happy new year

Health and happiness for 2013 :-)

Seattle, baby!

Seattle, baby!, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

The boys and I are taking a break, but not a creative break. Yesterday's jam session at the EMP however, proved that the partridge family we are not. Fun but a cacophony. I think we did contribute to the underground punk scene though. And last night I dreamed I got an electric guitar ...

A merry christmas

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and a peaceful new year.

settling in: the home straight

One christmas handmade to complete; christmas creative projects for any downtime prepped.
Wishing for peace, headspace and inspiration this festive season (before life gets busy again in the new year).

in the basement, for you

Wishing you a safe and relaxing christmas with your nearest and dearest ...

Image created with Snapseed

On the twelfth day of Christmas ...

the last of my 12 days posts for Blackberry - there's a link to the whole series at the bottom of the post :)

On the twelfth day of Christmas ...:

painting by Valerie Simons

Here at last!

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

A grove of twelve (or possibly more) slender birch trees 

(we only have a deck, so where I will put these I have no idea),

Eleven speedy motor cars,

Ten by ten by tens of stunning and artistically crackled grout,

Nine lonesome wilderness beasts (I dare you not to take one home with you),

Eight bearded jolly men,

Seven flights of fairy stairs (we're planning a home extension to accommodate them),

Six felted fibre tree brooches (perfectly at home with the birch grove),

Five crazy ceramic frogs! (the joint is jumping, I tell ya!)

Four swinging metal leaves (my lobes are beautifully adorned),

Three marauding (gently, of course) polar bears,

Two sun-drenched deck chairs (hello Hawaii),

and a glowing lamp by my fireplace (so cosy this Christmas)!

All best wishes for Christmas.

I hope your true love has been as thoughtful and generous as mine - if not, then the gift shop is open on December 22nd so print this list out as a hint and send him/her packing :)

See all twelve days together here.

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

On the ninth day of Christmas ...

On the ninth day of Christmas ...:

original drawings by Sarah Ronald

On the ninth day of Christmas ...

My True Love had to stay away last night too, so he left me with this menagerie of wilderness beasts to pass the evening with. Once I had finished feeding, watering and tucking them all in for the night it was time to start serving breakfast.
Still, they kept me quite warm curled up round my toes, though I'm not sure when I'll get my bath back, and I don't know what the raccoon did with the trash ...

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

Click here to see all twelve days of Christmas as they publish.

year end

Yesterday was my last craft fair, the farmer's market at River Market in New Westminster, so today I reclaimed my studio. Away went the craft fair kit and all the display props - bye bye till the summer season.
It's always somewhat a relief to reach the end of the Christmas madness. Now I can make stuff for fun rather than make it to replace inventory or recreate the dead-cert popular items (which I'm really glad you like, but four moss cuffs in three weeks?) that sell.
This season's been a bit of a creative dead spot where it's a struggle to find the spark. New inventory has appeared with difficulty and not with the same fire as previous years.
However, now that I don't have a need to fill inventory, I can hear my new super-torch calling and some funky copper component designs are taking shape in my daydreams.
Wish me luck for some free time over Christmas - no one will miss the turkey or a clean floor, will they?

merry christmouse

Best whiskers to you :-)

inspiration friday

Today's inspiration is brought to you by the colours white, blue and orange.

studio portrait Thursday: aside

... and then, from somewhere out of sight, a soft whisper shook the still air of her solitude.

wordless wednesday: bridal dreams

Three wire cuffs for three bridesmaids; Swarovski pearls with crystal

See the full gallery on Posterous

On the first day of Christmas ...

My second year of 12 days of Christmas for Blackberry

On the first day of Christmas ...:

stained glass lamp and window snowflake by Margret Billings

On the first day of Christmas ....

(yes, dear reader - I'm still with the same besotted fool who does all his over-gifting from the Blackberry Christmas Marketplace)

my true love gave to me 

(did I tell you how much I loved all the unique gifts I got last year?

i love love love love love them all)

a lovely glowing lamp for the sitting room.

Stay tuned - artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

wordless wednesday: a thinking cap - right brain?

a thinking cap: right brain?, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Coming to a Wearable Arts competition near you in 2013 ...

studio portrait Thursday: unproductive chaos

I'm cheating - this necklace sold at the previous craft fair. It's a sweet copper and white glass design. I love the combination of the metal with white. I really should make it again ... but I just cannot get motivated. Last month's dire craft fair was a loss, and I find it difficult to get whipped into a frenzy for Christmas.
I'd really just like to sit down at the bench and make something for the love of it, not because my inventory is looking stale.
I have some ideas for cute though; stay tuned.
Oh, and I'll be at Got Craft? next weekend (http://got craft.ca  for details).

wordless wednesday: wire and fibre pendant

wire and fibre pendants, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

copper and glass bracelet

copper and glass bracelet, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

I have some pieces for sale in the Blackberry Gift Shop inside Port Moody Arts Centre.
This quirky copper and glass piece sits alongside some awesome work by other local artists.
It's worth a visit.
Check out http://pomoarts.ca for details

PSA - a promotional service announcement

PSA - a promotional service announcement:

Christmas Marketplace 2012 has opened and the gifts are flying off the shelves.
Please do your friends a favour and let them know where to find the best artist-made goodies in the Tri Cities. Either point them towards our website or suggest they subscribe to our blog for regular updates. Or they can join us on Facebook - our Events page will keep them primed. We are also on twitter - join the #portmoody conversation with us.

Share the love; there's enough to go around (but get down here quick!) - artist-made gifts nourish the soul :)

.... and for a taster, try out this video from last year's Shaw Express visit to the arts centre (tune in at 4 mins).

art on the wall 6x6

art on the wall, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

My flame flower amidst the wonderful 6x6 fundraisers at Port Moody Arts Centre.

Oooops! Forgotten something perhaps?

Oooops! Forgotten something perhaps?:

ceramic frog by Pauline Doyle

Our Christmas Marketplace opened last night - the gift shop is now open seven days a week until December 22nd, from 10am until 6pm (Sundays 12 noon to 4pm) for all your gift-buying needs.

marketplace_prep

marketplace_prep:

marketplace_prep, originally uploaded by Blackberry Artists.

The Christmas Marketplace is almost ready. Helpful festive elves have been scurrying around the gallery in the Port Moody Arts Centre all day, moving plinths into place (owwch my back!) and pinning the tree in place.

Oh horrors! everything is now under wraps until November 15th when the gallery and gift shop will be unwrapped by one special and intrepid Arts Centre member at 5pm. Arts Centre members get first dibs on the christmas offerings on show in a special shopping event before the main opening at 6pm.

But shhh! don't tell.Here's a sneak peek at what's under the wrapping (more in our Flickr gallery ... can you see your heart's desire?

Artist-made gifts nourish the soul

Lest we forget

fleeing the studio

Who let the cat out of the bag?
If you want to know, come visit me at the Archbishop Carney Christmas Fair on Dominion Avenue, Port Coquitlam tomorrow (10am to 3pm).

Carney Christmas Craft Fair this weekend

wordless Wednesday: all ahead

fibre friday: judged

wire and fibre dragonfly, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

(educational) results from a recent jurying -

"This is an interesting idea, but to really make it work, the felt work needs to be better and more integrated."

"The materials are so different that it is difficult to get them to merge into a whole."

"a more interesting, hand-crafted pin on the back would elevate the quality."

"Butterfly pin: Not good design or use of felting" - this about the dragonfly pins above

referring to this moss cuff
"The wires sticking up are interesting, but tend to bend down easily – try firmer wire here?" i may have a couple of whimsical pieces entitled, you'll have someone's eye out with that, m'dear, but i really don't want to enucleate with a piece of jewelry

remarks about the clasp on a tinned copper embroidered cuff "it doesn’t appear to be silver, so it is not integrated with the silver wire, which cheapens the piece." the clasp is nickel silver to tone with the tinned copper

and this gem - "Many of the fibres appear to be synthetic (?) so they won’t felt together " - well, duh! my materials section stated synthetic fibres are used in my designs, not that they are felted.

"Assessment: FAIL"

It's always uplifting to be rejected so intelligently.

FWIW - my work doesn't fit in with the aesthetic of the gallery shop I juried for (note to self: research your submissions!), so I'm not that surprised at being turned down. However, my pieces were returned well picked apart (as in threads hanging loose), and the ignorance of some of the jurying comments left me open-mouthed in amazement.

wordless wednesday: hallowe'en

beads ghoulish beads galore, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

marketing monday

Everybody needs some MOO moo.com :-)

Be Prepared

Be Prepared:

hand-painted silk scarf by Jane Ostenstad

origami gift stars by Yolanda Cheung; ceramic buttons by Dan Severance; photo pendant by Sarah Ronald

Not just the motto of the Boy Scouts - the cry of every well-organised Christmas planner everywhere (yes, they do exist).

If you're looking for neat gifts which tuck easily into cards for mailing overseas then check out our shelves and hanging racks. We have beautiful art cards, funky dog tag pendants, intricate origami gift pockets and even ceramic buttons for the distant crafter in your thoughts. A carefully folded silk scarf won't add much to envelope weight either, but it will bring an extra-large smile to whoever opens it.

See you soon (Christmas is coming - sooner than you think!)

boy, chewing

My dining partner this afternoon :-)

See the full gallery on Posterous

studio portrait Thursday and fibre Friday all-in-one

The studio's at floor level. I'm sitting amidst piles of felting, busy sewing up phone cases and tablet sleeves prior to a final fulling. This stage is always a bit hit or miss as I can never tell how much the materials will shrink.
I hope there are still some small phones out there.

dogtrio

dogtrio, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Last night's doodle and colour project.

Seeing Dots?

Seeing Dots?:

Wondering what the new addition in the City Hall display case is this month (not seen it? go now)?

All is revealed - it's  a QR code.

Just flip open your smartphone and open your QR Reader app (available for both android and Apple OS) then scan the little square. 

After a few random blips and electronic pings your browser opens to the Blackberry Gift Shop website.

Just like magic!

For those of you who are more security concious, try an app like Norton Snap which automatically screens the destination website before opening it on your device.

friday forte: erotobot mark I

friday forte: erotobot mark I:

erotobot mark I, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Friday night doodles on the tablet cos I'm not out clubbing!

ed's note: i think she really needs a necklace

fibre friday: 6x6 artwork

6x6 artwork, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

... and this year's submission for the Port Moody Arts Centre 6x6 fundraiser and exhibition is a continuation of my usual theme - wire and fibre. I'm back on track this year with a very odd looking mixed media brooch mounted into the 6x6 inch cradled panel.

Please visit the arts centre this Fall - the exhibition opens November 15th.

... and please bid on one of the works on display. All pieces are donated by the artists and all funds go to supporting the arts centre.

studio portrait thursday: eyes up

All I need to do is raise my eyes up from the bench.
Unhunch the shoulders.
Straighten the spine.
Focus into the distance.
Breathe.
Relax.
Inspiration.
Eyes down once more, refreshed.

wordless wednesday: results

6x6 artwork, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

cradle-priming results voila!

autumn leaves

autumn leaves, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

Today's inspiration' gathered on the walk back from school this afternoon.

merchandise monday

merchmonday15oct12, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

L-R: brocade and lace cuffs, little nest pendants in silver and copper

This little batch of goodies is heading to Bird on a Wire tomorrow. Check out the sidebar for details and location.

saturday sketch: please stop hurting me

Yes - another day lost to a migraine :'(