form or another but it stays the same problem.

Or a question that keeps occurring...


What is that recycling of events, people, problems or questions trying to teach us. I figure that there is a lesson somewhere in my recycling problem that I have yet to learn, and I have yet to figure out what it is.

If you have figured out a good way to get to the bottom of your recurring problem, let me know.

--

Monday, October 13, 2008

Art lessons...

... are paying off.

A long time friend of mine, Carole Forbes, teaches her own pen & ink drawing method. She just returned from out west a few months ago and since I have been finally getting braver about my own art, I decided to treat myself to some lessons. Been enjoying it immensely.

Here is the result, an original no less:






Another friend shot a pic of this tree last summer while out on a road trip. I really liked the gnarly old pine, so I used it as the basis for this drawing, changed a few things, "artistic license" after all, but the result is not too bad after only 5 weeks.

Enjoy!



--

Friday, October 10, 2008

Fredericton's Art Trek

In just one more week the Arts Alliance Art Trek will open at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre with a celebration between 7 and 9. Good time to show up and see the CSAC studios and pick up your map for the rest of the open studios and plan your route for the weekend.

The Daily Gleaner reporter Lori Gallagher and photogrpaher James West did a great job of featuring the Trek in yesterdays Live It! section. Always nice to see one's name in print. http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/search/article/442172 to reference the current article page.

To see the poster and print a copy for yourself, there is one on the Arts Aliiance web: http://www.frederictonartsalliance.ca/trekpost.pdf but it is a large file so I don't suggest it for dial-up.

Let's get out there and go for a Trek and show artists that we appreciate their cultural contributions by showing up and saying "Good job".

--
--

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Autumn...

... in our little part of New Brunswick.



This is one of the few look-offs on the Saint John River just up river from home. A beautiful spot but the turning leaves are not too obvious yet.



Here the oak leaves on single tree have changed to a deep red and the green ones are just showing the stain of autumn changes. The Maple trees however are in full regalia of reds and yellows.



It is gorgeous time of year, and one that I can easily overlook because it is the beginning of "show season". The weeks get a little bit busier because we're making jewellery for the shows and the shows are more plentiful now, taking up a full weekends with days on each side for travel rather than just a Saturday here or there.



Autumn is a season of celebration for many as it is a time of Thanksgiving for the bountiful harvests of the gardens and crops.



We planted squash in a compost pile this year, we didn't have great expectations as we figured the squirrels would get to the seed before they could germinate. Germinate they did and as a result of the nutrient rich compost, the vines grew well over 20' in some cases. This good sized squash is on a vine that climbed a small fir tree near the patch



A honey bee is making the effort to gather nectar from a golden-rod.



Crab apples at the ready await processing for the jelly jar.



The last of the bunchberries, which also makes delicious jellies, awaits harvest by birds or even the bear.



Autumn can also be a time of discontent as we slip from our long summer days to cooler shorter days and the changes denote the impending transition to the cold darker winter months but when spring does start to arrive the dried sumac blossoms are still in place for the first robins who feast upon them with gusto.



So instead of rushing through fall and into winter, I took the time to wander around our yard and enjoy the late blooming flowers and the changes in the foliage and to realize that the sky is the most vibrant blue and clear of haze, while the clouds are crisp whites and greys.



Painted daisies still bloom in our gardens.



Delicate poppies and ferny cosmos outlasted the summer heats and rains and early light frosts and have only now started to bloom and share their colours.



I have always liked cosmos, they have a sweet scent, but mostly because they were always in my grandmother's gardens and they remind me of her.



The nasturtiums, a peppery edible flower and leaf, are still glowing with colours that will rival the leaves until we have a hard frost that will lay the poor annuals low and mark the end of their season.



But the delicate pink tinged blossoms of the hydrangea can be harvested and dried and brought inside for a winter long bouquet that promises us the renewal of spring and all the opportunities for life that it brings.
--
--

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Jewellery Lessons

I have finally committed to teaching some jewellery lessons after being asked by numerous folks for quite some time. The Nashwaaksis United Church has generously opened their doors to us for this.

Classes will start on the 1st of October with the option to take 1 or both parts of any particular class as well as whether they are taken in the same week on Tuesday and Wednesday or on subsequent weeks Tuesday to Tuesday or Wednesday to Wednesday.

Class descriptions and prices can be found here on our web: http://www.mboot.net/Lessons.html

Call if you have questions and especially of you want to book a class as space is limited to 8 students per class.
--

Friday, September 19, 2008

Finished and Photographed 2

More new pieces made, photographed and up on the web. Eventually I will get the sale information up there too.


For starters, I've had a lot of fun making several new pairs of earrings including these green fresh water pearls Peas in a Pod.


Went to work reworking some sterling framework from some failed ideas and crafted a few Crystals in Cages, including this tourmaline chunk that is quite pink on the other side.


These gorgeous Citrines had been in gem jars for 3 years at least. Finally got the nerve to work them into a rich set accented with weaving and a pear shaped CZ.


Also languishing in my gem jars were these amethysts. Again some weaving and incorporated some faceted amethyst beads and quartz into the pendant.

A purchase at the recent gem & mineral show were these large amethyst nuggets which lend themselves royally to sterling net earrings.
For more new items just hop onto the jewelry pages of our web.
Enjoy!
--

Friday, September 12, 2008

Fun, Food & Friends

Fun, Food & Friends: Sunday Evening Drop-in

This is program that is being offered by the Nashwaaksis United Church , and is a free event on the third Sundays of the month. Right now they have plans for September 21, October 19, November 16 and December 21.

The doors open at 4 with a supper being served at 5 and the talent show starts at 6. Artists and artisans as well as wellness professionals will be on hand throughout the evening for fun and learning.

To learn more, call Mary at 458-9452 or check their web or just show up.

David and I will be there on the 21st helping with a "make and take" jewellery project.

We're looking forward to this opportunity to connect with more folks in the community.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Finished and Photographed

Finally, posting some pics of some new work:



This is Flower Slide with a peridot coloured Swarovski Gem prong set in the middle.
It was a piece that just didn't come together the way I initially wanted and so it sat unfinished for a couple of weeks. I think that this actually turned out pretty good what looked like a disaster when it was being made for the MAGNS competition.



This is Freak 2, based on Paranoid Freak 1, which ironically I have yet to photograph. Fresh water pearls in greys and light mauves are woven into a soldered frame.

And because I hate to waste material, and I didn't think that the ring from last years MAGNS competition was worth tossing in the show submissions box as a keeper, it has been renovated into this funky twisted pendant and earrings with round faceted garnet beads.
Check out our web's jewellery pages to hunt for more new items that aren't being show here.
Enjoy.
--


Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Open Your Eyes- Art Trek 2008 - October 18 &19

Maria, who looks after all of us with the FAA just sent over the final line-up and studio locations for the Trek. Here it is:

Images Studio: Katie FitzRandolph (Oil and watercolourist), Chris Harding (Surface Designer) Guest artist: Lynda Rae Burke (Painting), Location: CSAC, 732 Charlotte Street Phone: 454-6952

Studio 202: Laurie Winter,(Painting), Line Lagacé-Basque, (Painting), Margaret Bannister(painting), Guy Vezina(Painting), Location: CSAC, 732 Charlotte Street, Phone: 454-6952

“Loominations” Studio : Karen LeBlanc\Loominations (Weaving) Guest artists: Jan Ashton(Weaving), Kathy Tidswell, (fibre artist), Cynthia andDavid Ryder (Jewellery Design), Location: 94 Grasse Circle, Phone: 457-1443

studio4ward: WhiteFeather (fibre artist), Deanna Musgrave , Marie Fox, Ian Miller,(Painting) Guest artist: Joyce Ripley (Painting) Location: 384 Queen Street, Suite 7 (top floor), Phone: 455-8932

161 Victoria St. Artist: Stephen May (Painting), Guest artist: Derek Davidson (Painting) Location: 161 Victoria St, Phone: 459-7379

23 Southhall Court: Rita Sassani (Scultpure and Painting) Guest artist: Sandi McKessock(Painting) Location: 23 Southhall Court, Phone number: 206-0898

22 Grey Street: Jane Geurts (Painting)Paula Keppie- Mixed Media, Harriet Taylor- Mixed Media, Gillian McLean- Painting, Peter Gross- Photo, Linda Brine- Fiber Art, Location: 22 Grey Street, Phone: 455-1467

239 George Street: Sarah Petite (painting), Location: 239 George Street, Phone: 454 3285


This looks like it should make for a fun weekend for everyone that has an interest in art and fine craft. Many of the particpants are well recognized by their peers, award winners and members of various arts groups including juried craft council members.

The Art Trek opening will be on 17 October, Friday evening at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. So mark your calendars.
--

Show wrap-up & Art Trek

Thank you to everyone that supported us this weekend at the NBCC show. Your compliments are always appreciated.

Overall, the weekend was a bit slower than usual for a lot of the craftspeople in attendance. The weather on Friday didn't help but Saturday and most of Sunday were pretty nice until the wind picked up on Sunday afternoon, which means for some, "the flight of the mugs", as various pieces of handcraft get blown off shelves which is never a good way to end a show.

On the up-side, we now know our location for the upcoming Fredericton Arts Alliance Art Trek, on the 18 & 19 of October. We will be a Karen LeBlanc's weaving studio Loominations, on Grasse Circle off Clements Drive on the northside. I'll post more info on this as I get it in. That will be our next and last Fredericton appearance for this year, unless something different happens.

Cheers.

Monday, August 25, 2008

New Brunswick Fine Craft Festival

Just a quick note that the New Brunswick Crafts Council Festival is at Officers' Square, Fredericton this weekend, August 29-31.

Hours are Friday 7-9, Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 11-5.

Admission is only $2.00

It's a great opportunity to come out and see some of the finest in N.B.'s fine craft and hear some fine music.



--

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Poetry blog

It had been several years since I had put pen to paper in a serious manner and recently I started to write again. It's a good feeling to be jotting down not just ideas and business notes, which has been quite normal, but to allow myself the luxury of writing for the enjoyment of it again.

I am not certain where the 'poems' that I am publishing to the new blog will take me, but they are a form of catharsis too.

Comments are always welcome.
--
--

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Art by the Rivers

Sunday, August 10, join us in Woodstock where the Meduxnekeag and Saint John Rivers meet for Art by the Rivers.

This is the 3rd year for the annual event. A delightful art and fine craft afternoon, and fundraiser for MS

Runs 12-4.

--

Thursday, August 7, 2008

New Items at Viktor's Blue Rose Salon & Boutique

Viktor and Gerald are receiving a new selection of jewellery items from us today, including earrings like these fun turquoise ones




and this stunning citrine coloured Cubic Zirconia pendant




Stop by the salon and check out the display or browse some of the selection on the web at: http://www.mboot.net/ViktorsBlueRose.html

--

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Interesting times...

I've been following Hugh over at GapingVoid and the notes on The Cloud. From there, went and took a good look at Evernote. Really nice bit of programming and it has the potential to drastically alter how we do favorite-ing forever. I like it.

Also read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It's a book title that gets tossed around from time to time on the forums. It's not likely a program that gets completed every time a book is sold however. Like many self-exploratory projects, they don't get done. True to form I procrastinated on starting the outlined tasks until today as I finished the book last night. It may well work into a good thing as I work to stick-with-it.

Meandered into one of the local used goods/recycle stores last and picked up the green Days of the New CD. Been enjoying that today too. Someday, I'll run across some more of their work. Travis Meeks is a brave poet.

All together, these little forays into the unknown have amounted to a creative vacation. And it's good to take a vacation from the should do's. The bonus is that leaves me wanting to do more of the good stuff that is actually productive.

That's today, check back with me next week and see if I'm still hanging in there :)

Now listening to: Choke Hold - Days of the New
--
--

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The Flickr Meme - borrowed from Sharon

How it’s played:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.



1. What is your first name? Cynthia

2. What is your favorite food? pizza

3. What high school did you go to? Harvey Regional High School

4. What is your favorite color? black

5. Favorite pastime? reading

6. Favorite drink? chai

7. Dream vacation? Europe for a few months

8. Favorite dessert? cherry cheese cake

9. What do you want to be when you grow up? a better me than I am now

10. What do you love most in life? my friends

11. One word to describe you. nice, at least I hope so

12. What town do you live in? Acton

13. What is your occupation? art

14. What did you have for breakfast? coffee & veggies

15. Favorite element? Water

16. Favorite season? Spring

17. Favorite seasonal activity? planting the garden

18. Fave music when you don't know what else to listen to? The Tragically Hip

19. Celeb you would like to meet? Woody Allen

20. What is on your computer desk top? measuring tape

21. Favorite shoes? my heels

22. Favorite alcoholic drink? ammaretto

23. Favorite candy? cherry chocolates

24. Favorite flower? painted daisies

25. What did you do today? tidied up in the studio & read a bit

The resulting mosaic:







Credit, where credit is due:
1. Cynthia takes artistic license with Pike's Peak, 2. Pizza night!, 3. United States Coast Guard, 4. One Night in Bangkok, 5. llibreria - bookstore - Amsterdam - HDR, 6. kitchen #2, 7. France - Provence - Lost in Lavender, 8. Yummy For My Tummy, 9. hair, 10. Hold me close, under the sunset, 11. hello. nice to meet you., 12. Moonrise, 13. Cd Art, 14. an iranian old painting, 15. October Morning on Lake Michigan, 16. Red.Source, 17. French Garden at Duke Farms, 18. I Hate You, San Francisco, 19. Woody Allen in concert, 20. tape measure, 21. Red Heels, 22. Some nights you just have to, 23. Chocolate-Cinnamon Mousse with Cherries, 24. 'Painting' of African Daisy from Lowe's, 25. my miniature studio


The interesting thing about an excercize like this is that it is a creative one, it's fun, and if you answer quickly, right off the top of your head, you might surprise yourself with some honest answers.

The next part of the exercise is realize, perhaps, how few of the small luxeries, like your favorite dessert, you haven't treated yourself to in a long time. Make a date with yourself for a treat at least once a week. It's amazing how good a little luxery feels.

Sharon's Blog may be found here.

Monday, July 21, 2008

10 Reasons why friends are like plants

  1. some are perennials and for life
  2. sometimes they are just annuals and here for a season
  3. some are pretty and fragrant, and some just stink
  4. some you can't identify
  5. some show-up were they don't belong
  6. sometimes you have to weed them out
  7. sometimes they must be moved
  8. some have to be nursed along during difficult dry or wet spells
  9. sometimes you just have to sit and talk to them
  10. but always plants and friends must be given the right conditions in which to grow in order to achieve the best results

I'll probably edit this list again sometime as it is merely the result of thinking a lot about some of my pals and spending a lot of time in the sun... in the garden

Sunday, July 20, 2008

If you're not reading Anne Rush's Blog, you should be :D

... and not just because she wrote about us, but because she writes about so many things of interest to those of us that are interested and jewellery and fashion and fashionable jewellery... and because she knows her stuff.

Thank you Anne, for this lovely blog post on us: http://www.annerush.com/journal/2008/7/20/jewelry-with-unique-appeal.html. Much appreciated!

Check out The Savvy Designer.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

NSDCC Summer Market

The Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council is presenting their Summer Craft Market Downtown on Friday July 25 through Sunday July 27. The market is being held at the corner of Spring Garden Road and Queen Street.

Hours are:
Friday, July 25 10 am ‐ 8 pm
Saturday, July 26 10 am ‐ 6 pm
Sunday, July 27 10 am ‐ 6 pm


As always, the quality of the show is high, even though it is much smaller than the Christmas Market, which could make this an easier show to shop.

We're hoping for a good weather weekend and that everyone has a grand time at the show.

See you there

Cynthia & David

and this just in from Julie at the NSDCC office:

The 31st Summer Craft Market will be held on the lawn and parking lot at the corner of Spring Garden and Queen, beside Dalhousie University. This is an incredible location, taking in the sites, sounds and smells of bustling Spring Garden Road, and just a stones throw from the Halifax Waterfront.

Collectors will have the opportunity to wrap themselves in clothing made from vintage fabrics, handyed silks or handwoven jackets. Find the perfect mug for early morning coffee, a handturned wooden bowl for an upcoming wedding gift or perhaps the upcoming nuptials are yours, several jewellers will be on hand, locally made gold bands would complete the day.

Craftspeople working in glass, visual art, wood, textiles, metal, clay make the NSDCC shows one of their premiere events each year.

Demonstrators will be on hand throughout the event to show their skills in handcoiling clay, stitching, basketry spinning, weaving and metalwork to name but a few. Please spread the word.

Here are the nuts and bolts...Friday, July 25 - 10am to 8pm

Saturday, July 26 - 10am to 6pm

Sunday, July 27 - 10am to 6pm

Corner of Spring Garden and Queen Streets beside the Dalhousie University Sexton Campus building.

We will be under large white tents, with a few smaller tents.

Exhibitors will include...

Serenity Images -- Anne Bastedo, visual art

Pam Frail -- PJ Crow Designs, metal/jewellery

Gail Heinze-Milne - Glass With Class, glass

Landry's Birdseye Bowls - Leonard Landry, woodturner

Constantine Designs -- Lynda Constantine, metal/jewellery

Hunter Street Silver -- Jennifer Hunter, metal/jewellery

Masterworks Jewellery, metal/jewellery

Common Threads Silk -- Margaret Boyle, textiles

La P'Tite Poterie - Suzanne Babineau - clay

Turbine - Lisa Drarer-Murphy - textiles/clothing

De Weever's Wovens -- textiles/weaving

Point of View Glass -- Katrina Fleming, glass

Bejewel , metal/jewellery

Glass by Kathryn Gordon -- Kathryn Gordon -- glass

Harding Surface Design - Chris Harding -- visual art

D Digs pottery -- Denise Jeffrey, clay

K Maclean -- metal

PriorArt -- Candice Prior - metal/jewellery

And now for something completely different....Cynthia and David Ryder --metal/jewellery

Ostrea Lake Pottery - Deb Wheeler - clay

Flight of the Eagle Jewellery Arts - Tim Finley - metal/jewellery

Non-profit booths include...- Atlantic Economuseum Network - Julie MacMillan and Tom Young -- Visual Arts Nova Scotia

Julie Rosvall, Communications Coordinator

Nova Scotia Designer Crafts

office@nsdcc.ns.ca

http://www.nsdcc.ns.ca/

902.423.3837 tel

902.422.0881 fax


Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Order/Chaos sterling cuffs

Here are the cuffs that we designed and built for the exhibition which was just put up & out on display tonight. Got back from the "hanging" a short time ago. The work is varied, beautiful, thoughtful, politically charged and well worth the time if you are in town.

We are in such fabulous company and are truly fortunate to have been selected and to be the only jewellery artists for this show.



Order is uniformity, neatness, linear, methodical.
Chaos is variation, disarray, turmoil, frenzied.

We crafted two 6.5inch sterling silver cuff bracelets to represent our definitions of Order and Chaos.

Order shows linear thinking represented with horizontal silver lines of similar nature to each side of the word, uniformity through the letter size and shape of the word itself and it is neat and clean in finish.

Chaos is rough and colourful with the applied patina. The word itself is varied in size and shape and the turmoil and frenzied thought is shown through the scraps of silver at each side of the word.

Order/Chaos Show at CSAC

To quote Katie Fitzrandolph who always preps the press for the shows:

Perhaps the most ambitious exhibition so far at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre opens this Friday.

Approximately 25 artists have responded to the theme of Order/Chaos. Their work encompasses painting, pottery, glasswork, sculpture, photography, jewelry and installation. Their approaches are philosophical, humorous, graphic, political, whimsical, personal, reflective and experimental - not necessarily all at the same time. The scale is equally broad, from works a few inches across to six feet wide to a multi-level site-specific installation.The theme resonated with a range of established and emerging artists, and the response necessitated impaneling a jury to select works for the exhibition.

Order/Chaos is the second theme exhibition for the Charlotte Glencross Gallery at the Centre, located at 732 Charlotte Street. The exhibition will continue until the end of August, with an opening reception Friday, July 18 from 5 to 7 p.m.



We were fortunate enough to have our submission of Order & Chaos sterling cuffs chosen for the show. Will post a photo of those once the show has opened. If you are in the area, come on in for some sangria & nibbles.

Guitar Pendant Prototype



Finally, here is a shot of the finished 'montage' of bits from Dave's old Applause.
I finally got a chance to present this to him last week. He was super pleased and just tickled, especially since he didn't know it was coming. The bonus is that the shadowbox matches the woodwork & shelving in his Project Studio where it is going to be displayed.
Enjoy!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Guitar Pendant


We were asked by a Metal Arts Guild of Nova Scotia colleague to participate in a fund-raising event for the NS Symphony children's' programs. The challenge was to create a piece of art (whatever type you do) from a musical instrument.

I bummed a soon to be deceased acoustic guitar off of my buddy Dave. It was one that he had used for years while busking and had finally started to warp and deteriorate to the point where he either had to rebuild it or throw it. This solved his dilemma too.

The subsequent piece is the result of chisleling free the fret bars, pulling the g-string, some bits of guitar hardware, sterling silver and silver solder.

The fundraiser will open at the Fireworks Gallery in Halifax on October 4th.



Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Unusual

Lady's Slippers are a native orchid to our little part of the woods. They are somewhat rare, to the point that they are considered endangered in some areas, and unusual in that they seemingly spring from nowhere. We have them growing in areas where we have trimmed back the woods to create walking paths and then they appear in the paths. These orchids are a beautiful thing.

They are often like friends, wonderful and unusual. Beautiful. Appearing in your path and thriving in just right mix of light and shade. Treasure them.