My Workshops are starting...

This Weekend! I'm teaching a polymer clay basics and beginner's caning workshop on Sunday at Island Blue Print in Victoria. I have a follow up caning workshop called 'Spirals, Stripes, and more' in March 28th. For more info, go to the Island Blue website.

In between these workshops is the Vancouver Polymer Clay Guild's first 'Horizons' retreat. I'll be teaching a workshop called 'Complex Cane Made Easy', which is a companion to Gera Scott Chandler's 'Leggy Bowl' workshop. I'm excited to be participating in this upcoming retreat...sounds like there's alot of fun to be had. If any of you have some free time in February, you may be interested in coming up for this fun retreat!

One World~One Heart

When I saw this post made by Tina Holden that she is participating in this virtual giveaway, I thought it was a grand idea! What a way to connect with others and have a chance in winning wonderful handcrafted wares!

This wonderful giveaway is the brainchild of Lisa Swifka(A Whimsical Bohemian). What a way to bring artists from around the world closer.

I'm offering a one of a kind business card holder made especially for this giveaway.

How to enter:

-Leave a comment under this post. One post per person only. Leave either your blog or email so that I can contact you if you're the winner.

-The giveaway will be drawn on February 12, 2009 and the winner will be posted here in my blog and will be contacted.

So far there's over 350 artisans participating in this, so please click on the 'One World~One Heart' logo above to check the Gypsy Caravan out. Feel free to enter as many as you want!

Creativity revealed!

I decided to show you how an idea for a teapot is created. I have had the idea of combining two of my loves, orchids and frogs for about a year now. I finally starting working on it this past weekend. Through my process, I decided on putting the design on a teapot. I've chosen my teapot and now I reveal some of the background work I do before I even start applying any detailing on the actual teapot.

Since majority of my teapot detailing are caned, I still have alot of canes to maked before I even start working on it. Just thought you may like a sneak peek into my creative process.

New Year Start!

After every christmas production season, I do a major clean up in my studio. I finally got rid of an apartment fridge to make room for a storage unit. Loving the extra storage!

And can you believe my table not covered in cane slices....yet!

First Victoria Craft Show!

I was so excited that I premiered myself as a local artist in Victoria...finally! I participated in the IAA's Gifts to Myself and Others Show last November. It was an intimate little show (under 30 artisans) with very loyal clienteles. I had a great time and will hopefully be able to attend it next year.

Perfume Project

The second time I participated in Filberg Festival, I met a wonderful aromatherapist/perfumier, Anita Kalnay of Flying Colors Aromatherapy. She approached me about a project where I could design containers for her custom perfumes based on the scents. I found the idea very intriguing because I strongly believe in the experiences through all levels of our senses.

Finally this past fall, the project was executed. Anita sent me a beautiful fruity blend for me to draw my creativity. I envisioned colours of peaches and visions of peach blossoms swirling around as I held the scent to my nose. I find it fascinating how I can see these imageries just from the smell of something. I was pleased with the final product and so was Anita. We're hoping this is just the beginning of an interesting collaboration!

Happy New Year!

Hello all...it's been awhile. I guess if I was to make a resolution, it's to write on my blog a bit more...but I don't make resolutions. ;)

Filberg was Fab! Yet again!

Well, another year at Filberg Festival is over. I really love this show....so invigorating and energizing. The outdoor venue and all the inspiring artisans are things I look forward to every year.

I was fortunate to set up earlier in the day and missed a big of heavy rain. It was just drizzling when I was doing it. I did come back to the site the next morning with a big pool of water in the roof of my tent. I was so glad to have decided not to put out any of my jewellery and purse hangers till that morning. Luckily, the rest of the show was lovely weather...actually got a bit hot out there. But I was under 2 huge trees with the beach at my back to keep my booth quite cool.

The show was successful which was a bit of a surprise to me. I did not have high expectations with all the high gas prices and such, but I must say that I couldn't complain about how I did. Choosing the right products to create is a big key to success....at least that's what I believe. I truly hope I can get into the show again next year!

Mini Teapots

Been awhile since I've posted new work, but I have these cute little teapots that were just begging to be covered. They're around 3-4" in size. I liked the way they turned out.

Final Prints for sale!

After a few attempts with photographing my jewellery....the final prints are ready for sale! Filberg's coming up this weekend and I'll be selling them there. I'm interested in seeing where this venture will go. By the way, these were done by my brother, Ben Shum, a multi-talented artist in his own rite..check out his site!

I'll be putting them up for sale at Etsy later!

Where has the summer gone??

Can't believe it's halfway through the summer. It's been hectic here in the homefront. My dear husband has been gone since mid-June and will not be home till end of August...leaving me single mommy to Devon for the entire summer! So the role of mom and getting ready for Filberg Festival next weekend has kept me from updating this blog.

On top of it all...I've hit a milestone bday...4---0--- at the end of June. Hubby remembered to send me a gorgeous bouquet of my fave flowers...gerberas. Looking forward to what the next decade will bring me.

New Dragonfly Photo

Following the suggestion from a number of my clients, I'm going to offer prints of my display photos that I use in my booth. I had never considered using any of my photos in that way, but hopefully my clients will enjoy them. What do you think?

Finally!

My dear friend Gera provided me with the National Post article. Yippee! I was suprised how big my dragonfly was. For those who haven't seen it yet, I've scanned and posted it for your viewing pleasure.

Workshop Alert!

Back on my beautiful island home! What a whirlwind trip I had and now it's back to business.

This coming Saturday, May 31st, I'll be at Island Blue for their Art Fair from 12-2. Come visit me if you can!

I'll be teaching a basic polymer clay caning course on the following Saturday June 8th, at the same location.

The next workshop will be at the Beeks Lane Studio in Godfrey, ON. Georgia Ferrell, one of my wonderful pc friends has an annual Polymer Clay Workshop and she invited me to be the guest artist this year! I'm looking forward to having a weekend to share my explorations in caning with others this coming September.

Another mention!

Thanks goes out to Cynthia Tinapple from Polymer Clay Daily, probably the most popular polymer clay blogs out there, for blogging my dragonfly and bug pins. I'm glad that I'm heading back to Victoria today so that I can make more of my creations soon. I'm very syked about getting back to claying after almost a month away from it.

Keep on the lookout for some 'new' things on the horizon!

National Post Update

Well, still never saw my pictures in the National Post...will have to wait till I get together with Gera. But since I now have fast enough internet, I can show you the pictures that I submitted to them.

Goodbye Newfoundland...I've found out what your beauty is....

Finally! I'm back in wireless internet world! Spending a couple of weeks of only having dial up access was like the stone ages for me. I can't believe this technology has grown so fast.

We left Deer Lake, NFLD yesterday and I miss it already. Though it only boasts a Tim Horton's as its only coffee place and a handful of places to eat out....it was one of the warmest places I've ever visited. It helps when people always call you 'M'Love' when you talk to them :)

I had 3 goals when I was there...see a moose(Newfie speedbump), icebergs, and having fresh lobsters(ate 5 1/2 of them)! I completed all of them and then some! I saw a cariboo! It truly is God's country and probably one of the world's best kept secrets. I sure found it suprising how different it is from one coast of Canada to the other. Our country is surely a place I want to explore more of.

Thanks to the National Post!

Thanks to Nathalie at the National Post....I'm in their 'Crawly Couture' spread with my bug and dragonfly brooches!

Too bad I haven't seen the photo spread yet. I spent 12 hours on airplanes and airports to get from Victoria to Deer Lake, Newfoundland yesterday. Yes, that's the shortest trip I could get from one end of Canada to the other! So, with slight jet lag, I just realized I forgot to pick up the paper!

Thanks to Gera, I will get a copy when I get back to Victoria.

For those who are interested in purchasing any of the bugs, I'll be back in the studio at the end of the month of May. For those who want to see me at a show, I'll be in the Filberg Festival in Comox Valley, BC next.

Catching up II: Devon's Birthday

I can't believe it, but my little boy turned 5 on April 7th. I still remember just bringing him home. It doesn't take long for them to grow up.

As if my life wasn't busy enough, I decided to make a birthday cake from scratch. My son had requested a dinosaur cake. Now, I could've made it easy for myself, make a flat cake....swipe a few of his dinosaurs....add a few trees...voila! A land of dinosaurs cake. But no! I decided to research and create a 3D dinosaur cake....guess I should get my head examined somedays. Six hours later...well, you see the results. Devon told me it's a dinosaur crocodile and a chocolate one at that!

My brother says I make cakes for a living....as if I don't have enough career options!