Ruby Diego Handmade Sculptural Jewellery and Adornments

The "Knittin Gals"

2012-02-21T18:07:00.000-08:00

Our first knitting group get together was today and we will continue every Tuesday at 1:30. So bring yourself, your textile project and an appetite for conversation to Martin House Art every Tuesday afternoon. Today there were 3 knitters, 1 embroiderer, my sister learning a new crocheting pattern, 1 hand sewer and Susan working on a child's smocked dress.

This is the group that's coming next week so you better get here on time to get a seat.
Be a Winner learn to knit.

Tuesday's The Day/The Textile Project

2012-02-20T14:37:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, February, 21 will be the first day for my knitting group. Everyone is invited. Just bring a toonie, (for the muffin and tea) a textile project or idea and some enthusiasm. We will be getting together at 1:30pm in the shop at Martin House Art, 299 Penetanguishene Road, Barrie.

Day 21, 20-two, twenty-3, 24 and 25

2012-01-25T20:45:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful weekend. Here are the rings I made for the bride and groom.

Day 19 and Twenty

2012-01-20T08:05:00.000-08:00

My little girl is getting married today. We are gaining a wonderful son-in-law that we all love very much.

I won't have time to do much knitting today but I will sneak some in somewhere.

OK.... to tell the truth I will be knitting in the car all the way to Toronto. And, while we sit and wait for the bride and groom to get dressed. And, while we wait at the chapel. And, all the way home in the car. Should get a good portion of a scarf done.

Day Eighteen

2012-01-18T20:32:00.000-08:00

With a few conversations it was determined that Tuesdays would be a good day of the week for our knitting group. And remember we don't discriminate crocheters are welcome to attend.

The resin pendant is for sale at $20. I have several colours of the ball of yarn and knitting needles with more coming soon.

17; The Yarn and Needles Are Ready

2012-01-17T20:11:00.000-08:00

I am starting a knitting group at my studio. It will be a time for knitting, conversation, friendship and a spot of tea. Everyone, let me know what times are best for you and we will get started.

Sixteen Days

2012-01-16T20:36:00.000-08:00

I finished the rings today. xox

More etsy pics were taken this afternoon.

Fifteenth Day

2012-01-15T16:54:00.000-08:00

The day was spent working on Leigh-Anne's wedding ring. It came home from the casting house with several divots in it. Brenda apologized for the problem and said I didn't have to take it if I was unhappy. With just a week to go I don't have time to start over. I am redesigning by carving into the ring with my saw, various burrs and my file. It's going to take a little longer then expected but worth the extra time to make it perfect for my girl. Alex's ring had one small leaf on it and whoever put the sprue on it for the casting put the sprue right on top of the leaf, obliterating it. I will carve a new one.

I will show you a picture of the rings when finished.

This ring will be for Leigh-Anne when she starts sewing and needs a pin cushion.

DAY 14 etsy

2012-01-14T20:28:00.000-08:00

I've started taking photographs for my etsy store which I opened about a year ago. I got as far as making a banner before it ground to a halt. I heard that it's not that hard to put an etsy store together so here I go. www.etsy.com

13th Day

2012-01-13T18:08:00.000-08:00

I promised that I wouldn't use all of my yarn stock before anyone else got a chance to see it so I am calling this bit of knitting I've done "a sample". This way you can see how the yarn will look when it's knit. Yeah..... a sample.

I am putting together a drop in knitting group and everyone is welcome. You don't even have to know how to knit, I will show you. I have a beginners kit with yarn, needles and a few instructions. All of my yarns are put together with natural materials. Silk, cotton, bamboo, wool, alpaca and so on. Once you use the natural fibres you won't want to use anything else.

Day 12 : Shopping For Fabric

2012-01-12T17:12:00.000-08:00

A little research and a lot of looking at fabric filled my afternoon today. Derek and I were in this beautiful, sunlit salesroom in Toronto which is housed in a renovated old warehouse. I've got the dress ideas started and the next step is pattern making. I haven't done that since college.

Eleven

2012-01-11T20:14:00.000-08:00

The new yarn is priced and in the shop. I have more yarn similar to the one used for my knitted necklace for anyone that wants to make one for themselves. If you don't want to make it yourself I have several finished knitted necklaces in a variety of yarns in the shop.

Day 10

2012-01-10T19:21:00.000-08:00

I spent the day today driving to and from Toronto. I dropped off wedding rings to be cast and picked up yarn to be knit. I brought home a "new to me" yarn which is 40% cotton, 30% silk, 15% wool and 15% nylon. It feels so soft and the colours are a sumptuous mix of grey, pink, green, black, yellow and teal. I will have yarn for sale in our shop starting tomorrow and I have promised that I am going to share the yarn this time..... Last time I bought yarn for the shop I used it all myself.

I put this picture in this post to show how connected my work is through many mediums. Knitting or fibre arts is so close to my heart, I sometimes wonder why I do other things like metal work, but I just can't stick to one thing.

Day 9: Suspended Elephant

2012-01-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

Derek has been taking photographs for years now and has decided to use some of them as images on t-shirts. I am looking forward to seeing this photo mixed with some text on the front of my favourite guy. Eventually Derek hopes to have a portfolio of images on silk screens so he can make available a line of t-shirts. This photo was taken one winter day when Derek and I were walking along Queen St. in Toronto. I've seen lots of shoes hanging from the hydro lines but never an elephant.

SEVEN and 8

2012-01-08T17:47:00.000-08:00

Two posts in one.

Yesterday we were making delectable cupcakes with a bit of orange zest in them and a Tiffany blue icing for Leigh-Anne's bridal shower. Today we're making red velvet cupcakes. I love this felt one.

I found some wool in the basement which has been used recently as a mouse house. The tell tale sign was there, sunflower seed shells. The wool is going to be used for felting so by the time all of the processing is done the shells will be long gone. Can't blame the mouse for choosing such a nice spot just hope he doesn't have any relatives in the area. Derek will have to check his trap line a little more often.

six

2012-01-06T17:18:00.000-08:00

I have added seed beads and embroidery thread to this knitted rope necklace. I like the detail and soft, hard relationship added to the necklace. Next one will have variation in the thickness of the rope.

5th Day

2012-01-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

I have been working on using unexpected materials for necklaces. This "rope" necklace is actually knit and then rolled. I used a merino/silk blend to feel soft on the neck. I am going to try varying the width in areas to give a wavy look. We'll see.

Four

2012-01-04T18:22:00.000-08:00

I am taken with the sky these days.

Day 3

2012-01-03T21:38:00.001-08:00

I sewed all day and yet I chose this photo to post. The clouds and the sky are reminiscent of water in the swimming pool.

Day 2

2012-01-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

This swimming pool photo is the start of a new series. It was taken in Los Angeles.

Happy New Year, Happy New Work

2012-01-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

I have a very busy year ahead and am thrilled about it. My sculpture show is scheduled for mid October and I have the one of a kind show to prepare for. My new adornments line will have it's first showing around Valentines Day so Leigh-Anne better get her sewing machine oiled pronto.

I am working on another project this year called "Art Everyday". Everyday I will post a new work made by myself or a friend. When posting a friend's work it will have to relate to me in some way.
The first post is a painting by Tamara Benoit. She borrowed a couple of my African violets while they were blooming.

Thinking of Spring

2011-12-12T11:10:00.000-08:00

It feels funny to be finished our season and it's not even Christmas yet but that's how it goes. The One of a Kind Show is our main show for the year and our main pay check so now all that is left to do is catch our breath. Catch our breath and clean up after the big push. I hate walking into the studio after the show because we always leave it in such a mess. Derek will be working on his part of the studio for the rest of the week while I won't even get out to my jewellery studio till next week. This week I am moving furniture in the house. My cutting table and sewing machine are going down stairs to the family room which means I will be able to get some work done, other then knitting, while watching Tyson. Leigh-Anne and I are launching a clothing line. Mostly dresses with some tops and pants.

So my Christmas season may be over but my Spring season has already started.

First Weekend of the Show

2011-11-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

We are at the One of a Kind Show once again, it's our 24th year! The sales at the show are our major paycheck for the year. I am so thankful for all the work done by the girls that run the show who keep getting thousands of people through the doors. Many come with Christmas lists in their hands and they are ready to shop. The "art nest " once again is our best seller. We all love the birds. The idea is that the birds will take the yarn out of the container and use the yarn when building their nest. Later in the season walk through your neighbourhood and look for the beautiful nest creations.

What are you going to wear this Halloween?

2011-10-16T17:34:00.000-07:00

The days between Thanksgiving and the day before Halloween have always been saved for costume making. I have made princesses, dragons, the cookie monster, papagena, and lots of other outfits so when I saw this I had to share it with all of you. I hope this little guy gets a sack full of candy even if his Mum and Dad have to help him eat it.

Thankyou Sunshine

2011-10-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

It's getting down to the crunch time and we can't sit and wait for good weather. Last night I put Tyson to bed early and headed out to my foundry. It had started raining an hour before and the sun had set which meant that I would be casting in the rain under the lights. I was casting silver, which melts faster then bronze, and I only had only 2 flasks. Things went quickly so we didn't get to wet. Today we had 7 flasks of bronze and the weather man said we were going to get heavy rain later on in the day. As the temperature in the kiln was rising and getting close to casting temperature the sun started to peek out from behind the clouds. We were able to get all of the casting done while staying dry and see everything without the aid of a flashlight. I have told my children many, many times as they were growing up "look for the joy in life". Joyful events don't have to be big. They can be having the sunshine come out just at the right time, or have the rain stop just before you go outside to do a task which is much nicer done in dry clothes.

I really like this collection of acorns and would like to know what kind of tree to plant to get a harvest as colourful as this. Better ask Frank because it can't be found in my gardening books.

Inspiration Work

2011-10-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

I was breezing through some photos and came across this great one of some felted hats. I love the colours, the patterns and the texture of the whole photo. I was thinking about making a felt hat. Now I know I will be.

Farmer's Market

2011-10-04T17:09:00.000-07:00

Only a few more Saturday mornings left for this years farmer's market. It moves inside at City Hall the first Saturday of November but only a hand full of members continue for the winter. With 3 Christmas shows this year I won't have time to do anything else. For the last 25 years Derek and I have only ever done 1 Christmas show and that has always been the One of a Kind show. I must be crazy adding 2 more to our list but we need a new furnace. We've never done shows in Ottawa and Sudbury so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. We will have a lot of Art Nests with us and you know how people love their birds. Derek is working on 850!!! art nests. He told me that after this run he doesn't want to make another for a long time.

Cabbagetown Weekend

2011-09-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

The weather was absolutely perfect for an outside fall art show. How Canadian to start off by talking about the weather. As a nation we always talk about the weather, but it was nice. The crowds came out on Saturday like they usually do but sales were a little slow. All of the summer shows this year have been a little soft. Let's hope everyone brings their wallet to the Christmas shows. My new scarves and knitted necklaces were received very well. I am enthused for the next seasons shows.

A Busy Season Ahead

2011-06-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

My first show for the summer season starts July 9. It is the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition which runs Friday through Sunday. Every weekend after that until the civic holiday weekend will be spent at a show. After Toronto Outdoor comes the Muskoka Arts and Crafts show in Bracebridge, then the Haliburton Art show and finally Kempenfest in Barrie.

I have been busy casting bronze in the shape of birds, sticks, nests and teacups. The teacup or teapot to me is a metaphor for family or friends. The ritual of making the tea and then sharing it is my way of showing love or friendship. The birds and rabbits in my work often take on human characteristics and are usually shown with teacups. I guess this shows I love my family and I like what I do. Lucky me.

The wax sculpture.

Melting the bronze before pouring in to the mold.

Still warm.
Bronze pieces cast and still covered with bits of the mold compound.

Cutting the sprues off of the pieces.

Brushing some of the compound off.

Now grinding off the rough edges.

All that is left to do is the filing, putting on the patina, waxing and then polishing.

Finally Back At It

2011-06-21T06:02:00.000-07:00

After a break which was to long I am back writing.
This past weekend was a busy one. Derek drove us all to Kiwi Gardens in Perth where Caitie and I set up a show and then he and Leigh-Anne continued on to Tanglewood Massachusetts. Leigh-Anne is spending the summer at Tanglewood Music Centre, a place I didn't know much about until recently. On their website it says.......

The number-one summer activity in Lenox MA is, of course, the Tanglewood Music Festival, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO).

Since 1934 the concerts have been held in July and August on the grounds of Tanglewood, a fine estate about a mile from the center of Lenox out in the Berkshire Hills.

The main concert venue is the amusingly-named Koussevitsky Music Shed, a simple but spacious hall capable of holding an entire Mahler-sized symphony orchestra—some "shed!"

Many chamber music and ensemble performances and solo recitals are held in the modern Seiji Ozawa Hall near the Music Shed.

In addition to the seasoned musicians from the BSO, there are performances by the young and extremely promising musicians who attend the Tanglewood Music Center for study and advanced training.

Maestros Seiji Ozawa, former music director of the BSO, and Leonard Bernstein of the New York Philharmonic, were once among this young up-and-coming elite.

Cait and I had a good weekend at the Art in the Garden Show. The sales were good and the garden was beautiful. Not many garden centres have acres of mature gardens to wander through while deciding on which plants will have to make the trip home with you. Droves of people made the trek from Ottawa, which is an hours drive away, to meander about the gardens. Luckily for all of us they brought their wallets with them.

Garnets By The Pound

2011-02-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen a bucket full of gem stones? Well I saw a couple of them. Pretty impressive. Well.... they are not quite faceting quality but very nice. I saw some garnets that were 1/4" diameter and some that were the size of plums.

Derek has been really inspired by seeing all of the large quartz crystals on display at the gem show. There is so much of it here it's hard to believe there's anything left underground to mine. We purchased some great small samples which we will have for sale in our shop.

Amethyst being one of favourite quartz crystals will be influencing my summer collection of clothes. The colour and some of the points and angles will show up, just wait and see.

I'll be back in my studio by the first of March, can't wait!!

Hello Tucson

2011-02-09T20:14:00.000-08:00

Derek and I are back in Tucson again this year. We arrived the day before the main gem shows started which meant we would be up and moving early the next morning. So out we went Saturday morning and the first thing I see is what I think is my ride. It's the same colour as my hair! Unfortunately no, we're walking.

This year I'm looking for large beads made of precious materials and Derek is looking for pyrite cubes and quartz crystals.

The day was drawing to a close, I was tired and I found a comfortable spot to sit on this lovely orange leather sofa behind the $30,000 petrified wood coffee table. The legs are cast bronze with the texture of bark. While sitting there chatting with the maker of the tables a woman wandered up and asked the question which I have been asked hundreds of times. "How long did it take you to make this?"
Good news from the table maker he's already sold several tables. It's a sign, we're all going to have a good year. Yeah!!

New Year, New Ideas, New work, New Me?

2011-01-14T19:20:00.000-08:00

Well... not exactly a new me but I am trying to be the best Me that I can be. And with saying that I have to tell you that after 2 and a half years of threatening to try yoga I finally did. I joined Ann Green's "Bliss" studio and have jumped in with both feet. Ann is running a program called "Blissology" which has me up and down to the studio by 6:00am. I know most of you can't believe that I can actually get myself vertical at that time of day but I've done it. I am at the beginning of the third week and still going. I feel so happy with myself for persevering and trying something different.

As far as new work I am crocheting new funnel shapes which I will add to necklaces. Right side up or up side down my work always ends up looking Dr. Suessish. As long as it brings a smile I've done my job.

When I was young people use to comment that I always had a smile on my face. I lost that for a number of years but I hope I'm getting it back. For the past year or so strangers have stopped me to say they like my style or they like my glasses. I must be smiling to give people I don't know the courage to stop and talk to a stranger. With that I hope I can pass on that smile and encourage you to "shine on".

Here's what I have done with the new funnel shapes. Flower vase necklaces.

I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas

2010-12-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing for days and I'm love'n it. I don't have to drive anywhere now that the shows are over. Derek has been blowing the snow from the driveway and a path to the bird feeders so we can keep those chirpy little birds feed. Bossy bluejays get their feed first and then the chickadees. We have a pair of cardinals and several small woodpeckers rounding out the avian spectrum.

In two days I've been to 3 fabric stores and Romni Wools. I'll be working on a few Christmas presents but mostly I'll be working on a new spring line. Keep watching. I will be writing every Sunday and Wednesday nights and maybe a few more if I can.

Last Show Before Christmas

2010-12-12T19:12:00.000-08:00

Holidandy was the name of the show at Alana's Awkward Stage Gallery. Thanks to everyone that came out. I hope next year more people decide to shop local and I don't mean your local Costco. With a little investigation you will find a lot of great handmade gift items in your own community.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2010-12-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

The snow came and it has stayed. This year we have more snow by early December then we got all last winter. Lets hope that the weather is getting people into the Christmas spirit. Get out there and shop. Preferably locally and from your favourite artist.
Hey..... I can hope.

The bird feeders needed a little work this morning before the little chirpers could enjoy breakfast. But of coarse the squeaky wheel always gets breakfast first so Tyson beat out the birds and enjoyed his bottle while the chickadees sat and waited.

I have said this many times lately but I will say it again I am really excited about getting back to work. I have ideas for new adornments and drawings. New textures, colours and feelings are going to take me into the new year with a smile on my face.

Back Home

2010-12-07T18:07:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday and I am still trying to get caught up on sleep. We had a wonderful time at the big show. Lots of long time customers along with many new acquaintances. Lori, my weekend help, and I had time to get caught up. We usually spend the whole show together but this year Lori decided to take a break. The art nest was the star of our show with about 400 of them going out the door. Thank you little birdies for all of your colourful nests.Ruby Diego (me) sold one of the sterling silver big chain necklaces. Yeah for Ruby! I am really excited to get back to work and...... set up my expanded studio in the attic. The couch and TV will be moving into our bedroom to make room for a large work table in my studio. Now I will be able to get my fabric cutting off the floor and spread it out on a surface where my back won't hurt.

Stay tuned for the new dresses and other fabric pieces......

Someone was happy to see me home!

Third Day

2010-11-27T19:38:00.000-08:00

And we are out of our best seller. The "art nest" has been our seller for the past ten years and this is our best year ever with it. I made more than we sold through out the whole show last year and at the end of the third day I only have 2 left. Derek is spending the weekend at the studio making more instead of being at the show. He's not that good at selling anyway, just don't tell him I said that.

First Day of the Show is Over.

2010-11-25T19:30:00.000-08:00

First day done.... The first day is always a little scary. You want that first sale to come as quick as possible so you can start breathing again. It has been such a build up with the stress levels running high. At this point you just want to make it through. Having done the show for over 25 years we know the routine. Just be calm and wait. Give some reassurance to the newbies and enjoy your time.

Work, Work , Work

2010-11-23T06:11:00.000-08:00

Work is still going fast and furious with only 2 days until the start of the show. For the first time ever the booth is being set up without me. How nice to have a big, strong son to help his Dad. I knew these kids would come in handy one day. My trusty old sewing machine has been making a clunking noise lately but hasn't hasn't skipped a stitch. Like everything else I will fix it "after the show". I have so many felted, cast and crocheted pieces sitting in bowls, laying on the couch, covering the kitchen table and most other horizontal surfaces waiting to be strung into necklaces that Nigel wandered around with his dinner plate last night looking like a lost soul hoping to find a spot to eat. Such is the life of a child who's parent makes art for a living.

Beautiful Day in Montreal

2010-11-14T10:58:00.000-08:00

It's another beautiful day here in Montreal. How lucky are we to have glorious weather in mid November. Sitting here in Starbucks I keep thinking about my Dad who 47 years ago was making his way home from Montreal in November but never made it. His plane came down in a blinding snow storm. I wish he too had taken the bus. I'm getting a lot of work done here with the only distraction being listening to some wonderful music. The gala starts at 3pm today so I better head over and get my ticket. Check my website www.rubydiego.ca, I've made lots of additions.

Here I am in Montreal

2010-11-13T08:25:00.000-08:00

A week before the big show and here am I in Montreal. What on earth am I doing there I can hear you asking. Well.... Leigh-Anne my daughter is singing in a festival and after not being able to accompany her to the last festival in the summer I thought I should go. Parents will do almost anything for their kids. Did I mention the summer festival was in Vienna? That's my excuse for not going. Crazy, that sounds like a perfect reason for going, a month in Europe. I think it really had something to do with not being able to afford it. So..... here I sit in Starbucks crocheting my little heart out. I crocheted during the performance last night after I explained to the woman sitting beside me why I had to work. "I have raised three kids with my art work". She was truly impressed. I didn't mean to impress her it's just the truth and you know I am proud of it.

Keep Working

2010-10-25T10:45:00.000-07:00

It's a busy time right now. I am so enthused about all of the work ahead. How wonderful to look forward to work time instead of regretting time spent doing something you don't want to be doing. My studio, according to others, is a little messy these days but that's the way I work. The materials that are inspiring me these days are complete opposites on many levels. On my work table sits a bucket of bronze scrap and beside it is a bowl of cotton crocheted flowers. I like to just look at it and think about the contrasts and similarities. Both materials will be made into jewellery to adorn mine and yours.

Derek's New Garden Pieces

2010-10-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

While I have been working in the garden taking plant material out, Derek has been working on pieces to place in the garden. The winter garden is often overlooked, when it is actually the best time to think about those special pieces which give your garden character when the plant material is gone. These new garden pieces have the added element of movement or sound.

Inspiration Comes In Many Forms

2010-10-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

I was in Toronto with Cait yesterday and by 1 o'clock we were both famished and looking for something to eat. Cait had been fasting since the night before because of her ultrasound so I figured she was ready to dig into just about anything. Well I was wrong. We marched up and down College Street looking for something that would satisfy my finicky girl. She finally decided that a pizza slice from the store that we past near the beginning of our walk would fit the bill. Looking on the positive side of this indecision it was a beautiful day and we saw a lovely city garden. The gate with the brick posts made a very welcoming entrance. How admirable to place something out there that gives a stranger pleasure as they walk by.

Crocheting

2010-09-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

People often ask me if I ever stop working. The answer is no. I love what I do and I do when ever I can. Even if it is just a few minutes while I am waiting for the kettle to boil. My Christmas shows start in a little over a month so I best keep working.

Art Shindig

2010-09-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our second Art Shindig and a good time was had by all. The event ran in conjunction with Cultural Days Canada which was a country wide series of events which involves Canadians in art making endeavors. It was a federal government initiative to promote the arts. We invited a number of our talented artist friends to come and spend a day working on site creating a new work of art. They worked on their own and in collaboration with fellow artists in their favourite medium. We had painters, sculptors, and musicians. We will be doing this again net year for sure!

Tamara Benoit painting violets. Tam is showing her new work in our gallery right now.
Check out http://www.martinhouseart.com/martinhouseart14.htm

A lot of conversation and exchange of ideas.

Christina Luck, painter and sculptor, painted images of some of the participants doing what they do.

Derek Martin and Ray Dillard discussing something and according to Derek "it was that big".

Leslie Winemaker and I are collaborating on a project to create a chandelier. Leslie will make the glass components and I will do the rest. We plan to have the first one ready to show by the Christmas season.

June's New Uniform

2010-09-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

I asked June to come over and take a look at my new crocheted linen necklaces and she walked out with what she called her new fall uniform. She put together one of my black dresses, her beret and one of my linen necklaces. Her neighbour told her that she looked very "Chanel".

Blue Dress

2010-09-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

I was going through Leigh-Anne's summer pictures with her when I came across this photo of a beautiful blue dress. The dress was hanging in a shop window in Venice. There sitting right beside the dress was a photo of Audrey Hepburn making the window display perfect. The pearl necklaces made me think of the pearl necklaces I am working on. I have poured pearls into a clear plastic tube. My stumbling block right now is how to join the ends of the tubes cleanly and not be clunky looking. Stay tuned for updates on my dilemma.

Basket Making Workshop

2010-08-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

On Saturday September 18, 2010 Martin House Garden Art in Barrie, Ontario is holding a basket making workshop. Leslie Songer-Terry, a well established basket maker from Gravenhurst, will be leading the Market Basket fun day. You will learn how to prepare the reed, weave and finish with exacting detail. Everyone will go home with a basket similar to the one in the picture. The cost is $85.00 which includes your materials and a light lunch. The workshop starts at 9:30am and finishes around 4:30pm. Call or email me to grab a spot. 705-722-6535 or tmartin@martinhouseart.com Group limited to 8.

Working On Ideas

2010-08-22T18:01:00.000-07:00

Crocheting is something I learned as a kid and it has given my a lot of joy for years. Here is a picture of a crocheted medallion. I have been scanning them and looking at them as an image on paper. I am taking a very tactile object and removing one of the most desirable properties. Just something to think about.

OK... Now I'M Going To Start !!!

2010-08-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

What I mean is I have been procrastinating about starting work for the Christmas season. I have talked about everything, (going to the cottage etc.) except inspirations for new work. So I set myself up looking at some new fashion mags and I came away with a few notable things that came up again and again. The first being leopard print. I remember when my daughter was 7 all she wanted was leopard print. Leopard print what? So for Christmas she got a Posh Spice doll in a leopard print dress and a leopard print throw blanket. So here we are again celebrating that beautiful cats colouring. The second thing that kept showing up was fringe. It's more then just a biker chick or cowgirl's embellishment.

Cottage Weekend

2010-08-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

Derek and I got to do what thousands of people do every weekend during the summer. We sat in our car for four and a half hours while we made our way to the cottage. My sister's cottage that is. It was beautiful at the cottage. Very inspiring. The whole family is going to try to get there next year. How can people stand all that driving? We have been pretty lucky living and working where we do for 23 years. Look out the front door and there now is a subdivision where a barn and cattle use to be, but look out the back and all we see are fields, trees, ducks, rabbits and a heron rookery. Yes lucky us!

August 13th, Happy Birthday to Me

2010-08-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a good day. A breakfast meeting with my favourite breakfast buddy followed by a wander through my local wool shop where of coarse I found some yarn that needed to come home with me. It is a variegated silk which I will crochet into the new necklace/scarf design. The day finished with dinner with friends and then time to crochet that new birthday yarn. I don't know anyone else who can so excited over a ball of yarn.

Working On A New Piece

2010-08-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

I have been crocheting all afternoon and evening, not including time off for making dinner, walking the crying baby and showing my son where the tall weeds are that he had to cut down. How could he not see them? When I have a new item I tend to bug everyone in the house with "what do you think of this". I will make a few changes and start over again "what do you think of this now". I have three girls here with very different tastes. With input from all three and a shrug from the guys I feel confident in the new piece.

It's Hot In My Studio

2010-08-11T12:59:00.000-07:00

My studio is on the top floor of our house. It sounds like we have a big house and that it is very grand, me being on the top floor. In reality we live in a little bungalow and I am in the attic space. Years ago when we had to have our roof replaced because it leaked like a sieve our builder asked if we would like to take the walls up a little higher and create some extra space. We jumped at the idea seeing that we lived in 700 square feet. Did I mention we have 3 kids and a dog? Anyway...... you all know hot air rises and there is no air conditioning in this house. It's hot in my studio!

A Day on Georgian Bay

2010-08-09T11:40:00.000-07:00

Derek and I participated in a show at the Iron City Fishing Club this past Friday. We met the caretaker and his helper at the Moon River marina where we loaded up the barge and headed over to the island. It was a beautiful boat ride, the sun was shining and we had help waiting for us at the dock. Harley, the senior student employee, was there to encourage her juniors to get busy and pitch in. The student employees have all grown up vacationing on the island. The cottages have been pasted down from parent to child since the late 1800's. Not much changes on the island except for upkeep and that is where we come in. The sale is a fundraiser with a percentage of the sales going to the club.

Christmas ?

2010-08-03T07:49:00.000-07:00

Today starts my journey towards the Christmas One of a Kind show. Derek and I will be taking our Martin House Art selection of birdhouses, feeders and garden must haves along with Derek's new painting and my jewellery. We are trying to get all of the designing and planning done in August. Derek has told me "no coming to me in November with a new idea". I always seem to do that to him. Two weeks before a show is when I come with what I think is going to be the big seller. Instead of spending that limited, valuable time just before the show on production I want to start from scratch and come up with a brand new _ _ _ _ _ . So this year will be different. I will focus, promise. My mind is spinning with all of the things I want to make for Ruby Diego Sculptural Adornments, so I will probably leave Derek to his own devises. Right now I am planning on casting sterling and bronze, fabricating metals, crocheting cotton, knitting wool, sewing bamboo and silk fabric, casting resin, setting gem stones.......... Maybe that should be it. But who knows what I will think of Mid November. Wish me luck in focusing on the project at hand. Please.

Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition

2010-07-09T19:53:00.000-07:00

First day of the show is over. It poured rain all night, all morning and into the early afternoon. We set up the booth in the rain but luckily not in the mud. We were just feet from a pool of mud which I did lose sight of the soles of my shoes in as I tried to take a short cut to the car. Back and forth, slip and slide, it took about an hour to get set up. Not bad considering the rain. The weather man predicts a sunny day tomorrow.

Show Tomorrow

2010-07-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

Derek is packing the car as I am writing this. It has been a very busy couple of weeks getting all of the casting done. I am really pleased with how the pieces turned out. The crows are my favourite. I really looked at the birds before I started and I hope it shows. Crows have been observed by ornithologists working through problems. Some crows have figured out that if a nut is to hard to break with their beak they will drop it on the road and wait for a car to run over the nut to get it open. They have also been observed using tools like a stick with a hook on the end to get nuts out of some place where they can't reach the nut with their beak. Well.... enough about birds. I have a very early morning and must get to bed.

Working on Sculptures for the TOAE

2010-06-27T13:02:00.000-07:00

The fashion show last week was a great success and now I am working on waxes for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. I will be taking small bronze sculptures that I have yet to cast. I am getting them sprued today and hopefully will cast tomorrow afternoon. The picture here is of a bird. She is standing on her head and the red lines are red sprue wax. They are used to get the molten bronze to the body as quick as possible because the metal cools and solidifies extremely fast. I still have some tops and dresses left after the show and I have set them up in our shop. The cotton knit tops are $49, solid colour dresses with patch on the back are $90 and the striped dresses are $140. The dupioni silk skirts range from $80 to $140.

Sewing Up A Storm

2010-05-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

The clothing and jewellery fashion show is lest than 2 weeks away. I have been very distracted this past week with the birth of Tyson my grandson. But no more excuses, I have to have some quality time with my sewing machine. The fabric keeps getting moved from table to couch to desk and back to table. Not enough room in my tiny studio!!!! Tyson kept me company this afternoon while I was cutting the cotton knit fabric. Stripes are the pattern du jour. Tomorrow I think I will stick to solids.

Fashion Show

2010-05-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

The date of the fashion show has changed and so has the venue. On June 3rd, 7:00pm the models will be walking through our metal studio. It will be a showing of opposites as girls in silk dresses stroll in amongst the mig welders, chop saw and drill press. I wanted the show to be outside in the garden but the mosquitoes changed my mind. This show will be a fundraiser for the ALS association. My friend Jude lost her Mother to the disease. Anything we can do to help. I've shown here one of my new necklaces which will be featured.

Photo Shoot

2010-04-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

Today was the day, Monday our photo shoot. We needed a photo for our poster which we will use to promote the fashion show. Alana, the photographer, found our models. We dressed them and they looked great. I will be showing jewellery and silk skirts along with a cotton silk blend scarf. The scarves will have beaded embellishment. Jill has made some new recycled clothing while Alana has some pretty summer dresses. Meaghan has been sewing up a storm making summer hats for my favourite season.

Christmas????

2010-04-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

I received an email yesterday asking me to send in plans for my Christmas booth. What month is this? I have 228 days until the start of the show and I usually don't think about a show booth until about 2 weeks before it starts. Change of plan this year.

After The Show

2010-04-08T11:34:00.000-07:00

The show went up well and fairly fast except for the time spent holding an ice pack on my big toe of my right foot. One of the wooden walls was dropped and landed on my toe. The father son dual in the booth next to us helped Derek get the walls up and move the shed. The walls that were taken to the show were for a 15 foot booth and we had a 20 foot booth. So what to do!! We moved things around and added a "fence". It turned out not to bad. The show attendance was a little lower than past years and some people were attributing that to the fabulous weather outside. Who knows? You can analyze it to death but I don't think you can ever figure out why people act the way they do. As always as soon as one show is over I am thinking about the next event and it will be a fashion show. Circle May 6th on your calender and get to Bohemia on Dunlop Street, Barrie at 7:00pm that night. I will be showing silk wrap skirts and flowing rayon tops as well as sterling silver, resin and felted jewellery.

Landscapes

2010-03-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

Derek has been busy working on the painted landscape. The colours he's using are definitely influenced by the south west and I'm not talking about south-western Ontario. I know we all like Windsor but Arizona is what inspires Derek. The combination of shiny stainless steel and flat paint works wonderfully.

New Work For The Spring Show

2010-03-22T17:14:00.000-07:00

Today's temperature in Tucson, according to Derek is 83 degrees. I'm looking out the window at the freezing rain and you know what, I still like living here. I do hope the hot weather comes soon and stays for more then 6 days. Last summer really was a wash, but so was this winter if you happen to be a lover of piles of snow. Amos the dog is the only one in this household that does. The cats are more partial to spring. Derek's working on some painted steel landscape panels for the One of a Kind Show. I have been setting stones in newly cast sterling silver rings. I'm really looking forward to showing the new work.

Next Show

2010-03-21T19:57:00.000-07:00

It is the first full day of spring and I am anxiously waiting for the warm weather. I can't complain to loudly though because this past week has been extraordinary for mid March in Barrie. The push is on to get ready for the One Of A Kind Spring Show. Derek is working on some new ideas for painted wall sculptures. They're great! I am working on sculptural rings with stones set in them. The stones I am using are ones I picked up in Tucson at the gem show. I will be firing up the kiln again tomorrow to get my last casting done before the show. We have been back less than a month and Derek is already looking at the Arizona tourist web site again. He will soon have that thing memorized. Well, it keeps him out of trouble.

Artist Project Over, On To The Next

2010-03-10T17:03:00.000-08:00

The Artist Project was a great success. Not only did I have sales but I made great connections as well. I still am amazed at the number of people that have been quietly following my career. They are always interested in what new works I have come up with. It is exhilarating. Now we are working towards the next show, the Spring One of a Kind. This year the show falls on Easter weekend. That means Good Friday will be busy, busy , busy. Wednesday or Thursday would be the days to pick unless you like fighting the crowds. Our booth number is J11 and I will be looking forward to seeing you there.

First Day of the Show

2010-03-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

Friday, March 5Th, first day of the Artist Project and we have survived, not only survived but had a good time. Many of the artists were walking around asking each other "How's the show going" to reassure themselves that everyone was experiencing the same thing. The show was slow on the sales end but great on the "I'm still here and making art" end. It is so invigorating to talk to others that are working hard to make a living in a similar situation as you. We are an optimistic bunch. I am looking forward to tomorrow. Saturday is always the best day at a show. Saturday is the middle of the weekend. The I don't have to go back to work for two days day and I am going to have fun day because tomorrow I can sleep in and not get up until noon day. My only hope is that as people are out and having fun they come to the show and SPEND SOME MONEY. You must support your local artists so that they can keep making art and make our community a better place to live in. Remember when you go somewhere you don't look at the offices of the local bylaw officer you look at the cultural attractions, museums, galleries, boutiques which are manned, supported or created by your local artists.

Back to Barrie

2010-02-27T18:59:00.000-08:00

We are getting ready to head back to the cold weather and snow. I am going to miss Tucson and it's wonderful warm weather. But before heading out I had to give my favourite pony a few sugar cubes. Tonight we attended the Eric Firestone Gallery opening showing photographs of Andy Warhol. The place was packed and there in the center were girls on plinths, dressed in vintage garb gogo dancing. Music was provided by a disk jockey spinning LPs and of coarse the collection was in the regulation LP plastic milk carton. He also had a pretty nice collection of 45s. We will be on the road tomorrow at 4:30am and should make it home in time for a late dinner. Don't forget to mark your calendars for next weekends Artist Project show. I'm looking forward to seeing everybody there.

One Week Until Start of Show

2010-02-25T17:18:00.000-08:00

The desert bloom is slowly starting. It is unfortunate that we are not going to see it. We can see flower buds on the cacti in the neighbourhood starting to swell and turn pink. One little flower has opened on a cactus which is situated in a parking lot against the south wall of an office building. A very sunny hot spot.
It was sunny and warm here today, an easy day to work with wax. It is soft and malleable all the way through. Only one week to go until the opening night of The Artist Project Toronto. The show runs from Thursday March 4 - 7. I hope to see most of you there. Look for me at booth# 421, Queen Elizabeth Building, CNE Grounds.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane

2010-02-23T19:57:00.000-08:00

High above the Tucson skyline a strange object was spotted in the sky. No not the moon, the other one. I personally think it is a ufo but seeing that we are only minutes from an airbase it might be something else. Derek has recently been working on a series of ufo drawings and that might have clouded my judgement. Everyday there are planes in the air going around in circles and every night there is a helicopter making all kinds of noise. Some of the planes here are so fast by the time you hear them you can't see them. We didn't notice the plane, which is in the photo of the Tuscon Museum sculpture until I downloaded the pictures at the end of the day. It must be a ufo!!

Morning Hike

2010-02-18T18:29:00.000-08:00

It was a gorgeous morning as we set off early to hike the hills at Sentinel Peak. We had noticed the trails the last time we were in the area. With two water bottles in tow we started up the trail. It was a beautiful two hour hike. The cacti were varied and plentiful and it had Derek clicking the shutter on the camera like he was trying to keep time with some music in his head. I was in the lead looking out for any straight "sticks" on the path that might be out sunning themselves. Luckily the only wildlife we saw was a flock of quail and we heard a couple of coyote calling to each other. There are two bobcats living in the area but no sign of them.
Afternoon was spent working!

Work Day

2010-02-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

Today was spent working on my sculptures. It was a treat to sit outside and have the wax soften in the sun. At home I was having to place my bowl of wax on top on my side table lamp so that the heat of the bulb would soften the wax. I brought a bag full of wax chunks with me on this trip. I am going to try my hardest to get it all made into rabbits, birds, books, flowers, etc. and maybe even a cactus or two. I will be casting these pieces as soon as I get home because I want them for the Artist Project which starts 4 days after we get home. I will be a little tight for time but that has happened before on more than one occasion. My only concern with the waxes is getting them home in one piece. I guess a little bubble wrap will be the ticket.
Now I have to get back to crocheting.

Saguaro National Park

2010-02-15T18:13:00.000-08:00

Happy Family Day to everyone. We celebrated the holiday by going for a bike ride. "What's new" you ask, I know we do that every day but today we rode to Saguaro National Park. Once we got off Broadway, the main east/west street, we started along Old Spanish Trail. The road lives up to its name by meandering up into the mountain. It was hard slugging on my blue Huffy but we made it. Thank goodness we had enough water with us. On the way down Derek's bike started to seize up and we had to stop as we got back into the city so he could buy some WD40 and drench his bike. In fact he had to carry his bike for the last bit. Derek has been talking about cycling in the desert since last year. He poured over the bike route maps and information we had at home. He googled bike shops in Tucson. He had it all planed, we were going to the National Park. Well we did it!

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T18:00:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is having a good Valentines Day. My sister Ruth works in the floral department at her local grocery store. I bet she has been run off her feet today. Guys just remember we like to receive flowers anytime during the year. That goes for jewellery as well. You don't need a special occasion to tell someone that you love them. Since I am sounding so much like a sappy commercial I might as well say "think of Ruby Diego Sculptural Adornments next time you are looking for something special". Derek and I are going to eat dinner out on the patio tonight and I don't even have to wear a parka. I'm loving this warm weather here in Tucson. It's not hot like you would get in Mexico or one of the islands but no snow and no winter coat is fabulous. When we get home I am going to miss jumping on my bike and going somewhere. My bike at home, the Lone Ranger, doesn't come out of the shed until all of the snow is gone. I know some people ride their bikes all winter no matter what the conditions are. Not me, so I will enjoy biking while I can.

Gems and Minerals

2010-02-13T19:03:00.000-08:00

We went to the gem and mineral show at the Hotel Tucson, formerly the Inn Suites, today. The quality of the rocks was amazing. People had set up in every available room in the hotel. The ballroom was full, the entrance hall was full, the large closets were full. In the bedrooms the beds were taken right out of the room or they were piled one on top of the other and pushed as far into the corner as possible. Display cases were brought in and spot lights were set up to make the gems and minerals shine. There were many museum quality gems. We looked at so many excellent specimens that we developed gallery fatigue and had to go back to our castia and have a rest. Once our overloaded minds cleared we headed out again. This time we were on the hunt for rough stone. We had seen some beautiful cabochons made of Tiffany stone and someone gave us vague directions on where to find it. So off we went on our bikes to find the elusive Tiffany stone. After an hour of riding around cental Tucson we finally found it. Here is a picture of me trying to decide which rock would have the most interesting colour on the inside. I will be cutting up the rocks and using the beautifully coloured pieces in my jewellery. I can't wait to get started.

Red Beryl Mine

2010-02-11T15:26:00.000-08:00

Today Derek and I met the owners of the Red Beryl Mine which is located in the mountains of Utah. Red beryl would be near the top of any rare gemstone list. In fact, red beryl is so rare, most people don't even know that it exists, but I saw it. Gem beryl occurs in a variety of colours; green (emerald), light blue (aquamarine), pink (morganite), and very rarely, a deep red. It was in the late 1950's, around when I was born, that the deposit at the Red Beryl Mine was discovered. It is mined from an open pit. The red beryl crystals are more or less randomly distributed in the white rhyolite host rock. Red beryl was deposited in expansion fractures that formed in the rhyolite as the magma cooled. We are talking a long time ago. Tons of host rock are drilled, blasted, and moved in the search of fractures where red beryl crystals might occur. Now after your lesson on red beryl I must tell you that I didn't buy any. Remember at the beginning of the paragraph when I said it was rare, well rare usually means expensive. It was, but I did buy some aquamarine faceted stones. Look for these new stones set in bangles, necklaces and of coarse rings.
The picture here shows how we are getting around Tucson this year. My light blue "Huffy" just needs a basket and some streamers hanging from the handle bars to look perfect. It only has one gear and you can hear me huffing and puffing up the hills. Good thing Tucson is fairly flat. It's just those mountains around the perimeter of Tucson, that Derek keeps wanting to bike up, that causes me some trouble.

Shopping in Tucson

2010-02-10T19:06:00.001-08:00

I have had a few days of shopping here in Tucson. If you like beads there are thousands of strands to choose from. You can get any size, any colour and any price range. There are pearls selling from1 dollar a strand up to 35,000 dollars a strand.I did not buy the later, big surprise. The faceted gem stones are found in abundance as well. I was lucky enough to find a couple of deals on some very pretty stones. I am going to set the smaller ones into some of my bangles. In my teacup necklace I am going to set an apple coral cabochon to represent a full cup of tea.

Welcome to Tucson

2010-02-08T07:44:00.000-08:00

We have made it to the Tucson gem and mineral show for a third time. This year I am looking for faceted stones, beads and rough stone. The choice here is endless. There are tables piled high with every type of pearl you could imagine and every price you could imagine. From one dollar a strand to thirty-five thousand a strand. This year we bought bikes to get around the city. The city of Tucson is flat so my one speed coaster brake bike is working out fine. So far the only time I had trouble was when Derek wanted to go to the top of "A" mountain. I had to push the bike up hill but going down was fun once I had reassured myself that the brakes would work if I stood up and pushed hard.