Maple Leaf Doll Show

We had a really great time! In fact, I think it was one of our best shows, because there was no pressure or anxiety and the atmosphere was really relaxed. Applause to Wade and Edythe and Judy!! Amazingly well organized and comfortable, thank you!

Here's my table, right by the entrance. It was an excellent spot.

It was a great place to meet with fellow artists and friends (thanks April for stopping by!) and meet new, incredibly talented folks! Deborah Downey of Altered Ego Artwerx became rather fond of Ceres the Rat and invited him over to her table. Before you could blink, he was cozying up to the Grandma'am Gnome and trying to get her peanut! She's a tough cookie, though, and even though she wasn't going to hand it over, they still became buddies and posed for a photo.

Happy Birthday Cere!

Two days ago, this was Cere... Lots of poky wires, sometimes I wonder how I manage without impaling an eye!








But yesterday he was born!!


Yippy! Yes, about 30 hours in the making, Cere, who likes to have his name pronounced "Sir-ah", is now enjoying his freedom as a typical rat, investigating his surroundings and eating everything in reach!











Here are his incisors, my first rat with true ratty teeth, and I think they're nicer than the fangs... what do you think? (Lovely claws too!) One more step towards realism. Also, his ears are a bit smaller and set farther back on his head. He is definitely listening to his surroundings, you can almost imagine them pivoting about!


Hmm... it's going to be hard to part with this handsome bugger!

Out in the garden--back soon

I have two completely finished rat legs and 2 partially finished... not as far along as I'd hoped but... it's Spring! We were in the garden! It was so hot on Sunday we had ice cream outside! It was wonderful! And I had to take care of my roses, which still need to be sprayed with lime-sulpher to kill blackspot. This preventative seems to help, and it's environmentally friendly, although stinky!



I have finally finished moving the FaerieCon part of my website to a new space, thereby freeing up ad-free space for the Online Hallowe'en Tour. If you never have, check out our FaerieCon experience of November 2009 in Baltimore, MD. It was really magically, I hope some time soon to go again.



And finally a little Easter to get you in the mood. What, Easter? Yes, I do celebrate the other seasons as well, and the Easter eggs ARE black, made that way using chalkboard paint! (PS Hallowe'en is less than 200 days away!!!)

On a cloud!

I have amazing news! The Maple Leaf Doll Club will be hosting it's Doll Show this year!!! Yippy! Since 2008 it's been missing, but now they have a new location which can hold 50 artists/exhibitors and they're ready to go! How exciting! This area of Ontario has so much talent and incredible art in the doll and "Teddy" field, it's really wonderful to have this show back again! September 11th, be there! For details, visit my shows page. (The picture is from the 2008 event.)

This weekend saw Cere's feet come together, here's a picture. This is slow and careful work, but so much fun! I love seeing the Fimo claws line up properly and "come to life"! I had to switch out a few claws as I went along due to size, imbedded dust, etc... but that's why there must always be extras! The wires will make him poseable right down to his toes!

Lastly, this weekend was Stratford's Swan Parade weekend with lots of swan-related events. To top it all off, my swans were on view in two places: at the public library and at the Lyrical Goddess poetry event hosted by Gallery 96 and part of the "Goddess: the Art of She Within We" week-long celebration. All a little bit last minute, I was none the less welcomed by the organizing committee of three incredible ladies, Lucinda Jones, Lesley Walker-Fitzpatrick and Cairenn Russelo and given a wonderful opportunity to show my work as "instillation art" (as one lady put it) right on the stage! The poetry and readings that stirred the air that afternoon were powerful, magical and heart-felt, it was an experience! And it reminded me of the Goddess and how I used to be more connected and open to such experiences... ah, twice bitten, thrice shy! But perhaps there is room to grow new wings...