Category: Creative Living Activity

March 11, 2015

Ready for the Garden

Finally the temperature is above freezing and the snow is starting to melt. Like my gnome friend here, I’m ready to get out in the garden. I’m itching to take #goodmorninggarden photos, witnessing sprouts turn into stems and leaves and flowers. I’m curious to see whether my parrot tulip bulbs made it through or whether the squirrels had a feast. I’m looking for the daffodils I planted in honour of my mom. She planted them under our backyard trees in Montreal. I felt like I was in the wild woods when I was beneath them. I long for that feeling again!

The only thing that’s helping me with my restless desire is planning for the season ahead. I recently discovered Botanus and indulged my love of white flowers with a big order from their stores.

Here are some of the new treasures that you’ll be seeing in my In the Garden with Jamie videos this year!

Acidanthera Bicolor Murielae: Its beautiful shape made this an immediate yes for me. I can already imagine drawing the clean and curving lines. Apparently they have a wonderful fragrance too! I’m so excited that they come in a package of 25. Imagine the impact!

Astilbe japonica ‘Deutschland: My mom didn’t like astilbes at all, but I’m quite fond of them. They bring a lovely feathery flower to the shadier parts of the garden. I had one that ended up living with my neighbour when our fence was installed, LOL! Now it’s time for a fresh planting.

Astrantia major ‘Star of Billion’: How could I not get something called “Star of Billion”? It felt predestined when I heard about this plant for the first time on a gardening show in the morning and the catalogue arrived in the afternoon! I look forward to seeing those stars!

Athyrium niponicum ‘Metallicum’: What a dramatic fern – the colours, the textures! What a treasure I imagine it will be!

Cafe au Lait Giant Dinnerplate Dahlia: Ever since I went out for dinner at the Rectory on Centre Island and they had huge dinner plate dahlias as a centrepiece, I knew I wanted to have some in my garden! I grew dahlias for the first time last year and haven’t mastered the art of removing them from the garden and storing them but maybe with this beauties I will!

Helleborus orientalis ‘Double White Pearl‘: I love, love, love green-white flowers. They feel so fresh and new, almost liminal. Plus it’s exciting to have shade plants that bloom.

Philadelphus ‘Snowbelle’ or, as I know it, “mock-orange” : I have one in my garden but its health has been waning. The mock-orange is a deeply meaningful shrub to me. I have loved it since I was a little girl when my mom planted it outside my little brother’s bedroom window so that he could enjoy the scent of it on spring mornings. I will always, always want one in my garden.

Hemerocallis ‘White Temptation’: One thing I’m not very good at in the garden is having a place for something before I bring it in. (I’m not very good at it in the house either, LOL!) This is the exception. I have the perfect spot for these hardy, re-blooming perennials! I do seem to be learning to plan for a full-season garden instead of focusing, as I usually do, on my fierce love of spring! These beauties will be at their best in mid to late summer, which has been a little quiet out back.

Claire Austin David Austin Rose: This was the big splurge! I’m not generally drawn to roses but wow, I couldn’t take my eyes off these. Imagine the photos from bud to bloom, a gradual unfolding of beauty. I can’t wait!

What are you looking forward to in the garden this year?

March 9, 2015

Art Day: Wire, Animals & Aliens

Every Sunday is Art Day at our house. This time instead of paints or Sharpies or glitter, we pulled out wire, fabric and stuffed animals! Thank you, Carla Sonheim for the inspiration.

It was a little intimidating, so we thought maybe it would be good to start small. Shannon and I worked with identical wee frogs.

And then we pulled out the wire.

And suddenly mine wanted to be tall and invite a buddy to play and Shannon’s wanted to have wings.

Then the wrapping began. I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard and so long while creating! At this stage I was imagining my guy being a traveling alien musician.

Shannon’s became this wonderful creature with strapped on wings, ready to fly! (or paddle – you should see her feet!)

And mine turned into Zeb.

March 2, 2015

Art Day: Glitter Animals Find a Home in Mixed Media Flowers

Every Sunday is Art Day at our house. With the cold outside, nothing is cozier than tucking in with coffee, good company and creativity!

This week I worked on the next step in my mixed media found flowers. I created a strong outline and then worked on adding colour to the shapes.

The animals wanted some attention too!

I found a wonderful way to combine the two projects!

Both giraffe and rhino loved being amidst the flowers.

Who knew that my art journal page would become a set for glitter animals!

By the way, if you’re aching to have some creative fun like this, join me for my Art Day Virtual Retreat. We’re going to have a blast!

February 23, 2015

Art Day: Enjoying Animals, Making Marks & Creative Mess

Every Sunday is Art Day at our house. The kitchen table offers a veritable feast of colour, sparkle and paint. My glitter-bombed animals have quickly become favourite mascots.

My sister Shannon and I are taking Year of the Spark with Carla Sonheim and Lynn Whipple and this week’s class had us creating with index cards. I absolutely love working with index cards because they are so unintimidating!

We made marks.

And then went on a journey of discovery.

With art supplies all around, it’s easy to get inspired.

And we always follow where inspiration leads!

By the way, if you’re aching to have some creative fun like this, join me for my Art Day Virtual Retreat. We’re going to have a blast!

February 16, 2015

Art Day: Mixed Media, Collage & Finding Flowers

Having a weekly “Art Day” practice is bringing so much joy to my life. Even setting up is fun for photos!

As I mentioned on StART: Creating As We Go, I had so much fun with a recent mixed media exercise that I wanted to try it on board. I braved the cold to get a 12 x 12 wood board to play with. One thing I learned quickly is it likes lots of glue! Next time I think I would gesso it first, even if I’m just collaging on top.

Once the board was collaged and ready to dry, I went back to the painting that inspired me, getting ready to build more definition into the flowers that I discovered on the page.

Sitting there it didn’t take long to realize the board was a fun backdrop for more glitter animal photography!

Even this Lion-in-Waiting wanted his moment on the stage.

I tried a few different techniques with this next stage of the painting. I feel like I should have four or five on the go so that I can be experimental with each of them. It’s fascinating (and a bit frustrating) to be in relationship with the work, discovering what it wants to be.

February 9, 2015

Art Day: Painting on Plexi, Glitter Animals & a Mixed Media Garden

Snowy Sunday afternoons are just about the perfect time for an afternoon of art, especially when soup stock is bubbling and a crockpot dinner is cooking for when we’re done!

My sister Shannon and I are enrolled in Carla Sonheim & Lynn Whipple’s The Year of the Spark and absolutely loving it. This Art Day we focused on a lesson about painting and collage on plexiglass. We actually couldn’t find any plexiglass so we worked on glass, using basic clip frames you can find in the dollar store. The acrylics do lift off fairly easily from the glass surface so we experimented a lot to discover approaches that would work and enjoyed every moment!

All the while, my gessoed animals were standing by wondering when it was going to be their turn.

The thing is, if you stand still long enough, you’re going to get glitter bombed!

And end up in a photo shoot!

As if that wasn’t enough fun, I managed to sneak in some time with my art journal, developing this mixed media piece of imaginary flower images I “discovered” in the background I created days ago. I love that experience uncovering a mystery and can’t wait to continue to work on this piece.

A regularly scheduled Art Day is having a huge impact not only on my creative life but also on the way I show up on Mondays! I’m looking forward to bringing an Art Day Virtual Retreat to you March 21st. You pick the project. Together we create the safe space :)

January 27, 2015