CANADA...SOME AMAZING ARTISTS HERE! - FAVOURITE SHOP # 6 - IMAGINE STUDIO

What can I say about this artist? Amazing, intriguing, talented, imaginative, whimsical, mysterious, etc. etc. I could go on and on, but I believe to understand my statement, you MUST go look at her work!!!!
She is another Canadian artist to brag about! Although, she was born in western Canada, I see much of the French influence in her works. When I look at her work, I ask myself, where in her pysche does this come from? Look at her work and you continually notice things that you didn't the first time you looked, thus the intrigue. Her work, to me, has a mystical feel to it as well.

I WILL have one of her works in the near future!

Please go see for yourself and visit here Etsy shop at:

www.imaginestudio.etsy.com

Now, in her own words,she does a beautiful job of describing herself.


My professional background is in visual and creative arts as well as in social work. I presently live in the Montreal region where I share my life with the loves of my life, my husband and my two daughters. I’ve been creative all my life…literally. It all started with feeling the mud between my toes on the farm in the Canadian prairies where I was born and spent my childhood. Creativity is definitely a passion with me. In that sense, my artwork is neither a job nor a hobby but a need. The ideas just keep coming and I continuously strive to bring them to life.

Everything about life seems to inspire me. I am always in awe with nature’s extraordinary creative force and beauty. I have a love of nature, music, travelling, best friends, family, laughter and all the joys that life has to offer. And then there are life’s tribulations. Having worked for over 20 years with people struggling with mental heath disorders, I have to say that some of my most profound and rewarding inspirations have come from individuals who have overcome life’s obstacles on their own terms. I’m I strong believer in the concepts of empowerment, resilience and the possibility of transforming one’s life.

Through more than 30 years, my one constant expression in art has been Collage, and for the past five years I have been working on transferring this art form into the digital world. Layers upon layers of thoughts, emotions and research have been turned into transparencies, textures, colours, depth, emotions, portraitures, etc. This virtual digital world of seemingly endless possibilities has given me a new take on my artwork, allowing me to pursue even further my undying need to produce lyrical, evocative and sometimes provocative images.

You may notice that as a collagist I will often use master paintings or sculptures for the expression of my ideas, my emotions and reflections in my photomontage and photofusion artwork. Some of the master painters or sculptors that give flight to my imagination are: Bouguereau, Barbier, Chase, Collier, Degas, Lautrec, Menzel, Modigliani, Pascin, Sargent, Waterhouse, Vigeland, Homer, Monet, Rousseau, Redon, Seurat, Klimt and others. The images that I use are all in the public domain and therefore no longer under any copyright laws.

I personally print all of my artwork, using only the finest archival papers and inks, to ensure consistent quality and satisfaction for my clients. It also permits me to offer extremely reasonable prices for a high quality print.

I invite you to visit my virtual art gallery(shop) and welcome inquires and feedback regarding my work.

Thank-you!
I’m a woman, born with the moon in cancer on the 9th of July.

Thank you Lyse ....... Bon Chance! (Hope I said that right)

HOME ................

Well, I left my daughter and her family at 6 AM yesterday morning and arrived back home at 9 PM.... 15 hours driving. I'm beginning to think I'm getting too old to do that trek in one go. My body doesn't bounce back as quickly as it used to a few years ago.
The drive through the mountains was SO beautiful! Another week or two and there will be a sea of fall colours, but they had started to change colour. I really love the scenery and quite frankly love the quiet of driving by myself. It gives me time to think and evaluate.
My daughter was off on the weekend so we got some time to spend just hanging out and doing the typical weekend things she needs to get done. On the Sunday, we went in to Greensboro as her mother-in-law put on an amazing dinner for all of us. She usually cooks whatever the 'birthday' person requests as their favourite meal. We had a wonderful salad first and then absolutely pigged out on jumbo shrimp done in lots of butter, garlic and other seasonings...Delicious!!!! She made my daughter her favourite chocolate cake with a whip cream filling between layers. I'm not a sweet tooth like my daughter, but it was SO good!
Her in-laws from Roanoke came as well so it was really special to all be together.

The times I get to spend with my grandson are more and more special as he grows and I get older. At this point in time, he loves spending time with me and I'm grateful for that. I'm sure it won't always be that way, but I try to make some of our time together just his special time with his Grammie. He didn't want me to leave and that's always the hard part. We really do have fun together. He loves for his Grammie to just do silly things with him and I do ... from playing dinosaurs to singing to having a crazy bath time, it's all good. Thank goodness for webcam....miss him.

They are having a real problem with spiders this year in their area and these are really big spiders and they are leaving the biggest cobwebs everywhere. I took pictures of some of them as I've never seen such big cobwebs.....WOW!

I'm leaving Tuesday to go to spend a week with my other daughter and they will be going away for a few of those days and I'll have my little grandaughter to myself. I'm hoping that all goes well as this will be the first time her Mommy and Daddy have left her for any length of time....fingers crossed. She is getting SO cute and we will find our own special things to do. I think grandchildren should always have things to do with grandparents that make the time 'special' and 'memorable' My grandaughter will turn two years old the day after her parents get back so I'm staying to celebrate with her and then head home the next day.

October is going to be a crazy, crazy busy month. .......!!!!!!!!

October is also when we Canadians celebrate our Thanksgiving. Many of my family will be together at a camp where we all pitch in and have a great day being thankful for each other and our blessed lives. We all have our various trials and tribulations, but when you see and hear many of the struggles going on around the world, shame on us if we whine or complain!! I can't imagine living the hell on earth a large portion of the world's population have to wake up to each and every day.

NORTH CAROLINA BOUND!!!!!!!!

Well, it's been a crazy, crazy busy week and as you can tell, I've had no time to blog.
I had my nephew and his girlfriend here for a day over the weekend and then Monday, my husband's sister and brother-in-law arrived from Calgary. They are leaving to go visit one of their sons and his girlfriend in Cambridge tomorrow.
I, however, am leaving before they do. I'm hoping to leave no later than 6:30 am to begin my fifteen hour drive to North Carolina to spend a week with my oldest daughter, my son-in-law and my 'little man'. I talked to them tonight on webcam and my little guy wanted to make sure I really was coming.....can't wait to hang out with him for a few days. Grammie will get to do a few special things with him. We always have a 'Grammie' day when I go down. It's even more fun as he gets older to do stuff together and hopefully he'll have some good memories with his Grammie to recall when he's older.
We took our Calgary family out to eat at a really nice restaurant in Peterborough on Monday called Saporito's and they have a two for one pasta night on Mondays...really great. We took them to a wonderful, wonderful Tea Room for lunch yesterday called the 'Magic Rolling Pin'.......amazing, amazing food and ambiance. We know the owners and both were there so had a nice chat with them as well. We also went to an art Gallery called 'Gallery on the Lake' near Buckhorn, Ontario. It's set back in the woods and is on the lakeshore. A beautiful log type building with such a great selection of local artists. Oh, if I only had the money to buy a couple of pieces....sigh!
I'm so blessed as I really enjoy and love both of my sister-in-laws. We are all different in some ways and so similar in others but I believe we really appreciate each other a lot.
Well, must sign off as it's a VERY early morning and anyone that knows me knows I don't handle mornings, especially early mornings all that well.....bring on the coffee! I'll stop at the Duty Free at Fort Erie before I enter the USA and get my last Tim Horton's coffee for a week.
The drive through the mountains should be so beautiful...colours and hopefully sunny weather.

NEW MANTRA.............

A good friend sent this to me and I feel it's SO worth sharing!
I told her I'm going to print it off and tape it up on my mirror. It will remind me everyday to keep these pieces of advice at the forefront of my mind.
Hopefully, others will find it valuable as well. We get many things sent via email, facebook, etc. and after we read them, they immediately go out of our minds....I need this mantra (as I call it) to keep going and make some sense out of everyday living.


Here it is:

Ponder and know that HOW you live is YOUR choice alone!


The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.

Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.

An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.

As you grow, your associates will change.

Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are.

Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl.

Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream.

Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.

Consider this: Never receive counsel from unproductive people.

Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how.

Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.

You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.

Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere.

With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.

Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.

Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.

If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.

"A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses."

The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad.

Note: Be not mistaken. This is applicable to family as well as friends.

Yes...do love, appreciate and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what.
Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.

"In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us.
In Adversity We Know Our Friends."

"Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them."

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you have to develop the habit in little matters.

Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude."

Ephesians 5:15-17 (amp)
Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is.

We all have beliefs and we need to honour and respect those that don't think the same as us. I believe our life is planned out for us, but sometimes we don't listen.

FOR THE SHOE ADDICTS!.......FAVOURITE ETSY SHOP # 5!

I absolutely LOVE this girl's creativity and imagination!!
How cool to express yourself on shoes and make something that's SO original! Although I'm too old now to wear those really high, high heels, I did wear them for many years. I am a self-confessed shoe addict.
She is now expressing her art on flat and lower heels, which pleases me to no end! I keep watching her shop for that perfect pair(s) I can purchase.
Also, she's now painting on purses and clutches and wallets. There is something for almost everyone!

She has just announced as well, a new Etsy shop for clothing, so go check it out as well!

Here is how to find her Etsy shops.....

www.crafttastrophe.etsy.com
and

www.CTclothing.etsy.com

In her own words, here is a short profile of this wonderfully one-of-a-kind artist:

I am an Art School drop-out with unquenched painting desires.
When my painting and doodles spread over most of my wardrobe and our home, I decided to open this little shop :)
I love the idea of owning your own original piece of wearable art. Everyone deserves at least one beautiful item that no one else on Earth has.
I am a young newlywed and a "mommy" to 3 woozles (ferrets). I love bright colors, chocolates, pomegranates, cheesy horror movies, bargain shopping, tattoos, and spending time with my family. . .and shoes. . .I love shoes.


To my fellow shoe addicts, enjoy this special shop and if you see something you like....buy it! You will be the only one with that exact pair of shoes! VERY SPECIAL!!

FINALLY...A SOMEWHAT 'NORMAL' WEEK

This is the first week in a long time that I felt like I had a fairly even keel schedule for the week....finally, no major committments.
I started organizing the decor items I need to make my glass blocks. I've marked the drill holes and hopefully one day this week, my husband will drill them and then Ican clean them out and dry them out. I am making another 75 blocks. I also need to get about 15 - 20 plates made with fall and Christmas themes as well. The sale is the first week of November.
Wednesday was the funeral for my aunt. We had a family get together at one of my cousin's afterward, so most of the day was taken.
Finally, I've spent about 15 hours this week weeding my rock garden...whew...what a mess! Weeks of weeds have taken over so badly, you can barely see the actual plants. I'm not quite half finished and really want to get it done before I leave for North Carolina.
I was so, so happy when the girl whose wedding I did the photography for reiterated how thrilled she was with the results. She said she had printed 130 photos and still wants to do a few more. Her mother, who paid the fee, is also so pleased. I have to tell you it's such a relief. Never having done anything like that before, I was scared to take this project. It proved once again to expand one's boundaries and not let fear take over. I'm so glad I did it!
The best part of my day today was getting to do webcam with both my daughter's and their families all together. My daughter and her family from North Carolina went to spend the weekend with my daughter in New Jersey.
My grandchildren are getting very comfortable with webcam. I just love watching them grow and change.They are just too cute! Of course, I kind of biased. Two weeks yesterday, I get to see my grandson in North Carolina. I'm driving down and it takes about 15 - 16 hours. I've driven it SO many times by myself and this time of year is especially a fun drive.

GOODBYE TO A SWEET, CLASSY. SWEET AUNT.........YOU'LL BE MISSED!

On Saturday, another one of my aunts passed away. She was one of my Dad's sisters. The youngest of his sisters died 7 or 8 years ago, and now another. His last sister is now 91 years old and she will miss this sister, especially. Their whole lives they were SO close. My Dad's brother was the twin to the aunt we buried today.
I am happy she is no longer in the pain she had been having the last little while, but we all will miss her.
My girl cousins that do the cottage trip almost every year would include the three aunties who were left. Now there is only two.
I've included a couple of pictures of the three 'aunties' chillin' in the lake at the cottage. I think these pictures are SO wonderful. My cousin took these photos and I think they are priceless and deserve an award of some sort. My aunt who passed away is the one in the middle. So cute!! All of them have/had a terrific sense of humour!

It was a beautiful day and after the internment, we had two separate receptions in her honour. She loved it when the family got together. She was a very classy, quiet, and introspective lady...and I do mean lady. She had opinions, but rarely voiced them. She dressed with such class and style. She had a beautiful singing voice. She had a deep faith that got her through many trials she personally faced. BUT, there was such a cute and impish side to her. She had the sweetest grin with a hint of mischief to it and her laugh always made you laugh. She was a great mother and grandmother.
Good bye Aunt Eleanor and rest in peace. Thank you for your love, your insight and for just plain caring about all those whose lives you touched.

I pause to remember my own Mom. Her birthday is September 4th and even after 5 years since she died, I actually forget and go to phone her at times.