Are You Following Me?

So I whiles I do use other social media beside my beloved blog here,

this blog space (besides my website) is where you'll get the ultimate overall view of what I am doing,

(even if I am often behind real time)...

Even if it seems blogs are on a downward trend,

I don't ever see myself leaving my blog for any other platforms....

 

Now and than however,

I do put extra things on Instagram that I don't post here,

(just like I now and than put photos into my Flickr albums that I don't post anywhere else).

So, that being said, maybe you should probably follow me over there too...

I hope you'll click right here and join me on IG (and Flickr), if your not already XO.

"Marlie" our Carousel Horse is Complete

Our journey to bring Marlie to life began quite a few weeks ago....just a blank horse, beautifully carved but awaiting it's colour, life and character...

Diligently working alongside a handful of other talented and local carousel painters who were a complete delight to spend time with every week...our carousel horses, one by one came to life...

After a month and a half, the carousel horse that Arlie and I have been working on is pretty much complete. With a suggestion from my friend Maria, we have called it 'Marlie'.

We met at the gallery for pretty much 2 days every week, sometimes 3 to get it done during the carousel art exhibition.

Our time at the Alex Dufresne Gallery and Museum has been a great one. I want to send out a big grateful thanks to Carol and Christine, who welcomed us in warmly every time, fed us and warmed us up with coffee's and hot chocalate, and who forgave us when we destroyed their light grey carpet with a big pool of dark blue oil paint! Thank you so much for giving us a cozy and relaxing place to work on Marlie for the past month and a half. I will miss seeing everyone there every week, I truly will.

The horses are now on their way back to the carvers, to have the manes and tails attached. Then they will go into storage until sprin. In the spring they will receive any necessary touch ups, they will be 'antiqued' and than receive their final coat of varathane.

It has been a spectacular project to be involved with (again) and I am proud to have this 2nd carousel creation done along side my dear friend, mentor and adopted grandpa, Arlington Hoffman. We put much thought, love and good creative energies into these carousel creatures we help bring to life and we are proud that it's part of our legacy to our beloved city, North Bay.

Until we see you again in the spring Marlie, rest peacefully and happily in the creative enjoyment you were made with. And my thanks to Arlie for asking me to be his partner again.

To the beautiful and enchanting art and world of the carousel...may your live on and enchant the world forever...

Until tommorow....Be Well and May you find inspiration in everyday...such as in a carousel:D

Hidden Gem Back Home & A Scroll Saw

My coloured pencil painting "The Hidden Gem" is finally back home to us and we are so happy to have it back. This past weekend Jonathan helped me hang it in our entryway hall and we just both adore it's new home and agree that this one...after 60+ hours and me going cross-eyed twice, ha ha...is indeed not for sale.

(And no...the apples aren't just to look beautiful, ha ha, the rabbits and I just eat alot of apples.)

I am also so excited this week to have been given this awesome 18" Dremel Scroll Saw from Jonathan as an early birthday present (yep I'll be 31 on Sunday...yikes and yeah at the same time!) I have some new ideals for pieces and shop items and I really want to keep my business as independent as I can so the fact that I'll be able to cut my own things etc now on my beautiful new Dremel is so exciting.

Jonathan was so funny in his excitement to buy this for me...he said "How many guys get to buy tools for their wives..how cool is that..." ha ha. Thanks babe, I LOVE it and was happy to find a place for it in my studio even though I know you'd share your garage. I'll make you something extra special with it...and I am even going to learn how to change my own blades:D

So wish me a relaxing and fun Birthday weekend, I am looking forward to it, especially to the decadent cake I am quite sure my honey will be getting for me....I am sharing it with you all in spirit...Have a great weekend and see you here next week for the reveal of what I've been slaving on all week! Till then, Happy Creating. XXOO Mandy.

Monday's Monster Migraine & Carousel Gallery Photos

I planned to post yesterday but I was stuck in bed from morning till night with a monster of a migraine...it was not a good day to say the least. And still today, I have remnants of the pain, so I am moving slowly with no sudden motion and hoping that the pain will be gone totally after I do some yoga (after I am finished with this post).

This past Saturday was the opening of the Carousel Exhibition at the Alex Dufresne Gallery in Calander and it was a big success. It started at 3 and went till 5 and I don't think we could have fit many more people in, it was quite packed. I send a special thanks to my parents and friends who did take out the time to come and show your support, it meant alot to me.

So let me show you a few photos....

This is the horse Arlie and I are working on...

And here are the other 3 horses which Pat Stamp, Edna Scott, Beth Jackson and Pam Adams are working on...though we were suppose to be working on the horses during the opening, as predicted we didn't get much done.

This was one of my favourite pieces in the show, a painting by the talented Beth Jackson. I love this little miniature...the eyes are nicely done. And here is my piece..."The Hidden Gem" done in coloured pencil, the biggest one I've done yet.

It was hung to the right of two of Arlie's pieces and let me just say it's an honour to be on the same wall as this beloved talent. And with that I give you a glimpse into 'The Art of the Carousel" exhibition. Where Arlie and I will be working on the horse over the next month and where I hope too see some of you. The show really is a wonderful cross-section of our city's talents and worth the visit...many of the pieces are very reasonably priced also, for those of you looking for a new treasure for your homes.

I love September, a New Illustration and Some Honest Musings

I just adore September. I guess perhaps it has something to do with the fact that a) I don't have to go back to school (even though I always loved school) or b) I am not stuck in a boring and typical 9-5 existence (thank goodness!) but September for me just always has this wonderful energy of renewal and excitement about it. It means the wind down of a really busy and productive summer and the entrance into a cozy, relaxed and productive winter. I honestly write this blog today with a real sense of excitement about my artistic future, I have my heart and head newly wrapped around exciting ideals and plans...I have a fantastic honey and 4 sweet bunnies who are all healthy and happy...I am truly blessed and excited and happy on this wonderful September 2nd.

Also let me finally show you my piece for exhibition "Art of the Carousel" at the Alex Dufresne Gallery...(I drop it off today)...

I wasn't going to show you all until it was actually up in the gallery but I am too excited about it to wait. I just consider this piece a success on so many levels and it's part of the reason I am so very very excited and pumped today. The frame that Jonathan made for me is perfect and the successful framing of my image will just lead me to a whole new world of possibilities and successes. I am honestly however very disappointed with one thing and that is the response of comments to enter the draw for my "Sundance" print giveaway. So I'll make it even simpler and say that anyone who leaves a comment on any of the posts up to the draw date will be entered into the draw and have a chance to win the print. I am unsure if the lack of response means the blog readership is way down, which is upsetting.....or if it means people just don't care about one of my most favourite images which is equally as upsetting...so anyhow, I am not going to let it upset my most perfect beginning to September, but I feel that I should gently remind readers that the option to win something is there! Another note which I feel I should touch upon today...my blog...At this point I am unsure if I'll go back to the 5 time weekly posting...I am thinking that I will continue with the 3 times weekly posting for abit longer but change it to Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays perhaps. I love blogging, part of what I love about it is it's fluidity and ability to change. I've tried different things so far, be it regular lino cuts, daily paintings, daily sketches, but the truth is that isn't how I work. I can't put strict time lines on my work and that's just me being completely honest. Sometimes a piece will take me 2 days, sometimes it'll take me 2 weeks and sometimes it'll take me 2 month, it really all depends on what I have going on and usually I keep myself occupied quite well. So I hope you continue to tune in even though the format or number of postings may change. It's an exciting time and I am up to some exciting things so I hope you'll visit me here often and take if but even a single moment to see what I am up to in my own little enchanted world.

Nugget Article & A Snippet

Hi again everyone. Good Thursday to you all. I really wanted to show you all the most excellent newspaper article my lovely and talented friend Maria Calabrese wrote.

It was in our local newspaper 'The Nugget' (for which Maria is a reporter) and in Saturday's issue. I love the photo she took of all of us working (here is a better version just in case your interested)...

In the photo from left to right is; Arlington Hoffman, Mandy Saile a.k.a. me a.k.a. Bijou, Joanne Comerford and her twin sister Janet Comerford.

It was so exciting to see the article taking up the whole page like that and I am honoured that she choose one of my photographs to use as the feature image...and I am tickled pink (yes again) by being given photo credit and at also being quoted in the article itself, the whole thing just really made my day. You did a beautiful job Maria, thanks a million times.

To read the full article please click here.

And now I just have to show you the adorable little glass critters that Maria surprised me with last week....

Maria, they will forever live happily on our fridge (the magnetic side that is....tee-hee!), thanks. Today, I also thought I'd show you a small snippet of a new image...I can't show you the whole thing yet as I am not quite sure yet if it'll be done in time for the exhibition but just to add some whimsy and colour into your day...

Sorry the quality isn't too great, the photo was taken in a dark room and I am feeling too lazy to turn on my full spectrum lights etc. but I am too anxious to share it to wait till tomorrow for a sunny time to snap another photo. Now, I am off to another busy studio day, but oh how lovely it is that I can indeed spend my whole day in my studio...I am truly blessed. See you all next week and don't forget to enter a comment and your name for the giveaway draw (see yesterday's posting for details). Caio and Happy Creating.

Busy-ness & Belly Splotches

Hi Everyone, I can't believe I didn't post last Thursday! I don't know what happened to keep me from posting that day...but I must have been busy somehow! sorry about that. I am up to my ears trying to get my piece/s ready for the carousel exhibition and at this point I think I've succumbed to the fact that I will most likely only get one done...but I am hoping it's a magnificent one...let me show you the sketch for it...just as a sneak peek...

I was recently busy creating some new things for my studio...just this and that which is easier to get done outside in the garage when it's not -40 out. This is one of them, which I love. I have loved this old antique ladder for some time, so my honey sanded it down for me and reinforced it, I painted it white and voila, it makes a most perfect spot to hang my stars and greet any studio visitors through the studio door (which is hopefully the next house project, I have my eye on one perfect door and ohhh boy I hope I can manage to get it).

Here is another side project which I'll be playing with once the exhibition pieces are done.

Whiles our friends Judit and Ed were here we stopped by some yard sales in the next court over from ours and I was happy to purchase this mirror for only a buck...well actually Ed was the one who bought it for me, since my pockets were empty and my purse at home...thanks again Ed, I think I know already where it'll live once it's painted up. As much as I love colour in my images, I love white accents around our home, so I think the mirror will be coated in a nice glossy white paint..sometimes simplicity is the key.

So I am quite sick...I think I have a stomach flu or some kind of viral infestation (oh that sounds gross or bad doesn't it, ha ha!!!) I've been feeling awful for 3 days now and I have my usual tummy rash. It's weird, the last 5 or 6 years, this rash has started to show up and only when I am really sick with flu or cold. It's so cute though (and yes I can even find joy in a rash!) when I am laying in bed moaning and groaning (no no...I am pretty tough I think, ha ha) Jonathan will lift up my shirt to look at my rash and depending on it's severity I'll hear 'Oh boy you are really sick aren't you' and even that little bit of validation when your sick makes one feel better, ha ha!!!

So with that being said I am getting back to work to get as much done as I possibly can because the evenings are usually more turbulent than the days. I think I am going to drag all of my supplies and picture outside today, it's a beautiful day and the bunnies are out there and my honey is home from work early and he too is toiling away out there, so I think that's going to be the perfect place to be...plus the sun will soothe my slightly achy body. Wish me a speedy recovery and I'll see you again here tomorrow. Be Well.

p.s. Join me tommorow and you'll learn of a speacil giveaway from yours truly.

Carousel and Exhibition is Coming.....Come One, Come All

I promised my fellow carousel artists that I would help advertise not only our work on the new upcoming carousel BUT also the exhibition we are all involved in...If your local, please do come on out and support your local arts. The artistic community we have in North Bay is a lovely and vibrant one and as strong as it may be, us artists always need your support and interest.

At the Exhibition's Opening, the painters of the newest carousel will be working on the new horses, hopefully outdoors if the weather permits...so come on out and take in some of the whimsy and magic of this wonderful project.

I was out visiting the horses the other day and I snapped this shot of them having been just freshly primed. Arlie and I can't wait to start our colour work and we welcome visitors as we paint...I'll let you know the schedule and location as soon as it's pegged down.

Thanks everyone and pop in again tomorrow for more artistic news from yours truly. Be Well.

A New Photo, Beautiful Wallpaper on a Table and a Sneak Peek Sketch

Hi Everyone...I've been missing my blog and have felt my absence from it more than I expected too but aside from being away Monday's and Fridays still for summer holidays, things have indeed been abit crazy around here.

So today's post will be a short one. I just wanted to share a few things.

This is one of my favourite new photos. I saw a moth flying around our gazebo so I caught it in this little jar and put it outside on a bench, I guess it tuckered itself out because it decided to just sit inside and take a rest...just long enough for me to run inside grab my camera and snap this shot of his cute little face.

With this shot, I am toying with the ideal of introducing some of my photographs as matted prints in my Etsy shop, because I've been getting so many compliments on them. That will come soon if I decide to do it I think.

My best friend Judit and her partner Ed came to visit us this past weekend and we had such a wonderful and excellent visit with them. Judit was happy to see that I used her wallpaper on some recent projects like this little coffee table for my studio...

This koy fish design is one of Judit's most popular designs. For the table I just added hints of my studio's green and blue paint to help tie it in more. I am happy with how it turned out.

Also, as many of my friends who've recently visited my studio can vouch for, I've been sketching up a storm and have alot of new and exciting imagery planned out and ready to emerge into colour. I like to keep most illustrations a secret till they are 100% done but for the sake of showing you something new, I'll let this little sketch show itself, it was inspired by the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Olympics...

Expect the coloured version very soon...in the mean time however I am going kind of crazy trying to get pieces done for an upcoming exhibition and that is currently taking most of my concentration and time as I know the calibre of work in this show will be extremely high.

Today included an interview out at Edna Scott's Studio and Home. It was an interview for the Carousel project I am involved in. It was a lovely and relaxed interview followed by coffee and cake made by our gracious and kind host and a group of ducks pecking at the kitchen door screen because it was apparently their snack time too! Moments like that just make my day.

Thanks for dropping in, I know the new schedule is abit silly but hopefully we'll get back to 5 posts a week once things settle down and I am back into the studio 'full-time' in the fall.

See you here tomorrow..Be Well and Enjoy Each Day. XXOO Mandy.

New Carousel Project & Some Inspiration

So the other day I had a meeting out at one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The meeting was for the new carousel project I've been invited to work on. The leader of all of North Bay's amazing carousel projects is very dedicated local artist Edna Scott and the meeting was out at her house and studio on the lake, all the carousel painters discussed the new project and picked out our horses and colour schemes.

My dear friend and talented local painter Arlington Hoffman (who've I've just recently blogged about) is the head painter and I am his under study and I am so pleased and happy to work along side him again and on such an enchanting project.

Here is the horse that we ended up with...it is to be a speckled grey and white kind...

Here are the other 3 horses that will accompany ours on this 17th century style push carousel...

After our meeting, we all strolled around the beautiful and immaculate grounds with admiration and awe...I wanted to snap abunch of shots of the house and studio etc but I didn't feel like it was appropriate to ask to do so...but I did ask if it was okay to shoot this beautiful creation which greets you as you pull in the drive (and you can glimpse part of the adorable studio in the distance)...

Edna's husband made this horse before he passed away a couple years ago and can you believe that it was his first try at cement fondue. As we strolled about the lakeside and took in more beautiful vistas and explored Edna's gourgues garden paths etc...I spotted this fella in the water...

He decided to come out of the water and follow close to my heels to rest of my visit there...I was so enchanted and wanted to bring him home to our own little garden and pond, ha ha. I never ever tire of ducks, they are one of my most favourite creatures and I am blessed to live in a place where they are pretty plentiful. I take tons of photos whenever I see them and I can never take enough...people seem to not understand why or how I can sit for hours on end just watching a group of ducks...I think to me they symbolize peace, beauty and the complex yet very simple connection to our substrate, the earth.

As we were about to leave, we heard this squeaky cry coming from the end of the dock...and just a few seconds earlier I had seen something long and lanky swimming in the water out of the corner of my eye. Well I snuck to the end of the dock, listening and interested in what was making such a sweet little cry and to my amazement it was a mink... He actually crawled up the side of the dock to check me out as I checked him out, and I felt so lucky to be able to snap this shot...my heart was just soaring at this point. Later on we saw him or her and it's babies running from the water into a distant flower bed. I wish I could have taken more photos to show you all...maybe next time. It's truly an artist's paradise with every step and every turn as beautiful as the next. A place where you never feel like you want to leave. So anyhow, after the Carousel meeting at Edna's place, Arlie and I drove back into town. I joined him at his place for coffee and a chat and again I was inspired and just feel in love with his garden...I couldn't help but take some photos...

Their Koy fish were plentiful and beautiful. There were little colourful benches and secret paths all over, just adorable and sweet little sitting spots which called to me and a pile of books for sure. Little sculptures were hidden all over and well the teapots were just my absolute favourite bit I think...they made this whole yard seem that more inviting. Thanks for inviting me into your enchanted and lovely worlds Edna and Arlie...I was freshly inspired with every blink. It was a wonderful day. You know, I was thinking and found it interesting to come to the conclusion that my artistic life in this small city of ours is so so so much more richer and fuller than it ever was when we lived in Toronto for 5 years. I think it's because life here is simpler for everyone, and artists draw on that and take advantage of that to create inspiration all around them, not just on their easels or drawing tables. The artists here welcome you into their worlds much more wholly and they share their trade secrets more readily. The artists here are also supportive of one another...it's like a close knit community with an open embrace and attitude that the more artists and more unique you are, the better. I just love that and as many times as I think about moving away from this home of ours, my heart just feels so happy and light when I come to realizations like this. Well that's all for today...my work (and garden!) are beckoning me. Be well and Happy Creating.