7th Annual CARDED! show hosted by Hot Art Wet City

Hey, hey, hey! I'm happy to announce that my image "Soul Seeker" was accepted into this year's CARDED! show which is hosted by Hot Art Wet City. This is the 7th annual one night art trading card show and it's always a good time. If you plan on going you might want to get there a bit early as it gets pretty crowded with art card fans eager to make some swaps. You can find out more info about the show here. 

PaperGirl Vancouver is back

It's been ages since I've posted on this blog. Sorry. It's not that I haven't been creating but rather my time has been occupied by my other creative venture in cake decorating. Take a peek and you'll see I've been busy learning so many new things. That is one of the best pay-offs for me, the chance to learn something new. I need it. Nothing sends me down the slippery slope of depression faster than boredom. Unfortunately it also means I can't hold a full-time job very well. Ah,the lottery....if I ever win I do believe I would become a professional  student. Teach me more!

 For now though, I'll sneak in my creative fixes whenever I can. That brings me to how I'll be sharing some of my artwork again through PaperGirl Vancouver on July 8th. PaperGirl Vancouver is a city-wide event where volunteers will ride bikes through Vancouver and hand-deliver  artwork donated by artists to anyone they come across. Anyone can submit and anyone can receive a piece of artwork. Take a peek at last years Flickr shots of the event to see how well it was received.

I sent 25 copies of my Birthday Bear this year and one hand-pulled linocut of my edition "Flower". I wonder where they will end up.

For several years now the world has been dealing with a financial crisis and many families have seen the value of their homes plummet. This has been true for most of North America except where I live. While the economy in Vancouver has slowed down like most places, the value of real estate hasn't followed and the cost of owning a home here is crazy. The average detached home now costs $750,000. That's the average. On my street alone every house will cost you between $800,000 and $1.7 million to buy. (!) This vintage home down the way, which is considered a tear-down, can be yours for a mere $888,000.

Built in 1959

In a previous post I told you about all the renovations we've done to our rental suite. Even though we can't own here we thought we should at least have our place feel livable. Well this apartment complex is nearly forty years old and it looks as though its days are numbered. The land is too valuable. We've kept our eyes open for other places but it looks as though the rents have been going up as fast as the real estate. I guess you can't ask for less than a couple thousand dollars rent for your "mortgage helper" if your house cost you over a million dollars. Sigh.

As we shake our heads and ponder how far east we have to move take a look at this site "Crack Shack or Mansion" in amazement. Take note that to live in the most expensive city in North America you'd be wise to sell crack. Just sayin'.

How much does a family home cost where you live?

Opening night at Bird on a Wire

September is almost here! Just a week or so left of summer and it's back to school and back to working on the Etsy shop. In an easy and relaxed way of course. ; )

To help bring in the fall season, I would like to invite you to my show opening at Bird on a Wire Creations at 2535 Main St. Vancouver on September 1st. From 7:00pm-9:30pm  Rachael Ashe and myself will be proudly presenting our artwork at this local handmade indie store filled with amazing talent from all over the lower mainland.

  Rachael Ashe

Jodi Doidge

If you're in the area please come join us for a glass of wine, some tasty snacks and live music courtesy of Jodi Doidge. See you there?

Introducing pocket mirrors

How is everyone? Is the sun shining for you? I hope so. Even though the sun can't seem to decide what season it is here I know it must be spring because the lilacs are budding and my lillies have popped up.
 I think so many people enjoy spring because it's all about renewal and fresh starts after slogging out the winter. That's kind of what Easter is all about too, isn't it? I think that's the mark on the calendar where people acknowledge the arrival of spring and the promises of a great summer. This year I will be celebrating Easter at the Blim market in the Heritage Hall on Main St.. Every month on a Sunday Blim brings you a fantastic selection of artists and crafts people that create unique handmade items. These are popular markets and this year will be the first one for me.

Staying with the theme of "new" I will be selling a new product to my shop. I have been wanting to do pocket mirrors with my images for ages now and I've finally been able to create a line of twelve different images. Now you can carry a little piece of art with you where ever you go AND use it to make sure you look smashing.

If you're in the Main St. area on April 24th, stop by and find my table and say 'hi".

Some sites of interest

For today's post I thought I would share with you a few sites that have been making my sigh with admiration. I don't get much time to read all the blogs and sites I would like of course but I think you might enjoy this small slice of some favorites.

Artist: Laura Perez

agoodson.com

Anna Goodson carries some of the best illustrators around and I'm thrilled that the company is Canadian. I'm often drawn to the site to check out the new work of her amazing group of illustrators. Anna will often bring up illustration topics for discussion on her Facebook page which I really value.

Jamie Delaine

Next up is local Vancouver wedding photographer Jamie Delaine who blows my mind with her amazing photography. Jamie's blog and photos come across as so warm, genuine and authentic that it's impossible not to be impressed by her. Jamie's blog is on of the few that I will actually read fully rather than scan the content. Written in a very personal voice it's hard to imagine that this photographer is still in her early twenties.(!)

Artist: Laura George

Burnt Feather

The final offering is a blog written by fellow illustrator Fee Harding who I "met" through the Pikaland Bootcamp course. I just love Fee's work and because we share a love of illustration, I can't not help but enjoy her Friday Five posts where she features other illustrators who have caught her eye. I love all her picks. A clean and simply presented blog with plenty of great links makes for some great reading. Well done Fee.

I hope you enjoy the sites as much as I do. If you have any sites that you would like to share in the comments, I would love to hear about them.

Opening night at the Firehall Arts Centre

With the first week of the year finished, I'm happy to say that my show opening at the Firehall Arts Centre went really well last Friday. I haven't regularly gone to show openings in ages (read: since before kids) and I felt a little out of place. Once I had a glass of wine in hand and was able to take some photos of the work up, I felt a little more comfortable.

Roz Maclean, the other artist showing with me, had a great set of small pieces displayed and I was really taken with her pen work. Layered with paint, paper, ink, the pieces were evocative in their illustrative style. Each piece seemed to talk about a story and their size really captured the feeling of perhaps being whispered personal thoughts. I am really pleased to be showing with Roz. Please click on the highlighted link to see more of her work.

I know I've said this before but seeing artwork online versus in person is just not the same and I wish there were more venues in Vancouver in which artists could showcase their work in person. Alas, online is less risky and less expensive and I'm glad to be able to show my work in a format that exposes me to such a huge audience. I do wish people would be aware that what you're seeing on the screen is just a portion of what's actually there. More often than not, I think that when you buy any artwork online you will be pleasantly pleased at how much more that piece is once it's in your hands. That's when you get to see its' soul.

If you would like to see the Firehall show it will be up until February 26th. Gallery hours are Wed-Sat. 1-5pm.
Thanks to everyone who came out that night. Stay tuned for news about some shows I have happening in the spring.

The New Floors are in!

This is a very happy post for me because I finally get to say that I've ripped up the disgusting old carpet in my rental and have replaced it with wood laminate. Well, I didn't do much but some prep work. My husband is the one who killed his back and cursed over tight spots. Thank you honey! I will buy you more Robaxacet.

I had put up a post on YouTube documenting some of the things we have done to our apartment as a visual record of the time, care and money we have put into our place. Many people have questioned why we would do so much to our place when we just rent but we've lived here for almost six years now and the dream of owning is long gone for us with the prices of real estate in Vancouver. We live in a suburb of Vancouver where a house down the street will sell for over a million dollars. Here's an example of a house in our area for the same age and size and one new. There's no way we can afford the mortgage payments on those, let alone the maintenance. On the flip side, to rent a 3 bedroom in this area would cost us at least $1500/month. That's approx. $500 more than what we're paying now. As you can see, the amount that we invested into our home is equivalent to maybe a couple months rent and we get to live with a better quality of life. So we lose our damage deposit(?!) but it's worth it. I can't tell you how happy, as someone with sometimes intense dust allergies, I am to get rid of that dirt trap of a carpet.

Our 20+ yr. old carpet

The mysterious lumps we found underneath. It felt like sand but we think it was deteriorated underlayment.

To date we've upgraded and repaired the following to our apartment:

-replaced floors in the kitchen, hallway, bathroom and living room

-replaced kitchen counters

-installed subway tile backsplash in kitchen

-replaced cracked toilet with a brand new one

-installed baseboard moldings

-installed a ceiling fan in the main bedroom

-replaced bathroom lights

What has the owner supplied you ask? Well I can't say they haven't done anything because after three years of requests, I was finally able to get a new fridge. (You should have seen my hydro bill) I also got a new oven and a new dishwasher after I poked my finger through a rust spot on the inside of the machine in front of the landlord. So I am thankful for the things they have done.
Here are a few "After" shots:

Front hall through to main bedroom

Living room from hall

Living room from kitchen

So what do you think? We're no "Holmes on Homes" but I think our place is finally turning into a family home.

Art Card Trading @ CARDED

I have another invite for you. This time it is for anyone in the Vancouver and Lower Mainland area. The hosts of the recent Red Hot One Inch Action show are putting on another art show called CARDED. My image of "Superboy" has been accepted for this one night show. With this format 50 artists will present their work on traditional 2.5"x 3.5" art cards for trade amongst each other and any audience members willing to purchase $5 packs of 5 cards. The trading is supposed to be fast and furious and reminiscent of those hockey card trading days of our youth. How many cards will you give up to get your favorite one?

I have created art cards before but this will be the first trading session I will have ever gone to. If you would like to take part in the trading as well, you can find the show on Saturday, February 27th at the Jacana Gallery, 2435 Granville St, Vancouver. Doors open at 8pm and I hear it's pretty important to be present at the beginning of the show to make the best trades.

Visit the Hot Card site to get peek at last years show and participants.

Wordless Wednesday (Vancouver Edition)

Minou Pitou

Track and Field Designs

Le Petit Papillon

Sweetie Bees

Is it spring yet?

  March has finally arrived and everyone seems to be itching for spring. I'm already thinking about which flowers I will plant out on the balcony. I went to the garden centre only to find the plant tables completely bare. Patience, patience.

Well, once we have to move our clocks ahead next week, that will surely kick things into gear and we'll be able to celebrate spring for sure. 

Some of my fellow Etsy sellers have decided to get together and mark the transition of the seasons with the "Etsy Spring Fling" at the Cambrian Welsch Hall located at 215 E. 17th Ave., just of Main St. The 30 sellers will be showing off their new wares from 11-5 on Sat. March 21st. I for one, will be sure to attend. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the creative talent that Vancouver has to offer. Although Etsy may not have a large presence in Canada on the west coast, perhaps events like this one will change that. Hooray for handmade!   

Below is a sneak peak of some of the vendors and their items.

   A Farmer's Daughter   

    Smeeta            Lil Sticks Woodworking

  Lucky Troll     A Cagey Bee

Urban Harmonie  My Little Eye

 Lynn Krestel