Completing a project

This is my Bird by Bird Journal. It involved 20 collages on board. A couple of days ago, I heaved a sigh of relief that I had finished it, and all it needed was to be bound together (I will probably use ribbons threaded through punched holes). But something about it didn't feel right. I went through it again and again, but I couldn't see anything wrong. Still, that little feeling proved stubborn. I took note, and trusted that it would give me more explicit information.

Last night, as I was going through mounds of paper and stuff, I saw it: painted and readied for collaging, one more board for my journal. I quickly counted my finished book and discovered it was missing one page. Now it's finished. Always listen to that little voice, especially when it won't go away!

Friday's child

My trip now feels very real. Much as I don't look forward to the long flight, Toronto to San Francisco, with a flight change to Santa Barbara, I'm starting to get excited. I'm looking forward to a visit to Stampington's fabulous people -- the cherry on the delicious cake. Meanwhile, I have a pile of things to do to prepare for my week away, and, I am told, there's no time like the present!

Life is a mystery, like the Sphinx. You never know what's around the corner, so you might as well "swing open the gates and invite it to supper" -- Della Reese.

And nurture it: work hard and never give up on your dreams.

Dubious documents

[(c) colette copeland, available on eBay]

Still in Irish mode (see last post), I tackled the pile of vintage papers and ephemera that I brought back from Ireland, and set about making my own "dubious documents" in the manner of Nick Bantock. Along with Lenore Tawney, Bantock is a major influence on my collage work.

I used originals, so I took my time with them and made sure I had the design right first. When using an original document, the last thing I want to do is ruin it.

It was very satisfying.

A little bit of fun

[watercolor and ink (c) Colette Copeland]

Great moments in Irish literature:

Flann O'Brien: At Swim-Two-Birds

Things that go bump in the heart

[Lace and rhinestones, detail]

Antique lace and rhinestones make my heart go pitter-patter. I stitched some favourite pieces, and added a brooch I found at the St. Lawrence antique market.

What makes your heart go pitter-patter?

Monday

[chaise, an early painting of mine, owned by Carol Ferguson (c) colette copeland]

I took advantage of a sunny day (albeit cold) and was out and about town, doing things I needed to be doing, and meeting my friend Linda for coffee. She presented me with a bag of bits and piece of gorgeous lace and old buttons that she had found among her "stuff."

My rubber stamp designs are finished, and now I have to get them organized to send them off to Stampington. I still have an article to write, and that's the last of my obligations -- for now (I welcome this sort of obligation!). I will have deserved my break in Santa Barbara; Julie is funding most of the ticket, and I am so grateful. We are lifelong friends, and I'm happy that her birthday falls into the week that I'll be there! Now I have to look at a map and see how far we are from Laguna Hills..... wink!

Bird Houses

[detail of Bird Houses, available on eBay]

Tongue in cheek!

Have a humorous day!

Yesterday was springlike

[mail art collage, detail]

And this afternoon, a snowstorm. Really, I cannot keep up. I got home just as it was getting fierce. In the nick of time. I will not be going out until tomorrow!

Meanwhile, I saw an old flame on TV. He still looks like the sweetie he used to be, and is aging nicely. Before you ask, we really weren't compatible, and that is an important part of a healthy relationship.

Have a safe weekend.

Friday's child

This is what's on my mind.

The PM and the Pres

[photo: AP. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in full dress uniform salute President Obama]

There they were, amid a sea of flags on Parliament Hill, and I swear the Prime Minister looked smitten. I'm no Tory, but I have to give it to the PM -- he did very well (not that he needs my approval). The President endeared himself to me with an oblique reference to a previous President who ignored Canada, especially during those dark days when Canada immediately reached out to New York, by saying that we were often taken for granted and that would no longer be the case.

And for trivia, we also learned that President Obama's brother-in-law is Canadian. And the President thanked those Canadians who went south of the border to campaign for him. What a guy!

[Watercolor available on eBay]

Snow is back.

So here's an antidote.

The Blessing Way

[Navajo, detail of a quilt]

I was 19 when I found a copy of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee in a rundown second-hand bookshop in Washington, D.C. I was intensely moved. Years later, I read about the Navajo and The Long Walk. Another huge wound. I wonder if this young woman was part of that Walk.

(Four generations have passed since Kit Carson "crusaded" against the Navajo. Thankfully, they are still with us. They are known as tenacious...adaptable...enduring...spiritual...)

Painting

[Serenity, available on eBay]

What I do for relaxation: I paint imaginary landscapes. It's my kind of abstract painting. I pick up my brush and just go with it, wherever it wants to go. This painting was done in the middle of the night; when I stepped back to look at it, I was reminded of the great John Turner. It's amazing where the subconscious will lead you.

Recognition

[Young Pima woman detail]

Her eyes speak volumes.

Happy Valentine's Day

Congratulations to the ones who noticed the little item I slipped into my list in my last post.

I am thrilled to be designing a line of rubber stamps for Stampington & Company.

Stay tuned!

Friday's child

[i carry your heart in my heart]

My life in lists:

1. This is my 1,002nd post.

2. The sun is out.

3. I have been asked to design a line of rubber stamps.

4. I will be celebrating My friend Julie's birthday with her next month in Santa Barbara, Calif.

5. La vita è bella.

Navajo

[Navajo (c) Colette Copeland]

Another in my Native American series, a beautiful Navajo boy. Detail of a finished quilt.

History

[quilt (c) colette copeland]

I've been collecting images of Native Americans (we call them Native Canadians, First Nations, or Aboriginal Peoples, but in fact they are Native North Americans).

This young Tewa has an elaborate hairstyle that caught my eye. So I set about coffee-dying canvas and lace, tearing, stitching, trimming and creating this piece.

Designing woman

I designed this years ago for a Toronto souvenir company, and it turned up when I was sorting through old papers and artwork. The idea was to do a sort of "skyline", with the last T being the CN Tower.

Nothing happened with the souvenir company, so it will probably go to Cafe Press and appear on a T-shirt, because I still like it.

Sunday art

Rest. Breathe. Go with the flow.

Drip drip drip

Drip drip -- that's the sound everywhere. The snow and ice are melting. You couldn't have paid me to go ice fishing on Lake Erie, given the weather forecast that it was warming up this weekend -- what a tragedy this morning's news was. A life lost, a large group of people stranded on an ice floe.

Friday's child

Headaches? Sleeplessness? Here's a natural way to tackle these conditions.

The Seminole use bay leaves. They smudge them, but because I didn't want to set my very sensitive fire alarm off, especially in the middle of the night, I boiled a handful of bay leaves and inhaled. My budding headache disappeared almost instantly. I said a quiet prayer of thanks that a handful of Seminole was able to survive the massacres in their Florida home, and are still around today to pass on their knowledge.

Sunshine

It's wonderfully sunny today, both weatherwise and me-wise. I got some terrific news that I will share at a later date when everything is wrapped up (no, it's not a book). Meanwhile, images are dancing in my head, to be translated to paper.

My bird journal continues to grow. I've completed more than half of it. This one is in its composition state. The Waterford crystal paperweight is a gift my sister gave me many years ago. It is one of my most useful tools.

Wishing you a very sunny day, no matter what the weather.

Somerset Memories

These are my pages in the new Somerset

Memories. The photos are of my real family, and if they're watching from beyond this life, I hope they think I did a good job!

On a wing and a prayer

My dental check-up was good. Everything in order. Except for losing part of a filling.

How long can I put it off, I asked my dentist.

It has to be done..., he said

My budget wonders if we can wait, I said.

It has to be done..., he repeated.

Then he looked at me and said, You know those little paintings you did some years ago... I think they were angels. Make me one of those as payment for the filling.

In my village, things are good.

My life in lists

Make a new page for my bird journal.

2:50 p.m. Dental checkup

Get groceries

Post office

Swiffer the floors

Call M.

New week....

.... new work. This and more, available on eBay.

Groundhog Day

Photos: (1) Corner of my balcony. (2) Miss Grace aka Anon the Younger.

The snow is melting here, with day 2 of sunshine and lower temperatures.

Meanwhile, across the ocean in Wales, the snow makes an appearance to the delight of one excited munchkin!

Photo: Sandra Black

Let there be light

[(c) colette copeland]

The sun makes its appearance on this first day of February.

And so does the Great Spotted Edwardian. See more of her here.

I think she is my alter ego!