inspiration board

inspiration board, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

This morning I'm taking the inventory for the Blackberry Gift Shop Christmas Marketplace (opens Thursday night at 6pm, free entry and nibbles!) in the Port Moody ARts Centre on St. Johns Street. Under the expert guidance of Sandra, one of the other artists, I'll be moving the display plinths and setting out the artwork ready for the sale.
But my mind will be back at my bench, thinking of other creations to make for other craft fairs ...
Stay tuned!

Just Around the Corner!

Just Around the Corner!:
carved bear by Tom Reid, snail on lilypad by Tracy Riddell, woodturning by Joe Martin, intarsia by Del Holbrook

Yes, it's nearly here! Our Christmas Marketplace, the one and only destination in the Tri Cities to buy unique artisan handcrafted gifts, is nearly open. For two months, our gift shop will not only be open seven days per week, but will also be much bigger as we expand into gallery space in the Arts Centre. This means that our artists can bring in many more pieces than they can normally display here. Often this means that the bigger pieces they have been working on finally come on show.
So get on down! We've got everything you need for your gift buying under the one roof, from cards and gift bags to glass art and wall art.
Opening night is Thursday, November 3rd (6-8pm, refreshments provided, free entry).

PS: Don't forget to check the tree for hostess gifts and stocking stuffers ;)

Christmas stars

Not sure what happened with yesterday's post - instead of the wire stars you got me slobbing on a sofa.
Here are the stars!

See the full gallery on Posterous

studio portrait thursday: bright and shining star

Star production in full swing, I'm working on some demo samples for my next workshop at Place des Arts (see the Classes tab above for details) as well as tree decorations for sale. The first stars will be decorating the tree for opening night, Thursday 3rd november, when the Blackberry Artists begin their Christmas Marketplace in the Port Moody Arts Centre.

wordless wednesday: a night at the opera

a night at the opera, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

opera-length necklace in gunmetal chain with jade, pearl, lead-free pewter, picasso jasper and glass

October at City Hall double oops

OK – this month at City Hall (as you are by now aware, dear reader) are two amazing Blackberry artists with a collaborative exhibition in the display case. Margret Billings is our stained glass artist (and coincidentally coordinates the group displays at City Hall for the society) and Myrta Hayes specialises in the translucent delicacy of porcelain ceramics. She also volunteers extra time for the society; she is our webmaster over at our main website.
Busy ladies indeed, and both have found time to collaborate on some of the pieces on display. Myrta has made the ceramic bases for Margret’s stained glass lamp shades, and the results are truly stunning.
Go see for yourself (and buy before they sell out).

Salmon Come Home

Salmon Come Home:
stained glass by Margret Billings

This is the time of year when our brave salmon swim home, making their way up the rushing waters of the local streams. Energetically leaping up waterfalls and dodging hungry bears, these noble fish thrash their way to distantly remembered gravel beds

where they spawn and then die.

cough
Glad I'm not a salmon.

PS: Hyde Creek Hatchery is celebrating these demented creatures on Sunday, 23rd October. Get down to the streams and cheer them on.

fibre friday: moss

It's a cuff.
Just in case you didn't recognise.
A moss cuff, to be precise (hence the tiny stems).
And asymmetric.

See the full gallery on Posterous

studio portrait thursday: on the move

This is the studio this week. Yes, it's the view from the bus on my commute home. I'm either doing homework, commuting to college, or out with the Wee Guy. Not much bench time so far. Last night I made a few wire crochet cuffs as I chatted with a friend in a local cafe. Earlier, I finished off more work as my son played tennis. It's like right at the very beginning of my crafty life when creativity fitted around parenting and art was completely portable.
I'll post some pics of the results soon (I promise).

wordless wednesday: framed part II

My submissions for the Port Moody Arts Centre 6x6 silent auction. Bidding opens at the opening night, Thursday November 3rd (6-8pm).

wire crochet + bead = wire crochet bead

wire and glass necklace, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Yes, really!
These bright and shiny mesh beads are made from a square (yes, a square - if you've taken a class with me, you'll know the secret!) of wire crochet. They're very similar to the commercial wire beads except that they are hollow and thus a little lighter in weight. They make great earrings for gals who like bling but without the painful lobes, and zingy choker necklaces that sit daintily on the collarbones. These beads look best when paired with contrasting shapes or textures, like the smooth blue glass in the pciture above.

hammered!

multi-strand necklace, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Though wire crochet is my main design passion, I must admit to quite enjoying hitting thicker bits of wire into spiral patterns. Any of you who joined me on Art For Youth day in Port Moody will have witnessed this side of me, as my volunteers and I introduced anyone who could life a hammer to the delights of flattening wire.
The technical term for hitting wire is conditioning. As you hit the wire, it flattens and spreads. Up to a certain point the wire work hardens and becomes more rigid. Enthusiastic hammerers quickly found that the next stage after work hardening is metal fatigue, where the wire becomes really brittle and shatters.
If you can reign in your blows, shaping and hardening the wire produces lovely swirls and spirals which add a fluid design element to a simple beaded chain. So from a straight piece of round wire, beautiful flattened connectors for your creations.

multi strand necklace with glass pearls, denim lapis, glass

October at City Hall: Joe Martin

October at City Hall: Joe Martin:

This month, the work of woodturner, Joe Martin, is being exhibited in the display cases at Port Moody City Hall. The shelves are now graced with a stunning selection of his larger sculptural vases and bowls, many delicately inlaid with striking marquetry designs.

Joe became a member of the Blackberry Artist’s Society this year and we’ve been very pleased to see his work on our shelves. He works in a variety of woods, each turned and finished with exceptional skill.

As you can see from the photograph below, the display is stunning. Each piece would make a impressive statement in your home. Don’t take my word for it, next time you’re in City Hall take a walk up the staircase in front of the reception desk and check it out for yourself. All pieces are for sale – either contact the artist for details or phone the gift shop to arrange purchase.

fibre friday: framed

flower panel, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

A new home for a felted flower panel - a tiny cube frame.
voila! a garden which never needs watering. Perfect for that tiny bijou condo :)

wordless wednesday: treasure trove

Happy Thanksgiving from the Blackberry Artists

Happy Thanksgiving from the Blackberry Artists:

Hope you've made it safely home.

Happy Thanksgiving.

"faberge" pearls cuff

"faberge" pearls cuff, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

freshwater pearls with gold (Artistic Wire) crochet cuff

just one of the goodies in store for christmas
:)

PS: did you know that wire crochet is stretchy? and you can also make it smaller? since wire crochet is a mesh it will get longer if you pull it gently lengthways, and then shorten somewhat if you ease it back widthways. this is why my cuffs generally fit a wide range of wrist sizes. the only thing you shouldn't do with a wire mesh is bend it back and forwards repeatedly - then the wire undergoes metal fatigue, gets brittle and breaks :(

post early for christmas

chainmaille flower earrings by Luci Gimenes

dragonfly brooch by Amanda Maxwell,
woven scarf by Beryl Hickinbottom,
ceramics by Dan Severance

a post from the Blackbery Artists' blog which i write and takes photographs for. as you may have noticed, my online etsy shops are not yet open (my Artfire shop is) - i'm hoping to sort this but right now, i'm concentrating on preparing inventory for the local shops and craft fairs. please note, i can ship directly to a gift address if you buy online :)

"It's almost that time of year (what a recurrent phrase this is becoming) when thoughts turn to buying, wrapping and packaging.

Well, at the Blackberry Gift Shop we can help you with all three, and no - it's never too early to start. A quick check of the Canada Post website will indeed tell you that the last date for international surface mail parcels for Christmas is coming in the next two weeks. We can even help you with that too! There are a large number of small, easily shipped items for sale which would make great gifts for far and wide friends and relations.

Don't forget to pick up a card, or maybe select one of our unframed prints for mailing."

earrings by Sandra Ho

fibre friday: garland of flowers

Over the last year I’ve moved into a slightly different technique for combining feltable fibre with wire crochet. Previously, my designs were embroidered into the wire mesh then felted. Now I’m experimenting with adding the fibre by needle felting. This technique uses a sharp, barbed needle to push the individual fibres through the mesh to bind with each other. I’m pleased that it works; I’ve seen fibre-on-fibre needle felting and envied the precision of design resulting from it. Now I can recreate this kind of effect in my wire crochet pieces.

One of my first cuff designs using this method features a garland of flowers. First I placed and felted the stems in place, then created the individual flowers on the felting mat before attaching them to the greenery. Once happy with the placement, the whole cuff was wet felted to ‘set’ the design.

I’ll be making more of these for the christmas market (see my Events tab for details), and also teaching this method during the upcoming Wire and Fibre II class at Place des Arts (starts Saturday, October 21st – 1.30pm to 4pm: phone Place des Arts to register).

studio portrait thursday: the fuzzy corner

the fuzzy corner, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Some snapshots from around the studio this Thursday.


new necklaces by the bunch

This week I'm prepping for some upcoming exhibitions, as well as creating inventory for the christmas craft fairs and shops I supply.


prepping canvases for exhibition


they don't just paint themselves, you know

wordless wednesday: chainchainchain maille

It's Never Too Late ...

It's Never Too Late ...:

To start to advertise our Christmas Marketplace! Yes, the premier location in the Tri Cities of Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam to shop for unique handcrafted artisan gifts.

Our Christmas Marketplace opens on November 3rd and then will be open seven days a week up until December 22nd. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 10am to 7pm; Saturday, 11am to 5pm; Sunday, 12 noon to 4pm.
Oh, I so want to bounce up and down singing, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! as an antidote to the rain.