"Susan's Pages in my Altered Art Book!"

Growing up on the prairies of Alberta, I can appreciate this painting done by the Group of Seven. It reminds me of the small town that was near our farmstead. Susan has taken artistic liberty in painting over this copied image and adding her personal touch. On the right, we have her Window of Hope! This shows how our world can go from black and white to color. When we open that window in the next post you will see the color, she has added in.

"Susan's Pages in my Altered Art Book!"

My Theme for my book has been "Leaping From Ordinary Into Extra Ordinary." Here I've opened a window that she put in my book. I am proud to be Canadian and love that flagpost! On the right is a painting from the Group of Seven, of a wheat field. She has even put some sparkle on the prairies, pretty cool!

"Susan's Pages in my Altered Art Book!"

Extrordinary Measures for Extraordinary Times! I love the simplicity of these pages. Very fun and restful! I believe Susan painted or gessoed the pages and then incorporated a measuring tape. Note it ends at 11. One of my favorite numbers! On the right, she has cartooned me. Some of you may want to hire Susan for her amazing cartooning abilities!!!! Is she hinting that I should write????? Perhaps!

"Susan's Pages in my Altered Art Book"

Hope, with her elastic step and her elastic dreams! I really love how Susan has left parts of the story in my book! She has again created a poem on the top right hand corner! At the bottom more memories of Anne of Green Gables. Totally appreciate the right hand creative word page, so inspiring. She knows I love Winter, and so I really enjoy the "Fabulous even when its freezing." One of my mottos is to "Wear Sparkly things, and she even got that in there too. What a hoot!

"Step It Up A Notch!"

Step it up a notch, I like that idea. Many times in life we need to re-evaluate where we are headed and what we are doing. In order to maximize our true potential we need to get off the bench and take the plunge, even facing our fears in doing that. We may surprise ourselves and others! Susan has written a lovely poem, so inspiring on the top left hand of the page. Thanks for the beautiful pages in my book, Susan!

"Caught Sleeping On The Job!"

Not a word of a lie here, honestly I do not pose my cat. I slipped into my studio one day and this is what I found. I mean really if I was going to sleep my afternoons away, I think I could perhaps find a more comfortable place. The good news here is that he has been found more often than not, curled up in a wicker basket. Maybe there is a message for me here to give my brushes a rest, and go enjoy the outdoors! I think I shall!

"A Time For Green"

For all those interested in how the "Empty Bowls festival" went, I thought it was great. The event was very well organized, a sunny day to boot (trust me, with all the rain we have had this was so welcome!). There was face painting and clowns, musicians and bands. The bowls that were made for this were countless. I can not believe that amount of work that went into simply organizing that part. I picked up several bowls and am especially fond of the ones the children did. The soups and chilis donated by local resteraunts were sooooo good. People seemed to enjoy the "Airdirondack Chairs" that 11 local artists painted. We even had a chair ready and set for children to paint, and what a time they had. That chair will be on display in City Hall. To view some of the chairs, simply go to www.airdrie7.blogspot.com . The chairs will now be on display at several local businesses, banks, Ravenswood Show Homes, and City Hall. On October 14th, the chairs will be auctioned off, as a kick off to a Arts and Cultural Center in Airdrie!

So, with that being done, on to the grand work of gardening. Here are a few pics of my plants before they went into the greenhouse last week.

"Ready For The Empty Bowls Festival"

I was thankful that the staff at "Simply Ceramics" in Airdrie called to let me know my bowls were ready. I had wanted to see the before and after process and so here it is.

For more infomation on the "Empty Bowls Festival" simply scroll down my blog photos and you will get the details. Hope to see you out at Nose Creek Park, on Main Street in Airdrie, on Sat, June 12th, 11 - 5 pm. Come out with family and friends for great soup, day of fun and know that you are part of raising provision for our local Food Bank!

"Bowls Ready For Soup"

Always interesting after the firing process to see what has transpired!

"Side View of Silent Auction Bowl"

"Silent Auction Bowl"

Here we have the completed bowl. Simple, yet fun!

"Happy Bowl"

This painted bowl will be in Silent Auction for the "Empty Bowls Festival". This bowl awaits the glazing process before the kiln time.

"Side View"

It will be interesting how these turn out once put in that fiery furnace of heat that they are awaiting.

"More Bowls"

These are ready to be fired in the kiln. I enjoyed working with the friendly staff at "Simply Ceramics".

"Chicken Scribble" Pen and Ink on w/c paper

Instead of Chicken Little, we have Chicken Scribble! Honestly this is what I had to do to finally finish my chair. I got my groove back and even got some funky bird show up in the background.

Looks like this bird is heading out early to the "Empty Bowls Festival" in Airdrie, next Saturday, June 12th. It is a fundraiser for the local Airdrie Foodbank. A local potter, in town builds a multitude of bowls and Simply Ceramics is involved too. Artists, students and residents paint the bowls. Several restaurants in Airdrie donate the soup and Voila, for $20.00, you get to pick a bowl, get the soup, eat, and keep the bowl. How cool is that? Also they will be having a silent auction and artists doing live demos in white tents. The Airdronadack chairs that have been painted will be on display as well. Last year I believe they raised around 10,000.00 in just a few hours. Great things can happen when a Community works together! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that "Empty Bowls" will be held at Nose Creek Park on Main St. in Airdrie.