New Necklaces

Good Tuesday everyone. I hope the weekend was kind to you. For me it was good but ruined slightly by a very persistent migraine which forced me into bed most of Sunday night and Monday morning. Though slowed abit, I still managed to be productive and have made quite a few new necklaces which I'll show you over the next few days.

Here is one with my 'My Love, My Love, My Love" illustration. My pendants are of course hand-made by moi. Lovingly so I must add. They are made with a pigment print on acid-free paper, which is mounted on a natural bamboo tile with a toxic-free medium. They are water-resistant but I do suggest that people take them off before showering or swimming. I only use quality beads, therefore all beads are either glass or wooden, never plastic. My clasps, bails and rings are all silver-plated. And my cording is a nice 100% cotton with nylon for abit of stretchability. The pendants measure at about 10" from top clasp to bottom of bamboo tile.

Here is another version with the same illustration. I am happy to have enough beads to be able to duplicate these two styles for hopefully another 2 or 3 necklaces of each design. When you buy my pendants they come in a colour complimentary silk organza bag.... ...and there is an insert telling you the title of the illustration used on the pendant and a 'love/thank you' note signed by moi.

I do apologize for the poor quality of the photos. I took them late at night in my studio as I've been waiting and waiting for sunlight to shoot in natural lighting which I always prefer but everyday has been gloomy and snowy and well I just couldn't wait anymore. I'll re-shoot everything before putting them in the shop.

Well, that's all for today...I am happily off to listen to jazz and to make more necklaces...Until tomorrow, Be Well and Happy Creating.

A Foresty Guide Illustrated

Today I wanted to show you the black and white illustrations which I painstakingly worked on around this time last year. I was so very very happy for the experience. Working with 3 different authors via email, phone and fax was challenging and there were many many revisions before reaching any of the approved finals but it was a challenge and task I enjoyed. I started out not even knowing what a 'stub' was, but after working on the project for almost 4 months, I learnt alot and I am happy that the illustration will perhaps help loggers be more careful and aware when in their forestry profession and that the guide and pictures will help protect the wildlife that lives and needs trees, etc... Here are the illustrations that 'made' it into the MNR Forestry Guide.... This illustration depicts a forested area with different soil erosion's and the damage of trucks and too much cutting on the land.

This illustration depicts a tire rut made by the forestry trucks and how deep they should or should not be so as not to leave permanent damage to the forest bed.

This illustrations depicts and shows miles and radius of tree cutting allowed around marshland areas.

This illustration shows how much cutting and how far back cutters must stay from nesting areas found along shorelines etc...

This illustration helps to depict how streams and shorelines along the streams are affected by different types of cutting and what type of trees, shrubs etc should be left to ensure a strong bank, no soil erosion, etc...

This illustration is for eagle or osprey nests and the no-cut radius on cliff faces which cutters must abide by.

This illustration shows primary, secondary and 3rd nests of a bird species and how all nesting areas must be located and a certain radius/miles of no-cutting is enforces around these nests to protect the birds and its natural habitat.

This illustration shows different types of tree cavities and how different species use the holes as a home, so trees with large or even small cavities are suggested to not be cut so that animals, birds, etc homes are left undisturbed.

(This was one of my favourite illustrations, so I just wanted to show you the larger size so you can see the detail abit more...)

This illustrations depicts another cavity tree and how some cavities are born over time, whether it be healed over damage from burrowing or lightening strike...or a freshly fallen branch and the cavity it leaves on tree can become a quick home for a bird or little animal.

This illustration is of a stub tree...showing that cutters must try to leave stubs at 6 feet to allow for decay of tree and therefore future cavity function, especially suggested is to cut above any already present cavities.

I was commissioned and compensated for 23 Black and White Illustrations, where I retained copyright and usage for self-promotion etc, however only 10 illustrations made it into the book, 2 were dropped...and here's the other ones that were indeed approved but for reasons unknown to me did not make it into the book!....

This illustration shows a forested area and it's stubs. Some of the larger veteran trees with cavities are left behind to house local animals and birds and stubs are left behind for future cavity usage or decay which can also become a home. Larger trees are left behind because 10 years down the road....

...half of those will fall and again become hiding places and homes for various species, therefore responsible forestry which is considering the future of the forest habitats.

This illustration is of a pileated wood-pecker making it's hole in a jack pine tree.

This illustrations shows cavities and tells the forest cutters that they must be vigilant and observant, that not all cavity trees are easy to find and therefore mark for no-cutting.

This one shows a mast tree. Mast trees are often large veteran trees which have a good crown that are fruit or nut bearing. Mast trees can be spotted easily to the cutters because often a bear will leave marks either on the ground or on the tree it's in the way of claw marks, or damaged bark etc...These trees are not cut and left along because the cutters will know that a bear relies on this area as a food source.

Just another mast tree illustration, clearly showing damage to the bark, claw marks and yes even a small cavity near the base.

These 3 illustrations show Super Canopy trees, which are also not suppose to be cut because the are also veteran trees and serve a multitude of purposes in protected smaller fellow trees and are often home to many cavities/homes.

This picture shows a veteran tree...the cavity at the base is old and worn and most likely home to some animals. There are also 2 other cavities on this tree which I am sure by now you can spot yourself. The bark shows signs of a lightening strike that the tree strongly survived. Most likely this veteran tree would not be cut because it will eventually most likely grow into a super-canopy tree and dwarf all the others around it and continue to serve it's purpose as protector and home.

This is an illustration which was suppose to accompany one of the pictures that made it into the book, but it again shows the land after tree cutting...the left behind branches etc will become mulch and encourage future growth etc.

So there you have it...my first book illustrated and now universe...send me a children's book to illustrate, ha ha...Thanks for having a look today, join me next week, probably Tuesday instead of Monday for new inspirations, aspirations, illustrations and creations from yours truly, Mandy Saile of Bijou's Whimsy.

Wishing My Sweetie A Happy Birthday

Today is a special day...it's my sweeties 33rd Birthday. A day to celebrate this most awesome, caring, unique, strong, intelligent, loving, handsome, giving, supportive, romantic, inspiring and wonderful person and bunny daddy who've I've been lucky and blessed to have as my partner for 15 years now. Ten lifetimes wouldn't ever be enough time with my special guy and I am just hoping that though this birthday will be a quiet one (at his request) that it will still be memorable and good.

I created this illustration a few years ago for my Jonathan, for Love, for Partnership, for the Beauty and Grace and Blessings such a complete love brings...Happy Birthday my love, from Your Bijou and Ella-Luna, Roo, Hazel and Jin...Happy Birthday.

Wishing You A Merry Day

Christmas time is usually very busy for me, I like to make alot of stuff for our own household and for family and friends too. Monday night, we finally broke out the xmas tree and ornament boxes and the house is now all sparkly and happy and Christmasy, alittle late this year but better now than never. It's always a trick to have the tree in an optimal spot so that not only Jonathan and I enjoy it but so that Ella-Luna, Roo, Hazel and Jinny get to gaze at it as well.

Yesterday was great it started off with a morning coffee with my mom and then I made my way back home through a snowstorm and for the rest of the day I was cozy inside the house as I spent the day gluing any broken ornaments, sparkling things that need extra sparkle and well just adding little touches to the house that I know we'll all enjoy over the next few weeks. And despite the snow storm the evenings agenda included a girls night out to see "Twilight' at the theatres which I have to admit that I loved. I have never been to a movie where you could literally hear all the girls in the audience, sign or gasp or giggle over how cute and wonderful 'Edward' was, it was quite humourous.

Today, I am just popping in to share this new photo..I just loved how the evening sun was shining on these ornaments hanging from door knobs in the living room. I never get tired of how delicious light can be.

I do want to mention my best friend Judit Gueth today....If you have a few moments, you should Click Here to see her lovely new silk pillows that just came in and which she's very excited about and rightfully so. I love seeing her designs on different things and they suit the pillows very nicely.

I hope to have something new to share with you tommorow...until then, Be Warm, Be Cozy and Be Well.

Something New & My Friend Vince Chui

I've really wanted to show you a project that Jonathan and I made a couple weeks ago. We got it done all in one day, which made us laugh because I've been dragging around these heavy wooden windows for years now! I saved them from the garbage depot and knew they'd have a good purpose someday and now I am glad that I saved them and have been dragging them around. This is after Jonathan and I spent a few hours in the cold garage....refinishing the windows somewhat, but not to much to still leave that 'old' look and making the nice sturdy shelves which the windows would attatch to to become doors. Here they are in the living room ready for the white washing.

...and here they are all finishing up and hanging in my upstairs studio. I love them.

They are the perfect place to store some of my paints and other little treasures...

Thanks Jonathan for these, they are great...we did a great job I think. I can't go further today without mentioning my sweet and talented friend Vince Chui. Vince and I became fast friends in college, he remains to this day to be one of the gentlest and sweetest souls I've ever met and I am happy and honoured to still call him my friend. Vince always blows everyone away with his talent. In school, in a class of about 20 students, there were only about 2 or 3 who could draw superbly straight from their heads and with no reference whatsoever...Vince was one of these people. Vince recently put a video on Daily motion and it's so neat to watch how he creates one of his characters from scratch. Click here to view the video. Vince also has a website here and a blog here.

(Vince & I, years ago...)

With Vince's permission, I leave you with his fantastic 2008 Xmas card image...until tomorrow be well.

A New Necklace with my Amaryllis Bird and Happiness

I am excited to show you a new product I've been working on lately...A necklace I made featuring my latest illustration of "Amaryllis Bird" mounted on a natural bamboo tile with glass beads, except for the red beads which are wooden. It wears very nicely, looks unique and bright and now that I've ironed out any kinks I am off to the races to make more of this one and of course with other illustrations and bead treasures of mine. I love making them and once I have alittle stock pile there will be a batch going up for sale in the shop, but I'll give you a heads up for that. I already have a couple stores that might sell them so that's exciting.

It's always so fun to see my imagery on a new product, espeacially when I've made that product all on my own and could pour love, hope, joy and good energies into them...

...and how could I not enjoy making anything when I look down to my right and see this gourgues little creature all stretched out by my studio chair...

...our little black pud...our shiny and squishy little cub...our clusty and goofy Hazel who rolls over when she's happy...our bunny and sweetie pie who cheers our heart and lives, ohhh love love love her... ...and our Jinny, who choose the window bench to be her prime spot for today. Our serious and gentle tookey...our caring and thoughtful and alway observant Jin...our bunny who has more fun in the snow than anyone....our fast as can be zippy sweetheart, we are so very glad we brought her home.... Also today, I was happy as pie to see Rudy make an appearance as we were cooking up our dinner. Jonathan made him a cool and snug as can be house and I think it's so cozy that he barely leaves it, ha ha...but we love thinking of him being just abit warmer in these chilly days. We rushed him his order of seeds and peanuts and just seeing his cute little self made my day perfect. Happiness really does lay where ever we choose to pluck it from....wheather it be from a newly made thing, created from our heart and made with pride, or happy rabbits...or squirrels...or a delicious pot of homemade lentil soup....or a nap with my honey, or a good workout whiles listening to a good audiobook, a long warm soak with coconut bubbles then cozy pajamas, or a good episode of The Office....My day was full of these happy things and more and I am currently feeling very blessed and happy and relaxed. I am letting go of my fear that too much happiness brings turmoil and bad luck! and I am just sending out this happy surge out to you all and into the void knowing that all is well and good....and happy. I won't be posting on Monday but please do pop in Tuesday. Until then Be Well and Happy. XXOO

A Lovely Lunch

The other day I spent the day with my mom and I loved it because I haven't done so in awhile and well I am just very cozy and content at my parents home and having my mom all to myself for abit. Not to mention the wonderful lunches she always conjures up for us. I know I normally don't show food on my blog but I couldn't resist snapping a shot of our lunch...

It was shrimp with a cream sauce in a dill pastry...yum...avocados in a sesame oil, lime, balsamic dressing sprinkled with sesame seeds...yummm...A big salad with pecans, baby tangerines, apples, poppy seeds and a homemade honey orange vinegrette...yummmmmmm....oh yes and hazelnut coffee and dessert too.

My parents cat Maggie was sitting beside me eyeing my shrimp pastry...

But I had already shared with her half of my breakfast yogurt and figured she had enough milky goodness for the day, ha ha...

And I couldn't resist snapping a few shots of the backyard...usually when I go to my parents we all congregate to the big dining table which is surrounded with windows and sliding glass door and here's the view.... I loved the icicles on my mom's summer wind chimes... It's not uncommon to see red foxes, blue jays, rabbits, skunks, raccoons, cats or sometimes even a bear or deer on their way through the woods...

This afternoon however we were 'only' graced with 5 or 6 black squirrels bounding around the deck....I am always abit naughty and empty my parents peanut bowl because I throw a handful out every 10 minutes, I just can't resist watching the little sweeties grab and stash their peanuts...

I wish I had brought my big lens with me because the little buggers kept crawling up this tree so I couldn't get a real proper shot!...

So yes, we're in a winter wonderland and it could snow everyday for the rest of winter as far as I am concerned...because with our new cross country ski's I think winter is going about to get all that much lovelier.

Thanks for popping in and letting me share abit of my day with you...come back tomorrow and I'll show you something creative. Be Well.

A New Furniture Project

I love painting old furniture...I don't do it too often because they can be time consuming projects, but when I do get to it, I really get into it and the thought always pops into my head that "Yep, I could do this for a living...this and paint carousel horses..." ha ha. It completely lets me diverge and break from my usual work but still feels very creative and therefore freeing. I saw this lovely old writing desk at a thrift shop for no more than $20. Without question my honey helped me load it up into the car and we brought it home only to sit in a corner for a few years with not real purpose and looking pretty hideous (but I bought it because I knew the shape and style was lovely).

Jonathan helped me immensely by spending 3 hours on it before it passed off into my hands. He worked off the old cracked and bubbled veneer on all sides, cut new pieces for the backing, reinforcing weak areas, completely rebuilt the legs, filled any cracks and holes and sanded it beautifully so I had a nice smooth surface to refinish. I forgot to take a shot of it before Jon worked on it unfortunately...but here it is looking much better than before...

And voila...here it is after 7 or 8 hours of my hard but fun work...

A lovely and new and unique desk for our den which is decorated with blacks, reds and golds...I am very pleased with the outcome and was happy to surprise Jonathan with the finished project when he arrived home from work. Now Jon wants to go thrift store hunting for more furniture for me to paint, ha ha...he says this every time I finish a piece.

Thanks for your help babe, it would no doubt look quite as sharp without all the fine tuning you put in. As for everyone else, I hope I've inspired you to break out the paints and varnish and perhaps tackle some ugly or tired piece of yours and have fun and breathe new life into it. Happy Creating and perhaps old furniture hunting.

Christmas Time...Happy Happy Joyful Time...

Good Tuesday all. I have to admit to missing Monday's post because I was too busy refinishing an old desk which I am excited to show you for tomorrows post. For today, I thought we'd celebrate the official beginning of Christmas with a Christmas Illustration I created last year for my greeting card line. It is called "May the Spirit of Christmas Find You"

I have to be realistic and most likely will not be getting the xmas cards or prints in the shop or onto the new website in time for this holiday...but the good news is that there will be a good assortment ready and early for next season!

Admittedly as I get older, Christmas and the holidays takes on alot more melancholy, reflection and naturally some sadness...but I think that luckily and thankfully most of us can feel these things grow and learn from them hopefully and that they only help to lend to an even more wonderful, festive, happy, joyful and appreciated holiday season. I am proud and happy that Jonathan and I are learning to adapt and move ahead more heartily every year despite missing the ones who had to leave us during these months.

I am glad that this year finally we've gotten it through our heads that presents are the last important thing and just being together and perhaps going out skiing together than coming back to our cozy home and settling in with a roaring fire, wine, good food and healthy bunnies will indeed be enough for us this year.

I hope you enjoy my holiday illustration...until tomorrow, be well and happy creating...and happy holidays too.