A new promotion for shows!

This past summer, a good friend of mine suggested a great idea to showcase my millefiori technique at shows. I'm always trying to describe the process and most people end up with a glazed eye look trying to picture it.

A digital photo frame! What a concept!

I spent last night making a floral cane and documented the progression of it. So, now I have it uploaded to show all of you and also have a copy for my digital picture frame for the upcoming shows. Let's see if this will stop the questions being asked about 'how did you do it?'

Don't we look pretty?

I'm thinking these orchids are growing on me...so to speak. I'm finding myself thinking about them and going in to check on them...see what is new. Am so excited when I see a new spike in a plant which signals a blossom is on its way.

Today, I decided to take some studio style pictures of a beautiful blooming Paph. orchid to try out my new camera, a Canon Powershot S5IS. I must say....love the pics that came out. I'm really starting to understand why my father has loved these flowers so much.

VIPCAG-Sojourn Retreat is coming!

In February 2008, the Vancouver Island Polymer Clay Guild is hosting our first Polymer Clay Retreat - 'Sojourn'. We're hoping it'll be a get together of inspirational workshops and demos and a gathering of both 'newbie' and 'experienced' clayers!

I'll be giving a workshop during the retreat called 'To Market, To Market-tips on selling your crafts'. With 15 years of selling my wares in both retail and wholesale craft shows, I want to pass on some great tips on display, lighting, and selling techniques that may help others who are interested in doing so or improving on what they are already doing. I will also be able to offer some insight to those who may want to know the difference between selling 'retail' or 'wholesale' or deciding on what shows may be the most effective for them.

I am so looking forward to this retreat, it's exciting to connect with the Polymer Clay addicts of the westcoast!

New Studio!

First on my agenda with my new home is creating a studio. The space we took over in my mom's home was originally created as student suites. The included 2 bedrooms and kitchen and bath. Works just fine with us! The kitchen was totally perfect for my studio since it already included an oven and a sink, great for polymer clay! The cupboard space was great for storage for all my supplies and such.

We installed a nice ceramic tile floor, easier for cleaning and scraping off clay. A lick of paint and new custom counter, I'm good to go! As a treat for myself, I decided to get a LCD tv, since it takes up so little space! ;)

I'm already deep into production and the space is a godsend.

Orchids, orchids, everywhere!

Another interesting development with my move back to my childhood home is I've become the proud owner of a little greenhouse full of orchids. My father's sudden passing this Spring has left his legacy to me, a reluctant orchid owner. The reluctancy comes from the lack of knowledge and the intimidation of these exotic beauties. They are like divas, very picky with the way they are treated (how much water, temperature, pampering, etc).

I remember that last summer, my father came to me and said that if anything were to happen to him, that these beauties will be mine. My reply was please don't burden me since my life was full enough as is! I said this as I thought of all the time and energy my father had devoted to them.

I've been slowly learning about them through a good friend of my father who has become my mentor. He showed me that I don't have to be intimidated and that I can do as much as I'm able to and do not pressure myself. In the month or so that I've been taking care of them, I'm starting to really enjoy it. They're growing on me somehow, the anticipation of the flowers blooming and enjoying that they last for months at times. It's now becoming an escape, a bit of sanctuary for me....also a place for me to be close to my father, whom I still miss dearly. I'm understanding the devotion my father felt for these plants more.

Back to the WetCoast!

Well, I really should get on this more often. But as usual, life takes control and goes by quicker than I can blink!

This summer has flown by with our family moving back to my hometown of Victoria. Rough life moving from Winterpeg to Victoria (twist my rubber arm, as most Canadians would understand what I'm talking about). The most challenging of feats is moving the entire contents of our home into my mom's house (which is already full). We're slowly unpacking (still) and will continue to till all is done (whenever that is!).

Filberg Festival was a success again this year! I really love this show. Well managed and well attended. With beautiful weather and great musical acts (including Bruce Cockburn), it was successful for both the artisans and the attendees.

Presently, I'm busy making stock for orders and for my two Christmas shows this year. I'll be at the Calgary Art Market and the Winnipeg Signatures Craft Sale in the month of November. This will keep me quite occupied till after the Christmas season. Guess when it rains, it really pours. Hope my boxes containing my home will be able to wait for me!

Alas! New Works!

So, it's almost time for Filberg Festival again! It's their 25th Anniversary show and I'm so syked to be in it again. They even gave me a prime spot next too the Teahouse in the Park! If any of you are going to be on Vancouver Island during the August long weekend(3-6th), come visit me in Comox Valley.

For the show, I've created some new work for it. Enjoy them!

Life will move on...

It's been awhile since I've been motivated to post.

Since my last one, many things have happened. My father passed away on May 4th quite suddenly. As much as we understand that this will happen to all of us in our lifetime, we're never really prepared for it. For me, I lost the greatest influence and role model in my life. A lover of nature and beauty, my father was one of the most talented artist I've ever seen in my life. I take comfort in the fact that he lived his life to the fullest these last 8 years after his retirement. He was passionate about his new found loves, orchids and made them his muse in his last few paintings. The works are amazing and inspirational to me. The legacy he leaves behind are us, his children whom he's passed on not only his artistic talents, but the core values to live life honestly and fully. I'm honoured to be his daughter.

Post Show Post....

I know I've been back from the show for ages...but the orders have been keeping me on my toes. My expectations were exceeded at the show. With my move coming up this summer, I just wanted a little bit of wholesale to tie me over till the next show. Well, I ended up with 27 orders instead! So, imagine me working like mad to get them all filled.

I was told that I would be crazy to drive out to Edmonton in February since weather is so unpredictable on the prairies. Well, weather did turn out to be on my side...had a wonderful drive out there and back. If it was a week later, I'd be stuck in some god forsaken town in the middle of the flatlands in a snowstorm!

I'm over half way done with my orders at the moment and working hard to fill the rest for the end of this month. Now, this is all happening while I'm trying to get our home ready for sale! Cannot wait till my husband finally lives with us full time again. When I had our son, I don't think I imagined being a single mom during the week. Hard to juggle family, household and business by yourself most of the time. Especially in the winter when there's a couple feet of snow outside to be shovelled and it's NOT on the weekends! That is the one thing I will not miss leaving Winnipeg.

Anyways, am enclosing a couple of pictures of my wholesale set up which is a 5' x 10' booth. It's great doing wholesale show setups, it's about half the time it takes me to set up a retail sales booth which takes upwards to 6 hours. I was pleased with this set up, it was clean and simple. The buyers can see all the items available to them and it was easy to order. I've learned alot throughout the wholesale shows I've done to find what works or not in selling. Display is of the utmost importance and having everything organized in categories is helpful for the buyers also.

The one big perk from this show is one of my favourite galleries that sell my work, Made in Canada in Edmonton are now proud owners of 2 of my teapots (the frog and the 'genie' style one). It's so nice to know they've gone to good homes.

Art is in the genes!

I have a very talented brother who's an amazing makeup artist/hairdresser and photographer in Victoria, BC. I want to share his site with you all. Our sister's also a colourtech at Toni&Guy in Vancouver. We all blame our father for our creativity (can't be mom, she says she can't draw a stick man to save her life!).

Brand New Teapots!

While I'm supposed to getting my stuff ready for the wholesale show in Alberta, I decided to make two new teapots! I'm really pleased with the outcome of them. I'll be taking them to show and see if either of them will find a home.

New Pens

Some new pens I made for a client. I'm really enjoying making these collage pens.

It Never Ends!

I decided to do a wholesale show again after being away for over a year. Last year was a write off when it came to my wholesale business since we were up in the air in regards to my husband's military career. They couldn't give us a definitive answer about moving us or not and that doesn't allow me to plan my schedule. And if any one of you is in the craft world, you'll know that you have to plan over 6 months ahead for some popular shows.

Finally, he's retiring this coming July so I can actually make plans. What a concept! It's nice to have the freedom of knowing....my life's been in the mercy of the military for too many years.

I'm going to be at the By Hand Gift Show in Edmonton from Feb. 18-21st. Check their site for info: www.byhand.ca . It's running in conjunction with the Alberta Gift Show. It's the first time I've done the Alberta show...looking forward to it. It's not a public show, you'll have to have a resale license to attend.

Right now, I'm working like mad to get all my samples and new products ready. I forgot how much work that takes! But I do hope it's well worth it.

Work in Progress

While searching for inspiration for some new canes, I came across an old chinese pattern book that I hadn't looked at in ages. As I flipped through the pages, I decided to create a teapot featuring some ancient Chinese beauties. I've been wanting to do a series like this for a while so I guess I'm finally ready to start on it.

Right now, I'm working on a teapot in that theme. I've decided to post a few pics as the work progresses. I've got the one side of the teapot covered and starting on the other side. This is just the base of the detailing. After the first baking, I'll still be going back in and carving details and backfilling them. There will be quite a few more steps before I will be able to say this piece is complete.

New Year, New Works!

So, you figure when the shows have all ended...there may be breathing space...not!

I was invited to contribute to a silent auction at Arty Gras, a gala fundraiser for the Winnipeg Art Gallery. I felt honoured to have been asked as one of the artisans. It signifies that polymer clay is gaining more recognition as a fine art medium, and so it should!

I created a vase inspired by my dragonfly teapot. It's a theme that's dear to my heart. Hope it makes oodles of money for the gallery.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe 2007 has rolled around.

It was a hectic but great Christmas season for me. It's also bittersweet since we'll be moving away from Winnipeg this summer. I have many dear friends here that I'll miss but I sure won't miss the weather!

It will be nice for this BC gal to get back to her roots after 16 years on the Prairies. I always believe change is good for the soul.

The Hook Up

I'm introducing a new product at my Christmas season....purse hangers! They're a cute little hook that you place on top of a table so that you can hang your purse on it.

It was something that I remember my mother having when I was a young child in Hong Kong and it came back to me about a year ago when I got tired of not having a place to put my purse besides on the floor or hanging from the back of the chair. This little accessory was the result of a year's worth of research to find the right supplier of this item.

The one I've acquired holds a minimum 20lbs! I think it should have no problem holding my husband's military packsack! To personalize the pieces as my own, I've made limited edtion patterns for the disc that sits on the table.

Wish me luck on the sale of these items.

Playing Leapfrog!

I just completed this teapot recently. As usual, nothing's painted on. The complex details are polymer clay canes. This piece also has a mixture of texture sheet mokume gane techniques, carved and inlaid work. It took around six bakings to complete it and wet sanded to a satinlike finish.

More teapots....

Here's a couple of teapots that I created for the Filberg Festival.

It's been awhile, my friends!

I've been a bad girl....it's been months since I've posted. Since it was the summer, I have an excuse. Was in Victoria, BC for a month and had a blast. It's great to be with my family. Can't wait to move out there next summer.

Danks(my hubby) and I spent the last 6 days up in Comox Valley at the Filberg Festival. Left the little one(Devon) with my parents. It's the longest we've been together alone since the birth of our little rugrat 3 years ago.

The show was amazing! We did very well....the best summer festival I've ever attended. Wall to wall people in a wonderful and relaxed setting. The Filberg Park is beautiful and I can see why this festival has been so popular for the last 20 years. The weather was great this year for the show. Aside from the dust being kicked up from the path, there were no problems what so ever. Though it was a hectic show...it was still quite relaxing Hopefully I'll get in it again next year.