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Showing posts from October, 2011

more good news

Today I found out that my proposal to teach at the Elora workshops was accepted.  I am super excited about it.  I think I will be a really good teacher.  I have tons of experience teaching.  I have been told that I am a really fun teacher too.  It is going to be good! 

I have joined CT Publishing Creative Troupe

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I believe that is a good thing.  I hope it leads to some opportunities for me.  I guess I will find out.  It certainly can't hurt to be connected to a publisher in a little way!

bead journal

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I used Setacolor sunprint paint to color this fabric.  I added beads, sequins, fibres and the feather stitch.  Maybe it could use a bit more glitz.

bead journal

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Honestly, I had this finished in Sept. but forgot to post it.  You can imagine that my mind was else where! I used a photo of shattered glass that I took at the wrecking yard this past spring as the background.  I love this photo and will likely use it in my art work again!  I added beads and fibres.  I printed the photo on paper and adhered it to fusible interfacing before adding stitching.

last one

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I have a few more purchases  that I could show but they are nothing too exciting.  This fabric was a happy find however.  Our very last morning in Paris we had a bit of time before we needed to check out of our hotel and go to the airport.  We decided to wander around a bit and hopefully see something new.  Well, we happened upon the best little street.  It had a great deal of stores that were very interesting.  We were out early so the stores weren't open.  That was a bit disappointing but it was also good.  We got a few photos of some interesting windows and I am sure the shop owners wouldn't have liked that had they been there to see us.  As we window shopped we happened upon some stairs that led up to a park that was above the stores.  How cool is that?  We enjoyed the park immensely as we made our way back to where we started.  The first cool store that we had happened upon was a stitching/quilting store and it was open by that time.  Again, how cool is that!  A perfect w

Flea market finds in Antibes

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I have to say that I enjoyed the flea market in Antibes much more than the one in Paris.  It was a great deal smaller and so much easier to navigate.  The top picture shows the lace and trim that I found.  Granted it is not old like the lace that I  found in Paris but it is still lovely. The bracelet was calling my name.  I wear a lot of this color so it was perfect me.  Plus it sparkles so!

From the calligraphy shop in Paris

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Don't you just love the delicate lacy paper.  I am guessing that they are place cards.  I will use them in my journal though.  The pen nib seems to be of high quality.  I have one like this but not all the prongs hit the paper at the same time so I hope this one works properly.  The shop owner had a beautiful display of calligraphed envelopes she has received over the years.  I can't believe I didn't think to get a picture of it.  It makes me glad that I have saved my envelopes as well.

super cool pen

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Galleries Lafayette is a magnificent department store in Paris.  Clearly, not the kind of department store that I am accustomed to.  Each designer had their own small section in this store.  Shoes and boots were well over a thousand euros.  Yikes!  I was out of my element.  But, in the pen section they had this little beauty for 29 euros.  The pattern on it reminds me of a zentangle.  Also, it takes cartridge ink but it does not have a fountain pen nib.  It has a ball point.  Different than any other pen I have seen.  So cool.  It writes like a dream too.  Check out the nifty book shaped box it came in.  It was definitely calling my name.

Monet inspired purchases

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I think you know by now that Monet is my favorite artist of all time.  These are the purchases I made while in France.  Napkins, small journal, stickers and the coolest paint tube pen!  I love the pen.  I have a slight addiction to pens so this is a great addition. Truly the day at Giverny was the highlight of the trip.  So beautiful and  peaceful.

who doesn't love a good pop up

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Truthfully I am a big kid at heart.  I think it is important to keep that inner child alive.  One way I do that is by collecting awesome pop up books.  LOVE them!  I purchased these pop up cards in Paris.  We saw them in a store window in the Marais district.  Unfortunately, the store was closed.  But, I am married to the most wonderful man in the world.  He explained that it really wasn't that far from where we were staying and we could come back the next day.  Thankfully we easily found the store again and made these fun purchases.  Don't you just love them? 

flea market finds

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Our first full day in Paris we ventured to the flea market.  Oh my gosh.  It was quite the place.  When we first got there all we could find was junk.  Gangster clothing and cheap stuff.  Not what I was looking for.  With much persistence and an extremely patient husband I finally found some cool stuff.  Ephemera, beads and lace!  What could be better?  Well, quite frankly the prices.  It was quite pricey really. Honestly the supplies that I find here in thrift stores are just as good and a LOT cheaper.  I can always find a bargain here at home.  I hope that doesn't sound like complaining.  I mean to sound extremely grateful for my beautiful life here in Canada.  I am truly blessed beyond measure!  I am also grateful for such a wonderful trip and the chance to shop for some treasures.

opulence

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What can I say about Versailles?  Opulent to the max.  It was just too much for me.  As much as I like to think of myself as a princess I could never live this way.  I mean the studio space would be amazing but...

another from Giverny

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It is still rather like a dream to me that I actually got to go there!  It was pleasing to me that my husband enjoyed the gardens as much as I did.  He really went out of his way to make this trip wonderful for me.  I have the best man!

Giverny

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My all time favorite painter is Claude Monet.  It was one of the best parts of our trip getting to visit his beautiful home and gardens.  The lily pond was so beautiful.  We packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed eating, people watching and generally just being in nature.  My soul longs for nature especially after being so busy in such a big city.  I love this image I captured.  I have a few actually.  I would love to print this on fabric and then do some stitching. 

sculpture from Antibes

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This massive sculpture was a two minute walk from our apartment in Antibes.  I knew my calligraphy friends would love this!  So cool.