Fun In Parry Sound

I have some more 'adventure' photos to show you.  As I mentioned before, Jon and I can not travel too far from home because of our brood of buns BUT we do find entertainment for ourselves locally...this time, a few weekends ago, it was a full & busy day in Parry Sound, which is a small town about 2 hours south of us.

Our first stop was the "Station Gallery", I know a number of people who have exhibited here but I had never been to the gallery so it was nice to pop in and see the wonderful space (and it of course had a train roaring past as we went in, which seemed all too fitting, ha ha...)

I wish our gallery Art On Main had hardwood floors like this!...

Next we found the downtown core & did abit of shopping & lunching & found this fantastic walkway...

...and this great mural...I always find murals in little towns so endearing & cozy...

Than by chance we found an old fire watch tower but first before the climb, I had to fuel up with a bit of a snack by a pond...

...and than to being the climb up this...

To some very nice views...

Than we explored the Parry Sound Museum abit...

we're quite surprised to learn how big water buoys really are...

Had a debate on what we thought this machine was used for...Jon thought for farm ploughing & I thought for some kind of rail line work...

But whatever it's purpose, it had some lovely rust on it!!!

Than we hopped across this fantastic mural...Do you really think this is how they piled logs on the sleds in the olden days???

Here is the underneath of the bridge we saw cutting through the town from the top of the fire tower...

And after exploring this area, we found a wonderful bike path which was so fun to play along and bike down...I thought this structure over looking the lake was pretty neat...the perfect spot to watch the approaching thunder/lightening storm...

Than it started to rain but we didn't pack it in quite yet, we wanted to hang out on the dock for a spell...

Than the torrential flood began so we booted back to the car, got soaked as we got the bikes back in the car, ha ha and than happily decided we missed the bunnies terribly and suddenly really wanted to get back home...so back home we went...

But not before stopping for a picture on this enormous chair, ha ha...

...It was a good good day:D...

Hope your having fun & having some adventures even if you can't hop on a plane to one.  XO.

This Years Artists Garden

A Few weekends ago we went out to see some friends selling their lovely wares at an event called "The Artists Garden" hosted by Potter/Sculptor of Ash Creek Pottery, Pat Stamp...

(....I took part in this wonderful sale last year, click here to view shots of my display/experience, it was a wonderful day and my favourite sale to participate in so far, even though I opted out of this years...)

...This is the entrance to Pat's Pottery Studio, isn't it fab...

Here she is at work in front of her adorable and inviting studio...

...my friend Rachael, a great jewelry designer was there as well and it's always a hoot to spend time with her...

Rachael pointed out Pats little frog pond which Jon had a hard time dragging me away from because it was a great photo spot...

We than decided to grab a tea, piece of pie and sandwich set up in the makeshift/temporary 'teahouse' which Pat set up in the upper part of her house...

...where we also waited out a huge rain/thunderstorm...it was cozy and exciting for us but we felt bad for the rained out artists trying to protect their wares below us...(everyone kept on the smiles and positive attitude though and just pulled everything back out once the storm passed)...

...Than, Jon and I decided to take the long roundabout way back home, which was about 4 hours, ha ha...like I mentioned before sometimes there is nothing better than just hopping in the car and driving to no where in particular and just seeing whatever you see...

...and we saw beautiful scenery which filled our hearts with happy mojo and gratitude for the beautiful, safe and clean country we live in...VIVA CANADA:D  ha ha....

....so, that was one day of a recent past weekend...just had to share:D...Have a good one everyone, see you Monday....and than Wednesday for a giveaway...XO M & The Bunnies.

Art On Main Rearranged...

I am popping in today to show you my latest rearrange of my Art On Main space...

I have to figure out a better way to display my necklaces, but this is how they are at the time being...

I brought in abunch of new framed prints, I am really happy with the quality and how they look and also to toot my own horn, I don't think you can beat the price ($45.00).

I took most of my beloved 'Nubbins' back to my studio but I left 4 or 5 at the store even though North Bay doesn't quite seem to 'get them'!  The few I've sold thus far have been to tourists living in bigger cities like Ottawa...

I separated my "Beautiful Birds" series abit,  I was hearing that people thought they needed the whole series to 'make an impact', so I thought if I separated them into 2's and 4's people would see they are lovely as singular purchases or as small groupings...

I also brought in my 2 little owl originals, they have been mounted on pine blocks and I am sure someone out there is just going to have to have them...

So that is my most recent AOM display, rearranged and best yet I think.

I am so pleased also to show you this...

...which is my AOM display featured on The Swirl Marketing site, It is a site all about creative merchandise displays from around the world and I am so happy for the inclusion and I also like what Becky wrote about my section as well...Thanks Becky.  Click here to visit the feature.

That's about it for today...join me here again this Friday for some shots from a recent adventure and some sweet greenies.  Have a great day everyone...Happy Creating and Many Furry Snuggles Wished to Yous.  XO. Mandy and The Buns (who are so sick of these hot hot days)

Headbands By Bijou...

Quite some time ago I designed 6 different styles of headbands and I finally got around to making the pattern and cutting the felt and finding the beads and buttons and putting it all together for the first 'prototype'...here is the finished headband...

I am going to making 5 or 6 at once very soon and put them up for sale in my Etsy shop, they'll be between $35-$50, because they are all hand-stitched/handmade made with care by me...the other 5 designs I've conjured up are just as cute...

...What do you think?

Illustration Friday "Atmosphere"

I usually like to keep the stuff I show you on this blog in the present tense BUT when I saw that this weeks' Illustration Friday theme was "Atmosphere" I felt I had the perfect image for the topic & it is still one of my favourite coloured pencils...so I didn't think you'd mind seeing an oldie!

(A print is indeed available in my Shop, click here if your interested)

This illustration was conjured up way back in 2004 when I read a national geographic article about how insects and especially bees can actually change our planets weather patterns & atmosphere, it was very interesting, slightly scary and defiantly inspiring read...

Have a fantastic weekend everyone....See you Monday.

These Days...

I am busy toiling away with a couple new projects...oh who am I kidding, it's not just a couple, it's more like 10, I've always been bad for that but I guess a surplus of creative activity is better than none & I know it slows some projects down but I eventually always get them all figured out!

Some of the projects I am working on this week involved Felt & Fabric & Buttons & Beads & other wonderful things like embroidery floss & cute pin cushions, breaks to read from my current book & snacks

 

....oh and most importantly, I am working on these projects mostly on the floor so I have the best company imaginable...

...so what if the furries interupt alot & make demands that I stop my work to give them parsley snacks & snuggles & so what if, occasionally Ella Luna will decide that I need to move out of the way and that she likes to expedite doing so, so she grabs my supplies & flings them far & wide, ha ha, these are co-worker demands which I can definatly and happily give in to...

....But ahhhh, days are feeling lovely indeed (despite much headpain)...lovely lovely lovely I must say. 

My mom & I even snuck out yesterday for a matinee of 'Eat, Love, Pray"...ahhhh summer matinees are one of lifes pleasures aren't they...that and just yesterday the finding of a fabulous comforter/sheet set for super cheap for some speacil house guests arriving soon....

I can feel summer slowing to a halt, but you know I don't mind...winter days means rest, hibernation of sorts & usually alot more artwork getting done than in summer...roaring fires, naps, more time to sink into books, even more bunny snuggle time (which is where my center & balance can usually be found), skiing & hot chocalate..I could go on but will just say whiles I am still basking in summer days & a couple more long weekends with my honey, I also find my soul already welcoming in the goods and coziness of the fall & winter fast approaching......ahhhhhhh........

So, that's it for today, thanks for hopping in everyone, your continued visits, comments & emails really do nourish this beloved blog of mine, so once again thanks a million times.  XO M & The Bunnies XO.

An Old Jewel Just Found

Long ago, I must have been 7 or 8 I suppose, my parents and my big brother went to Canada's Wonderland. At the time I wouldn't go anywhere without my best-est doll, which was a cabbage patch kid that I named Tia Celeste, ha ha...Whiles there at Wonderland on a hot sunny summer day with my doll, my parents paid a caricature artist to draw my portrait and my brothers...I remember thinking this was sooo huge, to have my picture drawn and I remember being so so pleased with how he drew me, ha ha...

This is that drawing....I just found it...

Abit worse for wear, abit crinkled and yellowed and faded but a fantastic find nonetheless...I still love it, ha ha...I don't know who the artist was, I can't make out the signature...but wow, what a wonderful treasure to have from my childhood...so I am sending out coodos to that long ago unknown artist and my parents who sweetly had their daughters drawing done:D....

Heh, if any of you guys have drawings, caricatures/portraits of yourselves, post them and then leave your link here in this post...let's get some good memories and heart squeezes going on:D

I have no new work to show you today for we are still on 4 day weekends so my studio time is much less lately and than lasts week we found ourselves happily back in Toronto for a short visit & than recently a bad headache knocked me out of the game for abit once again...I have alot to process, alot of exciting plans that I don't quite know how to go about quite yet, alot to get done, I think my creative engines have stuttered abit, but I'll be back with new work and new plans before probably even I know it, ha ha...have a wonderful day.  XO M.

Favourite New Photos

I just had to show you these new photos, I just love love love them. Jonathan and I were out pruning some trees the other week and I noticed this fantastic yellow beauty on one of the branches.

...I set him safely into another tree but not before snapping abunch of pics:D...

And this brings me to the part where I need your opinions. I've been wanting to open up a new online shop just for my photographs. I have an Etsy shop for my illustration as most of you probably already know, but seeing that I am not happy with my sales there...do you think I should try Etsy again for my photographic prints OR do you have any suggestions of some other online marketplace I can try???? I am thinking of RedBubble perhaps, or trying to hook up to Cosa Verde...Do let me know if you've any thoughts.

With the insanely hot humid weather finally breaking on Monday I am feeling energized and refreshed & my creative spirit is indeed sparking like crazy.

Have a wonderful weekend lovelies and I'll see you back here next Monday with some new stuff.  XO M.

A New Under Glass Pendant

New to my Etsy shop today is another under glass pendant, this time featuring one of my favourite lino cut images...it is of our very first rabbit, Beanie, the one who started my love affair with bunnies and it is called "Solitary Watcher"...

...Interested in purchasing 1 of the 7 pendants I have with this design, just click here.

Join me here Friday for some favourite new photos of a brilliant yellow beauty...