Play time

seems to be a constant when one is 'retired'.  We've had another gang-buster time this past week with Alice Saltiel-Marshall and her husband Bill.

From the Skimmerhorn Winery to Crawford Bay and back again, we've filled four days with more activity than one could think possible.

Just before we went in

Drooling over remnants at Barefoot Handweaving

After many visits to Barefoot Handweaving, I was astonished to learn one could purchase a baggie of remnants for $4 - score!

 We burnished copper,

we shared stashes,

we painted papers,

 we played Bobbsy Twins with our stamps, paints and embellishments,

 and were colour pigs (although I feel we're young enough to be termed piglets) extraordinaire.

It was like being in another world.

This is my favourite done by Alice,

Love Letter to Gaia  Mixed Media by Win Dinn

and my personal favourite done by yours truly.

There's still time

for me to get into the studio occasionally. I've been doing some tidying and finishing work recently, in preparation for a few days visiting with the Marshalls.   Lei Aloha uses the time-honoured theme of music and roses to tell its tale.

Lei Aloha  Mixed Media by Win Dinn 12 x 9 on wood panel

I'm enjoying working on panels, along with doing the occasional matboard painting - those matted pieces work particularly well for travellers who need to pack lightly when heading home.

Where the Soul Flies    Mixed Media by Win Dinn  4.5 x 6.5 matted original

Equinox Energy has been been through quite an evolution since I painted the start in May.  The addition of leaves, spirals, coconut fibre, poppy head stamps and text gives some depth to a textured start.

Equinox Energy    Mixed Media by Win Dinn   12 x 9  on wood panel

I look forward to the next few days with great anticipation.  Alice and I will no doubt spend some of our time in the studio, and I'm sure that glorious chaos and fun will result - I'll keep you posted, of course!

Gardening Time

John has his, and I have mine, and while I'm allowed to weed in John's garden, it's not my favourite thing to be doing.  I much prefer my garden where I can control both the colour and the output.

 My flowers are created from hand-painted papers,

and buttons

 and dryer sheets

and are combined in any number of ways.  They're not representational, but free-form and colourful in ways that Mother Nature never intended.

Best of all - no weeding required!

It's always the colour...

that pulls me in, whether it's in the studio with paints, or in the garden.

I've not been much in the studio lately, with the ArtWalk volunteering and the constant gardening in this lush valley.  That doesn't mean I miss out on my colour fix, though, since strawberries are ripening in John's garden patch.

Freshly picked

 There is something so decadent about fresh strawberries.

Garden Bounty

When they're washed and ready to eat, it's nearly impossible to restrain myself.

Ready for fruit crisp

But I must - they're going into a fruit crisp for dinner tonight, and I.  must.  not. eat.

I can certainly enjoy the colour though.  Hope your day is filled with it (and fresh strawberries, too).  If not, search out your local farmer's market and track some down - it will inspire you.

It takes so little...

...to entertain me.  This week, among other things, I've been experimenting again with distressing photos , to see what other fun techniques I can invent.

Opal-cat, spritzed with water, and scraped with hard  plastic knobbly scraper

I had fun using different implements-the above photo of our Opal reminds me of Van Gogh's self-portrait with its frenetic energy.  That's definitely suitable as Opal in her 'teen years was a whirlwind.

99% alcohol dropped on photo, sanded

 I found that alcohol gives a diffused effect compared to water.  The slightly blurry feel reminds me of my brain on wine.

Epson Salts in warm water, sanded

Incubating Summer  Mixed Media by Win Dinn
Note the water-distressed photo compared to the Epson Salts distress above.

There was no discernible difference using the Epson salts in water, so I'm assuming there is no chemical reaction at all.  I also tried bleach rather than water, and could see no change there either - didn't make the photo cleaner at all!

Do you have any suggestions for further experimentation?  All comments and suggestions gratefully accepted.