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Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Freya....In The Making...

Some of you may have see my lovely goddess "Freya" in the gallery exhibition posts
but I wanted to officially showcase her here on my blog...

Here she is....isn't she lovely?
She is acrylic and coloured pencil on a birch panel and is about 2 x 3 feet.


And
For the FIRST TIME EVER
I am going to show you my work IN PROGRESS....
Here we go:


What do you think?  Did you enjoy seeing Freya In The Making??
Would you like to see more of my pieces in progress???

P.S. My June newsletter goes out soon, if you would like to receive the newsletter just sign up here.

XO Mandy & her sweet sweet bunnies who are enjoying some Paul Simon in the studio today XO

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Birds Of A Feather Archive Website

We've been working long, hard and furiously on completing
and now it's done and awaiting your perusal....
There are many photographs of the Installation, The Opening & The Artwork itself.
There's also 3 videos...
1 is a visual tour of the exhibition,
the 2nd is an interview with yours truly
whiles showing beautiful landscapes we filmed from around our home
and the 3rd is an art talk about several piece in the show.


It's perfect for those of you who wanted to see my exhibition but just couldn't...
and for those who did see it but want to have another gander.

We are simply over the moon with it.

and I must say, once again, that I am completely luck filled and honored to have a honey-pie who tirelessly and most beautifully lends and blends his talents with me and mine....WOW.

A site I will cherish always.

p.s The 3 videos are also available in HD on YouTube as well....

See you next week
XO An inspired Bijou XO

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Summer In Good Company

I've been spending many of these past recent weeks dealing with many
migraines and headaches unfortunately.
BUT
Also I am spending my time outside with...

Baby red squirrels...


With gentle grey squirrels...


With 100's of bumblebees who are floating about several of our white pointilla trees & rose bushes...


I am in the company of giant black birds...
Who luckily can't steal our rabbits but who I do on occasion see stealing
a new born bird from the smaller black birds nests.
(This has got to be one of my most favourite recent photographs...I love my zoom lens).


And of course I am spending my summer days outside with our 4 bunnies....

If anyone has spent a day watching their bunnies frolic and graze and nap out of doors,
they'll understand just how calming and lovely and fulfilling it is.


(that's our Jinster in that last shot)

I suppose I don't get half as much work done in the summer, ha ha....
I am too busy playing with bunnies
and keeping company with all these other fine folks....

Which I guess is why it's good thing that I live in a land which is frozen and
snow covered for half the year, ha ha...otherwise my studio may grow quite lonely. 

Hope your enjoying your summer days.

XO Mandy & My furry and feathered friends XO

p.s. Join me Saturday for some exciting news.

Monday, June 20, 2011

"Morning Glory" in Watercolour A NEW YouTube Painting

Hi Everyone,
Hopping in today to let you know that we've uploaded a
spanking brand new YouTube painting demonstration...
It is a watercolour version of 'Morning Glory' painted out in the garden.



Hope you have time to take a look.
& Enjoy

XO Mandy & her bunnies who have a wild hare living in the front yard....
He's SO Beautiful & I find it very hard to not want to bring him into the safety of our home...
But I know I can't.

P.S. WOW This Blog Post is my 600th Post....holy smokes!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The Conversation

Another little tiled piece.  This one is called....

"The Conversation Between Leeson & Thibeault"


...Are they gossiping...
...are they complaining....
...are they being kind and giving each other words of encouragement...
well I guess we'll never quite know...

What would 2 feathered friends be likely to chat about???
(I personally think they are of the gossipy variety, ha ha)

This one is another mixed media on a wood block with a row of tiles.
(I can't believe I messed up the order of the tiles!)
My dad made me some frames for my exhibition and I just adore them so much,
they add so much finish and punch to the pictures.

Have a lovely iced-tea & bird-song filled day....

XO an ice-tea sipping Mandy & her four dandelion munching bunnies XO

Monday, June 13, 2011

Bunny Blog Pledge - Buy Cruelty-Free

say NO to CRUEL COSMETICS...

WHY?

Because I love animals
and I am an animal lover
and I can't in good conscious use products that are tested on animals...and most often tested on rabbits...
Because the sad and gruesome fact is that millions of bunnies face the horrors of
product testing everyday...
and it's partly because not enough people are protesting it or care enough to make changes & some are just sadly ignorant of what test lab animals go through for us...
are YOU OKAY it???  I sure as hell am not.


That is why I recently signed up for the 'BUNNY BLOG PLEDGE'.

This blog pledge comes in the form of a paper bunny that is travelling around the globe from
bunny loving blogger to bunny loving blogger.
Bloggers, like yours truly, who LOVES animals, especially rabbits and who vow to buy
CRUELTY-FREE COSMETICS....


(The pledge bunny arrived with a sweet postcard from the previous host & I happily brewed a pot of peppermint tea so I could sit down and visit all the other bloggers who signed the rabbit).
Those participating are hoping to spread the word through our blogs on the
importance of buying Cruelty-Free.

Miss Bunny has travelled well so far...she has visited:
Annette Tait in the UK...than she travelled to a bunny named Jet & her Mama...
than she went to see Juliet Wilson over in Scotland.
Than she had a visit with Charlotte and Humphrey of Cottontails Baby.
Than hopped over to Jane, Max & Molly in Edinburgh.
Than she went to visit Gill's Garden alongside buns Daisy and Archie...
Now she's popping in to me, in North Bay Canada and from here
she'll move onto Donna Swan & her furry brood in Dallas Texas and from there to a new place and so on...

As I said rabbit's are the #1 test lab subject for cosmetics & household products.
It breaks my heart every single day to think of what's happening those rabbits 'out there'
(hence my dreams of someday opening a rabbit rescue for such sweethearts).
...
Beautiful rabbits like our Jinny (shown here)...
just because they have very sensitive eyes and skin.


Can YOU be a Part Of That???

I can't...
which is why I've been buying Cruelty-Free Cosmetics & such for years now.
My make up comes from either AVON or REVLON or Burt's Bees,
all cruelty-free companies whom I feel good buying from...
(even though neither Avon or Revlon advertise their cruelty-free sides).

Some quickies that I can think of that you'll want to avoid are any products from
Johnsons & Johnsons and Proctor and Gamble as they are BIG testers...

and popular products like:
Aveeno, AquaFresh, Aussie, Arm & Hammer, Always, Acuvue, Biotherm, Calgon, Clairol, Clearasil, Colgate, Clean & Clear, Clorox, Coppertone, Crest, Dove, Febreeze, L'Oreal, Glade, Ivory, Iams, Herbal Esscences, Head & Shoulders, Lacome, Listerine, Max Factor, Maybelline, Nair, Neutragena, Nice & Easy, Pampers, Olay, Old Spice, Palmolive, Ponds, Pantene, Pearl Drops, Suave, Swiffer, Vaseline, Vidal Sassion, Vicks..and so on, ALL of which ARE TESTED ON ANIMALS...
even lines such as Christina Aguileras Perfumes are tested on animals.
(refer to this list for more names, etc)

There's tons of choices for kind alternatives however, you just have to take the time to look, research
and ultimately care.


It's easy to spot the 'Not Test On Animals' line or the not tested bunny logo...
and keep in mind that just because a product doesn't have these identifying marks,
 doesn't necessarily mean they are tested...
some companies don't advertise anywhere on their packaging that they are cruelty-free
(though I do find that most who are cruelty-free do advertise as such).
If you don't see the cruelty-free line or logo than just 'google' any brand/product your thinking of buying
or simply look up the ones your already using & which your not sure about...

(don't forget there are always links listed here on my sidebar of Cruelty-Free lists I like to use. 
I am partial to this list & this list).

There are MANY companies who have 'no-testing' policies...
and it's easy to find out who does and who doesn't and than switch from those who do.
(but don't forget, it helps to take an extra step and send the bad companies a letter or email
telling them why your switching from their products and to voice that kindness is a priority for you...
especially towards those who have no voice of their own).

Some companies that do test on animals, such as Clorox, do have products that aren't tested,
like the readily available line called 'Green Works'.
Is buying these products just lining the pockets of a bad company?
or
Is it sending them the message that there is a market for Cruelty-Free?
the choice is yours...the latter is better than nothing in my opinion.

You don't have to replace all your items ALL AT ONCE...just finding one replacement at a time can make the task of 'switching over' seem 'less daunting' & are steps towards a kinder lifestyle.
(Jonathan and I are still looking for a really great cruelty-free under arm deodorant)

BUYING CRUELTY-FREE IS EASY

And it doesn't have to mean more money. That is a common misconception...
And even when it does cost abit more, isn't knowing an animal won't suffer for your choice, worth it?

Sadly, as I said, rabbits, (especially those with red eyes) are the most common test lab subject.
I could never in good conscious, snuggle up to my fur babies,
knowing my make up and products were tested on any of their precious long-eared kind...


I can't stress how EASY it is to BUY CRUELTY-FREE...
AND Not just cosmetics...
But face creams, soaps, oils, cleaning products and perfumes, etc...too.

I have a few favourite company's
(click right here to read another blog post I wrote on my favourite cruelty-Free Jason's products)
(and right here to read a post on cruelty-free Earth Therapeutics products)
I also love Kiss My Face products...
Let me show you some of my other favs that I eagerly use right now...

Avalon Organics has many beautiful products and I can't get enough of their face creams...


I am somewhat of a face cream addict., ha ha...
I have many kinds in the house and ALL are Cruelty-Free
...40 Carrots is another big favourite of mine
(as you can see I stocked up a a few tubes, ha ha).


There are soooo many lovelies out there....
and usually the cruelty-free brands are also natural or organic lines as well, which is just a bonus!

As with cosmetics and beauty products there are many cleaning products that are cruelty-free.
One of my favourite household line is from the brilliant and fantastic company called 'Method'.
They cover a large range of cleaners including a wonderful Cruelty-Free wood cleaner that I love using...


I can't praise 'Method' supplies enough.
Seriously, if your not able to get these products where you live they are soooo worth ordering by mail.
(especially the baby laundry detergents...I LOVE them & the 'Rice Milk & Mallow scents ROCK).

Cruelty-Free products are readily available in regular shops like Shoppers Drug Mart, grocery stores and places such as Canadian Tire, Walmart, even Winners/Homesense usually has a lovely selection...
thinking cruelty-free is just a speciality item is wrong.
and what you can't get in town, think about ordering online.

It may not be something you can do overnight...especially if you live in smaller towns, but it is possible and so worth it and most certainly a positive action to really prove that you love animals.


REALLY, Once you start looking for that little 'Not Tested On Animals' line and/or the not-tested bunny rabbit logo, you'll be pleasantly surprised at how often you come across it...
and your be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to put back the products that don't have them....
because kind people want and can make kind choices
& if your still lagging on the decision, than think of any animals you have at home or have ever loved...
...
Think of them stuck in a small cold metal cage day in and day out
only to be taken out every day for a torture session...
having their eyes pinned open as a monster drops in perfume or detergent or goodness knows what...
just to see if they are scalded or blinded...or worse.
(as a long standing PETA member/supporter you wouldn't believe some of the things these rabbits & animals go through, it truly is heart-wrenching)

I truly think that my bunnies love us just that much more for making the choice to go
CRUELTY-FREE...
I can hear their sweet little hearts say...
Thank You Mama & Daddy....


So please from the bottom of my heart...
Buy Cruelty-Free...
Rabbits and animals around the world will thank you...
especially the sweethearts stuck in Testing Labs.

Our own precious Jinny, Jaks, Ella Luna, Roo and our fur angels Beanie, Thodan, Gimmley, Noodle, Hobbs and Hazel send you all extra love and virtual bun snuggles if you do...


XO Mandy & The Bunnies XO

(If Your Interested In Hosting Ms.Rabbit for the Bun Blog Pledge please do email me at MandySaile@BijousWhimsy.com or sign up here and we'll get your name on the hosting list, Thank You).

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Owlette Odalis

Another new Owlette.

This one is named "Odalis"

I love how grouchy he looks, ha ha.


He is indeed yet another coloured pencil on gessoed pine.
I LOVE the colour mixture on this one...the turquoise, greens and oranges...scrumptious.
(Prints of Odalis & the other Owlettes are coming soon).

Tell me, DO YOU like his grouchiness?
It can't always be peaches and sunshine-y goodness now can it!
BUT Let's do try to make sure MOST of the time is, ha ha

XO A Bijou who just adores the sound of her bunnies eating banana XO

Monday, June 6, 2011

Winner of Blog Giveaway & The Days Going-On's

Drum Roll Please....

DDDDDRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR........


Congrats Stephey, I am so glad that you won, YAYYYY...
Do get in touch with me & send me your address so I can get this little guy mailed out to you.

Thanks so so much to everyone who entered.
This giveaway harnessed the most entries yet.

There were many wonderful answers to the giveaway question of
'what's your favourite animal and why'.
It would seem that the majority choose CATS as their favourite animal...
(which is funny to me because they are one of my least favourites,
with their common habits of killing and maiming smaller animals for the mere fun of it!!!)
Than people seemed to love BIRDS...
Than their own DOGGIES...
Than RABBITS (Yayyy rabbits)...
Than HORSES...
and there were other lovely answers like Blue Herons & Monkeys....
Thanks to EVERYONE who entered, all of your answers were fun to read.

Anyhoo...I've had 10 or 11 days now of being plagued by constant 24/7 sinus & allergy headaches...
it feels like someone has my head in a vice and is just squeezing and squeezing my poor noggin....

BUT 

I am off to enjoy the day despite the insistent pressure and pain...
with grass romping bunnies, though it looks like thunder and rain will soon arrive...
with a book about Jane Austen...
with my sketchbook, where over the weekend 2 new delicious lovelies started to emerge...
with a big pot of peppermint tea...
and with watercolours & the camcorder, because a new YouTube painting demo is in the works.

Have a lovely one lovelies...See you all soon. XO

Friday, June 3, 2011

May's Newsletter

I know it's now June but I just wanted to mention that my May e-newsletter was sent out
a few days ago...


If you are interested in receiving them just click here for fast and easy sign up.
You will only be emailed once a month (except for very special occasions, maybe once or twice a year).
Your email will remain private (and will not be sold or shared with anyone)
and
If you decide the newsletter is not for you, taking your name off the list is super duper easy...
BUT most people seem to enjoy my newsletters so you likely won't have to worry about that last bit.

Thanks Everyone...
Have a wonderfully creative & excellent weekend.

XO Mandy & 4 bunnies who did quite well this year when their flea meds were administered XO

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Happy Birthday To My Mom

I am going to show you an old illustration of mine today...Her name is...


(she is the character of a story I have kicking around in my noggin)

I am showing you this illustration because I know that she is
one of my moms favourites.


and today is my awesome mom's BIRTHDAY...YAYYYYY...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM...

I
LOVE
LOVE
LOVE
YOU

We all do...
XXXOOO Me & Jonathan & Ella Luna & Roo & Jinny & Jaks XXXOOO

(Psst...Only a few more days to enter your name for my original birdie giveaway)